Email interview with Brock Lindow, lead singer of 36 Crazyfists
December 13, 2004
 

Alaskan born and bred, Lindow, Steve Holt (guitar), Mick Whitney (bass) and Thomas Noonan (drums) who now reside in Portland, OR, immediately took to the road following the release of Bitterness The Star, touring the US with the sonically varied likes of Candiria (who became super '36' fans), God Forbid, Chimaira, Diecast, Hotwire, among others and embarked on the European Road Rage tour with their labelmates, Killswitch Engage and Five Pointe O, and got their touring legs firmly underneath them. After their hectic tour cycle, the band took time off to write new material. I started writing templates for songs and laying down ideas, says guitarist Steve Holt. Musically, everything is more focused. We all had ideas about what we wanted to accomplish, where we wanted to go and how we wanted the music to be. A conscious effort to keep the album clean was in effect as well. As Lindow explains "It is much harder to find alternate ways to express yourself, lyrically. Looking back on the last record, the cursing just didn't sound right to me. I tried to avoid it this time." (www.36crazyfists.com) After several missed phone interviews and other mishaps, we finally had the chance to catch up with 36 Crazyfists via email. 

Dennis: Hey guys, thanks for taking the time to talk with us and answer a few questions. How did you guys come up with the name 36 Crazyfists? 
Brock: The name comes from a 70's Jackie Chan film titled "Jackie Chan and the 36 Crazyfists."

Dennis: Are you guys the only rock band out of Alaska haha? What did you enjoy most and despise the most about growing up in Alaska? 
Brock: We are the only national act from Alaska although there are a tremendous amount of talented bands, there isn't anything I despise about Alaska, its the most beautiful place on the planet.

Dennis: I heard your bassist Mick had broke his arm not long ago while on tour with KSE...what happened there and how is his recovery? 
Brock: Ah, Mickey is all healed up now and we only cancelled four shows during the Killswitch engage tour, he had a lil mishap while Killswitch was ripping up the joint, and slipped off a ten foot stage.

Dennis: You guys have been touring all over the place this past year and didn't you guys recently get back from your Euro tour? How have the European fans responded to your music? 
Brock: Well the fans in Europe are so insane and we love every single one of them...really enjoying our European audience.

Dennis: Your latest album, released back in March, A Snow Capped Romance, is freaking awesome musically and there is a touch of so many genres. My favorite track is ""Kenai." What's your favorite track? 
Brock: My favorite track is probably "Waterhaul"...its just the weirdest song we have ever done, and I mean that in a positive way, it's somewhat a dreary sounding intro and then just smashes you right in the face!! It's very fun to play live.

Dennis: So what are the next big plans for you guys, tour wise for this winter? 
Brock: We are now writing our new record and then we will head back to Europe in April.  So just trying to finish writing right now.

Dennis: Your website says, "There will always be things that depress everyone, but /A Snow Capped Romance/ is about getting past that stuff and focusing on the good things that have happened in your life." There are some differences on the lyrical approach than your last album. This one is much more feel good, positive vibe album, what caused the direction change in this release? 
Brock: Just wanted to challenge myself and write in a different direction, my life isn't always about negative things and I wanted to reflect on that.

Dennis: Where do you find the emotion to place with in your lyrics and off this latest album what are a couple tracks that meant the most to you? 
Brock: I think they all have there own special place with me but a few songs focus on my family and friends and how much they mean to me and I think they would be my favorite.

Dennis: You guys have an aggressive and hard-core approach but seem to have chosen to take a positive approach with lyrics. We reviewed your latest cd and gave it an excellent review. Our stance towards music reviews has always been that people must weigh whether the music is a positive or negative influence in their life. Many of the bands in your genre tend to promote negativity and use a tremendous amount of expletives. What are your thoughts on the influence of music on listeners? 
Brock: Well, that's the beauty of music, that there all sorts of different kinds. I choose to write with out expletives and find a way to sing of positive things in an aggressive way...the influence is for whom ever is willing to utilize it in their way. For our band we hope we our spreading a bit of hope for people.

Dennis: I don't know if anyone warned you but we are a Christian based website and was just wondering on your thoughts on Christianity and also if the band has any spiritual beliefs? 
Brock: Well all of us are spiritual, some more than others, probably myself and Mick are the most religious. Believing in god and having faith has helped my life, its not for everyone and that's fine.

Dennis: I went through years were I battled a addictions of sex and alcohol and then started down the pathway of drugs. The only thing that got me out of that dead end was a relationship with Jesus. What gets you out of dead ends in your life and what is your advice to those reading this interview now that may be hitting some dead ends with decisions they have made? 
Brock: Well, it's like I always say...we all have the power to change what we dislike about our selves. Those are the tools we are given in life to find our own paths. It took me many times of failing to realize the right path for me. No one is perfect, but staying positive and believing in yourself is a must. It's never unfixable.