Dr. Daryl Wilson, M.D. "Writes A Script for" The Bollweevils' First Proper Full-length Album In 28 Years Essential for Red Scare Industries (The Witzard Interview)
The Bollweevils (sometimes, known as Rat Patrol) are a Chicago area Punk band, who were originally active from 1989-96. At that point, The Bollweevils broke upp/went on hiatus from about seven years while frontman Daryl Wilson finished up medical school and became a doctor morphing into Dr. Daryl Wilson, M.D. The Bollweevils played their "last" show at The Fireside Bowl in November of 1996, but soon re-formed for then-one-off shows in both 2003 and 2006 before fully, properly re-forming in 2007. The Bollweevils had a bit of a rotating cast of members and players for a number of years during this phase of their career, but have now solidified their current line-up as Dr. Daryl Wilson, Ken Fitzner AKA Ken Weevil, Peter "Pete" Mittler, and Pete Mumford AKA Sensitive Pete. Around 2012, The Bollweevils started diligently working on their first album together since re-forming and being fully revilatized.
So, some 11 years later, The Bollweevils released their first proper full-length album together in 28 years since 1995's Heavyweight. Essential was unleashed this past May on Red Scare Industries, the infamous Chicago-based Punk/Hardcore label co-founded by Tobias "Toby" Jeg and Brendan Kelly (The Lawrence Arms, The Falcon.) The Bollweevils have played shows with and been featured on bills alongside the likes of The Adolescents, Descendents, FIELD DAY, Jawbreaker, Naked Raygun, NO TRIGGER, Pulley, Rancid, and mostly recently, Rise Against Oddly enough, it's been said Jeg vowed years ago that he "would never put out a record by The Bollweevils," but, now, here we are and, as Bob Dylan once said oh, "the times they are a-changin'!" So, without further ado, here's my comprehensive interview ith The Bollweevils frontman Dr. Daryl Wilson! It has been lighly edited for general clarity. So, go cue up The Bollweevils' Essential while you read along down below the break.
I. Who are the current members of The Bollweevils and what is each member's role within the band?
Dr. Daryl Wilson, M.D.: Daryl Wilson - vocals, Ken Fitzner - guitar, Peter "Pete" Mittler - bass, [and] Pete Mumford – drums.
II. So, Essential is The Bollweevils first full-length in how many years? I've seen something like 14 and... calculated 28 on my own.
Dr. Wilson: Haha, it's 28 years in looking at LP's. Our last recording was the "Attack Scene" 7-inch released in 2014-15. I think that's where the mix-up came from?
III. How did it genuinely feel to be recording and ultimately releasing the first Bollweevils album in so many years?
Dr. Wilson: It truly felt amazing. The whole process was fantastic. Writing these songs with everyone, the work that into the recording, the mixing, everything was great. It felt like we were fresh and felt like there was something special we were creating. And I can say we are all so proud of this work.
IV. What did the typical writing, recording, production, creation, etc. processes behind Essential generally entail?
Dr. Wilson: For this record, we took the time to let the songs mature. Many of the songs we had been playing live for at least the past eight years. We didn't just slap them down and put them out without scrutinizing every detail. We took constructive criticism on each of our parts from everyone in the band, so the record is truly a team effort. During the recording, Jeff Dean at [The] Echo Mill [Recording Studio] made us work to perfection on each performance.
He didn't let us slack on anything. And the mixing was magic! Chris Beeble from The Blasting Room mixed it. He made this record really special and is the only person I will allow to mix anything from now on, period. He brought out exactly what we were supposed to sound like in our evolution. The Pandemic helped to push along the creative process of writing the songs. As I said, many of the songs had been played live for years, but The Pandemic helped to forge the songs into the end product of Essential.
V. Who or what would you readily cite as some of your greatest sources of personal inspiration and influence while creating Essential?
Dr. Wilson: The greatest influence while creating this record was the understanding of all of our roles in making the world work. That we are all "essential" to each other. We all suffered some hardships during The Pandemic and we all held each other up. We’re a band of brothers and through hardship, we bond. These hardships fueled Essential being created.
VI. What made you decide to re-record and include an updated version of "Bottomless Pit" from 1994's Stick Your Neck Out across Essential?
