Against Me! have revealed to Kerrang! that they don't care about being perceived as being "punk rock".
The Floridian, punk rock four-piece have just released their latest 10-tracker, 'New Wave', through major label Sire Records, a label that is owned and distributed by key players Warner Brothers. This is the band's first release since 2005's 'Searching For A Former Clarity', and their first since leaving their former home at punk stable Fat Wreck Chords. Speaking to Kerrang!, vocalist/guitarist Tom Gabel spoke about the decision to make the jump up, and the reaction the band have received from the punk community.
"When our last record came out, we knew that we wanted to sign to a major," explains the singer. "There are so many bands on Fat Wreck that are stuck in a cycle, and the idea of being stuck in that scared me. Bands put out a record every two years, they're gonna do the Warped Tour, they'll do a club tour and do the same thing over and over again and it doesn't inspire me in any way."
Stepping up, according to Gabel, was the only way to ensure Against Me!'s continuous growth.
"I don't ever want to be on a downward spiral where fewer people are buying the records, and fewer are coming to the shows," says the frontman. "It should just keep getting bigger and bigger until it explodes and dies."
The online slamming from fans who believe the band have 'sold out' doesn't bother Gabel in the slightest.
"A lot of bands care if they're accepted as being punk rock or not. I don't care," says the singer sternly. "I don't really care because then it gets into the arguments of 'what is punk?' and 'is punk dead?' and I just don't care," he shrugs. "I'd rather just be in a band."
