The interview with Chris #2 was the one I was most excited for – I have been a huge fan of Anti-Flag, especially the message that they present through their music. He turned out to be just as passionate about the issues as I imagined.

Suburban Horror: So you guys have been in the band for how many years now?

Chris #2: Gosh, I’ve been in the band since ‘98; so it’s been 8 years since I joined the band. The first record came out in 96, so the bands been together for about 10 years.

SH: So why do you keep going?

C2: Well it’s interesting. The band is growing and I feel getting better every day so that’s why we keep going. So, there’s no sense in stopping. The ideas that we’re bringing to life with our songs and the music itself it getting better and better. So in that respect, as long as were not taking a step backwards, it’s better to continue moving forward. And ultimately, we’re meeting so many people every day who are just finding out about the band and finding out about the things that we’re doing. It makes a lot of sense to be as focused. We’re part of a touring cycle that’s heavier; we’re working harder than we’ve ever worked. Things are still very new to us.

SH: What’s it like being on Warped Tour?

C2: It’s a lot of the same thing every day. It’s kind of easy to get lost in the monotony of it all, but the most important thing that you realize is that there are shitloads of people here that you have never heard of us or heard of the things that we have to say. We need to take the opportunity to be here and to be a voice in calling out military recruitment in the schools, in calling out some of the interesting sponsors that the tour uses to put in front of people.

Look be wise when you are casting your voting dollar. Don’t just come here to be involved with another side of commerce. Realize there are a lot of great bands and a lot of great music that are lot more than what’s popular or fabricated. Hopefully they see that or take that away from this. I’m not sure if it works, but were quite optimistic how we handle our business. If there are 10,000 folks here today and one of them walks away with something, it’s well worth it for us to be here.

SH: If you could change one law in the country, what would it be?

C2:It would be illegal for any corporation, regardless of their size, to give money to a political candidate. I think right like that you would change the shape of the entire world. You’d no longer have Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, and this corporate-cratic government that we have now, which is basically nothing but ex-corporate heads still on the payroll of many of these corporations that they are giving out bids and contracts to.

Basically, they are running the government not in our interests but the corporation’s. I think you would change the political landscape.

SH:What else do you do to keep sane on tour?

C2: Hang out. Meet as many interesting people as possible and find out what’s happening in their local scene. And meet people like yourself that care about the world and realize that we aren’t alone. It is much easier for us to stay sane on tour than for us to stay sane at home when we’re just watching TV and downloading democracy now daily. You start to see things as really bleak – then you go out to a room, like today we played really early, but there were 2,000 to 3,000 people there that were really energized and excited about the possibilities and the optimism of change on the horizon. That really helps you out.

SH: If you could go on tour with anyone alive or dead, who would it be?

C2:The Clash and Dead Kennedys.

SH: What is your favorite tattoo?

C2:The tattoo on my neck. It has my wife’s initials and my initials and a song that I wrote when I was in another band called Whatever It Takes, “Lips Surrendered.”

SH:What is your favorite song on any of your records to play live?

C2: I think this song “War Sucks, Let’s Party” is my favorite song. I really like the song “Press Corps”, which is another new record song and another new record song, “This is the End.” But I think my favorite of all time might be “War Sucks, Let’s Party.”

SH: Do you feel like the band will change anything? Or how long do you guys want to keep going?

C2: We want to keep going as long as were viable and the music we make is good, not shitty. This last record we made we felt we opened a lot of doors, and I know we’ll make another one. We don’t really think about that, because we all feel so young and all feel like so much new stuff. To put a cap on it is ridiculous.

SH:How do you go through the creative process?

C2:We all write – we’re constantly writing. Justin is fairly prolific and has a lot of tapes and a lot of music down. I categorize everything up here first and definitely a feel-kind of writer. (Justin) will keep a part and keep a part over years. If I have a part and it doesn’t feel right, I instantly throw it away and move to something else. I think that that the speed that I write with and the take-your-time-ethic of Justin lends itself to two different types of writers and different sounding aspects of the band. And the other guys have much input past skeleton writing. Sometimes, Chris or Pat will write a song or two, but the majority of the song writing will come from me or Justin.

- Magic Stick Mish