Americans UK | From garage rock/punk band to comic books
Starting as a garage rock/punk band with college buddies, upto self-publishing the adventures of Americans UK as comic books.
Where did it all start for you? How did you all meet?
I started Americans UK in Austin, TX as a garage rock/punk band with my college buddy Craig Montoro and then when I moved to Brooklyn and we added new members, including our drummer JTR3. After Craig left the band, JT and I kept recording and adding new members until we became the 5 piece we are today with members Joel Feinberg (Fine Borg), Peter Boiko (Bizoiko), and Mike Oliverio (Mike Ennui), plus our occasional sixth member, hype man, artist, and all around talented guy, John Mathias (Johnny Flagday).
What’s the origin of the name?
I was writing a science fiction story and the band of the future I was writing about I named the Americans UK. Mostly I thought it was clever and sounded good, and it referenced the Manchester invasion of the early nineties where British bands added “UK” to their names when U.S. bands with the same name already existed, like the Charlatans UK. I thought the name was funny and ironic and then I realized I just had to bring Americans UK to life in all our sneering, rock swagger.
Do you still remember the very first record you ever bought?
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Jazzy Jeff’s “I’m the Rapper, He’s the DJ”
What’s your ambition in music, your ultimate dream?
To keep making more and better. I don’t think there’s an end goal anymore. I know better. I just want to make great content with my friends.
Besides the music, you are also active in comic books. How did that develop?
I’m a writer, and I love comic books so I started writing comic books. I self-publish the adventures of Americans UK and I landed a publishing deal with Oni Press for a graphic novel that hits shelves on June 24, 2015, and is running now as a digital series on comiXology.com, titled “Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad.” The above mentioned Peter Boiko and I produced an EP that goes along with the series, that we are releasing one song at a time on OddSchnozz.com. It’s a graphic novel soundtrack, dig?
Name a song that needs to be played LOUD.
“Moonage Daydream” by David Bowie
If you could be a superhero, who would you be?
Wolverine! Healing factor, claws, heightened senses–he’s an indestructible bad ass. Plus, he gets laid more than most super heroes.
Turn ons? Turn offs?
Women who play rock n’ roll are the coolest. People who complain about how hard it is to be an artist are the worst.
Name 3 countries you would like to visit.
I’m writing this from Helsinki, Finland right now! Next I’m off to Stockholm, Sweden then Copenhagen, Denmark. I’d really love to check out Berlin, Prague and eventually head south to Costa Rica and check out some Mayan ruins in the jungle.
Where do you get the inspiration for the music AND the comics?
I don’t know, they inform each other and I ride on the backs of those who came before me. Also, my peers, friends and band mates inspire me with their talent and grit every day. Mostly I love science fiction and adventure stories, so I infuse my music and comic books with those same narratives. But anything can inspire art: something funny your friend says, strangers talking on the subway, going to the zoo–life is a story and music and comics and all art is an expression of that story. I swear, half our songs come from JTR3 saying something cool and/or ridiculous during rehearsal.
What was your first thought when you woke up this morning?
“Why is it so early?” The sun was coming in to our Helsinki apartment at like 4:30 a.m. and I couldn’t get back to sleep.
What can we expect in 2015?
More music, more comics. Americans UK continue to record the follow up to our last EP, “Hostile Takeover,” and we’re about to release another video from that album called, “Phenomena-na,” that my good friend and very talented filmmaker Darin Murano shot and directed, which is also a sequel to our video, “Lights Out In Zap City,” which we also made with Darin. Then artist Paul Ciaravino and I are finishing up Americans UK #5, as we near the end of the AM/UK comic book series together. And my graphic novel with artist Dennis Culver hits bookstores in June–you can preorder Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad from however you get your books, and again, check out the soundtrack that Peter Boiko and I made now!
What’s the top 3 of your bucket list (10 things to do before i die) ?
Write a Marvel comic. Produce an Americans UK television show. Discover nanotechnology that allows me to never die.
Thank you for the interview!
-Jeffrey Burandt, aka Jef UK