Interview with Derek Sanders of Mayday Parade

Q.  How did you guys pick your band name?

Um, I wish we had a more interesting story, but we had been a band for a month or two and we had a couple songs written, we just wanted to pick a name and I think Jake and Alex came up with Mayday Parade and we just liked it and went with it, and yeah!

Q.  When did you guys start playing music together?

Well we all have played in different bands together before this one. I met Brooks, our guitar player, when I was 12 and we started a band together. I’ve been in bands with Cabbage, our bass player, before and he and Alex were in a band together and Alex and Jake were in a band together, so we’ve all just kinda like grown up playing in bands together and being friends and just eventually worked our way into this band and yeah, we stuck with it!

Q.  Ideally in 5 years, where do you see yourself?

Hopefully on Warped Tour again! and being able to keep just doing this. It’s hard to say but we’re happy to be able to just continue doing what we’ve been doing, have fun touring and going to different countries and stuff, having a good time doing this and being able to make a living off of it, so yeah, as long as we can do this, we’ll keep doing it.

Q.  What is one thing that you have to have in your van or bus while on tour?

Mostly just my computer, I guess, cause that’s just a lot of things in one. So my computer, or my phone, an acoustic guitar.

Q.  What is your favorite part about performing?

I just have so much fun up there, just seeing all the people out there having a good time, singing along and stuff. It just makes me really happy. And always, from the beginning when we started playing shows, it’s always been the best part. Hearing people sing along is just really cool, we have fun!