The band NO is made up of drummer Tim Jarzabek, Bass player Justin Corman, Piano/keyboard player Mike Jarzabek and guitar/vocals Nick Jarzabek answering questions here. They hail from Los Angeles, USA.

1. How did you get started?
My mom always played Beatles and Doors records for us when we were little kids. After I came across her Who records and discovered Keith Moon I stole some spoons from our kitchen and started tapping on anything that made cool sounds. I think I was about six. In seventh grade I failed maths on purpose to show my parents I was better at playing drums then going to school. My parents bought me my first guitar at age 10 for Christmas. Best day ever!

2. What ingredients do you need to mix together to produce the recipe of your sound?
Our sound seems to always be changing slightly. But at the moment we could reproduce it with just a piano or keyboard, acoustic or electric guitar, and a kick or snare drum. We don’t require much. Music today seems to be more about production than melody. We are more about melody.

3. Did your first gig make you hungry for more?
Definitely. Looking back I thought it was great but we had no audience only our friends. Naturally it gave us inspiration to keep playing and build one.

4. What’s the biggest ‘cock up’ to date?
Definitely the ‘Kaiserkeller Freheit’ gig in Hamburg Germany. We played the same place as the Beatles did. It was sold out and was on our first stint in Europe.

5. What is it that inspires you to make your music/sound?
I could take inspiration from anything. A song, an album, a bit of a song, a walk outside, the news. Inspiration comes from everywhere. It really just depends on the mood I’m in.

6. What would be the icing on the cake?
To play on stage with Paul McCartney and be able to play music for the next 50 years without having to worry about rent money.

7. How will you be remembered? (what will make you vintage?)
The music, the songs, having fun and not caring what others think. Hopefully we can give inspiration to others who might not pick up an instrument because their parents tell them not to or their girlfriend/boyfriend tells them to stop wasting their time. We take music lightly. It’s fun. We don’t take anything seriously. It seems today musicians take themselves so seriously it doesn’t look fun and inspiring. It seems like there are a lot of careerists and not so many artists. The minute it stops being fun we will stop.

8. Describe your music as if it were a fine wine.
A strong dry red with a light sweet aroma.

9. Digestive! If you weren’t doing what you are doing now, what would make you happy?
Really nothing at the moment. Maybe an art designer… I haven’t found anything better than music so far. Most anything else would bore me. So if I wasn’t doing music I would probably die a slow boring death.

10. AfterMint! Does your musical style influence your underwear?
Sure. Different outfits make me play differently. Style affects my mood. Funny you should mention that, I just bought some bright yellow boxers with flowers and dots the other day. It also influences my socks.

Download MP3s Track 1: Guess Who  Track 2: Gee, I’m in Love
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More info www.notheband.com | www.twitter.com/followno | www.facebook.com/followno
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