Pop Punk Pioneers

The boys of New Found Glory have found their calling.

New Found Glory is back and more mature with their fifth CD, Coming Home. Much has changed about the band in recent years, including a new-found preppy style (props go out to Ben Sherman) and tighter bond with one another. One thing hasn’t changed though— their music has kept that pop-punk style their fans have grown to love. Drummer Cyrus Bolooki spoke to FASHION18’s Ariel Weber about their writing inspiration, rumours and relationships.

INSPIRATION My daily life and my life with the other members of the group are what inspire me. We get inspired through our experiences and everything we’ve had in life, especially relationships since a lot of our songs are about them. We write from the heart.

SPOTLIGHT DOPE Doing something not too many people get to do. This was our dream growing up as we started young in our parent’s garage and we watched bands like Green Day, which made us realize how much we wanted this for ourselves. Now that it has come true it seems like a fairy-tale story with a happy ending.

SPOTLIGHT DOWNER There’s definitely that pressure people always remind you of when you’re doing a show and you see the massive crowd waiting for you to play. But we try to take challenges and keep each other comfortable and support one another when going through these barriers.

WORD ON THE STREET Rumours started circulating on the Internet about five years ago about our guitarist Chad (Gilbert). They said he had cancer, and to make it funnier they said he had testicular cancer. I’m in no way trying to make light of something so serious but it was just ridiculous that they would say something so far from the truth.

DREAM COLLABORATION John Lennon—because he seemed so influential and he had a very mysterious quality to him.

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT… Candy! I just recently bought a whole bagful of individually wrapped candies like the ones you give out on Halloween.

FAVE FASHION LABELS Recently our band got into Ben Sherman, and I’ve always got to wear my Diesel jeans. There’s also the occasional Gap (item). As we’ve gotten older we’ve definitely moved more toward preppy style so now we’re like preppy guys with tattoos.

IF HE WASN’T IN MUSIC… I went to college for a year taking business class but I was also interested in computers. So if I had to pick it would probably be something in the computers field because I like dealing with things with numbers. I’m a huge nerd that way!

IN HIS SPARE TIME I’m involved with music a lot and I like to record and produce music. When I’m at home—which is not too often—in San Diego I try to cook and I also try to find something new, like a park or something, because I just moved there. I sometimes do the touristy stuff.

FAVE TOUR STOP Japan is probably our favourite because it’s so different from our western culture and everyone is so sophisticated, peaceful and cordial.

SHOWER SONGS Over the years I’ve taught myself not to sing in the shower because sometimes when I have people over they could hear me. I sing a lot in the car though!

PRE-SHOW PREP TIME I find a peaceful place where I take 15 to 30 minutes to focus on playing the show ’cause then you might forget and be caught off guard, especially when it is a big show and there’s so much going on. I usually listen to my iPod. I also always stretch ’cause playing the drums is such a physical thing. Other people in the band do different things like running around or jumping up and down to get pumped for the show.

MOVIE ONE-LINERS The first Clerks I probably know word for word and also Austin Powers. I don’t know all of Austin Powers but many of his jokes are one-liners so it wasn’t hard to remember.

DATING STATUS I’m the lone single of the group holding the fort. I came out of a relationship almost a year ago. The big thing I look for is that our personalities have to match. Another trait, which took me a long time to realize and came after my recent relationship, is that I need a girl who’s independent, especially because I’m on the road a lot.

CELEBRITY CRUSH Elisha Cuthbert. When I saw The Girl Next Door I wanted her to move next door.

ON A DESERT ISLAND… A few years ago I would have probably said a CD and a water fountain—you know, something practical—but now I would say my iPod. Just as long as I have my music I would be fine.

FAVE KARAOKE SONG This never used to be my favourite but when we were in Japan we went to karaoke bars and every time we were there Jordan would always sing “Piano Man” by Billy Joel. He inspired me to want to sing it, too.

By Ariel Weber

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