ZH: Let's start
off talking about Malfunction. Gimme a little history,
what you guys got going on, and what's comin up.
You said you used to do a Malfunction TV show right?
LG: I started a label back in god knows when called
Invasion with a guy Cen Penn. We put out a Time Flies
7" and things went all pear shaped, so we quit
doing records. Eventually a guy I knew had a ton of
video footage that he was getting harrased over and
also the Revelation video that never came out that
he was filming. We decided that the footage of bands
he had needed to be seen by everyone, not 3 people
who were trying to make money off of it. So he does
video editing and had done public acceess shows before,
one thing led to another and we just needed a name
for the show. We decided since one of the bands he
was getting flack over having footage of was the Cro
Mags, what better way than to name it after a Cro
Mags song? And Tru's is a huge Cro Mags fan so it
just seemed appropriate. From there I was in bootcamp
and I got a letter from Tru saying he wanted to repress
the Time Flies records under the Malfunction logo,
and finally put out the Count Me Out 7" we talked
forever about. Ambassador did the CDEP, we did 4 of
the songs and 2 others. From there the show and label
took on identities of their own and just started growing.
The early stuff we did was mainly pressing demos as
7 inches or records that were supposed to come out
for one reason or another and never did.
ZH: So around this time you were
also doing Barfight, right?
LG: We did Barfight before and after that. It started
as a joke band that me, Tru, and Fat Rich were gonna
do, andthen became an internet gang back in the days
of the old Rev board and alt.music.hardcore. On my
birthday one year we went to a friend's band practice,
then stayed later and called up the For the Living
bass player's roomates Mike and Eddie. That was the
first Barfight practice. We put it to rest once at
a show with the Nerve Agents and the Explosion in
the summer of '99, but we did one reunion show after
for one of the member's weddings. It was all tongue
in cheek, what we felt hardcore was and should be.
For a long time, “hardcore “ was what
is now considered screamo. Only recently are we seeing
bands like Madball back again.
ZH: Why did you break up?
LG: We broke up mainly cause all of the band members
were doing Striking Distance and doing good with that.
There was some friction between Tru and other members
so we decided it was for the best to end it before
it got stale.
ZH: Do you feel that since then
people have kind've lost the fact that it was "tongue
in cheek"?
LG: Some people have. I mean if you look at the lyrics
and take them at face value it's a joke, but I'm sure
some kids took them to heart. Some of it was it was
all laced with irony. I mean the song I sang, Barfight,
was written by myself and mainly by a friend Jason
Orr. I ended up singing it because he didn't want
people going, "12 against one.. hmmm lets do
it", especially since I Hate You had recently
broken up as a result of them getting jumped from
sarcastic comments.
ZH: Well you said that Tru told
you he didn't want to repress the Barfight 7".
LG: Yeah we feel it should stand for what it was,
it took on a life of its own. I mean we sold like
1700 demos and played 7 shows total, it's kinda cool
seeing something on ebay you were involved in go for
like 40 bucks, especially when you have a ton at home
LOL
ZH: Dude you have some at home?
Mine is warped, hook it up
LG: I will but thats a 40 dollar hook up LOL
LG: As far as what Malfunction's doing in the future
(old subject), we're doing an Internal Affairs Allegiance
split with a small label called Rival. They're pretty
up and coming but I hear they're assholes.. Rag Men
LP from Eulogy Recordings, a California hardcore comp
called Animal Style, and a 7 inch from an old 88 youthcrew
DC band called Touchdown.
ZH: You heard right dude, me and
Kyle suck.. Well he does at least.
LG: Nah, you rule, Kyle he's a stress case I heard.
ZH: He stresses hard when he hasn't
smoked any weed for a few hours, but he's gotten a
lot better haha
LG: Oh yeah he's a Ritalin kid?
ZH: Kyle just had some shit go
down when he was younger and always had to work super
hard in school and stuff to make sure his future would
be good. So yeah he would get wound up pretty tight
sometimes. But he's way mellowed out lately, learned
a lot about just letting things slide sometimes and
not stressing too hard over shit that's out of his
hands... Like getting In Control art..
LG: I have no idea what you're talking about, he left
that in your hands.. It's not my fault you and me
are the same LOL I'm just the messenger.
ZH: Dude if I meet Tru and find
out he's at all similar to Kyle I am going to be convinced
that there is a parallel universe out there on the
East Coast.
LG: LOL I'm pretty sure there is. Tru is definately
the business end of Malfunction and right now he has
a lot on his plate.
