Tiger Army frontman Nick 13 is a man on a mission -- to bring his whirlwind psychobilly explosion to as many people possible, no matter what obstacles arise. Back in March 2003, drummer Fred Hell was shot four times during a home invasion, forcing him to go through a lengthy recovery process that included re-learning his instrument. For your average rockers, a tragedy like this would have likely signaled the end of the band. However, armed with massive amounts of fan support and an insane amount of dedication, Tiger Army persevered. With a couple new faces -- Jeff Roffredo on stand-up bass and James Meza on drums -- Tiger Army released Music From Regions Beyond (Epitaph) on June 5 and have been sweating it out on the road ever since.
After an afternoon of playing phone tag, SuicideGirls finally tracked down Nick 13 in a Philadelphia diner to chat about the new album, how to avoid becoming a novelty act and what it's like to play an archaeologist for David Lynch.
Erin Broadley: Hey, Nick. Youre a hard man to track down.
Nick 13: Yeah, yeah, were on the road right now so its kind of tough.
EB: How was the Warped Tour this past summer? You guys are seasoned Warped players at this point. Has it changed over the years?
Nick 13: We definitely got the best response we've ever had this year. You know, I like the time Im playing [on the Warped Tour]. I dont really like anything else. Im not a fan of the daytime and Im not a fan of the outside.
EB: How have things been going with the album release? Everything Ive read has been amazingly complimentary.
Nick 13: Yeah, the album has been really well received. Im happy because I felt, after we made it, that it was our best record. Im glad that a lot of people seem to agree.
EB: This is the first album thats not self-produced, correct?
Nick 13: Yeah, thats right.
EB: What led to the decision to hook up with an outside producer [Jerry Finn]?
Nick 13: Well, I did the first three records myself and I feel like each one of those records got better, but I also felt like Id taken things as far as I could on my own. I think each record has been a little step forward but this record is kind of a new chapter.
EB: I read that you have a love for analog and vintage gear. Would you consider yourself a romantic when it comes to old school recording techniques?
Nick 13: Yeah, definitely. Every year that goes by, more people consider those techniques a waste of time or too expensive and, you know, I'm trying to hold onto it as long as I can. [Having Jerry Finn produce this album] did help speed up the process a bit, though we still spent three months on this record. But it was nice for me. It was less stressful not having to be on all the time and not having to oversee every tiny detail. I was still in there the majority of the time but with something like mixing, I definitely trust his ear.
EB: I have a quote here, Tiger Army for a lot of people is more than a band. Its a way of life.
Nick 13: Well, Ive always just made the music that I would want to hear personally. And the stuff Ive been into hasnt been the most popular stuff. I dont know what it is exactly, but it speaks to people. Our fans are more intense than that of the average band. [Our fans have] hundreds and hundreds of tattoos of our logo or my lyrics.
EB: Was it a trip the first time you saw your lyrics tattooed on somebody?
Nick 13: Yeah, it was. It was.
EB: [Laughs]
Nick 13: Sometimes people ask me if I think thats weird or if Im uncomfortable with it. Im really not. Music and tattoos have been a part of my life for a long time. I have music related tattoos myself so I dont really see that as being anything different than something I would do.
EB: In another interview, you talked about the elitist nature of the American rockabilly scene and why it turns you off. Is that something you still feel strongly about or is that a moot point at this stage in your career?
Nick 13: Yeah, I dont even know to what extent that scene still exists. That was the rockabilly scene of the '90s Im talking about there. But, you know, I love the original rockabilly from 1954-1959 as much as anyone and I know as much about it as anyone but I think, in general, people lose sight of the spirit of the music that theyre into. People get too caught up in the music that theyre trying to create. Whereas in 1954-1955, the rockabillies were trying to do something new. They were trying to push the boundaries of music and that goes for the punks in 1976-77 and in the early '80s. There is a time to draw on your influences that come from a particular style of music and theres a time to be an artist and create something new and do your own thing.
EB: Yeah, thats one thing you also said about Tiger Army -- that youre against the whole idea of being a novelty act. Thats a tricky thing, especially with bands that embrace a certain look or a style. Its a tricky thing to be able to [succeed musically] and not have it come across as about image or nostalgia.
Nick 13: Yeah, I agree. Were definitely influenced by the music and the imagery of the '50s but were influenced by a lot of other things as well. And something that I really dont like is when bands that draw on that stuff become a parody -- because then theyre just like Sha-Na-Na and not something serious.
EB: Right, they become caricatures of themselves.
Nick 13: Yeah.
EB: Why do you think psychobilly thrived in Europe and not here in America?
Nick 13: You know, its really kind of weird because with psychobilly -- in a really broad sense -- there are a lot of subcultures that are related to punk in some way. In the '90s when Tiger Army started, I pretty much knew everybody that was really in the psychobilly scene in the United States and I dont think there were even 100 people. There were about five bands and that includes garage bands -- not touring bands with albums -- but bands with a seven-inch that plays once a year. Now thats changed -- I think its a subculture thats a little more established here but it doesnt go back farther than a few years.
