Interview with Mark Aber, Scott Hatch, and "Big Bob" Clark by D. Andrew Wilson (excerpted from the Fall/Winter issue of LOUD FAST RULES page 27 which featured the newest CD "Grind Kings")

GIVE ME A LITTLE HISTORY ON HOW YOU GOT INVOLVED WITH AGRESSION.
Scott Hatch:  I was living in Ventura County with my girlfriend at the time when Mark Hickey and Big Bob introduced themselves to me in of all places a Carl's Jr. Restaurant in Oxnard.  That was in 1981.  They were recording a couple of songs for the BYO compilation album "Someone Got Their Head Kicked In."
Mark Aber:  Before becoming a member of Agression, I was really heavily involved in the L.A. punk scene.  I would spend 3 or 4 nights a week at clubs like The Masque, The Whiskey-A-GO-GO, Starwood, Cathay de Grand and on and on.  We used to hang out at Oki Dogs fast food restaurant after shows to wind down from a night of massive drinking and slam dancing.  I ended up becoming friends with the band Killing Joke.

HOW DID THAT TURN OUT?
MA:  I was offered a chance to tour with them in Europe, basically as a stage tech.

HOW WAS EUROPE?
MA:  I didn't go.  I had met my best friend and manager, Scott Hatch, in the L.A. circuit.  He was managing FEAR, T.S.O.L. and Agression at the time.  We were really into the scene at the time and knew everybody.  We partied hard and had one fucking hell of a time.
SH:  The drummer for Agression at the time, Larry White, lost his drum kit while they were on tour with Battalion of Fear.  I gave him a set of pearl drums in the hope that Agression's rhythm section might become a lot tighter and have that hard hitting sonic value that all punk bands need to have.  I suggested that Mark fill that void.
MA:  Scott called me to audition for Agression knowing that they needed a new drummer.  He knew that I had the chops and kicked ass and could give the band the jump start that they needed.  I fucking nailed the audition, and the rest is history.

WHAT YEAR WAS THAT?
MA: It was late 1981.

HOW WERE THE SHOWS?
MA:  Mark Hickey would tell me to slow down at first.  I had a lot of backbeat, and a lot of energy to burn as you can imagine.  I pushed the band to go harder and faster than they had before.  We had a relentless practice schedule which ended up being a good thing.  The band became really tight.

HOW DID YOU GUYS START TO REALLY GIG?
MA:  Scott booked us with some of the best bands at the time in L.A. (FEAR, Social Distortion, Mentors, etc.).  We had a totally original skate sound, which people just really dug.  We started to really push up through the ranks.

HOW WAS LIFE?
MA:  Some of the best times of my life were spent hanging out at the beach with Bob, Mark and Henry at Silver Strand Beach, going to shows and recording and creating some great music.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
MA:  BYO Records offered to put out our first album "Don't be Mistaken."  It sold well and really helped establish BYO as a legitimate label.  We toured a lot, and played a lot of shows in L.A.
SH:  I was negotiating with SLASH and IRS Records at the time.  I was against it at first, but it is really the only record I stand behind.  They actually send royalty checks and statements.  Mark and Shawn Stearns.  Really good guys.  They gave permission to use classic Agression songs.

WHO WAS YOUR NEXT LABEL?
MA:  Mystic.  Our first album with them was titled "Agression."  We eventually did a lot of recordings for them that ended up on the Mystic compilations, as well as some live recordings.  We recorded at Mystic Studios where Led Zeppelin did the "Whole Lotta Love" echo chamber thing.
SH:  I had Mark publish all of his songs prior to recording with Mystic.  I was still Mark's manager at the time.  Although I wasn't managing the band at the time, I was still always there for moral support and advice on their careers and the band as a whole.

MARK, WHO ELSE HAVE YOU PLAYED WITH?
MA:  Oh man, let's see.  Angry Samoans, Wasted Youth, Circle One, Suicidal Tendencies and the Dickies.

COOL.
MA:  I was also in a killer project in 1986.  It was called "The Skeleton Crew" aka "King M'Butu."  It ended up being a self-produced LP which led to a deal with SLASH Records.

WHAT ARE YOU GUYS UP TO THESE DAYS?
MA:  Just creating, writing and producing quality music.
SH:  I am developing resort properties in Idaho.  A few years ago, Duwayne Burnside (son of the late blues legend R.L. Burnside) asked me if I would like to make a record.  It was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award for Best New Artist.  He has also been nominated for 4 Grammy's for his work with the North Mississippi All Stars.  Jason Wyner (formerly of ng/Artimus records) is the President of my label.  We have some great artists on the label (David Kimbrough Jr. and Burnside Exploration).  My expectations are only to release the finest in punk rock and the blues that your daddy didn't listen to.

ANY PLUG?
SH:  Go to My Space or just punch in the artists on the label, Lucky 13.

WHEN DID YOU ORIGINALLY FORM THE BAND?
"Big Bob" Clark:  In 1979.  We did covers; you know some Dead Kennedy's stuff.  Just a couple of tunes if I recall.

YOU LOVED TO SKATE?
BBC:  Yup.  Simms, Powell Peralta, and Tracker all sponsored us.

DID YOU TOUR?
BBC:  Yeah, lots.  We broke down in Oklahoma and got stuck for a few weeks.  That was right before Larry White (the original drummer) left the band in 1981.  That was right about the time that the "Someone Got Their Head Kicked In" album came out.

WHO DID YOU GUYS TOUR WITH?
BBC:  Agnostic Front, GBH, and the Misfits.  We had a huge riot with those guys at Mandolin's Ballroom.  They had to move the previous venue so a lot of people who bought tickets couldn't get in.  Then it got crazy.  People were throwing shit all over the place.

SOUNDS LIKE FUN.
BBC:  Not really.

WHO WAS THE DRUMMER AFTER MARK ABER LEFT THE BAND?
BBC:  Rick Keller from Dr. Know.  He later quit to join Exploited.

WHEN DID YOU GUYS FINALLY BREAK UP?
BBC:  I guess in 1986.  I still have Big Bob's Agression Session.  Larry White has been drumming plus we have members of Stalag 13 in the band.

OH.  HOW DID YOU END UP IN COLORADO?
BBC:  I had broken up with a girlfriend.  I needed a change and a promoter at the time said he had a few spare rooms in his house.  Our motor home had broken down and we just crashed there and stayed a few weeks.  The song, "Night of 1000 Beers" was truly inspired by this place.  Henry decided to stay, and a few weeks later Mark showed up.  Denver, good times.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO REFORM THE BAND IN THE LATE 1990'S?
BBC:  We just wanted to get the whole thing back together but unfortunately they (Mark and Henry) passed away.

ANYTHING IN CLOSING?
BBC:  Every time we play a show, Mark and Henry are always there.  We always give a shout out.  I love and miss them.  We will continue the tradition as long as we are all still here.