I want to make sure you all know exactly where I am coming from  in this SPIN article, from me, my way. As I survey my basement and all of my belongings crouched over this broken laptop, 4 pairs of ratty jeans, some shirts, and half a bag of cheetos, I realize that after years of being in the rock spotlight, all I have left is my integrity.

So let me do what I preach, and "say it with conviction, say it like I lived it," because I in fact did live it.

First of all, Charles Aaron is a phenomenal writer, resource of music, and I have been reading, and re –reading the article for just pure form. I feel giddy when I think about the work he has done, and now I, and the band have become a part of it. But let me straighten up some things. First I was raised to be a bottom feeder of society. I wasn't given a chance, and I am very uncomfortable around money. When we waltzed up into the Four Seasons, the first thing I saw was an orange Lamborghini, and fifty year old men with 20 year old girls in 900 dollar dresses. This was so ludicrous to me. I felt so uncomfortable as to make the remark "I'd rather drag my penis through gravel than be here." Well, I was referring to the surroundings, and most definitely not the company. I am not some unaware child in this industry, I know the colors Mr. Aaron was painting with. Lets build up the record industry as the antagonist. Lets make them appear as inept as possible. I have never viewed it as an us against them kind of world. I ultimately lay the responsibility of what we hear and see today with the fans. The industry put out the records you tell them you want, and if you don't go and vote (by that I mean support) the acts that you feel inspired and invigorated by then it's your fault that today's music doesn't appeal to you.  I don't blame what this industry has evolved to be, because no one entity has controlled that evolution…it has just happened.

So I don't hate Hinder…and I didn't say that either…it's most unfortunate for it to be "Spinned" that way, considering that our band is friends with Hinder.  Through the years, we played in clubs the night before they would…everywhere as they were beating the shit out of the road, just like us, we would hear about them. How could you not like the people in the band…they are a real band, like us…they came from nothing, and had faith that they would make it…sacrificed everything. Most other bands are MADE..I mean someone picked this guy and that guy and said " Bam" here's your band, now lets get them writing some songs with someone else. So in that regard I have this respect, a huge admiration for what they do. In a crossing conversation, Mr. Aaron asked me who the "guy was on the couch," and I replied "he help's develop bands." As I was answering I was asked by another member of our party who knew nothing about rock music "are they big?", when I answered "yes, I hate them." This comment was in an obvious joking manner, but taken out of context….as I meant that affectionately in a jest of jealousy…who wouldn't be a little jealous of a buddy band being able to hop on a plane to Germany and play some shows. As soon as I saw Mr. Aaron scribbling on his notepad I wanted to get the information straight… I said "don't write it down like that." He replied "What band…I won't write it down, I just want to know," and of course as you read in the article "I wouldn't elaborate." If it weren't a comment about a friends band, honestly I wouldn't give a shit…but when you are misquoted about friends, then you have to make the effort to make it right. In fact, the reason we were hanging out with the Hinder folks was not because we had "hat in hand," but because they are familiar faces.

When Mr. Aaron claims we came "hat in hand" we definitely did not. We have turned down plenty of co-writing opportunities, and all he had to do was to ask us and we would have told him. We meant what we said "they have to be family." I am sure if you took out your suffrage barometer and said "Well, have they done enough to be considered legitimate artists," I know we would burst your mercury. So what actually happens in this silence, in this moment of judgement…when you are witnessing a band play…do you say to yourself…they don't mean it enough? And then we write them off as artists. Mean what? Did Kiss mean Detroit Rock City enough? Did Weiland do enough heroin? Did Rage Against the Machine really equal activism? Do I mean it? Are we a real band?

I already addressed that. It's called "Devil in my Hand" and I sing it every night to those who will listen…

Who do you think I am, that I could stand up here and spin it this way

Pretentious about my life as if it happened only yesterday

Passé I must seem to be, but we're all hiding underneath

The black and lust an ugly pink, a truth that you will never know.

Say it with conviction, say it like you lived it.

But you know you can't, and you never will.

Because you don't have it in you.

And that is for every non believer…you are my fuel.

Because I sure as fuck have it in me…and I'll keep saying it as long as you, the fans, want me to say it. I don't want your Kobe filet, or your orange Lamborghini. (although I will have a few of your 13 dollar martini's please) I already have something I have never had…a family…Uncrowned.

I am not afraid to fail…but Mr. Charles Aaron's questions do bring up the irony of it all.

I may be afraid to succeed.

And after the magazine has been out for a few weeks, I can say that some little misquotes cannot diminish the realness and message of the article, that like I said came through well in Mr. Aaron's writing..

This band is fighting against the odds…a real band with four real personalities… like real rock bands used to be, where fans can identify with the people that make the music as well as the music itself, and yes we are waiting for the real thing to come…because we have faith, and nobody works harder than we do…and we have 8 pages of fate to prove it.

Thanks sincerily to all the fans for their support,

Stephen, Jack, Stu, Scott.

Uncrowned