286 INTERVIEWED
CHRONICOREZINE#6
Mar 7, 2006


1. HOW LONG HAVE 286 BEEN GOING NOW? WHAT MOTIVATED
YOU TO START A BAND, AND HOW MANY BANDS HAVE YOU BEEN
IN?


NIKEE: WE STARTED WITH THE PROJECT IDEA IN 2002 AND LAST YEAR WE COMPLETED THE LINE UP. BASICALLY WE STARTED A BAND BECAUSE WE LIKE TO PLAY MUSIC ON STAGE AND SHARE OUR MUSIC AND ENERGY WITH THE CROWD.

Martin: 286 has been on the road for 14 months now and the project was originally conceived by my brother Nikee and myself after moving to LA from Argentina. I had a vision about the band that I'd like to be part of, the problem was that there is no singers like Adam in my country, so that motivated us to move to the States and form a new band. I can't recall how many bands I was in before, but trust me, a lot.

Adam: I don't know if lack of singers like me is a good or bad thing, "singing" is a gross overestimation of what I do (laughs)

Pete - I've been in 3 serious bands. Pivot(metal/crazy) out of Boston, a blues band in Boston, and The Magnet in Los Angeles. Then I met these crazy asses and it was on.

2. WHICH BANDS HAVE INFLUENCED YOU, AND WHO ARE YOU
INTO AT THE MOMENT?

Martin: Influences are always tricky and sometimes we create a pre-concept of what we sound like when we tell people what our influences are. We all come from different backgrounds and the mix of all those elements creates what 286 is. Call it rock, metal, punk rock, blues, my girlfriend's name doesn't make her cuter or uglier.

Pete - Black Label Society, saw them in Hollywood a couple of months ago, amazing, they kicked your ass the whole show and Devildriver, saw them open for Gwar at the keyclub a week after we played there, that drummer kills!

Adam: I've been influenced in some way probably by everything I've ever heard. I'm a big lyrics person so I always like good honest lyrics- I don't care what they're about, but generic love songs turn my stomach. As influences, it ranges from Public Enemy, Bruce Springsteen, to Black Flag to Hank Williams Jr. There's so many people so good at what they do. Right now I've been into the Nightwatchmen, Thin Lizzy, George Thorogood and rediscovering Op Ivy Martin, Pete, and Nikee have had me listen to some Bonn Scott AC/DC too, I really wasn't that familiar with a lot of it other than "Highway to Hell." So this whole hodge poge is loaded up in my iPod ready for consumption.

NIKEE: A LOT OF BANDS, MAYBE A LOT OF THEM IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND STYLES, BUT JUST TO NAME A COUPLE LET'S SAY VAN HALEN, AC/DC, IRON MAIDEN

3. PLEASE GIVE US 286'S DISCOGRAPHY....

Martin: Just the EP "Profiled" (2005)

4. YOU DEFINED YOUR MUSIC AS "RETRO-CORE", COULD YOU
EXPLAIN IT TO US?

Pete - We like to get to the point, it must be the east coast in us, and Argentina is east coast, the attitude at least. What's the point of rock music? TO ROCK, no long intros, extending solos, just balls to the wall.

Adam: Basically, 286, for us, combines all the elements we like about rock music. In the past several years, the "industry" pretty much turned it's back on good straight forward rock music. So that driving guitar rock sound is where we get the "retro" element. The "Core" part comes from the new school aggressive sort of vocal delivery. It's just really hard rock though, no matter how you spin it.



5. HOW MANY SHOWS DID YOU PLAY (A ROUGH ESTIMATE WILL
DO) AND HOW MANY COUNTRIES DID YOU GET TO?

Adam: Last year was the first year for 286 and we pretty much stayed in the US but flirted with the border of Mexico. Martin and Nikee made it to Israel to do an acoustic show that wasn't 286 related, but overall, we played over 50 shows and hit several U.S. States in our traveling van of chaos! It was a good year for a new band.

Pete - only one country last year but we will be going south, way south sooner or later.

6. WHAT WERE THE HIGHPOINTS AND THE LOWPOINTS OF 286
AS FAR AS YOU WERE CONCERNED?

Martin: For me there were no low points because even from the 'low points' you can learn something which automatically turns the low point into a high point. And the high point for me was to have the others guys in 286 playing along.

NIKEE: MAYBE WE DIDN'T FIND THE RIGHT MANAGER YET, BUT THE HIGH POINTS ARE SO MANY...WE ARE WHAT WE ARE AND OUR MUSIC SHOWS THAT ENERGY. NO STUPID POSING JUST FOR THE MARKET AND THE MONEY, JUST STRAIGHT ROCK POWER, NOT ROCK STAR BULLSHIT!!!

Pete - The highpoint was the brides show and our 1st house of blues show, moreso the Brides show b/c of the endless free beer!! And the awsome show! Lowpoint for me is still being chained down to a daytime job and not being able to give every minute to 286. That will change in time, its a transition.

7. THIS QUESTION IS FOR ADAM: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A
VEGETARIAN? WHAT PROMPTED SUCH A CHANGE IN DIET?

