I have amazingly been given the chance to interview Fort Knox Five who have featured on several soundtracks of EA games in the past such as Facebreaker and NBA Street Homecourt and are one of bands on the soundtrack for the new Skate 2 game, released early 2009.
From their Bio:
The FORT KNOX FIVE is a leading force in the international funk and breaks scene. Having released an arsenal of floor rocking singles and remixes, the FORT KNOX FIVE has the midas touch for producing heavy hitting records.
Sid Barcelona, Jon Horvath, Rob Myers and Steve Raskin are the masterminds behind the FORT KNOX FIVE. They established Fort Knox Recordings in 2003 to release party-rocking music that crosses tempos and defies genres. Their world renowned ‘Fort Knox Sound’ has overtaken dancefloors with its distinct interweaving of live instrumentation with funky electronic breakbeats. In 2006 they released the critically acclaimed ‘The New Gold Standard’ to showcase the groundbreaking sounds from their premier funk and soul label.
I was given the chance to ask them some questions about their music, their involvement with EA and Skate 2 and what games they are currently playing.
Here we go:
1. I see that you have had some past involvement with EA, with them using your tracks for their games - how did that all come about?
It seems we have a fan or two at EA on the inside. It's all been a low-key, grass-roots kinda blessing. Big thanks, EA!!
2. Has your inclusion in the computer games industry done anything for your sales or popularity? Are you a "skaters band"?
Totally! We're always coming into contact with people who have heard about us from playing a video game. We made a massive amount of fans from multiple songs being featured in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 & 09. It's radio for a new generation! We've had our music inserted in surf documentaries, snow boarding video clips and even spun for Tony Hawk as our alter-egos, Thunderball (ESL Music) while he shredded the Potomac Mills Skatepark a couple years back. We have been sponsored by C1RCA Presents for the last few years. Fort Knox Five have performed at a lot of their extreme sporting events such as Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival, Crankworx, Snowboard Canada Film Premiere, and at the upcoming Monster Energy Party @ the X Games in Aspen. So we're actually more of a Snow/Skate/Surfer's Band, it seems our music goes well with riding planks at high speed!
3. I was probably skateboarding while you were all in nappies (maybe!) - are any of you skaters or ex-skaters?
Nappies? Not likely! Rob is an old-school ex-skater. He had to stop when he started making part of his living playing sitar and guitar with the Thievery Corporation live band. Do you know how much Wrist Insurance costs?!? In the 80's, as a kid, he helped build a skatepark outside of Madrid, Spain that still stands and was recently resurfaced, original layout intact! (www.elsindi.com) The DC HarDCore Indi/Punk scene that we evolved out of was closely tied to the US skate scene from early on as well, with Dischord records – our close friends and distributors – finding inspiration in the West Coast cultural revolution that Dogtown and Zephyr started in the '70s. JonH occasionally tools around on a REAL 9x33 Aces Edition that was given to him by Jake Brown. Also, our Label Manager, Kalani, is an avid surfer who still likes a nice piece of pavement once in a while.
4. What are your views on the opinion that skateboarding and violent music/behaviour go together? I feel that Skateboarding has a bad image from the continued use of associating violence with it's scene and culture. "Discuss..." 
Well, since we're getting deep… Let's get a little moral relativistic. The violence is just part of the the Myth that surrounds all Lone Travelers. The skateboard is a steed and the skateboarder is the modern High Plains Drifter. Just by being out on the street covering the city you are exposed to the potential of violence, this comes with the territory. You're going out there, who knows what you're going to see? Everybody else just watches it on a screen. This is how it becomes their "opinion." In Spain a gentleman is called a Caballero, a horse rider, he has to be civil - as almost all skaters are - just by virtue of being mobile. Thus, Steve Caballero –Bones Brigade Forever!! – becomes Butch Cassidy…
5. Back to some simple questions now.. What games consoles do you own?
We own PS3s and Wii's. The graphics on the PS3 are amazing, but the Wii is so much fun especially when you play against each other. The Wii rules!
6. What is your favorite console game of the moment and of all time?
Skate 2's def going to be the game of the moment, and as for the classics we're pretty faithful to the SSX, SKATE, FIFA 2009, GTA and Halo series.
7. Have you got to play the new Skate 2 game yet? Were you wined and dined by EA and given a chance to play test?
We haven't had a chance to preview the game. EA keeps all of that stuff on strict lockdown. Their security is even tighter than Fort Knox! We're looking forward with baited thumbs to our own personal copies of Skate 2. When we started the recording process they sent us Skate 1 and some screen shots and trail runs from Skate 2 to put us in the mood. We're still waiting on the wine but we'd have to pick a coast first, since we're East and they're West. After all the back and forth that went into honing the interactivity of the music we've got a lot to talk about!
8. What's next on the horizon for Fort Knox Five? What are your future plans?
We just dropped our debut album, "Radio Free DC" on our label Fort Knox Recordings, and are looking forward to bringing it to the masses with some home-made videos and kick-ass live shows featuring amazing MCs and vocalists!
9. Skateboarding in the 2012 Olympics in London? What do you think? Also - how about you guys doing the launch party here in the UK? I'm sure I could write a few letters and try to pull some strings...
If you look at the Mayan Calendar you will see that there is a pretty clear prophesy about skateboarding in the 2012 Olympics, so that's a "Yes!" (And a "Yes!" to the launch party offer, as well, have your people call our people.)
10. Just one final question - The answer is "a broken Xbox 360!" Now whats the question?
Q: Guess what I got when I was playing "Skate 2" while riding my skateboard?
Thanks to Fort Knox Five for taking the time to answer my questions.
They have also allowed the readers of SkaterGeek to download 3 of their tracks for free!
Insight
Funk 4 Peace
Party Pushers
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FUNK 4 PEACE!!!
Nothing better than bombing hills and listening to this album!!!!
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