HelloGoodbye - 12.6.06

[Gabe Gross]

These answers are compiled from posts here (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=5041640#post504164 0) and here (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showpost.php?p=4349329&postcount=32) and posted to tie everything together for easy reading. A huge thank you goes out to Forrest for taking the time to answer these questions.

The band's new album Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs! (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=159136) is in stores now.

We recently saw you on MTV2 playing Guitar Hero II, as musicians who are some of your guitar heroes?

oh good, this is a puff peice! thats real classy the way you started it off with a reference to a recent happening and tied that into your question. gave it a nice sense of circularity. yayyyyyyy. butt uhhhhhh... i'm not much of a guitarist really. some guitarists are like 'oh man hendrix was like a total goddd yeeeeowwww!' but i've not been much for that. drummers are alllways that way. they all love bonham and barker and other drummers with a last name that starts with a b. i guess im more into production and songs and sounds and stuff. and in that way i love matt mahaffey. of self. and michael showalter. hes a comedian.

When I say AbsolutePunk.net, what is the first thing that comes to mind? (Be honest.)

well... i guess its true that i don't neccessarily think of puppy dogs. no, i obviously don't think of puppy dogs. i could say to you all that i think of puppy dogs whenever someone mentions ap.net, but it would clearly be absurd of me. what, if anything does ap.net have to do with puppy dogs? jason tate would be a terrible name for a puggle, and puppies don't know ANYBODY'S soundscans. so it goes without saying that when i think of ap.net puppies rarely come to mind. the reality is, i think of chinchillas. rolling around in chinchilla dust to cleanse themselves.

Rumor has it that you guys put your posters over other bands' at Warped Tour. Is it true?

alright, i tackled this one... lemme cntrl+v
"this is one of those weird things where you're like "... what?". i dont know what youre talking about and ive read this a few times. IF anyone who worked for us put posters over somebody elses (which they all told us they didn't) i got no connection to that shit dawg! so ease up on me!"
now to elaborate further, we heard there was some shiz blowin in the wind about this on warped and i was like 'homie, are you doin wut they sez you doin?' and homie was like 'fawk naw braw' except we said it in so much of a less urban way. so basically what im sayin is thats not true, and IF it were to be, i got nothin to do with it.

Were you surprised at the less-than-stellar press coverage (not just on AP.net), and have the sales numbers surprised you so far?

huh? i only talk to my mom. and she loves it. i don't even think my mom bought one, i gave it to her... so yeah the other 175,000 i can't really account for. im definitely suprised we sold that many, but i mean, its not nearly as many as kanye soooooo...

When are you going to release an album that isn't 80% songs whose demos have been floating around for several years?

this is obviously more of a dig than a question but lets see, i guess the next record we release will inevitabley be that record. cause we don't have any more demos. well... actually i guess if we really really scraped the barrel we could find some (see hgb media (http://www.hellogoodbye.net?default=media) ). so maybe we'll do that. maybe we'll do like bright eyes and release a thing of all the old recordings. people liked that thing, right? people hold us in the same respect as bright eyes, don't they? but no, i promise you, baby... we would never do that to you.

Hellogoodbye seems to try to be Blink-182 in that as a band, they don't want to grow up. Do you ever think you will?

hmm, i guess it depends how you look at growing up. i very much want to grow up in the way that i want to buy a house (with cute with siding and a nice rich darkwood floors and reupholstered vintage furniture [i picked up this spectacular mini loveseat yesterday] and accessories from restoration hardware and with a nice back yard for baby gordie [my dog, not my baby that i would make live in the backyard] and a couple spare rooms i could set up a studio in and this parenthesis has gone on for so long i don't know how to end it...) where i could live with my girlfriend / wife (!) and cook delicious food (vegan dairy free straightedge) and have modest little board game nights with other young couples. i guess i don't wanna grow up in the way that i'll start to get hair in odd places and my balls will lower and so will my voice (boy could that hurt my careeeer LOLZ) and i'll start to want to do creepy things with my girlfriend / wife (!) or even baby gordie (my dog, not my baby that i would have sex with).

Why were so many of the vocals digitized/distorted on the LP? Do you think that detracted at all from the songs and how difficult is that to reproduce live?

its a peice of cake to do live. we have a big computer. theres alot of vocal effects cause vocal effects are bad asssssssss. you can add reverb and sound like god! lollll. i'm suprised how much the world hates vocal effects (note to self). the fact of the matter is, they're just like any of type of processing you do to any other audio signal. like eq'ing the vocals, or compressing the snare, or having distortion on your guitar. like "that guy obviously can't play guitar lyke at alll cause hes using distortionomg". its silly that people think any vocal effect means it was put on there to cover up the terrible singing. im not even trying to say im a good singer (i am though. REALLY REALLY GOOD), but theres lots of track on the cd without any special effects on the vocals. i read a review of the new justin timberlake cd (however you feel about it) and they were all like "the singer is singing through a guitar amp and i dont even think he can sing ew" and its like... he can sing... its an effect. sexyback sucks compared to mylove anyways.

Forrest, after your recent battle with Subway, do you think you will be eating there anymore?

honestly, i cringe at the thought. sometimes on tour its your only option though, so maybe i'll be forced to brave down that path. but ick i hate it.

What effect has international touring had on the band personally and individually?

marcus got sars. and bird flu. and he already had diabetes sooo... uhm, i learned that i think australia is awesome. and that rainy old london really rainy and old, and that phoning home is expensive and sucky. basically now i can act all well travelled around my girlfriend and say things like "mmm yahhh its very european in style here" or "in australia they call bell peppers capsicums, so you know, really shows you how sheltered you are here in the states, huh?" even though she came to australia with me. she still acts impressed though.

Being in a band detracts from some social norms of growing up as a young American, in the time that you have been a band, do you feel like you have missed out on anything? If so, what?

well i was 18 or 19 before we started touring, so i guess i was pretty grown up. when you go on tour it sort of is like your normal life is on pause though. everything else, other than touring, stays the same the whole time (although, touring stays the same the whole time too. show sleep eat show sleep eat show asian hooker). but, in the end the social ostracizing will hopefully benifit me so i can end up like jacko. yayyyy.

