Potential Threat SF, not afraid of earthquakes

interview with Kenny on October 1st, 2005

Please give us a short introduction of yourself?
Hi I’m Kenny I play drums...My brother and I started Potential Threat in 1988. We played with a lot of “famous” bands in the late 80’s, but that version of P.T. broke up in 1991!! Mike and I left for Germany with the Metal band Shock Factor, we did a record (“Reality) on Big Store Rec. and toured all over that country!! When the singer for Shock Factor left to sing for the Spermbirds (longtime German Punk band) we formed Two Second Mickey (cowpunk metal) We did a record (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) on Snoop Rec. and then toured some more... After about 5 years of that we came back to the U.S. We got a band goin but had no name so we just took on the Potential Threat name again. A lot of people think we’ve been doing P.T. for 16 years... Just thought I’d clear that up.

How is it to play with your brother? How come you have the same musical taste?
Mike and I have always played in the same bands... It just works!! We get along really good and have the same goals. We both love to play Metal!!! Mike keeps up with the Metal thing more than me... I guess I like the Punk thing a little more.. But I think that has a lot to do with our sound...

Coming from the Bay Area and from 1988 you are obliged to play thrash metal....
Playing Metal on the late 80’s was a fuckin’ blast!! The thrash thing was in full swing.. There was a lot of Hair Metal bands coming out too, so you either played FUCKIN’ METAL or you played FUCKIN’ sissy chick Metal, which was for fuckin wimps!!

What made that area so special? Are there social aspects that create that thrash vibe?
Most of the Hair Metal bands were from L.A., so in San Francisco we were doing the complete oppisite. Bands from Sf and bands from LA were like rivals.. They had the Hollywood Pretty Boy shit, and we had the Hardcore, Play Fast, Kill Hate. all that cool shit... LA Is to sunny, you know?? pretty.. SF is more cold and Hardcore...

You also must have contacts with other bands. Any good friends we could know?
We know a lot of bands.. We’ve played with a lot of heavy hitters.. Everyone in SF has a Metallica story, you know shit like how they met them, hung out with them... shit like that. When we were playing the Stone in SF a lot in the 80’s James (Hetfield) was always there.. He was always drunk... pretty funny though. We know Death Angel, Forbidden, Exodus and Machine Head.. We know those guys better, but I mostly hang out the bands in the club scene, like KAOS, Mad At Sam, Mystic Rage and Diesel Finger.. You know... My friends..

SF is add to the bandname. Why? Proud of San Francisco? Or is there a threat to SF?
The SF thing is mostly a Copyright/Trademark thing.. But there’s a lot of SF bands that do that... I guess we are proud of it. We also know of a band from the late 70’s named Potential Threat.. from the UK I think... yeah punk band... I heard there good.

Your area is also known for the earthquakes. Ever experienced one? Is the fear a part of daily life?
The earthquakes are very unpredictable, but it’s a part of living here.. The last big one was in ’89. It felt like it was never going to stop. .It’s kinda fun! But it fucked up the city real good... That was’nt fun! But ever since I was a kid people have been talking about the “BIG ONE”... There ‘aint nothing we can do about it.. I say bring it on..

Back to the music. Describe your sound to a deaf person?
Oh shit.... that’s a tough one...Let me see.. I guess I would say it’s like being in a car accident and hitting your head on the steering wheel so hard you could taste blood... Is that too cliched??

Get disabled people reduction when buying yur stuff or visit the shows?
Disabled?? Lke in a wheelchair? I’ve never seen that many disabled people at our shows. But I would give them a free shirt or a CD or get’em in the show for free, but I do that for most people.... You don’t have to be disabled... you just have to be a fan.

Are you trying to expand the music with other styles or instruments?
No Different Instrument!!! But we have to expand.. I think every musician should.. That’s part of growing, but we’ll see what happens in the future

How creative is the band in writing? How much time and ideas does it take to have a song?
Mike and I do most of the writing, but that’s just way it works.. It’s not like it’s our way or nothing!! All the people we’ve worked with never had a problem with our writing.. The ideas come together pretty quick. We try and write heavy and fast, but that’s not always powerful... So we make it powerful and fast, but that’s not always heavy... So it can take some time...

What makes a song a good song? Could there ever be THE perfect song?
I think a good song is one that grabs you and keeps your attention! Wakes you up and gets your adrenalin goin’... I don’t think it’s possible to write the perfect song. .If you think you have, then you’re probably not doing it right..

Performing live is the best way to enjoy music. How does your show looks and sound like?
Playing live is the best..ever!! We have a lot of enegy in our music, so we really get into it.. We try and buy the best gear (amps and guitars) so we can always sound heavy and loud, no matter what the house sound system id like..

Where do you get the energy from when on stage? And if the crowd gives no reaction at all?
It’s really hard to get into it when the people ‘aint diggin’ it, but we’ve been know to “rock out” in our rehersal room.. with no one watching.. it’s the music... we can’t help it..

What are the plans for the future?
The great thing about being in a band is that you don’t know the future.... You don’t know where you’re going to be.. And that is cool with me.. But I hope to be touring all over... That’s what I love the most... Maybe a couple of records... We’ll see.

What will you say in 5 years from now?
Man... You gotta keep in touch and I’ll tell you in 5 years.... Is that cool..