Some bands owe marijuana a debt of gratitude for the inspiration the plant has supplied them. Within the case of San Jose, California quartet Smash Mouth, pot’s function of their success is much extra direct. Within the lean years earlier than their 1997 retro-cool hit “Walkin’ on the Solar” launched them to the highest of the charts, vocalist Steve Harwell and drummer Kevin Coleman would raid Bay Space pot gardens, pilfer the crops, then dry and promote the weed.
In protection of their reprehensible previous, Harwell explains: “I supplied the product for cheaper than what the precise grower would’ve supplied it for. I used to be in all probability stealing the blokes’ mortgages or one thing, however I used to be younger and dumb.”
With their new album Astro Lounge, the band has repaid the debt—if to not the growers they robbed, then no less than to the herb that stored them afloat throughout their starving-musician section.
Among the many album’s extra compelling tracks is “Stoned,” a loping tribute to the fun of sparking up whose huge, anthemic refrain declares: “We’re simply getting excessive/Allow us to be, it’ll be all proper.”
On the eve of their Astro Lounge tour, the band—Harwell, Coleman, guitarist Greg Camp, and bassist Paul DeLisle—sat down to debate “Stoned” and their preoccupation with inhaling clouds of pot smoke.
HT: What compelled you to write down “Stoned”?
Greg Camp: A part of it got here from visiting Amsterdam. There’s no crime, no weapons there. It’s completely mellow. Evaluate that to America, the place they maintain all the pieces underneath legislation.
So it’s secure to say that Smash Mouth are pro-legalization?
Steve Harwell: Oh, yeah—legalize it. What the hell? It’s not killing anyone. There are worse issues on the market than marijuana. If all people did smoke weed, we wouldn’t have tragedies like Columbine.
Camp: Pot ought to undoubtedly be legalized. Identical to in Amsterdam, there needs to be cafes or one thing the place you should purchase ounces of inexperienced bud. It will simply be so cool. Alcoholism would in all probability go down. Pot’s acquired to be higher for you than alcohol.
Are you apprehensive about fallout from releasing such a pro-pot music?
Camp: Yeah, however hopefully the music’s acquired sufficient humor to keep away from that. I’m apprehensive concerning the flak, although. We get quite a lot of e-mails and letters from lecturers and individuals who work with children about how they actually admire our songs and the way uplifting they’re. So if that one ever truly does turn out to be a single. I feel we’ll undoubtedly be getting some warmth. However who cares, you already know?
Was there any static from Interscope?
Camp: None in any respect. The truth is, we have been going to say, “I’m in my zone” as a substitute of “I’m getting stoned.” However Tom Whalley stated, “If you happen to try this, I ain’t placing the music on the document”—and he’s our A&R man! Similar with program administrators; Kevin [Weatherly] from KROQ heard it and stated, ”I actually need to play this music.” So now that we’ve acquired the document firm and radio in our pocket, we’re cool for a number of months—till dad and mom begin listening to it.
What advantages does pot present you?
Camp: It’s laborious to sleep on a tour bus when it’s transferring and also you’re on this tiny little bunk and also you’re bouncing round. I’ve acquired just a little one-hitter in my bunk. I’ll simply hit it, hearken to some bizarre reggae on my headphones and fall asleep. Pot relaxes me and lets me sleep.
What about as a creativity enhancer?
Camp: It undoubtedly helps me create. For me, it’s both pot or a glass of purple wine. That’s what will get my artistic juices flowing.
Steve and Kevin—you each have reputations as considerably reformed heavy partiers. What do it’s a must to say?
Kevin Coleman: I’m on the 11-step program: Weed and occasional, and occasionally some Tylenol PMs.
Harwell: I used to smoke pot prefer it was going out of favor, however I misplaced my tolerance for it. Now it simply makes me paranoid. At first, it’s actually nice; for like, thirty seconds I simply crack up. Then I cease straight-faced and go, “What the fuck? I’m stoned.”
Learn the total situation right here.