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Reno, Nevada hardly seems the place for
a band like 7 Seconds to call home. The
warkings of a high stakes gambling town
and its limitations on youth was one major
factor in the creation of 7 Seconds. They
have now stuck it out, to find success and a
rapidly growing following of exuberant fans.
Times have not always been the best for 7
Seconds with numerous member changes
centered around the creative brother team of
Kevin and Steve. Still, the drive to put out
their music has brought the underground
scene numerous records and choice cuts.
Frequent "whoa's" and harmonious chorus-
es in each song make for gala participation
with the audience. The crowd responds to
each performance by huddling up on the
stage to shout aloud with the band, some-
times taking over the microphone. Recent
departure of drummer Belvy has ex-drummer
Troy reenlisted back into the band, and Steve
has moved from bass to guitar. While Kevin
hasn't played guitar for over 2 years now, his
vocals and stage presence is the heart of 7
Seconds. Here is an interview conducted
with Kevin, Steve and Troy, still without a per-
manent bass player
THRASHER: What's the current general
focus of the band? Has your motivation shifted
direction since the inception?
7 SECONDS: Right now our main goal is to
become stabilized as a working group of
people and to become more organized. We
need to sort of re-evaluate things and come
to grips with them. 1986 should be a chal-
lenging year to say the least.
T: How come there has been such a menudo
musical chairs with the line-up of recently? How
many different people have been in the band?
7: It's very hard for us to have any sort of
solid line-up, mainly because of attitude and
personality problems. With our most recent
Hine-up change it was just very obvious that
Belvy, the drummer on the last big tour,
couldn't work out. That's why we asked him
to leave. It's strange to think that there's
been, like, 13 members of 7 Seconds, we
may have tled Black Flag or Circle Jerks for
band member changes.
T: Now that 7 Seconds has toured quite a fow
times, what is your outlook on the audience
mentality? is it one of intelligence, respect, fol-
lowing, political motivations, stupidity or other?
Do you state certain massages in order to gain
favor in the fandom circle, or are your beliefs
true to heart?
7: It seems like there is both intelligence
and stupidity involved here. I feel like we're
playing for smart people, then, BAM, fights'll
break out or someone will smash something
and I don't know. Hopefully we are reaching
the aware, intelligent side and not the mind-
less side. As for the 'fandom circle, we sing
from the heart, not from our egos. If ya
wanna just be entertained, don't come and
see 7 Seconds.
THE AXEMAN, THE FATHER, THE HYPER STEVE YOUTH
T: Live, 7 Seconds' enthusiasm is a breath of
fresh air, but don't the songs tend to hit repeti-
tious similarities, especially for the new comer?
Will there be a change in musical structure in the
future?
7: Yes, there's definitely a change in our
style but it won't be like a departure. We feel
like doing new things and it will show in our
music as well as our lyrics. All I can really say,
though, is it's gonna have an edge. I guess it's
just a bit more down to earth, emotional.
T: Before it becomes an issue, how do you feel
about the overcrowding on the stage during your
performances? True, the belief of not separating
the band from the crowd exists, but what about
the sing-a-longs? The fighting for the mike? The
participants singing not knowing the words?
And how about the poople in the back who don't
really get to hear the words and can't see what's
going on? How do you feel about these issues?
leit fair?
7: That's something that we're trying to
work out now. I mean, how do you explain to
tons of people, after never showing any real
concern about it, that some people are abus-
ing the 'getting onstage' thing, and it's time
to do something differently? In L.A. we're at
a point now where we can't even get onstage
without complete chaos happening, and it's
hard. A lot of people say, "Fuck man, we
can't see or hear you guys anymore," and I
can't really say that they're wrong for being
a little upset!
T: The emotional content of your songs is
'natural.' There must have been some
heartbreaking events to bring on such sincere
lyrics and foolings. Has there ever been pain
that was extremely hard to deal with? What is
your advice to others?
7: Not just heartbreaking events, but happi-
ness, anger, excitement, passion... It all
plays a part in the breakdown of emotions in
our songs. Yes, there has been a lot of pain.
and tragedy in our lives, but what do you do,
swim in self-pity and not go on? No! I think
that sincerity comes because it is real, and
we're not, and never have been afraid to
show that. No one should be.
T: What is Positive Force? Why did it come
about?
