ZERO BOYS

from Maximum Rock'n'Roll At age 19 Paul Mahern has already accomplished quite a lot. From being lead singer of the ZERO BOYS to starting Affirmation Records, and putting out "The Master Tape Vol. I & II". What follows is an interview that took place over several days in which Paul discusses why he does what he does. MRR: How old are the ZERO BOYS? What have been some of the accomplishments? PAUL: We formed in June of '80. In Sept. of '80 we released the "Livin' in the 80's" EP. It was a 7 incher with 5 songs. On our own Z-Disk Records. We managed to get rid of all 500 of them. This version of the ZERO BOYS, which included John Mitchel on bass, can also be heard on the Gulcher Records Compilation "Red Snerts" doing "New Generation". Then in June of '81 John was replaced by Tufty. We recorded the album "Vicious Circle" in November of '81 but it wasn't released until the summer of '82 on Nimrod Records. Once again we managed to sell out the whopping 2000 pressed. That was our last record. Since then we have been on both Master Tape I & II. We have a new album that's being finished right now titled "Pay Back is Hell". It should be out in a couple of months. MRR: What have you done in the way of tours? PAUL: The ZERO BOYS have been on two tours. Once to the east coast in the winter of '81. We played various dates in Boston, and one date in New York at A-7. It was a relatively unsuccessful tour. Then we did a west coast tour after "Vicious Circle" came out in the summer of '81. This was a total unorganized fiasco which resulted in the break up of the band. I must say I have much respect for any band that tours today on that level. We plan on doing another east coast tour as soon as the new record comes out. MRR: Do you consider the ZERO BOYS to have been successful? PAUL: Yeah, when I first joined the band I was more than happy just to be in the same band with Terry and Mark. So it really didn't matter if we were successful or not. I've always been into music for fun. I never really considered making my living from it. MRR: Some of the ZERO BOYS songs seem real deep, and other seem straight forward, almost pop. Why is this? PAUL: That's a question a lot of people have asked me in the past. Basically it's because everyone in the group writes, and we all have different influences. It might have something to do with the age differences. I'm 19, and everyone else is between 23 and 27.

Interview with Paul Mahern

MRR: What made you want to start your own record company? PAUL: Basically I had the idea to do the compilation album (Master Tape I) first. I thought it was time someone did a compliation that would be easy to get your hands on. That would feature some of the bands from around here that were having a hard time getting exposure. I only started the record company when it became obvious that no one else would want to put it out. I'm really glad it turned out that way. Now I get mail every day, and have lots of friends in high places. MRR: Now that you are in the record business, what's it like? PAUL: It seems to me to be a real back stabbing business. We managed to sell 2,500 copies of "The Master Tape vol. I", and because of certain distributers who have failed to pay us for records they have long since sold, we ended up losing money. And of course the bands make nothing. It's funny now to watch these same distributors beg for "The Master Tape II", and the new AOF EP. I've learned to be very suspicious, and untrusting. Which is against my nature completely. MRR: How did you find the bands on "The Master Tape Vol. II"? PAUL: Inside Master Tape I there was a poster, and on one section of that poster was a paragraph that asked any interested bands to send a tape to us for consideration. Then I just took what I felt to be the best stuff. One thing I would like to point out is that these compilations are nothing more than a chance for any band that wouldn't normally have a chance to be on record. It's not really limited to hardcore. I'm sure a lot of people will wonder why some of the bands are on the second one. It's because they are bands that have been working with very little reward for a long time, and they deserve the break more than anyone else. MRR: How many volumes of The Master Tape do you plan to release? PAUL: I'd like to release as many as there are bands that want to be on them. I'd love to see "The Master Tape Vol. 16". Who knows what kind of bands would be on it by then. I think there will always be a need for these compilations. I just wish more bands with different sounds would send me tapes. Don't get me wrong, it's nothing against hardcore. I know there are a lot of good bands out there, and I don't want any of them no matter what kind of music they play to be afraid to send us tapes for consideration. MRR: Do you think you will sell more Master Tape Vol. II's than you did of the first one? PAUL: Well I hope so. A lot of things have changed since the Master Tape I came out. Just look at the pages of Maximum Rock&Roll. There are so many hardcore records coming out these days, and most people have very little money to spend on records. On the other hand there are a lot more bands on the second one and sales to people who have seen them live will surely increase. That doesn't answer your question, but the fact of the matter is that I really don't know.

Interview with Paul Mahern

MRR: What are some of your goals for Affirmation? PAUL: I guess my biggest goal right now is to do more of my own distribution. I'd like to do more direct to stores, and direct to oversea distributors. I figure with a little effort I get the records to people a lot cheaper. We will be sending flyers advertising the latest stuff to as many good record stores as we can get addresses of real soon, but we need a lot more information. Basically all of my goals for Affirmation have to do with gaining more independence from the "music business". MRR: Do you ever get frustrated? PAUL: Does a fat dog fart? Sure I get frustrated, but I get much more pleasure out of what I do than frustration. MRR: Do you think the scene is still growing in Indiana? PAUL: Well ever since we started putting on shows on a regular basis at the beginning of last spring it seems to be growing pretty steadily. It seems like I'm always seeing new faces. It's really great because it's so easy to be lazy here. MRR: Why do you stay in the Midwest? PAUL: I guess I stay here because it feels real. The kids around here appreciate the few shows they do get to see. Also, to be a punk from Indiana means that you went looking for punk rock -- not because all the kids at school are punks. It's real rebellion. Everyone knows one another, and I like the closeness. I really don't see how it would benefit the record company to move, besides all the heavyweights come from the Midwest -- CRUCIFUCKS, DIE KREUZEN, A.O.F., TOXIC REASONS, and the list goes on. Interview done by Carl Haynes, Midwest Uprising

Interview with Paul Mahern