Interview By: Zak White
Photos: Pat Schumacher

REAX:  It’s been a long time since you guys have been in town.

Joe Queer:  Yeah, I don’t remember when the last time was that we were here.

REAX:  We understand The Queers have a new album coming out?

JQ:  Yeah, we’re gonna record it... in about two weeks from today we’re going to the studio, actually.  So we’re looking forward to that.  We haven’t recorded in a while.  We haven’t had a label.  We don’t have a label now, really...  Well, we could go on Asian Man, I think, but we can shop our album and get it out.  The Queers… easy enough, so we’re gonna record it and shop it around.

REAX:   So you guys are doing this tour, a fairly long tour, and then you’re working on a summer European tour?

JQ:  Yes.  We’re doing this, then we’re going in the studio, doing the new album, and then we’re flying to Boston to film some stuff for the DVD, we’re doing a DVD, then we’re off to Europe June 7th, we’re flying to Spain, we’re back July 23rd.  Then The Hard Ons from Australia are coming September 5th through October 15th, around the U.S. and then down to Brazil October 17th to November 1st.... So we’re pretty busy till then.  August, we’ll just do a few shows.

REAX:   And you guys have Lurch back in the band...

JQ:  Yeah, Justin.  Yeah, I was just saying Dave was gettin’ burned, and nobody would fight but he was gettin’ burned and, no big deal, so... I talked to Justin and I said, “I wanna replace him, Dave’s gettin’ burned with so much touring,” and he was like, “I’ll tour,” so... I called Dave and Dave will still fill in, so we’ve got kind of a revolving door of people coming in.

REAX:   That’s cool.  I think a lot of good bands do.  What’s up with these reissues?  Everybody’s got reissues of all their old music and I noticed that Screeching Weasel is doing the same thing.  Are you guys doing that together?

JQ: No, Ben hooked me up with Mike and Asian Man but the thing was, I did get some nasty comments like, “Joe Queer is trying to cash in,” but people don’t realize we haven’t been paid for our albums from Lookout in about five or six years.  And we’re like, “Well, fuck it.”  They broke the contracts and just kept all of our money.  You know, people don’t know what it’s like to go around and see your CDs being sold in stores, in like Scotland or Japan, and go, “I don’t get any money for this.”  You know, so we had to take ‘em back.  Then Green Day let us know they were leaving Lookout and then we were like, “We’re outta here.”  And so we’ve got ‘em back, but we’re remixing them, remastering them, we found some old tracks, different versions and stuff and put various EPs on the corresponding albums, and putting a little money, a couple grand into each one, you know, remixing them, remastering them, and making it good, new artwork and shit for the inside.  So that’s gonna be on Asian Man, yeah.  

REAX:   So, where would you say this new album’s going?

JQ:  I am inclined, right now, we’re doing it different… usually I have a lot of stuff mapped out, but this one I’ve got, like, about 20 songs—well, ideas, about half to three-quarters finished, so everybody’s gonna have to come in and arrange the songs and like do their part, so it’s gonna be pretty free form.  I don’t know, I’m gonna say it’s more pop than stupid three-chord punk.

REAX:  Ok, maybe not as aggressive, maybe a little more laid-back?

JQ:  Some will be, but then some will be more poppy stuff.  Which I think is like, you know, the great stuff for me.  I like the fast stuff, but, um… the Ramones’ stuff, but I think very few bands do that well now.  I think very few bands do it.

REAX:  So, have you guys been treated all right by the Tampa area?  State Media and everyone is taking care of you?

JQ:  Around here?  Oh yeah.  Yeah, yeah.  We’ve always liked it here.  

REAX:   You got any stories for us about the Tampa, St. Pete area?

JQ:  Well we used to come and stay at Chris Barrow’s house, he lived right off Sligh Avenue, right by Lowry Park Zoo.  So, we would set up camp there for a few days.  And we played the Blue Chair over here in Ybor City, back when Ybor City was… it was bad news coming over here, man.  We spent a lot of time down here because of Chris.  But I like it.  We used to... I can’t remember all the clubs we’ve played down here.  But we’ve always had a good time.  I don’t know how good it will be tonight, looks like a few kids have showed up, so...

REAX:   Oh, you got some people in there.  You know it’s a Sunday night, smaller venue, but they’ve also been booking bigger bands here at Orpheum lately.

JQ:   Yeah, I like the small punk clubs, like CBGBs or The Rat in Boston... you know, that was my thing, there was a little stage, and it was the band and the audience and there was no separation, you know?  The audience was just as much a part of the show as the band.  Now with the Warped Tour and all the festival shit, it’s just… the whole punk ethic is just lost in the big money, and the huge stages, and all that.  I don’t know, that’s what I like, is the little sweaty club with 200 kids in your face.  If it doesn’t get any better than that, then it’s getting way better than I ever dreamed about.  

REAX:  Being back on the road after a little while feels good doesn’t it?

JQ:  We’ve been touring a lot, we just haven’t been down here.  Last year we toured so much, now I’m basically... we’ve got some stuff in Chicago and Minneapolis at the end of the year, we’re gonna fly back, and then...  We’re busier than ever, it’s insane.  I was telling Ashley that I wanna, like, write my book, but I... I’m finally gonna be able to do it next winter.  But there’s so much stuff you can do, so many projects, we’ve got a Queers tribute album I’m doing...

REAX:   I was gonna ask you about that.  What kinds of bands are involved, off the top of your head?

JQ:  We’ve got Screeching Weasel, New Bomb Turks, Teen Generate, the Dwarfs, Hard Ons, Toys that Kill, they’ve said they’re gonna contribute…  I just put the word out, and so many bands sent stuff in that I’m gonna do two CDs.  So it’s pretty cool.  The thing that I think is cool is a lot of lesser known bands did stuff that’s cool, you know, and it gives them a chance to get out and so that’s cool... I mean I could probably ask fag bands like Taking Back Sunday or fucking My Chemical Romance or whoever, you know, bands that opened up for us that are influenced by us to do this shit, but I really... I have nothing against them, but I, I’m more into bands like the Dwarfs, Toys that Kill, you know, Screeching Weasel… bands that are just, to me, real punk bands, not just put together for a career move to try to make it in the business and be the next Fallout Boy or something.  So, it’s gonna be pretty good, there’s some good shit on it.

REAX:  So how long are we waiting for the new album?

JQ:  It’ll be finished in September, and we’re gonna get it right out.  We’re gonna record it and look around and get it out for the fall tour.  

REAX:   I appreciate the interview, you guys gotta go rock... you’ve got this new CD coming out, so can we hope to see you guys sometime soon again?

JQ:  We’re either gonna be coming back in the fall with the Hard Ons, or we’re definitely coming back in January—we’ll do a two or three week quick little tour, then.  Nobody’s touring in January, so we’ll do that, get a couple bucks and have some fun.