In the past decade, many bands on the NYHC scene have broken up and faded into memory - some more missed than others - but none was more missed than Agnostic Front when they played their last show in 1992 at CBGB�s. Since then, they have reunited, cut a new record, launched a large tour - aptly named "The Unity Fest", and won over the hearts of hardcore kids everywhere. I recently had the opportunity to interview the band before their set at the Wetlands to packed house. This was done in a complete chaotic backstage room, except with Roger who I talked with separately outside later on - with the exact same questions. AF is currently, and most likely permanently, Roger (vox); Stigma (c�mom�you know); Kabula (bass); and Jimmy "the kid" (drums).

Nick-For the record, because some kids still do not know, what does the name of the band mean and how did it come about?

Stigma: Well, I invented the name and it is more of a statement than a name. I didn�t want the Beatles or the Cars, or Blondie - I wanted to say something. So, that is how it came about and it means to be in doubt of the absolute truth - whether it be political, social or religious.

Roger: Vinny thought up the name for the band and basically, agnostic means "in doubt of the absolute truth", which means you don�t believe anything until you see it with your own eyes. Not really anything religious at all - just in general. We wanted to be more than just a band - more of a movement - so Vinny thought of "Agnostic Front" - sort of like a whole movement.

Nick-Is the sound you have now, on the latest record, similar in style or sound to any of the previous releases?

Stigma: "Victim in Pain(1984 - Important Records)" style.

Roger: Yes, very similar to that - our first album.

Nick: Is the sound similar to Against the Grain because that is where Rob (Kabula) had been playing in and you used the same producer (Billy Milano) or was it coincidental?

Stigma: Me, Rob and Jimmy - this is our sound.

Kabula: We got that bassist, guitarist, drummer union. And anyone that wants to join - contact Rob Kabula. I�m the union leader over here. We�ll break all the singers legs that give a problem.

Roger: No, it has nothing to do with Rob being in ATG, I think ATG is a different sound anyway. When the four of us get together, this is all we know how to do, it has nothing to do with production. This is the style that we do really well and have been doing since 1981.

Nick: What was the reason behind practically every AF release from the 7" to the "One Voice" record having a different style?

Roger: Members. We�ve had 28 different members in this band during that time period. Now we have gone back to the original lineup, that is why we have an original sound again .

Stigma: Yeah, and I think we�ve found ourselves now.

Kabula: You know what it is - you stick around for so long everything changes with the times, you try different things.

Stigma: It is like this - you eat Chinese food, but like Italian food, so�you eat more Italian food.

Nick: The way you guys sound now�is that how it is going to stay, or is there a further change in store?

Roger: No, I think that is the sound we are sticking with. That is the only thing we can play. Vinny can only play so many chords, Rob can do so much and I can only do so much. I think that this is what we do best.

Nick: What are your thoughts on seeing bands like Madball and 25 ta Life that were just starting out when you guys broke up are now blowing up big time and making names for themselves in the scene?

Stigma: Well, I played in Madball for a long time - I started Madball. So, I am proud to see them where they are. I think it is great.

Kabula: A lot of bands are good and nothing happens for them, because they don�t get the support - so it is good for bands to get the support they need.

Jimmy: We wish every band the best of luck.

Kabula: It is not as if there isn�t enough room for all these bands to be big - hey, we can all be big.

Roger: There is nothing wrong with that - it is great. I always wish the best for all bands. It is a long process, it is just a matter of sticking it out.

Nick: Before the reunion what did everyone do with their time?

Roger: I played in a different band, which I am still in, called "Lady Luck". It is more melodic stuff. I spent a lot of time with my daughter, working on bikes and stuff like that. We stopped for three years and in that period I have done more damage to myself than I ever did wit AF. I broke my back stage-diving at a Madball show. I was always coming to shows and that is how I got hurt most - not even playing with a band.

Stigma: I watch cartoons - with my kid. Drink beer all day.

Kabula: Me, I am a construction worker. You�ve probably seen me digging holes around New York City somewhere.

Jimmy: I laid up in a hospital.

Stigma: Yeah - the mental ward!!!