7: Positive Force, at this point, is a small
record label based in Reno. We have a few re-
leases like the Nevada H.C. compilation, a
couple of 7 Seconds releases and Youth of
Today's new Ep, which is great! We have
stuff from Outcry (Minneapolis), Verbal As-
sault (Rhode Island), the Yobs (Carson City,
NV) and a compilation Lp called "Another
Shot," featuring 7 Seconds, Scroam, Youth
Brigade, Adrenalin O.D., FO.D. and lots
more. We started out as a group of individu-
als who got involved with many different
ideas including scene activities, worldwide
concerns, awareness, etc. It's just kinda
going through a major change right now.
T: Being tabeled a positive band, with fans fol-
lowing positively, have you ever seen problems
the fans getting into it so interwly that they close
their minds to everything else? How do you deal
with this
7: There are people who take things too far,
and, much like the "Straight Edge" thing, the
"Positive" thing is no exception. I feel that a
lot of people have missed many points on
this issue. I mean, no one in his world is
completely, 100% satisfied with the world
and all its loveliness, and if they say or think
they are, they've got problems. I look at deal-
ing with life with an open and clear mind as
a good start, not spreading the word of God
or something. I also think people are too
busy worrying about someone else's life
rather than dealing with their own first.
Being positive, and saying you are, are
two different things. I've seen it happen a
few times. You meet somebody who claims
they're a "positive" person and at the next
gig you see this person thrashing the hall or
starting a fight. That's bullshit. But at the
same time I think too many people are using
the positive thing too much, for reasons un-
known to me.
T: Reno, your home town, has seen its ups and
downs in the scene while 7 Seconds has s
gone on. Was there ever a time that disillusion in
the scene filtered into the band? How has the
band kept its strength?
7: Obviously, because of our long time in-
volvement within the Reno hardcore scene,
we've been affected by its "ups and downs,"
but we're also aware of the fact that there's
much more out there and I guess, because
of that attitude coming out in the band,
we've made a few enemies in Reno, which
stinks. The strength comes from knowing
that we're not just sitting around Reno bitch-
Ing about everything and that we're doing
something to change things.
T: How do you feel about the moniker of "7
Seconds following in the footsteps of Minor
Threat. even though you existed just after
M.T. appeared on the scene? Now, with the suc
cess can you still be normal, or is your privacy
invaded?
7: As for us existing just after M.T. ap-
peared, the truth is we were around much
longer than M.T., and though we were influ-
enced to a certain degree by them as a bend,
and as friends, I never considered us "fol-
lowing in their footsteps." Instead, I think
we're taking it farther and yes, still being
down to earth about it.
T: Why does 7 Seconds have troubles with
making shows, mail and etc.? That labels the
band flakes. Is this a true statement or is there
more to it?
7: Let me explain something here. First off,
keep in mind that for one reason or another
many promoters have put our name on
flyers before even contacting us. and this
has happened a lot! We haven't missed too
many shows in the six years that we've been
around, but when we have, there's been a
valid reason for it. Secondly, I'd like to see
some of you guys out there handle just part
of the mail we get and not get behind. We're
only human!
T: What is your association with the BYO? Has
It become more than a friendship? Would you re-
commend others to follow the route you've cho
sen with BYO?
7: It started out as a frindship but is now a
business agreement as well. We're not tied
to them, but they have helped us a great deal
and we have no problems anymore. You can
say all you want about the BYO, but I know
they've got good intentions and I can sup-
port what they're doing.
T: is there any song that, if you had a chance,
you would make widely public (mass radio
airplay) because of the message it holds? Why?
7: Nah, not yet! How about our version of
"99 Red Ballons"?
T: What do you thirsk of extreme political
preaching (left or right) where, in time, it be
comes closed minded mumbo jumbo? Have you
been judged politically incorrect because of cer
tain bellets you hold or do? How does this affect
your song writing?
7: Politics in music is good if there are
signs of growth and change and it doesn't
become rhetorical or someting. I myself lean
toward more liberal views, but I don't have to
say "destroy fasciem" anymore for people to
know that I'm anti-fasciam.
T: Without laughter, explain the "curse of 7
Seconds, since, for awhile, it was obvious a
jinx' was there
7: Ay, the curse. It's true! It's still around!!
honestly believe that in the past, 7 Seconds
has been involved with some very evil, non-
caring people who screwed a lot of other
people over, and, as silly as this may sound,
it's bad karma that's affected us, not just
a jinx. Bad shit will come right back to you,
and it carr be very painful!
