Interview with Kevin Seconds of 7 Seconds

Interview by: Corrina P.
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

How does it make you feel knowing 7 Seconds is a huge part of Punk rock history as well as being one of the first bands to adopt the name "hardcore"?
Kevin: I'm glad we were a part of the first wave of hardcore bands that came out in 1980, '81.  We might not be as well-known or as influential as bands like Black Flag, D.O.A. and Minor Threat but it's been an amazing 30 years for us and we're psyched that we were there and experienced the hardcore scene from the very start.

30 years ago did you ever think you'd still be a band, playing shows, and still attracting more and more people including kids?
Kevin: I can't say that i ever thought we'd last 10 years, let alone 30. It's pretty crazy when you think about it and honestly, there have ben times over the last 10 or so years where i almost felt weird and slightly embarrassed that we're still kicking around but now i'm just happy and grateful.  We seem to be doing better, in terms of excitement for the band and overall gig turnouts than ever before. I don't know if it's mostly a curiousity thing, to see if we can still put on a great live show or whatever but it's been really great.

What is it that helped you stay together for so many years?
Kevin: Steve, Troy, Bobby and I genuinely get along and like each other. At least, we did on the road, we've learned how to tour well together after all these years. We don't even get into fistfights anymore

You guys are originally from Reno, Nevada. How is playing live in Nevada different from playing live here in California?
Kevin: We never have bad gigs when we play in Reno. It's always like this really big homecoming for us and it is because, even though I live in Northern California these days, Reno will always be our home for 7Seconds. California is great too. We still do well here.

Like most bands did, you took a different route and experienced with other styles of music. What gave you the idea to try something new?
Kevin: A few things, really. One, we all love different types of music and sometimes being a music fan has it's side effects and you start indirectly letting musical influences creep into  the music you make. I have no problem with that and have never shied away from allowing some influences to shine through. Secondly, in the mid-80's, when we first recorded our album New Wind, we had had a couple of band member changes and different styles and ideas started creeping in which sort of sculpted the way we sounded in a different way.

Do you all still believe in staying young 'til you die? And why do you feel that it's so important?
Kevin: I do but that doesn't mean that I think that you should be an immature, disrespectful, selfish prick who shits on other people because you could care less about them. And it's not an age thing either. It's all about the youthful energy in your heart and how it inspires you to keep making things, whether it's music or art or film or changes in the world. If you think like a resigned old person, you feel like one.

How does the album "Take It Back, Take It On, Take It Over" differ from your previous albums?
Kevin: It's hard for me to say. One thing for sure was that we recorded the record ourselves and I did much of the engineering and production work so that was a lot different. Also, we had never sent tapes to another studio, in another part of the country to have someone else mix it. Bill Stevenson did an outstanding mixing job and we'd probably not trust too many other people to do the job without us.

The song "Where's the Danger" has the lyrics "So gifted and smart everyone looks so pretty, but where is the danger in hot topic city?" and "A shit load of talent but there is no deep end, forget about passion there's none in the bloodstream". Do you feel that today a lot of kids are interested in punk rock for the fashion rather than it being in their hearts?
Kevin: Sure. For the most part, it's become a much bigger fashion and looks thing than ever before. I mean, punk rock has always had a more fashionable-conscious side but people these days concentrate WAY too much on being cute and fuckable. It's probably because we have the Internet and everything has become so much more visual. Of course there are exceptions.

Have you guys worked on any new songs since your last release or considered coming out with a new album?
Kevin: We have. We've all written stuff for new songs. We've just been too lazy or busy with family and jobs and real life stuff to get it together to record. It'll happen. Maybe not a full length album anytime soon. Probably something more in the 'release a new song every month' type of deal, like the Bouncing Souls have done. Something more fun and creative. And less time-consuming.

There were some rumors that 7 Seconds would be playing the Warped Tour, but also that you no longer are. Will you be playing any of the 2010 Warped Tour dates?
Kevin: Nope. Not this year. We got asked to play a few shows on the West Coast but we couldn't make it happen. We might do it in the future if we get asked. Who knows? We're more of a small club kind of hardcore band, anyway. Those big Warped Tour shows can be fun but clubs are where its at for us. Always has been.

Do you have any words of advice for kids who are in bands or who want to start bands?
Kevin: Yes. Pour your heart, soul and ass into everything you do creatively and never let up on that. Also, prepare for disappointment, poverty and heartbreak and have low expectations. The main thing is to just only do it because you are in love with doing it and let all the other shit happen as it comes.

Thanks Kevin for spending some time with us, you rule!