Five For Five with Mike Gallo of Agnostic Front
Photo: Michael J Fajardo
When it comes to hardcore bands, there are few, if any, bigger and more important than the legendary Agnostic Front. Every time i've seen them play, they destroy the place. As busy as he is, Mike Gallo (bass) was kind enough to participate in this series. They've got a new record out that you can get here and a new 7inch, that you can get here.
1. If you had the opportunity to introduce extraterrestrials to music with five records, what do you choose?
Black Sabbath Sabotage (and every other record Ozzy was on)
Ramones Ramones
Agnostic Front Victim In Pain
Motown Anthems (hard to narrow down one record of this incredible era of music. This kind of sums it up)
The Cure Staring At The Sea
2. I saw Agnostic Front in Sydney 2011 with Sick Of It All and you killed it at the Manning Bar, and then a few months ago in Zurich and you were even better. There was no "going through the motions", just a band on top form having a great time. How hard is it to maintain that level of energy and enthusiasm after being in the game so long?
I have to thank our fans that keep that coming back, like Stigma always says, without our fans we ain’t shit.
It’s definitely not easy but I take my job seriously. I give a hundred percent in everything I do. This is our lives, our passion and we’re lucky to be able to do what we do. We’re blessed and we will continue to give our all till we can not physically do it anymore.
3. People might not know you are also an artist. Do you find completing an artwork or a song more difficult, and why?
Good question, I believe completing a song takes more time to mature and finish rather than a painting, but I do approach it in the same manner when creating a piece. I usually need something to inspire me, than put my own take on it, same way when I’ll write a song. Songs can take months before I finish them, and then there’s times when when I can write one in one night. It all depends. Usually a painting will take me a few nights depending on the detail. I’ll usually have to hang an unfinished piece for a few days, study it and play around with what it needs to be complete. I feel like a mad scientist at times trying to create what I feel like best or song wise what sounds best. To me there’s no better out let then being creative. It’s what fuels my fire.
4. Are there any bands (or artists) past or present you wish more people knew about?
Yes there are a lot of newer NYHC bands that I’m digging. Ache, Crazy Eddie, Combust, a d of course from Pennsylvania there is wisdom in chains that are really starting to get a bigger name but I feel that more people should know of.
5. What's next for Mike Gallo / Agnostic Front?
There’s no slowing down at any point right now. We have our record release on November 8th “Get Loud” On Nuclear Blast records. We are releasing the godfathers of hard-core film by Ian Mcfarlin to be put out on Bridge nine records this month as well. Tons of touring lined up all the way through next year. We have a 12 show slapshot run then four shows in New York City with Sick of it all and also a show with the Misfits in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo theater. In January we will be on the persistence tour with Gorilla Biscuits, Street dogs, H20, Wisdom In Chains and Billy Bio. Art wise I will Be Doing the second annual “Boots And Brushes Show”in March. It’s an event I created where I have 3 artists displaying art work plus mine, 3 bands and 3 DJ’s. Last year was the first one and it was a huge success. We did it in NYC at Coney Island Baby. So look out for that. Check out my art work on Instagram @mikegallo1975 @gallo_originals