99Rock Music News: Memphis May Fire Cover Stone Temple Pilots’ “Interstate Love Song” For ‘Punk Goes 90s Vol. 2′
“We’re happy to cover songs for fun, but we don’t ever want to use that as a way to gain fans. Originals are definitely what this band was cut out for.”
Memphis May Fire (Photo by JerryJohn Photo)
This past Tuesday (April 2) Fearless Records released Punk Goes 90s Vol. 2, the latest (and 15th) release in their Punk Goes series. The compilation features covers of KROQ bands like Lit, Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Bush, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, and several more. One song in particular that we enjoyed was Memphis May Fire‘s cover of Stone Temple Pilots‘ “Interstate Love Song.”
We sat down with Memphis May Fire’s frontman Matty Mullins before their sold out show at House Of Blues Sunset March 25th to discuss the new Punk Goes 90s compilation, what it’s like being a part of the Punk Goes legacy, and the band’s new album Unconditional.
“Kellen McGregor, our guitarist, does all of the writing for the instrument portions of our music. He grew up on Stone Temple Pilots, just a huge fan of the band. They definitely influenced the way that he writes, structurally, sonically…so about a year and a half ago, he sat down in his bedroom and just recorded an instrumental cover of ‘Interstate Love Song,’ made it heavy, and turned it into a Memphis May Fire track,” says Mullins. “We never had time to finish it until Fearless approached us.”
When the topic turned to STP frontman Scott Weiland, Mullins says that he was “sheltered musically” growing up and wasn’t introduced to them until later on. “I can’t claim to be influenced by Scott, but a ton of respect… nothing but respect for what he did with music.”
The Punk Goes series came to life back in 2000 with the inaugural record, Punk Goes Metal, and have since put out 14 more albums. Memphis May Fire made their Punk Goes debut in 2012 with a cover of Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” for Punk Goes Pop 5.
“When they [Fearless Records] approached us for the first one, for the Bruno Mars cover (Punk Goes Pop 5), we were ecstatic. We just went into it thinking ‘let’s have fun with this,’ then they ended up picking that as the #1 single for the record and they put it as track 1 on the album. It was such a huge blessing and we were stoked on it,” says Mullins.
“We loved how the song came out, and I think that song we were able to represent the way the band sounds a little bit more than we were with the STP song, but it’s still so cool to be able to do a STP song.”
“We’re happy to cover songs for fun, but we don’t ever want to use that as a way to gain fans. Originals are definitely what this band was cut out for.”
Track List for Punk Goes 90s Vol. 2:
1. Get Scared “My Own Worst Enemy” (originally performed by Lit)
2. Memphis May Fire “Interstate Love Song” (originally performed by Stone Temple Pilots)
3. Asking Alexandria “Closer” (originally performed by Nine Inch Nails)
4. The Color Morale “Everlong” (originally performed by Foo Fighters)
5. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! “All Star” (originally performed by Smash Mouth)
6. Mayday Parade “Comedown” (originally performed by Bush)
7. Motionless in White “Du hast” (originally performed by Rammstein)
8. Yellowcard “Today” (originally performed by Smashing Pumpkins)
9. Hands Like Houses “Torn” (originally performed by Natalie Imbruglia)
10. The Ghost Inside “Southtown” (originally performed by P.O.D)
11. Falling In Reverse “Gangsta’s Paradise” (originally performed by Coolio)
12. Ice Nine Kills “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” (originally performed by Green Day)
Pick up a copy of Punk Goes 90s Vol. 2 via Fearless Records now.
