"I met a kid in University that let me hear a band called the Descendants, and I freaked. They were heavy and fast, but they sang about girls an
Altsounds: How are you guys doing today?
Jaret Reddick: Doing well. it is nice and rainy in Texas, so it is good training for our UK trip!
Altsounds: So you guys are on tour at the moment, humorously calling it the ‘Party in my pants tour’, how’s this going so far?
Jaret Reddick: Well, technically , the "Party in Your Pants Tour” starts in a few weeks, but the anticipation is great! We are doing some touring in the US at the moment, and the shows are fun. It is nice to be back to work after such a long break.
Altsounds: Right, Lets just get right into it then, Starting with your live DVD, which was released at the end of last year, This being a big deal for any band, what brought the decision to do so at this point in your careers? Why after all these years of touring did you decide this was the tour to bring to the worlds screens?
Jaret Reddick: You know, it was something we had wanted to do for years, but we just happened upon the right time with the label and the stars aligned. It was great to be able to film it in Manchester where the crowds are always SO amazing. The crazy thing is, playing thousands of shows, having so many great nights and then the cameras roll and you have one shot to show what you do. Hard not to over think it, but we managed to walk out and just do our thing. I am happy with it.
Altsounds: Simply by looking at you guys you can tell you got a very positive out look on life, even going so far as to make general message of the band to be ‘Get happy’. Was there anything specific that made you decide to encourage this so strongly?
Jaret Reddick: It wasn't a conscious thing. We just are who we are. Happy guys in a fun band. There is plenty of other stuff out there to aid in making people more miserable. So we go the opposite way.
Altsounds: The song ‘1985’ would probably be one of the most recognizable and a lot of people know you because of this, but what was it that made you decide to write a song just about that particular year?
Jaret Reddick: 1985 rhymed with "Preoccupied"!
Altsounds: You guys must have written hundreds of songs together, is it getting harder to come up with new songs and ideas at all? Do you have a specific approach to writing?
Jaret Reddick: It actually gets easier. We have a niche' now. We have perfected it. Almost created our own at this point and there is never any pressure to top something we have done in the past. We just keep it real!
Altsounds: Bowling for soup has been a band since 1994. Quite an achievement for any band, Do you guys have any secret that helped you withstand the test of time?
Jaret Reddick: We are best friends. We all know our role in and out of the band side of things and we know when to push each others’ buttons and when to leave things alone. We are SO lucky. We tour with bands ALL the time that hate each other. It makes me laugh, but it makes me sad as well.
Altsounds: Again, due to the fact you guys have been touring, writing and recording for so long, you must have accomplished so much in such a long career, but is there anything you have yet to accomplish that you would like to soon on either personal levels or just as a band in general?
Jaret Reddick: Not really. The list was very short to start. We started this band for fun, and it is still fun. The fact that we have accomplished and seen so much is just amazing. We don't take it for granted and we try and enjoy every single day and every single show. You never know when you might blink and it will all be over.
Altsounds: The band is all about the fun, so I can imagine you getting up to some mischief when you’re off stage. After so long of touring you must have some crazy tales to share that the world may not yet have heard about. Anything shockingly funny that you can think of which happened to you guys over the years?
Jaret Reddick: We are a walking TV show. Every day is hilarious. Hard to think of just one thing to tell here. This band (and even our crew) are made up of characters. It never stops! We laugh constantly, and most of it is on Youtube these days!
Altsounds: Your new album, ‘Sorry for Partyin’ is out in October of this year, can the fans expect to hear anything new or is this the same Bowling for Soup styled album they all have come to love from you guys?
Jaret Reddick: We are who we are. But we have kicked it up a notch, while staying true to who we are. I am so fucking stoked about this album. I can't even tell you. If you like Bowling For Soup, you will LOVE this album. And if you hate us, you will like it and just not tell anyone.
Altsounds: Did you take any kind of new approach to the writing of the new songs on the album?
Jaret Reddick: Not really. I wrote the same way I always write but we did all of the demos on our own at our little rehearsal space and at my house. It was fun. As far as the way we went about crafting the songs, it was the same old thing. Technology is crazy though. I wrote most of this album on my freakin' phone. Just insane!
Altsounds: Going a little off topic. A lot of people, fans included, may be shocked to read that Jaret was originally in a metal band before Bowling for Soup! How did you go from this to being in a punk band?
Jaret Reddick: Haha. I was indeed in a Death Metal band. Really heavy and angry. I met a kid in University that let me hear a band called the Descendants, and I freaked. They were heavy and fast, but they sang about girls and farts and fun! I was hooked. From there, I immersed myself in The Ramones, Bad Religion, and there was no turning back for me. I still love me some metal though!
Altsounds: The ‘Party In my Pants’ tour is happening right now, and the upcoming release of the new album is later this year, but what further plans are on the horizon for Bowling for Soup?
Jaret Reddick: Touring for the next few years. Maybe a Christmas album and another DVD. Maybe a nap!
Altsounds: A lot of young people all over the whole planet look up to you, see you as role models and something of an inspiration, and as a result, no doubt you probably had a part in them wanting to form bands and start writing music. Is there any advice you would give to anyone who wants to start a band of their own?
Jaret Reddick: Do what you love! Surround yourself with people you like and who like the same types of things you do. It's easy to become miserable in this business based on who is around you. Oh, and communicate! Talk through shit as you go!
