PipemanRadio Interviews Attack! Attack! at Welcome To Rockville 2025

0:04 Hi, you love them too, Yes, that's true. For see why were you young? Welcome to Rockville. No, North America's largest rock festival is finally here. It's the Pipe Man here on the Adventures pipe Man W four c Y Radio. And I'm here with. Wetzel and Chris of Attack Attack. Nice and you're attacking. Welcome to Rockville. We are, we came here, we saw here, we conquered here. Yes, yesterday I heard like monster trucks back there, like riving up and stuff as rules, And I thought to myself, Yeah, that's a tack attack invading. Welcome to Rockville almost. So.

0:49 We were talking about something before about alcohol and interviews. So I used to do when the Black End Whiskey first came out, I used to do my interviews. They asked me and come over to Metallic Black Intent and do the interviews so that the bands could taste the whiskey. Had some interesting interviews, but by far my best interview ever was Airborne, who were so drunk, like so beyond drunk. This tracks that they were literally. Doing an impression of announcing a Mets baseball game.

1:29 Interesting and they were good. Oh and they were good like he's like and Mookie Wilson coming around the bag and he's heading for home and he's going and oh my god, oh my god, here comes the ball and at least safe and they no Australian accent, just straight up. Its just like the announcer from back in the day. Wow right, you know? So can you top that? No? I don't know what it is about band guys and whiskey, but it's like you run into one, you go, hey, do you do you like whiskey? And they're like, yeah, actually I do. Do you like whiskey? Ye? I love whiskey. You go to the next guy. Do you like beer? Yeah? I love beer. I don't know what it is. It's just tost together a peanut, butter and jelly.

2:12 Did you ever see that meme about the eighties rock star opposed to the rock star now? So it's a picture on top of a rocker lying on his back on the floor, passed out, Jack Daniels in one hand, guitar in the other, and today some kids sitting on his desk with the guitar, has lap and fingers on the keyboards of the computer. We're definitely photo number one were it can be both. We can do both See, that's the best bands if you can go both ways. It's all about diversity and investment. So tell me about the evolution of your music now for Attack Attack too, because it's pretty badass. And when I really love about it is it's unique instead of sounding like everybody else now and not like you guys ever did. But I find a lot of the music nowadays like there's this algebraic equation. You can play it just like this, especially like in the metalcore and it's like, no, I think an arts should just express themselves any way they want.

3:20 Honestly, it's a hard thing. And we've put out three EPs since twenty twenty. We also went on this quest of rediscovery, right and it's really really easy to get in your head about stuff. You're trying to figure this thing out and you miss the obvious. And so we put out a couple of different EPs. We started working with different writers and we're just trying to figure out what, like, what is this? Does this even belong? What are we doing? You know? What do we want? Really is what? It comes down just like what do you want as an artist? And there's a million different things and pressures and situations that come from the outside, and then we finally hit this point of just realizing and remembering what is it about us in high school that made this work?

4:03 What was like, what was that X factor? And what it came down to was we started working on dance. We got the work tape for that. I got ten seconds into that thing and I was like, this is it. We did it. I found it, and you know what, it was us just abandoning everything else and going back to Attack. Attack is a chaos brand, right, It's a chaos band. And the way that it got that way was in the early days. I remember sitting in Caleb's parents' basement writing stick Stickley with the other guys, and the entire universe did not exist outside of that room. We were just writing music that we wanted to hear. And it's a very simple thing to say now, but like, it's so hard to come back to that. And we finally got to this point of our motto for this whole record was it's just not that serious, right, and we just need to get back to this point of we're in our thirties, we've got jobs. None of us need to be an Attack Attack, but it has something for us and what we discovered was this is the outlet. This is the creative outlet for us to just do whatever the fuck we want and to write the music that we want to hear, and we don't have to explain ourselves.

5:08 We don't have to justify it, we don't have to have there. It doesn't need to be a reason. It's just this should be fun and we should have a really good time and we should be sitting in the studio as we do, and. We just suck it up. Man, We're laughing, we're drinking beers. We rope in other writers and we're like, no rules, what do we got here? We're grabbing random samples from splice of elephants trumpeting and random shape. We're like, how do we make this work? Right? And so that's just we reach. That point of finding that very uncomplicated spirit of because that's what we want. And I love that you're saying that, because first of all, if you're not having fun doing this, you're in a wrong business. Okay number one. Number two, I think you do have a little different attitude when you do have jobs and you do have a way to support yourself to where you can sit and say I don't have to listen to anybody because I'm doing this for fun and whatever happens happens.

