With the new greatest hits album, Songs People Actually Liked – Vol 1 – The First Ten Years (1994-2003) coming out this month, we were lucky enough to have a chat with Bowling for Soup frontman Jeret Reddick, about everything from new material to old favourites. Band tattoos to all time favourite venues. We even managed to talk about that catchy as hell song from Phineas and Ferb!
HTF: Your band has been making killer punk anthems for a lot of years now, what would you say is the highlight of being in a successful rock band?
J: Hard to put a finger on one thing. To be able to say we have been doing this almost 21 years is just CRAZY! The main thing is that we still enjoy what we do and still like each other…That says a lot!
HTF: You’ve re-recorded all the songs on the new record, how did it feel when you were in the studio; it must have brought back tons of great memories?
J: Yeah…Especially the REALLY old stuff. Some of the songs were recorded in 1994 for the first time, and Gary didn’t even play on them. That was the coolest thing, to hear them pop since we all play quite a bit better these days. Ha!
HTF: You were less than impressed with the “greatest hits” album your old label released, what makes this album stronger and more meaningful than theirs?
J: Because we picked the songs and actually put the fans into the equation. The one that the label shit out, had songs that weren’t even singles on it that no one had ever heard. I still don’t understand who put that shit together and why!
HTF: Obviously the title states that this is only Vol. 1; will we be seeing a Vol. 2 later in the year? You’re not exactly short on tracks.
J: I have been thinking about that a LOT. The problem is, if I am being honest, I am not sure volume two NEEDS to be rerecorded. By the time we hit 2004, we knew what we were doing! Ha…That shit already sounds good.
That said, I think we have to do something. Maybe it isn’t a re-record. Maybe it is. We will see.
HTF: The new track “20 Years (That’s A Lot Of Beers)” is like a punk rock trip down memory lane, but the question is have BFS been writing any more new material recently?
J: I haven’t. But I have the itch. I just did a new People On Vacation album and have been writing other stuff. When I step away for a while, it always makes me want to get back on the BFS horse. I would love to do something new this year.
HTF: You all have quote “BFS Boobies” with your 15th and 20th anniversary tattoos, have you got any space left for a 25th? BFS Buttcheeks maybe?
J: Ha! We still need to get our 20th!!! But I wouldn’t put a buttcheek past us!
HTF: Can fans expect any big news from BFS in 2015?
J: Yeah. We will be announcing several things both touring and content wise that I think will make people happy!!!
HTF: With heavy hearts, UK fans have accepted that you won’t be doing anymore UK tours… BUT can we still have fingers crossed for one off festival appearances in the future?
J: 100 percent. We haven’t forgotten about you guys and the reason we even have a career!
HTF: You’re not afraid to say that your getting older as a band, but in no way have you lost that rebellious punk rock attitude, are we right in saying that BFS just wouldn’t work without it?
J: Definitely. But it is a bit deeper than that. I think if we tried to get serious or political or something to that affect, it would be silly. I think it is the light heartedness and realness of BFS that keeps people interested. We don’t even have to TRY to keep our attitude, because we mean it.
HTF: If you had to pick just one track from the compilation as your all time favourite, which one would it be and why?
J: I guess I would say “Girl All The Bad Guys Want.” It is hard to argue with the song that really did it for the band.
HTF: You’ve been around the world plenty of times playing these incredible songs, but what is your favourite place to play and why?
J: Manchester, UK…The energy at those shows is fucking incredible. Just unreal! IF you ever want to see BFS in all our glory, that’s the spot!
HTF: How does it feel knowing that your music has inspired countless amounts of young people into picking up instruments and taking on the rock & roll lifestyle, it must be pretty special?
J: Yeah. At first, when I started hearing that, I remember being like “really?” I can’t explain how flattering that is for me. I love it when newer bands that have taken the torch say things like that about us. It is nice to have a legacy of some sort.
HTF: Finally, how did BFS get to do the soundtrack for Disney’s Phineas and Ferb?
J: They actually came to me. It was super cool. But I had been through situations like that before. There was no way I could have known it would become what it is now. IT is just such a HUGE how now. And all over the world. Never gets old seeing it on TV!
