ATOM AND HIS PACKAGE

Interview by web from early 2002 taken from NOSEBLEED 22

ATOM AND HIS PACKAGE is a one man band from Philadelphia featuring one Adam Goran and his home recording gadgets (package), carving a trail through the long grass of punk, with hints of the Buggles, Devo, Oingo Boingo amongst other quirky references. All this and a sharp sense of observation has bought equal shares of praise and criticism from around the punk world... check out his website at www.atomandhispackage.com for further developments....

BOZ - It seems that HATS OFF TO HALFORD has caused a huge ripple of offense. Now that you've got some distance from it, how do you view the overall reaction??

ATOM - It was upsetting that a lot of people's reading/listening comprehension is so poor that they misunderstand the song, and think that it's a homophobic song (which it's not) , or that people are homophobic and disagree with the song.

BOZ - "Hats off" is the obvious example, but do you have other greatest hits in terms of whipping up the venom???

ATOM - I don't know. I certainly don't try intentionally to provoke people. I guess I have strong opinions and since I write songs about things that I think about, the strong opinions offend people who disagree. I suppose some people think IF YOU OWN THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS, YOU'RE A COCK is no on target, but I am satisfied I can beat anyone in an argument about that one.

BOZ - Being recipient of negative reaction, has anything ever gotten to you??? - any favourite abuse??????

ATOM - Most of the hate mail is really funny, and it's fun for me and my friends to laugh about it. Someone once said " I fucked your mom in the ass, get off the stage nerd " That one really upset me. I was mad at my mom for being unfaithful to my dad.

BOZ - Have you had to square up to / defend yourself against anyone in a live situation over the whole thing??????

ATOM - Oh certainly. But I can usually hold my own, since I don't say things for the most part, without reasons.

BOZ - I believe you were out in Europe recently... how did the reception vary from country to country??????

ATOM - The shows were really good, and I met lots of amazingly great people, and saw wonderful things. People in Spain were really really enthusiastic and fun even though I was really sick. I played so many countries, it would take forever for me to recap what I learned from the trip.

BOZ - Certain places in Europe are notoriously difficult...like England... any memories of hellholes?????

ATOM - I have always had a wonderful time in England. My travels have definitely taught me that there are a few wonderful people, most everywhere, and tons of assholes everywhere to.

BOZ - There was something I read in a web interview about the concept of touring on a bike... has this ever transpired...or are there plans?????

ATOM - I would still like to do it, and I think it's possible. I don't have too much equipment, and I have a bike, and can just throw everything into saddle bags and go. I can ride about 60 miles a day and still play a show I think.

BOZ - To what extent have you actually toured ATOM AND HIS PACKAGE?

ATOM - I have toured for a very long time, and have been to 16 different countries doing ATOM AND HIS PACKAGE. I have met some of my best friends in the world through music and travelling. It's wonderful.

BOZ - How did you arrive in the musical situation you're in now in terms of inspiration?????

ATOM - I enjoy playing music. I don't think it's as dramatic as being "Inspired".

BOZ - A common factor in a lot of press you get is the word NERD.... is this justified????????

ATOM - I don't know. I guess it depends what it means. If being a nerd means I'm smart and wear glasses... uh...okay, then I'm a nerd. If it means that my name is Lewis, Gilbert, Lamar or Booger, I am not a nerd.

BOZ - .... or do you revel in it????????

ATOM - I do what feels comfortable to me.It doesn't bother me if I'm labelled a nerd... i do what I do whether it's considered nerdly or cool.

BOZ - One thing I witnessed was at a MAN OR ASTROMAN gig... someone up front was waving a science book... has this happened at an ATOM gig????????

ATOM - No, but someone from MAN OR ASTROMAN has been at an ATOM gig, and nobody waved him around. That sucked.

BOZ - The reaction of the underground punk establishment has been pretty
bleak. Do you think that punk has prioritised style over substance????????

ATOM - I think it's impossible to generalise about "Punk" in that sense. Since punk is such a big widespread subculture, there are plenty of idiots involved in it who think that if they dress the part, they're punk, but there are definitely lots of amazing people still involved.

BOZ - What about MRR refusing your ads... is your money not good enough for them????????

ATOM - Actually I completely understand where they're coming from. They're a magazine that covers and is interested in guitar punk. I am not guitar punk. It makes sense to me.

BOZ - Is this an isolated incident or have you encountered any other bigoted
fuckwits??

ATOM - MRR are certainly not bigoted fuckwits... do you really think so (Boz - pretty much!)

BOZ - How do you feel that what you do fits within the definition of punk??????

ATOM - I don't think about it very much. I do things the way I feel comfortable, and I think that what I do is often in accordance with what "punk" means to me., but it certainly doesn't fit everyone's definition, which is fine.

BOZ - With 80's nostalga looming like the plague, has the irony of what you're doing been missed by any listeners??????

ATOM - I have no idea. I didn't know there was irony to what I do.

BOZ - Give us the top 5 celebs on your execution list??????

ATOM - It'd be much easier to give you 5 former classmates of mine that should be killed.

BOZ - One thing very apparent about REDEFINING MUSIC is that there's a lot of directions you can take the music without resigning yourself to formula and making the same album again... do you have a vision of how the music's gonna develop??????

ATOM - Nope. Not at all. I write songs that I like. Hopefully there will continue to be progression. I think it'd be boring to keep doing the same thing.

BOZ - From 80's new wave stylings... can you see an evolution whereby the
future may hold, for example, a stadium rock album??????

ATOM - Ooh... that'd be fun.

BOZ - The one man punk band has a definite and brilliant fascistic sense of convenience about it... do you think you'll eventually be acknowledged with regard to this or can you see the scorn continuing to flow??????

ATOM - I have no idea. Some people like it. some hate it and most probably don't care at all.

Go to www.atomandhispackage.com for lots of further interview fodder, hate mail,