How do you handle the disrespect that some media and musicians give you? Is it a bummer or do you laugh it off and make a song about it?

to be clear, the only disrespect i typically encounter is from here and other places on the internet. and other musicians? i dunno. alot of these questions are kind of off base to me. like people hear weird things or imagine things. like the question before about us burning a poster of fall out boy on stage... hah. and about us putting down other bands in immature ways... i just don't know what any of you people are referencing. so if by media you mean internet and by musicians you mean yourself then, it hurts and i don't like it but you get over it, i guess. then i dive into my pool of gold coins with the ducktales guys (we're like close celeb friends) and have a swim.

Why has Drive-Thru been keeping you with other Drive-Thru bands on tour?

this is what labels do. the bigger bands (early november) take out the smaller bands (justin timberlake). when we first signed to drive thru they put us out with hidden in plain view. then they made us headline that drive thru the new class tour and that was kinda like the little bands taking out the little bands... wait a second. and they never make us or pressure us. i mean lets get to what youre really saying, you don't like dave melillo. fair enough. fair enough. hes a hippe. did you see his hair this november? SEXY. but hippie. but hellogoodbye likes dave melillo, and hippies. just the way it is.

What is your approach to writing lyrics? What is the motive?

i try to write the most cringingly cute thing possible. basically something the strippa's can get off to. when i finish a new joint i'll take it over to the strip club and slip the dj a $20 and a cd-r and we'll see how the girls react to it. when they're makin bank, you know its a hit song.

Who is your biggest fan? And what makes them the biggest HelloGoodbye fan?

maybe this little 12 year old girl from down my street. i rode by on my bike and her dad made me come over and i signed her binder which was adorned with gwen stefani clippings. then later her dad knocked on my door for another one for her friend. shes the biggest fan mostly because of the gwen binder.

Lastly, in the past years with HelloGoodbye, you get one "take back," what is it?

i wouldn't have gone to see harsh times with christian bale. i had to walk out after 20 minutes. as a band i guess i wouldn't change a thing really. im very psyched on where we are now. doing this flattering interview for a prestigious publication. oh j/k! teehee.

yayyyy we did it! we did it togehhhhhhtherrrrr!!!!
have a good day! xo fo

[Jason Tate]

Hahahaha. I'm a great name for a dog, come on now!

[tommyhaych]

That was annoying to read from forest's perspective of answering questions stupidly.

[Gabe Gross]

The only way I would name a pet after you is if i got a donkey...ass. :wave:

[Shaved Goat]

"puppies don't know ANYBODY'S soundscans."

hahaha

[Perfect Teeth]

then i dive into my pool of gold coins with the ducktales guys (we're like close celeb friends) and have a swim.

hahahahahaha

[CrazeeJaney]

Not for a puggle, Tate. Maybe a chinchilla.

And Dave a hippie... hahaha.
Gotta love him.

[Jared Kaufman]

Hahaha. This is one of the funniest, most random things I've ever read. Amazing.

[Jason Tate]

The only way I would name a pet after you is if i got a donkey...ass. :wave:
:yellowcard:

[TasonJate]

it would have been cool if he actually took this seriously

[Will Bryme]

"i just don't know what any of you people are referencing. so if by media you mean internet and by musicians you mean yourself then, it hurts and i don't like it but you get over it, i guess. then i dive into my pool of gold coins with the ducktales guys (we're like close celeb friends) and have a swim."

hahahaha

and I can understand this being negative, that one question really was a dig

[Gabe Gross]

:yellowcard:Worst album of 2006

[msifreak]

I'm glad he took the time to answer them, it's brave of him, but we still didn't learn a thing about hellogoodbye.

[seconds]

I love Forrest.

[Rohan Kohli]

I loved this

[Jason Tate]

"i just don't know what any of you people are referencing. so if by media you mean internet and by musicians you mean yourself then, it hurts and i don't like it but you get over it, i guess. then i dive into my pool of gold coins with the ducktales guys (we're like close celeb friends) and have a swim."

hahahaha

and I can understand this being negative, that one question really was a dig
Drew gave it a good review.

:shrug:

[garlicgirl1210]

i love it....almost as much as i love hellogoodbye.

[christophaaa]

i wonder if he saw my post...ha. cool that he answered. kudos to sir frst.

[matt_rawlings]

It was pretty cool of him to answer the questions, but he it would have been alot easier to read if he wrote it like a human being

[Alex DiVincenzo]

haha there were some pretty funny parts

[AdamWASFearless]

lazy interview

[Gabe Gross]

Can I come swim in you money pool?

[Will Bryme]

Drew gave it a good review.

:shrug:

1. The question kind of implies that the site gives the band bad press.

2. Not compared to most of the reviews

[Scuba Chris]

it would have been cool if he actually took this seriously
That is about as serious as it gets with Forrest.

[luvmusic1017]

Forrest is awesome!!!

[YourMusicSucks]

I love Forrest, and I love HGB. Nice of him to do this interview.

[luvmusic1017]

The only way I would name a pet after you is if i got a donkey...ass. :wave:


hahahaha, that was awesome.

[xearlynovemberx]

That is about as serious as it gets with Forrest.

hes a fuckin funny guy

[ramblinger]

haha... that was pretty good.

Despite having to deal with partial digs in some of the questions, I think he did pretty well. It was kind of tricky to read some of the parenthesis, but not worth making a big deal over. I think we all got the point.

Even after a member of a band took time to answer questions/digs at the band, people still complain. Really? Can you not just be happy you got something?

[GQMike of TSPR]

New found respect for HGB and Forrest, even if he is a goofy ass. Takes balls to go against the label and do an interview they didn't want you doing.

[Scuba Chris]

hes a fuckin funny guy
I agree, I am just glad he took the time to answer these. And also amuse me greatly. Sure Hellogoodbye is not the best band out there but they have fun and make fun music. And most importantly, they really don't care what people think.
I don't listen to their new CD all too much anymore but I will still definitely make it a point to see them live every time they come around because they know how to put on a fun show.

excellent "interview"

/ramble

[shaki324]

dear goodness. if i ever meet forrest i'm going to high-five him for that. that was glorious.

[kristee]

I laughed, but it was pointless. Nothing was addressed.

