Interview for slapmagazine 8/15/05
Sorry for the cliché ass questions.
Q: Please introduce yourself to people who have never heard of you or your
music.
"I'm the true leader of the free world. My name is Sage 'not really' Francis.
Here's an ice cream cone. Wanna lick?"
Q: Since this is for a Bay Area Skateboard Magazine; have you ever skated?
Thoughts on Skateboarding? Anything Skateboarding related?
"I used to play skateboard until 2 or 3 in the morning. I was sponsored by
Snake Boards, which was exclusively distributed by K Mart. I broke my god damn
ankles doing a trick called The Silly Dance. No one has ever executed that
trick except for me. I like sacrificing my body to the skate gods in the sky."
Q: You’ve been to the Bay Area many times. What are your observations of the
people, landscape, vibe, etc.?
"They give me space cakes for free. Very generous folks. Dirty fuckers as well.
They like to think they can avoid the world by being so out of touch. Wait til
they get scooped up by their chest with a light beam."
Q: What are some other of your favorite places your music has taken you to?
"There is nothing outside of Earth that is all that interesting. This is
definitely the best planet. Iceland looks like the moon, but it's a lot cooler
than the moon because at least there are flawless women wearing my t-shirts and
shaking pom poms at me while I walk down their streets."
Q: You raps are often political. Do you think your fans have the same politics
as you, or just like how the music sounds? Or is there some sort of middle
ground?
"I don't think the normal human could grasp my politics. I think Noam Chomski
has an IDEA of what's going on in my lyrics, but he isn't into the whole
hippity hop thing. That's cool, because I ain't down with the whole lecture at
stupid colleges thing. I just have not depend on my politics in order to have
people appeciate my music. Music can exist without politics and vice versa.
When you mix the two you break god's heart."
Q: Last we heard from you, it was during heated political times. What are your
thoughts now, after the election? Iraq? Middle East? Anything that makes you
want to scream?
"Scream with joy. Sure. We are kicking major A-S-S. As long as no one really
gets hurt, what's the harm in that?"
Q: What did you think of musicians who jump on the “vote or die” bandwagon as
the elections heated up? Do you think it was out of a need to spread awareness,
or just for self-serving purposes?
"Well if they are just jumping on it, then that becomes a bit of a strain on
me. Because here I am tugging the dang thing behind me while everyone has their
little rap party on the back. And some fool tried installing a fucking hot tub.
On a BANDWAGON. The only revolution these guys are a part of is the Pepsi
Revolution. Can't hate on that."
Q: How do you feel about people downloading your music?
"I feel just fine about that. They come to shows and sing along and they
probably download their pepsi and potato chips as well. So why should I care?"
Q: You have quite an internet community on the Non-Prophets website. What are
your thoughts on the internet as a tool for musicians?
"I think it is always on the verge of being completely useless. But if you want
to make money, there is a way to do it. If you want to educate people....oh
wait...who would want to do that? The point is money. Yeah, the internet is a
great tool. All the money from the mp3 downloads has gone to www.knowmore.org
and I think it's the only great thing I have been a part of outside of art."
Q: You are still pretty accessible- through your printed email address, and
your online community- do you think you’ll ever cut all the strings and not be
accessible to your fans?
"I sure hope so."
Q: On A Healthy Distrust, you sing about Johnny Cash. What are your exact
thoughts on him and his music?
"I think he had an incredible career. And I like how he spoke for people who
didn't have a voice that would be heard otherwise. His music is calming."
Q: What other rappers would you say have influenced you the most?
"I almost answered that question, and then I started feeling like I was trying
to associate myself with those artist. And that feels cheap. Even though I know
its ok to list your influences, but I don't know if I have an honest answer for
that. I'd hate to break my path of honesty in this interview."
Q: What songs are “most played” on your ipod?
"Fuck an ipod with a chainsaw. Those things are evil, cunting, loser boxes. But
surprisingly enough I find myself listening to this novelty cd i bought at a
gas station called Irish Pub Songs. I find myself really enjoying it and
listening to it more than my other stuff."
Q: You’ve come a long way since five years ago. What do you envision for
yourself in another five years?
"I would never want to think about that. I hope I am alive, that's all I really
care about. Alive and operational."
Q: When we are all dead a hundred years from now; what would you want people to
say about Sage Francis and his music?
"I remember when we dug him up and sucked his dead dick. I can't believe it
hasn't decomposed yet. I can't believe people were so mean to him while he was
alive. I'd love to know what it was like to suck this dead dick while he was
alive. Life sucks."
