Page 6 -- Over The Edge - February 3,.1997

The Killjoys

Written by Lennise Mann

The Band!

Mike Trebilcock-Frontman
Gene Champagne-Drums
Shelley Wood-Bass

Interview with Mike
Trebilcock of the
“Killjoys”

Over the Edge- “Where did the
name “Killjoys” come from?

Mike- “We were all sitting
around in a coffeeshop one day
and we were just throwing
around names and_ the
“Killjoys”, just came up. It was
also the only name everyone
agreed on.”

OTE- “What does the name
mean?”

Mike- “It doesn’t actually
mean anything. It was just for
fun, and the only thing
everyone would agree on.”

OTE- “What bands most
influenced you?”

Mike- “All kinds of different
bands-Kiss, Ramones, Dylan,
the “Chewie” song, and the
“Bubblegum” music of the
80’s.

OTE- “Did being in Memphis
. have alot of influence on your
new album?”

Mike- “Kinda, yeah. Being in
that environment did have an
influence. It was kinda cool,
being in that environment.”

OTE- “If you could open for
any band, who would it be?”

Mike- “Well that’s a tough one,
because we opened for the
“Posie’s”, and
“Treblecharger”, and I opened
for one of my favourite bands
“Big Star”, so I don’t know
who else we would like to open
for right now.

OTE- “How long have you
been playing together?”

Mike- “As a band we have
been playing together for 3 1/
2 years. But Gene and I have
been together since elementary
school.”

OTE- “Do you prefer touring
and playing in small clubs to
studio work?”

Mike- “It’s different but we
enjoy both of them. Touring
makes us really unhealthy, and
our girlfriends don’t really like
us, cause we aren’t there right
now.”

OTE- “How do you like
touring with ‘young’ bands,
(since you are considered
somewhat of a ‘veteran’ band)?

Mike-“Well I don’t really like
the term ‘veteran’, but we
kinda like opening for bands
cause than you can play your
best stuff and look really good.
Plus you can hang around and
don’t have to take off for your
next gig.”

OTE- “What (if anything),
would you guys change about
this album?

Mike- (emphatically)- “Yes!
Everything! There’s always
something you wish you had
done. Or when you’re thinking
back on it, you realise that
there was something else that
would have been better.”

OTE- “What would you guys
change for the future?”

Mike- “Well for the next
record we would like to have a
sound engineer, and more
control over what goes on.
There was some stuff that we
didn’t like on the last one.”

OTE- “Where do you guys
come up with the lyrics for

songs?”

Mike- “It comes from things

that happen to us, and our

friends. I like it to be simple

and to the point, alot said with
the least amount of words.
Alot of it is from relationships,
but not all of it.”

OTE- “Where do you want to
go from here?”

Mike- “We want to be in
released in the States. And go
on tour, but have a good basis
there first so we don’t go
“phht”, and fall on our faces.
We want to get publisized and
promoted first.”

OTE- “For your album
“Starry”, you came up with the
term ‘pop-core’, and for
“Gimme Five”, you came up
with the term ‘misanthropop’.
What do they mean?”

Mike- “‘Pop-core’ came about
because it was a blend of 80’s
popular culture and thrash(of
the time-it wouldn’t be
classified as thrash in today’s
time!) ‘Misanthropop came
about because of the word
‘misanthropy’-which means
that you hate everyone and
everything. We are poking fun
at society, overstating the
whole thing.”

OTE- “Do you plan on staying
in the same niche, or will you.
go on to something else?”

Mike- “We are currently
working on something else.
We like to change all the
time.”

When they were asked how
old they were Shelley did not
answer, and Gene said he did
not answer that question but,
“if you have zits than you’re
still young”. Mike said he is
in his late, late twenties-I’m
guessing he is 29, but don’t
quote me onthat. They have
advice for upcoming bands
“Stick with it-keep on doing
it.’ They are on their way to
Grande Prairie. Good luck
guys.