He's lucky he's funny or that would have been the shittiest interview ever.

[Jason Tate]

1. The question kind of implies that the site gives the band bad press.

2. Not compared to most of the reviews
1) The question implies there was some "less than stellar" press from various media outlets. And while the album is not on mediacritic.com for easy access, this seems to be exactly what I remember: some loved it, some didn't. Just like all albums.

Here (http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/08/04/013233.php) are (http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/hellogoodbye/zombies__aliens__vampires__dinosaur s_/) some (http://punkmusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/hellogoodbyezav.htm) examples (http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/hellogoodbye/zombies_aliens_vampires_dinosaurs/index.html) of (http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,3704829,00.html) "less than stellar" reviews from just a simple google search.

2) That's a completely untrue statement. The majority of reviews are actually in the 6-8 range (just like HGB's album was). Just because you focus on the glowing reviews we have, doesn't mean the hundreds of others can go unnoticed simply to validate your argument.

[Exit30six]

i f'in love forrest and HGB. Kudos to him for actually accepting these q's and even more kudos to him for making me laugh.

I haven't seen such loaded q's in an interview since the Cute... one way back when.

[House Fire]

I love Forrest and hellogoodbye so much.

[tiff_taff]

it would have been cool if he actually took this seriously

Yeah, but at least he answered the questions. It was stupid, but funny. Kudos to forrest.

[tommyhaych]

Here (http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/08/04/013233.php) are (http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/hellogoodbye/zombies__aliens__vampires__dinosaur s_/) some (http://punkmusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/hellogoodbyezav.htm) examples (http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/compact_discs/hellogoodbye/zombies_aliens_vampires_dinosaurs/index.html) of (http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,3704829,00.html) "less than stellar" reviews from just a simply google search.


Kudos for awesome formatting!

[karenxcore]

that was brave of him to do that.

..and he mentioned duck tales! ha yes...

he totally types like the newbies on the fob boards. :-|

[hoplite]

Forrest is a beast

[Prestonxsmith]

It was a good read. Thanks.

[Slaur]

This was awesome.I love Hellogoodbye no matter what the haters say.

[dan.is.empire]

it would have been cool if he actually took this seriously

why should he do that? the questions were shitty.

he did an awesome job answering the questions and telling the douche bags that thought most of them up what a waste of space they really are.

i'm real sick of all the elitists on message boards and it was great to have someone as awesome as forrest just bash on them for the morons that they are.

2 thumbs up to this interview.

[[Mike]]

Tried way too hard to be funny on that, I would've rather had this interview never answered than to have read that.

[dan.is.empire]

he totally types like the newbies on the fob boards. :-|

OMG n00bz?! NO WAY! :eyebrow:

[CWeezer2]

i respect the guy for doing the interview, but it didn't change anything for me. i still hate HGB's music. but they went up a notch as people.

[Nowisnotthetime]

;5042289']Tried way too hard to be funny on that, I would've rather had this interview never answered than to have read that.

Yeah, it sounds like he's trying to imitate Stella/State comedy with every answer and it just doesn't work. It's not funny once you notice what a ripoff of that comedy it is. Lame, but I really wouldn't expect much more from this band.

[karenxcore]

OMG n00bz?! NO WAY! :eyebrow:

way

[MisterChanesaw]

Yeah, it sounds like he's trying to imitate Stella/State comedy with every answer and it just doesn't work. It's not funny once you notice what a ripoff of that comedy it is. Lame, but I really wouldn't expect much more from this band.


Get off your high horse.

He's far more talented than you'll ever be.

[heytheredelilah]

you must now know bout me you must not know bout me!

[romantic rights]

Hahaha. This is one of the funniest, most random things I've ever read. Amazing.

Ditto, I was laughing at some responses.

[Jason Tate]

why should he do that? the questions were shitty.

he did an awesome job answering the questions and telling the douche bags that thought most of them up what a waste of space they really are.

i'm real sick of all the elitists on message boards and it was great to have someone as awesome as forrest just bash on them for the morons that they are.

2 thumbs up to this interview.
:rolleyes:

[romantic rights]

I'm glad he took the time to answer them, it's brave of him, but we still didn't learn a thing about hellogoodbye.

the questions asked werent very wanting to know about hellogoodbye, most of them were in fact taking shots at the band.

[fluke182]

That was extremely entertaining, but man, I wonder what would make him take something seriously. He's definitely not well trained in PR yet.

Also, if taken with a grain of salt the album is actually great to listen to. It's not great art, it's just fun. Sometimes I don't need depth, I just need some hellogoodbye.

[MisterChanesaw]

Yeah he did a very good job responding to some of the inappropriate shots that were taken at his band.

[Poultrylicious]

Forrest is a truck driving racists, and melillo is his little hitch hiking bitch buddy. j/k

but melillo is still a bitch, HGB is pretty straight.

[voodoo7jb]

Forrest is a douchebag and HGB sux. He didn't answer a single thing about the band and the only thing I got from that interview was a reminder of how much I want $8.99 back for purchasing their album.

[eight]

never been a huge fan of hellogoodbye, but this was a fun interview.

[Jason Tate]

the questions asked werent very wanting to know about hellogoodbye, most of them were in fact taking shots at the band.
How do you figure?

[.KillMoneen.]

im glad he answered these question the way he did. Mocking the questions that were aimed to mock him/the band. I loved it

[r3wind74]

Congrats to Forrest, even though the silliness of his responses did wear on me after a while, he did a pretty good job considering the questions that were presented.
I still have issues w/the content of questions that go out, not just to HGB but on several past interviews but that is just my opinion.
I actually want to learn about the bands/how they work/get along...but I guess this online forum is just like a dirt mag in some ways, people wanting to know the drama which I admit is sometimes juicy but wouldnt it be nice to actually learn about the band once in a while (non-rumor/drama related topics)?
But in a way this was good since it settled some of the rumors out there..well kinda..in a roundabout way...i guess "forrest style"....
I still enjoy HGB & DTR.

[karenxcore]

im just too lazy to read long things today..but i read the interview.

[.KillMoneen.]

Forrest is a douchebag and HGB sux. He didn't answer a single thing about the band and the only thing I got from that interview was a reminder of how much I want $8.99 back for purchasing their album.