ZH: Hey let's talk about that for
a sec - East Coast vs. West Coast
LG: We rule you're lax.. But you have In and Out Burger.
ZH: What are some of things you
dig about the west coast
LG: In and Out burger, Del Taco, better beaches, Yoko’s
(best sushi), La Cruda, great dudes up and down the
coast, Corey, Taco and Internal Affairs, and not feeling
like my heads gonna explode from the moment I wake
up.
ZH: You forgot the almighty Dude
Crew
LG: Well you said things I like about the coast, I'm
no member so we're rivals. LOL Besides, that Conrad
dude is wierd, he claims he's core and he moshes but
he's way too into Saddle Creek records
ZH: Hey both IA and Allegienace
will be recording in a week or so, have you started
working on that layout yet?
LG: Well, IA is recording now actually. I have art
started, but I need to buy a font, which I'm against.
I had to buy one for the Touchdown record, I should
send you the sample art LOL
ZH: Oh by the way, I did end up
getting that font. I forgot to tell you. And that
Touchdown art rules, I just checked it out.
LG: Yeah, I wanted it to look like an old straight
edge record, cause it is. LOL Smorgasbord Records
was originally gonna put it out before they broke
up and reformed as Fed Up, a krsna band.
ZH: How much layout, illustrations,
and other band-related design do you do a month?
LG: Really all depends.. Right now its been mainly
layout not art, this month I did Phantom Pains American
Werewolves split, In Control, Touchdown, Rag Men LP,
Internal Affairs CD, need to ink the IA/Allegiance
art, Phantom Pains 7" is started, and finishing
a CD layout for War Machine Records. Plus, all the
Malfunction ads. And this is a slow month. Plus 50
hours of work a week.
ZH: Damn man
LG: LOL All depends so I get stressed too.
ZH: But it's good to know that
Rival stuff is your #1 priority
LG: LOL I know it's a curse.
ZH: I know you get stressed - do
you think a lot of people assume that you are just
being a dick if you are late with art, or are most
people pretty understanding?
LG: Nah most are understanding and know I'm not being
a dick. I know I've burned some big bridges with being
late on art, but it's a business thing. But I do bust
my ass and at times I need to just not touch anything
or I freak out, cause that'ss my job as is and I hate
burning out on ideas or making something look thrown
together. Also, now I have to worry about geting paid
or getting copies of work.
ZH: What do you mean?
LG: I always request finished samples and some labels
I've been waiting for copies for about a year. I haven't
sent them art because I have never received payment
or copies of my art from them, and that makes me feel
like an ass and not want to work with them anymore.
And a few AN, Shark Attack things I'll never get unless
I shell out a few hundred for 'em.
ZH: Well, lots of times you work
for free under the idea that if you do it, you get
a finished sample right?
LG: Well, used to be free and at least 10 copies of
finished product, and 1 test press if it's for a record.
But that's never seemed to work, with the exception
of Bridge 9 and a few other labels. I have to say
Chris Wrenn has been the most understanding with family
crisis, breakdowns, delays, and always going above
and beyond to get me my stuff.
ZH: Do you want to talk about any
of that stuff? I know, at least from my point of view,
that you've really grown this last year or so and
have dealt with a lot of rough shit.
LG: Yeah I got no secrets here. LOL It's a rough thing
growing up, but helps to vent. Last year basiclly
came out to a few friends and it has spread a bit,
my grandfather died and saw my half of the family
I havent seen in 10+ years, and been fighting depression.
ZH: Did you ever set up an appointment
with that psychiatrist?
LG: yes been going 2 sessions so far.
ZH: Dude I'm stoked you're going!
And coming out to friends,
how did that feel?
LG: Coming out is a bitch. My mom was easier. Friends
you always worry how you're going to be treated, especially
when you've known them as long as you have. It's the
hardest thing cause you dont want it to change and
you know if they hate you for that reason they're
not friends. So you feel like you're putting everything
on the line.
ZH: I agree totally. It's always
easier to come out to people you've just met, as opposed
to the friends you've had for years.
LG: Telling Tru I was gay was probably the hardest
thing I've ever done. I mean I've known him like 12
years and I know he was going to shows when I was.
Yeah I totally agree especially if they're assholes
LOL
ZH: and you're right, it is like
putting everything on the line. it can be totally
scary.
LG: And often for no reason, it's not like you're
robbing a bank LOL
ZH: I read this interview w/ Limp
Wrist in MRR a couple of years ago, and in it Martin
said something to the effect that a lot of people
think that you just come out and boom you're done.
they don't realize that it's a constant process, you
have to do it every day all the time. It gets old.
