You might know Keith Buckley (@deathoftheparty on Twitter) as the vocalist for Buffalo, NY hardcore punk band Every Time I Die (@EveryTimeIDie). If not, there’s a chance you recognize his voice. He also fronts The Damned Things, composed of members of Anthrax, Fall Out Boy, and ETID, who provide the current Buffalo Sabres’ power play song, “Handbook For The Recently Deceased.” If you follow Keith’s Twitter, you would know that he is a big fan of both the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bills. Currently in the UK with ETID, Keith took time out his busy schedule to answer some questions via email.
LRT: Would you classify yourself as a hardcore Sabres fan, a casual Sabres fan, or somewhere in between?
KB: I’m outside of Buffalo for so much of the hockey season that it’s difficult to say. When I’m home, I’m avid. I live right off the 90 east, and my fence that overlooks the Thruway has pretty much been made my shrine to Buffalo sports. You could say I’m a bit of a “Sabres Stalker”. On tour, the games are harder to catch, especially overseas. We’ve had to log in to some pretty sketchy streaming websites in a pinch.
LRT: Your bands seem to be constantly on tour. Where are some of the craziest or unexpected places you’ve run into Buffalo sports fans?
KB: If I say Helsinki, Finland, it might sound crazy, but considering we played at the rink where (former Sabres, current Anaheim Ducks defenseman Toni) Lydman played growing up, there are fewer degrees of separation. It was a total shock to see Sabres merch there, but once we realized why, it made sense. Now, if I saw a fan in Japan? That would be bonkers. They don’t care much about hockey from what I’ve seen and heard.
LRT: What are some of the lengths you’ve gone to to watch a Sabres or Bills game while on the road?
KB: Actually, on this past GWAR tour, we had a day off to drive from Calgary to Edmonton. It was a Sunday, and the Bills were playing the Jets. We made a point to stop in this skiing town called Banff in the off chance ANYONE would be playing American football in a town in the Rocky Mountains. We found ONE bar, and at that bar was the self proclaimed “only Bills fan for miles”. It was awesome. We lost, but what else is new? We drank Bloody Mary’s and drove out all other customers.
LRT: Corey Tropp’s last name lends itself easily to nicknames. @SickJerseyBro has suggested and I’ve adopted RoboTropp. Tropp Gunn, Troppic Thunder, Tropp It Like It’s Hot, and countless others have been offered up. What’s your favorite Tropp nickname?
KB: RoboTropp is my personal favorite of the bunch, and your photoshop job on Twitter was great. I hope to debut my sign “You down with TrO.P.P?” at an upcoming game, but that’s maintaining the hope he does something worth being “down” with.
LRT: I know what you mean. I have been waiting all season for T.J. Brennan (@TJ_Brennan on Twitter) to get a hooking penalty so I can make a T.J. Hooker joke.
LRT: Ryan Miller plays guitar. Drew Stafford plays guitar and drums. If you were going to start a band with some of the musically inclined Sabres, what would you name it?
KB: The Fresh Connection. It would be a rap group.
LRT: Just the thought of that has me pouring some out for my dead homies. RIP Rico.
LRT: Speaking of Stafford, can you convince him to rejoin Twitter? (Note: Drew went on tour with ETID and is a friend of the band.)
KB: Hahaha. For his own sanity, no. When he was on it, he used to ask how not to let “fans” opinions get to you. They always know better and deserve something more. I can’t imagine if I had to take the ice after reading some mouse potato’s rant on what they would have done differently. Stage is different. I can be drunk and forget easily. Derek Roy (@Roy9ner on Twitter) must fucking HATE you guys.
Every Time I Die are playing their 7th Annual Christmas Show on Friday December 16, 2011 at Club Infinity in Williamsville, NY. There’s a game that night, but I’ll let you off the hook so get your tickets now while they’re still available.
