Backwash (Bob Spring)
Interview February 2007

Hardrock Haven: Thanks for talking with Hardrock Haven today. To start with, why don't you tell us a little bit about the band, where you are from, what you guys are all about, etc.

Bob Spring: Hey Derric, I'm sorry that it took so long … I got a new job, had some troubles with my girl and met some personal demons … you know what I mean? Well, first, thank you for your patience and for doing this for us!

Now, about the band … Volly, Toby and Notter are from Zurich (the only "city" in Switzerland:), Spiga is from Lucerne (maybe you've heard about that place … I guess it's the most important place on earth for Japanese families … the ones that love to walk around with an army of Nikon photo cams hanging from their necks.) I was born in Zug, did my schooldayz in Lugano and then I came to Zurich … I was about 16 years old. The day I met Notter, Volly and Toby I knew that there is still a small chance to find some fucked up dudes to start a rock 'n' roll band with … you know, people who really wanna do it! That's the difference between the USA and Switzerland. People, down here, wouldn't risk to drop their safe living for the small chance to make it with their own rock band. So I must say ,,, I'm so fuckin' happy we found each other (Well, Switzerland is a small country.)

What we're all about? Having fun, getting high and rock that daily frustrations out of our souls … (Well, they aren't really ours anymore … we sold 'em as many others did before … guess ya know that story…). Anyway, it was pretty hard to find a drummer that shares the same will, to reach out for something that seams impossible ever to catch. But, once again lady luck stood by our side and sent Spiga the straightest way to Backwash. Hehe.

HRH: Why did the band pick the name Backwash? What is the significance of that name?

Spring: Backwash was founded by Notter, Volly and Toby around 1999 … rock 'n' roll wasn't really "trendy" in the '90s … basically, everything that strikes back, in any possible way, is a backwash. It could be a wave that swashes back into the sea, a junkie crawling back to his dealer, even a six year old boy who's sick n' tired of being the joke all his classmates laugh about, coming back to school with a fuckin' gun in his tiny hands, is a Backwash. I like that name … I'd say it fits nicely with our characters … haha.

HRH: I know Hardrock Haven reviewed your EP, Feel Rock, a couple years ago. Is Kick Ass! your first full-length release?

Spring: Yeah man! I remember, thanx for that good one! I know, it took quite a while to finish our first long player … but, so fucking what? Haha! I guess you've already heard that a million times: We had no money, no deal and no sponsoring … Once again it's been "Lady Luck" helping us out with her generous hand (we still don't know who she really is …) I don't know how we did it, but obviously it worked somehow. I guess these aren't easy times anyway for newcomer bands like us, because of the international "panic" taking place in the leading heads of the music industry. I mean, most major companies are not willing to pay the production fees for a record which is able to stand the international "quality" requirements, made by themselves, of today. So we're really, really glad we got that opportunity.

HRH: Why did you choose the title "Kick Ass"?

Spring: It simply had to be a short title, don't ask me why … since we're a band we're the ones hanging, drinking and setting the nights on fuckin' fire at the Kontiki Bar in Zurich, screaming and yelling those two words … K..k..k…k.kk..ki..kik… KICK ASS! To us it means something like "hey man, good to see ya, and yes, we CAN go as far as we want, what the fuck is border, a limit?" Some might love us for that, others might hate us even more … anyhow, both reactions make us feel just good … haha. It's only rock 'n' roll, an we love it! Blab bla …I'm assured "kick ass" is a good choice of a title for our debut album.

HRH: Kick Ass!, released on Perris Records, has been out for a few months now. How is the media reacting to the release? What has the feedback been like?

Spring: Great, very great! There will always be mag writers 'round the globe who don't like what we do … so what, they only exist to show the difference between rockin' magz and … other magazines. I was pretty surprised as I got the first few reviews by mail. Sometimes it sounds quite too good … I don't know, but isn't "the best record since Appetite for Destruction" a little too much? Anyway, it feels good to know that the people out there like our music … what else can I say? ThanXXX!

HRH: How did you hook up with Perris Records?

Spring: Shit, I'll try to shorten the whole thing … it's a long story …
Tom Mathers (Perris Records) was the only one who offered us a selling deal for the EP Feel Rock … all the other companies told us they couldn't sell our EP because it only carries five tracks. Now, I still don't know what the heck they've been talking about … they all told us to come back knockin' with a full length piece …we just were like, "this sucks big time!" As soon as the album was mixed and mastered, we went on a "label-shopping" tour and got a few interested reactions and contracts … but somehow they all smelled kinda strange … all of them but Perris Records' deal, we knew what Perris is all about … it's ROCK'N'ROLL! We know, it's a small record company that doesn't have the financial power to pay huge mounts of dollars for a tour, worldwide promotion or stuff like that. Good to know that Kick Ass! is available worldwide. I think this is not a bad base to start from for a band from Zurich.