Adam: I am weird vegetarian. Basically, I came from a very poor rural area in southwestern PA where my whole family were hunters. The meat that we killed and processed ourselves could fill the entire freezer for the winter and leave left overs for other folks. For the most part, I could tell exactly what I was putting in my body. It was natural, not like a steroid pumped animal bread for slaughter in some mill. When music started to take up most of my time, I couldn't participate in the process anymore and I just stopped eating meat from restaurants or supermarkets because I didn't know where it came from. I'm ok with being away from that because I was a lousy "killer" anyway. There's not much hunting in LA.

Pete - this is Adam's question but I'd like to say for the record there is nothing better than a fat juicy steak.


8. IS VEGANISM THE IDEAL TO ASPIRE TO?

Martin: Whatever makes your body and soul feel better is the ideal.

Adam: I admire the discipline it takes to do it, but it's not something that I personally aspire towards.

9. ARE ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE 286 VEGETARIAN?


Adam: No they all do, I'm pretty sure that I would be the first person to be consumed by the other members of the band if we were stuck in the wild my big self would provide more meat than Martin, Nikee or Pete.


10. IS ANIMAL RIGHTS AN IMPORTANT CAUSE? DO YOU
SUPPORT THE ACTIONS OF THE ANIMAL LIBERATION FRONT
(ALF)?

Adam: Basic respect for all forms of life is a cause I support. I recognize that there are many ways to do that and though I don't know much about the ALF, I have seen other radical organizations that don't seem to take into account other ways of life. For example, I spent time with Lakota Sioux in South Dakota, these individuals come from a hunting culture where the animal was respected and revered, but was also part of their tribe's survival. I don't think it would be right for any vegetarian or activist to condemn their way of life anymore than it would be right for me to condemn a vegan for his/her beliefs. If we are all respecting all living creatures, then I think we are on the same team because a lot of people don't.

Martin: Every form of life on this planet has the right to live and I support that.


11. I HAVE READ ADAM THAT YOU ALSO DO FREELANCE
WRITING, WHAT PUBLICATIONS HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED ON TO?

Adam: Anywhere that supports pinko left wing incendiary talk, seriously, I've done work for Blu Magazine (NY), Anti Flag's Underground Action Alliance (PA), I do the Myspace page and update the content for the Riverside page for Tom Morello and Serj Tankian's Axis of Justice program, A few newspapers in Southwestern PA, I served as the main editor for the Guerrilla Underground, Independent Media Centers, Mumia Abu Jamal.org, Pennsylvania Abolitionists, Prison Radio, and my thesis on the Zapatista Army of National Liberation is available through the college information exchange thing, I don't know what it's called. You get the point.


12. HAVE YOU HAD ANY SORT OF OFFERS FROM MAJOR LABELS,
OR APPROACHES FROM THEM OR ANYTHING?

Martin: We are pretty much a very young band. Unfortunately, major labels want you to do all the hard work before signing you, so the answer is no.

Adam: I really don't look at that as a goal but a consequence, if it happens it could be very helpful in getting the music to more folks but, there's plenty of bands that never signed to a major that have hit legendary status, Fugazi comes to mind.

NIKEE: WE COULDN'T FIND THE RIGHT DEAL YET, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GONNA SELL OUR SOULS JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT THE INDUSTRY DICTATES.

13. WOULD YOU EVER DO ANY INTERVIEWS FROM ANY SORT OF
BIG MAGAZINES, OR LIKE THE MAINSTREAM ONES IN AMERICA?

Martin: Like I said before, we are a young band, same concept applies to big magazines. Fortunately, we have the support of indie magazines/zines/webzines and radio stations that are helping us to spread the word around the world, included the Philippines.


14. DO YOU THINK ITS BETTER COVERAGE AND STUFFS IN
ZINES OR WHAT?

NIKEE: THEY ARE A GREAT HELP FOR NEW BANDS, EVEN MORE WHEN THEY ARE INDEPENDENT

Martin: I think that more people are into zines and webzines nowadays than they were years ago. As much as major labels and big magazines are trying to persuade people about what is 'good' or 'bad,' they don't buy that shit so they go for the real thing.

Adam: There's definitely more freedom of content. I also think what comes out in Zines and the underground usually gets latched on to by the mainstream eventually. It eliminates the risk for them. I'm noticing a lot of rock zines and not just punk zines now. It makes sense, a lot of punk rock got watered down and commercialized and rock disappeared. Now rock bands are underground again, it's funny though, we get contacted by several zines a month wanting press kits and such, and 5 years ago very few publications would have touched a new band with guitar leads. I think we have Zines and support of the underground to thank for a lot we have got done as band in the past year.

15. ARE YOU GETTING ANYWHERE THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN
MAKE A LIVING OFF THE BAND, OR IS THAT TOO FAR OFF
YET?

Pete - Its a transition like I said earlier, could take a month, could take 5 years, we'll still be here!

Adam: It's within our grasp and I think that makes it that much harder. At the same time, it's also a great motivator to push us further. It's like being able to see your destination, but knowing that there's some traffic you have to navigate through before you get there.