Do you agree with that?
LG: Yeah I agree with that cause there are people
that still don't know. It gets akward at times having
to tell the same story over and over, but I think
in a way it's easier too because when you hide it
for so long you get used to thinkig fast and adapting
to cover it. But like in this Thursday song, M Sheppard,
“When the curtain falls and you're caught on
the other side just trying to keep up the act”,
you learn to use those skills to not hide it anymore.
ZH: dude you just quoted thursday.
that record is amazing but a total guilty pleasure
of mine.
LG: LOL Same here, they're really damn good as much
as it pains me to say.
ZH: ..But I know what you're saying.
After years of lying and having to come up with shit
real quick, freaking out over the most minor stuff,
it's so awesome now to be able to talk to my parents
and just be able to say shit like nelson and I went
out to a movie
LG: Yeah that's amazing.
ZH: What was your experience like
being gay in hardcore? and how old were you when you
realized you were gay?
LG: Well forever well till maybe November, no one
knew, so it wasn't any different. I've known I was
gay probably since I was around 15 when you really
start to understand sexuality and who you are. Before
you have no idea and it's not like it's fair to say
you're one way or another, you're still developing.
ZH: And as far as hardcore, do
you feel like your being gay had something to do with
you seeking out hardcore in the first place?
LG: Nah, I was into skateboarding and Dead Kennedys,
it was a natural progression for me. When you feel
left out you to to where other outcasts like you are,
and hardcore was a place for me. But the first time
I did realise it was ok, when a friend of mine pointed
out the 7 Seconds song, Regress No Way, was about
homophobia and about 7 Seconds' manager at the time.
ZH: You were engaged before, right?
LG: Yeah to this girl, Nicki Anderson. She lived by
where I worked and met here through friends of mine.
I took her to a Shelter show in Richmond and introduced
her to Fat Rich and people. I kept thinking "well
see I like this girl I'm not gay". She joined
the army and I went to see her in Monterey a few times
and it was getting hard.
ZH: Damn, man. What finally ended it?
LG: Yeah it sucks, mainly cause you care for this
person and you can't do it cause you're not wired
that way. It's all a sham to you and you know your
forcing them through a lie. It ended cause I couldn't
do it. She was originally going to be in cali another
2 years and then go to Russia. She was army intelligence
at the language school there.
ZH: So you kinda just let it break
up because of the distance?
LG: Yeah was easier than fessing up to the fact I
couldn't do it cause I liked men.
ZH: Did you ever end up telling
her about that?
LG: Nah haven't spoken to her in years. I feel bad
but she'd be hard to tell also.
ZH: Yeah I bet. I tried to date
girls in high school but it always felt so wierd and
wrong.
LG: I hear that. I mean can you imagine sleeping with
a girl ? ewwwwww LOL
ZH: haha
ZH: That was so gay, dude.
LG: I know LOL just kididng I mean you like who and
what you like big deal.
ZH: Agreed - so what if that includes
chains, whips, and genital torture? What's the big
deal?
LG: Well it's cool if it doesn't involve me, but were
I into say, donkey shows, it's my perogative to go
see 'em.. I mean perform in 'em.
ZH: 2 things I want to ask but they go in different
directions..
LG: Ok ask, Negrodamus
ZH: first, you are a fairly well-known
dude in this scene. how do you feel people will react
to knowing that 'the monster' is a homo
LG: Who knows? I'm still a scary lookin dude
and can still fight LOL It doesn't matter to me what
they think, I mean if they're close friends they'll
be friends, if not fuck 'em. I mean I can always play
the Keith Harring role and break out into big time
shit, I mean look Chris Champion had no problem going
to 80's homorama with us and telling me to dance in
the cage.
ZH: Chris freakin rules,
definately - he is one of my favorite dudes. Everyone
in Champion is, actually. But what was up with the
club turning the spotlight off when you started dancing
in the cage?
LG: They didn't want a riot in the cage. It was my
natural heat, my Guatamalaness.
ZH: Second, what do you
think about the growing knowledge of gay culture in
the straight population? I mean kids going to gay
dance clubs, sleevless shirts, diesel jeans, etc
LG: LOL It's a wierd thing, but gay people have always
been the forefront of fashion and culture, just not
music as of late. I mean Kiss was managed by a big
homo, leather, spandex, studded belts. And the Sex
Pistols? I mean it's all kind of steeped in it. Iit's
wierd having so much inside knowledge going around
now ala Queer Eye, South Park and other shows, but
also kinda cool. I just wish more kids knew the roots
of some of the shit
ZH: I agree. I think it's cool
to have more people know what's up, but also kinda
wierd to watch something like Queer as Folk with friends.