HRH: When I listen to Kick Ass!, I can't help but compare the attitude of the music and the sound to a band like Buckcherry. Is that a fair comparison?

Spring: Yes of course it is … thanx!

HRH: Who are Backwash's main influences?

Spring: Hmm, I'd say: The Hellacopters, BackyardBabies, Gluecifer, Guns'n'Roses, MötleyCrüe, Queens of the Stone Age, Monster Magnet, Motörhead … We all listen to rock music, but every one has their own preferences, Toby for example, is mainly devoted to stoner rock, Notter's into Swedish rock a la Hellacopters, Volly loves stuff like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Alice Cooper. I love stuff like "Dust'n'Bones" from G'n'R, "Powderhead" (Backyard Babies), Motörhead or Rob Zombie …I think that all these preferences flow into the "Backwash-Sound." It's pretty difficult to give ya an answer on this question, you know, I will never be able to listen to Backwash like you do … I will always listen to it as a part of it. I'm convinced that you know what I'm trying to explain.

HRH: Let's get into some of the songs. My favorite song on the CD is probably "No Gun No Fun." What was the meaning behind writing that song?

Spring: Well, it's an ironic way to show how primitive the world we're living in really is … the Middle East as an example: For how many God damned years do they keep on killing each other? And when there's no one left to kill, they sign a "peace-contract" and shake all those bloody hands just to burn down that useless sheet of paper a few days later. So, it seams to me like there are lots of motherfuckers walking around here that just can't be happy and satisfied without killing. And when they do NOT kill, because they think they're living in a civilised country, be assured they will find another way to satisfy their hate … by pointing their fuckin' fingers on the ones that won't be part of the brainless masses that reign the globe. Homosexuals, intelligent people or young dogz wearin' leather jackets, paintin' their eyes black and join a way of self-destruction because it's their fuckin' right to do so. Now tell me, what do they expect us to think about them? My only conclusion is: "No Gun, No Fun" … with a big fat smile upon my skinny face ... hahaha. What would the named ones do if, only if, Jesus came back once again? Haha, they would break him and let him live as a bum out on their streets and say "Jesus might save you, you piece of shit!" Isn't it … anyway … understand?

HRH: This is obviously a touchy subject here in America, with gun-related deaths happening every day, in schools and on the street. Have you gotten any feedback from anyone regarding the subject matter of "No Gun No Fun"?

Spring: No, not yet. But who knows? Ya'll be the first to know, k?

HRH: Another catchy as hell track, and a hilarious one, is "Headtrash." What the hell is "headtrash?"

Spring: Well, do you take any drugs? Headtrash is everything that is funny as hell but does not make any sense … it became something like a hobby to Notter and me. It's all about being high, loosing yourself to nothing and findin' out how deep you can fall when you really wanna go down. You know that kind of situations, you, your friend and a hot, hot girl: who would dare to shout out something like "DeePee!!!" or "GeeBee!!!" … yeah, no one. But once you've started doin' that crap, there'll be only one question left … HOW FAR CAN WE GO? We really had to name that thing … so, it's HEADTRASH.

HRH: Do you have any video plans in the works? If so, which songs would you make a video for?

Spring: Yes of course! But I can't tell you anything about it … it's still a big secret. Only one thing is for sure: You'll get at least ONE ball-shaking-head-banging-ass-kicking-guitar-trashing video! Let you know asap!

HRH: What do your tour plans look like for the next few months? Any chance of bringing the Backwash show to the States?

Spring: I hate to say that, but we don't have the needed cash at this time to bring the excessive Backwash show to the States … I guess that that would be the greatest thing that ever happened in my life. But don't give up, we're workin' hard on it! And, who knows, maybe we'll meet someday, somewhere in the States. Can't wait to do that!

HRH: Is there anything I left out that you'd like to leave with our Hardrock Haven faithful?

Spring: I don't know, I'm not the kind of person that wants to teach anyone but: Don't forget that we're all different and unique because Mother Nature wanted us to be ourselves and no body else. So, don't cheat on her! Keep yer eyes open, be good and have a FUCKING GOOD, ROCKING AND ROLLING TIME out there! CYA …

www.myspace.com/backwashworld