Streetbuzz Interview
May 9, 2005
Travis Pforr: Chris Pforr's nephew; high-school
student, rock' & roll guitarist, competitive cybergamer;
Lives in Antioch, California, USA.
A STREETBUZZ INTERVIEW
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STREETBUZZ: Travis, where and when were you born?
TRAVIS PFORR: I was born in Antioch, California, on March 27, 1987.
STREETBUZZ: How about your childhood? Did you enjoy growing up?
TRAVIS PFORR: I guess I was happy with it. I enjoyed playing sports, but that all changed when I got my computer.
STREETBUZZ: Computer?
TRAVIS PFORR: I have invested more into my computer than I have into my guitar equipment, and I leave it on 24/7. It's on as we speak. I play CounterStrike, with my clan. At least two hours a day. I also enjoy downloading music. Rock and roll, and any type of music. And umm... what else do I do? Chat with friends.
STREETBUZZ: How about your music?
TRAVIS PFORR: I'm into a genre called hard-core. And there are certain principles around the hard-core scene: there are a bunch of rules that kids follow, no sex, no drugs, no alcohol. And I guess it means a lot to me, and I enjoy playing the music, and I also enjoy going to shows, even though its dangerous upfront. Why? Because in the mosh pit, instead of pushing like they do at metal shows, they do karate moves. I got kicked in my head at least three times in this one show.
STREETBUZZ: Favorite bands?
TRAVIS PFORR: My favorite band of all time would have to be the Smashing Pumpkins.
And I like their music because it's very diverse, and usually anyone can relate
to any of their songs. Yes, even my grandma could relate to some of their songs,
because they have a lot of acoustic songs.
I don't really have a second favorite band, but if I did, it would probably
be a band in the hard-core scene, like Converge.
STREETBUZZ: You're in a band yourself?
TRAVIS PFORR: It's called Zombie Pop. The singer and I have been playing together since freshman year, and we're still in search for a dependable drummer. The band revolves around zombie movies: lyrics, themes, names. We write our own material, and I think we have a different sound than most of the bands out right now. Its' fairly simple, like guitar riffs, but we try to make it as heavy as possible. Here's our band website (STREETBUZZ Recommendation: turn your speakers on, but turn down the volume to avoid waking up the neighbors.)
STREETBUZZ: You've grown up here in California. What can you say about this surreal place?
TRAVIS PFORR: It's gotten more populated the past ten years. I remember when Antioch used to be a farm town. I used to go pick fruit with my parents. Now, it's overcrowded, probably takes ten minutes to go one mile on Highway 4.
STREETBUZZ: But what about California in a cultural or cosmic sense...this state is remarkable on the world stage: it's a melting pot, a giant think tank, a laboratory, a leading edge place for fashion and behavior.....
TRAVIS PFORR: I guess it's good for me to experience all the culture in California. I get to know the ideas and the ways other cultures work. And if I grew up anywhere else, I know I wouldn't have that privilege. I also like California for its music scene (laughs.) It has a very diverse music scene, from all around the world. And since I love music so much, its great that I can experience all the different types of music.
STREETBUZZ: Travis, I believe you're getting ready to graduate from high school. What's the plan?
TRAVIS PFORR: I graduate from high school I believe it's the fifteenth of June, on the eighteenth I'm traveling to Europe with two of my friends, and we'll be staying in Europe for one month. In Europe we're gonna go sightseeing, and we also wanna meet some of the people over there, and see what it's like to live in Europe. And I want to play some Europeans in Counterstrike, 'cuz I know I can own them. That's "L33" talk.
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STREETBUZZ: And then after you discover freedom and happiness traveling around Europe, you gotta come home. What will you do back here after your trip?
TRAVIS PFORR: I'm probably going to go to a community college for one or two years. I might transfer to a regular college to get my four-year degree. And after I get my degree, I'll probably go to pharmacy school.
STREETBUZZ: Pharmacy school?
TRAVIS PFORR: I hear pharmacists make good money, and they don't have to do a lot of work. And I also hear you make your own schedule. So I can be doing CounterStrike and music on my offtime when I'm not working.
STREETBUZZ: You mean you're not actually interested in playing with pills all day?
TRAVIS PFORR: I'm somewhat interested in what the pills do with the patient, and how the medicine works, but now that I think about the job, counting pills all day sounds kind of boring.
STREETBUZZ: You want to get married and have a family? (later...)
TRAVIS PFORR: I actually think it would be cool to get married and go on tour with a band. But probably not kids at that point.
STREETBUZZ: What can you say about your family?
TRAVIS PFORR: We're probably not the closest family, but we do care about each other.
STREETBUZZ: Travis, I believe you are half Vietnamese and half European mutt. What do you think about that heritage?
TRAVIS PFORR: I think it's nice that I'm part of two cultures, and I think it would be boring growing up and just learning one culture. I also think it adds to my personality.
STREETBUZZ: What do you think the Vietnamese half contributes? The Dutch/German/English half?
TRAVIS PFORR: I think the Vietnamese push their children to the limits academically,
and I think because my mom was pushing me so hard academically, I'm so serious.
And with the European side, I guess I grew up listening to rock. So I guess it's influenced
my creative side.
STREETBUZZ: And so which part of you did CounterStrike come from?
TRAVIS PFORR: I don't think it came from either side, I think it came from my laziness. I discovered the computer, man's ultimate creation. It's not just my laziness though, I enjoy playing CounterStrike with my friends, it's a hobby.
STREETBUZZ: Oh yeah? Is it passion or obsession?
TRAVIS PFORR: Addiction. But the game is competitive in a sense, and it's almost a sport, you want to be a top player.
STREETBUZZ: What do you think about the future of the planet? For example, personally I don't think our species is going to last another twenty years. Your opinion?
TRAVIS PFORR: Well, environmentally, I think we're headed in a bad direction, because we're
so dependent on fuel as an energy source, there's only so much of it. I think the world has
to invest in alternative energy sources, like solar power or hydrogen power. And I also like
the way Japanese carmakers are investing into these energy sources. American car researchers
aren't really putting the money forth.
I think that there is a way to world peace, as long as everyone comes to the table with open
views. They don't necessarily have to agree with everyone, but they should come with an open
mind.
STREETBUZZ: Any other thoughts on anything?
TRAVIS PFORR: I would like my band to go on tour, and if we do go on tour, I would like to tour outside of the United States. I'd also like to quit my job at Jiffy Lube.
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Recommended links:
Zombie Pop (my band)
CounterStrike (computer game)
Converge Cult (band)
Army of Darkness (movie)
Half Life 2 (computer game)
Starcraft (computer game)
Peavey (amplifier manufacturer)
Poison the Well (band)
Billy Corgon (guitarist/songwriter for Smashing Pumpkins)
*****
A STREETBUZZ INTERVIEW
Travis can be contacted at: qualityrx@hotmail.com
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