5 Minute Major

5 Minute Major are a hardcore band from New York, who have a new album ‘when it ends’ out now on District Productions.

Tell us about 5 Minute Major, when did you guys start?
Gary Muttley: These guys started a few years ago, before I started playing with them. It’ll be a year for me with these guys next month. My last band DISTANCE had broken up, I asked around, and Nick DIY told me 5MM was looking for a bass player and put me in touch with Kevin (who I went to high school with!), and it all went downhill from there. I had met Kevin and Eric before, having seen 5MM and One Second Thought (Eric’s other band), and having played shows together before
Tom: The band started from an old band called Inside Job. The singer of that band called it quits, so Kevin who was hangin’ out with us at the time was asked to come and try out. He said yeah and we said ok. So when we started tryin’ to figure out a new name for the band, cause to me once a band member leaves everything changes….and with the new addition of Kevin on vocals, the band was obviously a different band.
Kevin q: inside job was ending . I loved going to shows with my friends. I always tried to go to their practices. I knew some of the words so I sang along then just started singing alone..it has always been fun to chill with 5mm old and new. They are all my best friends..

What does the band name mean – where did you get it from?
TOM:the band name is a term used in hockey. it’s a penalty for fighting. ya go to the the penalty box for 5 minutes.
GM: It’s a hockey thing. Works out perfectly cuz I’m a big hockey fan too. Even though my Rangers SUCK right now.
Kevin q: it comes from tall paul money matt and me. We all love hockey and we were looking for a name. All we had to do was convince tom and eric to use it..and they other choice was 7 10 split..yuck..5mm is way better than 7 10 split..hahaha

How would you describe your own sound?
TOM:Heavy Hardcore
GM: Sounds like a bunch of fat guys screaming and banging on instruments.
kevin q: I don’t know what to call it. We definitely have a hardcore /punk rock influence but we all listen to many different things. We try to be 5 minute major and that’s all..

What have released so far, whats coming up? 4a)You had a song on a compilation coming out on triple crown called scene report – how did that do for you?
TOM: we released a 4 song demo awhile ago by ourselves. What’s coming up is a full length on inner rage records.It’s called WHEN IT ENDS.The compilation song was from the old demo,how it sold,and what it did for us…….i don’t know?
GM: These guys did the demo, the new CD Inner Rage is putting out is all recorded before I joined the band. We’re writing new shit now and it sounds great. We’re looking to record a new full-length in another month or so. That’s the one song everybody knows when we play, so it’s cool. Half the stuff on that comp sucks, so I think we stand out.
kevinq:demo,triple crown comp called scene report, full length on inner rage and a track on the upcoming new york hardcore tattoos comp and some south American comps on the way as well as another cd later this winter/spring2002 on full house records from finland..

Whats the last record you listened to! – was it any good?
TOM:The last record i listened to was the Mystical Crew of Clearlight (stonerrock).I think it’s great, especially since it was all instrumental.
GM: Here’s a few cd’s I’ve been listening to a lot lately: Iron Maiden “Brave New World”, All Out War “For Those Who…”, Glassjaw “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know…”, Redline “Moments of Truth”, Breakdown “Battle Hymns…”
Kevin q: that’s tough because I listen to music all day at work..today was: redline, unida, kyuss, big pun,all out war, puya, funkdoobiest, killed in action(European), settle the score, murphys law, cold front ,sloburn,cake,darkside,crusade,next step up, breakdown, gluecifer..i think the last one was eye2eye

Describe your live show?
TOM: Live i think we’re half all out,half worn out….we try and make sure we,and everyone around us are having fun.
GM: A bunch of fat sweaty guys (and a skinny drummer) getting all drunk and having a good time.
kevin q: FUN

What and was your first show(how did it go),..whats been your best show,…and your worst?
TOM.:First show.it was good.not as tight as we could have been…um….it went well all in all,mostly cause all ower friends showed up.best show..hum..i think for me..it’s any show we play,i just like to beat the fuck outta the drums. The worst show would be any we didn’t play.
GM: My first show with 5MM was Feb 2000 at Castle Heights. It was lots of fun, and my first time on stage in 2 years so I was all into it. We’ve had a lot of really good shows, Castle Heights is always good, we just played Wetlands and that was great. Our WORST show was definitely in Attleboro Mass w/Diecast. Big place, totally empty. Kev hit his head on the low ceiling in the first song, the show ended in a fight during Diecast that the bouncers started, and they dicked us on our guarantee. A local band ended up giving us their money, which kinda sucked
Kevin q: first show was weird. I was really nervous but we played and it went well. It was cool to play with shutdown for our first show, the place was packed and I was nerved out but it all worked out great. We have this show on video so it s cool to see how nervous I was

Whats the first band you saw play?
TOM: First band i saw play live was the cro-mags and anthrax
GM: My first show was Monsters of Rock at Giants Stadium in ’88. Metallica, Dokken, Scorpions and Van Halen. Back when Metallica played metal.
kevin q: the first bands I saw live,(my first show ever) were bim skal bim and the woodentops. I ran away to go see a show at the ritz. I didnt even know who was playing but I wanted to hook up with some people and they took me there. What a weird night..the first hardcore show I ever saw was dmize at cbgbs i think..i cant remember

