A New Agenda

Interview With Death March

Garden Grove

From Issue 1.2, November/December 2004

A lot of trash talking went on outside of a Garden Grove Starbucks with much of it being directed at Death March’s drummer, Paul, who vocalist Chris aptly called “miracle boy.”  Despite the compliment, it was muttered with a smirk.

Later, bassist Rob told Paul to “shut up ball” after Paul asked about band pictures to which guitarist Mat added laughing they have a picture of Paul playing drums where he looks like a gerbil.

“It’s ‘cause he’s small,” Chris said in defense of the jokes.

“Oh, yeah.  We left practice to come here today and I was the only one sweating,” Paul muttered with disinterest as everyone else laughed.

Funny stuff.

Funny how with all the joking, this band (which also includes a second guitarist, Michael aka “Gonzo” who remained relatively quiet during the interview) manages to find time to practice and make music, but they do and it’s good music with a meaningful message.

Their music is so good, this young group of musicians has built up not only a local following, but interest from as far as New York.

On a more serious level however, Death March is as critical of the government, as any  band can get.  However, where most bands simply shout screw the government and then praise drinking and partying, the members of Death March are on a consistent roll with detailed explanations of why they feel the way they do about the government, the media and many other issues.

“We’re really against the war.  Our symbol is soldiers marching off to war,” said Chris immediately into the interview.

“I came up with the name [Death March] from when the Japanese used to make their prisoners march across the desert and they died without food or water,” added Paul.

Most of the songs are indeed political with Chris and Mat writing the songs’ lyrics which discuss antiwar sentiments, political corruption and media bias.

Chris referred to many of Bush’s actions as “‘backdoor shenanigans.’  The corrupt war in Iraq for oil money.  The war itself isn’t a bad thing.  It’s how he went to war.  He could have taken more diplomacy towards it.”

“The whole point is,” Paul added, “you go to war for a reason-not for oil in the desert.”

Those are very strong sentiments a lot of bands are mouthing off these days.  Just to distinguish this band from others however, Death March’s members are actually involved in causes at a level many would find commendable no matter what their political philosophies may be.

They played a benefit concert around the corner from the Starbucks the interview was held at called “Save the Scene.”

“It was just to get everyone to stop fighting over cliques.  We tried to get everyone together,” said Chris about the incessant fighting between the Garden Grove and Santa Ana music scenes. 

Ironically though, fights broke out during the concert causing damage.

The members of Death March also helped raise money during another concert for the cause Punks Fighting Poverty, which helps feed the homeless.

“Every punk band has one strong message to generate reforms,” said Chris.  “I mean, look at the French Revolution.  They [the revolutionaries] told the government to piss off.  They killed everyone.  Now, they have democracy.  I guess you could call them punks....”

“It’s the whole idea of fighting for what you believe in,” added Paul of what punk means to them.

Unfortunately, mainstream culture places such a negative stigma on punk as being severely antisocial through the fashion.

“Kids look at that stuff on MTV [the punk fashion] and dress based on that.  Then parents hear their kids saying ‘fuck the government.’  So, then parents say, ‘oh, I don’t want my kids listening to punk,” said Mat of the common misconception that punk is a complete movement away from government.

“Anarchy and then peace,” Mat added.  “People who believe only in anarchy don’t understand that without government, no doubt about it, they’d be dead.”

Death March has been around trying to send its message advocating a wake up call for change.  Although, the band disputes on just how long they have been getting the message across.  Someone said they are nine months old.  Someone else insisted Death March is more than a year old.

Despite the minor discrepancy, according to Chris, Death March has revamped its “band plan.”  They are going to practice two times per week, have a new song every week and get a lot more shows.  However, Chris tacked on that they’re just “too lazy” to get shows.

“We’ve had a lot of problems with promoters ripping us off.  Plus, pay to play.  I mean, that’s stupid.  I have to pay out of my own pocket to play in front of my friends,” questioned Chris.

“They should pay us to play,” said Paul.

Highly passionate and opinionated, no one can accuse the members of Death March for being apathetic or unaware of the current state of the world. 

Yes, clubs should start paying these five for their shows.