Interview with Mike and Tom from The Starting Line
July 14, 2003 at The Metro in Chicago, IL
By Robbie

No Picture Available

Much thanks to Kathi for setting it up and making sure it happened, and to Mike and Tom for being really rad and Robbie for doing the interview.

Robbie: How did you guys all meet and start the band?
Mike: We met about three and a half years ago. Me Tom and Matt were all friends from the same area and we all had played in bands before and then we played together and tried to find a singer, so matt went online and did an aol search for a singer and ken was the only one to respond. So he was like yeah we’re in a band and we’re playing at a skate park so come check us out. So we checked him out and we stole him *laughs* and then we started.

Robbie: What’s it like having your video on MTV and MTV2?
Mike: It’s crazy. It’s one of the things I don’t think any of us thought would ever happen. And then all of a sudden MTV told us they were gunna play it all the time and now we’re on the radio at home now. It’s a dream come true.

Robbie: Why did you guys make two videos for “The Best of Me”?
Mike: Because we all hated the first one. We all thought it was terrible basically and we didn’t want to put it out, so we waited to see if we could get another video.

Robbie: What should be expected from the new acoustic EP?
Mike: Well basically Ken had recorded a couple songs at home just to kill some time and then he let all his friends listen to it and we all liked it so me and him sat down in his basement and recorded a couple more. It’s just us killing time and messing around basically. There’s some old casio keyboard samples in it. It’s a little bit different.

Robbie: Have you recorded a full length or anything like that?
Mike: We will because we were just off for the last two months writing it, so hopefully we’ll record that at the end of the year and then it will be out early next year.

Robbie: What’s your favorite venue to play at?
Mike: The Electric Factory in Philly.
Tom: And The Metro.
Mike: And The Metro.
*Tom laughs*
Mike: The Metro is pretty good. This is the second time we’re playing here. I like this place.

Robbie: What are some of your favorite bands to play with?
Mike: Ummmm I dunno. What are some of your favorite bands to play with Tom?
Tom: I dunno. Taking Back Sunday.
Mike: Taking Back Sunday was fun….Brand New was fun...
Tom: Yellowcard.
Mike: We had fun with No Use For a Name on the Sum 41 tour.

Robbie: What’s your favorite song to play live?
Mike: *sarcastically* 'The Best Of Me!'....'Given the Chance' I guess.
Robbie: What about you Tom?
Tom: Ummmmmmm...
Mike: Tom pretty much celebrates the whole collection. *laughs*
Tom: Yeah I love them all. *laughs*, but 'Left Coast Envy' I like a lot. It’s fun.

Robbie: What gets you guys going on stage.
Mike: The crowd, the energy from the crowd. If they just kinda stand there its…weird. So the crazier they go, the crazier we go.

Robbie: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done on tour?
Tom: Light people on fire.
Mike: Yeah we set people on fire. *laughs*
Tom: Kill a couple of people.
Mike: We don’t really do anything.
Tom: *laughing* Yeah we don’t do anything.
Mike: We’re pretty lame.
Tom: Yeah you see how calm the bus is now?
Mike: We usually party with just the four of us cuz we’re scared of people. And then we go to sleep.

Robbie: What’s the hardest thing about being on tour?
Mike: Being on the road away from home. *starts laughing out of nowhere* This is the best part.
Tom: *laughing really hard* This is the best part Robbie on tour right here. Watch this…Slackers.
*So we sit and watch this part in the movie Slackers.*

Robbie: When things on tour get hard, what keeps you guys motivated?
Mike: The shows basically and each other. All of our friends too.

Robbie: Do you guys have any good girl stories?
Mike: Um No.
*both start laughing*
Tom: Fun in the sun. That’s about it.

Robbie: What color is your toothbrush?
Tom: I have one of those electric ones. It’s white.
Mike: I think mine’s green? I dunno, my Mom bought it for me.

Robbie: What advice would you have for any musicians like me trying to make it big in this industry?
Tom: Be nice to everybody. Kiss everybody’s ass.
Mike: Yeah basically.
Tom: Keep doing whatever your trying to do.
Mike: But most importantly, make sure you write the music for yourselves. Otherwise people can tell if your fake and if you do it for the wrong reasons you wont get appreciated.

Robbie: Any final words?
Tom: Fuckin A.
Mike: Fuckin A.

For More Information:
• The Starting Line Official Site: www.startinglinerock.com

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