Sorry for the cliché ass questions.
Q: Please introduce yourself to people who have never heard of you or your
music.
"I'm the true leader of the free world. My name is Sage 'not really' Francis.
Here's an ice cream cone. Wanna lick?"
Q: Since this is for a Bay Area Skateboard Magazine; have you ever skated?
Thoughts on Skateboarding? Anything Skateboarding related?
"I used to play skateboard until 2 or 3 in the morning. I was sponsored by
Snake Boards, which was exclusively distributed by K Mart. I broke my god damn
ankles doing a trick called The Silly Dance. No one has ever executed that
trick except for me. I like sacrificing my body to the skate gods in the sky."
Q: You’ve been to the Bay Area many times. What are your observations of the
people, landscape, vibe, etc.?
"They give me space cakes for free. Very generous folks. Dirty fuckers as well.
They like to think they can avoid the world by being so out of touch. Wait til
they get scooped up by their chest with a light beam."
Q: What are some other of your favorite places your music has taken you to?
"There is nothing outside of Earth that is all that interesting. This is
definitely the best planet. Iceland looks like the moon, but it's a lot cooler
than the moon because at least there are flawless women wearing my t-shirts and
shaking pom poms at me while I walk down their streets."
Q: You raps are often political. Do you think your fans have the same politics
as you, or just like how the music sounds? Or is there some sort of middle
ground?
"I don't think the normal human could grasp my politics. I think Noam Chomski
has an IDEA of what's going on in my lyrics, but he isn't into the whole
hippity hop thing. That's cool, because I ain't down with the whole lecture at
stupid colleges thing. I just have not depend on my politics in order to have
people appeciate my music. Music can exist without politics and vice versa.
When you mix the two you break god's heart."
Q: Last we heard from you, it was during heated political times. What are your
thoughts now, after the election? Iraq? Middle East? Anything that makes you
want to scream?
"Scream with joy. Sure. We are kicking major A-S-S. As long as no one really
gets hurt, what's the harm in that?"
Q: What did you think of musicians who jump on the “vote or die” bandwagon as
the elections heated up? Do you think it was out of a need to spread awareness,
or just for self-serving purposes?
"Well if they are just jumping on it, then that becomes a bit of a strain on
me. Because here I am tugging the dang thing behind me while everyone has their
little rap party on the back. And some fool tried installing a fucking hot tub.
On a BANDWAGON. The only revolution these guys are a part of is the Pepsi
Revolution. Can't hate on that."
Q: How do you feel about people downloading your music?
"I feel just fine about that. They come to shows and sing along and they
probably download their pepsi and potato chips as well. So why should I care?"
Q: You have quite an internet community on the Non-Prophets website. What are
your thoughts on the internet as a tool for musicians?
"I think it is always on the verge of being completely useless. But if you want
to make money, there is a way to do it. If you want to educate people....oh
wait...who would want to do that? The point is money. Yeah, the internet is a
great tool. All the money from the mp3 downloads has gone to www.knowmore.org
and I think it's the only great thing I have been a part of outside of art."
Q: You are still pretty accessible- through your printed email address, and
your online community- do you think you’ll ever cut all the strings and not be
accessible to your fans?
"I sure hope so."
Q: On A Healthy Distrust, you sing about Johnny Cash. What are your exact
thoughts on him and his music?
"I think he had an incredible career. And I like how he spoke for people who
didn't have a voice that would be heard otherwise. His music is calming."
Q: What other rappers would you say have influenced you the most?
"I almost answered that question, and then I started feeling like I was trying
to associate myself with those artist. And that feels cheap. Even though I know
its ok to list your influences, but I don't know if I have an honest answer for
that. I'd hate to break my path of honesty in this interview."
Q: What songs are “most played” on your ipod?
"Fuck an ipod with a chainsaw. Those things are evil, cunting, loser boxes. But
surprisingly enough I find myself listening to this novelty cd i bought at a
gas station called Irish Pub Songs. I find myself really enjoying it and
listening to it more than my other stuff."
Q: You’ve come a long way since five years ago. What do you envision for
yourself in another five years?
"I would never want to think about that. I hope I am alive, that's all I really
care about. Alive and operational."
Q: When we are all dead a hundred years from now; what would you want people to
say about Sage Francis and his music?
"I remember when we dug him up and sucked his dead dick. I can't believe it
hasn't decomposed yet. I can't believe people were so mean to him while he was
alive. I'd love to know what it was like to suck this dead dick while he was
alive. Life sucks."
