Die Trying
Die Trying Interview
October 1, 2003
Die Trying drove nonstop for 18 hours to get to Jacksonville Beach, Florida. We did the interview at their hotel. Jack did the most of the interview, but as the rest of the band finished their showers they joined in and answered some questions.
OFG: How did the band come up with the name Die Trying?
DT: We were sitting on our friends porch. Actually, it was our porch and one of our roommates was trying to help us find a name. We couldn't find a name for the band and we had already booked our first show and he was like, "What about Die Trying?" And we were like all right, we can use that name for a little while and we'll change it later. And after we started pirating shows and doing all sorts of crazy stuff, like breaking into radio stations, it kinda ended up to be to the name. Die Trying stands for everything. It's like our guts.
OFG: Why do you feel Rock has become complicated?
DT: The business part of it. Now it has become our jobs and there is a lot of technicalities, you know, in your success or not. We have a great time on the road and we love meeting fans. So, it is always worth it.
OFG: What is your best fan experience?
DT: We have a lot of them. We have fans who will drive 5 or 6 hours or more to come and see us. And we have fans who there just completely down (with the band). We have one fan who has followed us all over the country.
OFG: How does that make you feel?
DT: It makes you feel really proud ... like your doing something right. It's a good feeling.
OFG: How many demos did the band have to make and send out to before getting signed by Island Records?
DT: When we first got together we needed something real quick to make sure we could get shows out of town and everything. The first month we were together we did a two song demo with our friend Fosse. He's in a Sacramento band called Quitter and we waited a few months and Jacoby Dick from Papa Roach offered to record a demo and give us a decent budget to do it. So, we ended up doing that about six months after being together and we ended up getting a deal and we got signed from that demo.
OFG: How long had Die Trying been together when you were signed by Island?
DT: Nine months.
OFG: If a young musician came up to you - what advance would you give them about getting into the business?
DT: Practice with your band six days a week or it's not gonna happen. You don't make anything yourself if it is part-time. If you want it to be your job ... you have to make it your job. You have to go to band practice. If you drink more beers than you play songs, then you have a problem.
OFG: What's the band's favorite song to play live?
DT: That's a good question. I would say for stage performance wise that I like playing "Die Trying," but for crowd participation it's always fun to do our single "Oxygen's Gone," or "Truck The Radio," or "Dirty Dirty."
OFG: What is the meaning of the song "Oxygen's Gone"?
DT: It is the feeling you get in your gut when someone close to you dies and you are, like speechless, you don't know what to think or how to feel.
OFG: Like the Oxygen has been taken away from you.
DT: Yeah.
OFG: What was it like the first time you heard one of your songs on the radio?
DT: Actually, it's when we broke into a radio station in Sacramento. We went in with our two song demo that we recorded first and we waited for the people to walk out the front door and we walked right in and signed in like we were supposed to be there. We went up to the 27th floor and we called the DJ on the request line and he picked up and we said, "We're upstairs and we want you to play our stuff," and he's like whatever. So, we started knocking on the door like "Bam, Bam, Bam" ... "We mean it - We are here!" He was like, "Oh wow ... we are gonna call the cops ... you better get the hell out of the building." So, we left some CDs, shirts and flyers at the door and walked out. He had the first phone conversation recorded and he recorded my phone conversation and I was like "Hey, I'm sorry I didn't mean to disrespect the building. We just wanted to do the rock and roll thing and break in and have you play our stuff." And he was like, "Well, you know what? That doesn't impress me." And I was like, well in two years you will be impressed. He was like "Oh, okay, whatever." So, he calls us back and says "We're gonna play you at 5:15 PM," which is rush hour traffic and we were all pumped up about it and we called a lot of people that we knew and we were like "hey record this, record this..." Yeah, it was a rush to hear our song at 5 O'clock traffic. We're just a local band and he pumped our shows and he started getting callers that would be calling in asking, "Who's that? Who is that band ... what's going on?" So, it was a rush, you know?
OFG: Who was the DJ that played your song?
DT: His name is Nick Monroe.
OFG: Are you guys still in touch with him?
DT: Yeah, last time we were in town I gave him a call and he had me come in around 5:00 PM traffic and did a whole interview with me and our drummer, Matt. We did this funny contest, GET DRUNK with DIE TRYING and people would call in and heckle him and talk crap to him and he was like, this is funny. We ended up getting this big list of people and had a big house party with a lot of our fans.
OFG: If you could play a show anywhere in the world where would it be?
DT: Japan would be fun. (All the guys answered this question.)
OFG: How does the band go from one show to the next?
DT: We have a van and a trailer and if it's a long drive we drive that night and show up the next day like we did today. If the next show is like 3 hours away we'll sleep in that town and leave the next day.
OFG: What time did you leave for tonight's show?
DT: Right after our show last night. We left around 11:30 PM and we drove non-stop and everyone took turns driving. It's well worth it to play that next show. (Editor's note: The band showed up around 5:30 PM)
OFG: If you weren't a musician what would you be?
DT: I don't know. I don't think I can answer that question because I gave up everything to do this. Once I decided I wanted to be a musician my grades went to hell. I use to get good grades believe it or not.
OFG: Did your family support your being a musician?
DT: My family wasn't really supportive. But, my Mom use to date Huey Lewis before he got famous, so, she's kinda seen how it is to come up and do the local scene thing and she saw me making the calls and finding musicians and she gave me the okay on it. So I'd like to say thanks, Mom. And I'm having a great time doing it.
OFG: Where do you see Die Trying three years from now?
DT: Hopefully not in a van. That's all I can say. (Everyone laughs) Hopefully we will have a big fan base and be able to tour the country on a headlining gig, have fun and take our friends out on tour with us.
OFG: Does Die Trying have a street team?
DT: Yeah, if you want to join just go to dietryingmusic.com.
OFG: Do you have anything to say to our readers?
DT: Please come to one of our live shows because you can't listen to our CD and even imagine what it is live. That is where our heart is. It was torture being in the studio for 3 months. Because we're a live band that's what we do. (Editor's note: I can attest to how good they are live.)
OFG: How many shows do you do in a year?
DT: At least 300 shows. We had one week - maybe two weeks off for Christmas.
OFG: That is a lot of shows. Do you ever get to the point that you feel it's too much?
DT: Not at all.
OFG: Thank you very much for your time.
DT. Your welcome.
Interview by Michael Montes, Orlando Florida Guide, all rights reserved.
Visit the official Die Trying web site for additional information.
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