Must have taken you days..did you have to think about this? Its so clever

[Pascal DeMaria]

Forrest talks like a second grader and its not funny anymore.

period.

[E-Skeezy]

wait, what's the deal with Forrest and Subway?

[robster19]

im assuming the "fo" at the end of the interview meant "fuck off"

hellogoodbye blows ass anyway.

[CIABATTA]

i love forrest and hellogoodbye all the better now :D

[trash zoo]

Ducktales is the shit, I love this guy

[Steve Henderson]

This was halfway annoying, but 100% entertaining to read. I give it a "thumbs up."

[soulineyes]

oh i love it. Forrest obviously doesnt give a shit about anything anybody says and thats why I like him. if anything, this fueled the fire. HGB4evaLOLroflmaomg!

[Steve Henderson]

Congrats to Forrest, even though the silliness of his responses did wear on me after a while, he did a pretty good job considering the questions that were presented.
I still have issues w/the content of questions that go out, not just to HGB but on several past interviews but that is just my opinion.
I actually want to learn about the bands/how they work/get along...but I guess this online forum is just like a dirt mag in some ways, people wanting to know the drama which I admit is sometimes juicy but wouldnt it be nice to actually learn about the band once in a while (non-rumor/drama related topics)?
But in a way this was good since it settled some of the rumors out there..well kinda..in a roundabout way...i guess "forrest style"....
I still enjoy HGB & DTR.
I think the questions you are proposing WE ask are the same ones COUNTLESS other webzines ask the band. These guys probably get interviewed every night on tour, so it probably gets annoying as shit to answer the same questions over and over. So I think we take risks sometimes and ask questions no one else has the balls to.

Usually, if you want to know the rudimentary basics about a band, you can do a Google search and find a lazy interview elsewhere.

[venganza]

my head hurt a little after reading this interview mostly because of his immaturity and lack of focus, but props though to him for taking those dig questions head on. :nod:

[Chemical Love]

I love the way he answered the questions, haha.

[xliz]

wait, what's the deal with Forrest and Subway?

Yeah....I wanna know too. I guessed I missed something awhile ago

[RandomHero1230]

all the answers are hilarious

[atticus1492]

i like this guy so much more now.

[Iamhome]

Way to 'do' the interview and avoid all of the questions at the same time.

[AdamTheGreat]

Was amusing.

[domesticyeti]

cool that he answered them, but at the same time, it really didnt answer anything. responding like an idiot is funny for a while, but then it just gets...idiotic

[animmortalsoul]

That was dang funny.

At first I was going to say I would have liked a couple more serious answers, but he basically did answer a few:

[Condensed and un-funny version:]
Rumor has it that you guys put your posters over other bands' at Warped Tour. Is it true?
No.

When are you going to release an album that isn't 80% songs whose demos have been floating around for several years?
Next cd.

Why were so many of the vocals digitized/distorted on the LP? Do you think that detracted at all from the songs and how difficult is that to reproduce live?
Cause it sounds cool. No, it's pretty easy.

Forrest, after your recent battle with Subway, do you think you will be eating there anymore?
Hopefully not.
How do you handle the disrespect that some media and musicians give you? Is it a bummer or do you laugh it off and make a song about it?
The disrespect is mainly from people like those who submitted these questions.



So I disagree with everyone who said he didn't really answer them, he did the ones that really matter.

[Lehcar]

haha this was hilarious

[Branevember31]

cooool forrest...cool guy

[Jason Tate]

I think the questions you are proposing WE ask are the same ones COUNTLESS other webzines ask the band. These guys probably get interviewed every night on tour, so it probably gets annoying as shit to answer the same questions over and over. So I think we take risks sometimes and ask questions no one else has the balls to.

Usually, if you want to know the rudimentary basics about a band, you can do a Google search and find a lazy interview elsewhere.
Especially when we already did (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=37513) that kind of interview. Why would we do it again!?

[jetsto]

those answers made my head hurt. it looked like a teen chat room

[ihatecayte]

hahah that's delightful. i definitely LOLed multiple times during the course of reading that. classic.

[an0n]

i mean it was pretty funny... but a pain in the ass to read with all his answers and shit.



lets face it, they really are like a blink182 type band; that doesnt make them BAD... i guess

[myaimistruex3]

ha, it was nice to read this. Good to see some people can just be funny and joke and not be so serious about everything, even the negative stuff.

[r3wind74]

I think the questions you are proposing WE ask are the same ones COUNTLESS other webzines ask the band. These guys probably get interviewed every night on tour, so it probably gets annoying as shit to answer the same questions over and over. So I think we take risks sometimes and ask questions no one else has the balls to.

Usually, if you want to know the rudimentary basics about a band, you can do a Google search and find a lazy interview elsewhere.

No, take the TSL interview done about a month ago, maybe two. All those questions were done already (well except the update on the live cd that was supposed to happen). The split w/Geffen (reasons for leaving/feelings about the label/why BOATS sounds the way it does) has been well documented numerous times. Seriously how many times do you think TSL was asked about the whole Geffen/BOATS vibe already and the TSL interview was done what like 2mos ago?
Isn't the whole Geffen issue is done/documented? It's not as if the band just left the label and the interview was done right after the occurance.
http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=121363
- asks about the split w/Geffen/BOATS
I don't mean to bust balls but you said "So I think we take risks sometimes and ask questions no one else has the balls to." that may be true but you also ask questions that you asked in the past well at least here it happened.
I digress...
Speaking of lazy interviews, I know these questions are supposed to be from readers, but why not dress them up better? Some questions come off as down right rude and offensive. As a non-biased entity (which reporters should be, though that is not always the case), shouldn't the Q's be more neutral in tone? It's not as if one is grilling the president about the war or some CEO who spent the pension fund on hookers and crack. These are musicians trying to make a living doing what they love. If they bring about drama to themselves then ok, maybe we can grill them but there is a tactfull way of asking and a non-tactfull, I would hope that the high road would always be taken.
I only wonder if anyone researches what the band has been asked in the past/on previous interviews. I totally agree that questions will get repeated/some questions are typical run of the mill "must asks" but instead of asking loaded questions that may make for good juicy dirt mag material, why not ask other questions? If a reporter really wanted to find "new" questions/non run of the mill type, he/she would find them. I would list some but I am sure my idea of "good questions" differs from the next guy's.
Again, this is all my own opinion. I do comend this site for being a forum that churns out so much information that I enjoy (news/songs/etc).
I am glad you exist.

