2/24/03 NOTE : This interview was done shortly after 9/11, and though the interview states there's no old JFA available, Alternative Tentacles has re-released a retrospective of JFA's old records! YAY JELLO!
In the early 80's as a kid coming up in the SF Bay Area, I spent countless hours skating in a parking lot behind a 7-11.
A great deal of that time was also spent listening to hardcore bands of the day. Especially "Skaterock" bands like JFA. Jodie Foster's Army
ripped like no other. They were from Arizona, where they skated full pipes, they wrote such great hits as "Beach Blanket Bong Out" and "Skateboard", and they rocked a wicked cover of the "Charlie Brown Theme" too.
JPC: Brian, thanks for taking the time to speak with me. Before we get into the band stuff, I want to know, what are you doing these days (aside from JFA)?
BB: I work as an editor for a weekly community newspaper in Seal Beach, California, called the Sun. I cover city council meetings and breaking news stories in the community and write an occasional column as well. I am also editor of a bi-monthly arts and entertainment magazine from the same location called Coastal Life. In October, I joined the US Navy Reserve as a Journalist Second Class and spend two days a month and two weeks a year drilling.
JPC: How has being a skate punk from the day influenced your adult life?
BB: It has given me unique perspectives that have actually given me a level of maturity that others my age lack. For instance, I make the most of each situation, knowing that it's just as easy to see the worst but knowing from experience that's not the way I want to go.
JPC: What were your favorite bands from back in the day?
BB: T.S.O.L., Adolescents, Damned, Jam, Chiefs, Germs, Meat Puppets, early Vandals and China White.
JPC: Are there any that just don't hold up to the test of time? I remember loving Youth Brigade's "Sound and Fury" after listening to it recently I was left wondering "What the hell was I thinking?"
BB: Nah, nothing that I would care to admit to.
JPC: Who are you listening to these days?
BB: James Booker, Muddy Waters, Lightnin' Hopkins, Memphis Slim, Blind Boys of Alabama and Swervedriver.
JPC: I had been out of the loop for quite awhile as far as the skate scene goes. When I went to the message boards on skaterock.com, there were all these kids talking about bands I thought no one knew about anymore? How do 15-16 year olds know about Mike Voss or Chuck Treece? I remember I bought Mc Rad's 1st record, most of my "in the know" friends didn't know them. Also seems that Fang has a track on a punk retrospective at VH1.com? Most of these bands couldn't fill medium sized clubs back in the day, why do you think they've lasted so long?
BB:I think it's because their stuff is accessible. Unfortunately a lot of the old JFA stuff isn't because Placebo wants too much money to re-release it. So the kids know more about the bands that do have other stuff out. We're working to fix that though by recording new stuff which I think is just as kick ass as the old stuff.
Brian on Skating | Comments
