PUM: Let’s start at the beginning, how did you start out as a band?
Bret: We went to school together. Kaleo and I knew each other since we were kids. We sought out our drummer (Yesod). He was into metal bands. His dad was in the metal scene at the time (Anthrax, Def Leopard…etc.). Metal in Hawaii stuck out like a sore thumb. The first song I ever learned to play was “Come As You Are.” We eventually started playing at house parties. We were all waiters at the time, working at resorts, surfing everyday and having a good time. One day we looked at each other and were like “Do you just want to go?” From that point, we put in our two weeks, met at the airport, and went off to California. When we got there we put together all the money we had for a shitty van and stayed with a friend in Carlsbad, CA. Soon after we started touring (2000), did Warped Tour in 2000 and the rest is history.

PUM: Wow, that’s quite a story! If you could sum the band up in 3 words what would they be?
Bret: Dirty, loud, fun.

PUM: Excellent! Rock n Roll! So who created the lyrics?
Bret: In the beginning it was Kaleo and me, but Yesod started helping us as time went on. This is why the lyrics on the album always say written by Pepper. We all have a say.

PUM: I work in the advertising field, in accordance what would you say your demographic is?
Bret: Multi-ethnic females ages 15-40.

PUM: And how do you appeal to them?
Bret: With the type of fans we have they are all so full of energy. You know, the type who sing every song? Very interactive fans, not exactly sure what you would call that; just good rock fans. We’ve had very little record support and radio play. It’s all been through word of mouth.

PUM: What differentiates this tour from previous tours?
Bret: This is the last tour of 2007. We’ve spent the last eight months on the road doing three including Warped Tour along with a European tour for a month in a half in which we got to play all over the place. So that’s a: spring tour, European tour, Warped tour, and we’re finishing it off with a winter tour.

PUM: How is it?
Bret: Eight and half months of not sleeping in your own bed…

PUM: Ha! What’s it like seeing all of these great places?
Bret: Well, you do but you don’t. You have to think about the driving. We missed a show once coming from Aspen, CO to Nebraska because of snow. For the most part you’re making it on time with just a few minutes to set up. People ask me how it feels to be in Chicago. Like right on this street? Inside the House of Blues? That’s the most you get to see. You do occasionally get to go out. Like last year we played Lollapalooza the same day as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Our first really big crowd! But, most of the time you’re just passing by all of this in a bus.
By the way our drummer’s a HUGE Bears fan!

PUM: So, tell me, what is the CRAZIEST thing a fan has ever done?
Bret: Nothing any crazier then you’d expect from a rock show. However, I have seen a lot of Pepper tattoos lately! See, we have this artist who draws the symbols which are on our albums. It’s called “Danny the Fish.” It’s about this real guy on our island who just walks around all the time. If you honk at him he’ll close himself off and just shut down. He’s crazy Anyways, he’s our mascot. The artist drew him into a fish character so people get that tattooed. One time I walked past a girl at one of our shows and I saw a tattoo on her neck. I looked closer and it was our lyrics!
Other than that there were some arrests and stuff…

PUM: Ok, what’s the #1 reason you are where you are now?
Bret: Well, we enjoy playing but it’s more than that! No bullshit, I just don’t know what else we’d be doing. From the point we up and left it hasn’t been a thought if this is the right thing. Maybe it’s our destiny? We like the business side of music, we love playing, and we have the most unbelievable crew.

PUM: If you could change anything, what would it be?
Bret: Hm… I wouldn’t change anything. The way we’re going and the way the music industry is going. Between having lawyers, record labels, etc. I mean it has nothing to do with radio play, MTV, or anything. We get to play with really great bands that you would never even hear on MTV or the radio. It’s beyond recyclable music. There are big changes happening in music and the whole digital revolution. We’re just happy to be where and who we are now.

PUM: Any future plans?
Bret: It’s been a really busy year. We’re playing this tour what are to be the new songs released in the summer. We are recording the album between January and March. This is a two month tour to play brand new songs for our fans. It’s not that they deserve it or anything like that. We WANT to play it for them we WANT their honest opinions.

PUM: That’s awesome! One last question, where is the best place to party out of everywhere you’ve been?
Bret: There is one. In Southern New Jersey we throw every year with whatever bands we happen to be touring with. Last year it was 311 and the Wailers. It’s with one of our families, there is this massive house with fresh sand for the volleyball court. It’s just family, friends, and people from the town. That’s the best! It’s our home away from home; a place with real people. I wish there was a place like that in every city!

By: Kim Evans - Contributing Writer