Pilot to Gunner - Scott Padden
Pilot to Gunner is one of Arena Rock Recordings hottest new bands but it would be a lie to say they are new because theyve done eight tours before this latest one. People try to slap labels on them but they buck all labels and pretensions and just bring you the straight dope and the right stuff.
Their second full-length album is called Get Saved. Theyre a real New York band thats been called post-modern punk rock mayhem but what the fuck does that mean? I got a chance to talk with PTG frontman Scott Padden exclusively for the SuicideGirls!
Check out Pilot to Gunners website.
Daniel Robert Epstein: What is the theme of the new album?
Scott Padden: Its kind of an accidental theme. Patrick [Hegarty], our guitar player, comes up with all of our aesthetics and he wanted to come up with the whole bound, gagged and beaten up thing. Get Saved wasnt even written or even titled until we were in the studio but then the title worked out with the way the whole record was.
DRE:
It sounds like you have a lot of freedom.
SP:
Yes both this record and the last one happened to mesh with the way the record looked. Everybody that works with us knows that we need that kind of freedom and that we wont work with people who wont allow us to be that free. Were lucky that way. Its not that they even allow us but were just lucky to work with people who dont try to fight us.
DRE:
Who lays the structure of how you work?
SP:
We decide.
DRE:
Does that ever cause any problems?
SP:
Its never a problem because we work very well together. Were all really good friends and we also hang out all the time. Were all pretty much on the same page all the time.
DRE:
Even when you're touring you all get along that well?
SP:
Thats when we get along the best. Weve been on tour eight times already and its very easy for us. We all just do our own thing like reading.
DRE:
Like what?
SP:
I usually get the newspaper everyday and do the crossword puzzle.
DRE:
Some bands really resist the label of emo, what do you think?
SP:
We dont even listen to any bands that are tagged with that so its always surprising to us that we get tagged with it. I understand that a lot of journalists are lazy and thats why they do that. There is only so much time they can dedicate to a band and if you're a bunch of white kids playing guitars with melody then you're going to be tagged with that word.
DRE:
What does Get Saved mean to you guys?
SP:
The words of the song are about not trusting institutions or organizations to save you and its about saving yourself. A lot of the songs are about relying on yourself and not other people.
DRE:
How long have you personally been relying on yourself?
SP:
For a long time, because growing up my parents were very religious so I was an altar boy who went to church and catholic school all my life. As I got older I realized what a flawed institution it is which disillusioned me. It angered me that I spent so much time being involved with something like that. Its a really backwards organization.
DRE:
Are you religious at all now?
SP:
Im not an atheist. I believe in god but I just dont like the people who work for him. Also as you get older politicians are deeply flawed individuals.
DRE:
Are you part of any religion now?
SP:
Not at all. Ill never be part of an organized religion again in my life.
DRE:
What was the one specific thing that set you away from religion?
SP:
There wasnt a moment. After the homosexuality thing kept bringing brought up and I started to work in the human service where a lot of gay people work. I became friends with them I realized that the churchs whole demonization of gay people is based upon a choice. Who the fuck would ever choose to be gay? No one would ever choose that because even now they are so discriminated against. To base everything you think about on a book written by human beings so long ago is so backwards.
DRE:
What is the writing process for the band?
SP:
We just go into the space and someone starts playing something and the rest of us play along. We hammer it out that way. It takes a long time and I am definitely not the songwriter. Everyone gives an equal part. The only thing I do myself is write the words and the vocal lines, which is done once the music is all written.
DRE:
How much influence does everyone else have on the lyrics?
SP:
No theyve never told me what to say or sing. If Im having trouble with something melodically, Ill ask them for help. But lyrically they let me do my thing.
DRE:
When did the band start?
SP:
Two of us started it back in 1998 but not really seriously. We didnt tour or record until about 2000 when we got Kurt [Herrmann] and Marty [McLoughlin] in the band so we decided to ruin our lives and be in a band. We couldnt wait to be broke stupid idiots forever.
DRE:
Are you still broke?
SP:
Hell yes we are. When you send me a check for $1000 that will help.
DRE:
Did you spend all your money already?
SP:
Yeah, everything like the studio and the equipment are so expensive especially when you cant get a real job because you have to tour.
DRE:
Is it al worth it?
SP:
Definitely. I forgot what its like to have money so I dont miss it.
DRE:
Whats Pilot to Gunner mean exactly?
SP:
It just sounds good. We had some shows booked a while back and Patrick was into World War 2 movies and he got it from there.
DRE:
A lot of journalists made a joke out of it when you toured with Jets to Brazil.
SP:
I know. Lazy journalism again! Each one thought they were only fucking one to come up with that.
DRE:
What about the political aspects of the lyrics?
SP:
I have definite specific thoughts on politics. It depends on when a song is written pertaining to what is on my mind.
DRE:
How was it writing about 9/11 since its been almost three years since it happened?
SP:
I live in New York City so it feels new. Its going to come through. It colored everything in the lives of the people who live here. It wasnt a matter of staying away from it because its everywhere. Its probably in a couple of songs that I dont even know but I know its in one song.
DRE:
Is Brooklyn a big part of the band?
SP:
It was a little more important before all these other fucking bands came out. Then Brooklyn became a source of pride or whatever. None of the bands that claim to be from here actually are they are all transplants from Ohio or fucking Massachusetts.
DRE:
Ive read stuff where you do seem a little grumpy about The Strokes and Interpol.
SP:
Not even grumpy. I dont mind them but I dont want to be lumped in with them because there is absolutely no similarity between them and us. I think Interpol has a couple of really good songs. I liked The Strokes last record but I dont think much of the new one. You cant blame a band like The Strokes for the hype they get because thats the machine thats working for them. I dont want to be compared to those bands.
DRE:
Would you want a machine working for yours?
SP:
Nearly every band wants people to hear their music and know who they are, to sell records and make that their living. The kids dad owns a modeling agency so thats how they got their connections so thats fine, if someone wanted to do that for us thats fine with me.
DRE:
I read that three of your vans died while on tour.
SP:
Yep we killed three of them. The first one was named Big Boss, the second was Lucky and the third was Spring Break.
DRE:
Were they rentals?
SP:
No they were three vans we owned and then murdered.
DRE:
Do you have a bus now?
SP:
No our label Arena Rock has a van were going to use. Were leaving for a three-month tour for US, Europe and were headlining in Australia.
DRE:
Why only in Australia?
SP:
Theyre not inundated with bands. In New York City you could see a band ever night 100 nights in a row. When you go to a shithole town in the middle of nowhere theyre packed because not a lot of bands play there. Even in Germany too because East Germany the venues were packed.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
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