Interview with Jim Hesketh / Champion on 22nd December 2004

Let`s have a look at 2004: you `ve been two times in Europe with Comeback Kid, done US -Tour with CBK, Australia straight after your 4 weeks Europe Tour. Now back home. Seems like 2004 has been a succesful year for Champion. How does this feel? What impressions do you take with you?
Yeah its been a busy year. After recording our new record "Promises Kept" we descided to push the band full time. Its been fun. Europe has been nothing short of amazing, as well as Australia. Some of the best times I have had in my life. I have met so many good people and made so many friends. We have gone places I never imagined going in my life. It`s been a great year and has left a great feeling. It hopefully will only continue into 2005. We plan on coming back to Europe doing a few US tours, going to Japan, and hopefully going back to Australia.

Did you have a steady job at the beginning of 2004...can you live on music now?
I did at the beginning but we all had to quit our jobs. Now we are barely, barely living off the band. We all have money saved up and we have to dip into that quite often, but we are doing ok. Definatley putting ourselves into personel debt but its hardcore. You can`t really live a luxurious lifestyle off it. If we wanted to be rich we would be playing different kind of music. or not playing at all. It`s a small sacrafice to pay for what we are doing.

I see. So let`s talk about the touring in 2004 again.
Sure.

What our readers are interested is for sure how you liked Europe. What was the best thing about Europe? What did you miss in comparison to the States?
Europe is amazing. The fact that we came 2 times in such a short period, and the shows just got better and better just made it all worth while. I miss my friends in the States. but I love my new friends in Europe too. I don`t know, it`s hard to compare because it`s all part of one thing in my mind now, like touring is touring. And now I have friends in the States and friends in Europe and shows are good everywhere,  and I dont know. I love it all.

So the world has become much smaller for you?
Yeah, it`s all one thing to me now.

What has been the funniest and most awkward happening on tour?
Hmmm. Our roadie Kyle got his passport stolen in Amsterdam. That was really lame cause he had to go to the embassy and get a new passport. On top of that he got held up with a knife and almost missed his flight home. Worst of luck for that kid.

Now let`s talk about your first full length “Promises Kept”. Did you expect it to be so much liked by the Hardcore Kids? Who`s writing the songs?
The band writes the songs together. I really didn`t know what to expect but it`s the first thing we have done that I have been totally into. I mean I was into the stuff we did before but now I am so sick of our old songs. I think any band gets that way. It just feels good to be playing new stuff and having people being into it.

Who`s writing the lyrics? The songs are very personal. Do you wanna deal with certain topics or do you just write about that, what comes into your mind?
We usually write together. Different guys have different ideas for songs. Every song is written about a specific situation or feeling, but it`s usually written vague enough to apply to other situations. If someone can relate to something we have written then we have accomplished what we were setting out to do.

Let´s talk about the song "failure”. As I read the lyrics I had to think about the topics "father and parents". Is this the topic it deals?
Definatly, yeah. I wrote that song because my father never supported what I was doing with the band. he always told me to get a real job and look down on me. Until maybe 6 months ago(after the song was recorded) he had never even come see us play. Since we have released this record and traveled all accross the world he supports it a lot more.

 "Looking for acceptance and shelter from the rain...." that`s what you sing in the song “failure”. Do you think it was about "looking for acceptance" that you got in touch with hardcore? How did you grew up?
Honestly through like my teenage years, my parents werent really there. They never supported anything I did, they never disciplined me. They were never even home. I grew up on my own a lot. I didn`t like the way things were in school. I fell into a group of skater kids that eventually led to me finding out about punk and hardcore. I got involved with drugs and alcohol pretty heavy at a young age. Eventually countered by going straightedge. Hardcore was sort of like my family. It was a place were I felt at home when I didn`t get that feeling anywhere else, especailly from my family. Don`t get me wrong, I love my family more than almost anything. If anything I learned, then how I wanted my children to grow up.

"Hardcore was a sort of family"- What was it exactly that gave you the feeling of being a family?
Being around other kids who felt the same as I did. Other kids who didn`t fit in with the normals. Other kids who had simliar problems that I did.

And being straight edge helped you to get along better in your life, or how shall I understand that?
Well, I knew that I had to get out of the drugs and alcohol thing. It was tearing my life apart. It took over and that is all it did. There was a point where I didn`t go to school anymore, and I didn`t really even leave my house. I was high or drunk 24 hours a day. I could not control it and I needed to do somthing. Straight edge doesn`t keep me this way, it is a result of me not wanting to do that anymore. Straight edge doesn`t keep me this way. This is how I have to be to survive.

