Interview with Andy of Provoked playing dbeat/thrash…from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Dha: How did the band get together and how long has it
been together?
Andy: Well, Provoked has been together for about four years now. Previous to that, we had Dan from Profane Existence singing for us. That ended up not working out so we kidnapped a close friend of ours from Seattle named Scaba to do lead vocals for us. That turned out to be very successful and her vocal style somewhat carved what Provoked sounds like today. It's kinda funny since none of the members on Provoked are from Minneapolis. We just all moved from other parts of America and ended up in the same city together. Turned out to be a really good thing and we all came together like a close family.
Dha: Where did the band's name come from?
Andy: That's kind of a funny story as well. Myself, along with Andy Lutz and Joe shared a house together and when we started righting music together we obviously needed a name. So, one night while sitting at home together, we had a coffee table with stickers all over it. One sticker had a picture of a yuppie standing in from of a burning factory that said "I was Provoked". Joe looks at me and Lutz and says "what about Provoked?" and we all agreed. So that is where the name originates from.
Dha: How does the song writing process go? How does your band usually come up with the lyrics and the music?
Andy: Well, most of the time it's a group process. The majority of our writing lately has been based on the climate and structure (or lack of) of our world. The actual music writing is definitely a group effort. Usually with the us in one room and establish a particular sound.
Dha: What band influences you in this kind of music?
Andy: Well, there's quite a wide and diverse range of music that we are influenced by. I think we all can agree on the basis that we are heavy into D-beat, crust and overall thrashing mayhem. It's difficult to pin point what we are going for because we don't have any one specific band we all listen to. Amebix, anti-cimex, Health Hazard, Motorhead, Asta Kask...the list is too long to even come close to what you love and admire so much.
Dha: What pushes the band to write the music you play?
Andy: This toilet we call Earth. Of course that name comes from the man-made hell that has swept this planet and has caused irreversible damage. It also comes from the sheer love and energy that this genre of ours omits. Our love for the underground punk counter-culture is our life blood. If it was not for the loving and giving hand of our community, we would not be here...UP THE PUNKS!!!
Dha: What drives you to live the way you live and sing
the songs that you make?
Andy: All it takes is a simple look around to notice the chaos, violence, greed, hate, materialism and overall self-centeredness that blankets this world. We look around and see the blank stare and emotionless ness that ravage the faces of our fellow human beings. We will not join the countless ranks that envelope themselves in such ignorance. Fuck the consumer, fuck the material, fuck their apathy!
Dha: What are some of the other things you do to spread ideas aside from the band and music?
Andy: Well considering that some of us have a rather dodgy history with the law, we tend to lay low during such chaotic times. That doesn't mean we tolerate what we encounter.
The majority of our message most defiantly comes from our music. Kerri, our vocalist works with profane existence writing for the prisoner columns. The rest of us contribute our time
to social activities when time permits and when also available. As a group, we make it perfectly clear that we will not bow to the rich community that engulfs us. this, can actually mean
confronting the enemy in the street and verbally expressing how it is not welcome.
Dha: Are all of the members of the band are vegan?
What influence you guys to stop eating meat?
Andy: There are 3 vegans and 2 veggies. It's rather clear why we choose this path. Meat is fucking wrong! If you have the opportunity to not eat it, then don't. We do not infringe this value on anyone else, because taking that route is a personal decision and we support that.
Dha: What are the plans in the near future of Provoked?
Andy: We are in the process of writing our third L.P. and possibly doing a west coast (American) tour next year. We will see what happens. We continue to play locally and thrash to the best of our ability. We love what we do and are passionate about keeping it strong...till the end!
Dha: Any advice for the punk/hardcore people all over the world?
Andy: Absolute and total respect for all out there. Don't ever be let down by the condition of this world. As long as we have each other, then we can accomplish anything.
Cheers and Love...UP THE FUCKIN' PUNKS!!!
