So, I am typically not the type of person who pats them self on the back very often. But one of the parts of my job is to put out a little weekly music zine and this week I got to interview Fat Mike. Also a girl that I work with who is a radio DJ in VT participated in the March for Women in DC over the weekend and wrote an editorial for me. Both parts turned out pretty rad if you ask me despite the fact that I only got about 5 minutes of Mikes time.. word.. Here are those two articles if anyone is interested:
Early in the summer, right after I turned 13 years old, Epitaph released a record that in retrospect I probably bought for the album title and nothing more. If back then you would have told me that 10 years later, the primary songwriter on my worn out Heavy Petting Zoo tape would be spearheading a large and well covered campaign that, quite possibly, would be the driving force behind finally getting the younger masses politically aware and out to the polls, I would have laughed at you. I would have laughed right before I rolled off on my sweet-ass Huffy with the coaster brakes. Then I would have thrown an egg at your house while you slept that night.
I mean, since when has getting it on with a female of the gigantic persuasion been a political issue? Dont answer that
Its funny sometimes how things turn out. Besides, if we didnt have the ability to reassess our priorities, set new goals, and make a jump from the golf course to the Front Lines if we need to, then what are we fighting for anyway?
This week I had the pleasure of playing Q & A with the (in)famous Fat Mike himself:
PS: Just in case there is anyone who doesnt know, who are you, and where might people know you from?
Fat Mike: Hi, I'm Fat Mike, I play bass in Me First and the Gimme Gimme's and I sing in NOFX, and I got a record label called Fat and I started a political organization called Punkvoter. Oh and I play Texas Hold em tournaments on Sunday nights.
PS: How is the tour going so far?
FM: Tour has been great. We played in front of over 50,000 people, 10,000 of which signed up to punkvoter, and over 1,500 registered to vote for the first time.
PS: If everything works out exactly the way it was planned, what will the efforts of Rock Against Bush, and punkvoter.com accomplish by the end of this year?
FM: Simple, Bush moves back to Crawford, and I resume my golf game. And maybe a few hundred thousand kids will be better citizens.
PS: The last I heard, punkvoter.com wasnt endorsing any candidates per say, unless you could count anyone but George as a candidate. If the only stipulations are that the person must be alive, and not running in this years election, who would you pick to run against Bush in November?
FM: Oprah Winfrey
PS: If Bush fails to be reelected this fall, and we begin 2005 with a properly elected and competent Commander and Chief, what will happen to punkvoter.com? Will you say, mission accomplished and let it fade? Or do you see it evolving into a more progressive organization and focusing on other issues, like a moveon.org?
FM: We wanna keep punkvoter going for a while. We think that local elections are very important as well. Keeping youth informed and active in local and state elections is our long-term goal. Right now we have to focus on the biggest problem.
PS: How do you feel about the FCCs recent crackdown on indecency?
FM: It's another example of how America is becoming less and less free. We are turning into a religious state before our eyes. This is because the fucking religious minority in this country is organized and vocal. Well our guitar amps are louder than their church organs. It's about time we turn ours up to 11.
PS: This is a blank space to say whatever you want:
FM: This is not a battle for just the white house. This is a battle for the Supreme Court and a women's right to choose. This is a battle for the environment. This is a battle against unjust war. This is a battle for our civil rights to privacy and health care and education. This is truly a battle of people who care about each other against people who care about money, power, and corporations. This is not just another election. This could be the most important election of our generation. Be a part of it.
PS: Thanks so much for your time, Ill be there next time youre playing Philly.
And the article Llu wrote about the march
1.15 million people in a town ruled by a dick, a colon and a bush. Ah, the perfect setting for a Planned Parenthood gathering. April 26th marched into the HERstory books this week in what was most def the biggest and pinkest march on Washington D.C. ever. It was a crowd as diverse as a college MD's chart. Entire families turned out, elderly couples hobbled around, college kids traveled in packs shouting "1,2,3,4, kick Bush out the door." This march in a word, represented.
Whoopi, Ani Difranco, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Gloria Steinium, Ashley Judd. It sounds like some Hollywood/DC/feminist bra burning. This was just a snippet of the incredible line up of speakers that pumped the crowd up with inspiring and witty words and songs of truth. Truth that exposed the current Bush Administration as the most anti-choice and anti-woman group of politicians that we have seen in decades.
The march poured into the streets of the District with throngs of people from all over the country. Signs ranged from the need for quality Sex Ed and protection for abortion rights to a repeal to Bush's Global Gag Rule. This gag rule prevents women in 3rd world countries from getting information or legal abortions---thus making them turn to illegal, black market abortions that lead to about a 1/3 death rate.
But what would a jolly pro-choice rally be without the fanatic pro-life folks? Barely lining the streets, the few and (attempting) to be loud folks with the huge graphic depictions of fetus taunted the crowd with all sorts of selective biblical rants. By far the best retort, (besides ignoring them), was a very popular chant, "pro-choice? That's a lie! You don't care if women die."
Beyond the Roe vs. Wade this march really marks the face of the movement in this country this year. With the election rapidly approaching and the cocky bush in the white house choosing to deny that millions of Americans are marching against his policies, there is once again a sense of hope. Its a hope that our thoughts and ideas can be expressed through media, and music, without being gagged. A hope that our mothers, sisters and daughters will be able to choose what is right for THEIR body and THEIR life. And most importantly, there is a hope that Dick, Colon and bush will be left to Sex Ed class and not in D.C. come November.
