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Here we are! How wonderful! I waited 4 months to get this interview but now it's here. I have it. with him yes yes just Him Guy, just THAT Guy, how beautiful, how beautiful, how beautiful here for you, here for us.
1) What are the most important influences for Fugazi? I don't just refer to bands, but more generally to movements/music genres; for example, when I listen to Brendan's drumming, I feel an approach very close to Jazz.
Guy: All four members of Fugazi listen to every kind of music. Our most obvious influences are local, all those groups from the Washington D.C. scene that we helped grow. This includes from Bad Brains (the real pioneers!) to bands like Nation of Ulysses, Void, Slant 6, Faith etc. As for Jazz, we all listen to a certain amount of it, however, Brendan is probably the most educated listener. His father played Jazz piano, and his entire family is extremely devoted to music. I've always thought Brendan plays the drums like a melodic instrument, with a play of colors that gets as close to a drum as it does to a guitar. He's never just a drummer keeping time. I've learned way more about guitar from him than from any other musician.
2) What do you think is the best Fugazi album and why?
Guy: I don't really have a favorite one because I find it very difficult to listen to them objectively. For me, the Fugazi records are more like chapters along the journey of being, of being part of, this band. Some albums were more fun to record than others... I think the first four were rather difficult for us, because we were still figuring out how to handle being in a recording studio... the stage was indeed more suitable for the band because it only involves abandoning oneself to the moment. However, I think from "Red Medicine" onwards, we felt much more capable of controlling the recording process. I also really like "Instrument Soundtrack" because it's mostly composed of demos of pieces performed not for a recording, not professionally, so pieces that give me an impression of spontaneity, looseness, and remind me how fun it was to work together and compose music.
3) When I listen to “Red Medicine” and “The Argument,” I find them different from the other Fugazi albums, more ethereal and reflective. Do you think it's true? And what do you think is the reason?
Guy: Each of our albums has its own personality.. it's just the product of what we were experiencing and therefore writing at the time of working on it. I believe both "Red Medicine" and "The Argument" were examples of a time when we more deliberately tried to push our style in new directions. I'm not sure if they necessarily sound more reflective or ethereal because I think some of the other albums also share these qualities.. but they were the definitive attempt to push towards new horizons.
4) I believe many of the bands under Dischord have been really important for the evolution of rock in the last 20 years. What do you think?
Guy: I think this kind of consideration can only be determined by the listener's ear.
It certainly was a very important experience for me... so I don't really care how it's perceived in terms of "rock history".
5) (Sorry for the banality!) Do you think Fugazi will play together again?
Guy: I really don't know what to say... honestly, I think not, but my feelings have turned out to be wrong on many occasions in the past... For now, we're all working on other projects. We all remain very close friends and are still very involved in each other's lives... it just seems like a good time to put the music aside. We've never wanted to force anything beyond feeling it natural and positive, so until we feel that way again, we'll continue to stay still.
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