Dr. Wilson: "Bottomless Pit" is one of my favorite songs. With Pete Mittler as our bass player, everything we played became better. All our songs had evolved and we wanted to showcase who we are now. We, also, initially thought our masters to Stick Your Neck Out & Heavyweight were destroyed. This pushed us to re-record the old songs (later, found out the masters are not destroyed, but still don't know where they are...) I think that the new version is amazing. Don't get me wrong, the original has its place, but this is where we are now.
VII. How did you guys ultimately end up deciding to join forces with Red Scare Industries to unleash Essential?
Dr. Wilson: Red Scare is an amazing label. Ken [Fitzner] was shopping the demos of the record around and sent them to Toby [Jeg]. Toby, years ago, said he "would never put out a record by The Bollweevils." Ken wanted to prove home wrong, haha. The truth is, Toby & Brendan [Kelly] both were stoked to put out our record when we presented it to them. Brendan has been a friend for a long time and has such a love for us and our role in the Chicago Punk scene, he made it a priority to put out a record by us. I love Toby & Brendan. Love the bands on the label. Love that we can all hang [out] and input is heard. Love Toby's honesty and work he puts in for the label. He really knows how to take care of the comrades on Red Scare. Plus, it's fun! And life is so much better when it's fun.
VIII. How has it felt being together again in The Bollweevils since reuniting in 2006? What feels different (or even the same) this time around compared to your original tenure together?
Dr. Wilson: With our growth and maturity, this all feels like we are just getting better with age. I think we had a missing puzzle piece that was filled with Pete Mittler & Pete Mumford that made us into a better band. I am having so much fun this time around. The original tenure was all discovery, new experiences, and lots of immature behavior. It was fun, as well, but this time around, it's just so much better. I couldn't see myself doing this with anyone besides Ken, Pete, and Peter.
IX. What made you decide to name your long-awaited return to form, Essential? What is the significance or intended meaning behind this title choice?
Dr. Wilson: With The Pandemic, the look at essential workers was brought into the spotlight. Many of us in the band happen to be essential workers, so that hits at the most basic level, but the idea of Essential goes beyond the workers; it hits all of us being "essential" to each other to make the world work. Family is essential. Your neighbor is essential. Music is essential. We need each other to keep the wheel of life turning. This record was essential for us to make and I think it's essential listening.
X. If you could book your dream mixed bill with bands past and present, currently active or inactive, who would it include (along with The Bollweevils) and why for each?
Dr. Wilson: This one is difficult because you didn't give a limit on bands, haha! Okay, I will limit the bands and not make it a festival show...
The Descendents - because they are one of my favorite bands, have had such an influence on me, and I love each member. Milo [Aukerman] made me know for certain that I could be a physician and still play in a Punk band.
Bad Religion - also, one of my favorite bands and influences. Once again, doctors in Punk. Lyrically, one of my favorite bands. They can do no wrong in my book.
Naked Raygun - our heroes, mentors, and friends. If it wasn't for Raygun, there would be no The Bollweevils.
The Germs - I know it's impossible to bring people back from the dead, but this band was one of the bands that got me to fall in love with Punk Rock. The Angry Samoans - my first love that turned me into a Punk.
The Circle Jerks – Keith [Morris] is my hero. I want to grow up to be just like him. Still killing it and not showing a sign of slowing down. Group Sex is one of my favorite records.
XI. The Bollweevils have released splits with 88 Fingers Louie (Rise Against, Alkaline Trio,) The Freeze, Pete Mumford's The 4-Squares, Sleepasaurus, Ripcordz, and more. Who else would you still like to do a split in collaboration?
Dr. Wilson: Any of the bands I listed for my dream show would be bucket list. PEARS would be sweet, [The] Bouncing Souls, SAMIAM, Face to Face, [The] Suicide Machines, Brutal Youth, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, The Copyrights, The Lawrence Arms, and... this is just going to turn into a list of bands, so let me just say we are open to collaborate!
XII. What's planned next for The Bollweevils?
Dr. Wilson: Working on new songs (it won't take 28 years next time, haha.) Ken has three new ones he is bringing to rehearsal. We have some shows coming up: August 12th with The Adolescents (one the first bands that got me into Punk, as well) out in California. We have The FEST in Gainesville at [the] end of October. Playing two sets! Working on a video for "Galt's Gulch" from Essential. Some more stuff is planned, so keep it locked in on our socials and keep listening to Essential.