What got you into hardcore?
TOM:I like heavy music,fast driving beats,the aggression,and the way the people express themselves to the music.
GM: It was kinda logical. All the metal kids in high school started crossing over to stuff like DRI, Leeway, Cro-Mags, Crumbsuckers, and Carnivore. We were trading tapes back and forth all the time, and I got into it. My first HC show was Biohazard/Cro-Mags/Leeway at Lamours, then I got introduced to the whole Bond Street scene back in ’93 or so, and I got introduced to a lot of good bands like Breakdown, Coldfront, Dog Eat Dog, Warzone, Bulldoze, VOD, Emanon, Darkside, Sheer Terror, so many I could be here for a week. I think that was the last real peak for the NYC HC scene.
kevinq: I guess there was a point in my life were I felt alone and there were these guys that helped me feel a part of something. They were great friends to me and helped me become a strong willed person who was able to stand up for himself.i owe a lot to the guys that got me interested in hard core. They kinda helped me throught ought times early on. Like harry, the first drummer from 25talife, kung fu fred from 25 talife they got me to listen to stuff I would have normally blocked out and it helped me in my life..definitely helped me.. brotherhood and fun.

What’s your main goal by playing hardcore?
TOM:To have fun with my band and the people who come to see us play.
GM: I’m just out to have fun and get free drinks.
Kq:having a good time and meeting tons of new friends every time

If you could choose one band to play with which one would it be?
Tom: Hummmm…that would be either Suicidal Tendencies,or Ozzy
GM: I would love to be on a bill with Leeway.
Kq:we played with leeway already..woohoo..i dunno. There are so many bands I would love to play with..blood for blood, burn, sheer terror, iron maiden,

If you could choose one band to play with that is no longer together which one would it be?
Tom: That would be Black Sabbath,without a doubt
GM: Either the Crumbsuckers or the METAL version of Metallica.
Kq:absolution or burn…well maybe supertouch..ah make it elvis fuck it.hahaha

What’s your definition of hardcore?
Tom: Doin’ what you really want to do in life,and nothing else
GM: Tables, chairs, thumbtacks, barbed wire, and lots of blood.
Kq: being your own person and sticking to the things you feel are true. No matter what or how much is offered to you.

An album in your collection that you just can’t do without?
Tom:Minor Threat’s Outta Step.
GM: I definitely could not do without my Iron Maiden collection
Kq:well ep is burn. But album‚..killing time..

Whats the best…and…worst thing about hardcore/ the hardcore scene?
The best is that the bands really interact with the kids who come down to see them play. The worst is the way it’s always been up and down.
GM: Best: Some people are always very supportive and will always come and hang out. It’s like Boy Scouts. There’s also a lot of good music, and some bands really put a lot of work into it and it shows. WORST: A lot of people in the scene are stupid. Some people think it’s a fashion show, other people think it’s a toughguy competition. It’s not as fun as it was 5 or 6 years ago. And the toughguys are the reasons why there’s no place to play in NYC anymore. Club owners don’t wanna deal with cops and lawsuits and crap like that, so they just stop having hardcore shows
Kq:best thing is shows. Period. That’s why we like hc is the shows. See your friends release the anger and just have a plain old fun time

What do you think of the scene these days?
Kq: it s the same as it ever was I think. People infighting, too good to talk to each other in some cases. Silly grudges against your old friends and grudges for nothing. At least before there were a lot more parties. breakdown just came back from japan and had the best time there. They have after show parties for the bands to chill together there.here we cant even talk to each other sometimes after shows. People used to see every band and support one another. Now its all about me, me ,me. People have got to understand that we are all the same. We all make up this scene you are complaining about. If you don’t like what you see do something. Talk to more people open up . I think it is harder to be a nice guy than it is to be a tough guy. I just think it could be so much better if we just respected each other and fought everyone else..not within the scene.
GM: Too many people out to either look cool or fill their pockets. I’m just doing this to have fun with people who have a lot in common with me. BANDS: Cool it with the ridiculous guarantees and booking agents. If it means playing for less than what you sometimes get, live with it. You’re a hardcore band, not fuckin White Zombie with flames and shit. It doesn’t cost $1000 for your band to play for a half hour. Take one for the team once in a while. I’ll play a show for a sack of White Castle burgers. If you’re in this for the money, you picked the wrong job.

Last words are yours…..
Kevin q: not many last words except be good and good luck. And thanks to inner rage records, castle heights and all our friends.tall paul, money matt, malone, glen huxtable, and billyclub sandwich, sinead, eric our guitar player for always being hard to get in touch with,jimmy g and poss, my girl jet and the fat cat krew…fat honey blunts
tom: I love playing,and making music. Everytime i play i get a
little bit better.I love to vent through music. To anyone who try’s to keep you or us down:Bad cess to ya,and all that belongs to ya!!!!!
GM: Check out these bands: Breakdown, Coldfront, Through The Discipline, Redline, Six of Fire, Sworn Enemy, Full Blown Chaos, One Second Thought, 5th Faction, Trust No One, On The Rise and Irate. Watch wrestling. Eat White Castle.