CLUSTERFUX is dead...Punk is not.

“Why did CLUSTERFUX break up?” A great question that has a difficult answer, but I’ve run through it so many times in my head I have a pretty good explanation now so let’s give it a try…15 years for any band is a pretty good run. Of course we had our fair share of lineup changes but really it was only 8 or 9 people over that period of time. With my brother, Justin, and I at the helm that’s really not that bad. We played a shit ton of killer shows during that time with many amazing bands, met a lot of awesome people and made many lifelong friends. There is nothing like being a thousand miles from home and having someone take you in like family because of a bond you share. A lot changed over the years. Trends and fads came and went we were still there. I’ve watched the entire “punk scene” in Denver turn itself over 3 or 4 times and we were still there. The longer we remained the easier it got to be to deal with the shit talkers, the naysayers and negative people in general. It just didn’t matter because they would most likely be gone in a year or two anyway, moved on to adulthood or absorbed into the hipster scene or some other gaping hole in society swallowed them up. With that said its great how people are still part of it in their mid and late 30’s into their 40’s now with families and kids of their own. But now we’ve moved on, we’re not “there” anymore, at least not as the unit CLUSTERFUX. Most of the goals I had set for myself and the band had been met. The only one that didn’t come to fruition was a European tour. The music we were creating over the last couple of years and right up to the end was in my opinion, and that of many others, our best stuff. The new album that is being released post breakup is by far the best thing we’ve done. The last shows were nothing short of amazing. Several times during both shows I was almost moved to tears and had to fight to keep from balling like a little kid who just dropped his ice-cream. The support was amazing and the stories people told about their experiences with the band and what CLUSTERFUX meant to them was incredibly rewarding and moving. The last show on March 12 at the Blast O Mat was nuts. The place was packed from front to back and side to side and everyone was involved, it was really one of the most exciting shows I have ever played in all 15 years. Afterwards I was asked by several people “that show was amazing, why would you break up?”. That my friends was why we did… Going out when we did the way we did left everyone on a high note. The band was in tip-top shape, having fun and the crowds were exploding with energy. We were able to end it and leave ourselves with very positive memories of the whole experience as well as give every some amazing memories to end their relationship with the band. Everyone got to have a great time, sing along, dance, laugh, and say good-bye together. The ending could not have been more positive. And now we will release the final LP and it will kick ass! In retrospect I am incredibly proud of what we did. To go from the little town of Carbondale Colorado sitting in our shed listening to the EXPLOITED to putting together our first punk bands and then finally moving to Denver and creating CLUSTERFUX 15 years ago was a pretty amazing trip. The band was and still is a big part of me. I keep asking myself if it was the right thing to do, if the timing was right. It was…To drag it out would have most likely resulted in inner band turmoil that would have perhaps prevented us from being able to throw a going away party for everyone. It could very well have ended on a very negative note. Although I am still emotionally out of sorts with the whole thing I know it was the right thing to do at the right time. So what to do now? Justin and Joseph play in DRIPFED and stay pretty busy with that. Dan is always in demand and plays in several bands around Denver. He’s a kick ass drummer and will find a killer gig in no time. Me? I’ve been enjoying the downtime, spending Friday nights with my family and not at rehearsal. I feel a lot less stress and more care free. But I cant sit still for long. I’ve been in bands for 24 years, it’s part of who I am. Justin and I also have the reunion of our old band FIA that broke up about 20 years ago to look forward to. That’ll only be two or three shows but will be a blast. Lately I have been playing a lot of bass and look forward to jamming with some like-minded folk in another band. I’ve learned a lot and look forward to pushing a new band hard and covering a lot of ground very quickly. No fucking around this time! It’s time to get down to business!