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Interview With Justin Brannan From 
Occasionally lurking Myspace has its pay-offs. Justin Brannan from Most Precious Blood and Indecision (and my friends list) fame agreed to be the first person I interviewed for BUST! Sure I'm only just putting it up now but I had to spend time trying to find a photo of JB and a koala. Go buy MPB's new album Merciless, its brutal.
1. New York has a rich and varied history in hardcore. Did you grow up there and which bands did you see that inspired you to pursue this style of music?
I grew up and still live in Brooklyn, New York. Sick Of It All was a huge inspiration. I bought Blood, Sweat and No Tears in 1990 and it changed my life. There are so many legendary bands from the NYC scene that helped shaped hardcore as we now know it so we're honored to be a part of it today.
2. Whats in your CD player this week?
The new Stellastarr* album and the new Sonic Youth Goo double-disc re-issue.
3. Most Precious Blood toured Australia late last year. What were the highlights for you?
Hitting Australia and New Zealand was really wild. It blew our minds to be that far from home and have kids singing along to the songs. We just returned from Africa and it was the same. Really an amazing experience. Hanging with the Kangaroos and the Tasmanian Devils was insane. We had a blast down under and can't wait to return next year!
4. You must have toured a great deal during your time with Most Precious Blood and Indecision. Do you have a favourite play to play?
Albany, NYC, Chicago, Texas, California, Salt Lake City, anywhere down South U.S., Canada, Paris, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Portugal, London and so on and so on.
5. Your website has a section dedicated to fans with MPB tattoos (primarily lyrics from The Lantern). How does it make you feel to see a piece of your art inked permanently upon a strangers skin?
Its really humbling to think someone believes in our words enough to have them permanently etched into their skin. Its really mind blowing and usually leaves us speechless. All I usually say is "wow, cool" because its so insane to me, so amazing. It means so much to us because we all have tattoos from bands that mean something to us too so we know how it feels. Its a great thing. We're honored and thats an understatement.
7. I know you have adopted a dog from the pound and I have seen posts on the net encouraging others to do the same. Is this a cause close to your heart?
Yes, I fell in love with pit bulls a few years ago because the former manager of Indecision had a cute pit bull named Donuts that we were smitten with. We started rescuing unwanted homeless dogs from kill shelters. Its really rewarding and makes you feel good and its great for karma. We have 3 dogs in the MPB arsenal right now; Budgie, Basil and Tex. They're all pit bull mixes. Beautiful, sweet, misunderstood dogs. There are so many animals in need of homes, this makes it completely selfish and pointless to buy a dog. Adopting is the right thing to do in my eyes.
8. Personally I think the cover art of Our Lady of Annihilation is one of the most beautiful and provoking images I've seen in hardcore, however it caused a lot of controversy in the US. Now I hear history is repeating with your new album, Merciless. Who have you offended this time?
The Christian right is unstoppable and they are very sensitive. The CD pressing plant didn't even want to manufacture the new album because they felt the cover was too abrasive. The world is upside down. Too much attention is being given to censorship and not enough to the REAL issues out there that actually matter.
9. Whats in the cards for you, aside from Most Precious Blood? Do you have a favourite past time, or is playing guitar an all consuming thing for you?
In between tours I do freelance voice over work for TV and radio commercials. Its a lot of fun. Other than that I hang out with my dogs and read and answer emails all day.
Occasionally lurking Myspace has its pay-offs. Justin Brannan from Most Precious Blood and Indecision (and my friends list) fame agreed to be the first person I interviewed for BUST! Sure I'm only just putting it up now but I had to spend time trying to find a photo of JB and a koala. Go buy MPB's new album Merciless, its brutal.
1. New York has a rich and varied history in hardcore. Did you grow up there and which bands did you see that inspired you to pursue this style of music?
I grew up and still live in Brooklyn, New York. Sick Of It All was a huge inspiration. I bought Blood, Sweat and No Tears in 1990 and it changed my life. There are so many legendary bands from the NYC scene that helped shaped hardcore as we now know it so we're honored to be a part of it today.
2. Whats in your CD player this week?
The new Stellastarr* album and the new Sonic Youth Goo double-disc re-issue.
3. Most Precious Blood toured Australia late last year. What were the highlights for you?
Hitting Australia and New Zealand was really wild. It blew our minds to be that far from home and have kids singing along to the songs. We just returned from Africa and it was the same. Really an amazing experience. Hanging with the Kangaroos and the Tasmanian Devils was insane. We had a blast down under and can't wait to return next year!
4. You must have toured a great deal during your time with Most Precious Blood and Indecision. Do you have a favourite play to play?
Albany, NYC, Chicago, Texas, California, Salt Lake City, anywhere down South U.S., Canada, Paris, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Portugal, London and so on and so on.
5. Your website has a section dedicated to fans with MPB tattoos (primarily lyrics from The Lantern). How does it make you feel to see a piece of your art inked permanently upon a strangers skin?
Its really humbling to think someone believes in our words enough to have them permanently etched into their skin. Its really mind blowing and usually leaves us speechless. All I usually say is "wow, cool" because its so insane to me, so amazing. It means so much to us because we all have tattoos from bands that mean something to us too so we know how it feels. Its a great thing. We're honored and thats an understatement.
7. I know you have adopted a dog from the pound and I have seen posts on the net encouraging others to do the same. Is this a cause close to your heart?
Yes, I fell in love with pit bulls a few years ago because the former manager of Indecision had a cute pit bull named Donuts that we were smitten with. We started rescuing unwanted homeless dogs from kill shelters. Its really rewarding and makes you feel good and its great for karma. We have 3 dogs in the MPB arsenal right now; Budgie, Basil and Tex. They're all pit bull mixes. Beautiful, sweet, misunderstood dogs. There are so many animals in need of homes, this makes it completely selfish and pointless to buy a dog. Adopting is the right thing to do in my eyes.
8. Personally I think the cover art of Our Lady of Annihilation is one of the most beautiful and provoking images I've seen in hardcore, however it caused a lot of controversy in the US. Now I hear history is repeating with your new album, Merciless. Who have you offended this time?
The Christian right is unstoppable and they are very sensitive. The CD pressing plant didn't even want to manufacture the new album because they felt the cover was too abrasive. The world is upside down. Too much attention is being given to censorship and not enough to the REAL issues out there that actually matter.
9. Whats in the cards for you, aside from Most Precious Blood? Do you have a favourite past time, or is playing guitar an all consuming thing for you?
In between tours I do freelance voice over work for TV and radio commercials. Its a lot of fun. Other than that I hang out with my dogs and read and answer emails all day.