First, why did you guys to decide to name your first record "American Standard" - ‘cause I have to tell you the truth it always reminds me of a toilet...

(Laughs) Oh, man... at the time we needed to come up with a name really quick. We actually didn’t find out about that until afterwards. (Laughs)

What happened with your contract with Mammoth Records?

It just dissolved. They were bought out, and they dissolved.

So you’re looking for a label right now?

Yes.

Any leads so far?

Yeah, we’ve been talking to people at three or four labels that actually seem interested. Smaller Indie type labels.

Tell me more about the four songs you have on the new sampler CD.

We recorded them in November up in California - they’re a little bit heavier than our last record was. They’re still in demo form - I wouldn’t expect them to be in that form on the record.

What’s the best thing about being in a band like Seven Mary Three?

Working with your friends.

What’s the worst thing?

Working with your friends. (Laughs) True, either way you look at it. We’ve been together for eleven years - four of us, including the tour manager have been together... I’ve known the tour manager for twenty years. And everyone else for about fifteen to twenty years. There’s a lot of baggage that comes along with it - but you can also get past the rough spots because you’ve been through so many that they hardly even matter.

I know it’s an old song, but what’s "Devil Boy" about?

That’s one of the early songs that was adapted from a poem that I wrote when I was in college. Looking back on it now it seems kinda silly, but when your eighteen...I was in catholic school going through a rebellion stage.

I was watching MTV a few years ago and they had you on a special about one hit wonders - how do you feel about being labeled that?

It bothers me, but I can’t do anything. You’re only as big as your biggest hit. We only had one song that went number one - but had a couple that were number two.

What’s one of your favorite topics to write about?

Fidelity.

Has touring changed at all through the years?

Yeah, we’ve been really fortunate all these years... besides the first couple... we’ve had enough fans that we can travel pretty comfortably. This summer we’re flying to all of our shows, and doing some in a van.

How have you guys evolved through the years?

I think we tried to remain true - the journey of trying to come up with our own voice. Certainly in the early days - grunge was important... but I think we were one step away from it.

What was the main reason you wanted to start a band when you were younger?

I was an isolationist. I definitely had friends - but I definitely had my own world going on in my head. And kids in a band during high school were really cool. (Laughs)

Why would you consider your band different from other bands out there right now?

In a matter of speaking because we’ve persevered to a certain degree. I don’t think that in itself is a reason to listen to a band - certainly there’s a lot of bands out there that have been playing together for a long time... and they’re horrible. If that’s the best thing you can say about your band, then that sucks... but I think in our case we’ve been fortunate that... I think we’re all capable of doing other things - we’ve certainly enjoyed ourselves... but I’d like to continue making records.

Is it tough not having a label backing you?

Yeah, it’s tough. It is, but more and more people are doing it these days. We’ve certainly been doing a lot of research on how to go about and release our own record.... a lot of it looks really positive.

What do you think of all the "die hard" Seven Mary Three fans that have stayed with you through the years?

I adore them, I truly do. I feel that I’ve paid my debt to them in more ways than one. And I’ve tried to show them a level of respect that sometimes they wouldn’t show themselves. I’m extremely grateful that anybody could find any kind of connection in our music. The "die hard" fans... the true "die hard" fans are with us as we move along... the sort of "die hard" fans... it’s sort of frustrating when they want to hear everything on "American Standard", but I understand where that comes from... when I go see my favorite bands I would get pissed off if they didn’t play the songs.

If you never started the band, where would you be now?

Oh, man. I honestly don’t know. I’d probably still be in school.

When you write, do lyrics just pop in your head or do you have to think about them for a while?

It happens both ways. There’s some songs that write themselves, that you finish in four minutes... There’s some that take a year.

Is there a certain atmosphere you like to write in?

Generally I’ve always written our records while on the road - I’d always be sitting in the back of the bus writing. Now is the first time since our first record that I’ve had time at home - kinda just sit down in a room and play the guitar.

What’s your secret for lasting so long?

I think there’s something that - a feeling I get when I sing these songs and people react to them that gives me a fact that it might not be over yet. And as long as I still get that feeling - I can still play. Some nights are a lot more difficult than others. I guess I can say that if something happens... then this was it. I think we’ve been doing it long enough to see that this is just one part of our lives - it’s not a small part. In the end it’s just a period of time.