[fedhed7]

I really didn't enjoy that. I guess I have no soul.

[elscorchette]

That was dang funny.

At first I was going to say I would have liked a couple more serious answers, but he basically did answer a few:

[Condensed and un-funny version:]
Rumor has it that you guys put your posters over other bands' at Warped Tour. Is it true?
No.

When are you going to release an album that isn't 80% songs whose demos have been floating around for several years?
Next cd.

Why were so many of the vocals digitized/distorted on the LP? Do you think that detracted at all from the songs and how difficult is that to reproduce live?
Cause it sounds cool. No, it's pretty easy.

Forrest, after your recent battle with Subway, do you think you will be eating there anymore?
Hopefully not.
How do you handle the disrespect that some media and musicians give you? Is it a bummer or do you laugh it off and make a song about it?
The disrespect is mainly from people like those who submitted these questions.



So I disagree with everyone who said he didn't really answer them, he did the ones that really matter.
totally. good point.

[pnkdrmr182]

Oh Forrest, that was great. He answered almost all your questions. He just answered them in his own special way. Most of the questions really weren't asked to 'learn more about HelloGoodbye,' they seemed to be asked as pseudo-digs: listeners asking for justification for the things they didn't like. To that extent, I think he justified himself quite well.

[-Aaron-]

Forrest throws down hxc sxe.

[formaldehyde]

i laughed at the gwen thing.

[zizou1790]

absolutely awful.

[TyroneShoolaces]

yea......that didnt come out as funny as forest had hoped it would of. some serious answers would have been cool though.

[YOUWONTKNOW]

I think Forrest really sounded like a jerk...it would have been interesting to see him actually answer the questions instead of use humor to break from them

[LPMagic]

Hahahaha, this is hilarious. Please respond more often, Forrest.

- Jeff

[LCincala]

Worst album of 2006

i really liked it

[LCincala]

I think Forrest really sounded like a jerk...it would have been interesting to see him actually answer the questions instead of use humor to break from them

i think he was pretty pissed off and he had a right to be. the questions were mainly negative. id be pissed too
i think he proved his point pretty well.

[madstix5]

Hahahaha. I'm a great name for a dog, come on now!

my next pet just fount it's name...haha.. i'll call it JT for short...

in other news, forrest is the freakin man...

[LCincala]

No, take the TSL interview done about a month ago, maybe two. All those questions were done already (well except the update on the live cd that was supposed to happen). The split w/Geffen (reasons for leaving/feelings about the label/why BOATS sounds the way it does) has been well documented numerous times. Seriously how many times do you think TSL was asked about the whole Geffen/BOATS vibe already and the TSL interview was done what like 2mos ago?
Isn't the whole Geffen issue is done/documented? It's not as if the band just left the label and the interview was done right after the occurance.
http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=121363
- asks about the split w/Geffen/BOATS
I don't mean to bust balls but you said "So I think we take risks sometimes and ask questions no one else has the balls to." that may be true but you also ask questions that you asked in the past well at least here it happened.
I digress...
Speaking of lazy interviews, I know these questions are supposed to be from readers, but why not dress them up better? Some questions come off as down right rude and offensive. As a non-biased entity (which reporters should be, though that is not always the case), shouldn't the Q's be more neutral in tone? It's not as if one is grilling the president about the war or some CEO who spent the pension fund on hookers and crack. These are musicians trying to make a living doing what they love. If they bring about drama to themselves then ok, maybe we can grill them but there is a tactfull way of asking and a non-tactfull, I would hope that the high road would always be taken.
I only wonder if anyone researches what the band has been asked in the past/on previous interviews. I totally agree that questions will get repeated/some questions are typical run of the mill "must asks" but instead of asking loaded questions that may make for good juicy dirt mag material, why not ask other questions? If a reporter really wanted to find "new" questions/non run of the mill type, he/she would find them. I would list some but I am sure my idea of "good questions" differs from the next guy's.
Again, this is all my own opinion. I do comend this site for being a forum that churns out so much information that I enjoy (news/songs/etc).
I am glad you exist.


you worded that quite perfectly.
i commend you, sir.
you are so right. couldnt have said it better myself!

[secondsunrise]

forrest is a good guy....HGB just has fun...i mean they will never put out an album of the year like nickelback or anything but you know.

[Jason Tate]

No, take the TSL interview done about a month ago, maybe two. All those questions were done already (well except the update on the live cd that was supposed to happen). The split w/Geffen (reasons for leaving/feelings about the label/why BOATS sounds the way it does) has been well documented numerous times. Seriously how many times do you think TSL was asked about the whole Geffen/BOATS vibe already and the TSL interview was done what like 2mos ago?
Isn't the whole Geffen issue is done/documented? It's not as if the band just left the label and the interview was done right after the occurance.
http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=121363
- asks about the split w/Geffen/BOATS
I don't mean to bust balls but you said "So I think we take risks sometimes and ask questions no one else has the balls to." that may be true but you also ask questions that you asked in the past well at least here it happened.
I digress...
Speaking of lazy interviews, I know these questions are supposed to be from readers, but why not dress them up better? Some questions come off as down right rude and offensive. As a non-biased entity (which reporters should be, though that is not always the case), shouldn't the Q's be more neutral in tone? It's not as if one is grilling the president about the war or some CEO who spent the pension fund on hookers and crack. These are musicians trying to make a living doing what they love. If they bring about drama to themselves then ok, maybe we can grill them but there is a tactfull way of asking and a non-tactfull, I would hope that the high road would always be taken.
I only wonder if anyone researches what the band has been asked in the past/on previous interviews. I totally agree that questions will get repeated/some questions are typical run of the mill "must asks" but instead of asking loaded questions that may make for good juicy dirt mag material, why not ask other questions? If a reporter really wanted to find "new" questions/non run of the mill type, he/she would find them. I would list some but I am sure my idea of "good questions" differs from the next guy's.
Again, this is all my own opinion. I do comend this site for being a forum that churns out so much information that I enjoy (news/songs/etc).
I am glad you exist.
You're picking on an interviewer's first interview for this website -- Robert Carlson had just come on board (as the entertainment article writer mind you, not a staff member). However, he wanted to meet and interview the band - so I set that interview opportunity up for him.

