MetalHeadRadio:
Name of Artist/Band?

Fisticuff:
Paul Johnson - Vocals
Dan Prem - Guitar
Rob Griggy - Bass
Pat Garrett - Drums

MetalHeadRadio:
Whats the origin of your band name?

Fisticuff:
Originally we were C420 but then we gave the band a break for a year and when
we returned to the scene we felt it was time for a name change. Fisticuffs means to
engage in Battle using fists. We felt that that's the way we wanted to be out there in
the scene engaged in battle to be heard. We dropped the S off the end to make it
more our own.

MetalHeadRadio:
How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

Fisticuff:
Somewhere around six years ago, I think, in 2002 Paul and Rob met thru Paul's best
friend Roger Kieth(R.I.P.) who played drums in a band with Rob briefly. Rob Recalls
at the time" we just knew the singer we had wasn't what we were looking for and not
giving the power we needed in lead vocals." Roger came in with a tape with him and
Paul on it. I thought that Paul had potential so I told him to get him over. Paul had
never been in a band before but he took it very seriously and it just seemed to click.
Later Roger had some issues and it just wasn't working out. Paul was good friends
with Ed Moore who had sang in one the popular local ands ,Spawn, and he suggested
we get Pat on drums. It took a while to get Pat to even come over. His band had
broken up recently and just wasn't sure what he was into. That band was together
for maybe a little over a year. Things just weren't working with the guitarist and we
decided to go off and try to get a new guitarist. We were without a guitarist for about
six months Paul and myself (Rob) switched back and forth from guitar, just to keep
the song writing going and try to find our direction. Paul and Pat went to "rocking on
the river", a local Friday outside music show in the summer in our area. Paul said to
Pat "out of all the people here there has to be a guitarist for us that you know!" Pat
scanned the crowd." that dude plays guitar! I tried out for a band he was in a few
years back." Bam! that's how Dan was found. He came over to jam and it was like
we just belonged together, it was very scary on how well things went.

MetalHeadRadio:
When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?

Fisticuff:

October 2004 is when we found Dan and C420 was born. Fisticuff was born in Late 2006. The love of music and the desire to find our own style. We try to make each song as different as we can,     but still have "our" feel to it so that you know its still us. We took what we liked from all our
favorite bands. Not just metal bands but all styles to create who we are.

MetalHeadRadio:
What is your music background?

Fisticuff:
Paul can play guitar, a little drums, and bass. He grew up loving music. His Dad
is into music and plays several instruments and currently plays in a 60's/Beatles
band.(The Beatles happen to be Pauls favorite.) I, Rob was brought up on music
as well. My dad played guitar, Organ, keyboard, and Accordion (LOL). I started
playing guitar in my late teens. I was the complete 80's shred guitarist. Then one
day a friend needed a bass player and bam! that's what I do. Dan got into guitar
in his early teens. A friend got him started but his love for KISS kept him
interested and driven to continue. Pat's brother played guitar and introduced
him to Zepplin and Rush. His step dad saw he was interested in music and
bought him his first drum set.

MetalHeadRadio:
Who are your musical influences?

Fisticuff:
Metallica, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Megadeth, God Smack,
Pantera, Dry Kill Logic, Slipknot, Devil Driver. This can go on forever and
ever and ever, way to many bands to list.

MetalHeadRadio:
What are your immediate music career goals? ( Next year or so)

Fisticuff:
Keep branching further and further out. Keep trying to do mini tours. Writing
and recording our second CD to release by 2009.

MetalHeadRadio:
Who handles your daily business activities?

Fisticuff:
(Bookings, promotions etc.) Black and Blue Management www.myspace.com/blackandbluemanagment

MetalHeadRadio:
Do you have a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?

Fisticuff:
We started our own label. C420 Records.
   
www.myspace.com/c420records
We have a few other bands on it as well.

MetalHeadRadio:
Do you think Internet radio is a viable means to get your music "out there"?

Fisticuff:
Internet Radio has helped us a lot! You get so much variety and people from all
country's listen. We have gained many fans we never would have reached and
appreciate it very much. It's crazy to know our biggest fan is in New Zealand.
(hi! Paul from New Zealand!)

MetalHeadRadio:
Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues?
Do you have any upcoming shows?

Fisticuff:
Harpo's - Detroit, MI has to be our favorite, Peabody's - Cleveland,OH, Fat
Jimmy's - Kent,OH, The Underground - Sandusky, OH, The Wheelie Bar -
York, PA just to name a few places. We will be at Peabody's April Second
opening for Devil Driver, a whole bunch of places in April, New York for a
Metal Fest in July you just need to go on our myspace page to stay updated
on where we are at.

MetalHeadRadio:
Where would the "ultimate" venue for you to play be?

Fisticuff:
Stadium tours. Sold out stadiums. Anywhere people are waiting in line
for 3 days for tix.

MetalHeadRadio:
Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers?

Fisticuff:
We play everything from our current CD and a few off of the upcoming one. We
don't really do covers very often anymore. We wanna be us, someones already
covered a cover if ya know what i mean.

MetalHeadRadio:
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs?
Who comes up with the most song ideas?

Fisticuff:
Writing is very mixed and a band effort. Dan or myself (Rob) usually come up with
a main riff and all of us just cut it up from there and look to everyone for ideas and
structure. We try to just let the songs create themselves but every once and a while
we have to force it. Paul has alot to say and writes some great lyrics, but all in all,
we all collaborate.

MetalHeadRadio:
What are your rehearsals generally like?
Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are
rehearsals more spontaneous?

Fisticuff:

We get together usually twice a week but that depends on our show schedule. Practices are usually not structured. We either go over some stuff that we think need tightened up or just try to nail some new tunes down or just let the music flow and drone out some new ideas.

MetalHeadRadio:
How has your music evolved since first began playing together?

Fisticuff:
We have gotten more complex and more picky on what we play or how things fit
together. Just the other day we listened to a live show from early on, let's just
say, we've come a long way.

MetalHeadRadio:
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?

Fisticuff:
Just be prepared for tons of time dedicated to it. Be ready for fights amongst
yourselves. You really end up involved with each others problems and
shortcomings one way or another. That has to be the biggest problems is
dealing with each others personality quirks. Either talk problems through
or forget about them.

MetalHeadRadio:
What is the name of your most current CD? Where can it be purchased?

Fisticuff:
Punishment is our current CD and you can get it from www.cdbaby.com or
download it from I Tunes and various other download sites as well

MetalHeadRadio:
Do you maintain a web page or myspace page?

Fisticuff:
www.fisticuffmusic.com or www.myspace.com/fisticuffmusic so go check it out
everybody! Hopefully,we'll see you all at a show sometime! Thank's for letting
us be a part of this.