Trapt is a band who has endured getting shunned by the record industry, turning their backs on school, parental disappointment, and excessive fuzziness. These guys recently stepped in a pile of Lubbock to try and entertain our peers, and probably a flashing bimbo or two. Whether they succeeded at getting people to bob their heads and mindlessly beat each other or even if they managed to sneak a peek at our local selection of fine mammary gland casings, I wouldn't know. I was somehow left off of the list of specials that didn't have to pay to get in. I don't know how this could have happened. I was promised by my editor that I was on the list. Rachel from Warner Bros. promised me over the phone, in a light and airy voice that made me blush just a bit, that I would be on the list. Even Peter, Trapt's road manager, told me that I for sure was on that list. Maybe I was on the list and the guy behind the window just decided not to let me have the tickets because my pet Daniel scared him. Maybe the window guy didn't want this barrel chested, face hidden behind a black mop, grunting beast to get anywhere near the gratuitous nudity and senseless beatings for fear that this behemoth would get too excited and poop on someone. Instead of trying to sneak into this show, and it's $5.00 watered down beer, we decided to take our loss and go enjoy some moderately priced ale at a place where the nudity and violence take a bit more skill, or at least a lot of liquor, to invoke. Besides, I got to meet the band any way. Earlier that day I met up with guitarist Simon Ormandy, bassist Peter Charell, and drummer Aaron "Monty" Montgomery and got them to sit down long enough for me to ask them a few questions.
So how does it feel to be in Lubbock compared to all of the other places you've visited?
Simon: It feels good, it's really hot today
Does it remind you guys of home?
Simon: No, it gets hot where we live but not really humid. It's more of a dry heat.
Monty: Kinda like today.
Simon: Yeah I guess.
What's life on the road like for you guys?
Simon: It's good, man. We're always looking for time off. I don't know, what's life on the road like (as he looks over at Peter)?
Peter: (shrugging) How's it for you Simon?
Simon: It's cool; it's fun, how about for you?
Peter: It is. It's cool being in a different place every day. There are some places you're not too excited to be in, but for the most part it's pretty cool being in a place you've never been.
Simon: The only thing that sucks about it is that usually I don't get a day off and I don't get a chance to check out where I'm at, mostly it's just around the club.
I read somewhere that when you signed with Warner Bros. that you got complete creative control, does that include your music as well as your image?
Monty: It's basically how the writing process goes down.
Peter: It's pretty much everything you know, it gives us the opportunity to do what we want and not be molded to what the label wants, we can just be ourselves and do what we've been doing.
What was it like for you guys when you decided to quit school for this, was it a scary feeling?
Peter: It was more exciting. We were already putting a lot of time into music and it was really hard when we were scattered around California and we didn't have a home base where we were together all the time so it was cool to get out of school and focus on music.
Simon: I pretty much agree, too. I mean, my parents were scared, you know I'm sure everybody else's parents were scared, too, but we were like we want to do this so let's just do it. I wasn't even focusing that intently upon my school work anyway. My last semester of college I wasn't even living in Santa Barbara where I went to school. I lived 295 miles away, and I was driving down for tests. We weren't focusing on school because we were more of a band anyway.
What would you say your inspirations are, who are your heroes, who do you look up to?
Simon: I like the Silver Surfer.
Peter: I wouldn't say just one person; I kinda take little things from people who are successful.
Simon: I look up to my mom and my dad. If I could match what they did for me, that would be a barometer of sorts.
What would you guys say has been the most rewarding thing so far?
Simon: I would say, being able to play in front of 40,000 people at this radio festival in Atlanta. It was huge; I dreamt of stuff like that, and it became a reality. I have pictures of it on my cell-phone and everything.
Monty: At all these radio shows, we played in front of a lot of people going crazy. Every one of those big shows was taped and we never saw them because they were whisked away to New Zealand.
Why New Zealand?
Monty: That's where our manager is from; he takes all the tapes and locks them away
Have you guys been able to meet any of your music heroes since you've been touring?
Simon: Dave Navarro, I didn't really meet him he just kind of walked by. I didn't say anything to him. We were in Jane's Addiction's practice space and I did meet the bass player and the drummer.
Peter: Aaron got to meet Stuart Copeland.
Monty: Actually I too just walked by.
Do you guys have any words of wisdom for any up and coming bands?
Monty: Don't get too furry.
Peter: Keep doing what you're doing and don't let ...
(at this point Peter speaks very quietly so I try to move in my recorder closer to hear this important piece of information)
Simon: He wants you to project.
Peter (circling his hands around his mouth): DON'T LET PEOPLE TELL YOU WHAT TO DO!!!
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