1) What is the name of your band?
Sugarcult

2) How did it get that name?
The Sex Pistols was already taken, so we were forced to name ourselves after our singer's lesbian neighbor's gang.

3) How would you describe your music?
Loud, nervous, and equal parts power-pop, rock, and punk.

4) Who is in the band and what do they play?
Here's a hint, www.sugarcult.com, however I'm Marko and I do my best to try and play the guitar.

5) What is the scene like in your community?
Santa Barbara is a pretty small town, so all the bands and people in the scene are close with eachother. I grew up seeing bands like RKL, NOFX, and Lagwagon play in drive-ways and backyard keg parties. Now it's the same thing only bigger stages and better beer.

6) Who are the bands influences?
The bands in our hometown scene (the ataris, nerf herder, mad caddies, etc; 70's bands (Elvis Costello, the Clash, Cheap Trick); 80's bands (Replacements, Social Distortion, Decendents, the Cars); and modern bands (Nirvana, Green Day, Superdrag, Jimmy Eat World, etc)

7) Do you have any good groupie stories?
Nah, girls on the road are nothing but trouble!

8) What about Bad groupie stories?
We played a festival in Florida with a bunch of lame bands like Nickelback and we had like 7 or 8 stereotypically hot Playboy bunny looking girls in our dressing room, we thought we were going to have a crazy time. Instead they drank all of our hard alcohol, and ran off with Saliva's road crew!

9) Drug Problems?
We sent our drummer to rehab in the middle of our last US tour, cause he was having a bottle of vodka for breakfast with a side order of a twelve-pack. Seriously.

10) How many pills do you take with your alcohol?
Pills put me to sleep, and interfere with my ability to freestyle rap and make everyone either laugh hysterically or run for the hills.

11) What is your favorite drink?
I went through a whiskey phase where I'd get on a Crown Royal kick, then Bushmills, then Makers Mark, Unwritten Law got me into Jameson. We were just in Europe so I got back into drinking beer, 'cause they have amazing beer over there with way more alcohol than the States allow. Airin likes Red Bull and Vodka, Tim drinks tall black pints of Guiness.

12) Do you skateboard?
I used to, but I'm too much of a pussy about getting hurt. When I was growing up you either formed a band or became a pro-skater. A lot of great skaters came from our scene in Santa Barbara: Frankie Hill, Kit Erikson (RIP), Brandon Chapman, Powell was based in SB, as was Shorty's.

13) What do you think of skating these days?
I think it's stronger than ever, it's not as underground as it used to be which takes a little bit of the cool secret appeal of it away, but like it's musical counterpart, punk rock; some secrets are just to good to keep and must be shared with the whole world.

14) How many tours have you been on?
Sugarcult's been on tour non-stop for almost 2 years. Before that I toured with the Ataris, Swingin Utters, Nerf Herder, and my old band Popsicko.

15) How many times has your vehicle broke down on tour?
We've had some scary tire blow-outs, and some close calls, but we've been pretty lucky so far. Knock on wood!

16) Have you played with anyone good?
Yes. I like discovering the opening bands early on and watching them grow in popularity: The Exit, The Used, Finch, the Flipsides, Madcap, Death on Wednesday, Plain White T's, Reunion Show, Rufio, etc. These bands have come a long way since they opened for us.

17) Will you ever sell out? What does it mean to sell out anyway?
I will never endorse something I don't believe in, and that includes the idealistic notion that bands have to starve and live below the poverty level in order to be true to their art. More punk bands should live in nice houses, make some money and drive reliable cars, they deserve it because they work so fucking hard! Selling out is so passe.

18) How old are you?
Old enough to know better!

19) Any advice on how to pick up on chicks?
Tell them you're friends with Sugarcult!

20) Do you like Eminem?
I don't own his records, and I don't go for all his hype, but as a rapper he's got mad skills, yo; unique style, clever wordplay, equal parts hilarious and controversial.

21) Do you have any questions you’d like to ask yourself?
Why do I talk so much.

22) Are there any up and coming bands you’d like to mention?
See question 16, also see www.honestdons.com to learn about my side band Bad Astronaut with a few guys from Lagwagon.

23) Have you ever been to Cheyenne, WY?
No, but I'm sure we'll get there sooner or later.

24) Have you ever heard of a band called Napier?
No, are they French or something?

25) How many people usually attend your shows?
Occasionally some people show up, usually its all wild animals and exotic birds.

26) What did you think of the web site?
I like metal too.

27) What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
There's that Ultimate Fakebook lyric that says, "...at my funeral just play Home Sweet Home" as in the Motley Crue song. That or "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Stones.

28) Have you ever been in any fights?
Me and my sister used to fight a lot as kids, I still have scars on my hands from her fingernails! I hate violence.

29) Have you shows ever caused a riot?
No, but sometimes the audience breaks into a huge orgy.

30) Have any kids been killed at your shows? What is the closest that has come to happening?
Never! We played a show in Detroit and the floor was about to collapse from the crowd jumping up and down, so we had to evacuate the whole place. Our singer and the singers of the other 2 bands climbed on top of a trailer outside and sang songs acoustically with the entire crowd surrounding them and singing along in the street. It was freezing cold too, but ended up being a lot of fun...then the cops showed up.

31) Will you send me a CD?
I don't even have one myself right now!

32) Were you in any other bands before this? What was the name of the band? I did time with the Ataris, Swingin Utters, Nerf Herder, see sugarcult.com for my complete list.

33) Are you famous?
When you read about what supermodel, actress, or pop star I'm fucking while you're waiting in line at the grocery store then you'll know the answer to that question.

34) Did you ever open for G.G. Allin?
My old band Popsicko played downstairs while he was playing upstairs at a club. No one was at our show.

35) Is this interview a waste of your time?
No, it's an excuse to sit around and be lazy, until I go see my friend's band play later on in the evening.

36) Would your band be interested in playing in Cheyenne, WY?
No we're huge rockstars with giant ego's why would we want to play there! Sure we'd play.

37) Would you link this site to yours?
yeah, email sugarcult@sugarcult.com and tell Peter to hook it up.

38) Have you ever ridden a bull?
No, like this question, it's a waste of time.

39) Have you ever heard of John Doe Zine?
Up until now I thought John Doe was the singer of X, now I know where he stole his name from!!!

40) What do you think of the United States position on Iraq, Korea, Afghanistan?
I am anti-war. Killing people is so passe.

41) Would you die for George W.?
Fuck no, he's older and tougher than me, he can go fight himself, I've got shows in Wyoming to play!

42) What has been your most exciting show?
Some of the big festivals we played were a total rush, also our first show in Europe, cause we didn't know what to expect.

43) Famous Last Words? How would you recommend people get a hold of you?
We read all of our mail, but I prefer you just come up and say hi at one of our shows. We always hang out before and after the show. Tell your friends about our band and support your local scene and independent music in general.

44) Web Page?

www.sugarcult.com

thanx for the interview,
Marko 72/sugarcult guitar