Defeater – The majority of Americans begin to understand the consequence of climate change

If you are the one collecting news for Furyrocks, you do run into interesting material once in a while. Something that makes you go: ‘Hey, this actually is interesting for a (in this instance mail) interview!’ The American band Defeater casually mentioned Greenvans, a company that was started, among others, by drummer Andy. Greenvans is a car rental company for artists. Of touring vans, to be precise. Is that special? Yes, it is! These touring vans run on environmentally friendly fuel. The deteriorating climate change and the turning of it is something that is vitally important in the daily lives of the Defeater members. For instance, we have learned that the band gets their electricity during shows by having hamsters running around in metal treadmills that are placed right behind their amps… at least the band does have a sense of humour! (Or did some of my questions lack a sense of cleverness?)

When I ask them to introduce the band, the answer is not much help. They give me nothing more than the fact that Defeater is a punkrock band from Boston, whose current line-up only surfaced this year. And that their latest CD Travels is a chronological story about the band and the lives of the individual members. The rest of the information is to be found on the World Wide Web, though, there’s not much to be found there either. Well, that’s one sidebar that is quite short. The environment issue is much more important. The band agrees, as they give very extensive answers to those questions. The part about Greenvans was answered by drummer Andy Reitz, the rest is by Jay Maas.

Greenvans, a unique concept. The first and only of its kind, worldwide.
‘It was my idea,’ says drummer Andy, ‘I modified my first van a couple of summers ago, just to tour for two months with my then band.’ Soon Andy received requests from other bands about lending the van. ‘Not only because it ran on biological fuel, but also because it is hard to find reliable transport when you’re a starting band.’ Andy starting renting out his van, and made some money. ‘But the idea hit so hard that the next step had to be starting my own business.’ He now runs it with Anthony Revodo, who he has known for years and who used to play in a band with Jay Maas.

What is Greenvans, precisely?
‘Greenvans is a van rental company concentrating on touring bands. These vans only run on environmentally friendly fuel: vegetable oil and biodiesel.’ It works two ways, says Andy: bands have a car that runs on cheap fuel, as it is a lot less expensive than ordinary petrol and diesel, and it diminishes the damage to the environment. ‘Bio-fuel actually is CO2-neutral.’

Greenvans is successful: they have a lot of customers, and their vans are always on the road with touring bands. Not just American bands. ‘European bands who tour the USA also use these “green” vans.’Anyone we know?
‘Some are. Only a short while ago we rented them out to Bane and Stick To Your Guns, for example.’ For the rest the company is just the same as any other car rental service: the costs depend on the number of days renting and the amount of miles driven. The prices are a bit above average, ‘but you easily make up for that, as not only are the fuel prices are a lot lower for bio fuel, the cars runs more efficient on the stuff as well.’

To me it seems that a band that is so conscious about the environment will engage in it in all aspects of life. And have their opinions ready. To stick to cars, I have some general questions about environmentally conscious driving. One solution doesn’t eradicate the others, so is making ‘normal’ cars an option?
‘Of course it is! There are a lot of very efficient cars available, but most of them aren’t even for sale in the USA! In that sense we’re far behind Europe and it’s worrying. Furthermore there are people developing cars that run on hydrogen, and hybrid cars. The good thing is that these people don’t work for the big companies, but do it on their own personal initiative: there are a lot of smart people out there that can make a difference.’ Greenvans also is working on hydrogen technology that is to become hybrid with bio fuel. ‘But that might take a while.’ (Editor’s Note: The Honda Clarity is already available in California, and only needs hydrogen as a fuel, which is transformed into electricity through a smart generator on board. It does over 90 miles an hour and runs like a normal family car, without the emissions!!! Source: BBC Top Gear, 21 December 2008)

Alright, that’s enough on cars. Thanks Andy, before Furyrocks starts looking like an online car magazine… how does Defeater see the future on the environmental problems with Obama as their new president?
Andy: ‘He indeed has said that he wants to treat the environment differently, but he is and always will be a politician. He has to do a serious amount of debris clearing, all left by the worst American president ever. I sincerely hope there is going to be a change, but unfortunately we don’t have a good track history on the subject. We’ll have to wait and see.’

Yep, the USA is a major polluter, but the problem is global. Water shortages, melting ice caps. What is the most important item for Defeater and more importantly, what can an individual do about it?
‘Not one item is more important than any other; I care for earth in total. That indeed is not confined to one country. The time of pointing the finger has gone and there is a lot you can do yourself. Everybody knows by now, you recycle, are more careful about energy, that’s how you start. Don’t leave all your lights on, turn down the heat when you leave, don’t buy a Hummer!’

That’s clear. Still some people are sceptic about the whole environment issue. Especially amongst the ‘normal’ citizen, the scientists on the other hand all agree on the matter. How does the band experience this?
‘Well, the only reason to deny the facts has to be for their own interest. If you’re born with a silver spoon because your family has made their gains through polluting industries, and you will do as well, wouldn’t you look the other way? I see a realisation growing in the majority of Americans, including politicians, about the consequences of climate change.’ Those exist of the demise of the earth, or will it survive us? ‘The latter. The earth has seen many species come and go, and we’re not that different. The planet was here long before us and will be here long after we’re gone.’ That puts me back where I belong… sometimes rhetorical questions aren’t that bad…

(This is turning into a remarkable story. I shouldn’t ask so may questions through the mail. Was I really that scared I wouldn’t get enough answers? Can we still follow everything?)

Now that we’re back on the ground with both feet, we move on to the answers and the small things we can do as individuals, we’re not exactly extinct yet, right? How does Jay handle his environmental conscience in daily life?
‘Just by doing our best. Being greener doesn’t make my life any more strenuous. It’s a part of my life. The same goes for the other band members.’
About the contributions you can make as a band – here is my silly question – how can you be environmentally friendly when you’re on stage, using so much energy? Well, the answer is in the introduction, the one about the hamsters…

Thankfully I do know that the band really try hard to do everything as environmentally friendly as possible, Defeater has found a special way to make clean albums: recycle. Sounds difficult.
‘It is, in fact, not very difficult to achieve, as you long as you stand by it. A lot of presses offer the possibility of using recycled materials. I just don’t get why not every band does it.’ Do they need convincing? ‘It’s not about telling them that they need to do it, but about explaining why.’

And then the credit crunch hit. Talk of the town here, as it must be in the USA.
‘Indeed, everybody is addicted to the “latest story.” I mean, suddenly no people die anymore in Iraq? They do! Do we get to see it on TV? No way! The credit crunch is the new “Paris Hilton”, and I hope it doesn’t distract us from other important business.’

What did he just say? ‘The credit crunch is the new “Paris Hilton”?’ That’s a good one, if it wasn’t so sad. We see it hitting the worldwide economy and especially the conventional car industry. The financial crisis is pushing the environmental issues to the background. That’s why I hope an initiative like Greenvans can become part of the new consciousness concerning how we used and still use our natural sources, also and most importantly in that car industry that is being hit so hard right now. Because, the guys of Defeater don’t know, as I have stated my questions in a neutral fashion, but I also worry about these issues. I think this shower I am going to take is going to be a bit shorter than usual …

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