Interview with Last of the Believers guitarist and vocalist Chris Chasse

One of the most popular new rock bands of the last few years has been the group Rise Against, a talented four piece band from Chicago. One of the reasons for the band’s big success is, and was guitarist Chris Chasse who left Rise Against in early 2007 and has in turn formed his own band called The Last of the Believers. The Last of the Believers is a brand new band led by Chasse and singer Steve Jennings and they have just recently released their debut EP titled Paper Ships Under a Burning Bridge. So far, the EP has received some positive feedback despite the lack of the backing of a record label. Look to see the band on tour all across North America for the rest of 2007 and well into 2008. We were able to recently catch up with Chris and ask him a few questions about his new band. Here’s what he had to say:

The Last of the Believers is a brand new band consisting of five members all with rich musical pasts. How did this project get going in the first place?
Chris: Steve and I have been friends for a few years now. We were simply talking to one another online one day and said to one another, “let’s start a band.” The next week I was on a plane to California from Chicago. We started writing songs, and got Brett, Nik, and Phil on board. It was as simple as that.

Now as many people probably know, your last band was the very popular Chicago based group known as Rise Against, but you decided to leave the band earlier this year. Can you let us in on some details why you left Rise Against to form your own band?
Chris: I didn’t leave to form this band at all actually. I left, took a few months off, and then the idea came up to start this band. I parted with Rise Against only on good terms, and I loved every second I was in that band. There’s just a time that comes where you know you need to move on. I also really wanted to spend some time with my family. My father and step-father were both having heart issues at the time. They are now both doing a lot better and I’ve decided to step back into the music scene.

Now the members of the band are all from different groups with different sounds and different backgrounds. Was it at all difficult to get together and mesh a sound that you were all comfortable with?
Chris: It was very easy actually. We do all have extremely different music backgrounds, but they all seem to be coming together rather well. The song writing process didn’t involve any “butting of heads” or anything along those lines. The five songs came out rather easily.

The name of the band, The Last of the Believers, is interesting to say the least and it sounds like it has a story behind it. Where did this name come from?
Chris: Steve came up with “Last Believer” as a name at first. I believe that he got the idea from a Good Riddance song. I wasn’t quite sold on it, and switched it up to what it is now. First off, the name has nothing to do with religion what so ever. It’s more along the line of simply not giving up on the world, and mankind in general. There are so many things wrong with the world today, and so much hate, but we’re trying to look past all that nonsense.

Your brand new and debut EP is titled Paper Ships Under a Burning Bridge and it’s been out now since the end of July. Now that it’s out, how do you feel about the EP and are you pleased with the reaction to it so far?
Chris: I couldn’t be happier with the response that the EP has received, I can’t believe it actually. I have yet to actually hear anything negative, which is almost unheard of these days. I’ve shipped almost 2,000 CDs from my house, and that’s without the help of any form of label. People are being so supportive of the group, and I couldn’t ask for more.

What was the writing process and recording process like for the EP? Did you guys all write together and how long did it take?
Chris: The writing process was very smooth and came rather naturally. No yelling or screaming at each other or anything, which is refreshing. We all seem to get along with, and work together, really well. I can’t wait to continue writing, and put out a full length.

In terms of production, who did you get to help produce Paper Ships Under a Burning Bridge and why did you decide to work with them?
Chris: There was no production team involved with this EP. I guess we produced it. We recorded with Doug Greene in California. He gave us great advice on some of the songs, and we couldn’t be happier with the way the CD came out. Jason Livermore and Andrew Berlin at the Blasting Room in Ft. Collins, Colorado also had a big part in the EP. Andrew recorded my vocals for “Throwing Matches” and Jason mixed/mastered the EP.

One thing that fans of yourself [Chris] might not be use to, is the fact that Paper Ships Under a Burning Bridge marks the first time you’ve sung any form of lead vocals. How did it feel to be singing lead for the first time and has it been at all difficult to adjust to this new role?
Chris: It’s been a long time coming I suppose. Over the years I found myself singing more and more back ups, especially with Rise Against. I started getting more and more comfortable with singing, and it helps when you’re practicing in front of 15,000 fans. I heard the choruses in “Throwing Matches” a certain way, as well as the break. It was too hard to explain, so I simply tried it myself. I’m happy with the way it came out, and apparently so are listeners. I plan on singing a lot more on our full length.

Now despite the fact that your EP just came out and is doing well so far, do you have any plans yet to record a full length album anytime soon?
Chris: I love being in the studio. We are all writing songs, and very anxious to get back in there and record more music. I believe that we are going to wait until we find the correct label to put the CD out before we get back to recording. Hopefully, we will have something out in early 2008.

What does The Last of the Believers have planned as far as touring is concerned? Whereabouts are you guys going to be hitting in the next little while?
Chris: We just started booking shows in October. We will be booking throughout the rest of this year, around Ignite’s schedule. I’d love to get to Europe and Australia before the year is up, as well as the entire U.S. and Canada.

What else does The Last of The Believers have planned for the rest of this year and into next year?
Chris: Simply touring and writing music. We are still a very new band. We’ve only been together a couple of months now. We have quite a lot of work to do and we’re all really excited to get the ball rolling. This band has turned into a full time job for me. I do interviews, contact stores to carry the CD and ship internet orders out every day. Things are going great and we are looking forward to what may come.  [ END ]