Nick: Is AF a full time gig or do you all still need to do things on the side to make ends meet?

Roger: At this point it is a full time gig, because everything goes by so quick. We just came back from doing Europe and now we are doing America, and we will go back to Europe, do Japan. But, once it starts to be spaced apart a little more you definitely have to go back to work.

Nick: How far into the future do you see AF extending this time around?

Stigma: Give me that�(farts loudly into microphone) About that far!!!!!

Sid the Kid: Oh, shit - you better print that!!!!

Nick: Do you see yourself gaining more popularity in the future or do you have different expectations?

Roger: I don�t know about that - it is a whole new audience. Judging from our reunion shows and the tour we just had - they were the some of the best shows we ever had. Things were getting pretty bad in �88-�89, but that went away and I think that this is the best so far, especially this tour we are on now. All the clubs have been reporting that most of the shows are already sold out.

Stigma: I hope so, (glances over to other side of room and sees Jimmy Williams)�and now that we are hanging out with Maximum Penalty - sure!!! I think they are rubbing off on us. but, no that we have a new record company, a new album and a new approach to music and to Agnostic Front.

Nick: Why Epitaph?

Stigma: Why not?

Nick: They have treated you better than everyone else?

Stigma: They�re all right. They�re all right.

Jimmy: They are more along the lines of doing what we are playing. More towards the hardcore/punk than the metal

Roger: This is the first thing we are doing with them in America and so far, so good.

Nick: Which bands have you been doing shows and tours with?

Kabula: Oh, everybody�

Stigma: Vision, Maximum Penalty, Indecision�this is our Unity Fest tour.

Jimmy: Right now we got this tour and we have played with Ignite out in California�.

Roger: The Unity Fest has us, Max. Penalty, US Bombs and Dropkick Murphy�s. We have done shows with shitloads of bands. Morning Again, Damnation AD, Better Than A Thousand, 25 ta Life, H2O, Madball, SOIA�the list just goes on.

Nick: What is it like having a "little" brother that you brought into the scene?

Roger: I am glad my brother is here, you know - the poor guy - this is the path he chose and it is a hard path, but ever since he was seven years old he has been hanging out in the NYHC scene. He has worked hard to get where he is, we started Madball for him and they have gone a long way. At first it was very Stigmatized, very attached to the AF stuff. A lot of people were like�"Oh Madball, this is the new AF". Once we stopped they developed their own style, we just helped them.

Nick: Any cities that have surprised you by being really into it or not getting the turnout or response you had hoped?

Stigma: Ahh, I always get surprised. Either it sucks or it is great, so�SURPRISE!!!!!!!

Nick: Has there been any noticeable differences in the response at shows as compared to the old days?

Roger: I think it is pretty much the same.

Stigma: The whole thing is a lot bigger than it was years ago. I used to have to go out with the horse and wagon. Now, kids are going to Japan like it is nothing - like the way I go to a Chinese restaurant.

Nick: Any thoughts on how AF is leading the pack again because it seems every hardcore band from the 80�s like Underdog, Wide Awake and Burn are all doing shows now almost at the same time AF became a full time project again??

Jimmy: We just got to a point in out lives where we all said - "Let�s do this again".

Stigma: You know how we started - we were all at a Madball show and they made us get up there and play. That is how we got back together.

Roger: It is okay for a band to get back together. And with all these bands it isn�t for the money, because there is no money in hardcore. You can�t live off it - there is no way.

Nick: Do you think it is good or bad for the scene that all these bands are doing reunions?

Stigma: I think it is very good. This way, they know where there roots are and can hear bands that they didn�t get to see.

Kabula: A lot of these kids are glad to see these bands coming back.

Roger: As long as they get back together for the right reasons - they feel good about it and want to rejuvenate that part of their lives again - it is great. But, the real test is what follows - the next album. That is where the real test is - to put out a real good, honest hardcore record.

Nick: Do you feel you guys have done that?

Roger: By far we have - and that record is two years old. It has been sitting at Epitaph�s desk for year and a half to two years by now. We recorded it right after getting back. Right now we have 14 new ones recorded.

