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Its been a while since Ignite have played the UK with Zoli on lead vocals – a couple of years ago he suffered some medical issues, whilst covering vocals for Pennywise which resulted in him not having any feeling down the left of his body. Now fighting fit and back to lead the iconic Southern Californian punk hardcore band Ignite they are back over. This band have been in my life for many many years and it was a real honour to sit down with Zoli and bring you this interview which was conducted in Camden before their show at The Underworld on January 27th 2015. I was very excited but also very nervous…!
Welcome back to the UK for the one off show tonight in London. What do you enjoy the most about being in the UK?
You cross that little Channel and its almost like a different world, it really is. Its a world revolved around music and fashion. The UK is what American strives to be musically. We’ve had a lot of good bands come out of America but the phenomenal bands that come out of England make it an honour to come here. We had Elvis, Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen but you guys had The Beatles, Led Zeppelin… fucking giants, the sound track to peoples lives ya know!
So, what’s new in the world of Ignite? Your last record “Our Darkest Days” was released in 2006, are there any plans to record soon?
We have a new album which is almost done, we have 2/3 songs left to record. This should be done in the next two months. We had a break because I started doing movies then went into Pennywise for a few years then got hurt, so its supposed to be every 2-3 years but we’ve had to wait. So after that we will tour again and come here with a bus and tour 5 or more UK shows.
Ignite have always been a band that have made their voice heard of multiple subjects in the public eye (Government issues, violence (both domestic and international) and the conservation of wildlife) – do you think the message that bands give is needed now more than ever?
You know its crazy, we are in a time of the most educated time in the history of the world but if you put something on the news its like “ah that sucks” then its off to the next thing, there is so much news and different ways to get information its made people apathetic.
1.3 million Syrians are fucking freezing to death on the borders of Lebanon and Jordan and the UN had cut their food in half, they will all starve to death running away from a war that the West told them to stand up against these regimes, which they did but then we are like “ah I don’t know, fuck you!” and all these people just got massacred. We put so much focus on one thing that happens. Charlie Hebdo for example, which we should have focused on but at the same time what about focus on these poor Syrian people and the full on war, with war crimes going on in the Ukraine with Russia!? It’s crazy cause if you put focus on something people have to do something about it. Even more than ever.
The environment is getting its ass kicked right now, things have just got so crappy that animals in California are starving to death as the Oceans have got so acidic the fish have dies off, so the seals and pelicans have nothing to eat because we’ve fucked up this place.
There is a book by Voltaire called ‘Candide’ and it says take care of your own garden, take care of your patch and take care of your family, but at the same time do a little extra. So, give to non profit, if you are a waiter then wait an extra table or two and give the proceeds to something. Sea Shepherd’s boats regularly dock in England so go help clean the boats out.
Its imperative that we keep talking about stuff on stage.
Do you feel the connection between punk/hardcore bands these days is still there like it was in the 80’s, 90’s & early 2000’s? How much do you think the scene has changed, if at all?
Of course, its 20 years later and if anyone’s complaining about it, its called reality. I’m 45, there are 20 year olds in bands out there that get it. I’m a dinosaur! The kids and the new generations out there kick ass and that’s how it is. Things change and evolve, so what I recommend all punk and hardcore singers do is have a good plan B on the side cause its going to maybe change so you need to think about a career, cause you may be hot right now but in 5 years time… who knows!
Which bands stand out to you these days?
We just played with Turnstile, they are fucking great but I said to the singer that you have to sing just a bit more. They are very 90’s hardcore, riffy, take their shirts off and are all ripped, the guy looks like John Joseph from Cro-Mags. I want to help those guys with their vocal parts are I know where they want to go sound wise as I was there and that style got me in to writing. They’re cool, I want to take them on tour! Their sound makes you feel good!
You have had stints in both The Misfits and also Pennywise. Which out of the two was the most challenging?
