DAVE HILL/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Efrem, lead singer of Death by Stereo, shouts his
lyrics to the crowd during the hardcore band’s performance at The
Palace.
By Mariko Obrero
Daily Bruin Contributor Death by Stereo’s humor was evident
right from the very beginning of the interview. “Dan’s
mom dated Joe Cocker and he’s from the same town as Def
Leppard,” was the first thing Jim Miner from Death by Stereo
told me about the group’s guitarist. Whether or not it is
true, it made me laugh, something I did for most of the chaotic
interview, which took place at The Palace Friday night after the
band’s performance. The Fullerton based group plays a mix of
hardcore, metal and punk. Influenced heavily by Iron Maiden and Van
Halen, it plays like legends though the group only formed two-
and-a-half years ago. Friday night was the first time the band
played The Palace. Perhaps this was the reason for the chaos.
Cameramen, friends and family wandered in and out of the dressing
room as well as the band members. But, for the most part,
guitarists Jim Miner and Dan Palmer who don’t go by last
names offered. They began speaking of the nostalgia they
experienced watching bands with whom they’ve played.
 DAVE HILL/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Death by Stereo
members (left to right) Jim,
Efrem, Dan,
Paul, and Jared goof off
backstage after a show at The Palace. “I remember going to
shows and listening to Strung Out in high school,” Jim
explained. “This is not going to sink in for a while.
We’re still just a bunch of kids having fun.”
Vocalist Efrem Schulz joined the conversation when it turned to
the subject of food. “I like anything you can put ketchup on,
which is anything,” said Schulz. Miner and Palmer explained
that they both love Chinese vegetarian food. The two band members
said that they became vegetarians because the conversion would make
them appear sensitive, and thus attractive to women. “Half of
us in the band are vegetarians and the other half are dirty,”
said Palmer. “We’re enjoying life,” explained
Miner. “We’re lucky to play shows, we don’t take
it for granted.
 DAVE HILL/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Death by Stereo
bassist Paul shows off his vertical bass skills to
a crowd at The Palace last Friday night. Death by Stereo has
several tours lined up for the next several months.
"We all have regular jobs,” he continued. “I work in
a tattoo shop called “˜Inflictions’ in Covina.
“Dan is a waiter; Paul works in a recording studio, making
very beautiful music; Efrem can’t work because he’s an
illegal alien,” Miner continued. “Oh, and Jared the
drummer is a long shoreman who works at the docks, or should I say
a short longman since he’s only 5-foot-1.” Meanwhile,
Jared walked in and out of the room, either unaware of
Miner’s comments or choosing to ignore them. The humorous but
grounded Death by Stereo will tour relentlessly in the upcoming
months. A Canadian tour with Good Riddance will take place, as well
as a few dates with 7 Seconds and Portland’s Berzerk. A
northeast tour will follow, with Snapcase and Boy Sets Fire.
Finally, a December tour will bring them back to the West Coast
with Faded Grey and Count Me Out. The band will release a 7″
vinyl record with Indecision Records on Halloween and a full length
album on Epitaph Records will be out on Jan. 23 titled “Day
of Death.”