What gave you the strength to quit with alcohol and drugs?
I actually went to an impatient drug treatment center for a month and a half. I had alot of counceling and even went to AA for over a year.

Wow, so you took good care of yourself. Any friends helping you out?
I had friends to look out for me at the beginning,  all straight edge kids.

That is rad having such good friend. What do you associate with being straight edge? As far as I can see everyone´s straight edge in the band...so I had to ask this question...
What do you mean?

What do you connect with being straight edge?
No smoking no drinking and no doing drugs. Is that what you were looking for?

No
I dont understand

I was looking for what it is FOR YOU . your personal definition...
I just gave it to you. It`s my commitment to not drinking, and not smoking and not doing drugs, while being invloved with punk and hardcore

Let`s change subject. Champion is a really positive band when you seem them live: sing alongs and stage dives. All the shows I´ve been to, there was a warm atmosphere...has this ever been like this? What was the most violent happening at a show, if at all? How did you feel?
There has only been a fight at one of our shows and it was a long time ago. I think we give off enough positive energy, that it reminds kids what hardcore is all about. It reminds kids that fighting and violence does ntohing but destroy the scene, that we have all worked so hard to build up.

What happened at this show?
Ah, one of my friends stage dove on another friend of mine. He was a skinhead and all of his skinhead friends got angry. They were both my friends, but they were 2 different groups of people, who didn`t know each other. I had to stop the show and step in. It ended okay.


You said that "fighting and violence does nothing but destroy the scene"....what do you say to the momentary development in the scene? I call it personally "hate track", like you can see more fights at shows, bandlyrics that deal a lot with "hate" and "anger". Is this just what I see? What do you tink?
Well, dealing with hate and anger is a lot of what hardcore is about. i think that we shouldn`t supress these feelings, we should just learn to deal with them in a positive manner. Hate and anger is real and that is what hardcore is about, dealing with reality. Moshing and doing stagedives helps release these feelings, without intentionally hurting anyone. Thats the beauty.

I agree.  But do you keep track of the same like me...concerning violence at shows?
What do you mean?

Is the crowd at shows becoming more violent in their acting?
Some shows yes, some shows no. I don`t see a lot of it in Europe, but I know it happens. It is something that we have always had to deal with in hardcore, it becomes more and less depending on bands and trends. When hardcore gets bigger a lot of outsiders find there way in and don`t understand the aggression and don`t know how to deal with it, so it leads to violence.
 
Do you think hardcore is no longer an underground movement?
No it is. It always will be. The definition of hardcore doesn`t mesh with mainstream. The point of hardcore is, to be underground. The moment it steps out of underground, by definition it is not hardcore anymore. And the ideal of hardcore can never be accepted by the mainstream, let alone the music: it`s too raw and in your face for the mainstream to understand.
 
But you must admit, hardcore is becoming bigger and with the blending of metal it faces to be trendy now. Do you think this is a development or something that has nothing to do with hardcore the way you understand it?
I think it`s fine, cause it will be eaiser for the kids who need it to find out about it. But this is not the first time this has happened. H20 was huge, Sick Of It All was on a major and did huge tours, Earth Crisis did metal tours, even back in the 80s bands would do bigger tours with more metal bands. I think it`s just something that bands have to do to survive. There is not a lot of money in hardcore, so it makes it difficult for bands to live.

I agree. Let`s talk about DIY.I think it´s still a good idea. But we all are getting older and if someone spents most time of his life on this hardcore thing, like being in a band, touring most time of the year, so it´s necessary for me and totally understandable that these people should get money to live on it. Do you face also negative reactions on that?
What do you mean?

In hardcore many people expect not to spent much money for shows.
yeah

And I said that this works out as a teenager,  but when you grow up, you have to live on something…
yes

…and if you put most of your time into hardcore then you have to get something outta it. For some people this is conflicting towards the hardcore attitude
Yeah, those people are ignorant. It is really hard to live in hardcore. You have to be resourceful and try not to rip off the scene, but still make money other places. It`s a difficult thing.

How do you imagine your life in 10 years? What will be? What are you dreaming of?
Haha good job family a nice house and i will randomly go to hardcore shows and people wont recognize me and i will mosh hard and then leave.