6:05 Right, And that was it. It was just rediscovering that spark of we're doing this because we love it, just we're passionate, we care, and it was just really cool. The whole album process, we weren't even we didn't even want to make an album, like, we didn't even get that far into thinking we were just making songs. Like he said, we simplified it, started making songs. Dance came out. He looks at me. I look at him and I'm like, dude, I think this is it, and he's like, it's time. He goes, we. Should do a record, like and then this is a big deal because Attack Attack has not done a full length album and at thirteen years so we're in we've all done EPs, we did EPs, and we're like, I think it's finally time. And then it was go time. Then I'm flying to Nashville every other weekend and we're hammering out songs. We're throwing the elephant horns in. You know, we're doing.

6:47 Shit that we love, we really love, and some of it's it's silly, it's goofy. It should be right, it should be that way. Yeah, I'd fine. Like back in the eighties, record labels made it too serious and it killed metal for a while, right, you know, by make it too serious and too bullshit too. The same thing happened when attack a Tech put out its first record in two thousand and eight. Metal core was really silly at that time. Right, and it was brand new, and it like, honestly, the whole genre for the most part, is just high school aged guys just like making music, just be fucking cuz. And there were tons and tons of really cool things that came out of it. And the style, the culture, the music, all of it was very not to be lofty, but it was very avant garde, and that's what made it interesting.

7:32 So we made it entertaining it. So we made it like fun to participate in because it was. Just this whole third space that anyone could just walk into and I watched it happen. It's kind of the same thing you're talking about is once it starts to make money, then that's when the outside influences come in. And then you also you get in your own head you're like, oh, this did really well. How do we top it? And that's the wrong question to ask. And I really watched Metalcrep have this identity crisis of trying to be something it's not instead of just accepting that, like it doesn't have to fucking matter, right, And then it got boring for a long time, and then we kind of went through that same thing where you know, I don't want to say that some of our newer music is boring, but it was an important discovery process for us to try things and to try to fit in different places and just go, that's not right.

8:17 That's not who that's not what we do, that's not who we are. Like we're dumb and we like making stupid jokes, and like maybe I want to dress up like a fucking cowboy and tell everything say basically, just say I'm gonna ruin the band and bait everyone into it and have them. Fall for That was brilliant. I just have to say that was fucking because even I bought it. Okay, even I bought it, and I'm like, fuck, they got me. What's really funny about that, too, is when we finished dance and Chris and I just got to this point we just looked at each other, and we just go we can't just give. This to them. They can't just have it all right. There needs there's a hoop needs to be jumped through, a barrier needs to be gotten over. And we start talking and he just goes, I think we need a villain. We need a villain, and I was like, you know what, Yeah, I'm just gonna take all that. It's exactly what we did in the early days when people called us Crab Corp.

9:04 That was meant to be bad, right, they would making fun of us, and we made T shirts out of it. See I love that too, you know what I mean. And we owned it and we were like, that's cool. That's a sick brand, thank you, and then basically just printed money off of it. So we get to this thing now where it's like, you guys are just all the negative things, and so we just look at each other and we're like, let's gass it up. Let's make them believe it, right, Let's just confirm everything they think they know. About it, and let's take it. Yeah, let's take it to a thousand and just see what happens. It's almost like, instead of letting you know, the haters kind of dictate what we're doing. They're almost helping us write the story. I know, you know what I mean. So they say something and we're gonna run with it.

9:44 That's better. We're gonna run with it, and we're gonna make it really funny and entertaining. And that's exactly what we did. We threw him in a cowboy hat and we got them up there. He's throwing money in Los Angeles at the and everyone's mad. They're like, how could you do this? You're destroying the brand. What I've played the cun song for the audience. I only ended up doing about twenty seconds of but there was this kid in the front that was so he's screaming, fuck you, like and I just see the venom. Yeah, he just like he wanted me dead right there, and I'm a cowboy boots, I got the hat, I got that dead, the dazzled boot, bolo tie and shit, and I'm throwing money out there and it was like. It also was funny because half the audience caught on immediately. They're just dancing, and then the other.

10:24 Half I just see this insane look, yes, just bewilderment and anger. And then I stop it and I'm like, all right, we got the content. Do you guys want to hear the actual song because it's nothing like this, and we got Will Ramos on it, and I want to see that fucking pit open up and we play that. And I just watched the. Demeanor change instantly, right, And that's when I'm like throwing the money, you know, I'm like, yeah, come on, this is cool. I just think that's fucking brilliant. Like it's like, I listen, fucking with people is my second language, okay, And so I see something like that and I'm like, that's fucking brilliant. Like I said, it. Got me too, It was entertaining to get me.

