There are a lot of bands that play melodic hardcore with lotsa of new style punk rock influences, but there are only a select few that can play it with the skill and precision that WHIPPERSNAPER does. After releasing their latest album, "The Long Walk," they have showed the world by their great lyrics and songwriting, that WHIPPERSNAPPER has the power to take their music to the highest degree. This interview was conducted with Andy, who was super cool in answering these questions in less than 24 hours of them being sent.

1) pastepunk: Okay, since there were some line-up changes since the release of the first album and the newest one, can the band please go over who their current players are, and how the band started?

The band grew out of an old garage band that all of the original players, except for Jason Joseph were a part of. We started playing together at about thirteen and then at about sixteen we added Jason who was more into the new school punk rock scene. We were more of a metal or garage punk type band and Jason's influence definitely made it easier for us to evolve into a more melodic NOFX-ish type band. We kept that line-up until after the first record was released and there was pressure to tour more. Nik Baker, our original bassist, wasn't sure if music was the right choice for him and he left to travel with a Christian missionary group, and for a period, we played with bassist Cliff Atkins. Things weren't working out well with Cliff. Andy Belote, our current bassist, was in an Atlanta band called Whatnot! He told me at a Strung Out show in Atlanta that he was looking to do more with music and if we needed a bassist to give him a call. Since things weren't working out well with Cliff, we decided to try it out and it just worked really well. He's a great bassist and a good guy. He fit the chemistry really well. Ben Allington who played guitar on "America's Favorite Pastime" decided earlier this year that while he loved to play music he wasn't sure it would pay the bills and he wasn't sure if he really liked the touring life, so he left to go to school and study Aeronautics. Right now he's getting ready to intern at Northwest Airlines in Minneapolis. Mike Fink is our newest member and guitarist, he played on "The Long Walk." He was also a previous member of Whatnot! Patrick Kerr plays drums and I'm Andy I sing and write lyrics. Currently it's me, Mike, Jason, Andy, and Pat.

2) pastepunk: There is no doubt that the latest WHIPPERSNAPPER cd, "The Long Walk" is a clear progression from the first album "America's Favorite Pastime." Everyone has been billing the new sound as totally original and fresh, can the band please expand on the new cd and the sound?

Well we knew that when we started writing this record that we didn't want to put out another "America's Favorite Pastime." It was a good record but it wore its influences on its sleeve. We discussed beats and bass lines quite a bit, trying to keep from the standard beat and using more relative harmonics in the bass, but we really didn't say we're going for this sound or that...we wanted it to sound different. Vocally, I was focused on trying to use less words and stronger melodies and vocal arrangements that were more complex and dynamic. AFP was a record that really described where we were at that point in our lives but since then a lot had happened to us and we needed to express that we were different people now. The writing was thought out better and examined more. We went to a little cabin in Kansas for six weeks and spent all of that time writing and recording demos. With some isolation and concentration it was easier to write, whereas with AFP we were all working full time and writing in the evenings for a few hours.

3) pastepunk: WHPPERSNAPPER has always had thought provoking lyrics and topics, as found on the songs, "bottom line," "silent crime," "Blinded," and "An Open Invitation." What goes into writing a WHIPPERSNAPPER song? Describe the lyrical process and how you find inspiration?

I usually write lyrics after the music is finished. I try to feel out what mood the music sets and then write along those lines. Mainly I'm talking about personal experiences and observations. As far as musical input, I might sit in during a

4) pastepunk: Does WHIPPERSNAPPER tour often? If so, what has been the bands tour history? Where are your favorite places to play, and with whom. If you could tour anywhere in the world, where would that be? Are there any crazy tour stories? And of course, what would be your dream punk rock show?

