Ok, so, you know how your friend has a band and they've been talking about it like it's the end all be all of things to come and see. One evening I decided to check out this "incredible show" and see just how much rockin' Derrick had in him. Mind you, I've known Derrick for a bit, but he has always come across as a sweet and shy smiley boy.

What I bear witness to on that eve at the Annex was pure raw power. There was sweat. There were tears. There was genuine, dirty, wild....rock! It was as if the flood gates had opened wide when Generals & Majors took the stage. I don't know about you, but I get tired of going to shows where noone freakin' dances or sings or looks remotely like they are having a good time because they are too concerned with being cool.

Derrick and his horsemen were no bones about it. They put so much energy into their show, I felt like I was in another era. It was messy and fun and dancing everywhere. Derrick was on the stage, he was off the stage, his ass was hanging out and so were his balls. I mean he shocked the hell out of me and it was glorious! You wanna know what happened to punk rock and where New York's underground lie? Right here, right here with Generals & Majors. They will show us the way. They will demand our attention and will melt your face off doing it. No record label, no real record release except for a self-released demo, and no label upon themselves, Generals & Majors are true to their art. This is where revolution begins....time for a change...time to act. So, FALL IN, soldiers and enjoy.

DK:

You guys seem to be pretty influenced by more of a retro perspective such as Iggy, The Misfits, etc. Would this be correct in saying so? Who do you guys call upon when you play?

DK: I don't know if retro is the right word, but we are definitely influenced by proto-punk bands such as the Stooges and the MC5, who were getting back to the roots of rock n roll; dirty, lean, mean, and full of sex and everyday life. That's what we're about. My favorite frontmen of all time are HR, Iggy, Cedric Bixler and Howlin' Wolf. I get my inspiration from them.
JJ: Yes. All humans look to history for inspiration to steal from. You would be correct to say that we long for the innocence and hedonism of the past. Back when Nick Lachey and Nickelback would have been in the dustbin. But we also have an appreciation for modern bands such as Queens of The Stone Age and The White Stripes, who you could also say are quite influential for us. The influences are far and wide. Iggy, The Misfits as you mentioned as well as Thin Lizzy, The Ramones, MC5, The Animals, Aerosmith (Rocks era), Sabbath, and others.
RM: I think those influences are right on track. my guitar playing personally comes from Slash and Jimmy Page - my guitar heroes.

Derrick, you have an incredible stage presence...how do you prepare for such a set?

I stretch, drink plenty of water, a couple of beers, and take all the anxiety, anger, and excitement and put it in the show.

How did you guys decide to get together?

RM: Jesse, Jared, and I played in another band, Group Sounds, but we decided that we needed to rock harder, and that band just didn't allow that. This corresponded to us drinking more.  I also told the other two guys that if we don't rock harder we're pussies.
JJ: We met in a cauldron of fire. (I would not doubt this.)

Do you guys cover anyone and if so who and why?

DK: Right now we cover Mother by Danzig. It fits perfectly with the style of music we play and fans of rock love that song.

What venue has been your favorite to play?

DK: Hmmm. I guess the Annex. The second time we played there. The show you were at. With the lights and smoke machine. but really, any place as long as the audience isn't just standing there doing nothing.
JD: Any venue with a "Rocks Off" party going on...Do you know how much free booze they give us?? It's a miracle that I can sit up by the time our show starts
RM: Cha Cha's in Coney Isand
JJ: No real favorite. They're all cool. My favorite show was at The Annex, mostly because we had a smoke machine and a lot of hot chicks.

You guys have some pretty intense fans, how would you describe one of your fans?

DK: We have fans? hahaha. I don't know, normal people who aren't caught up in the New York hipster bullshit, and aren't afraid to look "uncool" by dancing or getting into the music. Real people who care about music and support independent musicians.
JJ: Violent, sweaty, pretty things

Are there any plans for touring?

DK: I think so. I hope so. There are a lot of plans for a lot of things and I don't know any of them.

What do you hope to bring to music with Generals & Majors?

DK: I want to wake people up. I want to revive the live experience. People are so used to being stimulated, overstimulated, that they seem to forget how to interact with people. It's all about entertainment. It's a one-way street. They seem to forget that a live show is not the fucking movies or TV, there are people on stage. I give my heart and soul, I want something back, you know?  I don't know. New York needs to loosen up, get dirty again, and unafraid. Generals & Majors are about getting in your face, demanding that you do something, anything. At our live shows, we want reactions. Do your worst. Oh yeah, and destroy hipsters.
JJ: A ferocity and energy that is missing from music and a live show like none other.

Most prominent bad habit?

DK: Giving in to negativity
JD: Promiscuous Women (case by case basis)
JJ: Talking about shit.
RM: Probably getting too drunk.  I always end up hurting myself when we play shows too.  but both of those things are ok, so I guess we don't have any bad habits

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