G.F.Y. -interview by AJ Borish
Tell me who all is involved with the band.
I’m Myke (bass-21 years old), My lil’ brother JR (drums-18 years old),
Lou (sings-23 years old), Keith (sings-25 years old), Chris (guitar-23
years old), & Matty Bones (guitar-22 years old).
How long has Go Fuck Yourself been around and what has the reception
been up until this point?
As of June we’ve been playing shows for about a year now…so far, so
good. We’ve been spreading like ebola. After comin in contact with us,
people leave bleeding from their ears, eyes, and mouth…becoming deathly
ill. Seriously though, in the year we’ve been around I couldn’t have
asked for more.
Many of your influences are obvious, but would you name them to give
people a good feel for your music?
It’s a large range, we tend to hit everything from Skarhead, Blood For
Blood, Sheer Terror to Irate and Sworn Enemy. There are just too many
to name.
How is the scene from where your from and how does it compare with some
of the other scenes you’ve been to?
We’re from Long Island, New York, and around here there’s only one
venue that will let us play. Not all kids, but most who run shows around
here are emo kids who don’t like our style of music…or are just flat out
scared of us. There are a few emo kids that like us and understand what
we do, but it’s majority rules. A local show for us is now in Queens,
and it’s pretty damn good. Always a good turn-out and support by mostly
cool people, it’s become a big family. As far as other scenes we’ve
been to, it’s kinda the same thing, give or take a few heads. But they
seem to appreciate out of state bands a lot more. Anytime we get the
chance to get out of our area we do because it’s usually a good experience.
Are there any shows you guys have played that have really stuck out in
your minds as good ones? Any real bad ones?
A lot of them have been good. Some of my favorites were with Madball
and Skarhead. As soon as we came on, them and all the DMS kids came out
from the back room and we checkin us out. Our record release party was
good too because it was off the hook the entire show, it was packed from
wall to wall. And then this year’s Superbowl Of Hardcore was great too.
We jumped on at the last minute and got to play with some of the best
bands in hardcore. As for the ones that sucked…we played in PA not too
long ago to a couple of kids…but the owner was a prick. We ended up
playin with redneck metal bands that thought they were Metallica…it got
ugly when we went on. We only played two songs, then the kids were mad at
us and they started breaking everything. It was fun, but we’re not a
band who promotes the destruction of a venue.
Where is your favorite place to play and what is your favorite band to
play with?
Probably Castle Heights in Queens because it’s like out hometown. There
are always people going off and supporting us. As far as favorite bands
to play with, it’s probably Sworn Enemy, Redline, On The Rise, or
Skarhead. There’s so many more, but their the ones that sticking out in my
mind right now.
I noticed on a lot of stuff that you have released carries “G.F.Y.”
instead of “Go Fuck Yourself”…is that a decision made by yourselves or by
someone else?
That was a decision made by us. It’s more fun to say “My band is called
G.F.Y.” and then people ask you the famous question. “What does that
mean?”…then you get to say “Go Fuck Yourself.” The expressions are
priceless. And it’s easier for us to get shows and promoted like that, easier
to sell merchandise. When you have a name a blunt as Go Fuck Yourself,
it kinda scares a lot of people away.
Do you have any touring or recording plans?
We’re planning on touring the first two weeks of August on the East
Coast, there’s no set dates yet because we’re still working on it. And
we’re hoping to start working on our debut full length in the fall.
How are you guys with playing shows? Do you play as many shows as you
can or do you play certain shows that you know will be worth your while?
We try playing as many shows as possible, I mean if it sounds like it
might suck, we might pass on it, but we’re psychos, we’ll play Bar
Mitzvahs for the hell of it. Most of my life is based around hardcore, and
if I had a choice between playing a show and going to one, I’d rather
play. It’s a better way of venting my frustrations. Nowadays I can’t
compete with the kids that dance, I’m only 21 but I’ve been dancing for 7
years, I feel like I’m old now.
Is there anything about the scene that particularly pisses you guys
off? What would you change?
Pretty much the same thing that pissed most people off, the lack of
good venues, there’s just not enough. Half of the places that have shows,
the kids don’t want to come because they suck. So in turn, it makes the
size of the scene smaller. Shitty Clubs = Shitty Turn Outs. But that’s
my opinion, I’m sure the other guys in the band think differently.
What has hardcore done for you personally? How has it changed you or
the band?
It’s kept me out of jail. If I didn’t go to shows all the time, I’d be
doing stupid shit for means of entertainment. None of us grew up living
the happiest lives, so being involved in hardcore has helped us stay
out of trouble. It’s also allowed us to meet some of the best people,
most people you come in contact with in life are just dopes and have no
clue about respect, friendship, or trust.
Thanks for the interview, any closing arguments?
WE’RE NOT A TOUGH GUY BAND…WE’RE JUST ANGRY!!!
G.F.Y. site
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