Eve 6 – Interview [1999]

A chat with Jon Siebels.

Are you able to enjoy all of your success?

We haven’t had any real time off, but I think we are just enjoying being out on the road. The success has let us stay out on the road.

Do you guys have girlfriends? And if you do, how do you maintain your relationships?

(laughs) Actually I do, the other guys don’t. It’s a lot of phone bills.

Has the success been overwhelming at times?

Yeah, of course. I think for me the most overwhelming thing was when we had this platinum presentation thing for the label and it just sort of hit my like, ‘Wow! A lot of people bought our record.’ That is a really great feeling, but it can be a really crazy feeling, too.

When did you get signed and are you sick of people focusing on your age?

We were juniors in high school, so I was sixteen. I think it is something for people to focus on, but once they really get into the band it isn’t an issue anymore.

When did a label first approach you?

During our junior years. We never did that thing of like sending out our demo to all the major labels and hope that one landed on someone’s desk. Through a couple of connections we ended up playing little shitty bars in Hollywood and our manager knew someone at RCA.

What was it like the first time you heard your song on the radio or saw your video on MTV?

Strange. You feel like it’s a joke, like they stopped radio programming for two and a half minutes and are just messing with you.

Who are your influences?

I have all kinds of influences: Social Distortion, Bad Religion. A lot of punk bands like that. Also a lot of pop bands. The Pixies are probably my all time favorite band. Built To Spill. I also like singer/songwriters like Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, and Elliot Smith.

If you could be one person for one day who would it be?

Wow. (pauses) I think I would probably choose one of my friends at home just because every once in a while I wish I was sitting at home doing nothing.

What is the craziest thing a fan has done while you were on stage performing?

One time some guy managed to get onstage and completely pulled Max’s mic stand over. That is probably the craziest thing while on stage.

Any other crazy things happen to you guys?

We had all kinds of people giving us weird gifts. Like religious freaks, you know?

Anything in particular?

Dollheads? Just the heads. (laughs) These religious women told us the doll heads were like vintage, like thirty years old.

When you’re not on tour, what do you like to do for fun?

Wow, it’s been so long. (laughs) For me it’s just about relaxing and hanging out with my friends.

What disc would we most likely catch you listening to right now?

Probably the new Built To Spill record (Keep It Like A Secret).

Is being in a rock band and going from city to city as much fun as it seems?

Definitely. I don’t think that it is any secret and you can choose to make it as much fun or not fun as you like. The opportunity is there.

How would you like Eve 6 to be remembered?

I guess not for any sort of image or style or time period, but just for our songs.

Is there any plan for a new album? Do you plan on doing anything different on it?

Yeah, we are writing for it right now and we have one new song for it. It isn’t going to be an experimental record by any means, but I think that we will have progressed since our last album, move a little farther, but you’ll definitely be able to tell that it is Eve 6.

+ charlie craine