The Unseen
Boston, Mass. If there is any interview in this whole issue that I suggest reading it’s this one. It’s a very honest depiction of some serious topics that are present throughout The Unseen’s record, Lower Class Crucifixion. This interview was done in December 1998 over the telephone with Mark. If you are interested in any of the following topics discussed in this interview, or if you like raw, crusty, catchy punk rock, buy the Unseen’s debut full-length.

Wonka Vision: You guys sing a lot about not joining “ the system” and I wonder how do people you are singing to go about doing this?

Mark: No matter how hard you try and no matter how political you are or aren’t everyone does support the system in some way or another, there's really no way to get around it. There are certain things you can do; for instance, not supporting bigger corporations when you can. Like when you’re going to get something to eat and you have a choice to go to McDonald's or Bob's hot dog stand, you can support the guy who doesn't work for a big corporation. Or you can try and work at a job where you don't get taxes taken out. I do that. I do landscaping work and I get paid under the table so I don't have to pay taxes.

Wonka Vision: Do you burn flags on a daily basis?

Mark: No, I pretty much don't do much. I work a lot and by the time I get home from work I'm really tired so I usually just sit around the house. I book some shows and run a record label also.

Wonka Vision: What's that called?

Mark: A.D.D. Records. I got six records out now. The Sound of Rebellion comp., a Banner of Hope full length CD Unseen/Toxic Narcotics Split E.P., a Vigilantes E.P., an Afflicted E.P., and I repressed a Global Threat E.P., I also play in the band now. I'm putting out a Global Threat eight song CD/E.P. I just sent it out today.

Wonka Vision: Does your mom think you’re successful?

Mark: I don’t really think she thinks I’m successful, well maybe, I guess she’s proud of me. I don’t get into that much trouble. I hold down a job, got my own place, and the band and the label.

Wonka Vision: Some thoughts on the welfare system?

Mark: Paul thinks it’s a trap. He thinks that it is something the government uses to keep people on a lower level. My mom was on welfare for a while and it did help a lot. But there are so many people who abuse it too. If I had to go on it, I would. I think I would abuse it. I would take the money from the government and just use it to my advantage, because if not someone else will.

Wonka Vision: You wrote a song called “Too Young to Care” about all the irresponsible fathers in America. Is this a personal thing to you?

Mark: There are so many people who have kids and just leave and don’t support them. After they get a divorce they just don’t want to see their kids. I mean you can get divorced but why would you not see your kids because of it? My parents remarried. Then she had more kids with the guy she remarried. When they separated he turned out to be a total idiot. He doesn’t even give my stepbrothers and stepsisters the time of day. He’ll see them once a week for an hour. So I wrote it more for them.

Wonka Vision: What do you do when income tax time comes around?

Mark: I haven't paid taxes for four years. I paid when I was 16 or 17, but I don’t do anything when tax time comes around.

Wonka Vision: Is there a reason why you don’t support the income tax system?

Mark: I don't wanna give any of the money I make to the government. I’d rather keep it all for myself. Supposedly there isn’t going to be any social security in 20 years, because the money keeps getting taken out. So many people are collecting from it. There are ways more people that are collecting than are giving. The money is just dwindling down and supposedly there won't be any left in another 15 to 20 years.

Wonka Vision: And then what happens?

Mark: There's probably gonna be a lot of pissed off poor, old people that aren’t going to be able to do anything about it.

Wonka Vision: Did you ever beat up a politician?

Mark: No. We've gone out and thrown bricks and kicked in windows, but I don’t know if it was a politician or not. A random nice car, ya know.

Wonka Vision: At the end of one of your songs Paul says, “All Dreams come true someday.” Do you know what he was talking about?

Mark: If you read the last part of that song he was talking about police officers burning, bankers dying and politicians dying. I think he was saying that he wants it to happen that’s all. All dreams come true someday.

Wonka Vision: It seems like the Boston punk scene is blowing up, is there anything interesting going on right now?

Mark: Right now there’s not too much going on because there aren’t too many places to play. The punk clubs closed down. There are a lot of good bands around here though and when there is a show there is a really big turnout. Some of the punx are college kids; some of them come in from the suburbs. It’s made up of a lot of different people.

Wonka Vision: Does Boston have a skinhead problem?

Mark: There isn’t much of a skinhead scene at all right now. A few years ago there was a skinhead scene, but there has never really been a racist skinhead scene. They usually get along with the punx very well.

Wonka Vision: VML Recordings…Do you know Joey Vindictive?

Mark: Slightly, I met him once.

Wonka Vision: Is he creative?

Mark: He's a weirdo. He's an all right guy. We actually took the record (Lower Class Crucifixion) off the label and we are pressing it on A-F Records, just because they weren't really selling that many copies. They were going through problems with taxes.

Wonka Vision: What do you think about religion?

Mark: Personally, I think religion is stupid. I think all religion is false and fake. I think that the bible is just bunch of stories that have been made up and become exaggerated form generations to generation. The way you tell a story to your friend and by the time it gets to someone else it’s all changed. I believe in God, but I don’t believe in religion. Every religion thinks that their religion is right but most religions think different things.