Hailing from Worcester, Massachusetts, the five piece band, Four Year Strong is definitely not new to the music scene. Having released their debut CD, "Rise Or Die Trying" in 2007 and sharing the stage with bands including The Starting Line, Hellogoodbye, All Time Low, Mayday Parade, New Found Glory, and Bayside, Four Year Strong is growing strong and gaining the recognition they deserve. Now embarking on the Rockstar Taste Of Chaos tour, I was able to meet up with Josh Lyford for a few minutes at the Milwaukee, WI stop on February 24.

Amy: Could you please start by stating your name and your role in the band?
Josh: Hell yeah. My name's Josh and I play synth for Four Year Strong and I talk really weird sometimes.

A: Could you explain a little bit about how you guys became a band?
J: Um, there were two unicorns who loved each other very much, and when a boy unicorn loves a girl unicorn, they just create a beautiful band.
A: A beautiful band indeed.
J: I mean, they're bearded. They came out with beards so it's kind of like gross, but what are you gonna do?

A: Four Year Strong has gone through a few line up changes, is that correct?
J: Yes
A: How has that had an effect on the band?
J: Well the core of the band always kinda stayed the same. Dan, Alan, and Jake started the band like eight or nine years ago and they're still all in the band. Joe came into the picture like five years ago and myself like three and a half years ago.

A: How has Taste Of Chaos been going for you so far?
J: It's been good. It's been fun. We've toured with most of the bands already on it so we kind of knew it would be a good time. We did a full US with Pierce The Veil. We did Warped Tour with Bring Me The Horizon and we played a couple shows with Cancer Bats back in the day, so party time.

A: What was your reaction when you were asked to play this tour?
J: I think I said, "Alright," and then everyone else was like, "okay," and then we just went on it. I don't know, we tour all the time, so it's never like "Holy shit we're going on tour." It's like, "oh, we're still on tour. Sweet."

A: Have you noticed and change in the size of your fan base since this tour started?
J: Since this tour started?
A: Yeah.
J: Uh, I mean it hasn't been going on very long. Definitely we're starting to get back to our little zone of the country, so shows have been picking up for us, but it's good all around.

A: You're album, "Rise Or Die Trying" was released in 2007. Any plans for a new album?
J: Yeah, right after this we're going into the studio.

A: How do you think the new album is going to differ from the previous?
J: It's probably gonna be really shitty. I don't know, I think everyone is gonna hate it. No one's gonna want to listen to it. We're gonna sell two of them.

A: If you could collaborate with anyone for the new ablum, who would it be and why?
J: (Looks to other guy in room) I don't know what you just said.
Other guy: Pharell
J: Oh yeah, Pharell. Honest answer, I don't know, any like cool band.

A: What is the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?
J: Oh my god, we had this whole like, there was this cult. There was like a thousand fans that all like live in this house together and they all wear white sheets and like white tennis shoes and they all drank this Kool-Aid laced with poison for us. We didn't ask them to do it. It was really crazy that they would just commit suicide for our band.

A: What are some of your musical influences?
J: Uh, you know. I think all of us kind of have like different answers for that. I mean all of us grew up going to shows, hardcore shows, and listening to like old punk music and stuff like that. But at the same time, we're all a bunch of losers and can all sit around and listen to a Mariah Carey record together so I think that's kind of how the band did what it did. Does what it do.

A: When did you start playing music?
J: Me personally?
A: Yeah.
J: My mom gave me a guitar when I was like eleven years old or something like that, so I'd say about eleven. But I mean, little breaks here and there.

A: If you weren't playing music, what do you think you'd be doing?
J: I don't know. Probably wasting away somewhere else. Sitting in Massachusetts being like, "Man, those dudes on tour have it so good. I just get to sit here all day" Ya know, what are you gonna do?

A: Where do you see yourself in five years?
J: I'll be 29 years old. I'll probably be even more incredibly handsome and I don't know. Hopefully a billionaire with my own jet. That's what I'm going for. Shooting for a private jet with my face on the side of it.
A: That would be pretty cool.
J: Not really. I don't know. Still playing music probably.

A: Who is the sexiest one in the band? (Question added at Josh's request)
J: Ya know, I was originally gonna say me, but we've had this ongoing discussion where like Jake is definitely like, if you had to have sex with one person in the band, like we pose this question, Jake would be the one I'd like definetely do first. He's got the most like feminine body and aside from the fact that he's really hairy, definitely him. You could hold Jake and you close your eyes and dream really hard, it could like be a sexy girl, you know? So Jake, or myself.

A: Do you have anything else that you'd like to add?
J: Just anyone that hasn't checked us out, come out to a show. We usually try to have a pretty good time. SICK.