That's a completely unfair comparison. Picking one example that validates your argument when there are far more that prove you wrong -- is a cheap way to present your case.

As for your other questions - they've all been answered and addressed in the previous thread on this topic.

[DrewSkylinepres]

I honestly thought this was hilareous. They obviously hate AP.net. But they did the interview anyways. How could you expect a serious interview out of them? Still funny though.

[falloutboy.]

hahaha if this interview doesnt make you laugh or respect forrest for answering the questions, im left clueless.

[thatwasamoment]

well done forrest. i dont see how anyone could still bash him now. theres no reason to.

[RelaxNoRelapse]

that was a great read.

they are fun.

thats all they need to be.

[Mediocrity]

An entertaining read even if just to try and convince myself that he's totally joking

[phaedrus]

He's a funny guy, I think he answered those in the best way possible. The 80% demo question was total unprofessional bullshit, I'm glad he called that. But well done on all sides, I bet this will change the way dtr does interviews too.

[303 what!]

that dude/the band just got way cooler in my book. the fact that the label turned the interview down and then the next day they do it.....mad hella hecka sicccc props doggie homez *** nog or whatever.

[m0istvagina]

obviously they are doing what they enjoy and want in life, and don't give a fuck about anyones negative attitude towards THEIR music or THEIR band. i think even answering these questions was basically a big "fuck you, you all are retarded, we don't care" and that's why this band rules.

[sidewacker]

This was hilarious, I loved the Ducktails reference, that show was awesome when I was younger, wait...I still watch that shit.

[Julia Conny]

When I say AbsolutePunk.net, what is the first thing that comes to mind? (Be honest.)

well... i guess its true that i don't neccessarily think of puppy dogs. no, i obviously don't think of puppy dogs. i could say to you all that i think of puppy dogs whenever someone mentions ap.net, but it would clearly be absurd of me. what, if anything does ap.net have to do with puppy dogs? jason tate would be a terrible name for a puggle, and puppies don't know ANYBODY'S soundscans. so it goes without saying that when i think of ap.net puppies rarely come to mind. the reality is, i think of chinchillas. rolling around in chinchilla dust to cleanse themselves.

:rotfl:

[RyanT]

hahaha, i dont like this band at all, but that was awesome. what a cool dude.

[TSLataris]

I love how people still complain after he kindly took time out of his schedule to answer these questions.

[myjokesmakeucry]

That was annoying to read from forest's perspective of answering questions stupidly.



i agree,
why does anyone like this band anyway?

[TSLataris]

Forrest is a douchebag and HGB sux. He didn't answer a single thing about the band and the only thing I got from that interview was a reminder of how much I want $8.99 back for purchasing their album.

Considering the large number of shitty(for lack of a better word) questions that were asked, I think he did very well.

[karenxcore]

obviously they are doing what they enjoy and want in life, and don't give a fuck about anyones negative attitude towards THEIR music or THEIR band. i think even answering these questions was basically a big "fuck you, you all are retarded, we don't care" and that's why this band rules.

word.

[TheEndofGravity]

i hate every single person in here that says anything related to "he should have taken it seriously"

that was hilarious. every single band says the same thing over and over all the time. get over youselves and enjoy that that was really funny.

[FstFtsVsFences]

Not the biggest fan of the record, but they're fun and I love the video as well as song: "Here In Your Arms."

Also, I respect him a lot for doing that interview. Props.

[ktra]

This is the best interview ever! You can't deny that Forrest is hilarious.

[snakeinmyboots]

This is the best interview ever! You can't deny that Forrest is hilarious.

when it ceases to make any senses, um yes, you can deny that Forest is hilarious.

[Jamais_vu]

The Duck Tales reference made me LOL. I loved that show when I was a kid!

[r3wind74]

You're picking on an interviewer's first interview for this website -- Robert Carlson had just come on board (as the entertainment article writer mind you, not a staff member). However, he wanted to meet and interview the band - so I set that interview opportunity up for him.

That's a completely unfair comparison. Picking one example that validates your argument when there are far more that prove you wrong -- is a cheap way to present your case.

As for your other questions - they've all been answered and addressed in the previous thread on this topic.

I'm a HUGE fan of TSL (well I guess in my own eyes) & I would have thought to prepare better. Newbie or not, if I had ONE chance to meet a band that I looked up to, I would have done some homework as to not ask them repeated questions about issues that have been addressed. If the questions were ap reader questions, I probably would have asked to submit my own questions w/the argument that most of the questions submitted by the readers were already done/used.
The only other flaw I see is that, being an ap writer (I would assume to do this one would have to be a long time reader/insider), wouldn't one want to check the back log of interviews as to not overlap/ask the same questions?
But that is just how I would have tackled my one chance at such a momentous occasion.

As to being "unfair", in my profession (much like most I would think), no one gets a pat on the back for "doing their job/what is required/expected of them", one only gets noticed when they mess up so maybe I am a bit jaded/cynical. Wait, pats on the back are distributed when we find errors that others make (catch issues before the explode) or when one goes above/beyond their normal role.

Cheap could also be seen as not bothering to do homework on your assignment.

I thank you Jason for this discussion, I hope I didn't come off as too much of an ass. I really do admire this site you have created and wish you and all the ap staff/readers all the best.

[sirensiren]

he definatly didn't take this as seriously as he should have. kinda lame

[SizzyPizzyMD]

Rock on forrest....screw emo kids and their need to not have any fun or sense of humor

[FreddyKrueger]

Oh do i hate this guy

[Chris Fallon]

Random as all hell, but Forrest seems to have a very "love to hate" relationship with this site. It was cool that he did this on his own merit though. Gotta hand it to him for doing that, regardless of whether or not if you like his band.

