Rise Against on the Power and Pitfalls of Political Punk

After spending the fall breaking into the Billboard Top Three and rejoicing over a governmental sea change, political punks Rise Against won't be resting on their laurels any time soon. The third video from fifth album Appeal To Reason, "Hero of War," hits the Web today (watch behind-the-scenes footage from the set above, and catch the whole clip — which explores the disturbingly personal effects of battle — on the next page). The band is touring North America in the summer with legendary snot-rocketers Rancid opening for them, and capping it all off with a hometown appearance at Chicago's Lollapalooza festival. The band also just released a self-titled 7" featuring two "short-fast-punk-blasts" reminiscent of their earlier, speedier days. Rolling Stone caught up with lead singer Tim McIlrath to find out about the eventual follow-up to Reason, how to rock against things besides Bush, and what exactly they won't do for Disney.

Tell us about the Fat Wreck Chords 7".
It's two extra songs from our last recording session. The songs in their nature were kind of a throwback to our earlier days. We thought it would be cool to go to back to the old boss, Fat Mike, and see if he wanted to put them out. Luckily, [Interscope] was really cool about allowing us to do that... especially in this day and age when labels are so hard up for any way to sell record.

Do you guys have any ideas for a new studio album?
Nothing that has had time to come to fruition. We haven't been in a practice space all year. In fact rehearsing for this new Rancid tour coming up will be the first time we'll be in a room to just hang out and play. I wouldn't be surprised if some stuff comes out of that.

Do you think you're going to have a different lyrical approach for your first record after the Bush years?
This record we just did was very non-Bush. We knew that by the time it came out we would be looking at a different president. I think that the problems that we've addressed in our records, were never specific to the Bush era... I think too much credit is given to George Bush for the problems of things like the right wing and Republican Party. The problems are still here. George Bush was merely a symptom of a much broader disease.

Have you been paying attention to what Green Day has been up to?
I heard a single. I thought it was good. I'm one of those people who were never really a Green Day fan until American Idiot, actually. I liked Screeching Weasel, and I was a total Lookout! Records fan. But as soon as I got into it, I moved right on to Fugazi.