Jaret Reddick: Doing well. it is nice and rainy in Texas, so it is good training for our UK trip!
Altsounds: So you guys are on tour at the moment, humorously calling it the ‘Party in my pants tour’, how’s this going so far?
Jaret Reddick: Well, technically , the "Party in Your Pants Tour” starts in a few weeks, but the anticipation is great! We are doing some touring in the US at the moment, and the shows are fun. It is nice to be back to work after such a long break.
Altsounds: Right, Lets just get right into it then, Starting with your live DVD, which was released at the end of last year, This being a big deal for any band, what brought the decision to do so at this point in your careers? Why after all these years of touring did you decide this was the tour to bring to the worlds screens?
Jaret Reddick: You know, it was something we had wanted to do for years, but we just happened upon the right time with the label and the stars aligned. It was great to be able to film it in Manchester where the crowds are always SO amazing. The crazy thing is, playing thousands of shows, having so many great nights and then the cameras roll and you have one shot to show what you do. Hard not to over think it, but we managed to walk out and just do our thing. I am happy with it.
Altsounds: Simply by looking at you guys you can tell you got a very positive out look on life, even going so far as to make general message of the band to be ‘Get happy’. Was there anything specific that made you decide to encourage this so strongly?
Jaret Reddick: It wasn't a conscious thing. We just are who we are. Happy guys in a fun band. There is plenty of other stuff out there to aid in making people more miserable. So we go the opposite way.
Altsounds: The song ‘1985’ would probably be one of the most recognizable and a lot of people know you because of this, but what was it that made you decide to write a song just about that particular year?
Jaret Reddick: 1985 rhymed with "Preoccupied"!
Altsounds: You guys must have written hundreds of songs together, is it getting harder to come up with new songs and ideas at all? Do you have a specific approach to writing?
Jaret Reddick: It actually gets easier. We have a niche' now. We have perfected it. Almost created our own at this point and there is never any pressure to top something we have done in the past. We just keep it real!
Altsounds: Bowling for soup has been a band since 1994. Quite an achievement for any band, Do you guys have any secret that helped you withstand the test of time?
Jaret Reddick: We are best friends. We all know our role in and out of the band side of things and we know when to push each others’ buttons and when to leave things alone. We are SO lucky. We tour with bands ALL the time that hate each other. It makes me laugh, but it makes me sad as well.
Altsounds: Again, due to the fact you guys have been touring, writing and recording for so long, you must have accomplished so much in such a long career, but is there anything you have yet to accomplish that you would like to soon on either personal levels or just as a band in general?
Jaret Reddick: Not really. The list was very short to start. We started this band for fun, and it is still fun. The fact that we have accomplished and seen so much is just amazing. We don't take it for granted and we try and enjoy every single day and every single show. You never know when you might blink and it will all be over.
Altsounds: The band is all about the fun, so I can imagine you getting up to some mischief when you’re off stage. After so long of touring you must have some crazy tales to share that the world may not yet have heard about. Anything shockingly funny that you can think of which happened to you guys over the years?
Jaret Reddick: We are a walking TV show. Every day is hilarious. Hard to think of just one thing to tell here. This band (and even our crew) are made up of characters. It never stops! We laugh constantly, and most of it is on Youtube these days!
Altsounds: Your new album, ‘Sorry for Partyin’ is out in October of this year, can the fans expect to hear anything new or is this the same Bowling for Soup styled album they all have come to love from you guys?
Jaret Reddick: We are who we are. But we have kicked it up a notch, while staying true to who we are. I am so fucking stoked about this album. I can't even tell you. If you like Bowling For Soup, you will LOVE this album. And if you hate us, you will like it and just not tell anyone.
Altsounds: Did you take any kind of new approach to the writing of the new songs on the album?
Jaret Reddick: Not really. I wrote the same way I always write but we did all of the demos on our own at our little rehearsal space and at my house. It was fun. As far as the way we went about crafting the songs, it was the same old thing. Technology is crazy though. I wrote most of this album on my freakin' phone. Just insane!
Altsounds: Going a little off topic. A lot of people, fans included, may be shocked to read that Jaret was originally in a metal band before Bowling for Soup! How did you go from this to being in a punk band?
Jaret Reddick: Haha. I was indeed in a Death Metal band. Really heavy and angry. I met a kid in University that let me hear a band called the Descendants, and I freaked. They were heavy and fast, but they sang about girls and farts and fun! I was hooked. From there, I immersed myself in The Ramones, Bad Religion, and there was no turning back for me. I still love me some metal though!
Altsounds: The ‘Party In my Pants’ tour is happening right now, and the upcoming release of the new album is later this year, but what further plans are on the horizon for Bowling for Soup?
Jaret Reddick: Touring for the next few years. Maybe a Christmas album and another DVD. Maybe a nap!
Altsounds: A lot of young people all over the whole planet look up to you, see you as role models and something of an inspiration, and as a result, no doubt you probably had a part in them wanting to form bands and start writing music. Is there any advice you would give to anyone who wants to start a band of their own?
Jaret Reddick: Do what you love! Surround yourself with people you like and who like the same types of things you do. It's easy to become miserable in this business based on who is around you. Oh, and communicate! Talk through shit as you go!