T: How long do you think 7 Seconds, hardcore
and the ke, will last? Do you think it should die
or be bult even stronger? And how?
7: 7 Seconds will last as long as there is
something in ourselves. It's a very passion-
ate, sincere trip. We don't hate and will con-
tinue to speak out against hatred for as long
as it's coming from our hearts, it's got to be
real.
T: Unity is a word used a lot, but do you really
see it existing outside of the clubs and the
scenes? Why?
7: Unity doesn't have to mean conformity.
or losing your individuality, at all. I say it can
work, but rather than pointing out someone
else's bad points or problems, why not look
at yourself and search? Leave each other
alone! Why must you fuck with somebody
because they're not like you? Live and let
live, and then, unity will work!
T: Will 7 Seconds do a video? And what would
be the concept? How do you feel about the new
video explosion?
7: We do have a full-length video documen-
tary of our last tour called "I Still Believe (In
These Words)," it should be out any day on
Subcharge. It's really cool cuz you see every
aspect of touring, gigs, people, breakdowns,
going hungry, eating, you name it. But do
you mean like MTV or something? I don't
know! I'd never do something like look
straight into the camera and masturbate or
show naked women doing erotic things with
guitars. I think it might be cool if you had a
real low budget, trashy video show, maybe.
T: From the inner workings of 7 Seconds used
to come a handful of fanzines, what has hap
pened to these? Will it continue?
7: We just haven't really had the time to do
any 'zine work, though it'd be cool. It's weird,
at one time or another, everybody in my fam-
ily put out a 'zine.
T: Even though some will say it now, how long
before 7 Seconds will do the dreaded "sold
out? And how do you feel about the intense
marketing of major bands for exposure? Does 7
Seconds need this kind of attention?
7: Wo were just talking about this with
somebody not too long ago. I see more work
being done for image and fashion than I ever
do with music, and that's fuckin' disgusting!
I don't know what "selling out" really means.
but we do want to grow as a band, and play-
ing to more people and varied crowds will
definitely be a part of that growth. We just
feel our supporters and friends will grow
with us.
T: Steve, what's it like to be a father and travol
with a band? Have you grown up with this new
responsibility?
7: In many ways no one could understand.
Being a father is a wonderful experience.
The feeling that came over me in the hospital
when my girlfriend was in labor was some-
thing I've never felt before. I was happy, sad,
confused. I guess what I'm trying to say is,
at the time of Leigh's pregnancy it didn't
seem to effect me as much, but after seeing
my own flesh and blood move around in a
smaller life form it blew me away, All 1 can
say is, despite the fact that we are both fairly
young and this is completely new to both of
us. I think I've handled it well. Much of that
coming out of the love I have for Leigh Anne.
She's always supported me in everything
and I'll love her for the rest of my life. Even if
we were to break up I would still love her and
my son forever, and I can honestly say that.
As far as playing, there's been no problem
with it. Eventually, I would like to bring them
with me.
T: Any last important comments or recogni
tions?
7: No matter how redundant it might sound,
just keep a good positive outlook on life. Life
is too short to worry about petty bullshit.
Thanks to everyone for your support, friend-
ship, love and patience. It's been 6 very long
and incredible years, and it's just the begin-
ning. Also, special thanks to Joe for being a
good friend and helping us out on bass, and
fotal love to Angle. Time to get some sleep.
T: List a complete discography of 7 Seconds!
recordings, cassettes and vinyl.
Cassette "Socially Fucked Up (12 songs) Vic
lous Scam
Cassette 3 Chord Politics (14 songs) Vicious
Scam
Compilation "Not So Quiet... (1 song) Alt. Ten-
tacles
7 Eb Skins, Brains and Guts" (9 songs) Alt
Tentacles
7 Ep Committed for Life (7 songs) Squirtdown)
Compilation Wo Got Power (2 songs, one mis-
takerily listed as Athiests) Mystic
Compilation "Something to Believe In" (1 song)
BYO
Album "The Crew" (18 songs) BYO
Compilation Nuke Your Dink (1 song) Positive
Force
Compilation Cleanse The Bacteria" (2 songs)
Pusmort
12 Ep Walk Together, Rock Together" BYO
Pos. Force
7 Eo "Blasts From the Past" Positive Force
Cassette "He ain't heavy, He's Belial" (2 songs)
Basket Tapes
Lp (UK pressing) Walk Together" extra tracks
BYO Pos. Force
Lp "New Wind" studio + live BYO/Pos. Force
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