ArtistDirect News
Joe Principe Reflects on Rise Againsts Roots, Bass Philosophy, and New Album Ricochet
Joe Principe, the bassist and co‑founder of Chicago’s melodic‑hardcore outfit Rise Against, opened up about the band’s beginnings, his bass‑playing creed, and their latest effort, Ricochet, in a recent interview. The conversation took place while the group was in Montreal, rehearsing for two shows at L’Olympia.
Principe’s path to the bass was paved by skateboarding, the Thrasher magazine, and the underground punk circuit just outside Chicago. He recalls the all‑ages venues that introduced him to acts such as Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Descendents, Anthrax, and DRI—each leaving a mark on his playing style, which he describes as fast, melodic, aggressive, and always in service to the song.
Before founding Rise Against, Principe cut his teeth with 88 Finger Louie, an early Fat Wreck Chords band formed in 1993. After 88 Finger Louie dissolved in 1999, he and guitarist Dan Wleklinski launched Rise Against in Chicago. The duo released two independent records on Fat Wreck Chords—The Unraveling (2001) and Revolutions per Minute (2003)—before signing with DreamWorks/Geffen later that year. Since then, the band has issued ten studio albums, with Ricochet, their tenth, arriving on August 15, 2025. The album was produced by Grammy‑winner Catherine Marks and mixed by Alan Moulder.
In the interview, Principe explains why the bass is central to punk. He cites mentors such as Klaus Flouride (Dead Kennedys), Karl Alvarez (Minor Threat), Matt Freeman (Rancid), Fat Mike (NOFX), and Frank Bello (Megadeth). He maintains a “bass purist” stance, preferring the raw energy of live performance over studio polish. He warns that when music becomes too perfect—when “the lurch, sweat, and human drag of a band gets flattened”—the essence that defines punk dissipates.
Principe also highlights Rise Against’s long‑standing political activism. The band has consistently supported Amnesty International, the It Gets Better Project, and PETA, and many members are straight‑edge, vegan, and animal‑rights advocates. The interview touches on the All Rise Together art project, which invites fans to contribute creative work that aligns with the band’s activist ethos.
The podcast, titled “Groove Podcast: Joe Principe of Rise Against – No Treble,” is available on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon. It offers listeners an inside look at how a bassist who was “built by the scene before he ever fully understood the instrument” continues to shape one of the most recognizable melodic‑hardcore bands of the past quarter‑century.
During the Montreal stop, the band played two nights at L’Olympia on March 5, 2026, as part of a tour that includes dates across Europe and the United States. Principe’s reflections provide a roadmap of Rise Against’s evolution—from the raw DIY spirit of their early Fat Wreck Chords releases to the polished yet politically charged productions of their later work. His emphasis on the bass as both a rhythmic foundation and a melodic voice underscores the band’s signature sound, which balances aggressive tempos with hook‑laden choruses.
In sum, the interview documents a seasoned bassist’s journey from skate‑culture roots to a career that blends musical craftsmanship with activist messaging, while spotlighting the band’s newest creative output, Ricochet, and ongoing community‑building through the All Rise Together project.
Principe’s path to the bass was paved by skateboarding, the Thrasher magazine, and the underground punk circuit just outside Chicago. He recalls the all‑ages venues that introduced him to acts such as Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Descendents, Anthrax, and DRI—each leaving a mark on his playing style, which he describes as fast, melodic, aggressive, and always in service to the song.
Before founding Rise Against, Principe cut his teeth with 88 Finger Louie, an early Fat Wreck Chords band formed in 1993. After 88 Finger Louie dissolved in 1999, he and guitarist Dan Wleklinski launched Rise Against in Chicago. The duo released two independent records on Fat Wreck Chords—The Unraveling (2001) and Revolutions per Minute (2003)—before signing with DreamWorks/Geffen later that year. Since then, the band has issued ten studio albums, with Ricochet, their tenth, arriving on August 15, 2025. The album was produced by Grammy‑winner Catherine Marks and mixed by Alan Moulder.
In the interview, Principe explains why the bass is central to punk. He cites mentors such as Klaus Flouride (Dead Kennedys), Karl Alvarez (Minor Threat), Matt Freeman (Rancid), Fat Mike (NOFX), and Frank Bello (Megadeth). He maintains a “bass purist” stance, preferring the raw energy of live performance over studio polish. He warns that when music becomes too perfect—when “the lurch, sweat, and human drag of a band gets flattened”—the essence that defines punk dissipates.
Principe also highlights Rise Against’s long‑standing political activism. The band has consistently supported Amnesty International, the It Gets Better Project, and PETA, and many members are straight‑edge, vegan, and animal‑rights advocates. The interview touches on the All Rise Together art project, which invites fans to contribute creative work that aligns with the band’s activist ethos.
The podcast, titled “Groove Podcast: Joe Principe of Rise Against – No Treble,” is available on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon. It offers listeners an inside look at how a bassist who was “built by the scene before he ever fully understood the instrument” continues to shape one of the most recognizable melodic‑hardcore bands of the past quarter‑century.
During the Montreal stop, the band played two nights at L’Olympia on March 5, 2026, as part of a tour that includes dates across Europe and the United States. Principe’s reflections provide a roadmap of Rise Against’s evolution—from the raw DIY spirit of their early Fat Wreck Chords releases to the polished yet politically charged productions of their later work. His emphasis on the bass as both a rhythmic foundation and a melodic voice underscores the band’s signature sound, which balances aggressive tempos with hook‑laden choruses.
In sum, the interview documents a seasoned bassist’s journey from skate‑culture roots to a career that blends musical craftsmanship with activist messaging, while spotlighting the band’s newest creative output, Ricochet, and ongoing community‑building through the All Rise Together project.