What happens when you combine pharmaceutical abuse, relationship gripes, and alcohol? Generally, you get an average college student. But, for Gym Class Heroes (GCH) vocalist Travis “Schleprok” McCoy, these three things are the ultimate album material.
GCH put out songs about the most explored topics in music history, making them new with an original sound that you can’t help but move to. The group combines hip-hop, funk, punk rock, and pop to produce catchy and creative tracks. Their new album, As Cruel as School Children, on Island/Fueled By Ramen records, contains radio hit “The Queen and I,” and songs about everything from getting fucked up to statutory sex with high school teachers.
Thursday night, GCH opened their first headlining tour with a performance at the Buffalo Icon. Before the show, I hopped on the tour bus to pick McCoy’s brain. The whole time, he swigged from a classy bottle of liquor like a true front man and joked around while his phone blew up like he was a drug dealer in a dry spell.
Generation: So, you guys are called Gym Class Heroes. What was your favorite sport in gym?
McCoy: I never participated in gym. I was the fat kid in high school. I’d sit in the bleachers and talk shit about the people who participated. I’d yell at them, like “What are you trying to prove?” Unless we were playing dodgeball. We called that bust-ball. (laughs)
G: You have a definite player persona, despite the monogamous message of “Cupid’s Chokehold.” How true to life is that image?
M: It was true to life, but I’m actually in a relationship right now. In my first year of touring, I sowed all my wild oats, so to speak. It’s not about sex anymore. You know—sex is old, sex is boring. I have a lot of songs about all my experiences, and my girl hates it. She doesn’t even listen to our music. But I got no play in high school, and now here I am, this big awkward kid in a band, and you gotta take advantage of that. But now I’m all about my girlfriend.
G: How would you explain your sound to someone who’s never heard your music before?
M: We’re a little Kenny Loggins, a little Hall and Oates, with a little Three 6 Mafia. I’m lying, again. Our music appeals to a lot of people, so it’s hard to box our sound.
G: What would you be doing if you weren’t in a band?
M: Probably teaching art or tattooing. I taught art for three years at the Boys and Girls Club, and I was a tattoo artist for four years.
G: Do you do your own tattoos?
M: Hell no.
G: What’s the craziest stunt a fan has ever pulled on you?
M: The most disgusting thing happened when we were playing a show on Long Island. I was really sick, and I hocked a loogie off stage and I saw this girl pick it up with a gum wrapper and put it in her purse. I mean, I can identify with that, but it made me feel dirty.
G: What did you want to be when you were growing up?
M: Skinny. I’m just kidding. I wanted to be your average fucking fireman-astronaut. No, I’m lying again. I really wanted to be an underwater welder. My dad was a welder, and I was looking up welding one day and saw pictures of this guy welding underwater, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I used to draw underwater cities all the time.
G: Are you just kidding again?
M: No, it sounds like I’m lying, but I’m totally serious.
G: Your song, “New Friend Request” is about finding love on MySpace. Would you say you get a lot of your fans from people who see your MySpace page?
M: Really, it’s hard to put a face on our fans. If you look out there (points out the bus window at the huge line forming outside the Icon), there are some 40-year-old women out there. That’s a beautiful thing going on out there. Some people go to shows and get ridiculed for looking different than everyone else. Why would you want to limit your fanbase like that?
G: Moving back to the juicy stuff, what’s the worst thing a girl’s ever done to you?
M: Dumped me for my brother. She didn’t even tell me. I found out when I saw them holding hands. I was the fat kid, but fat kids can’t really fight or run. There was nothing I could do about it.
G: So, what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to a girl?
M: Told her I loved her, but I lied. It’s terrible, but boys use those three words to get what they want in the cruelest ways. Karma’s a bitch though.
G: Last question. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever had?
M: Keep your bedroom clean. My dad told me that for years, and I never got it. Now it makes so much sense. Your bedroom is a reflection of yourself. It says a lot about who you are as a person. Watch your friends next time they come over. If your room is messy, and you have shit everywhere, if you throw a popsicle stick on the floor, they will too. But if you respect your room, they will respect it too. That shows that you respect yourself.
