Interview with Yellowcard

With Ben Harper and Ryan Key - interviewer Oliver Marx . 02/16/04. Cologne/ Germany

Yellowcard - Light Up The Sky

Punk76: Hey , how are you? How was the European-Tour so far?

Ben: It has been amazing. We haven’t played here since a hear and a half ago. The last time we played here, we supported New Found Glory and now we are playing headliner shows. The same size, even a little bit bigger.

Punk76: I read that you released four albums by now. The first on Takeover records, one on Lobster records, one on Fueled by ramen and the latest on Capitol records.

Ben: Yes, we did two records, when we´re on High-school. You know, they was all on Takeover records.

Punk76: What is Takeoverrecords.com ? It´s not a christian label, or?

Ben: No, Takeoverrecords is my indie-label.

Punk76: What?!

Ben: Yeah! It was just a name back then, when we released the two old records, when we´re on High-school. But now we have connections...

Punk76: I need to interrupt you. Who was the singer back then, cause I read, that you had another singer.

Ben: His name was Ben Dobsen a raffy boy. We was Yellowcard, when we was in High-school, but we sounded more like Good Riddance.

Punk76: I read that Shawn Dewey (Ex- Lagwagon, Buck Wild) produced your album back then.

Ben: Yes, that´s true. But noone heard of him again, we don´t know, what he is doing right now.

Punk76: Keith (Mad Caddies) told me that Shawn is in a Country band, which goes by the name of Good ol´Goleta boys.

Ben:I have no idea. He helped us out. But we haven´t seen him since. Ok, two records in High-school and Ryan was a friend of us in High-school, but didn´t actually joined the band, but right after High-school. So we wrote his songs.

Punk76: I watched your career now. I know all your releases, wich you had on Lobster, FBR and the actual one and it´s awesome to see, how you you made bigger and bigger steps. Could you please tell us, how you made it to a record deal?

Ben: First label we was officially signed to was Lobster. Takeover was just when we was on High-school.

Punk76: Ok, but how did Shawn suddenly worked with you, when you was just a High-school band back then.

Ryan: Our original bass player Warren, his older Brother JC, used to work for Lagwagon. So we knew of Lagwagon, when we was really young.

Punk76: How old are you know?

Ryan: I am twenty-three. We used to know of Lagwagon when we was 14/ 15/ 16 years old. When Yellowcard started, the biggest thing we knew was Lagwagon and we really felt motivated, cause we had such connections trough Warren´s older Brother, who was close friends with Steve (Lobsterrecords) and Lagwagon and Shawn.

Punk76: Back to Bad Astronaut: When we first moved to California, before our LP moved out, we had two or three months, before we even got there, we´re fucking bored off our asses and worked and shit, you know?

Ben: Acrophobe just come out (Bad Astronaut LP) and me and Ben and two of our friends wrote and entire record, we´re we talked about them and we made it live. We called our band “Operation Bad Ass”. We played one show, that was the only time, the songs been played live. And we did the Lagwagon-Tour last year.

Punk76: The next thing that interests me is your Label. You moved from small indie labels like Lobster to a big major. Why did you choosed Capitol records? And, did something changed after signing to a big label?

Ryan: Capitol because they´re the nicest people. They could take us to the next level with radio and TVand all the story...

Punk76: I think you are really big in america, arent you?

Ryan: We talk about 300.000 copys.

Punk76: And people see you on TV like a normal Pop-star there?

Ryan: Yes, the new videos are doing really very good, also our singles on radio.

Punk76: I have seen a live show of you- i think on VH1 or something. You played there in front of a huge audience. And while you was performing your Violin-player suddenly did a backflip.

Ryan: It was nice, cause he had room to do that.

Punk76: I was missing that today.

Ben: There was no room to do that! Tonight it was too low for him.

Punk76: I am glad to hang out now in this place with you while i am asking stupid questions...

Ryan: That´s cool, cause you know a lot more about us, than a lot of the interview partners.

Punk76: Thanks. After reading several interviews i was wondering, that it must be so lame to answear every time the same questions.

Ryan: Hm, ok, but the same happens now. You try to question the same stuff just in a different way. Talking about ourself means we are still happy, that people are asking.

Punk76: How long are you in punkrock buisness now?

Ryan: The band is been together since 1997. And me joined in early 2000.

Punk76: I think you originally came from Florida and moved to California.

Ryan: Yes, back when we was on High-school.

Punk76: For me it´s strange to see, that a punkrock band has Body guards, wich try to protect you. It was in that venue you played today and I saw big bodyguards, when you play in the states on shows. Don´t you have a strange feeling, when people try to protect you?

Ryan: Ok, there are always body guards, when you play...

Punk76: ...but not when you was a small band.

Ryan: Shure, but now there are so many people. It´s wilder, you know, and so you need sometimes these bodyguards. Indeed, it´s crazy.

Punk76: I think this is your first time beeing in Europe now.

Ryan: I´ve been two times in Europe before, but not with the band.

Punk76: So, what do you think: This was your first European gig, in a small club like in the early days and the crowd sings along with you.

Ryan: It was amazing!

Ben: We almost lost the Violin. So we almost played tonight without the violin and this would have sucked.

Punk76: Yes! Is there a special pattern that you use, to develope your songs?

Ryan: No, i play some notes, or i write something, a melody, a riff, whatever and afterwards i present it to the band. If everyone likes it, we go to the bandroom and start jamming a couple of hours.

Punk76: It made me wonder that you songs became constantly better. Ok, i really like the old Lobster/ FBR songs but your newest songs are unbelieveable.

Ben: We find a new way to use different things.

Ryan: Most of the songs that we´re on “one for the kids” have been written, when i was on High school and my first year on College. I was like 18 or 19 years old. Now i am 23 and you gain more experience through moving to California and through touring constantly. There was a lot of shit, that happend and it definatly influenced my writing.

Punk76: Have you even taken some more time to develope your lyrics?

Ryan: Yes, i spend lot´s of time on the lyrics on that record.

Punk76: I am convinced that i really worked out. I can´t find one single bad song. When do you leave tonight, to play in the next venue?

Ryan: We have to leave tomorrow at six-o-clock in the morning. So we stay here tonight and party a little bit.

Punk76: That´s really early. So take care, and best wishes for your future.

Ben: Exellent interview.

Punk76: Thanks so much!

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