Are you kidding? What kinda job? Something in the music industry? What are you interested in?
Nah, not in the music industry, probably owning a buisness or something…

What kinda business?
I dont know.

How about Christmas? It´s soon the party of parties- Christmas. What will you do on Christmas? Do you see your family? Did you already buy tons of presents? Do you even care about Christmas? Has it any meaning to you, or is it just a party that makes no sense?
I can`t afford to buy a lot of presents for people. And I never really get much from my family or friends. It`s just a good time to spend with my family. I don`t really celebrate it much. I don`t go to Christmas parties.

Did you ever watch Santamosh on the Victory page?
Haha, no i did not.

You should do that, it´s so funny. Back to you: what do you like most doing after shows?
Hanging out with kids from the show and going out. Talking about hardcore. Doing crazy shit. Living life.
 
Do you know what an association game is?
No

I say a word and you tell me what comes into your mind. Ready to do this?
This is going in your interview?

Yes all.
This is like something I would do with a new girlfriend. Ok, go ahead.

COMEBACK KID
radical dudes

AUSTRALIA
Best times, good shows, hot girls.

ANGER
regiment

UNITY
pride

TRUST
bond

CONSUME
your face

SADNESS
bubbles

GERMANY
smokers

Hahaha, that was the same answer like Scott from Comeback Kid gave to me. I see you`re on the same level.
We are 2 peas in a pod me and Scott.

Well Jim, I forgot on really important question. It`s about being straight edge and I hope you are not bored to death…
Are you straight edge?

I don`t label myself being edge, but I don`t smoke and don`t drink and don`t do drugs.
Oh, so you think you`re better than me?

No. I don`t think so, it´s just that I used to smoke for years and drink sometimes…
Haha, I am kidding. A lot of times, kids assume a kid thinks he is better cause he calls himself staright edge, I was just playing a role reversal. Yeah!

…and I haven`t been that consequent for years, so it´s not cool to label me edge now. Okay?
ok.

Straight edge is often defined as not doing drugs, no alcohol, not smoking..all these physical drugs and obsession...so is straight edge also about being free of other obsessions?
I think it has to do with the person.

What is the root of this obsessions?
For some people it`s obsessions. For some people it`s mind altering substances. Some people it`s politcal, not wanting to support the companies destroying people. It`s really personal. The root of the obsession?

Yes. Is it a void that has to be filled?
Are we talking about humanity? Why are humans easily fall into addiction?

Hm... you came up with that term “humanity”. So tell me what do you think? My notice is, that every person has some sort of obsession, so you can never be really free of it and sxe is trying to achieve this goal, to be free with your mind to control everything…
I dont think that is what straight edge is at all.

Ok.Teach me.
I think your turning straight edge into some philosophy in life and it`s not. It`s just a commitment to not do drugs, drink or smoke. It`s about living positively and making a postive change in your life.

I am glad that you mentioned that because some people do that…
Do what? Do you like The Hives?

…turn straight edge into a philosophy in life. I don`t agree with that. What gives you strength to live life positively? And yes,  I do like the hives, a creative and positive band
I  give myself the strength.

Why did you ask me about The Hives?
Cause I am listening to them.

You like them? Any other European bands you`re into?
Solid Ground, Black Friday 29, Without A Heart, Damage Control, Justice, to name a few.

That are rad bands, for sure. Who´s inspiring you?
This second?

Yes.
Blue Monday and Sinking Ships. Sinking Ships a lot, a new band with so much energy and drive. I miss being in that young stage of being a band.

What is so special about being in this stage?
Man, just the magic of being young and new and having all of these goals. Playing for the first time and going on your first tour. I mean we are doing things now, like we went to Australia for the first time, which was amazing, because not many bands have been… but that whole fire a new band has.

How about your plans for 2005. When will you come back to Europe? Soon? Any new recordings? Sideprojects, Split 7"?
East Coast tour with Outbreak, 100 Demons and Down To Nothing. West Coast tour, Japan tour, European tour in april and  lots more. I don`t know about any recordings. We will see nothing in the works as of now though.

Thanks for the interview. I wish you all in Champion Merry Christmas, a relaxing time at home and a succesful and happy new year. Any last words or shoutouts?
Thank you very much and check out the Sinking Ships website www.sinkingships.tk and watch for the new Blue Monday record in febuary.