I just sit there and think "they're totally thinking
that this is what nelson and I do when they're not
around"
LG: LOL yeah but also good to know its not all hairdressers,
pride parades, and countless annonymous sex (well
for you LOL)
ZH: It is unnerving to see friends
pick up gay slang, either from me or wherever. it's
like "ewww how do you know that?"
LG: LOL slang is slang.
ZH: Well yeah but I mean knowing
what a "gloryhole" is is frightening
LG: Well me knowing what that was is frightening LOL
I mean I was so naive and shit for so long. Now I
know what's up LOL It's wierd, like when I saw Someting
about Mary and finding out rest stops were cruisy
I go "ohhhh, that's why that guy asked me the
time 4 times".
ZH: Well let's switch gears from
the gay shit now - you are 30 years old and have being
going to shows for what.. 15 years or something?
LG: LOL yeah first show was 88 so almost 16
LG: and if you had to transcribe this you would hate
life LOL
ZH: I know dude- you were right
this is a good idea.. because over the phone it'd
be hard to transcribe all your sassiness.
ZH: do you remember your first show?
LG: LOL yeah to sassiness and first show
ZH: What was it?
LG: Forget the date, but I remember it was Far Cry,
Token Entry, Outcrowd (went on to be in H20), and
one other band.
ZH: How is hardcore different for
you now than it was 16 years ago?
LG: Internet. Kids get obscure information and every
song ever at the click of a button. Before, we used
to trade tapes, read MRR, write kids, steal phone
cards to talk to kids in other states, road trip,
and just hang out. Now everyone has a genre they know
everything about and they discovered everything 5
minutes ago.
ZH: Do you think that's a good
thing or bad thing? Are we better off now or are we
screwed?
LG: I'm not sure. It can be good but everyone downloads
everything, refuses to lend a hand, and has an opinion
on everything. It's screwing the scene and damn selfish.
ZH: Do you feel like it's changed
you in that regard at all? I find that as I get older
I'm less and less likely to invest time in listening
to a band without knowing that they're worth giving
two shits about, which is kind've shitty, but at the
same time there are so many people out there who just
take and take, and after a while it has an effect
on you.
LG: Nah, not really. I read it to check out bands,
not to see everyones opinion (and everyone has one).
It gives you a chance to check out new bands and stay
in touch too, so its a double edged sword.
ZH: What are some current bands
that keep you stoked on HC?
LG: Internal Affairs, Blacklisted, Victim, Champion,
Cast Aside, GUTG and Converge.
ZH: Dude the new champion record
is going to blow up -Chris played me one of the new
songs that night we stayed there - holy shit.
LG: It's OKAY, dude. I heard it so no biggie LOL Oh
yeah and new Floorpunch band rules. STQ is gonna smoke
next year too.
ZH: Who's STQ?
LG: Smear the queer.
ZH: YES dude that band is amazing!
LG: LOL soo good and I wanna hear No Secrets Between
Sailors too.
ZH: Have you ever thought about
dropping out of hardcore?
LG: Yeah, but I've been involved too long, I still
love it. It's wierd, but I'll always be involved in
some form. LOL Music is my girlfriend.
ZH: did you just quote Fastbreak?
ZH: haha
LG: LOL yeah
ZH: Kyle and I saw them
SF right after that record came out, I was never that
into them but I think he was bummed 'cause he liked
the first record way more.
ZH: What is your favorite band that you've seen live?
if it's too hard to say just one, you can mention
a couple. I'll allow it..
LG: LOL Favorite few bands I've seen live: Judge,
Gorrilla Biscuits, Chain of Strength, Turning Point,
AN, Converge, Burn.
ZH: Okay now what's your favorite
band you never saw?
LG: The Clash
ZH: Dude we've been at this for
an hour and a half
LG: I know it's gonna be a bitch to edit and I have
work here to do now actually.
ZH: Alright dude well I'll wrap
it up then - is there anything else you want to add?
Shoutouts or anything? 'cause as you know the Rival
site gets millions of hits every day - this will be
seen by the entire world bitch.
LG: LOL Word up to all my niggas world wide, and buy
Malfunction Records and stuff www.malfunctionrecords.com
ZH: Awesome dude - thanks for takin
the time
LG: No sweat now back to work LOL later bro.
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