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The Punkhouse Interviews: Kung Fu Monkeys |
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The Punkhouse Interviews: Kung Fu Monkeys |
1.What's everyone's name and place in the band?
James: My name is James, and I'm usually on the left, playing guitar and singing.
Chris: My name is Chris, but James and Mike like to torture me by calling me Pontiac. I stand wherever James isn't. He gets first choice of location. I play the 4-string electric Bass Guitar.
Mike: I am known as Mike. And as dictated by tradition, I, the drummer, find myself positioned behind the string section. And for the record, our use of the nickname "Pontiac" is rooted in love.
2.So, how long have you guys been together?
J: The current--and most prolific--line-up is a year old now, but the earliest incarnations of the group date back to 1994.
M: Many would contend that I have yet to "pull it together," I'll let you know when I do.
3.Were any of you in a band during high school or jr. high?
J: Since elementary school I've been in "band"--first I played the trumpet, then the baritone (or euphonium) and finally, from eigth grade on, the tuba and sousaphone. I was also in an "irritainment" group called Screaming Nannies From The Arc, and we would join all the school supported Battle Of The Bands and lose repeatedly. We were historically awful, but I suppose that was the point. Then I went to college and made the Kung Fu Monkeys, though I guess that wasn't part of the question.
C: I to started in the same elementary school as James. I played the clarinet family. In HS I picked up the tenor sax for jazz band. I didn't join my first rock n' roll band until i was 19 or 20 when I started 2.4.5. Trioxin with my friend Sid up in Ithaca, NY. 2.4.5. ended when I joined The Kung Fu Monkeys.
M: Like James, I played the baritone. I lugged it around from 4th-9th grades. I was not very good but always enjoyed playing my scales. I was rather adept at playing scales. Then, toward the end of my senior year, I started playing with The Queenhaters. Taking our cue from an SCTV sketch we tried to enter our school's talent contest. Much to our suprise, we actually made the cut. The judges thought our every mistake was scripted. The Queenhaters last for all of one show before evolving into King Otter & The Electric Flem, which last for three years. That was followed a few years later by Egghead. KFM lost a drummer the same week Egghead broke up, that's when I came aboard the S.S. KFM. Geez, with such an extensive musical background it's really a wonder that I still can't play drums very well.4.Who are some of your favorite bands and inspirations?
J: The Beach Boys, Monkees, Beatles, Dave Clark 5, Archies, Kaisers, Milkshakes, Modern Lovers, the Ronnettes, lovely Leslie Gore, the Decibels, the Queers, Cub, the Muffs, MTX, Boris The Sprinkler, Hi-Fives are all really great and easily make up the top tier of my inspiration. But I also dig a lot of newer groups like Dirt Bike Annie, the Hissyfits, the Proms, as well as old timers like Mrs. Miller and the Shaggs. Honestly there is so much great music out there, I have trouble thinking of it all.
5.What is it like being on Mutant Pop?
C: Oh gosh...right now I dig Slayer and Iron Maiden. But inspirations are any of Billy Childish's projects, Social Distortion, The Ramones, I Farm, as well as most of the bands James listed. There are so many....
M: The Kinks and Young Fresh Fellows top my charts. Lately my favorites have included The Figgs, Junior Varsity, and The Rondelles. I also enjoy British pop; Blur, Robyn Hitchcock, Billy Bragg, Madness, XTC, and the like. Great pop music will forever float my boat.
J: It's like Christmas, Chanuka, and Bastille day all wrapped up into one. Fanstastic label, fantastic boss.
6.Are you guys going on tour anytime soon?
C: Its my dream come true. I know everyone has a dream like this I'm just so damn lucky to be living it. Actually...I'm only on one MP release so I'm probably the wrong person to ask.
M: I concur with you guys. Prior to being in KFM, I have had records released by other labels and also gone the self-released route. The only reason I used to prefer the self-released route is because most people who run labels are twits. Timbo is the exception to the rule when it comes to label chiefs, though I don't always understand his liner notes. He's mysterious, that Timbo. Plus, he likes Queen!
J: We plan on hitting the road in summer.
7.James, why do you have such a cool voice?
M: Watch out, middle America, your basements and VFW halls are no longer safe!
C: We are always open to show suggestions. Feel free to invite us to play your town.
J: I'm glad you think so. Fellow New Yorkers They Might Be Giants have a song that addresses this exact issue called "I Wish I Could Sing Like A Girl." I guess it's just the way my vocal chords are shaped--the only downside is people constantly refer to me as "Mrs." on the telephone.