We try to tour as much as possible. We've done the US a few times, southeast, northeast, west coast etc. Last year we toured Europe with Strung Out and we're trying to get back over there this upcoming year. My favorite shows have been in Phoenix, AZ and London. In Phoenix they surprised us with a lot of enthusiam for the show. In London, the Garage was so hot that the sweat condensed on the ceiling and it started to rain inside the club. Houma, LA has also been a place where we've had a great response and kids are really enthusiastic about new music. I think the craziest thing was when we took this friend out with us to do merch and the club treated us poorly and he streaked through the club after the set. Or when we were left behind in Birmingham, England and I saw a guy throw a bottle at a store owner and another guy with his eyeball hanging out of its socket...he said he'd been thrown off a roof and he needed an ambulance. Some bands that have been really cool to do shows with are Mock Orange, Hunter-Gatherer, Humble Beginings, and Strung Out. We've played with Good Riddance a few times and they're always good. Personally, I had a great time when we played with Down by Law. The punk rock dream show would be The Descendents, NOFX, Strung Out, Satanic Surfers. That would be a great show to see.

5) pastepunk: What does the Chinese stand for on the front cover of the new cd?

Strength, Failure, Survival, Change not neccesarily in that order though. The ones on the inside are expierence and struggle.

6) pastepunk: How do members of the band make their living's outside of the band, as we all know the punk rock does not pay the bills? Does anyone in the band have a college education? I ask every band this question, and more often than not, these answers are usually the most interesting part of the interview.

Mike and Andy B have had some college but they dropped out to join the band. Right now, Jason and Pat work at a car wash. I do production crew work in Atlanta when I can but mainly I accept being poor and work on booking the band. Mike is a temp, and Andy B works at Chuckie Cheese (don't laugh). Jason, Pat, and I have never been to college.

7) pastepunk: How did you guys get hooked up with Lobster Records? Are you pleased with all of the work they have done for you on getting the word out? From what I remember, WHIPPERSNAPPER was one of their earliest releases. Did the band seek out any other labels to work with?

Lobster is great. They've been a big help. We sent them demos and they were encouraging even in their rejection responses. They said they really needed to see a band before they signed them so we booked a tour out to California and played for them. "Bottom line" was a new song then and they hadn't heard it yet. I think that song and our live show won them over along with the fact that we were willing to travel all that distance without any guarantee of a contract. We had also been talking with Fearless a little but nothing serious. Bob helped us out with a few shows and put us on the Punk Bites Comp. When I got home from that tour Steve said he was sending a contract. We were their fourth band, after Buckwild, Joystick, and Jargon.

8) pastepunk: Is WHIPPERSNAPPER part of the Atlanta scene? Also, why is everything in Georgia labeled Peachtree besides it being your state fruit?

Yes, we consider ourselves a part of the Atlanta scene. We have been with it through alot of transitions and now it really looks like it's starting to grow again. Atlanta doesn't have a big scene but it definitely has some people who really work hard to make things happen. We play in Atlanta every few months or so. I guess the peach thing is just something you always hear. Dogwood is another word commonly used for street names and whatnot. It's just regional I guess.

12) pastepunk: It is obvious that WHIPPERSNAPPER has taken the approach that their music is their outlet for personal expression. Do you ever think that punk rock will become the political threat that it once was in the early 1980s, when politicians were scared of what was being produced?

I don't know if even then it was a big a threat as people imagined it was. I'm not sure that I'd want that because even though punk is intelligent and politically challenging I would never draw political ideals from musicians.

13) pastepunk: Why a punk rock band in 1999? Do you guys all plan to be rockin' out when you're in your 40s like BAD RELIGION, or is this just a stepping stone forlonging the process to adulthood?

Well I'm not sure if we'll always be a punk band...maybe one day we'll evolve past that into something different, but the influence will probably always remain. We're definitely in this for the long haul, if it were just a method to stall adulthood I would have abandoned it a long time ago. Right now we're playing what we want to play and what we'd want to hear played.

14) pastepunk: What's the stupidest thing you have ever done that you would reverse in time if you had the chance?

I'm not sure if I'd reverse anything in particular but I would go back and visit myself when I was younger and tell myself that I didn't have to take things so seriously, to enjoy the complete irresponsibility of school years, and to save all the money I was spending on crap back then.

15) pastepunk: Is there anything else that you would like to add? Thank you very much Andy for doing this interview, it means a lot to both me and pastepunk.com. Keep up the great music.

Thanks for interviewing us. We'll be out touring these upcoming months on the east coast so keep an eye out for us. Thanks to Nick Reidmoni for his work on our webpage http://www.windu.com/whippersnapper

**pictures courtesty of the Whippersnapper website**