I love working with my band-mates in Alkaline Trio, but to make a rock record that was just mine was something that I wanted to do.

Touring with Blink helped introduce people to Alkaline Trio who otherwise wouldn't have ever heard of us.

For Alkaline Trio, Chicago is our hometown. The band started there. Even though we all live in different cities now, we still call Chicago home, and it's always really exciting to come back and play for our best crowd.

With Alkaline Trio, we are who we are. We never really feel too confined, but when we get together, there is an Alkaline Trio sound, and when I go off and do something on my own, there is an element of freedom that I don't have with the Trio.

I'm in Alkaline Trio; I guess I get to rip off myself. I give myself permission.