Dead to Me Interview: SXSW 2010

Chicken, the vocalist and bassist of San Francisco punk rock outfit Dead to Me, isn't too "chicken" to go deep about his dark past or the band as his saving grace as he heads toward SXSW.

Describe your sound in your own words.

I would like to say original, you know? I mean we didn't invent the wheel or anything, but we're original in that we want to try new things. I mean, all three of our records have the same punk-rock sound, I guess, but they're still different just because progressing just means always trying new things.

How did your band form?

Well at the time, I was actually going to this facility for my cocaine addiction. And when I got out of rehab, my friends and I just started playing music together, kind of as a way to keep me out of trouble. But things snowballed, and I never thought we'd be a touring band with three albums or anything, but it's just what we grew into and where things took us.

That's really cool how music helped you out of the rough stuff.

Yeah I mean, I'm really lucky to have that outlet. And there are so many people who don't have that and don't have the kind of friends and support that I've been so lucky to find in my band with our music, so it is really cool.

What are your musical influences?

I'd say the Clash, but like I said before, you can't listen to one record and say "This is what a band sounds like," you know? Between all of the Clash's albums, there's not just one sound. But especially for me, too, I've found inspiration in like old urban hip-hop music. I feel like that's music with a message. It's really important for music to have a message. And obviously we love reggae, so we're really kind of all over the board.

How did you come up with your band name?

I think my buddy got it from "The Sopranos." But really I think it ended up being about me and about putting an end to my self-destructive behavior.

What's your biggest vice?

Tthere are so many. I'll just be vague and say I have a really bad habit of being self-destructive. Whether it's drugs or chaotic relationships or whatever, it's really easy for me to get caught up in anything that's negative.

What's in your festival survival kit?

I have to have a toothbrush, and I have to have clean underwear. I'm kind of weird about clean underwear. I try to change them every single day, and I'm not sure that's normal for most guys. But when I put on clean underwear, I feel shiny. I feel clean. Oh, and coffee. I'll do anything for coffee. I'm easy.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

Well, I don't know if it's guilty pleasure because a lot of people like them, but for being in a punk-rock band it might be. But man, I like the Killers. Like, I have a man crush on that guy. He's dreamy! He writes good songs, good lyrics. Yeah, it's good stuff.

Beatles or Stones?

Beatles. Probably cause their music's a little more like the weird shit that I'd love to do. Like, I'd love to go to India and learn how to play the sitar, you know? Plus, John Lennon wrote music trying to make the world a better place. He had a message and talked about putting an end to the war and loving one another and all that stuff. I mean, that guy could've just sat around all day and gotten high or something. But lucky for us, he wrote music about being better people and making the world a better place instead.

Hanna Lucas is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.