About this interview
In a 2007 interview with Ryan Minic from Ryan’s Rock Show, Matt Goddard and Pat McManaman of Chiodos shared stories about the early years of the band and their relentless work ethic that eventually led them to break through. By the time they spoke, they were riding a wave of momentum, but they were quick to talk about how much grinding it took to get there.
The guys recalled how, after signing with Equal Vision Records, they hit the road immediately—no time wasted. “We were already on the road,” Matt said. They described those early tours as “crappy” loops around the U.S., usually lasting about a month at a time, playing anywhere and everywhere. “We did like 10-plus tours DIY before things started picking up,” Matt explained. “We were kids, so we didn’t care. We just wanted to get out and see the world.” They laughed about playing to 10 people on some nights, sometimes less, joking that they treated it like band practice. “We’d try new songs because it didn’t really matter if we messed up,” they said.
At first, they weren’t getting paid for shows—sometimes they’d be lucky just to cover gas. “I saved all this money and spent it on gas,” Pat remembered, half-laughing, half-cringing. “I wasn’t eating, but it was fun, right?” Both of them agreed those were some of the best times, even though they wouldn’t want to do it again.
Their persistence eventually got them noticed. They started getting hit up by labels after years of relentless touring. Equal Vision and Immortal Records were among the few that reached out, but it wasn’t an avalanche of offers. “It wasn’t like a ton of labels,” they said, “just a few.” When Equal Vision finally made the deal, it was the payoff they’d been waiting for. They credited touring—actually being out there on the road—as the biggest factor in building awareness. “Playing shows is the best marketing tool,” they said. “Being there in person instead of on a website.”
That grassroots work ethic shaped how they connected with fans. They reflected on the high school kids who saw them as their favorite band, and what advice they’d give to those fans. “Finish high school,” Matt joked, “but then, if you want to do it, go all in. Don’t go to college. Pursue your dream.” It was the opposite of the reaction Matt got when he told his family he was quitting college to do the band full-time. “They hated it,” he said. “But I was like, ‘Sorry. I can go back if I want to… which I won’t.’”
They laughed about their first real “legit” tour with He Is Legend and Sleep, saying that’s when things started feeling different. “That’s when we realized things were starting to pick up,” Matt said. “It was kind of the next level.” They appreciated the smoother organization of bigger tours—no more playing 10-band bills and going on last.
Despite their growing success, they admitted they occasionally Googled themselves to see reviews and comments online. Some reviews stung, but for the most part, they shrugged it off. “I wish they understood it the way I understood it,” Matt said. But they knew that people were always going to have opinions, and they weren’t going to let it slow them down.
Reflecting on their time in high school, they said they weren’t really in touch with many old friends anymore. “Not really,” Matt said when asked if people from back home reached out after the band took off. “I hang out with a few people, but mostly I’m with these guys,” he said, referring to his bandmates.