Interview with Chad Stokes of Dispatch and State Radio

In a small bar on Capitol Hill in Seattle is one of the three men who proved that success in music is not about money. It’s not about having a lucrative contract or getting played on the radio. Dispatch proved that a band could focus on playing outstanding shows and serving their fans and still make it in the music world. The band began playing together in 1995 and through word-of-mouth, extensive touring, and little help from Napster (the band sat behind Napster’s founder Shaun Fanning during Congressional hearings) they soon become a college favorite. They proved that a band could sell out the largest of venues without corporate or radio support. Their last show was attended by about 110,000 fans without the help of a major label’s support. And now they are out to prove that music and its fans can make a difference in the world. With three sold out shows at Madison Square Garden, Dispatch will attempt to raise money to help improve the awful and bleak situation in Zimbabwe where, according to the Dispatch Web site, one in four people are infected with AIDS and 90% of the population is unemployed. I recently caught up with Chad Stokes of Dispatch, currently touring with his band State Radio, to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe and the Dispatch reunion show aimed to help those in need.

Why Zimbabwe? Why is this important to you and to Dispatch?

I lived in Zimbabwe for a little while after high school, for about six months. A couple of our first Dispatch songs were written over there. One in particular was “Elias.” Zimbabwe has always been with us since the beginning. Lately, it doesn’t get a lot of press, but it’s a country on the brink of mass starvation. HIV is everywhere and it’s been totally mishandled by this awful President. The country was once stable but now people are dying one by one. This is a cause we have always had a strong connection to, but it isn’t get a lot of press right now.

How long has a benefit reunion show been in the works?

For about a year. We talked about it for a while and it took some time to hammer out exactly what the benefit was going to be, figuring out the nuts and bolts of practicing and getting back together. It’s been pretty good so far.

What is the ultimate goal? What would you like to see happen in the next five years as a result of this show?

I would like to see the people of Zimbabwe not to be so dependent on their ruthless government. That the government won’t extend so much power over the people and they can have free elections. I hope we raise enough money and the find the right organization. We are going over in about a month to figure out the best place the money should go. Our friends over there can’t buy food because they are basically no working farms.

I watch giant benefit concerts like Live 8 which include some of the biggest acts in music and it seems to be not much more than the corporate music industry parading their generosity and I find myself not being able to believe that the musicians care about the cause they are supporting. Do you think there a credibility that Dispatch being a completely independent band that will make this benefit show successful?

Yes, because it’s something that is pure and real. That is something Dispatch has always been really proud of. We always wanted to be in the music world for the right reasons. I think some of those bands really care too but Dispatch comes from a very organic place. It’s never been mass marketed, without any radio. That is really cool about people who listen to Dispatch and hopefully State Radio. We are really their band because they had to go out of their way to listen to us and I think that is really important.

How has doing your own thing with State Radio been?

It’s been fun. Great people. Great musicians. Politically, we feel no holds barred on what we say. In Dispatch, the other two guys don’t necessarily feel the same way that I do about different issues. What was important to me about this band is that we wanted to be on the forefront and be very politically conscious. We want awareness and involvement and activism and education. Because it is an interesting but terrible time in our country. I wanted to be a part of a band where we can express those views.

Do you think that rock and roll can create actual positive change in the world?

Yes, I do. Even with some of those big tours, people are there for the music and to have a good time. There is always a fraction of the audience who take it to heart. We may not see that in consensus numbers but there are always a few people, a fraction of the total audience who really take it to heart. We’ve noticed it and it keeps us going.

What would you tell those who can’t make it to the show but would to still like to help the situation in Zimbabwe?

CS: We are starting a Dispatch Foundation on our Web site that will be filled with links to things like Amnesty International and Mercy Corps. There is something called the Elias Fund that got started years ago, before we knew were going to do this benefit show. The fund goes to education and building in Zimbabwe. We are trying to build up the decaying community centers and to get morale back and more education and nutrition for the people. So, there will be a link that on the Web site.