Haley: What do you think of the whole trendiness of punk now?
Paul: Whatever.
Haley: Whatever?
Punk: It doesn’t affect me.
Haley and Joanne: *giggling*
Haley: (An attempt to get Paul to talk more…) Ok, so you don’t really think anything of it?
Paul: No.
Haley: What is the most valuable thing you take on tour?
Paul: My cd player.
Haley: (Yet another brilliant attempt…) What cds do you bring?
Paul: On this tour I brought over 200, and I didn’t lose any!
Haley: Well…*in awe* that’s good!
Paul: Yeah. *Says something, but unfortunately due to the fact my recorder isn’t that great, and there’s a lot of background noise I cant understand him.*
Haley: What kinds of cds do you bring, like what bands?
Paul: A very wide range of cds. All kinds from like hip-hop to dirty south rap to uhhhh… a bunch of emo.
Haley: What about The Distillers?
Paul: No.
Haley & Joanne: Awww.
Paul: No, some REAL punk cds!
*laughter*
Haley: Don’t make fun of The Distillers!
Paul: I was kidding, I’m sorry!
Haley: I know, its ok.
Paul: I really have a wide range of music, like Marvin Gay, and Al Green,....Bjork!
Haley: Cool, that’s good.
Haley: Uhhh…What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you?
Paul: Ummm… *Pause* I threw up at a signing.
Haley: Ok, I have to ask you this, what’s up with Billy and his hamsters?
Paul: Nothing. He really regrets it. That was a joke, and he’s been regretting it since the day he printed it.
Haley: Everyone makes such a big deal about it.
Paul: And even when we took it off our website its still everywhere, he still gets it everyday. People need to get over it!
Haley: It’s always on the message board.
Joanne: Do you ever read the message board and what’s on it?
Paul: I do not own a computer so I do not, but I think Billy and Benji do. There’s a lot of idiocy on our message board.
Haley: I go on there quite frequently *pause* cause… I don’t really have a life.
Paul: You have a life. You’re alive.
Haley: *pause* Yea…
Paul: Then you have a life what you do with it is your choice. The last time I went on there and did some reading I was like: What the fuck are you people talking about?!
Haley: That’s funny cause it was probably us two! We’re always on there!
...in the middle of the interview...
Haley: Oh yeah, I’m Haley by the way.
Paul: I’m Paul.
Haley: I know your Paul.
Joanne: I’m Joanne.
Paul: I’m Paul.
Joanne: Hello.
Haley: When the tour is over, what do you have planned?
Paul: We’re going to do some overseas stuff in Europe and Australia, and then come back and… uh… tour around the US.
Joanne: You gonna come to Boston?
Paul: Maaayyybe.
Haley: I'm thinking you should come to Monson. (Mass)
Paul: Monson?
Haley: Yeah, its like 2 hours away from here its (unfortunately) where I live. [Pause] um… ya know just stop by… say hey.
Paul: Sure. We’re not sure exactly where we’re going yet. We don’t even know how many cities we’re going to.
Haley: What's your favorite quote?
Paul: *Very long pause*...Hmmm… That’s a tough one. I really like the Get Up Kids, on “Something to Write Home About” I forget the name of the song, but its: “If it all ended tonight you know I wouldn’t mind to go back to the good old times before it won”.
Haley: Boxers or Briefs?
Paul: Ummmm… at the moment neither.
Haley: Well then what are you wearing, nothing?!
Paul: Yep.
Haley: That’s awesome Paul.
Paul: But usually boxers.
Haley: If you could say just on thing to the fans, what would you say?
Paul: YOU RULE! Thanks for coming to our shows and making them fun!
Haley: What's one bad thing about being famous?
Paul: About being famous?
Haley: Yea, like everyone knowing you.
Paul: I can only speak of what I’ve seen with the twins. *pause* I'm not famous yet.
Haley: YOU'RE FAMOUS!
Paul: I'm not super famous to the point where it’s affected my social life. It doesn’t affect my personal life at all. It kind of sucks when your on your day off, you know, and you’re trying to escape everything for a day, and you go to the mall, you just cant go anywhere without people recognizing you. Like they, *points to the twins*, can’t go anywhere anymore. It’s a bummer that, you know, your business is all up in everyone’s face and you don’t have your own life anymore. But it comes with the cards, you know?
Haley & Joanne: Yep.
[Pause]
Haley: um... I'm just trying to think, and *pause* I can’t really think. When I first heard about their show (All Things Rock) and it was just Benji and Joel I was like, “Hey! What about Paul and Billy?” It made me sad because it seems like everyone forgets about you guys, but they don’t, trust me. You know we love you.
Paul: *giggles* Thank you! *pause* SCORE!!
Haley: What music did you grow up listening to, like maybe stuff your mom played around the house or something?
Paul: My mom didn’t play me music, my older brother did. What music I listened to… Like, I was walking around in 5th grade listening to the Dead Kennedys and the Dead Milkmen while everyone else was listening to Salt n’ Peppa and Kid n’ Play. Thanks to my brother, as long back as I can remember I was listening to indie music and punk. That’s why I’m like, very very mellow, like the whole punk thing, that was me when I was 15. I’m 21 now, I’m way over it, there’s too many guide lines to it.
Haley: Yeah, I know, like if you don’t listen to certain bands, you’re not punk enough or the way you dress, and the poser thing, its so stupid. [Pause] but like you guys, you’re like a big part of my life, and you inspire me so much.
Paul: It’s amazing that we can do that.
Haley: Like the last time I saw you guys I cried *laughs* it was during Motivation Proclamation. It was in Indiana. I don’t know why *laughs* but I did (I'm a fucking loser), cause you know, I feel like you guys are some of my best friends, but I don’t even know you. I don’t know. Do you know what I mean?
Joanne: If you cry, I’ll kill you!
Haley: If it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Your music, it got me through a lot of tough shit, and I really appreciate it.
Paul: *in awe* Thank you! That’s really amazing that we had that affect on your life!
Joanne: I’ll be on the board and everyone’s like, “we love good charlotte so much!”
Paul: That’s insane cause we’re just making music!
Haley: That’s the thing, music is such a big part of our lives.
Paul: Music is a big part of my life and I know exactly what you mean. Its crazy that you’re sitting with the band you love though.
Haley's Note: Ahh, and unfortunately I can’t put a happy ending to this interview because my tape HAS BEEN MURDERED!!(It sounds like little mice. Me and my dad are attempting to fix it) But I will try to get the rest of this interview to everyone as soon as possible.
Joanne's Note: Man, I know some of the stuff that's missing too. The illegal MP3ing, Paul drumming Riot Girl on his lap, talking about the Unseen, the groupie part. When Haley sends me the rest I'll definitely put it up ASAP Oh, and The Get Up Kids song Paul took a quote from is 'Long Goodnight'.
For More Information:
• Good Charlotte Official Site: www.goodcharlotte.com