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Walter Schreifels: Gorilla Biscuits is part of my life

posted by: David on 9 July 2010

Here a short but sweet interview with Walter Schreifels that Joost did. The songwriter and guitarist of the legendary Gorilla Biscuits recently released a solo album called 'An Open Letter To The Scene'. Walter talks about his old band, switching from hardcore to more mellow music and more.

How do you feel about people who still think of you as the guy from Gorilla Biscuits? Do you feel honored because that band is still so popular more than twenty years on, or do you see it as a bit of a burden because you've done so many other things since Gorilla Biscuits first called it quits?

Might seem strange but many people who like my music don’t even know who Gorilla Biscuits are. I don’t feel it’s a burden because I still love Gorilla Biscuits, it’s part of my life. The kind of music I make now isn’t so different to me than Gorilla Biscuits though it’s not as fast or mosh friendly. The lyrics and melodies are important and it’s all pretty positive.

Through the years, you've made several different types of music with the bands and projects you've been in. If you had to choose, what would you prefer: to reach an entirely new audience with each new musical project, or to have you old fans following you no matter in which direction you choose to go?

I want to find new fans of course but I’ve always tried to keep my original fans in mind. Even with my solo album I cover “Society Suckers” which any GB fan would understand.

What's a bigger kick to you: having a focussed audience quietly listening to an acoustic song, or to see people freaking out and stagediving while you're playing 'New Direction' with Gorilla Biscuits?

I think both are good. It’s pretty exciting to have a crowd go so crazy but it’s not what I’m trying to achieve right now. I guess I’m happy with people just listening to the music and getting something from that.

When you sit down to write a song, do you know beforehand if it's going to be an acoustic song, a rock song or a punk rock song?

I don’t really put such categories on it, it’s more important that the song just works as what it is. Sometimes I’ll apply a style to it afterwards like how I did with “Don’t Gotta Prove It” on my solo record. I wanted something rock and roll so I changed it up again but the basic meaning of the song is still intact.

You're obviously a gifted songwriter as you've been responsible for one of the best-selling independent hardcore albums ever and you also enjoyed a bit of mainstream success... Have you ever wondered how much potential you could've had as a totally mainstream musician if that would've been your thing?

Hmmm, well firstly, thank you. I don’t know if I would have been so interested in becoming a musician if it weren’t for hardcore, CBGB’s and touring, I would have probably went to school and studied something. I don’t know, I’m fairly content with being able to do it as I have.

Your solo album is musically far from hardcore. Then why are there so many references to hardcore in the lyrics? Did you feel the need to let the scene know that you still feel connected to it?

In some ways yes, I’ll always feel connected to HC because that is where I grew up. My music is aimed at everyone and anyone “Open Letter To The Scene” can work for any scene, I don’t think you have to know about hardcore to get into it. I think my music isn’t so different at it’s core, if you sped some of these songs up they’d make good GB songs.

Do you still listen to newer hardcore bands every once in a while, or do you stick to the classics whenever you listen to hardcore music?

Once in a while I’ll listen to something new but not often. I do spin oldies from time to time, Minor Threat, NA, Necros, a lot of that stuff still holds up for me.

Do you keep in touch with the music that your peers from the New York hardcore scene of the late 80s are making nowadays?

Drew from Crippled Youth and Arthur from Gorilla Biscuits are in my solo band. I keep up with all the GB guys. I stay in contact with lots of people from that time.

You live in Berlin, I believe? Do you ever get homesick?

I’ve been living back in New York for the last year though I’ll be back in Berlin this summer. I would get homesick but not so much because I was visiting NYC son much anyway. I miss Berlin and living in Europe for sure but NYC is where my family is.

If you could put just one of all the records you've ever made in a time capsule to be preserved for future generations, which one would it be?

“Open Letter To The Scene” of course.

You wrote the entire first CIV album even though you weren't a member of the band. Do you feel like ever doing something like that again, writing a whole album for someone else

I would be into it if I had the right people to work with, the right singer. I would write another album for Civ but I’m so busy with my solo work and Rival Schools. I liked writing songs for Youth Of Today because I didn’t have to write the lyrics, something like that is easier.

Suppose you have to form a "super band", but you can only choose people that you've been in a band with before. Who would be in the band?

It’s my solo band, Drew, Arthur, Dave Hill and John Herguth, we rock it.

Interview by Joost.
Pictures taken from Walter's Myspace.