The schizophrenic kings of heavy mental funk rock, Box Office Poison, are opening the millennium with a new sound, new songs and a brand-new scheme for global domination through music. The members of the Brooklyn-based band, featuring an eclectic and seemingly unmixable mix of funk, punk and bluesy brass, are currently working on a follow-up to their first full-length CD, Adventures in Pantsland, released in October of 2002. The band’s had a busy time recording and playing at popular New York city venues like The Lion's Den, Continental and Orange Bear. Originally, they were going to take a break from concerts to focus on recording, but, like Bill Clinton at a strip club, it's hard to keep Box Office Poison off the stage. "I'd rather die from a rare South American disease than take a vacation from performing," says singer and guitarist Pete Catapano. If you saw the guys from BOP on the street---well, you'd probably give them each a dollar and keep walking. But you also might not realize they were the schizophrenic kings of heavy mental funk rock. "One thing that's unique about BOP is that we don't look like a typical rock band," says Jim Catapano, who bangs the skins and also plays the drums. "We try to focus on the sound rather than the image, mainly because we can't afford decent clothes." For BOP, everything starts with songwriting. "We like to talk about different and interesting things," says Jim C (also known as "Sporty"). "We stay away from the typical 'I love you girl, do you love me,' song, mainly because we know for a fact that the girl does not love us and never will." From revealing the secret life of washing machines in "Spin Cycle," to warning of the perils of living a promiscuous life in "Scary Indecision," to getting to the truth behind Socrates in "Jesus Crust," the band always has a memorable and strange story to tell. "When I write songs, I'm usually trying to sound like somebody," says bassist and singer Jon Koza. "But I'm trying to sound like somebody else trying to sound like that person or group. 'Spin Cycle' is a Chili Peppers song played by They Might Be Giants. 'Jesus Crust' is Paul Simon with The Edge on Guitar. 'Madness to the Method,' well, even I haven't figured that one out yet." "I think 'Madness' is Led Zeppelin as performed by Wilson Phillips," says Jim C (also known as "Ginger"). "Some people say songs don't actually have to be about anything," says Koza. "Who needs meaning when you're having fun? Besides, some of the true meanings might get us in trouble." The sound has progressed, and the band is often abetted by the "saxxy" styling of Matt Koza (tenor sax). For the band members, music (and the playing thereof) is an indispensable part of human existence. "Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll---everyone has to have at least one of these things in their life," says Jim C (also known as "Bubbles"). "Needless to say, we were forced to go with the Rock and Roll." For more info, go to www.boxofficepoison.com