EB: Where did your fascination begin with the subversive cultural taboos that psychobilly touches on?
Nick 13: Gosh, I think its just a part of who I am. Its something that goes back to childhood, you know. The last time I was more or less into what everybody else was into was when I was about in sixth grade playing with GI Joe and Transformers or whatever.
EB: But you do like the show "90210" ... I did read that.
Nick 13: Yes.
EB: [Laughs]
Nick 13: Then in sixth grade I got into skateboarding and discovered punk rock and that was it for me. I was never into the stuff that everyone else was and Im still not.
EB: With Tiger Army, you've had this new lineup for three years now. And you've said before that any lineup is like a marriage and it either works or it doesnt and you just have to put both feet into it in order to figure it out. After what happened with Fred and with Jeff, were you in a position where you had to reevaluate what you wanted to do with the band?
Nick 13: No, I always felt like we could survive.
EB: Im assuming there were some dark days there for a while.
Nick 13: Yeah, I mean, definitely. Ive always written all the music in Tiger Army and I think there are certain bands that keep going with one person and I think, with Tiger Army, its really just a matter of how long do I want to do it. If the lineup were to change again, it could if I wanted to keep doing it. But the nice thing is our fans have always stood by it. They understand that the music is going to be what its going to be, whoever Im playing with.
EB: When Fred got shot, did that derail your songwriting at all?
Nick 13: No, I mean, a lot of the music for [Tiger Army III: Ghost Tigers Rise] was already written when he got shot. But there was a period of inactivity for a few months while we were waiting for him to recover where I didnt have anything to do but sit around and write. So I did write a few more songs. Im sure [what happened] did influence the songs in some way but a lot of times that kind of thing is subconscious.
EB: Well, lets finish up by talking about your interest in acting and the small bits in films youve done. How was it working with David Lynch on Inland Empire?
Nick 13: That was amazing. I dont really have any aspirations to act. I mean, there are probably a lot of other things Id be interested in before that. But, yeah, I happened to be on the set.
EB: I thought it was funny that youre billed as an archeologist and youre like, No, I was actually more of a guy just sitting in a chair.
Nick 13: Yeah, Ive been a huge Lynch fan for years. It was incredible to see how he works, to see how he arranged the shot and it was just a lot of fun.
EB: Did you make the final cut?
Nick 13: I did, apparently. I was in the studio the entire time the movie was in the theater and I have the DVD, which just came out and I had to go on tour before I got the chance to watch it. Apparently Im there toward the end.
For more information go to www.tigerarmy.com
After an afternoon of playing phone tag, SuicideGirls finally tracked down Nick 13 in a Philadelphia diner to chat about the new album, how to avoid becoming a novelty act and what it's like to play an archaeologist for David Lynch.
Erin Broadley: Hey, Nick. Youre a hard man to track down.
Nick 13: Yeah, yeah, were on the road right now so its kind of tough.
EB: How was the Warped Tour this past summer? You guys are seasoned Warped players at this point. Has it changed over the years?
Nick 13: We definitely got the best response we've ever had this year. You know, I like the time Im playing [on the Warped Tour]. I dont really like anything else. Im not a fan of the daytime and Im not a fan of the outside.
EB: How have things been going with the album release? Everything Ive read has been amazingly complimentary.
Nick 13: Yeah, the album has been really well received. Im happy because I felt, after we made it, that it was our best record. Im glad that a lot of people seem to agree.
EB: This is the first album thats not self-produced, correct?
Nick 13: Yeah, thats right.
EB: What led to the decision to hook up with an outside producer [Jerry Finn]?
Nick 13: Well, I did the first three records myself and I feel like each one of those records got better, but I also felt like Id taken things as far as I could on my own. I think each record has been a little step forward but this record is kind of a new chapter.
EB: I read that you have a love for analog and vintage gear. Would you consider yourself a romantic when it comes to old school recording techniques?
Nick 13: Yeah, definitely. Every year that goes by, more people consider those techniques a waste of time or too expensive and, you know, I'm trying to hold onto it as long as I can. [Having Jerry Finn produce this album] did help speed up the process a bit, though we still spent three months on this record. But it was nice for me. It was less stressful not having to be on all the time and not having to oversee every tiny detail. I was still in there the majority of the time but with something like mixing, I definitely trust his ear.
EB: I have a quote here, Tiger Army for a lot of people is more than a band. Its a way of life.
Nick 13: Well, Ive always just made the music that I would want to hear personally. And the stuff Ive been into hasnt been the most popular stuff. I dont know what it is exactly, but it speaks to people. Our fans are more intense than that of the average band. [Our fans have] hundreds and hundreds of tattoos of our logo or my lyrics.
