1. What was the first band you saw in concert?
When I was a young kid, my parents took me to Old Chicago (a mall/amusement park place) and Rex Smith had a concert there. I was only there for the rides, and my mom liked Rex Smith. I spent most of the time sick in the bathroom as I must have ate something bad so I don’t think that really counts. I think the next show I saw after that was when I was 15 or 16 and The Faction played at Keith Garage (my friend from HS, Keith’s, actual garage, that place ruled, it was huge like a small house). It was The Faction, The Drab, God (formerly Dead Fink), Stiff Legged Sheep and I think Denied Remarks, but I’m not sure. Since I had no car, I wsan’t able to go to shows until I got my own or coudl find ride, but Keith’s house was only a few blocks away and I skated over there. Ah, what fun times…
2. Who is your favorite artist/band now?
Without question, Skinny Puppy! They are my favorite band of ALL TIME. However my favorite punk rock band would be The Germs.
3. What’s your favorite song?
“You and Me and Rainbows” by The Tear Garden. The Tear Garden was an offshoot of Skinny Puppy with Edward KaSpel of the Legendary Pink Dots singing. This song is 17 minutes long, it is a f’n masterpiece.
3.5. What’s your favorite album?
I had to make this quesiton up since the answer doesn’t fall in the above catagories. Doubting Thomas – The Infidel. Doubting Thomas was another Skinny Puppy offshoot, it is all instrumental and is easily the best full album ever made. 13 years after its release, I still never tire of it, and I play it more than any other album I have ever owned. It is constantly the soundtrack for working on pinball machines in my basement, and I listen to it while working a lot too.
4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
Guitar probably, followed by the drums. I once took guitar lessons when I was young but it was on an accoustic guitar, which I had no interest in playing, I wanted electric. I don’t remember a damn thing that I may have learned about it back then.
5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why?
Darby Crash from The Germs would have probably topped the list. I would have liked to meet Dway Goettel from Skinny Puppy in person, I interviewed him on the phone once for my zine and he was one of the nicest people I’ve ever talked to in a band. I ended up meeting the other two guys from Skinny Puppy on different occasions, but never got to meet Dwayne.
