Digger
Another old interview I'm bringing back from the cluttered harddrive. This was with
Chris Benner, singer & front-man of the now defunct punk band - Digger. If I'm not mistaken, I managed to get the very last Digger interview.
(Chris Clark) How's life?
Life is alright. It's moving on....
Why did Digger decide to call it quits, once and for all this time?
After nine years and multiple member changes I just felt it was time. Tim, Mike, and myself were working on a side project band called Mobil America and our plan was to build Mobil America as Digger was coming to an end. We just weren't feeling 100% on Digger and we all wanted to do something else... Mike was moving to Florida and quit both bands and Tim wanted to move to California. So both bands called it quits at the same time basically. Digger was a good band to me. I accomplished more than I ever wanted with Digger. I was able to release 4 full length cds and multiple eps. Toured Europe 3 times, Across the USA 15+ times, Canada a few times, etc... I have some great memories, friends, and a few parties that I'll never top.
Over the past nine years, what's your favorite/least favorite memory?
My favorite memory has to be the first time I toured Europe for 2 months. It was non stop chaos, but fun and exciting at the same time. My least favorite was when we crashed and totaled our van in Wyoming. I've never had the feeling of being totally stuck and helpless like that since.
Any scandalous tour stories you want to talk about?
I don't wanted to get anyone in trouble here. I will say Digger had it's party moments just like every 80's metal band you see on Vh1 or read about in books and magazines. There were crazy parties, girls, booze, drugs, cops, accidents, broken hearts, bones, and egos. Good shows, bad shows, highs and lows, crazy roadies, and fights,.. Maybe a Digger behind the music one day...
Your thoughts on each album:
(laughs) this is like reviewing my own cds...
Geek Love: 4 kids and one dirty roadie lived off a $3 record that we sold on our first 2 month tour. This has the 2 best b-sides digger released.
Powerbait: Classic even in my eyes...
Wilkum to Pennsylvania: This 7" sums up PA pop punk in the late 1990's. I was in both bands so it was really special when this record was released.
The Promise Of An Uncertain Future: We wrote this record as a 3 piece and even though I like it, it needed a 4 members input.
Monte Carlo: We might have stepped in a little bit of emo, but this record stands on it's own.
Trainwreck: A new Digger
Keystone: Digger matures lyrically and adds some rock, but holds true to their pop punk sound...
I know you're a big fan of the Pixies. Did you have a chance to see them live during the reunion tour?
I haven't and it's one of those bands if I don't go see in December, because that's when they will be in my area, I'll be kicking myself forever.
Tell us what you have in mind for the Digger DVD?
I have tons of video footage from the beginning of Digger in 1995 up until we called it quits. I wanted to put all the best stuff together and release the b-sides cd along with the dvd. There is some really funny stuff from the last few tours when we had down time and were just messing around or drinking and stuff.
Are you still interested in making pop-punk music or will your future music endeavors be different than what Digger fans have come to expect?
It's funny because I've recently been filling in for my friends hardcore band called "label the traitor" It's like a super group with a bunch of ex- members...Matt Grey the ex drummer from Bigwig is playing drums. I wanted to keep my chops up on guitar and it's a challenge to play a different style. I like it. The shows are different. I'm not sure what kind of music I'll be making in the future. The past 10 years I acquired all these instruments that I never really got the chance to fully experiment with. I have a Roland Juno keyboard that is really crazy. I just bought a Bass guitar which I love playing. Bass players are always that cool guy in the band you know? I think I'll always write pop based songs because that's my favorite but I would like to have a roll in a band where I'm not the focal point. That way I can rock out more and jump around. I miss that stuff and while I was singing lead in Digger I was limited to what I could do physically on stage. I guess it depends on who I'm playing music with...
Did you ever get 'your hat back'?
Ha! I never got it back, and I lost a few more along the way...
Any last words [to the fans]?
I would like to say thanks to everyone that ever gave Digger a chance, came to our shows, let us sleep on your floor, fed us, partied with us, heckled us, made out with us, bought us drinks, etc... I posted a little thing on the www.diggerpa.com to the fans, but it's hard to express your full gratitude to a mass audience. I also posted the last 3 song ep we recorded that was never released on www.purevolume.com/digger. I just hope the fans can take something from the music I helped create to heart. That's how I feel about the fans, I take them to heart, and I feel honered to have had the chance to be in a band that was blessed with such good and bad luck. I know most bands never even get out of the garage, so I know I had it good even when I was sleeping in Wal-mart parking lots, drinking bad beer and brushing my teeth on the curb of gas stations.
Digger - I want my hat back.mp3Friday, January 07, 2005
