The Afterdarks hail from the Quad Cities Illinois area. Middle America is the fertile stomping ground of lots of remarkable rock and roll. Being over here on the West Coast, I heard about them through my terrific music guru pal, Marko Jerson. Marko promotes music, spins garage, punk, psychedelic and psychobilly music on the net and in the local clubs of his home town in Iowa. He has turned me on to all kinds of relics, chestnuts, anthems and current artists of every genre. He tells me that he met Papa Darkness of the Afterdarks in 2003. He had a chance to listen to some demos and was impressed. If Marko is impressed, kids, you will be too.

Thank you guys for taking the time to answer these questions!

Punk Globe: Lets start from the scratch; Tell us who are in the Afterdarks and what each of you do?

Papa D: My name is Papa D (Darkness) I sing and play bass. (plays a Washburn bass, and upright bass in past recordings) Dr Nasty plays guitar and sings (plays a Reverend and Gretsch guitars) And Big Paulie D plays drums (Plays a Pearl drum kit live)

Punk Globe: How and where did you guys meet?

Papa D: The Afterdarks have been together since 2003. Which first started off as an excuse to jam and have fun on Sundays with my wife Becca on drums and good friend James on bass. We had made a demo which had leaked out into our local scene and a lot of pressure was on us to start doing shows and start putting ourselves out there. My wife and close friend did not want to play out. So with a few line up changes later I met Dr Nasty 999 on Myspace and we met up at a local pub and we really hit it off. We shared the same musical direction and band ethics that made us evolve individually as musicians that instantly I knew I wasn't going to be the only one carrying the weight of starting a serious project.

Paulie joined the band after our drummer of 4 years left to devote more time to other musical interest. We announced we were looking for a new drummer on face book and I had so many emails, I never got to all of them. But Paulie asked for a cd and it took him a week to learn 29 songs so he instantly showed dedication and devotion.

Punk Globe: What was your musical influences when you were young?

Papa D: They are all over the place. We all grew up on blues and rock/punk. I grew up on a lot of early country and rockabilly. But the biggest thing is that we've never enslaved ourselves to one genre.

Punk Globe: You guys play all over the US. Is angsty rock and roll still alive and kicking in small town and big town America? Tell us about who you play to?

Papa D: I think there is always something from the work week that makes people want to regress back to a monkey state and start dancing around and throwing fecal matter at each other. It's just how we've been programmed. But it is alive and kicking in mid-west America.

Punk Globe: Tell us about the evolution of the Afterdarks. How has your music changed since you first started the band in 2003 (Their first cd, Symphony of Horror (which is out of print) to their current cd Blood Sweat and Gears)?

Papa D: In 2003 it was more punk. 2005 punk/rockabilly. And now pretty much all over the place. We aren't signed, we don't make money doing this. So we are going to do what makes us happy. These night clubs/bars aren't paying our bills. So we aren't held down by corporate backing and influence. What started as more horror punk in 2003 has moved to writing outside of the box. I currently feel with our new album "The End Is Nigh" (due out in spring) we've come along way in showing our influence in music and in life. And as I stated, people who write an album to be a punk album have written themselves into the confines of definition and have to answer to fans that think that everything you will ever release will sound the same. That would be a fucking horrible death. And I would hate going to work everyday if this was my full time job. I'm glad we allow different ideas in and are expanding the minds of die-hard fans.

Punk Globe: How has your audience changed?

Papa D: When we added a rockabilly feel to our music a very small percentage of fans left but most stayed and we've grown alot bigger with no intention on doing so. I still feel "punk" is doing what you want when you want and not living or playing to fit the bill. And I'm sure if our style sways with ebbs and flows there maybe rockabilly fans that will leave. But I think you have to stay true to yourself.

Punk Globe: How much hot roddin' and grave diggin' do you have time for?

Papa D: Well, I wish it was a lot more!!! But I own a 56 ford Fairlane and Nasty has a 51 Nash. But between day jobs and shows/recording we don't even deserve our cars. I wish I could cruise every day of the year but the Midwest weather ain't made for such a lifestyle. On tour we drive a piece of crap van, and I carry a piece of wood around with me so I can knock on it every time we have a show.

Punk Globe: How do you keep your self sharp yet dark? Raunchy yet relevant? What helps keep you inspired in this hyper-tensive, angsty rock and roll life style?

Papa D: I guess I'm just a dark kinda guy. I laugh at horror movies. Because if the intention is really to scare the hell out of you they would just air the news. I don't think of myself as sharp but whatever. I write stuff close to my heart, but when I think our listeners are getting to close to understanding my psyche I back off with some dark tongue and cheek humor. It keeps our style fresh and it makes me feel I have a safe place to go with my writing.

As for inspiration, look around, society is ready to either start eating each other or just start giving up all together. A mass "throwing in the towel" if you will. I think as much as I want to say lyrically to try to get my point across I have to remember that most of us are monkeys waiting for the chance to throw poo at each other.

Punk Globe: What are your immediate plans for 2011 and what do you think you next seven years hold for you?

Papa D: We are releasing our Sun Record sessions currently in mastering. By spring we will release our first concept album complete with 17 brand new songs which will put us over 90 songs so far. I can't wait to hit 100. As far as the next 7 years, I'm just trying to figure out how I'm gonna make rent this month. Lol

Punk Globe: Thanks again for taking the time in answering these questions, Papa D.

Papa D: Thank you for your time and interest.

The Afterdarks won the NASCAR Now Fuzztopia promotion by fan based votes for their song "No Cops No Stops". They got some small airtime on NASCAR Now between Nov 14th and Nov 17th. The song is in their archive for a full year at NASCAR Now, and they can use it from time to time during the next season as they choose, even an instrumental portion, with credit.

Bigger and better, they have been informed that on March 13th, Speed Vision show - "My Classic Car" with Dennis Gage - big moustache guy, will air 30 seconds of the track, Hot Roddin Grave Diggin Man, at the opening of the show. The show will feature the upcoming event - Vintage Torque Fest 2011 by the bands great friend John Wells.

Lots of people are finally recognizing the group. We have set up an account with several labels as a scout for the band. Buzz.net website has their official stuff on board. And the boys are recording two full lp's at Sun Studios. The guys are currently unsigned but say their dream label must have PBR.

Keeping it real in Moline.

Go to their website at http://theafterdarks.com