The Misfits I had to learn 42 song in 2 weeks. Everyone knows what the choruses are, but all the lyrics? They’re fucking crazy! Danzig is fucking wild and its like what the fuck are you singing about, man!? That was fun because its what I grew up on.
Pennywise was challenging because I was thrusted into this huge band all of a sudden which had a singer but when you take the cork off the genie bottle all the 20 years of grips come up. I’m the new guy and as the front man I had to find myself. Fletcher is a crazy mother fucker, 7 feet tall, we used to get into fist fights all the time, but it was fun and we made a great album.
I asked Jim if he wanted me to sing and he said its cool, I would want anyone else to. I had to be sure as he put 20 years of his life into that band and I didn’t want to shit on his music. Over the time it made them realise how great they had it. Now they have to write a better album than there last one (laughing).
When I got hurt I asked him if he would come back. They all have kids and needed it to work. Jim is the singer of Pennywise and I helped keep them alive and gave it a boost in the ass reminding them how lucky they are!
After playing all over the world – what’s the craziest experience you’ve had on tour?
We played a crazy little club in Greece in maybe ’95. Farmers showed up and thought we were fighting and they came up to us trying to put us in headlocks and one guy stole a guitar head whilst the guitarist was still playing and tried to run out the side door of the club. I thought OK, we are going to get killed here, when the stabbings coming!
QUICK FIRE ROUND
1. Favourite record of all time?
The Mating Sounds of South American Frogs by Pete and the Test Tube Babies – fucking great band!
2. Who haven’t you played with that you want to and who are your favourite band to play shows with?
So there was one show, right. Turning Heads opened then Garbage then Pennywise then The Offspring the Soundgarden and finally Coldplay. It was a radio show we did and when Coldplay came out I forgot I played that night because they kicked everyone’s asses up and down the court. They wiped them like little kids, all of us. I like some of their songs but its when you see how professional they are and how well they know their instruments I thought they were really good!
Another band that caught me by surprise was Limp Bizkit. It was Pennywise, Twisted Sister and Limp Bizkit and I thought I’m going to go watch The Nookie and that guitarist blew me away. He painted his body red, then white so when he started sweating it looked like blood was pouring off him and his guitar tone was perfect. I was in ore!
3. Favourite movie of all time?
Cinema Paradiso and another that I can’t remember right now.
4. If you had a superpower what would it be & how would you use it?
Impervious to any kind of metal or bullets then I would work around the Middle East and fix shit and stop all the war. Some Iron Man shit going on so you can shoot me or blow me up but I will tear these walls down and turn the gun on you. I’ve thought about that a couple of times. After the Middle East I’d go down to Africa and try and save those poor animals.
5. Three dream dinner guests? Dead or alive... What would be on the menu?
Bono, Pavarotti and Mother Theresa and we would have good quality vegan food. Mother Theresa is punk rock, man! You try and hug somebody who’s skin is rotting off from cholera and leprosy and you hold them giving attention as they are dying. She was fucking punk rock and would tell you to go fuck yourself too! Sad thing is that she told Pope John Paul that that God never loved her for some reason, pretty gnarly!
6. What is everyone’s worst habits on tour?
We argue about the dumbest shit. A couple of days ago we argued over a noun or pro noun to use in a song. It almost got violent! We were talking about ‘that’ or ‘then’! Who cares?! Haha its stupid! We don’t see the bigger pitcher sometimes especially hanging out with the same people on tour in confined spaces. Our drummer was eating Pringles last night, crunching away and I was like I am going to stab you in a minute in the eye and shove the chips down your throat haha!
Thanks for your time Zoli, its been great chatting…
Thanks man, please can I also mention if anyone has time to check out Pelican Rescue Team which is my non profit and if you are ever in Southern California come down and we can rescue together. Also Sea Shepherd (UK site) – we just got given 8.2m euros from the Dutch lottery service so we are going to build a boat to keep up with the Japanese… so stoked!
Please check out the recommended links by Zoli and support two fantastic causes!