From: Thomas Conrad
Date: March 1, 2007 8:31:07 PM CST
Subject: Re: AP interview
1. When Mike and Bill first asked you to join the band, what interested you about playing in the Academy Is.. ?
I was playing around in Chicago for a few years before I joined the band, which is how I knew Bill and Mike. Performing, meeting new people, and traveling everyday had always sounded like an ideal life to me, and also the freedom that came along with it. Music is where my heart is. I’ve always wanted to be a part of something that could allow me to make a positive difference in someone’s life.
2. In the two years you were in the band, Almost Here became a big record for younger people. It's theme, in particular, seemed to resonate with them. Can you understand why young people gravitated towards that?
I completely understand why the record worked as well as it did. Lyrically, Almost Here is a record that most young people can relate to. Musically, for the most part, the songs are easy on the listeners’ ears.
3. How involved were you in the writing of Santi? Do you feel like you were welcomed wholly into the creative process?
I was never involved in the writing for Santi, nor was I ever welcomed into the creative process. Butcher and I weren’t a part of the writing process for Almost Here either. This made things unbalanced between everyone. We both joined the band right after the album was completed, which I believe made things hard coming into the band. I was concerned why members were removed so quickly after the record was finished, but I took the opportunity anyways. Since I was not a part of the creative process, things were not as fulfilling. Bill and Mike have their own way of doing things. I was never needed for the writing process, but nor did I ever really fight to be a part of it. Regardless of everything, there wasn’t much song writing that was completed together during the two years of touring.
4. Admittedly, it's a very different sounding record from Almost Here. Was it evident that the five of you wanted to change the band's sound a bit? Was that something that was ever discussed?
I haven’t heard the new record yet so I’m not sure how different it actually is. There were always conversations about trying to create a more natural sound. Everyone seemed to agree Almost Here’s production was a bit overdone and out grown. But again, I have not heard the new record so I’m not sure if it worked or if they even followed through with it.
5. Everyone thus far has said that the Warped Tour was a crummy time in the band. How do you remember that tour and, more specifically, what do you think caused for intra-band morale to drop?
Going into last summer was a bit rough for me. I had came home from a tour over seas to hear news that an old friend passed away tragically. Shortly after, my family and I experienced another loss with the passing a family relative due to illness. Warped Tour is built on survival of the fittest. Performing randomly in the sun everyday, in the middle of nowhere, no privacy, no clean bathrooms or showers will break a band down if everyone is not on the same page as close friends should be. Warped Tour, however, was not where the morale significantly dropped within the band. It began during our sold out headlining tour with Panic! At the Disco, where the shows started feeling like a co-headlining tour to the leaders within the band.
6. Shortly after that tour, you were asked to leave. The Butcher gave you the news, right? If so, what reason did he give you for your firing?
I had known Butcher for about two years earlier before we both joined the band (we had replaced two original members since its formation). I was closest with him since we joined at the same time. Butcher broke the news to me because Mike and Bill could not get to the point during a very drawn out conversation. Butcher stepped in as my friend. There weren’t any exact reasons given to me at the time, just that it was not working anymore…
7 & 8. The two reasons I was given were that (A) musically it wasn't working. Did that factor into why you were asked to leave? Second reason they gave me was that (B) your personalities weren't meshing. Does that seem fair?
The things that I am sure of are my abilities to perform and keep an open mind. There were a lot of different personalities between the five of us, which made things very exciting at times but also lead to a lot of conflicts. The dynamics between Bill and Mike makes things very hard. One almost has to take sides to get anything done, which is something that I did not do while in the band. As an escape from all of this, I started photographing many of my experiences while traveling.
9. Looking back on your falling out with them, is there any one incident that sticks out where you thought, "The relationship we had has changed"?
Honestly, not really. People changed but the relationships did not.
10. Have they reached out to you in the time since?
They have, but there really has not been much to say, and it’s usually been business related. There have been a few comments, and one confrontation, where the outcome was a bit on the negative side. Since everything, I’ve just been staying busy with my photography and getting ready to unveil a new band. When I originally posted photos from past tours, I started receiving some really encouraging feedback from everyone, which I think it has helped me get back on my feet musically as well. I’ve been working with some old friends on starting something that has substance and also the potential to be successful. The truth is, I couldn’t be happier and more excited for what is ahead of me.