16. ARE YOU STILL PRETTY MUCH A SORT OF D.I.Y. BAND?

Pete - No and Yes. Yes, in that we've done 90f the work to date. No, in that we couldn't of gotten the shows/help/push if it wasn't for all the people helping us, be it friends, booking agents or promoters. We are currently looking for management.

Martin: I would say so, not that we love it because sometimes is overwhelming, but until we find the right manager and label, we'll keep it that way.


17. WOULD YOU CONSIDER TOURING THE PHILIPPINES IN THE
FUTURE? WITH YOUR OWN TRAVEL EXPENSE?

Martin: We always try not to turn down any offer we have and we always love to play in front of new audiences so if the time is right for us, we would consider it.

Adam: I'm in.

NIKEE: WE WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT IF WE CAN AFFORT IT!


18. NOT THAT IM PULLING YOUR LEG, BUT I HAVE SEEN YOUR
VIDEO OF "OVERMAN" LIVE AT THE KEYCLUB (WHERE'S THIS
CLUB LOCATED?), AND ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT ALL OF YOU
ARE FUCKIN' SUPERB, AND ESPECIALLY MARTIN VERRY, THE
GUITARIST... AND THE SONG "PROFILED", THAT IS A
KILLER, MAN! THE GUITAR RIFF IS SO FUCKIN' AWESOME...
CAN HE TEACH US SOME COOL RIFFS HEHEHE....

Pete - Who is Martin Verry?

Martin: The club is located in West Hollywood on the world famous Sunset Strip, is one of the main Hollywood venues. As for the lesson, thanks for the compliment, here are some tips: get drunk and have fun, play from the heart and crank your amp all the way up.

Adam: He says that but he tries to hide his chops from me so I can't steal them, He watched Eddie Van Halen turn his back when he played eruption and now he thinks he has to do the same thing (laughs) I'm just kidding of course. For those not from the area, the Key Club is on the same strip as the Whiskey a Go Go, The Roxy, Rainbow, Viper Room, and House of Blues. It showcases national acts and some local bands, so it's a cool place to play.


19. DO YOU GUYS LOVE TO DRINK INTOXICATING STUFFS LIKE
BEERS, ALCOHOLS,ETC.. AND HAVE YOU TRIED TO ABUSE
YOURSELVES WITH CRACK, HEROIN, COCAINE,
MARIJUANA,ETC???

Martin: Personally, Im not into drugs at all but I like drinking.

Adam: I've tried everything, I don't say that as badge of coolness but just as a hint of honesty. I lost my best friend to a drug overdose and all I have left of him are some memories and this tattoo I got in his honor on my back. Anything is excess is bad, you have to check yourself and make sure that you're in control. I once stopped drinking for an entire year just to make sure I could.

NIKEE: I LIKE TO DRINK, NOT THE REST OF THAT SHIT!!!!!

Pete - Beer/Whiskey/Vodka, excellent!

20. WHAT'S THE CRAZIEST GIG HAVE YOU BEEN TO SO FAR?

Martin: We always have fun on stage and pretty much they are all crazy, but if I have to choose one I would say The House of Blues in Hollywood!

NIKEE: I GO FOR ONE THAT WE PLAYED AT THE BB.KING'S CLUB.......JESUS CHRIST WHAT A SHOW!!!!! JAJAJAJAJAJ

Adam: He's not saying that in a good way (laughs!) We turned the upstairs at The House of Blues into a 286 Den of Chaos, and the show was pretty good too! New Orleans was fun too and then there was this time we got booked in Southern Texas at a Crust Punk showIt's all just a crazy lifestyle, I highly recommend it if you like to travel like a gypsy and make no money.

21. WHAT OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT 286 WOULD YOU LIKE TO
SHARE WITH US?

NIKEE: ROCK IS NOT DEAD!!!!!!

Adam: In our spare time Martin and Nikee play classical flamenco guitar, I'm do an acoustic folk project, Pete has a Death Metal Project where every songs centers around road rage, our ..1 Stage manager, Hal, is a professional Ring Tone Maker, and our Roadie Ken is a secret spy for the CIA (that one isn't true but the rest are).

22. WHAT FUTURE PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR 286? HOW CAN
PEOPLE GET HOLD OF YOUR RECORDS?

Martin: 286 is planning a set of tours during 2006 to support our EP "Profiled" and to spread the word as much as we can before finding the right folks to put out our full length. Visit us at www.286music.com or www.myspace.com/286music and there you can have all the info you need.

NIKEE:YEAH, PLAY MORE SHOWS, RECORD OUR FULL CD AND GET THE NEXT STEP INTO THE BUSINESS PLAYING OUR MUSIC, NOT PLAYING WHAT "THEY" WANT YOU TO PLAY

23. PLEASE ADD ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA SAY, AND THANX
286!

Martin: We wanna use this space to thank you for the support.

Pete - Stand up and shout! (Pete Says in reference to the move Rockstar)

Adam: (To Pete) That's horrible, no matter how good of actor that guy has become he will always be Marky Mark to meby the way, to reiterate Martin, thank you very much!

NIKEE: THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONTACT  286 at http://www.myspace.com/286