Weezer.net interview with Karl Koch - 1997: Difference between revisions

{{Interviewer|RWA|What was the name of your high school? Year of graduation?}}

{{Karl|I graduated from Nichols School (Buffalo) in '87. Oh gross, that's 10 years ago! It was a dress code preppy school. I was a quiet rebel.}}

{{Interviewer|RWA|What were you like in high school? Were you a metalhead like the rest of the band?}}

{{Karl|I was turned onto the Clash, Devo, Wall of Voodoo, Talking Heads and Bob Marley in 8th grade. By 10th grade it was all about skateboarding, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Minutemen, etc.(Quite radical for Buffalo in 1985!) This is all the fault of Pat Finn(now of The Special Goodness) who was sent to S.F. for 9th grade and came back bearing good things. As far as metal goes, we could not deny "Reign in Blood" by Slayer when it hit in '86. What an insane album. And on Def Jam too! That whole Ratt/Poison/Motley Crüe thing was for "pussies." Due to school/parents, I looked totally ordinary during this time, except whilst skateboarding (Misfits Fiend Club t-shirt, etc...)}}

{{Interviewer|RWA|what's your favorite food or style of food? Are you vegetarian?}}

{{Karl|I am vegetarian but not really for the healthy, crunchy, PC reasons. I just started getting grossed out by eating dead stuff. I'd never make it as a vegan - I eat tons of cheese...pizza rocks, as do Mexican, Italian, peanut butter on toast, ...you get the idea. Junk food vegetarianism.}}

{{Interviewer|RWA|Have you ever played in any bands, if so, what were the names? Style of music?}}

{{Karl|I've never actually played in a band,though I've "jammed" a lot, mostly on drums, my least pathetic instrument. I've put in countless hours on the 4-track, frequently with Pat (the results of which will someday be unleashed) but thats definitely not "playing in a band," as that would imply "playing" actual music, which it may or may not be...}}

{{Interviewer|RWA|What kinds of guitars/amps do you use? }}

{{Karl|I have a sparkly red Sears Silvertone guitar from the late 50s/early 60s, and a Kustom amp on a Marshall 2x12. It sounds kind of bad.}}

{{Interviewer|RWA|Which character from Star Wars do you remind yourself or others of?}}

{{Karl|I'm unable to self compare with SW characters...I do feel a strange affinity with Y-wing fighters though. Yeah, I'm weird.}}

{{Interviewer|RWA|Which is your favorite character?}}

{{Karl|When growing up - Han Solo. Now - Obi-Wan.}}

{{Interviewer|RWA|Which instruments do you know how to play? I'm fairly bad at all instruments..."best" on drums, and most enamored of keyboards, then guitars. I actually know hardly any music theory, and it shows!}}

{{Interviewer|RWA|How did you get your job with the Weezer family?}}

{{Karl|I got the "job" purely by circumstance. These guys(save Brian)were my acquaintances and roommates and when Weezer started doing shows, I,really liking the songs, offered to take them and their gear to shows, as none of them had a car. This grew and I started doing fliers and helped put up posters and such. When the highly unlikely happened, and they were signed, it was decided to "keep me on" as an all around assistant, which on the road means "roadie." I learned everything from van maintenance to amp rewiring simply by trial and error. I feel fairly confident at guitar work, long drives (no longer needed due to bus) and dealing with club owners and such now, all by just doing.}}

{{Interviewer|RWA|Did you know any of the other band guys before Weezer was formed?}}

{{Karl|I was introduced to Pat W. in Buffalo by Pat Finn, shortly before they took off for L.A. A year later I followed and Pat (Finn,again) introduced me to Matt, Rivers, and Jason. Pat and Jason were very messy roommates.}}