Interviews: The Catatonics

This is a new interview with the Hardcore Punk band The Catatonics from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you plan it or came out just like that?

We just came up with it. We wanted a cool name and The Catatonics just seemed to sound good. I mean this is almost 40 years ago and we were just these little hardcore punk teenagers just going for it. Farmer came up with the logo if I remember correctly.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We were all kind of misfits at our high school and were into the hardest, fastest, heaviest music we could find. We hated normies and mainstream music. 3. Did you know each other before the band was formed? Yeah, we were all high school classmates except Jeff

4. Each band member's favorite band?

At the time I guess it would have been like The Clash, Pistols, Stiff Little Fingers, Bad Brains, Sham 69, Circle Jerks, Gang Green, SS Decontrol, Discharge, Motorhead, GBH, Minor Threat.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Just whatever was going on around us. The ignorance and stupidity of the town we were in and of the world in general.

6. Where was your last gig?

The Catatonics last gig would have been at a Knights of Columbus hall in Syracuse NY on June 15 1985. The flier is actually in the liner notes of the re-issue. I left town to join 7 Seconds later that month.

7. Where would you like to act?

On the big screen opposite Joaquin Phoenix. Maybe Martin Scorsese directs.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Fucked Up, The Explosion, Ceremony, Paint it Black.

9. Who not?

Post Malone. hahahaha

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Nope. Been playing in front of people since I was in grade school. Never had any stage fright whatsoever. For kids just starting out, I'd say: you wrote the music, you practiced the music - now go out there and shove in everyone's faces. Ya gotta just go for it and believe in yourself.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Clash, Bad Brains, SLF, The Saints, Minor Threat, early Black Flag, Sex Pistols, Gang Green, Circle Jerks, GBH, The Cure, The Avengers, The Professionals, Kraut. I also always really liked 7 Seconds and UK Subs a ton, so actually being able to join each of those two bands was pretty special.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

That's a toughie. Drumsticks and tattoos aren't really that weird, so I don't have a good answer on this one

13. What do you think of your fans?

I think it's kind of amazing that people have this amount of interest & passion for a band from almost 4 decades ago. It's pretty humbling and pretty rad.

14. What do you think of our site?

Just checked it out. Looks pretty cool!

15. Something to add?

Good to go here. Everybody go out and buy this Hunted Down reissue! Southern Lord Recs has really gone over & beyond on this one!