FBS! Everything Is Bigger In Texas!

I love Fight Before Surrender, no really, they are a great band and an even better group of honest, fun loving people. I was first introduced to FBS by Gorilla Warfare. I was moaning on the forum that I couldn’t find any good punk that had a good Christian message. So the guys in Gorilla Warfare smacked me upside the heads with their label mate (on Wounded Records) Fight Before Surrender. Ever since I have really enjoyed listening to their CDs and have had a great time interviewing them and finding out they are quite the comedians. So, the format of this interview looks a little different, each question is numbered, and sometimes I add in numbers (hence question 2.5, which they took great liberty in tearing into me over that), so to preserve the comedic value of the interview, I am leaving it as is. So read on and support you local punks……

……..Oh yeah, and they are Philadelphia Flyers fans, which is an added bonus (that is just for you Josh & Andrew)…..

Band Name: Fight Before Surrender (FBS)
Music Style: Show Tunes/Easy Listening
Location (Home Base): San Antonio, Texas

1. Tell us how Fight Before Surrender got its start.

It really happened out of a failed project and a lot of member changes. two of us (Charlie, he played bass on the first album, and I) were ready to throw in the towel on a ska band we were doing because we kept having line up problems. We met Jay (drummer on both releases) when he booked us for a show. At the time we really needed a drummer whose head was in the game, and a band that he was in just broke up. Jay fit really well and was able to constantly play and tour. Yep, failed projects.

2. Where did the name Fight Before Surrender come from? What does it mean?

After a band makes a name for itself in its local scene, it’s suicide when they change their name. We went by FBS and everyone kept asking us what does it stand for. we weren’t going to tell them it stood for Five Bucks Short (the old ska band Charlie and I did), because we weren’t the same band but everyone knew us from that band. We just told people to make up something for FBS to stand for. We got a lot of names, some crazy, some stupid, some over the line.
e were going through some more line up changes,its the story of the band, and i was going through a hard time personally, When I was talking to a friend and I said to him,”I’ll fight before I surrender.” Then he said, “hey, there’s another FBS name you can use for FBS.” I liked it and it stuck.

2.5. What music or bands have influenced FBS?

2.5? What? Is that a half a question of 2 or is it a revised version of question 2? like an updated version?
Music, all kinds. We all listen to a bunch of different stuff. Bands, there’s a lot of bands that I grew up listenting to that I love and respect and I’m sure they have played their part somewhere. Until you answer my questions, I think that’s the best answer your gonna get. Deal?

3. What does everyone in the band do when they are not playing?

On tour? We make fun of our roadie, whoever it might be at the time. Kristen sleeps a lot.
At home? Nothing really. We all have jobs that we do when we get off the road. We still focus al ot of time on FBS with practice and writing stuff, booking, and business stuff.

4. FBS currently has two albums out (that I can see at least), are you planning on releasing a new album any time soon?

Yes, we have two full lenghts and four demos leading up to them. New stuff? We have a few things in the works. We’re going out on a limb with the new stuff. Big suprises!!! And we’ll be looking for a label to release the new album. It’s in the works I promise. You’ll have a teaser around spring.

5. You guys have been around for quite a while (since 2003), what to attribute to the bands longevity?

Understanding and following your calling. A lot of sacrifice and commitment to what you do. It has been hard, but well worth every minute of it.

6. FBS has website (www. fightbeforesurrender. com), but it looks like it is under construction, wanna give us an idea of what kinds of goodies will be on the site?

HAAHAHAHAHA!!!! We had another webpage that was “under construction,” when actually the webmaster went crazy and it expired. The new webpage (fightbeforesurrender. com) is ligit, almost 2 ligit…2 ligit to quit. Uh….we’ll have a lot of the stuff that is on the myspace page, but more!!!! Like a webstore where you can buy merch safely, and other cool stuff like trivia. Yes, you can win prizes.

6. FBS is a Christian punk band, has the band ever had an adverse reaction to that over the 5+ years you have been playing?

What? you cant have 6 twice!!!
I hate that term, “Christian punk band,” it’s stupid! If our whole purpose of the band was about sex, would we be called a sex punk band? We are a PUNK BAND. We are Christians in a PUNK BAND. Our PUNK BAND is used as a tool for ministry. We don’t get pushy about our beliefs and try to shove them down your throat, but we are open about them. Have we had confrontations? Sure. Those are the people that end up talking to us for hours after the show and actually walk away with a respect for us.

7. Have kids/people come up to any members in the band after a show to discuss Christ?

Yes, every single time we play. Even when we go to shows and we are not playing.

8. Anyone ever hassled the band the about being Christian? If so how did you handle that?

Good question. Um, I don’t. I know that I haven’t.

9. Where in the bible does the band draw most of its influence? What keeps the band going?

Its in John chapter 6 verse 9-10.

Nah, I’m just playing. I think for each of us its different.
Keeps us going? There’s a lot that keeps us going. I guess the biggest thing is that God hasn’t told us to stop what we are doing. The doors keep opening. We have fun playing and touring.

10. You have a European tour coming up next year (or at least the makings of one), tell us about that, who will you be playing with?

Right now we have 8 dates booked in the UK. We were hoping that some of our Western European contacts will come through, but if not we’ll at least be doing some dates in the UK. Most of our dates are with a band called Sounds of Swami. I don’t know much about them, but we’re excited none the less.

11. Will the band be playing Cornerstone in 2009?

I dunno. We’ve been asked to play every year since 2005. They might be getting tired of us….if they ask, we’ll play. We always have a good time. It’s like a big family reunion.

12. What bands or music are the members of the band currently listening to? (in other words, what have you guys been listening to personally)

Isn’t this a rewording of question 2.5? I think it is.
Andrew has been listening to a lot of hardcore. Kristen is hooked on a band we played with a while back, Everybody Out. They are from Boston. I don’t know what Nate is playing, pro’ly The Clash. I’ve been spinning Metallica,”Kill’Em All”.

13. Tell us about some of the bands you have played with over the years, who has been the most memorable to play with? Who do you want to play?

We’ve played with a lot of bands that are, or were important in our scene.
Headnoise, The Deal, One 21, Officer Negative (it was more like Death Cmpaign), Revolution Radio. We’ve toured with The Havoc, The Last Hope, Flatfoot 56, Fight To Die, Our Corpse Destroyed (OCD).
Bands we want to tour or play with? We’re down with anyone. Whenever, wherever. Sounds like I’m calling them out doesn’t it?
…maybe, I am.

14. If you could give a messages to the punk scene what would it be?

You don’t have to be ignorant to be punk rock. Think for yourself and think before you react. Stop going to shows and getting into fights and getting your venues shut down and then go home crying to the bands because they never come to your town. How can they? You ruined your scene for everyone.

15. Feel free to give some shout outs or anything else you want to share.

Fo rizzle? ah,snap!
Thank you for the interview, it was a blast.
Everyone should go over to OCD’s myspace (www. myspace. com/ourcorpsedestroyed) and send them emails telling them to play more shows.
And, from the bottom of Andrew’s and my heart, GO REDWINGS!!!

You can check out Fight Before Surrender on their myspace page. You can purchase their albums there as well. Make sure to support your local scene. God bless!

Also, don’t forget to visit the HXC Christian forums and post away!