F.U.'S
from Flipside #43, 1984
Boston's F.U.'s have to be one of the most misunderstood punk bands in America. In their 3 years together they've put out two albums, toured the country and raised a lot of questions about what exactly the "rules" about being a punk are. Drummer/songwriter Bob Furapples was spoken to by Bill Bartell as the band prepared to leave for a 2 month U.S. tour.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> + <<<<<<<<<<<<<
FS: So what's the new album like?
Bob: We still like playing fast, but now, real songs, they're still fast. We've gone away from politics, it got too stupid and boring. We still write about things that affect us. Like the song "Killer" is about a promoter in Virginia that promised us money and a place to stay and ripped us off, his favorite expression was "killer man", he was incredible. He's 27 and his girlfriend is about 25, and when we were there he brings this 15 year old girl home, and his girlfriend sics the dog on him!
FS: So you got bored with politics?
Bob: Yeah, we got bored, we still have our same beliefs, we still like this country and that stuff, but we figure we've made our point. Everyone knows by now, and apparently a lot of people aren't ever gonna let us forget it! This is the best country that you can possibly live in, and people that are always complaining about how terrible it is...
FS: Do you think that's slowed down your popularity, being almost "too radical" for punks?
Bob: There's a lot of people that have just gone along to be punk, too afraid to say what they mean, but there's a lot of bands, not just us, that see things almost the same way, they're not all these "anarchy/peace" bands, that won't ever work, they're not afraid to come out and say what they feel. Like White Cross, that band "F" in Florida, all the guys in Boston, Jerry's Kids and DYS, they don't make a big thing about it, but they agree with us. We don't go around preaching, but we all have the same feelings and stuff.
FS: Has MRR negative press affected record sales?
Bob: I think it has, especially foreign sales, people see the mag before they hear the record and get a distorted impression of the message. Our message is that you should be proud of your country, no matter where you're from, if you're not proud, leave. It has to do with being proud of yourself. Every country has good things about them, including Russia and other communist countries, not that I'd want to go there, like the fans that we get letters form that live behind the iron curtain, they're still proud of home, because they have to be, because without pride, what else have you got?
FS: Especially when they have guns keeping them inside, not much choice but to like it, right?
Bob: Yeah. And if you're not proud of your own country, someone else in your country isn't going to be, be proud of yourself, that's what it all comes down to. So we're still playing no matter what almighty Tim says. The guy's put his foot in his mouth too much, and sooner or later he's gonna really trip up and look stupid. It's like he's an old man so he thinks we should listen to him and what he has to say like he's our father.
FS: Wasn't punk a rebellion from that, an escape from pressues and control and someone telling you how to play music, how to dress, what politics to believe in, and that kind of stuff, parental rebellion?
Bob: That's what I thought, but the longer you're in the scene the more crap you see. I'm not gonna run around in leather and spike my hair to prove how punk I am. We've been together three years. Punk is an attitude. I just do what I feel like, you don't need punk as a label, punk as a word is a pretty derogatory term.
FS: What's Boston like?
Bob: Lots of all age shows these days, the Channel waits for big shows like Black Flag, but the Paradise have been doing local shows on the weekends.
FS: What's the worst thing that ever happened on tour?
Bob: Our van breaking down of course. But the worse show was the first D.C. gig with Iron Cross and the Exploited. Iron Cross gave us shit because we weren't an "english music" band, and the audience just stood there. D.C. is kind of a "show me" place, because the second time they loved us, one of our best shows ever. SSD and Jerry's Kids said the same thing. We got screwed the last time at the Cathay in L.A., we played twice and didn't get paid once. At Shamus O'Brians the crowd wouldn't let us quit until we played "Die for God", and they grabbed the mic and sang all the words just like the record. That's the best part about being in a band, watching everyone jump around and sing and have fun.
FS: What are you going to do with your life?
Bob: I plan on becoming a state cop, Wayne's gonna go back to school, Steve wants to be a helicopter pilot and John's gonna get a real job.
FS: But you're not planning to break up?
Bob: Well as time goes by you think about it more and more, but no time soon. We want to accomplish everything we can. Like if three years ago you told me we'd have our own album out and have toured the country I'd have laughed, but now we're on our second tour and our third LP. People write to us, buy our records, it's like a real dream come true, you have to try and put everything into it, make it the first thing in your life, lose friends and family, the band comes first. When I'm sixty I can pull out the F.U.'s LPs and smile and say "This is something not everyone can do", but then if we could learn to play - then anyone could! I quit school, lost two jobs and it's worth it. When people have fun, it makes it all worthwhile.
BACK to the F.U.'s page
KILL FROM THE HEART Home