Page 29 - Black Velvet Issue 96

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I think everyone has a sense of that from the to be; I’d like it to be successful, I’d like lifestyle and keep up that rebel attitude, you
day that they’re born. You know if something everybody that works with the band, every- can kind of do things that aren’t really role
feels right, you know if something feels one that listens to the band, everyone that model-esque.”
wrong. But at what point in our lives does so comes to a show, I would just like it to be a One thing we’ve discovered over the
much happen to us that we lose that? And safe place, a feel-good place where people years is that you can never please everyone
it’s almost like a constant battle in your could have a good time and don’t have to all of the time. With an array of fans comes
adulthood life to get back to that innocence worry about anything. You can escape from an array of wants and demands. We’ve no-
and that understanding that ‘Hey, the world reality for a little bit.” ticed bands from time to time apologizing to
doesn’t revolve fans because they couldn’t come out to sign
around me person- autographs after a show – or something of
ally’. Everyone has that nature.
their own story. Craig says, “I was just reading an article
Everybody’s going the other day about full-grown adults that
through something. were getting upset at the cast of ‘Stranger
But if we all tried to Things’, who are kids, those are kids, under-
understand each age kids. And there were full-grown adults
other better the waiting outside the hotel these kids were
world would be a staying at upset that these kids weren’t com-
better place, I think.” ing down to talk to them. It’s like, “What is
During his ca- wrong with you?” You’re a full-grown adult
reer Craig has had and you’re creepily waiting outside a hotel
moments when he’s where a child is staying because you want a
questioned who he photo or an autograph?”
was becoming. Craig remembers one of his own similar
“I’ve definitely e x pe r ie nc e s .
had a lot of middle- “There was one
of-tour moments show I played, I
where I’m just star- believe it was
ing in the mirror South By So
thinking, ‘What the What in Texas
hell happened to you?!’” he laughs. “’What and I got off-
am I doing here? Why am I here? What am I s humans, stage and I just
doing?’ I have a lot of those moments. I like Ab a n d was not feeling
having those moments because being a mu- members come in good that whole
sician and artist it drives my creative force.” all shapes and day, and I just
His creative force came out in full force sizes. Some are pushed through
for ‘Empire’, a song that’s been described as seen as role mod- that entire set
a party anthem with a dark undertone. In els, others as and as soon as
‘Empire’ Craig sings ‘Welcome to my empire rebels. Some start it finished I was
where everyone’s fucked up’. out as rebels and like, “Uh oh, it’s
Craig says, “I think anything in excess morph into role going to hap-
turns into something bad and that’s what the models. pen. I need to go
undertones in that song have. On the sur- Craig says, “I throw up. This is
face, and I guess we get back to haters think in this day going to hap-
again, ‘cause they exist everywhere and and age there’s a pen. I’m excited
they’re very fricking annoying, but on the very fine line be- that it’s going to
surface it’s like, ‘What the heck is this elec- tween role model happen because
tronic party song? Are they trying to be a and rebel. I didn’t I’m probably
Top 40 band?’ It’s like ‘Dude, listen to it. It’s start a band or going to feel a
a really dark song if you actually listen to it’. want to be in lot better once I
And that’s pretty much what it is. You can go music because I do it.” So I’m
out and have that group of friends that are wanted to be a role just marching
all cheers-ing a shot or beer and you’re all model. From the very beginning, I wanted to back to the tourbus and this guy and I’m
laughing and sharing memories and creating be a rebel. I wanted to do music because I guessing his girlfriend because they’re hold-
new ones and having a good night, but then didn’t want to do what my parents thought I ing hands, they’re at the trailer by the tour-
you can also be that guy who is “Give me an- should be, I didn’t want to do what the world bus. “Can we get a picture? Can you sign
other one, give me another one, give me an- or society wanted me to do. I didn’t want to this?” I’m like, “Yeah, give me a couple of
other one,” and you’re stumbling out by get a job and go to college and save up to do minutes, I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”
yourself at closing time because you have it. At a very young age, I knew I wanted to do I walk on the tour bus, I throw up, I clean up.
some dark things in your life. You’re using something in music. And the more people I swish my mouth with some Listerine. I go
that party as a crutch instead of using that who told me I couldn’t do it, the more I back out of the bus and walk to the trailer
party as a feel-good time – so that’s what the wanted to do it, which is what a rebel is. But and they are nowhere to be found. I actually
dark undertones of that song is.” that turns into something and people end up did a lap around the bus and up to the trailer
A lot of bands do seem to enter that pe- looking up to that. Everybody has a rebel in- and “That sucks, maybe they had to leave,”
riod of when they are drinking or partying a side of them. It’s like, “Oh wow, if he can do and not even an hour later, I’m posting
little too much. It starts off fun but then gets it, maybe I can do it,” and they start looking something on Instagram, “Hey, thanks for
to a point where it’s not so fun and can affect up to that, and then you really do have to the great show, Texas. We’ll see you next
the whole band, relationships and more. Es- watch yourself, because you really do unin- time around” and there’s that guy leaving me
cape The Fate have had their share of those tentionally become a role model. So you a paragraph-long comment; “You’re a piece
moments, with various line-up changes over have to do things in a positive way to where of shit. We asked for a photo. You made us
the years having been a result of some of you’re influencing people in a positive way. I wait outside for over an hour,” and it was
those times. tell people all the time, even at shows in per- just like, “Man, come on! No. 1: No, I didn’t.
But on the subject of empires, we ask son, “Hey man,” or ‘Hey girl, I’m gonna see No. 2: I was feeling sick.” I tried to have a lit-
how Craig would like his own empire to be. you on tour one day. Keep at it and we’re tle bit of sympathy, but people do kind of for-
“I’d like my empire to just be good,” he going to be on tour together one day.” There get that you’re also a human being. “Hey, I
replies. “Just be fun every day. I like to read are people I used to go to their concerts and listen to your music on YouTube. I haven’t
things from Andrew W.K. on Twitter. I think now I’m on tour with them, or we text each got your album and your merch is a little ex-
he’s hilarious. He’s like ‘Party tip of the day: other and see how each other’s doing. So it’s pensive for me, but I support your band and
Don’t stop partying’. I’m like, “Wow, that’s so really not that difficult; if you set your mind that means you should be here for me and
inspirational!” That’s how I’d like my empire to it, you can do it. But trying to keep up the sign everything I have,” when it’s just like,
ESCAPE THE FATE