CRUCIFIX from SP #6, early summer '83
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| PHOTO: CLAIRE SUTHERLAND |
SP: Don't you think it's kind of a strange situation to have hippies and punks at the same show? (Rock Against Reagan, which included involvement of Yippies and other groups)
Sothira: Well, the impression I got was that, not the hippies, but the Yippies, they see that punks are getting more politically conscious and more aware of how things are going... they're the radicals of the pilitical end of things and so what they're trying to do is recruit as many active punks as they can for their cause. I don't know the real motive for what they're doing that for, but it looks like it's working out well.
SP: Do you feel the Yippies and the punks are basically working for the same thing?
Sothira: Well, peace, but besides that I don't know. We both want peace and we're working for a nuclear disarmament or some kind of change in that way, but besides that, I'm not sure. They got a lot of things about legalizing pot and stuff like that, legalizing drugs. I don't know what that's really about.
SP: How do you feel about drugs?
Sothira: Alcohol's a drug. It should be done in moderation. Never do it in excess. Once you're overtaken by these drugs, you're nowhere. You've got to know your limit.
SP: Where has the tour taken you so far?
Sothira: We went through LA, then through the main southern states and up the east coast.
SP: What sort of response have you been getting from the crowds?
Sothira: We've been getting a fairly good response. Where the audience was small in numbers, it was their attitude and feedback that made it a good show.
SP: What do you think of Boston and Western Mass.?
Sothira: A variety of people, it was great. We had a real good time at the Channel. It's gotten too corporate, too much of a rock 'n roll venue where everything's run with the cash and the beer and the liquor. It's typical.
SP: The thing with the Channel is they attract the "jock" element to some of the shows and they get out on that floor and they think they own it. They saw the episode of "Quincy" and they think that's what punk is all about.
Sothira: Seems that's what's been happening here today (there was an incident with frat boys starting fights and carrying around an American flag). They don't really do anything for anybody except aggravate a lot of people, but we should understand what they're doing so you won't do the same thing they're doing by yelling back and forth.
SP: You shouldn't play their game. You shouldn't lower yourselves to their level by reacting with violence.
Sothira: Exactly.
SP: How long has Crucifix been together?
Sothira: About 2 1/2 years.
SP: You have a 12" EP and the new 45 out.
Sothira: Yeah, and we've been on the Rat Music and Not So Quiet compilations.
SP: What are your future recording plans?
Sothira: We're hoping that once we get back, we'll be able to start on an album. We're also hoping to put out records by other bands, including PLH and A State Of Mind from Philadelphia.
SP: Do you consider yourselves an anarchist band?
Sothira: Yes, we believe in it. We believe peace can be a reality; that if every individual will work for it, it can be achieved. As anarchists, we try to practice what we preach and live out the way we believe is the right way. With anarchy, there's so many points and different things about it that you can get all bundled up, but it's personal to everybody. Generally, we all have the same ideas.
SP: Do you feel an anarchist state could exist here?
Sothira: Not at this point in time, but in the future. It's just that we've got to work at getting people together first and then getting them to realize what they're doing and working for peace. We have an anarchist state for us--the band and the people that are living or are going to live with us, we all share the same views and we're all trying to practice what we believe in and that's anarchy for us. And then what we hope is that other groups get together and form the same way--30 people or 10 people, whatever, and in the end everyone will join and realize we can all live in harmony together. You've got to start in small numbers.
SP: Your new record is called "Nineteen Eighty-Four." What made you decide on this title?
Sothira: It's meant to be spelled out, referring to Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, not the chronological year.
SP: So it's the Orwellian translation?
Sothira: It's not the number. 1984 is a year from now but the 1984 George Orwell was talking about is happening now and it's going to get worse. That's what we mean by writing it out. It's already here...
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