After a long beginning as a high school band, Incubus is on the
verge of hitting the big time
By Vanessa VanderZanden
Daily Bruin Staff
They’ve sold 20,000 records and have a video scheduled to hit
MTV sometime next month. They’ve toured Europe with Korn and return
this month to wow more scores of wild European fans. And yet these
rock stars of the alternative band Incubus all still live at home
with their parents.
"We all feel lucky about having very, very supportive parents,"
explains lead singer Brandon Boyd. "It can be a very flighty
business, one that’s riddled with stories of success, and then the
other side of it. They see we’re doing something positive and think
we’re happy. We keep our stuff there and they’re as cool as could
be about the whole thing."
The Calabasas natives recorded their first big-label album,
"S.C.I.E.N.C.E.," just months ago as a follow up to their previous
two demo works. Already the band has been catching fire, having
toured with 311 and Sugar Ray as well as making the Warped tour
roster. Currently, the group is making its way back to the old
world, preferring European crowds.
"They are actually a little more responsive," Boyd confesses.
"It’s starting to pick up very quickly here in the U.S., but we’re
from here, so we had to work through the mud. We went over there
and from the first night, crowds were just freaking out. They were
really a lot more into it for some reason."
Boyd claims France and England remain the band’s favorite areas
for shows. Amsterdam, though, leaves the group with somewhat mixed
feelings. The last night of their first European tour there, Boyd
was punched in the back by an irate bouncer while their DJ, DJ
Lyfe, was mugged at knife point, losing $300 in the process.
"It’s all good. We laugh about it now," Boyd assures. "The
reasons those are the ones that stick out more is because that is
the most negative type thing that has ever happened to us while we
were on the road. We don’t tend to attract negative energy. It’s
all very positive, what we do."
Yet, despite Incubus’ recent success, memories of the group’s
early beginnings keep the rock stars grounded. The five-member
ensemble began playing together seven years ago as sophomore
classmates at Calabasas High School in the San Fernando Valley.
Their first independent recording, "Fungus Mungus," came out on
their own upstart label, Chill ‘Em Records.
"We only pressed a thousand of them, and we can’t even find it
anymore," Boyd recalls. "I had no idea where we were going to get
with it. I just knew it was really fun and exciting."
While continuing their educations at various colleges in
Southern California, they always kept up with their musical
aspirations. After roughly two years of schooling, a record deal
came through that caused the quintet to put earning diplomas on
hold to go on the road. At least, for now.
"At first, I just knew I enjoyed writing," Boyd reflects on his
twist of fate. "I didn’t start singing until I sang in this band.
At all. I mean, I sang in the shower, but what I wanted to be
before this was an artist/professional surfer. Most of the band,
actually, grew up surfing."
At least part of Boyd’s original life plan has been realized, in
the sense that his artwork as well as that of drummer Jose Pasillas
decorates their CD’s extra CD ROM page. Strange pictures of
pyramids, extraterrestrials and witch formations jump out at
intrigued fans. Yet, Boyd’s lyrics stem from a more earthy
base.
"I’m very interested in human beings in general, I think," Boyd
explains. "I write about human situations, human emotions. I like
to write about what humans could be doing, and they’re not. I like
to paint little worlds and reflect on the world in general. The way
I see things, I guess. All in a positive light."
Boyd and the rest of Incubus draw on the musical talents of such
varied artists as Primus, Ella Fitzgerald, Steve Vai and Ani
Difranco. Such an infusion results in Incubus’ highly stylized,
eclectic sound, which uses two turn tables and a mixer in place of
the standard second guitar. Creating "S.C.I.E.N.C.E." with such a
variety of sounds required six weeks of writing as well as six
weeks of studio recording, though they would have rather been on
the road.
"Live stuff is our strong point," Boyd admits. "It’s just an
expulsion and receiving of energy from the crowd. We’re very open
to the music and what it does to the body. Music, for all of us,
has always done really cool things, both physically and
emotionally. We just let it all happen on stage, whatever it is
that happens."
The feeling of having a couple hundred fans singing along to his
music continues to floor Boyd. And, having his art included in his
album package leaves him gratified, as he has always seen music "as
an audio extension of the art."
And, though Incubus will return to do a U.S. tour probably not
long after their exhausting three week stint in Europe, Boyd can
find little to complain about.
"Yeah, we get tired," he concedes. "But there’s such a love for
it there that it’s all worth it. I think the hardest part is
missing my girlfriend, my family and my dog. But there’s a time for
everything and you just have to seize the opportunity."
Photos courtesy of Sony Music
(Left to right) DJ Lyfe, Jose Pasillas, Brandon Boyd, Alex
Katunich and Michael Einziger are the members of Incubus.
"S.C.I.E.N.C.E" is Incubus’ first big-label album.