1.   Tell us about your musical life so far - the inspirations, the let downs, the reason behind the spirit?
 
As a kid I used to go to a record store once to three times a week. I was in some small time bands that played a party or two. Got into playing bass when a Fender Jazz Bass was handed to me at party of the bass player who passed out at a party. The band said just to try to follow and look like you are having the time of your life. I really got into the music scene when I started hanging out with my friend Rob. We needed something to do after all our friends joined the army. We interviewed a ton of bands and just wanted to keep doing it. Jobs were tough as they are now to find. I moved around a lot and Rob got a really good job. I then got into radio and started interviewing bands with my friend Scot. We had a blast. I then got cancer and had a chance phone call from Tim from MRR who became a friend who was going through the same experience. Strange how things go! I tried several times to start bands and zines. When I moved to Minnesota I got a job surrounded by drummers and guitar players. They talked all the time about their bands and the blog was born after finding out that my zine articles were footnotes in college papers.
 
2.  What about your blog 'Punk Rock '77 Thru Today' - fill us in on the thinking behind it, what are your ambitions with it and also how would you compare today's scene with that of 77.
 
The '77 scene was a group of kids that just wanted to have fun. The world turned them into separate groups. The '77 scene was the true punk scene only in the fact that they just wanted play and people wanted to mould them into music accountants and lawyers and then they wouldn't play ball and sell product, so the labels wanted their money back. I think Colin from Sparrer tells it best in his interview. Dave Dictor also has a pretty good narrative as well. The blog is kind of mix tape to share with the world. I look at it like a great punk show. Everyone goes to see the headliners, but the opening bands leave as the true heroes.

3.   Tell us the best and worst of your CD collection, book collection and your wardrobe - be as honest as you like!

The best CD is a tie between 'Shock Troops' by Sparrer, Anti-Nowhere League and Judge Dread. The worst is a wedding mix I have from DJ'ing weddings. The best book is 'A Clockwork Orange' by Anthony Burgess and A biography of Alphonse Breatellion (He invented all this CSI stuff). I really like a good true crime story. My best shirt is the same shirt (re-bought many times) my Fiend Club shirt and the worst is a striped polo that my girl says makes me look like '70s wall paper.  
 
4.  Would you spend 6 months inside a Rectal Awareness pamphlet to promote Fax Machine Porn and the guilt of gay foxes?  If so what hazards do you foresee and how would an inflatable piano help your ordeal?

Well as a cancer survivor it's important to take care of yourself, so I would want people to get everything checked. I could always use the piano to sing a Monty Python song about Rectal Awareness, Fax Machine Porn and Gay Foxes, I think that it would be the last season of the show.  
 
5.   Who are the best and worst bands you have seen and what are the most memorable gigs you have been too?

The best band was the Sex Pistols because the whole time John insulted the guy behind me for throwing other people's shoes at him and the Queers because during an Mxpx set people kept unplugging everything and Joe came out told everyone how stupid they were being. The worst band was G.G. Allen just because that how he wanted it. Most memorable was Discharge in a public park, because they had fun and refused the crowd's willingness to give donations to get their van fixed. They did however sell a lot of 7" records for the two other bands that drove a thousand miles to do the show.
 
6.   How do you find interview bands, what is the response like and in what way do you try to keep your interviews original?

I find bands everywhere. They do what they can, when they can - I respect that. Rule - Don't worry just finish when your ready. I want to tell a story but at the same time I want to get the basics out of the way, because they tell the story. I look for unique things in the band's history and throw them into the mix. 
 
7.   What are your views on the current music scene in general and how do you think one can break the 'comfort zones' that are so obvious in each and every genre?

The current scene is crazy, every band is getting back together because the internet lets them talk to their true fans in sometimes a scary way, but it is still awesome to see bands listen to their fans and not record sales.
  
8.  Copper piping condoms - the drawbacks, the positive points, the conducting properties - please elaborate?

Scary. Painful if you need that kind of release. Will create enough BTU's to run a house depending on the man's stamina.

9.  Tell us about your local scene please - the faces, disgraces, takers, fakers, bright lights and depressing shites - go for it - impress or depress but be honest!

 Minnesota has a great punk scene and oddly enough Prince helps bring in bands to his clubs. Everyone here helps everyone else. Plus we have Profane Existence.
 
10.  Punk Rock - what is your definition?

People having fun, helping bands they like in anyway and drinking great beer.
 
11.  Take a telescope, travel back in time, insert into a young Emily Bishops rear opening and tell us about the anal galaxy you find - number of planets, how many are inhabited, the life forms and how you would go about setting up a new scene?

Wow! This girls needs has all the ingredients for some good beer. Hops, Barley and Oats. Open a brewery and have a main stage. Use the profits to record great albums and put on shows for great charities.
 
12.  Finally push thy site and other stuff my good man and get people inspired to do their bit!

 Punkrock77thrutoday.blogspot.com. An interview a day. Really trying to get all the interviews back. studsandpunks.co.uk get your band listed.

 

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