Nick: When will we see that one out?

Roger: We are going to start tracking it in March. We have a 3 record deal wit Epitaph, so it will be on that.

Nick: Have you received any hostility from anyone for returning to the scene as a band once again now that hardcore has revived itself once again, or has everyone been supportive?

Stigma: Oh no, everybody is good. I have got so many friends all over the world- I think I have more friends than anybody because of hardcore. Except that guy Rob (points to Kabula), I don�t know about that guy.

Roger: Directly - no. But indirectly - yes, I am sure some people do think that. I am sure that in New York some people didn�t want us back�I don�t even want to say come back - we never really left. Vinny was doing Madball, Rob had ATG, I was doing my other band and still coming to shows. Sometimes when you are involved in the center of something you get so involved with it that you lose contact with what is going on around you. So, we stepped out of that circle - just to watch and see what was wrong, what was missing, what could make the scene better, then we stepped back in.

Nick: Last year AF and a bunch of other bands were supposed to do a huge show at the Roxy in NYC, why did that get canceled - a lot of people are still not sure of why that happened?

Jimmy: The ticket price was too high. We didn�t want to play for that money. The promoter said that is what we do and we said we just wouldn�t do it.

Nick: What other big shows have you done since the reunion?

Stigma: We played that Dynamo Festival over in Europe. We played all the festivals over the summer. We�ve been playing a lot of shows all around the world. It has been really great.

Nick: Have you begun to incorporate material from other old releases besides the 7" and 12"?

Stigma: We do a little bit of everything - a history.

Roger: We will only do stuff from our album out right now "Something�s Gotta Give (Epitaph Records 1998)" and "Victim in Pain" and "United Blood(Rat Cage Records 1983)".

Nick: Back in the day you used to say that unity was the sole purpose of AF, is that still the sole purpose or has that branched out into other things?

Roger: To me unity always has been the sole purpose and when we started out as a band it more of a sensible thing because the scene was so small. Now it has grown into the hundreds and the thousands, so it is hard for unity - but Martin Luther King had a dream to unite all the people and I have a dream to. It is okay to dream.

Stigma: It is still basically unity, but that is a big word. We make sure everybody is all right. I always look out for kids at shows - I always look out. If there is a fight I am going to get down there�we got your back!!

Jimmy: That is what it is all about, it doesn�t matter if you are punk rock or skinheads or whatever�you come to a hardcore show and your real friends are here - not out in the world.

Kabula: You know what happens - you come to see a band play and then they all split. As that goes on, by the end of the night, half the crowd is gone. Nobody is staying for the whole fucking show - what else do you have better to do?? Why run out at 8 o�clock?? Stick around - see all the bands�what you gotta go to bed??

Stigma: We always hang out - after the shows is always the best part of the show.

Nick: What are the future plans for AF�.any surprises in store?

Stigma: We are going to make another album - on Epitaph.

Roger: We�re touring and working hard - doing what we love to do.

Nick: What is your favorite thing about doing shows?

Roger: I am usually okay until the song hits, then it just sends chills right through me. That is when the cooperation between the band and the crowd begins. That is one of the best things about hardcore, but I think love it all.

Nick: Last comments or thoughts?

Roger: Keep an open mind, don�t keep a closed mind, it is easier to accept everything and then from that point decide what you don�t want to accept. Come out and support all your shows, the NYHC scene, the worldwide hardcore scene. All the post-hardcore bands because a lot of bands come out of hardcore and go in a different direction, so give them some support - like my band "Lady Luck" that I play bass for and my wife sings for.

Nick: What does "Lady Luck" sound like?

Roger: It is definitely post-hardcore, alternative. But, the people in the band were involved in hardcore and evolved to a different level. I write a lot of songs for them that is a different release for me, where AF is a physical release, this is an musical, emotional release. If I played those songs with AF people would look at me as if I had three heads. I have an outlet with them and I write different songs with AF.

Nick: Anyone else have something to say to finish up...anything?

Jimmy: (pointing to Stigma) Ask him...

Kabula: He always has the best comments�

Stigma: Hardcore Lives!! We always got your back!!