Territory Interviews Gat Rot
You guys have been around for almost 20 years, not only that but the band has had almost the same core for its entirety, why have you guys been able to maintain such longevity?
We started doing shows around 1995. We played a lot of parties and really had no specific agenda as a band when we started. It was primarily a reason for really close friends to have fun and be creative. That was always what kept us together through thick and thin, our deep friendships for each other. Ultimately we just wanted to have fun and write good songs. We put out our first 4-song cassette release “No Static” in 1996. At that time we called ourselves Channel Zero. We changed our names shortly after that tape came out because some European Metal band called themselves the same thing. The band started out as Clay, Gabe, Oscar, and Charlie. Ruben joined the band in 1997, just after we released our second cassette “XXLoud”. The band was the same line-up until 2010. That was around the time we took a long break as a band. It is sometimes difficult being in a band all the while juggling all of the responsibilities surrounding real life (families, jobs, etc). Earlier this year we were approached to do both Infest and the Southwest Terror Fest and we thought it was a good reason to do a few more shows as a band. Unfortunately Clay is not doing those last few shows with us. Josh Skibar is filling Clay’s really big shoes for the remainder of the shows we will be doing in 2013.
What has been the most memorable show you guys have ever played?
That is a hard one. We have had the opportunity to play so many good shows. One that immediately comes to mind would be playing with Earth Crisis and Hatebreed in 2001 in the basement of the Double Zero in Tucson. That show was not only packed, but it had a frenzied energy that permeated the crowd from start to finish. Another great show was at the Youth Store Front. It was 1999, I believe. We played with Reversal Of Man and some other bands. Again, the energy was just insane. Another super fun show we did was in 1997 we played a show at The Ronstadt Bus Center. We told everyone to show up as soon as the last busses left. We did not have permission to play there. We quickly plugged our gear in and ran through about 7 songs before we were told to stop by the cops. It was a Gat-Rot guerilla assault on downtown Tucson.
Favorite Arizona hardcore/metal release during your time as a band?
It would have to be either The Bled’s “Pass The Flask” or Absinthe’s 10” that was released on King Of The Monsters Records.
Dave has put together quite a lineup for this year’s Southwest Terror Fest, who are you guys most excited to see?
We are all excited to see Sacred Reich. Those guys, along with Atrophy, and Malignus Youth, and The Bled are probably our favorite bands to have come out of Arizona. We are also looking forward to seeing Seas Shall Rise and Kylessa.
Is this year’s Southwest Terror Fest your guy’s last (last) show?
We will be playing a show or two following SWTF. At this point we do not know what we are really doing after these shows. Some of us are still involved with other bands, so this is not entirely the end of the line for us.
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