Music

One on One with... Jason Cruz of Strung Out

by Barry Taylor

Over the past twenty years Strung Out have been one of the most consistent and respected punk rock bands on the planet. Their 2009 release, Agents of the Underground was praised by critics and fans as one of the best albums of their career.

The band’s frontman Jason Cruz recently checked in with AUX to discuss a number of things, including how that album came together, the bands loyalty to Fat Mike and his personal love of Medal of Honor and Oasis.

Agents of the Underground received great reviews from critics and fans. How did it come together?

Everyone was going through so much personal drama at the time, I know I was. You write a record and you hope that it conveys the place that you’re at in life at that time. You can’t think about anything else because people can see right through that.

I think that’s why the record was so good. Our best records are the ones where something’s happening in our lives (at the moment we’re making the record) that has to get said or expressed in some way.

Most bands don’t stay with one label throughout their career but Strung Out have remained loyal to Fat Wreck Chords. Why?

I don’t think there’s really any other home for us. We’ve gotten offers before and we’ve been curious but I don’t really see us anywhere else. Fat are fair, you can’t argue with that. [Fat] Mike has always been fair with us, he’s always been honest with us and in this business you can’t ask for anything else.

The band has accomplished a lot in the past 20 years. What are some of the goals you still have?

I don’t really have any goals for Strung Out. I just want to maintain my spirit. I think I’ve achieved every goal with Stung Out that I could’ve possibly imagined. My goals are more personal, becoming a better musician myself. The band is sort of on auto-pilot now. When you get to a certain point, it just takes control of itself.

Do you have any passions outside of music?

I’ve got a family now and I’m trying to do a lot more art, painting, I love doing that. I spend so much time on the road, I just want to build a healthy family life. That’s what’s most important to me ‘cause this ain’t gonna last forever.

What’s up next for Strung Out?

We were just talking about doing a greatest hits record. That’s long over due. We want to do something special for that. Maybe some bonus songs or re-working some songs acoustically or something fun. I don’t know what’s after that. We’ll just take it as it comes.

Defining Greatness with Jason Cruz

What’s the Greatest Book of All Time?

I still haven’t found that yet. I’ve been trudging my way through the People’s History of the United States. It’s something everybody should read. It turns your world upside down and makes you look at everything around you from a different perspective. It a pretty fucking great book.

What’s the Greatest Video Game of all time?

I just like blowing shit up. I don’t like games that take too much thought. World War Two games, Medal of Honor, anything with a gun.

What’s the Greatest Movie of all time?

It’s a tie between Buffalo 66 and Apocalypse Now.

What’s Your Musical Guilty Pleasure?

Oasis. I love Noel Gallagher. And Liam Gallagher.