[mybreakingpoint]

ahahahaha athat cracked me up

what a smart ass, i love it

personally, i think he's a hilarious, nice guy. i got to meet him last year, and he was nothing like a lot of people on here have said. i lke and respect him quite a lot, though i didn't care for their new CD all that much, just a few tracks, but i still like the band and forrest as much as ever.

and ya, this thing cracked me up haha

[Adrian Villagomez]

I hope Harsh Times isn't as bad as Forrest says, 'cause it looks killer in the trailor.

[ihrtnothing]

i would just like to give mad props to forrest for doing this. way to stick it to the label and reach out to the public.

[FatJordan]

Kids...we can learn a valuable lesson from this man.

Don't. Smoke. Crack.

[parkmusicoh]

anyone and everyones opinion is basically irrelevent on this topic.. they could probably care less and are laughing the whole way to the bank and TRL (i cant say i blame them). "Hmm do I sit and pout because a bunch of nobodies think I suck, or do I go enjoy being in a popular band touring the world?" At the end of the day when we're still us and theyre still HelloGoodbye.. does what any of us have to say really matter? Nay. But we all waste our time regardless.

[s-dub]

Im not a fan of HGB by any means but man, those questions were brutal. Alot of them were very disrespectful and rude. If the questions are gonna be like that I wouldn't interview them, and if you want to, present the questions in a more professional manner instead of trying to insult and humiliate.

[im 2*Sweet]

this made me laugh. and you do learn about hellogoodbye: hes vegan/straightedge, funny, has a gf and a dog named Gordie, and is basically awesome

[themostdeplete]

this was pretty useless and retarded, but i guess the jokes on me, since i read it. the band is still a fucking joke though.

[Jason Tate]

I'm a HUGE fan of TSL (well I guess in my own eyes) & I would have thought to prepare better. Newbie or not, if I had ONE chance to meet a band that I looked up to, I would have done some homework as to not ask them repeated questions about issues that have been addressed. If the questions were ap reader questions, I probably would have asked to submit my own questions w/the argument that most of the questions submitted by the readers were already done/used.
The only other flaw I see is that, being an ap writer (I would assume to do this one would have to be a long time reader/insider), wouldn't one want to check the back log of interviews as to not overlap/ask the same questions?
But that is just how I would have tackled my one chance at such a momentous occasion.

As to being "unfair", in my profession (much like most I would think), no one gets a pat on the back for "doing their job/what is required/expected of them", one only gets noticed when they mess up so maybe I am a bit jaded/cynical. Wait, pats on the back are distributed when we find errors that others make (catch issues before the explode) or when one goes above/beyond their normal role.

Cheap could also be seen as not bothering to do homework on your assignment.

I thank you Jason for this discussion, I hope I didn't come off as too much of an ass. I really do admire this site you have created and wish you and all the ap staff/readers all the best.
:shrug:

Guess I tend to (contrary to popular belief) be a little nicer to my staff members than you would be. It's not that big a deal to me to be honest -- and he'll learn. I did some horrible interviews when I started this website -- now, I like to think, they're all pretty good solid.

[Alabama]

I agree that it would've been cool, if we got some more "informative" answers from him, but.. who cares, the band wants to entertain their fans and be fun to listen to, I think it's cool from him to answer the questions at all!
Some of those questions really were a little offensive, I think it's alright to ask those question though.. But an interview should consist of both, positive and! negative questions and shouldn't try to make the band look bad.. There could have been way more questions to ask, better ones, that could have been answered seriously! About touring, their upcoming albums (not just about the whole demo-thing) or experiences the band has made (not mostly regarding to negative stuff..)
It's stupid to do an interview if you don't even want to help the band getting some positive attention, some people here are way too critical and are never satisfied..

[Steve Henderson]

I think it is pretty funny that everyone is saying, "oh man it is soo cool - obviously Forrest doesn't give a fuck."

In actuality, I get the exact opposite impression - he seems ultra pissed (a smidge rightfully so, but come on, no more than a sliver), and that is why he responded like a irritable third grader on acid. I still have a ton of respect for him to honor the interview request, but I would expect a "professional" to let shit roll off his skin a little more.

[LeftCoastEnvy24]

who cares if he didnt answer every questions seriously at least he made some light out of negativity and didnt get all pissed about u know?

[brandnew21g]

worst record of 06.... worst band everrrrr

[Daveyhavok832]

the only thing funny about this interview is how insecure he is and never manages to directly answer a question (except the one about subway)...

[oconnill]

yeah forrest is about as funny as a... tree in the forrest. that dude needs to stop worrying about being so ironicly immature and worry about how is band is based on bad vocal effects and wearing sunscreen on there nose while preforming weak dance moves.

[eversoinviting]

then i dive into my pool of gold coins with the ducktales guys (we're like close celeb friends) and have a swim.

hahahahahaha
hahaha that amused me

[bowee]

he had no reason to take any of those questions seriously, especially considering that a large amount of them were having a dig at him and his band. its just plain rude, its like asking you how you got so ugly or whether you were always bad at sports. not nice y'see.

i applaud him for this it brightened my day.

as for all of you who are like "err, this band sucks, they have no talent, i hate this guy"- why are you reading an interview by him?!

[fearthesloths]

ahahah that interview was awesome. He totally disarmed all the asshole-ish questions by fucking around, and made it fun to read. This is the attitude i'd like to see from some other bands, not taking themselves so god damn seriously.

[andysurvive]

Good for them. PWND

[RiskyXBandit]

don't shit on HGB for putting out music that they wanted to put out.
they never asked you to be thier fans.
i think the interview is solid.
shitty questions = immature answers.
and for all of you people who think he's "acting" when he replied..
he's actually the same way in person.
just happy go lucky and is always laughing.

i don't understand.
half of you's would friggen jerk off to a falloutboy song.
are they any better?
no. they are terrible, but i won't bash them non stop like you
guys bash HGB.

[m0istvagina]

I think it is pretty funny that everyone is saying, "oh man it is soo cool - obviously Forrest doesn't give a fuck."

