CEMAN HAT
THRASHER UNIVERSITY DANNY LILKER, BASSIST
NUCLEAR ASSAULT
Quiz: Professor Pushead ⚫ Photo Tech: Kristin Callahan
#1: Does a name like Nuclear Assault imply a pro or con choice toward nuclear
activity in our system? Is there a difference in your minds between nuclear energy
and nuclear war?
The name Nuclear Assault was conceived as a reaction to what other metal bands
were doing at the time (January 1984). Hardcore was just starting to influence us and we
wanted a name that smacked of reality as opposed to the Satanic- and fantasy-oriented
crap bands did back then. In no way did we ever condone nuclear power, energy or war,
but we wanted something powerful and realistic. Once we had the name, we figured it
would also work as a constant theme for the band because no metal bands were
singing lyrics like that. Even Metallica was just doing violent stuff back then. We're
totally against any use of nuclear power. There is a difference between nuclear energy!
and nuclear war because one is a reality today and the other is hopefully something that
will never happen. If we can't live with more conventional means of powering stuff then.
we're all screwed. Look at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl-is anybody getting the hint?
#2:
Pass.
# 3: How do you feel about the rise of computer technology
and the fact that, through a computer, your life story can be
printed out to a stranger for whatever reason they choose?
There are positive and negative aspects. If computers can
make it easier for people to do things more quickly without pry.
ing into our personal lives, then fine. But it's kind of scary that
some people somewhere have a file on me and you. I realize
that what with social security and the like there has to be some
kind of general file on everyone, but that doesn't mean I'm very
happy with that. It's creepy.
#4:
Pass.
#5: Why is Nuclear Assault a 'metal' band? What division did
you choose?
We're a metal band because people insist on categorizing.
and pigeonholing everything to death. In the public eye we
satisfy the criteria for a metal band: We have long hair; we have
double bass drums; our guitars go chunk-chunk (slow) and
dicka-dicka-dicka-dicka (fast); we have a couple of Marshalls.
But our lyrics and attitude are not typical of metal.
Put it this way: You know there are a lot of redneck skin-
heads, but there is a minority that are cool and refuse to grow
their hair because that's what they want to be. That's how it is
with us. Just because there's a lot of cock-rock and bullshit
doesn't mean we're going to get disgusted and cut off our
flowing locks. We're trying to make a difference and show
14-year-olds that you can have a positive message and play
total metal. So, yes, we're a metal band, but not a typical one.
As far as choosing divisions, I don't want to. I hate divisions.
We do what we do and that's it. You can call it metal, but I call
it music. I think that metal has always been something purely
musical, wherein thought-involved lyrics were secondary to
music. Hardcore was always "A Thought Crusade," to borrow
from No For An Answer. Punk and HC bands weren't worried.
about good equipment, production, or sometimes even being in
tune, because it was the message that was important, and
music is a great medium for a message. Nobody wants to hear
speeches. Crossover was bound to happen because bands
started listening to punk and hardcore. It was new and exciting.
and metal was getting stale as hell. How many times can you
listen to your Maiden albums? Let's not forget Motorhead, they
influenced bands like GBH and Discharge. We were heavily
influenced by classic Discharge, when they were doing Hear
Nothing. We said, 'This is
so cool, it's so heavy and
the lyrics are brutal,
realistic and really in your
face. This is what we
want to do.'
Then COC and DRI
experimented with a
more metal sound and
put more into the produc
tion of their albums
and-bang-there was
crossover. Positive points
were that bands like us
were showing young.
metalheads that you can
have cool lyrics and
crunchy music; negative
Previous Page (L to R): Nuke
guys Danny, Anthony, Glenn
and John, Right: John sweats
Above Right: Danny strums.
points were that it got
really trendy. Longhairs
were running around in
Misfits shirts screaming
'Mosh!' and punching
people in the pit, not out
of anger, but out of ig-
norance. Also, a lot of
hardcore people got.
really snotty and
showed their hypocrisy
by having lyrics that
said, 'Don't judge peo-
ple by the way they look,
look inside, and then
talking shit in interviews.
You want names? Youth
of Today.
I suppose we sit right
in the middle, but this
whole crossover thing
has gotten out of hand.
A lot of metal bands are going around saying, 'Society sucks,'
and other generic slogans, and the whole thing is getting.
tiresome. Look, we're just Nuclear Assault, OK? That's where
we're directed.
#8:
Pass.
#9: Which are worse for Nuclear Assault to deal with-the
negative aspects of the industry or the negative aspects of
the scene? Also, are the positive aspects of the industry or
the positive aspects of the scene more enjoyable?
I would say the industry for both, because, like it or not, we're
doing this for a living. I used to be really concerned about how
we were accepted by hardcore people. But we've been at it for
a few years now and if people are still saying, 'They don't mean
their lyrics, they're just going for hardcore credibility," then
they're missing the point. As soon as I realized that HC has as
many hypocrites as any other part of society, I stopped caring
what people thought of us. Some people will say you suck even
if they don't really think so, solely because it's the 'right thing'
to say
The industry, on the other hand, is what's keeping us alive.
We have to deal with managers, record companies and booking
agencies or we don't eat. So the positive and negative aspects
of the industry are both better and worse to deal with, because.
we have to depend on it. Don't get me wrong, I still care about
the scene and all, but the music industry has to take
precedence here unfortunately.
#10: How do you feel toward the mentality of this example:
'Why should I care about the ozone layer? I'll be dead by
the time it's too late.' / #11: Do you have any causes you
strive for, either through the band or personally? Private or
public? Do you think rock musicians should strive to
present causes to the public?
Hmmm. While I don't actually donate to anyone (I ain't rich). I
think the band doing what we do, giving metalheads a mes-
sage, is our cause: alerting people to things that are wrong or
dangerous or both. It sounds corny, I know, but I like to think
we're doing our little bit to make the world a better place. Pretty
posi-core, huh? I think we have a responsibility, since impres-
sionable teenagers look up to us, to give them something to
think about instead of singing about our dicks or Satan. Yes, I
think musicians should strive to promote causes. (Continued on page 116)
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