Interview - Pete Gonzalez from Backlash

Stuck In The Past

So give me the formalities...who's in the band?

Pete Gonzalez

Scott Glazer - Guitar, Scott Dorey - Guitar, Ron Taylor - Bass, Keith Deblasi - Drums.

SITP

You guys took some time off during the late 90s and early 2000s...what were you doing during that time? Was the band just on an indefinite hiatus?

Pete Gonzalez

Yeah. Our last show was in 98. I think life just happened. It kind of faded. I always wanted to record our last couple of songs but never got around to it. We always stayed in touch but it never happened.

SITP

Do you feel like maybe just getting older left less time to play music?

Pete Gonzalez

Getting older does suck. But I always have the desire to play. I know it sounds like a cliché, but it's in my heart. I listen to music everyday and can't live without it. I feel that hardcore helped make me the man I am today.

SITP

I totally get that, I feel like as I’ve gotten older, I find less and less time to play the music I love. I want to try and get something going but then life just gets in the way no matter how hard I try

Pete Gonzalez

I agree. Unfortunately when you are young and living with your parents, you don't have anything to worry about. But now it's providing for your family so it takes a back seat.

SITP
It's really unfortunate because there are a lot bands that really ended too soon because that sort of thing happens

So how are you guys making the band work? Scott still lives down here (South Florida) right?

Pete Gonzalez

Scott is pretty much on his own, lol. But we are in constant contact and with the technology today, it's not so hard to pull off. The hardest part is playing shows.

SITP

What's the writing process like? Will he just write riffs and then send them up to you through email?

Pete Gonzalez

Yeah. When we were writing and recording, he would get on the phone and work it out. Then I would write the lyrics.

SITP

I feel like this is a great alternative if you want to make it work. It's really become kind of the norm amongst a lot of bands.

Pete Gonzalez

Yeah it definitely works. Like I said before, life takes over so you have to come up with ways to make things work.

SITP
Okay let's jump back a little bit...how did the band form?

Pete Gonzalez

Through the “East Cost Rocker”, a weekly music paper. I put in an ad and Scott answered. I met him the day Desert Storm started. It took us awhile to find the rest of the band. We met some characters along that journey. We thought we were never going to find anyone.

SITP

Did you just end up meeting the rest of the guys through going to shows?

Pete Gonzalez

No. The original line up was through the paper. Then we met Scott D., Ron, and Keith through the scene.

SITP
How long were you guys a band before you were asked to release a record?

Pete Gonzalez

Within a year, I think. When we finally got the band together, we started to write and we recorded a demo. Then we started to shop it around and New Start wanted to put out a 7 inch.

SITP
How pumped were you guys? I mean I remember the first time something I was a part of was released and I was able to hold it in my hands...it was such an amazing feeling

Pete Gonzalez

Yeah, we were pumped!!!! It was a great feeling having a record that you played on and seeing it in the record stores next to the bands you looked up to.

SITP
You guys released a couple of records and then you released a record with Conquer The World Records, a label that many of the bands ended up not being too happy with. How was your experience working with the label?

 

Pete Gonzalez

From what I remember it was fine. Jon handled all the particulars. I think CTW ended up folding.

SITP

Well that's good to hear. Some of the former bands have expressed negativity about it...I've spoken to Mike (label owner) and gave him a forum to express his side. But it's nice to hear that you guys don’t have anything negative to say

Pete Gonzalez

Yeah. It's hardcore. A lot of the labels are kids that do not have a lot of money.

SITP
Agreed. Who were some of the bands you remember playing with?

Pete Gonzalez

CroMags, KillingTime, Outspoken, Leeway, Shelter, Earth Crisis, Hatebreed, Ignite, Confront, FaceValue, Shift, Trial, Death by Stereo, Guilt, Despair, Bloodlet, Chokehold, Deadguy, Dayspring, 108

SITP
That’s a heck of line up. You guys really got to play with a good variety of bands 
Pete Gonzalez

Yeah. We played over 300 shows.

SITP
Who played the last show in 1998?

Pete Gonzalez

Scott d, Ron, Keith, and Justin Fullum. He used play in the Judas Factor.

SITP
What other bands were on the show?

Pete Gonzalez

I don't even remember. It was some VFW show.

SITP
I always liked playing those. They never really seemed to catch on down here in South Florida

Pete Gonzalez

This was the last show we played in 06.

SITP
Okay now to the present day. You guys have a new record coming out...can you tell me about that?

Pete Gonzalez

Ok. It took over two years to complete, lol. But it consists of a couple of older songs and new ones. We are very happy with the release. I think it's a good record.

SITP

How did you get hooked up with Eulogy to release the record?

Pete Gonzalez

Scott G. played with John Wylie in Where Fear and Weapons Meet. He sent him the recording and he liked it. He is a real cool guy and treated us awesome.

SITP
Do you guys have any expectations about playing some shows?

Pete Gonzalez

I don't know what to expect. It's a new generation of kids out there. We are playing 2 shows in April.

SITP
That's awesome that you guys are making it work...do you have anything else you would like to add?

Pete Gonzalez

It's been a long road, lol. But seriously.....PMA is a definite to keep things going. I also want to say thanks for doing this interview.

You can stream the whole record by click here: Backlash - Where's The Pride