In actuality, I get the exact opposite impression - he seems ultra pissed (a smidge rightfully so, but come on, no more than a sliver), and that is why he responded like a irritable third grader on acid. I still have a ton of respect for him to honor the interview request, but I would expect a "professional" to let shit roll off his skin a little more.


obviously forrest doesnt give a shit
and obviously your impression is wrong.
douche

[SykoBadger]

i thought he had an interesting perspective on the vocal effects question... likening it to distortion on a guitar. Like he said, Justin Timberlake can obviously sing well, he just uses effects on his latest record for, well, effect. Overall, I found the interview frustrating (due to Forrest's personality I take it), but interesting.

I'm actually surprised that you guys (ap.net) would pose questions with such animosity, even if they were suggested by people on the website. I get the impression you guys try to be diplomatic and make friends... but then, asking questions like that are how you get more interesting interviews, I suppose.

[xogloryfades]

hilarious

[Scuba Chris]

I think it is pretty funny that everyone is saying, "oh man it is soo cool - obviously Forrest doesn't give a fuck."

In actuality, I get the exact opposite impression - he seems ultra pissed (a smidge rightfully so, but come on, no more than a sliver), and that is why he responded like a irritable third grader on acid. I still have a ton of respect for him to honor the interview request, but I would expect a "professional" to let shit roll off his skin a little more.
I didn't really see it that way, but to each his own.

[Tony Pascarella]

Harsh Times was such a shitty movie. I saw it on my birthday. :-(

[Julia Conny]

obviously forrest doesnt give a shit
and obviously your impression is wrong.
douche

If Forrest didn't give a shit, then he would've never taken the time to actually answer the questions.

[skankinbri]

Thanks for the interview guys. I had to take pictures of these guy for the VC Reporter when they played here in Ventura the other night, and I have to say, I wasn't very impressed by them.

[drew-is-cool]

This is hands down the greatest thing to ever happen to AbsolutePunk.net. I spilled LOL all over myself. Forrest is my hero, and he owned...well, we know who he owned.

[moistyvag]

If Forrest didn't give a shit, then he would've never taken the time to actually answer the questions.



HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHA
yeah nevermind he totally gave two shits about this interview, OBVIOUSLY.
and maybe, just maybe it was so that everyone would stop WHINING.

ps. this website is pretty gay sometimes, i got banned for doing nothing.

[zackxdanger]

i love hellogoodbye. =] that is all there is to it

[RyanCT]

I love that he referenced Matt Mahaffey and Self in the first question, cuz he/they are amazing. Secondly, this interview seemed more like an attempt to insult the band, not learn anything about them. It seemed very adversarial.

[TheBaroness]

very amusing

[TheGetUpKidette]

he's the best lol

[codypayne]

i love how he makes all you kids look like idiots who try and bash him. i think they know theyre just a goofy band, thats what makes them cool. i dont own a hgb cd but theyre respected in my book.

[F3LIX]

Well that was really f'ing annoying..

[LPMagic]

Well that was really f'ing annoying..
Much like when people say "f'ing."

- Jeff

[Julia Conny]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHA
yeah nevermind he totally gave two shits about this interview, OBVIOUSLY.
and maybe, just maybe it was so that everyone would stop WHINING.

ps. this website is pretty gay sometimes, i got banned for doing nothing.

You're whining too, and you don't like it here, then why did you take the time register and post?

[awretchlikeme]

That was awesome, just goes to show people are dumb and shouldn't take bands or music so seriously.
That is a true musician, just has fun and doesn't give a fuck about the rest.

[allison,]

"(although, touring stays the same the whole time too. show sleep eat show sleep eat show asian hooker). but, in the end the social ostracizing will hopefully benifit me so i can end up like jacko. yayyyy."

bahaha. that made me laugh out loud, seriously. forest is fucking crazy, i love him.

[thisisrightnow]

Hahaha wow, Forrest is nuts. I love it.

[chelseaisloved]

Strippers.
Gwen Stefani.
And Ducktales. (And just so everyone knows, I think about diving into a pool of gold coins all the time.)
Just a couple examples of why i'm going to marry 4est.

I love hg and their new album, and whoever doesn't like agree can kiss my butt.
No joke.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/toughlove144/Mew.jpg

[artistanonymous]

Mmm I love how these guys don't give two shits about anything...ever
Come on, anyone who expected them to answer seriously is insane. I mean, they wear pizza and mustard costumes onstage, that's hint enough that they're not going to answer you seriously

[chelseaisloved]

Much like when people say "f'ing."

- Jeff
agreed.

[Maggiethegreat1]

Worst album of 2006

You're the worst album of 2006. and you have the word 'gross' in your name

[eac12890]

although i usually love forrest's random and funny nature, i also agree that it woulda been cooler if he answered seriously.

x0

[luvmusic1017]

it would have been cool if he actually took this seriously


forrest is never serious. thats whats so awesome about them!

[TallSteve15]

Worst album of 2006

AGREED.

[TallSteve15]

ps....i would go gay for forrest if he was down

[rock out]

This was most awesome. Automatic <3.
Honestly, I couldn't help but laugh.

PEACE <3 & applesauce.

[rock out]

AGREED.
What? No Way.

[jellobomb]

He's a fantastic young man.

[Love_My_Bullets]

haha wow i think these guys are so cute.

[lyricalxxlies]

"'homie, are you doin wut they sez you doin?' and homie was like 'fawk naw braw' except we said it in so much of a less urban way."

hahahah

forrest is amazing.

[ericalovesit]

forrest is a genius. haha.

[StimulisRocker]

Kudos for awesome formatting!



whats this? the once obsessive dtr supporter turned evil ?

[emoishardcore]

worst response to questions ever. i mean i guess it doesent matter how he responds since people are buying the album but i ceratinly dont think he gained any fans.

[deLanie_schott]

helarious. i love it

[CrimsonTears203]

yeah, i definitely lost all respect i had for this band after reading this.

..wait. i never had any in the first place.

i tihnk the answer to the second question scared me the most.

[kiwikiwikiwi]

hahahahaha it was funny and all but i still know nothing more than i did ten minutes ago about hellogoodbye

[fob_freak_07]

that was awsome! does he always act like that? or had he had too much chocolate?
well, besides, i liked it alot.
it kept me entertained.

[jaguarlove]

"then i dive into my pool of gold coins with the ducktales guys (we're like close celeb friends) and have a swim."

hahahaha