MTV Interview Transcript

11.10.1997

11/10 "Walkin' On The Sun" Smash mouth 5:30pm ET (CyberRap)

SMASH MOUTH CHAT
November 10 @ 5:30 p.m. (ET)
In the America Online MTV Arena
(Keyword: mtv)

Smash mouth. You might not have heard the name, but you've definitely heard their hit single "Walkin' On The Sun." It's been plastered all over commercial and college radio stations as well as being a staple video on MTV. The 60's influenced song was actually inspired by the frustrations and anger running rampant around the time of the infamous Rodney King incident. Guitarist Greg Camp reveals, "I was riding my bike through this gnarly area to get to a club and I had these cheesy songs in my head; I was trying to be peaceful when all around me there were mothers on crack with kids in their arms. I know it's not gonna change the world, but it's my attempt."

Smash mouth is probably one of the most open-minded bands when it comes to their sound. "When we formed the band, we didn't have one style of music in mind. We just decided we were going to write songs that feel good to us," explains vocalist Steve Harwell. "Put every style in a blender on high, chop, frappe', whatever you want, mix it together, pour yourself a cup, take a big shot, and that's us."

Joined by bassist Paul De Lisle and drummer Kevin Coleman, Greg and Steve made the journey to Austin, Texas for the MTV Sports and Music Festival, that kicked off Friday, November 7th and ran throughout the weekend on MTV.

Join Smash mouth for a post-festival chat this Monday, November 10th @ 5:30pm. They'll be discussing everything from their current release "Fush Yu Mang" to playing at the Sports and Music Festival. So bring your questions, join us in the MTV Arena on America Online AND see them play live at the MTV Sports and Music Festival all this weekend on MTV!

MTVRock: Everyone please welcome Steve, Greg, Paul and Kevin, collectively know as Smash mouth to the MTV Arena. Welcome guys!

Paul: Wuzup.

Greg: Thanks for having us here.

Steve: What's up everybody.

Kevin: hello world. We've got a fan in Istanbul!

Greg: Not Constantinople.

MTVRock: Smash mouth's hit single - "Walkin' On The Sun" has been plastered all over commercial and college radio stations as well as being a staple video on MTV. The 60's influenced song was actually inspired by the frustrations and anger running rampant around the time of the infamous Rodney King incident. Guitarist Greg Camp reveals, "I was riding my bike through this gnarly area to get to a club and I had these cheesy songs in my head; I was trying to be peaceful when all around me there were mothers on crack with kids in their arms. I know it's not gonna change the world, but it's my attempt." Smash mouth is probably one of the most open-minded bands when it comes to their sound. "When we formed the band, we didn't have one style of music in mind. We just decided we were going to write songs that feel good to us," explains vocalist Steve Harwell. "Put every style in a blender on high, chop, frappe', whatever you want, mix it together, pour yourself a cup, take a big shot, and that's us." Joined by bassist Paul De Lisle and drummer Kevin Coleman, Greg and Steve made the journey to Austin, Texas for the MTV Sports and Music Festival, which kicked off this past weekend. Let's get right into the questions!

MTVRock: NetherWrl asks: First of all, I'd just like to say that you guys kix ass. Second, I wanted to ask: What...how should I put this...inspired you to write your kix ass, totally roxing song "Walkin on the Sun"?

Greg: It was a bike ride through a bad neighborhood.

Steve: Great Answer!

Paul: Way to go Greg!

Steve: Whatever, Kevin.

MTVRock: GLoWxGiRL asks: How did you four studly men meet?? (c; Luv Ya All ~GLoW

Steve: At a gay bar.

Paul: At a studly man convention.

Kevin: How did we meet?

Steve: At a Gladiator flick in San Francisco.

Greg: Steve and Kevin came to a place where I was playing, like night after night and they were trying to get me to join a band that they were starting and I got so tired of them coming out evey night and bothering me so I gave in and decided to play with them. Now everyone's happy.

Steve: Greg was rubbing Kevin down with hot oil and I happen to walk by.

MTVRock: My ZiM Zu asks: why are you called smash mouth?

Steve: Why are you called Zim Zu?

Paul: Ask Kevin.

Kevin: It's a sports catch phrase and its just a stupid name that we just decided to keep.

MTVRock: Xarsha13 wants some stats: How old are you guys?

Steve: late 20s.

Paul: 28

Steve: 21

Greg: We all just turned 21 and we're ready to party.

Kevin: I'm 28.

MTVRock: Oblivinat asks: what was it like playing at the sports and music festival?

Greg: It was dodging skateboards and snowboards all day.

Paul: It was distracting because we were more interested in the skateboarding than... playing

Greg: There were half pipes like, on the stage behind us and all the pros were skating and rollerblading and bmxing and biking out.

