On a Tour Bus to Heaven

The rain poured and the wind howled, as the four boys of Hoobastank were hanging out in their bus, laughing and chatting before a big show at The Brick Works in the college town of Chico, CA. After recently ending a tour with Incubus, a short break, and now starting their new tour with Earshot and Pressure 4-5, you'd think the foursome would be tuckered out. In fact, they're raring to go and excited about kicking off their tour in Chico. I sat down with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, bassist Markku Lappalainen and drummer Chris Hesse in their tour bus, and spent some time uncovering the mysteries of Hoobastank.
Their new self-titled CD is a follow up to their self-produced album, 1998's They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To. I was interested to know what changed in making the new CD.
"Yeah, it definitely changed (laughing). A lot of these songs [on the new record] were written six years ago and the difference between the records is just maturity. This one's a little more straightforward and easier to understand. The lyrics got a little more personal," said guitarist Dan Estrin.
"Up and Gone" is a song about finding peace and hope in life, a strong juxtaposition from the heavy guitars and bounding musical energy. Robb wrote it about a friend who was in a gang and working to support his family. Meanwhile Robb was learning guitar and chasing frogs around the neighborhood. The song is written from the point of view of someone who wasn't allowed to be a 13-year-old kid.
Hoobastank got their name while watching the Discovery Channel. While most guys prefer to indulge in the animal mating programs, Lappalainen saw the name printed in tiny letters on a NASA lunar rocket guiding system.
"We've spent like 6 months looking for a name. We had some normal names but it was like everything was taken," Lappalainen remarked.
"Like Hot Johnny!" Hesse said and the group bust up laughing
"Actually it's my middle name, but don't tell anyone," Lappalainen solemnly stated.
Robb and Estrin got together in the early 1990s after competing against each other in a battle of the bands competition. They snagged the other two members and after seven years, got a record deal and shot their first music video.
"The first time I saw it, it was kinda weird, but it's cool," said Robb about the video, from inside his sheepskin jacket and stylish 70's style shag 'do. "It just feels like the natural progression of things. If it had been overnight then we probably would've been more excited. Usually I'm really tired by the time I see it (laughter) it's on at like three in the morning. I finally saw it the other day. I hardly ever watch MTV, because it's never music anymore."
The majority of the band agreed that, from a young age, music had to be their destiny.
"I was around 11 or 12 years old when I started playing. I put my eggs all in one basket, so I'm glad it all worked out, at least for now." said Lappalainen. I asked if anyone played the recorder.
"I think they are a state-mandated instrument. I can play fishbone on the recorder. I taught myself how to play it," said the heartthrob Estrin, "If you give me a telephone I can play you some stuff on that."
"Mary had a little lamb?" chuckled Hesse.
"Yeah, I can play that. Do you know that song by 2 Live Crew, 'Hey we want some pussy'? I can play that on the phone," Estrin said proudly and the entire bus rocked with laughter.
But before they were rock stars, Lappalainen had the tough job as an art director in the adult entertainment industry. What a tough gig to give up.
Hoobastank had really no where else to go but towards fame. When I asked if they'd gone to college they eyed each other sheepishly and grinned.
"What's that?" Estrin said, laughing, "A brand of toothpaste or something?"
"We did about a year," said Robb, pointing to Heese.
" I thought you dropped out," gasped Hesse.
"Nope! I'm the smartest!" Robb exclaimed waving his hands triumphantly in the air.
Be careful about getting stuck on a desert island with these guys because they would all request to have Lionel Richie's Love Songs. Estrin and Hesse would also choose Metallica and Robb required Faith No More's "Angeldust." But for now the only islands they see are in the midst of an ocean of fans, swirling and moshing before them.
"We prefer medium venues. Big is cool, too, because when we play big venues, and open for a band, its a new audience who's never heard us before, and in the end we get more kids that are gonna by our records and be fans of our band," said Robb. "At the same time we like doing our own [smaller] shows, because we can't fill up [big] venues all on our own and it gets to be more intimate."
"I like everything about big shows except the fact that I feel disconnected," stated Hesse, "Sometimes you can get across to bigger crowds, but you feel kinda like you're at a rehearsal. I always feel more inspired in the bigger places because the sound is always better and it fuels me."
The only drawback of touring is missing your family and friends, back at home. Last week Hesse was talking to his girlfriend and was caught in a peculiar moment.
"His girlfriend has this little dog that looks like a ball of hair. Its this little toy poodle, and she treats it, like, better than her parents, you know? Nishka this and Nishka that, and Chris is on the phone and all of a sudden I see him kinda sink down in the chair and say 'Hi, hi Nishka. Baby, I don't think the dog can here me. Hi Nishka. Woofwoofwoof.' It's a grown man talking on the phone to a dog. I'm like, oh man, get me outta here," laughs Robb as Hesse tried to unsuccessfully deny the accusations.
I stuck around for their performance at The Brick Works and it was clear that Hoobastank lives for the stage. Robb hopped up and down, smiled, and winked at the audience.
Plans for after the show?
"We'll hang around after and if there are kids to talk to, we'll say 'what's up' and talk with them," said Robb. And fans there will be. The newly public Hoobastank has been attracting admirers from as far away as Brazil, Israel, England, and Russia.
"I can't believe this is actually happening," says Hesse, "After all those years, it was such a great feeling to know that we are finally getting a chance..."

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