INTERVIEW: Chris J. of Autopilot Off (November 20, 2002)
Being that Auto Pilot Off is a New York-based band what would you say, if anything influenced you about New York?
Chris J: New York is lucky because there are so many shows. A couple of places have been shut down from when I was going, but there were always places to go to. Wetlands, Coney Island High or even like the Spiral, small places like that. Or like CBGB’s – there were always shows to go to, and bands to see. Big bands would play at bigger venues like Roseland and Irving Plaza, so there was a lot to se.
Speaking of Wetlands, Auto Pilot Off played there before it closed down last summer with The Ataris. Now, touring with The Ataris again, do you have other bands you’d like to tour with again?
Chris J: I’d like to go on tour with New Found Glory, Good Charlotte, too. Both were a lot of fun. Glassjaw, The Movielife they were on the New Found tour, also. The whole pack of bands was fun. I’d go back on tour with those guys in a heartbeat.
Any new bands that you want to tour with?
Chris J: Thursday would be awesome or Hot Water Music. They’re not a new band, just someone that we got to meet actually on the Warped Tour.
Since you tour a lot, how has it affected your songwriting?
Chris J: It’s definitely harder to write on the road, and it’s funny that you should ask, because I’ve been stressing out about it recently, but it’s hard to write and to tour at the same time – you’re always moving, so it’s hard to get a chance to sit and think.
How do Auto Pilot Off fans change from state-to-state?
Chris J: There are certain differences, but a lot of the fans are pretty similar. Everywhere we go people are 99.999% cool, there are no big jerks.
Has signing to Island Records change the direction the band is heading?
Chris J: Not at all. They don’t really interfere with anything. They just give us the resources to do what we want to do.
What’s in your CD player right now?
Chris J: The new Hot Water Music record. That’s about it.
Do you have any recommendations of new bands that you’ve heard of?
Chris J: I’ve been listening to Thrice a lot. Thursday I listen to a bit and Glassjaw… pretty much the same stuff everybody else listens to.
How awesome to tour with all of the bands that you’ve been listening to?
Chris J: It’s really surreal. We got to tour with Snapcase before this tour, and we’ve been listening to them for a long time.
With your rising success, what are you thankful for?
Chris J: Just to be able to do this, and having the support of our friends and family.
