Is it true that you started out as the drummer for the band when you first started out as Loud House?

Oh yeah.

How’d you end up singing?

Well, I was involved in the writing process... writing lyrics, guitar parts, and melodies. When we were beginning to write the second Loud House record - we changed the singer - well, he quit - we started to look for another singer, but in the meanwhile we started doing new songs. And when we did that... I didn’t sound too bad so I just continued from that point on... and we became Sponge.

Was it a hard transformation for you?

No, I didn’t think so. I don’t think so at all.

What happened to Tim and Mike Cross - why did they leave the band?

Well, from what I recall they left the band around 1999 - I think they were just getting tired out. They were just tired of being on the road - we had only two records by then... and we did a lot of touring... I think the fellas just needed to leave. So Tim let first - he pretty much just walked off the bus one day and we never saw him again. Mike decided to leave the band not too long after that.

What are you guys doing right now?

We have a new record out right now... actually Joe Mazzola, the only original guy left in the band besides myself... Joe and I wrote and recorded that whole record, and not too long after we did that Joe decided to play with a new band.

What sound do you guys go for?

Well, we’re a rock ‘n roll band. I think we’ve always been a rock ‘n roll band. We were doing it when it wasn’t fashionable to be in a rock ‘n roll band, now days everyone from Detroit to Finland wants to strap on a guitar and rock...

What message or statements do you like to make through your songs?

Well, I don’t know. I never thought about it. I’m not smart enough to do that. You know, I’m trying to figure out my own problems.

As you think back to when Sponge was first formed - what were you going through at that time?

We were broke as hell. We were really stinkin’ broke. When we released a record on Virgin as Loud House... we were really broke then. After we paid our manager, our lawyer, and production company what a major deal meant for me was ten thousand dollars of which I still had to pay taxes on. So you figure ten years... twelve years up to that point... we’re finally signed... and you end with maybe eight thousand dollars after all that. That’s just crunching numbers - it just doesn’t make any sense. Again, we were just broke.

You guys have been out for a while - what year stands out the most?

It’s still pretty fun right now. 2003's pretty sweet - 2004 can be pretty good, I’m looking forward to 2004 my man.

What keeps you going?

An unbridle passion for self promotion. How about that? (Laughs) I wanna rock.... Dee Snider. (Laughs)

Have you ever been on stage and forgotten a lyric?

Fuck yeah, when I’m drunk as hell. A lot of times people sing along - so I read their lips and go on from that.

If any one of your songs could be heard by anyone - which would you prefer?

Probably the brand new stuff that we’re doing.

And that’s on the album, For All The Drugs In The World? Why’d you name the CD that?

‘Cause that’s what we’re playing for, my man.

What does the future hold for Sponge?

A fist full of dollars, my man. Just like Clint Eastwood...

You mean you don’t have that yet?

Fists, man, fists... plural.