Steve: Just being able to kick-it with Carson was a joy...we haven't seen him in a... long time. He's a pimp.

Kevin: It's amazing no one got killed. I seen two guys collide and I could have sworn one guy broke his arm because it was hanging by a thread.

MTVRock: Bomohound asks: what are your musical influences?

Greg: I like surf music and dub reggae, and I just recently started liking Supergrass. I don't know why.

Steve: I would say from Elvis to Van Halen to The Waterboys.

Kevin: I'm gonna go with the Beatles and the Stones and Green Day and Rancid.

Paul: X, Buzzcocks, Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks...you get the picture.

Kevin: I like Sublime a lot. We can't leave out the Clash -one of my favorites!

MTVRock: NONE IS 1 asks a question, that we ask of almost anyone who happens through these offices: what do you think about hanson?

Steve: I think they are a bunch of brats.

Paul: Leave the kids alone. Let 'em rock.

Kevin and Greg: Let the kids rock!

Steve: Once again, they are a bunch of brats....And I'm sending kaos to kick their ass.

Greg: We love 'em. When we were in England, you wake up every day and turn on MTV and that's all you saw was Hanson and the Spice Girls and now we have to love them!

Kevin: Let the kids rock.

MTVRock: NJB12 asks: What is the name of your next single?

Greg: Why Can't We Be Friends

Steve: Why can't we be friends. We just finished the video last week. It's gonna be rad. Thanks for asking. Tell a friend. Get your ass to the record store and buy the record. Ha Ha! Just kidding.

MTVRock: GLoWxGiRL asks: In your song 'Flo', did that really happen to one of you..? Just wondering.

Paul: I think it's happened to all of us at one time or another. It's about a guy's girlfriend who's questioning her sexuality.

Steve: P.S.: Love to Yodell in the Valley.

Greg: Yah, an ex girlfriend of mine decided she didn't like men after she was with me. How am I supposed to feel about this?

MTVRock: Joplintoo asks: Do any of you have Realationship?

Greg: Not anymore.

Paul: We have relationships with each other...

Steve: and that's hard enough.

MTVRock: Tara t21 wants to know about personal habits: what is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

Paul: Smoke.

Kevin: Crawl to a pot of coffee.

Steve: I pee. I pee then drink a coke.

Greg: I try to beat everyone to the shower in the hotel -- that way you don't have to stand on those old raspy towels and pick the hair off the soap.

Steve: Or visa versa.

MTVRock: Son of Ab asks: Will your popularity change your music?

Steve: Um...no.

Greg: I think so -- we have more money.

Kevin: Definitely!

Paul: Greg, what do you mean? I don't have any money. Where did you get all your money?

Greg: There's more avenues to go down with more money. (production/recording wise).

MTVRock: Seanaz asks: Smashmouth, What can you say to all of us out here who want to start a band of our own?

Steve: Make sure you have good people around you and always move forward. Never look back.

Paul: Quit immediately. It's easier to sell cars.

Greg: Have a lot of fun, and if it isn't fun don't do it, and don't ever expect to make money.

Kevin: Do it because you like it, not to make it, or you'll lose your mind, like we did.

MTVRock: Angels4li asks: How long did you guys play before you were signed to a recording contract? Was this a "garage band" so to speak?

Steve: 3 years.

Paul: It was more like a "bedroom band". We couldn't afford garages.

Steve: I never said in front of people. We usually played with ourselves....in our studio.

Greg: For some of us it was a bathroom band (You'll have to think about that)

MTVRock: Seusser asks: Hi, what were your influences for the songs "Disconnect the Dots" and "Petnames"?

Steve: "Disconnect the Dots" is about Paul and his failed relationship with some other... blonde.

Greg: Disconnect the dots... is about our bass player Paul getting dumped by a straight-up hoe bag.

Paul: I got dumped for a fry cook.

Greg: And us trying to get him back on his feet in a positive way.

Paul: Greg, that's not nice. YOU tried to sleep with her in high school.

MTVRock: GLoWxGiRL asks: I heard that your going to be plaing with U2? Is that true, and what do you think of that?

Paul: It's the coolest thing I've ever done in my life.

Steve: Amazing!

Greg: I've got a story for you...

Paul: We've already done a couple of shows with them. Greg On Halloween we played with U2 and we dressed up in nighties and fluffy slippers and really elaborate makeup and right before we were about to go on we got a call from their manager saying that they were going to come down to meet us.

Greg: When they walked in they saw us dressed up like that and they ran away screaming. But they sent us a case of guiness and two bottles of Mum Champagne so apparently, they want us to be alcoholics as well as cross dressers.

