INTERVIEW WITH TRUST COMPANY FRONTMAN KEVIN PALMER

We were asked to do this interview with TRUST COMPANY several months ago, and I think initially it was supposed to be a phoner. You probably know who these guys are, because they were all over radio and the music video channels with their first disc, 'Lonely Position of Neutral'. They were in that group of bands that rose to success shortly after LIMP BIZKIT broke through. Because of everyone's (mine included) schedules being so ridiculous, we decided it would be easier if the questions were just shot over via Email...and wouldn't you know it? A few days later, they popped up in the ol' Email Inbox...all complete, courtesy of frontman Kevin Palmer. He had fun with our batch of incredibly stupid questions, and it went something like this...

Steve C: Whether you agree with it or not, TRUST COMPANY was lumped in with the wave of "nu-metal" bands that emerged after LINKIN PARK and PAPA ROACH found success in the music business. Given the fact that the music industry (at least in the U.S.) likes to pigeonhole bands as much as possible, how difficult is it to break out of that category and find your own place?

Kevin Palmer I think it's extremely difficult. I had never heard the term "nu-metal" until I was asked about it in an interview in 2002. I'm guessing that bands will always be labeled, you just have to do what you do and not look too deep into that stuff.

Steve C: You guys recruited your new bass player "Walker" Warren after posting an ad on your website. Has the talent pool of perspective bandmates been that significantly drained, or did you specifically want to find someone with little/no experience?

Kevin Palmer We wanted to find someone who was excited and had that undying passion for music, not just someone who was looking for a paying gig... with only half a heart in it. Walker was a fan, but he completely earned the spot. I would have killed to have had that opportunity when I was his age. It felt good to give the spot to someone with as much passion as him. (come to think of it, that's a smart move on their part; you find a guy who is totally into your music and not just a guy looking for a paycheck...)

Steve C: Traveling together on the road usually means that you have to get used to the habits, mannerisms, odors, and general aroma of your band mates. Which member of Trust Company would fare the worst after an all-you-can-eat taco dinner (which of you will clear out the bus with a single fart)?

Kevin Palmer It could be any one of us depending on the day. We have all cleared out the bus on several occasions. Our crew can be pretty shameless also!

Steve C: Even though you have been making music together for a long time, you're still a relatively 'young' band (age-wise and career-wise). Younger artists are sometimes more prone to music industry pitfalls than more seasoned professionals are. What do you think were some of your biggest missteps in your pursuit of rock & roll fortune and glory? (in otherwords, if you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?)

Kevin Palmer We signed a pretty crappy indie deal before we signed with Geffen, that we're still paying the price for to this day. I would definitely be more cautious when singing on the dotted line. (Yup. Another group of motivated young musicians just asking to get dicked over by some unscrupulous dick at an indie label...not that the majors have a squeakly clean reputation...just sayin'...)

Steve C: Obviously, he was catering to a somewhat different crowd than you guys are, but does the shooting of Dimebag Darrell affect the way Trust Company is going to play out? Are you going to travel with added security? Will you take extra precautions when playing clubs?

Kevin Palmer I think everyone is going to be a lot more aware now because of that tragic incident. I don't think we will take out extra security. Most of the venues have taken steps to up the security by checking people at the door. It's such a shame, God bless his friends and family.

Steve C: Hypothetical situation: Let's say you're walking down the street in your neighborhood...about to get yourself a slice...or even a sandwich... and some excited teenager wearing a pair of those new Nike Pigeon sneakers runs up to you and says "Dude! I just downloaded True Parallells! You guys RULE!" How are you going to react to this kid, who judging from his footwear, can obviously afford to buy your CD...which hasn't even been released yet?

Kevin Palmer This has actually happened to me. He wanted me to sign his burned copy of Lonely Position of Neutral I was blown away! I wrote "Shame on you" on the cd, and told him I'm glad you like the music, but dude buy the cd. So unbelievable... (You know, I knew if I asked that question enough, I'd hit upon someone who actually had it happen to him...Fucking unreal)

Steve C: You just shot the video for your first single, 'Stronger'. What guarantees (if any) do you have that this video is even going to be seen on a video outlet (either domestically or internationally)? How does a band avoid pissing away thousands of dollars on a video that might not generate album sales?

Kevin Palmer You have no guarantees. We'll push for MTV2 and Fuse and hope for the best. It's all part of it. If it does get airtime, it will reach a ton of people. It's a gamble you have to take. There are a lot of people working hard to make it happen, so sometimes you have to trust in them.

Steve C: Hypothetical situation #2: You're playing a sold-out show in front of two thousand screaming kids somewhere in the midwest. About half-way through your fourth song, you feel a rumbling in your belly. You realize that the cheeseburger you ate at the venue a few hours earlier has made its way through your system in record time, and if you don't act fast, you're going to be standing in a puddle of stinky brownies. How do you address the situation without totally screwing your bandmates?

Kevin Palmer This is easy, you totally screw you band mates! When nature calls...you must answer! haha (Damn straight, buddy...you sprint to the crapper as fast as your little legs are going to carry you... that's honesty, kids)

Steve C: You have toured with some pretty popular acts, like KORN and PUDDLE OF MUDD. If there was one piece of advice that they emparted to you that was incredibly helpful, what was it?

Kevin Palmer Don't get too caught up in all the B.S. just do what you do.

Steve C: OK, now which piece of advice do you wish you never listened to?

Kevin Palmer Go ahead and drink one more....you'll be O.K.

Steve C: True Parallels contains fourteen very catchy tracks. In reality, how many songs did you all wind up writing to whittle it down to those particular fourteen?

Kevin Palmer About 25 or so

Steve C: Of all the songs you could have possibly covered, why pay tribute to THE CLASH with 'Rock The Casbah'?

Kevin Palmer That was an idea brought up because I have a habit of always saying lets go "Rock the Casbah" or that band "Rocks the Casbah"...someone suggested that we cover it. It was fun, but it will not be on the album. We actually covered "Time After Time" by CYNDI LAUPER also, it will be on the Japanese release. (allow me to be the first of many to say that the one thing the world does NOT need is a cover of "Time After Time"...oof)

Steve C: Describe, if you would, the perfect sandwich.

Kevin Palmer Me, my wife and a Swedish model of my wife's choosing! (I swear, I need to think of another food question that can't be answered like that....dammit.)

Check out TRUST COMPANY's latest disc, True Parallels, out now!

For more information and tour dates, go to the band's official website, TrustCompanyBand.com