Interviewing Strangers vs. Interviewing Old Friends

So I am currently working on two articles for Staten Island Hardcore and Punk. One article is about this thing called "NYC Mixtape Exchange" and the whole idea around it got me really stoked. It's essentially this thing where they give you the theme for a mix tape then you make one and go swap it with strangers. Sounds fun, no? 

As ashamed as I am, I am conducting the interview with these people via MySpace. (You know that social networking site no one in their right mind uses anymore?) I came up with some questions and these people will email me back when they get a chance. That's how it's working. I can't complain though, it's getting done and many interviews are conducted on the phone, online, whatever. 

The second article I am working on is with an old friend. He sings for this Jersey City based band called Guilt Trip (see link). He is super busy with school and his band is also going on tour next Thursday. He graciously offered to do the interview via email amidst his busy schedule. 

How do you do an interview with one of your best friends? Someone you admire? I always looked up to this guy in the super-cool older brother sort of way. He taught me about all this awesome music. I leant him my Screamers VHS (which he has yet to return), we would get drunk and watch Morrissey videos at his apartment.  We traveled to band practice drinking beers on the NJ Transit trains. He would look after me when we went out to bars...when I was 18. He was there for me at one of my best friend's wakes. He reinforced my idea that there is always a way to do what you love and survive at the same time.

I am excited and scared to interview this mother fucker that I miss. I am also sad that due to our busy "adult" schedules that it cannot be done in person. I am positive that it will be an epic interview though and Cory can stop yelling at me to get work done. Go check out  Staten Island Hardcore and Punk  and the  Guilt Trip MySpace page and stay tuned for my articles!