Ben Osmundson From Zebrahead

"We're not political, we're not out to save the world, if you listen to the lyrics it's just about being yourself and having fun. We're not sad, we're not complaining that the world's treating us like crap . . . we want to keep this upbeat."

-Zebrahead

Be sure to check out Zebrahead's website as well as Zebrahead's Myspace.

1. Can you give us a brief history of Zebrahead and how you guys started and where the name came from?

Well, it all kinda fell into place on accident. We were all playing in other bands and used the same re-hearsal place. We just goofed around one day and wrote a song and decided to play it in between bands at one of our other bands next shows and people dug it. So we rolled with it. The name actually comes from the movie zebrahead. We didnt think we would play more than one show so we didn't take it to seriously....lame name YES....

2. What are some of your influences, musical and non musical?

I like everything from Fugazi to Slayer. Non musical I would say the beach is my place of peace and relazation....i love the ocean

3. What is your creative process like and how do you write your songs?

Everyone helps on every song. We are all able to have opinions which makes it hard to finish a song yet easier to have so many ideas on what we can do. It is good that everyone is a part of everything.

4. Tell us about the new album.

Well it is almost done right now. 1 or 2 days left to fix shitty things and then off to have it mixed. Some of the heaviest stuff we have ever had and some of the softest. So it really is the best mix of everything we have ever had.

5. Who are some of your favorite bands you've toured with?

Ummm...MXPX, Reel Big Fish, 311. I love all the bands.

6. Who would you like to tour with in the future?

Anyone and everyone, we're not picky, we just love to play shows all over the world. We leave to the UK ina couple weeks to do a headline tour...very excited about that.

7. What's essential for you guys to have while you're touring?

Subway sandwiches and BEER.

8. What's a day off like for you guys, what do you like to do to relax?

It may sound lame but we all buy bikes everytime we tour Europe and ride all over sightseeing before the shows.

9. How do you explain the success of the band here as well as in Japan?

We are just really lucky. At the beginning some people believed in us and pushed for us and we owe them a TON! Just lucky to be playing music.

10. Seeing as we deal with horror and comics, what are some of your guys' favorite horror movies and comic books?

Jason. I think he is the ideal horror character of all. We even have a t-shirt with him on it. I also am always a sucker for Nightmare On Elm Street.

11. If you could sum the band up into one of your songs, what song would it be?

Hmmm...one of our songs...I would say Falling Apart. Everytime you feel like the world is falling apart somehow you pull through and it wasn't as bad as you thought. Kinda my own twist on the lyrics.

12. Any upcoming projects or events that you'd like to tell us about?

Touring the UK in late May then off to Japan in August. We're setting something up for the USA int he fall and back to Europe and Japan again. Hell I want to go to South America and Australia!

13. Anything else you want to say to the fans out there reading this?

Thanks to anyone who has ever bought a cd or come to a show...I owe you everything. Hell, even if you stole the cd and snuck into the show, at least you give a crap enough to listen so thank you!

--Interview by Shaun May and Chris Retherford