MTVRock: Seanaz asks: What is your next step as musicians?

Steve: To work even harder and hopefully be able to deliver the goods night after night.

Paul: I'd want to learn to play the banjo so that I can annoy everyone on the bus.

MTVRock: Joplintoo asks: What do u guys look for in a girl?

Greg: Girl stuff.

Steve: Silicone, collagen...

Kevin: Silicone and... a bad attitude

Steve: And Pamela Lee.

Kevin: I've got to be honest with you.

Paul: a husband...it's a challenge. It gives me something to work for.

MTVRock: Snyderflo asks: how long does it take to write a song?

Steve: As long as it takes.

Greg: Every song's different... Disconnect the Dots only took a few minutes and Walking on the Sun took a few months.

Steve: Like "Smack", it only took them long enough to steal ours. Paul: ...and Sugar Ray's

MTVRock: LazyCat3 asks: What does the album title Fush Yu Mang mean?

Greg: Its a scarface term. xxxx You Man!

Paul: Say it like Al Pacino in Scarface.

Kevin: It's a Scarface reference you cockroach!

Steve: Fly, Pelican, Fly.

MTVRock: GLoWxGiRL asks: On AOL they said you were alternative..but I consider you guys ska....what do you Question: consider your self to be??

Paul: All things under the sun.

Steve: Yes...and then some.

MTVRock: Muchacha7 asks: Where did you get the idea for that neighbor song? It rox! And I love the Walking on the Sun remixes! Keep up the good work!

Steve: Thanks for the compliment.

Greg: I was having a birthday party for my room mate during the day on a Sunday

Paul: It's a word for word account of an afternoon at Greg's house.

Greg: and we were listening to jazz and just being mellow and drinking cheap beer and the next day, when I was at work, the lady came over from next door and started calling my roomates just all kinds of nasty names that I can't say, and then she called our landlord and said we were playing really loud music and being really loud and it kept her up all night when really it ended at like eight o clock at night. So our landlord raised the rent and we decided to stay any way so they raised it again the next month.

Steve: Enough already...she's a xxxxx.

Greg: So we set the house on fire and moved out.

MTVRock: Snyderflo asks about the horror of music video production: how long does it take to make a music viedo? I hope she gets evicted sometime soon so she knows what it's like to be wrongfully judged.

Greg: Right on, brother. It normally takes us like two or three days.

Steve: 2 days shooting...editing 2-3 if you're McG, of course. He's also a pimp.

Paul: 2 very long, 14 hour days. And a day of recovery. They made us do some crazy xxxx in this last one.

MTVRock: Kiliraqua asks: did anyone take music lessons at any point in there life?

Steve: Why do you ask? Do you think we need them?

Paul: I did for about a week when I was like 13. But, my teacher kept showing up drunk.

Greg: I took guitar lessons once, and the next day I broke my hand so

Paul: This was bass guitar lessons.

Kevin: I took lessons and the drum teacher didn't like me so he gave me to the other drum teacher and we used to smoke pot together and just jam.

MTVRock: WIZTHEKID asks: what does it feel like to be famous?

Steve: I feel the same. I think everyone else around me feel different.

Paul: I'm not famous. ...in the sense of being recognized all the time.

Steve: But, Paul, I recognize you. You're Paul.

Paul: Thanks Steve.

Steve: Sure Paul, anytime. Let's go have a beer.

Paul: Maybe we'll be recognized.

Greg: I don't feel famous.

MTVRock: We have time for one last question... ZH12 asks: Hi, Are any of you aliens?

Paul: Yeah, I'm from Canada.

Steve: Nanu Nanu.

Greg: No, but we've met some.

Paul: I have a Green Card.

Kevin: It's a government conspiracy. To undermine religion as we know it. And it's all just crap.

Greg: Believe.

Kevin: Gotta pull the conspiracy card.

MTVRock: Cigarette smoking man was behind it all...course now he's dead....anyhow... Thanks for coming by guys!

Steve: To All our Fans: I hope you really enjoy the record. Thanks for liking us.

Greg: Thanks for having us.

Paul: Thanks for chatting with us. Now turn off the computer and go get some fresh air. And thanks to. JoAnne and Fawn for typing. JoAnne kicks ass.

MTVRock: Or for all the Manhattan chatters, just go take a hit off the subway fumes! And as always, thanks to our audience for their great questions.

footnotes:
you know i am so dead tired already. anyway, when i get the chance i'll put in footnotes. i'm not sure why i do this since only anally-retentive dangerously obsessed smash mouth fans will read through them.....(shit, am i one?.....)

bwahahahahahahahahahahhahahaha!!!!!

oops, sorry.....

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