Pin It

Forever Punk

They no longer take flying dives into the mosh pit, but for Chuck Loose, Sam Fogarino, and Rob Coe the music is still the thing

A A A Comments By Tom Bowker Thursday, Jan 2 2003

Rob Coe grew restless after his first year grinding out ten-hour shifts at Universal Music. In 2001 he bought an acoustic guitar and ventured into L.A.'s open-mike scene. Testing new material at dive bars whetted his appetite for destruction, so he concocted the Enablers, a sonic barrage reminiscent of Cell 63. They began a month-long residency at L.A. hotspot the Garage. The band members wore T-shirts embossed with Robert Downey, Jr.'s booking photo on the front, and on the back a pyramid that included the phrase "To Thy Own Ruin Be True." Word of their triumphant run in Los Angeles spread to England, where indie label Newest Industry signed the band. "I feel blessed," Coe says with a smile. "This will be my seventh record."

Fogarino and Interpol recently hosted MTV's late-night alt-rock showcase 120 Minutes, marking just how far the drummer has come from his sister's couch. "This wasn't the way I planned it," he understates. "Ideally I would have stayed in Fort Lauderdale, formed my band, and taken it on the road. But it didn't turn out that way." With that in mind, he refuses to plan his career or speculate how long it will last. But Fogarino was encouraged when he met the members of seminal U.K. proto-punk legends Wire, who are all in their fifties. "I thought playing forever would be gross, but their new record is amazing and they looked dignified. Those guys look their age. If it retains some quality and dignity, I'll play until my arms fall off."

photos by Colby Katz

The Heatseekers include Owen McLean, Chuck Loose, Terra Marie, and Ryan Weinstein

Fay Wray, including Rob Coe (far left in both photos), lays waste to Churchill's Hideaway

More About

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.