11:08 That's pretty good. You did a good job. What's even funnier, too, is when we launched that campaign, the other guys in the band, they're getting. Literally hundreds of messages. They're getting phone calls, text messages, dms and people like oh my god, I'm so sorry, like are you okay? What are you gonna do? And I knew that this was really working when I'm not fucking kidding you, Nobody reached out to me. Nobody like that. Actually, actually two and we're talking my longtime friends people that really know me. Two people were like, what are you up to? And I told him. They said that they're like, that's your evil, that's so evil. I love it. But yeah, it was like crickets for me, and I was like, I looked at Chris and I just go, I think it's working right.

11:51 Once it was up and we're like messing with you obviously, and we have the line. Then he's getting like blown up by everyone. He's like, man, I thought you were having a mental breakdown, and that's like exactly what we. Want wanted people to think, right. So it worked flawlessly and it was a lot of fun to watch. It is funny too. Okay, So on my live radio show, I have the alter ego pipe Man, right, you know, and I just laugh of how much shit people believe, Like no matter what I say, though, okay, it doesn't matter. Some of this stuff ends up coming true. Like twenty sixteen, Trump got elected and I had some redneck on my show and I said, hey, did you hear what Trump just announced? He just announced that he's gonna attack Canada and she believed the shit out of me. The sad part is here we are in twenty twenty five, and I like it was almost like a prediction.

12:45 The memes kind of right themselves. But the other thing, too, is we figured this out a long time ago, and we've gotten really good at it now as we're older, we've learned some lessons. We got a little bit of money now too, you know, we can kind of push the boundaries a little bit. But people love to hate and they're super dependable and they're very consistent, and they drive millions of impressions of engagement for us, yeah, for free, and that is. Like one of the best things that we have. But also at the same time, I think it's important to point that out, to just say, lighten the fuck up, all right, Right, if I want to put on a cowboy hat and get out. There and dance around like an idiot, what do you care? That's right business, I'm having a good time. You need to join the winning team, all right, and you need to just accept that it's okay to fucking smile and have fun and it's.

13:30 Just not that big of a deal. And honestly, it's a lot more fun over here on the winning team. It really is. Right sitting here drinking beers at Rockville, having a great time. Well, they're behind her screen, still hating exactly. Yeah, they're furious. I get it, man, people spend so much time and energy in it, and I do want to fuck with them, like and the stuff that people believe. I'll tell you a funny story I did. Okay, So my ex wife, the k I call her Thing one on my radio show because I have two ex wives, so there's Thing one thing too. And shit, if you ever met her, she would come up to you. You probably know me as Thing one. But when we got to where she's like, I really hope you find what you're looking for, because you're like the most romantic person I've ever met. I'm just not into that.

14:17 Now. Fast forward, okay, do you have to get another interview right now? Okay? Good? Fast forward Like ten years, my door's working for me at the radio station. Her mom calls her and says, I was just listening to your dad's radio show. We were married for twelve years. He was never that obnoxious. He's such a player now. And then she tried to get back together with me because she believed it. And I had all these female friends of mine, like all my life that would listen to my show and They're like, what happened to you, Matt. I'm like, I'm playing a role. I'm on the radio. I'm just having fun here, right, No, Right, come on fucking with people.

15:00 Where it's entertainment, it's not. That's the business we're we find ten percent of it's real, right, Like country thing that I did there, enough of it is substantive and real in that I do live in Nashville, I do work in country music. I do work on the management team of a rising country producer, and so it is just fucking real, Like I've got the means, I've got the motive right, and that's I think people just have such a hard time kind of parsing through that and figuring out it's entertainment, right, Like just you watch Dune and you're not you don't, You're not worried about what's happening in Aracus. You know what I mean. It's I'm in a band. I'm the drummer of a metalcore band that's goofy and stupid with a bunch of other guys that are like, we should be goofy or its stupid or you know what I mean.

15:43 Music should just be fun and therapy, period. Yeah, the world sucks enough as it is, Like, let's keep that out of here. If we can't know that, you know what I mean. I even I've said in a few interviews, I have this philosophy. I've said on my show all the time. What we need to do is we need to have a music festival that's for the whole world. It's mandatory for every human in the world to attend, and that's how we'll solve all the world. We got a semi truck of mushrooms. Yeah yeah, Like cause, listen, go out there to welcome Rockville. How many people out there are pissed off or upset or saying disperson that we're all one big family. All the outsiders are inside the Daytona Speedway.

16:27 That's right, Like you. Guys, that's right, and we're here ready to lead the charge. And you guys fucking rocked. Welcome to Rockville. Thank you, Yeah, I really appreciate that, And thank you for having us on. Oh my pleasure. Thank you for being here at Rockville, and thanks for being on the Adventures of pipe Man Gowsome. Thank you for listening to the Adventures of Pipemin on w for CUI Radio.