Early in the summer, right after I turned 13 years old, Epitaph released a record that in retrospect I probably bought for the album title and nothing more. If back then you would have told me that 10 years later, the primary songwriter on my worn out Heavy Petting Zoo tape would be spearheading a large and well covered campaign that, quite possibly, would be the driving force behind finally getting the younger masses politically aware and out to the polls, I would have laughed at you. I would have laughed right before I rolled off on my sweet-ass Huffy with the coaster brakes. Then I would have thrown an egg at your house while you slept that night.
I mean, since when has getting it on with a female of the gigantic persuasion been a political issue? Dont answer that
Its funny sometimes how things turn out. Besides, if we didnt have the ability to reassess our priorities, set new goals, and make a jump from the golf course to the Front Lines if we need to, then what are we fighting for anyway?
This week I had the pleasure of playing Q & A with the (in)famous Fat Mike himself:
PS: Just in case there is anyone who doesnt know, who are you, and where might people know you from?
Fat Mike: Hi, I'm Fat Mike, I play bass in Me First and the Gimme Gimme's and I sing in NOFX, and I got a record label called Fat and I started a political organization called Punkvoter. Oh and I play Texas Hold em tournaments on Sunday nights.
PS: How is the tour going so far?
FM: Tour has been great. We played in front of over 50,000 people, 10,000 of which signed up to punkvoter, and over 1,500 registered to vote for the first time.
PS: If everything works out exactly the way it was planned, what will the efforts of Rock Against Bush, and punkvoter.com accomplish by the end of this year?
FM: Simple, Bush moves back to Crawford, and I resume my golf game. And maybe a few hundred thousand kids will be better citizens.
PS: The last I heard, punkvoter.com wasnt endorsing any candidates per say, unless you could count anyone but George as a candidate. If the only stipulations are that the person must be alive, and not running in this years election, who would you pick to run against Bush in November?
FM: Oprah Winfrey
PS: If Bush fails to be reelected this fall, and we begin 2005 with a properly elected and competent Commander and Chief, what will happen to punkvoter.com? Will you say, mission accomplished and let it fade? Or do you see it evolving into a more progressive organization and focusing on other issues, like a moveon.org?
FM: We wanna keep punkvoter going for a while. We think that local elections are very important as well. Keeping youth informed and active in local and state elections is our long-term goal. Right now we have to focus on the biggest problem.
PS: How do you feel about the FCCs recent crackdown on indecency?
FM: It's another example of how America is becoming less and less free. We are turning into a religious state before our eyes. This is because the fucking religious minority in this country is organized and vocal. Well our guitar amps are louder than their church organs. It's about time we turn ours up to 11.
PS: This is a blank space to say whatever you want:
FM: This is not a battle for just the white house. This is a battle for the Supreme Court and a women's right to choose. This is a battle for the environment. This is a battle against unjust war. This is a battle for our civil rights to privacy and health care and education. This is truly a battle of people who care about each other against people who care about money, power, and corporations. This is not just another election. This could be the most important election of our generation. Be a part of it.
PS: Thanks so much for your time, Ill be there next time youre playing Philly.
And the article Llu wrote about the march
1.15 million people in a town ruled by a dick, a colon and a bush. Ah, the perfect setting for a Planned Parenthood gathering. April 26th marched into the HERstory books this week in what was most def the biggest and pinkest march on Washington D.C. ever. It was a crowd as diverse as a college MD's chart. Entire families turned out, elderly couples hobbled around, college kids traveled in packs shouting "1,2,3,4, kick Bush out the door." This march in a word, represented.
Whoopi, Ani Difranco, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Gloria Steinium, Ashley Judd. It sounds like some Hollywood/DC/feminist bra burning. This was just a snippet of the incredible line up of speakers that pumped the crowd up with inspiring and witty words and songs of truth. Truth that exposed the current Bush Administration as the most anti-choice and anti-woman group of politicians that we have seen in decades.
The march poured into the streets of the District with throngs of people from all over the country. Signs ranged from the need for quality Sex Ed and protection for abortion rights to a repeal to Bush's Global Gag Rule. This gag rule prevents women in 3rd world countries from getting information or legal abortions---thus making them turn to illegal, black market abortions that lead to about a 1/3 death rate.
But what would a jolly pro-choice rally be without the fanatic pro-life folks? Barely lining the streets, the few and (attempting) to be loud folks with the huge graphic depictions of fetus taunted the crowd with all sorts of selective biblical rants. By far the best retort, (besides ignoring them), was a very popular chant, "pro-choice? That's a lie! You don't care if women die."
Beyond the Roe vs. Wade this march really marks the face of the movement in this country this year. With the election rapidly approaching and the cocky bush in the white house choosing to deny that millions of Americans are marching against his policies, there is once again a sense of hope. Its a hope that our thoughts and ideas can be expressed through media, and music, without being gagged. A hope that our mothers, sisters and daughters will be able to choose what is right for THEIR body and THEIR life. And most importantly, there is a hope that Dick, Colon and bush will be left to Sex Ed class and not in D.C. come November.
I wish I could have been there! But when forced to chose between a paycheck and DC I had to chose the former. Aye, life is truly not fair sometimes.
Great seeing you on Saturday too!
Cheers!