About this interview
In a 2007 interview with Ryan Minic of Ryan’s Rock Show, From First to Last members Matt Good, Travis Richter, Derek Bloom, and Matt Manning reflected on their early years, working with Ross Robinson, how they ended up signing with Epitaph Records, and Sonny Moore’s departure from the band.
The band discussed how they actively sought out Ross Robinson to produce their record, inspired by his work with Slipknot. At the time, Ross hadn’t produced an album in years, aside from The Blood Brothers’ Burn Piano Island, Burn, and they wanted to bring his raw, high-energy production style to their music. They sent Ross early demos, and he quickly became excited about working with them. The recording process was intense, as Ross was known for pushing musicians to their emotional and creative limits, but the band ultimately appreciated his unique approach to capturing raw performances.
They also talked about how Sonny Moore (now known as Skrillex) joined the band. Originally, Sonny had reached out to them on Myspace, leaving comments and sending messages. He initially wanted to try out as a guitarist, but once they started working on vocal melodies together, they realized he had potential as a frontman. Despite barely knowing him at the time, the band decided to take a chance and make him their lead singer.
However, Sonny’s departure from the band was a huge turning point. While working on new music, he was in Los Angeles recovering from vocal surgery, while the rest of the band was in Orlando writing songs. One day, Sonny called them unexpectedly and told them that he was leaving the band to focus on his own music. At the time, From First to Last was at the peak of their success, having just released Heroin, been on the cover of Alternative Press, and toured extensively. Despite the setback, the band chose to keep moving forward, acknowledging that they started without Sonny and could continue without him.
They also reflected on the realities of being a touring band, explaining that the rock star fantasy isn’t real—it’s more like a routine job where every day consists of driving, soundchecks, shows, and late nights. They admitted that when they were younger, they thought getting signed meant instant success, but they quickly realized that being on a label is just the beginning of the work.
Their decision to sign with Epitaph Records was based on trust and artistic freedom. They had multiple labels interested in them, including major labels, but Epitaph stood out because Brett Gurewitz (Epitaph’s founder) personally believed in them and didn’t try to force them into a mainstream mold. Unlike other labels that wanted them to eventually transition to a major deal, Epitaph allowed them to grow at their own pace.
They wrapped up the interview by discussing their experiences with touring, evolving as musicians, and dealing with fan expectations. They acknowledged that Sonny had a huge impact on fans, with many people struggling to accept the band without him. However, they emphasized that From First to Last was bigger than any one member and that they were committed to making music on their own terms.