Where does Samiam hail from?
We originally started in Berkeley, california where several of us grew up and went to college. As it stands now, we aren't a local band here...Sean lives now in NYC and MP has always lived in LA. Our last drummer, Victor lived in LA too, so we haven't all lived in the Bay Area since 1994. We have rarely played in the area in those years, only when a tour takes us here.

Have you always been Samiam or is there some unknown first band names that you went through?
James was in a great and popular punk band from here called Social Unrest. He toured and put out records for years before I even picked up a guitar. Jason and our original bassist, Marty, were in an original Lookout! records band called Isocracy. They were really popular here, not for the music necessarily, but because they threw garbage around during the whole show. I was in a couple of local bands playing drums really crappily.

How would you describe your style today? Has it changed at all from 1988 and how?
I think that our style has grown in a way that we are concerned in writing songs rather than trying to be punk or aggressive. Definately, I would agree with anyone that complained that we are no longer punk enough. That isn't a concern for us..we just try to make music. That isn't to say that we aren't considered loud, shitty punk by most people that don't listen to aggressive music. Hopefully, we have come to the point where both people that love punk music and others that hate punk, can like us. It has always been a goal for me to bridge that gap and get all sorts of people into what we are doing.

So who were, and who are Samiam's influences?
When we were starting out, I was really into Sonic Youth, DInosaur JR., Old Doughboys, Lemonheads as well as Black Flag, Bad Brains, The descendents. Now adays, I listen to Built to spill, Elliot Smith, the beatles, real songwriter kinda stuff. But I still put on Leatherface, snuff etc... I still like well done punk and hardcore.

Now your new album "You Are Freaking Me Out" is on the almighty Igniton Records! What's up with Burning Heart? Are you still on Burning Heart too?
Why do you say 'almighty'? It is a small label that put out our record. Some nice people work there. But for "you are freaking me out", we are on Burning heart affiliated labels in Japan, South America, and Australia. Our next record that will hopefully come out at the end of summer will be on Burning Heart in europe and on Ignition elsewhere.

So tell us a bit about "You Are Freaking Me Out"?
Its our last record, we recorded it several years ago and have toured europe 3 times, japan twice and america 5 times on it. We worked really hard on it.

Since Samiam was formed in 1988, you must have seen alot of changes to the punk scene! What was the punk scene like back then compared to now?
I don't follow the punk scene really. And, though I sound jaded, I really don't like any of the new bands. Pennywise, No Use for a Name, Ten Foot Pole, etc...they aren't my cup of tea. The warp tour is just as punk as any arena show...it's lame. But there are punk bands like Avail and At the Drive in that have a true spirit about them...I just don't really follow it.

Back when Samiam formed, you had punk peers such as Green Day, Operation Ivy, & Jawbreaker. How was your relationship with some of these bands back then? Has the relationship remained, or have you drifted apart entirely?
Well we are great friends with Green DAy. We toured japan and america with them this year. As for OP iV, I went to high school with the two guys that went on to do Rancid. I wasn't really friends with them then, just knew them well. Now, I feel pretty ambivalent towards them. I wish them luck but, it doesn't really cross my mind much. I have seen Blake with Jets to Brazil, I feel like we like each other, we just don't know each other much anymore.

How was the response to the band when Samiam first started? Were people as amazed back in the day???
I think they were amazed that we weren't more punk rock. Maybe they thought we were a bit too melodic and uncool. At the time, I wanted to be in with the local scene, which is a hard thing to do. Now, I don't even know, I just like playing, touring and whatnot. The hope is that people like us...but if not that is ok.

Samiam is starting to become a very well known band around the globe. Do you feel a change in attitude from when you began to now? Not meaning an ego change, but more of a way the band sees things?
Well, when you go on tour and get used to playing in front of bigger crowds in places with good PAs and stuff, to begin to like it. It makes it sometimes hard to play in crappier clubs or deal with a poorly attended show. Sometimes, I imagine, we look like 'rockstars' if we complain that there is no bathroom or monitors in a club...but that is just the way kids sometimes see it. They don't necessarily consider the fact that we don't go home after the show like they do. That sometimes a backstage couch or a shower means alot to us as weary travellers.

You have just finished your tour to Europe. How did it go? Have you ever toured there before?
Yeah, it was our seventh time there. As usual, it was a real blast. I much rather play in europe or Japan than the US. You see different people and places. America is pretty similar wherever you go.

Samiam has pretty much toured the entire world, so where has the band enjoyed touring the most, and why?
Japan was really neat. We took the bullet train to every city and stayed in nice hotels...had great roadies. Plus the environment was so interesting. The shows were such a small part of the experience...just an hour out of each day.

Do you notice a difference between the punk scene in different countries? What are some of the differences?
Oh yeah. The main differences lie in the wealth of the country. In Japan, Sweden or America, Punks are more dressed up and have money to be punk. In Italy or Yugoslavia the kids have more important things to spend their money on than green hair dye.

Whats the craziest thing that has ever happened to Samiam on tour?
There are so many stories. Some can't be told or we'd look like morons. For me, meeting people is the best and together with new friends, I've had such great experiences. Times where I stop and say to my self,"life is sometimes pretty good".

What do you hate most about touring?
I hate waiting around for a drive to finish or sound check. I also hate being so dirty as you get...smelling like cigarettes.

What is your greatest show memory?
Anyone of dozens of shows where the perfect combination of us playing well, the crowd getting into it, and feeling happy to be alive.

This is kinda weird but I want to know if Samiam still feels nervous at times on stage or if 11 years of performing has ridden you of absolutely all stage fright?
I have never been nervous about a show. I sometimes get nervous before about whether people will come or whether cool people come. But I think we are a pretty good band and I am confident about playing so I don't get nervous before we play.

So how does it feel to be on a giant label like Ignition, next to bands like Anthrax? Is being on a major label everything you thought it would be or not?
I really don't think about it. People work to sell our records...hopefully they do a good job.

What's in store for Samiam in 1999?
A new record some touring. We are on a bunch of compilation records...hopefully some more fun.

So for all the Samiam fans, do you have any last comments?
If you want to learn more about the band go to www.gosamgo.com...there is tons of info on us and stuff. A lot more than I could talk about here.

Well thank you very much for doing the interview. Hope to see Samiam putting out many more albums in the future...