Please join us in welcoming our new face on the bass, Russ Draper! We’ve knocked out some questions for him to answer, check out his honesty and lies below! 

 

 

Who are you and what do you want?

 

I'm russ. The new boy, bass player, looks and talent in the mistakes.

I want to be free. I want to be free to do what I want to do and I want to get loaded and have a good time and that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to have a good time. I'm going to have a party. 

 

The bass. Why do you play the bass? Why does anyone play the bass?

 

Way back when we all decided to start bands, everyone either wanted to or did play guitar so I figured I'd play bass instead. Always loved the sound and let's face it, the rhythm section is the most important part of the band.

 

I bet you have some influences or something. Who do you constantly feel the shame of never quite living up to?

 

 

I'm influenced by everything I listen to really. Punkwise, the biggest has to be matt freeman but there are so many amazing punk bass players. Honestly, a punk band is an awesome bass player, a slightly better than average drummer, maybe a couple of mediocre guitar players and often a tone deaf singer... Certainly seems to be the case here. 

As for shame of never quite living up to, I just do what I do and try not to compare myself to others... I'll just disappoint myself. 

 

 

When you were in buffy, there was that one bit where you cornered buffy in the bathroom and said I’ll make you feel how much I love you or something and it was extremely dark and harrowing viewing, especially at 6:30 just after the Simpsons. Why did you do that, especially as it was in some ways a complete betrayal of your character arc from the preceding seasons? 

 

 

A spike reference, what a surprise! 

But, yeah, that scene was crazy. 

 

 

Give us a favourite song or two that we wouldn’t expect from you. Like, a well outside our genre banger 

 

Way too many favorite tunes outside our genre to list! I listen to way more other stuff than punk these days. The last 3 songs I had on were

Heartbreaker-pat benatar

You wouldn't know love-cher

Night moves - Marilyn martin

 

So before you embraced your destiny and became a mistake (musically) we knew each other for years and years and years all up in the scene, and you’d have seen us play heaps. We would appreciate it if you could take a quick minute to tell us how great we are, or specifically how great I (Ross) am. Or, what inspired you to join the band if you want to be proper about it I guess.

 

 

Yeah, it's been years! I remember Shane from way back when I was in a band called none the wiser and he was in dislocated youth. I couldn't tell you if we ever played the same Bill but we were often hanging around the same places. Didnt see him for probably years and then saw him with the mistakes and, yeah, loved it. 

Over the years my band, sinful Maggie, played quite a few gigs with the mistakes and a beautiful friendship blossomed. So yeah, joining them was a simple decision.  

Turns out Ross an I are very alike. Others will say we have an ego but we both know we're under appreciated geniuses. 

I think it's just jealousy. 

 

 

Can you recommend a hip diner I can cruise down to with my best gal for a soda pop and a shake before some back seat bingo? Conversely, where’s the best car park for a switch blade rumble with those wacked out preps?

 

Not too many diners around here sadly. We usually just race our motorcycles round deadmans curve and up to the bluff... But that's dangerous. Too dangerous for the socs.

 

 

 

So, musically wise, what’s the ambition? What would count as ‘making it’ for you? 

 

It'd be nice if it could pay the bills, other than that, it's just good fun and nice to put some art in the world. If you're in a punk band to make money you're going to be disappointed. 

Making it, for me, would be having a driver and a van that works! But honestly, I get to play music, hang out with friends and have fun. Is that not the dream? Other than a movie accurate 89 batsuit?

 

 

Similarly, what’s the dream bill to be on, festival or support or whatever? 

 

 

All my favourite bands one after another so I didn't have to chose which I'd rather see because they're on different stages at the same time. 

 

 

Which Pokémon do you think would taste the best?

 

Squirtle. I don't like his smug face. I think he'd taste like salty chicken.