If you’ll believe the hype, Amen frontman Casey Chaos is the new rock’n’roll messiah. The new face of anger driven punk, the key to stamping out commercial adult rock… Whatever the truth may be, there’s no denying the LA based quintet make damn fine records, and will kick up a hell of a racket at the Big Day Out on Sunday. Oh, before we get stuck in, he’s a funny bastard, and one of the most entertaining interview subjects I’m yet to encounter…
“What’s the deal with the bushfires down there? I want to know.”
After filling it the story I get the details of the US television version.
“I’m not too much of a TV fan. I enjoy watching cinema and films and stuff, but typical American programming just makes you into a fucking zombie. I’m not a big TV guy. I’m not up to speed on Baywatch. Whenever I do watch it it’s just to see Hasselhoff run around in those nice shorts,” he laughs. “I’m a big fan of his music, myself… We really needed him to sing. Thanks a lot…”
So what’s the deal with actors who think they’re musicians and vice versa?
“It’s a typical stupid fucking Hollywood idiot thing. Actors want to be singers and singers want to get into movies. Do we need it? Just be grateful you can do one good thing. Is there one actor slash musician that can cross that. I don’t think there is.”
Other than Keanu Reeves, of course…
“Well that is a given. As talented an actor and as talented a songwriter he is, you’re right.”
If you follow much of the UK music press, no doubt you’ll have been bombarded with images of Amen soaked in blood after another high intensity live performance. Casey explains.
“You know the worst on stage injuries are the one no one give a shit about. There’s all this sensationalism, and if there’s ever blood it’s usually by accident. It’s not like some purposeful thing. Breaking my finger on stage was pretty bad. Stuff like that. In Amsterdam I jumped off a PA stack and tore the ligaments in my ankle. It’s still fucked up.”
Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter
“Stupid shit happens. I don’t know what will happen in Australia, I just hope it’s not too fucking hot. You need to get some people to hold up giant air conditioners on stage. I just can’t go out and do the same set every night, we do a different set every day. I can’t get on stage and say the same things and go through the motions every night, it’s just a routine. Punch in, punch out. It’s bullshit. I’d love to stand around like Liam from Oasis and do the same shit, and more power to him, he’s rich and I’m broke, but it bores me. You might as well be in Creed.”
Ah, middle of the road America…
“It’s difficult to be in a band that’s honest,” he explains. “I can’t believe some of the things people buy in the millions. It’s really depressing. I don’t want to be associated with it. The people I grew up listening to, great bands, like the singer from the Circle Jerks works in a diner near my home. It’s just insulting. Bands like Creed are multi millionaires, and they’re fucking horrible.”
“They have the audacity to call themselves a rock band. They’re everything rock and roll is not about. They’re about Jesus and looking like NSYNC. Phoney arsed shit. They are the embodiment of everything rock and roll isn’t about. Rock is pissed off stuff you’re parents hate. People are just eating that shit up.”
“I walk down the street and hear people listen to that shit and wonder if I’m insane. Am I on another fucking planet? It’s like Huey Lewis & The News all over again. What the fuck is going on? Don’t people have taste any more?”
“I was seeing this girl, and she was talking about how she liked Creed. I said, it’s been cool, we were kind of dating, but if you like Creed we’re not going to be hanging out. I can’t be with someone that has that kind of mentality. Makes me want to go and start fires of my own.”
Amen to that.
