IndieHQ / Article Detail

April 20th, 2007

Interview with Gordy Carbone of the Forgotten

I am excited to bring you an interview with Gordy Carbone of the Forgotten. The Forgotten have been playing punk rock for 10 years now and after putting out a number of releases with a number of labels (most recently BYO), the band are gearing up to record a brand new album for long-time home, TKO Records. Lars Frederiksen will be producing the new album come July for a Fall release. Gordy discusses what they look for in a label, what bands can do to get the attention of labels, some of their musical influcences, and what records he is currently listening to.

Thanks Gordy for taking the time to do this interview and everyone, please check out a few tracks on the band’s myspace page.

IndieHQ: When did your band start? Where is your band based? What label is your band on? Do you do the band full time? What don’t most people know about you/your band?
TF: Our name is The Forgotten, and my name is Gordy. I’m answering on behalf of TF. We have been around since 1997. We are currently on TKO Records and have also worked with BYO, Knockout, Coretex, People like you and farmed out lots of songs to comps on various labels. The Forgotten was a full time band for a matter of years in the start of the century but since then most have taken real jobs. Something people may not about us? Hmm. Well even though we have never missed a show on tour in our lives we would still get bumped from tours with drinking men because ‘some people’ thought that little old us might be a bad influence on these 40+ year old punk rockers who started the scene. That’s a pretty big compliment!

IndieHQ: Where can people sample your music? Myspace url? Website? What is your latest album? What is your best selling release? How many has it sold?
TF: You can find The Forgotten on iTunes, Myspace, www.theforgotten.net. Our latest album will be recorded in July 2007 for TKO records. Lars Frederiksen produces and Michael Rosen engineers. The album as yet is untitled. Our best selling album is “Keep the Corpses Quiet” on TKO Records. I don’t know how many that’s sold. I stopped keeping track after a billion.

IndieHQ: What do you look for in a label? How did you hook up with your label? Would you ever consider signing to a major label? What advice do you have for bands attempting to get a label’s attention?
TF: For bands trying to get a label’s attention I’d say DIY! That’s how a label knows that you are serious. If you are gonna put out your music yourself no matter what AND have shown that you can tour together (meaning show you can book a few on your own and that your band wont break up on the road) then a label has every reason in the world to take you seriously. What TF looks for I a label is someone you can talk to. That’s it. Communication. It’s key in business. If you can work with them that is all you really need. Would we sign to a Major? Don’t be stupid – of course we would. If the deal was right we’d do it in a heart beat. If you love what you do why wouldn’t you want to get our art out to even more people? Keep in mind this is still hinging on a “good deal” that we would never be offered. Nice to dream though.

IndieHQ: I run a label and attempting to sell music in the post-file-sharing, post-Tower Records retail landscape is more difficult than ever. Do you feel that file-sharing/copying has helped or hurt your band? How??
TF: HA ha. Man it’s just a different game and if you don’t know how to play it you will be left behind – no matter how earnest you are in your values. If people don’t buy your music then make em buy your shirt. If a label can survive on selling physical units then realize that the medium is digital and start selling that way. You are only limited by your imagination.

IndieHQ: Do you have a booking agent? Who? Do you have a manager? Who? How important is it to your band that you have a booking agent and manager on your team?
TF: We are booked by a very respected friend Ron Martinez. Between he and Mark from TKO we come up with our plans. It is VERY important to have a booking agent and we are VERY lucky to have Ron in our corner. I honestly don’t know what we would do without him.

IndieHQ: As music sales continue to decrease and music distribution changes, there has been lots of talk about a new label business model where labels will need to start taking a share of the band’s merchandise, publishing, and ticket sales. How do you feel about this idea?
TF: PSHT! The label can fucking earn that money rightfully by learning the publishing company game and licensing out their bands music to TV, movies, commercials and shit on their own. Then they can even take the industry standard of 50%. I think that’s a little more than fair. If the label wants part of my show pay, they should be booking the shows we play. And if they want part of my merch then they should be helping me design, sell and pay for em too. That’s also fair. Again – it’s all communication and no ultimatums.

IndieHQ: If you were forced to describe your band to someone by mentioning the 3 bands that most influenced your songwriting, which bands would you mention?
TF: Stiff Little Fingers, Blitz, and Johnny Cash. And we don’t sound a thing like any of em.

IndieHQ: What do you see as the future of music sales?
TF: Purely electronic. People will still collect cd’s for the artwork and liner notes – just like vinyl collectors today but almost all music is played electronically so why wouldn’t you buy it that way too?

IndieHQ: What 5 albums are you currently listening to most?
Anti-nowhere League – We are the League
Stiff Little Fingers – Nobody’s Heroes
Twopointeight – self titled
Hard Skin – Same Meat Different Gravy
GBH – Ha Ha.

IndieHQ: If you could get everyone in the world to listen to one song by your band, which one would it be? Why? Is it on your Myspace page?
TF: It will be recorded in July! It’s called American Dreams. It’s not on our Myspace. I guess for one that’s out now it’d have to be Silent Weapons.

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Written by Virgil Dickerson