Choking Susan Interview

Interview by: Dod M
Big Wheel Overseas Correspondent

Choking Susan are from Detroit and they have that great Stoogey Detroit Punk sound and Colleen is a terrific front-woman, pouting and preening around the stage yet letting rip with her powerful voice whenever needed. They are one of the bands I look forward to at Rebellion, Colleen kindly agreed to answer some questions.

Did you listen to Punk before you joined Choking Susan?
Colleen – It’s all I listened to and all I’m still listening to…I’m so stuck in my ways…when i was in grade school my parents were waiting for me to grow out of it… they’re still waiting

How did the name Choking Susan come about?
Colleen – We borrowed it from an old 70’s porno movie… one of those stained sheets, burnt rugs ,bad hair, moustache faced(the men and the ladies),no one has seen a gym in decades pornos.

What originally attracted you to the music scene?
Colleen – it felt like home…music is an excellent drug… I place to get lost in.… somewhere to belong… its own identity and definition…nothing is weird, bizarre or uncool in it… you create your own cool

How long has the current line up been together?
Colleen – I’m not even sure of the line up myself right now! LOL! the guitarist and myself have been in the band since its formation…we go thru drummers as often as i menstruate…hmmm… maybe there’s a correlation? We’ve been thru several bass players as well…I always panic when someone leaves or needs to get fired but I’m completely excited at the same time to watch how the sound evolves…

Who writes the songs?
Colleen – I write all the lyrics…I’ve got alot of stories to tell! The music is written by either Keith, the guitarist, or myself …about half the songs I wrote and half he did…

Are you still fans and of Who?
Colleen – I’m first and foremost a fan… The Ramones are my fav of all time… I love X from Los Angeles too and I’m a fan of every band that played Rebellion Fest… I was the one running from stage to stage trying to soak in as many bands as I could… I was also peeled off the floor a few times and carried back to the hotel.

Do you have a favorite venue to play at?
Colleen – Nothing beats a Rebellion stage! I keep defaulting on Rebellion!

What’s your coolest band story?
Colleen – Playing CBGB’s was one of the coolest things we did…we played right before it closed… I think that ups our cool, in our own minds anyways.

What do you think about downloading music online?
Colleen – I love it! the way i discovered punk was by my friends copying cassette tapes and giving them to me…downloading music is just the technological version of that… feel free to download Choking Susan ,people! I don’t think anyone went into punk to get rich … I think most went into it to make music and get their music and thoughts heard and spread out… I want our music to be like swine flu… highly contagious and spread hand to hand

What makes a good crowd?
Colleen – Well, I do!

 

What music do you listen to chill out?
Colleen – The Ramones… they tap into my inner chi and make me go all Zen and drolly

Finally any last thoughts?
Colleen – I forgot my first ones! well, actually, yes I do…I think we should embrace filth more and unsanitary conditions… every once in awhile we need to lick the dirt, and for us girls, sit on a public toilet instead of hovering or making a toilet paper nest…dirt will make us all well again.

Band MySpace: www.myspace.com/chokingsusan