EB: Was it a trip the first time you saw your lyrics tattooed on somebody?
Nick 13: Yeah, it was. It was.
EB: [Laughs]
Nick 13: Sometimes people ask me if I think thats weird or if Im uncomfortable with it. Im really not. Music and tattoos have been a part of my life for a long time. I have music related tattoos myself so I dont really see that as being anything different than something I would do.
EB: In another interview, you talked about the elitist nature of the American rockabilly scene and why it turns you off. Is that something you still feel strongly about or is that a moot point at this stage in your career?
Nick 13: Yeah, I dont even know to what extent that scene still exists. That was the rockabilly scene of the '90s Im talking about there. But, you know, I love the original rockabilly from 1954-1959 as much as anyone and I know as much about it as anyone but I think, in general, people lose sight of the spirit of the music that theyre into. People get too caught up in the music that theyre trying to create. Whereas in 1954-1955, the rockabillies were trying to do something new. They were trying to push the boundaries of music and that goes for the punks in 1976-77 and in the early '80s. There is a time to draw on your influences that come from a particular style of music and theres a time to be an artist and create something new and do your own thing.
EB: Yeah, thats one thing you also said about Tiger Army -- that youre against the whole idea of being a novelty act. Thats a tricky thing, especially with bands that embrace a certain look or a style. Its a tricky thing to be able to [succeed musically] and not have it come across as about image or nostalgia.
Nick 13: Yeah, I agree. Were definitely influenced by the music and the imagery of the '50s but were influenced by a lot of other things as well. And something that I really dont like is when bands that draw on that stuff become a parody -- because then theyre just like Sha-Na-Na and not something serious.
EB: Right, they become caricatures of themselves.
Nick 13: Yeah.
EB: Why do you think psychobilly thrived in Europe and not here in America?
Nick 13: You know, its really kind of weird because with psychobilly -- in a really broad sense -- there are a lot of subcultures that are related to punk in some way. In the '90s when Tiger Army started, I pretty much knew everybody that was really in the psychobilly scene in the United States and I dont think there were even 100 people. There were about five bands and that includes garage bands -- not touring bands with albums -- but bands with a seven-inch that plays once a year. Now thats changed -- I think its a subculture thats a little more established here but it doesnt go back farther than a few years.
EB: Where did your fascination begin with the subversive cultural taboos that psychobilly touches on?
Nick 13: Gosh, I think its just a part of who I am. Its something that goes back to childhood, you know. The last time I was more or less into what everybody else was into was when I was about in sixth grade playing with GI Joe and Transformers or whatever.
EB: But you do like the show "90210" ... I did read that.
Nick 13: Yes.
EB: [Laughs]
Nick 13: Then in sixth grade I got into skateboarding and discovered punk rock and that was it for me. I was never into the stuff that everyone else was and Im still not.
EB: With Tiger Army, you've had this new lineup for three years now. And you've said before that any lineup is like a marriage and it either works or it doesnt and you just have to put both feet into it in order to figure it out. After what happened with Fred and with Jeff, were you in a position where you had to reevaluate what you wanted to do with the band?
Nick 13: No, I always felt like we could survive.
EB: Im assuming there were some dark days there for a while.
Nick 13: Yeah, I mean, definitely. Ive always written all the music in Tiger Army and I think there are certain bands that keep going with one person and I think, with Tiger Army, its really just a matter of how long do I want to do it. If the lineup were to change again, it could if I wanted to keep doing it. But the nice thing is our fans have always stood by it. They understand that the music is going to be what its going to be, whoever Im playing with.
EB: When Fred got shot, did that derail your songwriting at all?
Nick 13: No, I mean, a lot of the music for [Tiger Army III: Ghost Tigers Rise] was already written when he got shot. But there was a period of inactivity for a few months while we were waiting for him to recover where I didnt have anything to do but sit around and write. So I did write a few more songs. Im sure [what happened] did influence the songs in some way but a lot of times that kind of thing is subconscious.
EB: Well, lets finish up by talking about your interest in acting and the small bits in films youve done. How was it working with David Lynch on Inland Empire?
Nick 13: That was amazing. I dont really have any aspirations to act. I mean, there are probably a lot of other things Id be interested in before that. But, yeah, I happened to be on the set.
EB: I thought it was funny that youre billed as an archeologist and youre like, No, I was actually more of a guy just sitting in a chair.
Nick 13: Yeah, Ive been a huge Lynch fan for years. It was incredible to see how he works, to see how he arranged the shot and it was just a lot of fun.
EB: Did you make the final cut?
Nick 13: I did, apparently. I was in the studio the entire time the movie was in the theater and I have the DVD, which just came out and I had to go on tour before I got the chance to watch it. Apparently Im there toward the end.
For more information go to www.tigerarmy.com
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and erin owns