Zeke Interview

Diesel fuelled, 12 cylinder turbo powered punk rock cross-over masters Zeke tell all about life in the studio, on the road and what the future holds for Seattle's own bastard sons.

How are things with you guys?
Things are cool, we are getting along! We are playing a few regional shows for now and taking a break.
So what is new with you guys? Busy writing for the next record? Do you anticipate being back in the studio any time soon?
We are taking a break as a lot of touring doesn’t make for writing songs, so we are hiding out looking for inspiration. I don’t know when we will be recording a new record, but when we do you can bet it will be kick ass.
Do you envisage you working with Jack Endino on any future recordings? Many regard him as a grundge talent scout, how have you found working with him?
I am sure we will work with Jack again we have recorded three things with Jack, Kicked in the Teeth, Til’ The Livin’End and a split with Peter Pan Speed Rock. Working with him is easy he likes the same kind of music and records we like!
What is the writing process within the band? Is this a collective or individual process?
Well it’s both Mark writes by himself and then brings it to the band and then we rewrite it to fit our playing styles, but sometimes we write altogether and it just pops out.
2004 saw your debut release with Relapse Records “Til The Livin’ End”. How did the deal with Relapse come about, have you found any differences being signed to a more recognised metal label?
Relapse loves Extreme Music and when they heard we where available they approached us. Matt and I are friends so we decided to do a deal. Zeke is still Zeke no matter who puts out our records we aren’t going to be anything different. Metal, Punk, Rock it’s all the same I think some people are like horses with blinders on they only like one thing, you can lead them to water but you can’t make them drink.
Zeke’s early releases have recently been repackaged and re-released. What do the new versions of “Flat Tracker” and “Supersound Racing” have to offer vs. the originals?
Repackaging that Kicks ASS! And Re Mastering that Rules, we also have 2000 more vinyl with one record per side.
The band have made no secret of your love for touring, how do you guys juggle personal lives when you are out on the road for extended periods?
That’s not easy and that is why we are taking a break.
	Have you found that the European crowds differ from the US? When can we expect to see you guys in Europe?
	Europeans don’t have the blinders on as much and they seem to love music more than the fashion and latest trend. As far as Europe tours I can only say we have been slated for the World Turbojugend 3 festival.
	I’ve heard that life on the road with Zeke can be a wild ride, are there any stories you’d care to repeat? Given the free and easy live on the road how do you adapt to life in the studio? Is this an environment you enjoy?
	With our first release on Epitaph we toured with the voodoo glow skulls, after a show we headed to a bar Emo’s Houston, some girls where talking shit to Sonny and I called them bitches. One of them started running to kick me and I put my arm out to stop her, she then hit the ground and the brawl with their boyfriends was on. We ended up with kicking their asses but I was covered head to toe with blood that night we did cocaine all night and drove to Austin for the next show, on the last song I poked myself in the eye with a drumstick. I awoke the next morning to the ujoints in the van going out. I spent all day having them fixed just made it to El Paso for the next show.
After the show went back to the hotel where I went into drug induced convulsions. Kind of a care free road experience don’t you think? You can see my fucked up eye in our 1998 promo shots if you look close! As for the studio it’s no fun.
Depending upon who you speak with Zeke can be described as anything from Punk influenced to a US version of Motorhead. How do you describe your sound?
Motorhead on acid, the Dwarves on speed really good sex!
After previous splits and inner turmoil in the band leading to the banding splitting up in 2002, is the group now on a more solid foundation? What factors lead the split?
Nope we just might break up tomorrow and never play another show or we might play 1000 more you never know.
Any last words to all your fans out there?
Thanks for all the years of support, you are what make Zeke we only have the privilege to play for you!

All photographs and images used with kind permission of Relapse Records,