M: James's voice is so cool it has led to us being compared to The Bangles. That's excellent, I like The Bangles, especially the "All Over The Place" LP (on which they wrote all but one or two songs)!
J: Of course someone from Punk Planet also compared me to a castrato. I'd like to kill that rumor right here and now.8.I know you guys are working on some new releases, could you tell us about that?
J: Sure Poppy Robbie. We just recorded a three song e.p. called "Girls, Cars, Sun, Fun: More Hi-Spirited Adventures In Mid-Fi Shag-Haired Bug Music" for Killer Records, a super-cool label from Pori, Finland. We're also gearing up to do a full-length for Mutant Pop in late winter/early spring, and have a bunch of compilation tracks in various stages.
M: I should take the high road and avoid this plug, but I can't resist ...one of those comps refered to by James is going to be on my label, Dizzy Records. It's going to be great, I swear! 23 bands, including The Tortillas You Wanted who perform a 20-minute rock opera, "March of the Snowbeast."
J: A few of the other compilations in various stages of completion are "Hang 10," a surf comp. on American Pop Project (released); "Workers Comp.," on Recess Records (coming soon); A "Grease" tribute album on Dummy-up Records (perhaps 99) and a few others.9.Do you realize that you are a god-like band with super human powers?
J: Hmmm, maybe that would explain why I've found it much easier to open the pickle jar lately...
10.Okay, which do you prefer vinyl or CD's?
C: Super human??? Like Thor??
M: Good god! That is why I am able to adjust my body's density, thus enabling me to pass through solid objects! Poppy Robbie, you have done me a great service. It never dawned on me that I might be a super hero. Now to decide if DC or Marvel shall get my services.
J: The best format for music, in my humble opinion, is the 7" vinyl record.
11.What are some of your favorite shows or movies?
C: I prefer the Long Playing Vinyl format. Although...for convenience, CDs do have their good traits. I can't believe I just said that!
M: LPs and 7"s are the way to go. Though last night I was watching a movie called "So Wrong, They're Right" which is about 8-track fanatics, they spoke with great conviction!
J: My all time favorite television show is "Get A Life" with Chris Elliot. Second favorite is probably the Simpsons. I love the whole Frankie and Annette series of movies, as well as the films of John Waters and a lot of the Hong Kong action and Karate flics. Anything with Don Knotts is also cool with me.
C: Right now I'm really addicted to Xena & 7th Heaven. But my all time fav is "Happy Days." That show was a work of art. As far as movies...I say if its got Bruce Willis you got a 50/50 chance its gonna rock.
M: I enjoy "Everybody Loves Raymond," "King of the Hill," and "The Simpsons." I also like those great new "Batman" cartoons but never get to watch them. Same goes for "Space Ghost: Coast to Coast." I think the best show of all-time is "SCTV." I love watching movies yet almost never like the endings to them. Off the top of my head I'd say flicks such as "Dark City" and "Mars Attacks" are among the best of recent years. And if a movie has Tim Conway, I'm staying!
J: Another program we all really like is "The Uncle Floyd Show" which we were guests on in October!
12.How did you come up with the name "Kung Fu Monkeys"?
J: We swiped it from a ska-punk band from Mexico.
C: Doh!13.Do you plan on selling some KFM products like shirts, buttons, posters, action figures, ect.?
J: We are currently in the process of beefing up our merchandise selection from nothing to...
14.What is everyone's favorite food/drink?
C: Thats right, James. In Fact, right now we have a few merch items in the works. Our friends at Button Farm are making the first series of Kung Fu Monkeys' buttons. Also, we will be screen printing a Kung Fu Monkeys tshirt very soon. We are currently negotiating with Mattel about a Kung Fu Monkeys Barbie and we are in line right behind the Bob Hope doll in the new U.S.O. series of G.I. Joe.
J: Please note that Barbie is a registered trademark of the Mattel corporation.
M: Wow! The thing I like best about interviews is that I finally get to find out what's really going on with the band. Again, I have Poppy Robbie to thank.
J: My favorite food is Gummi Bears and the entire gummi family of sweets, and my favorite drink is Coke, or perhaps Chocolate Milkshakes. Yummy! If you want to bring candy to our shows, or even throw jelly beans at us while we play, go for it! I suppose I should also let everyone know that Tommy's chili-cheese-burgers are amazing. I can't rave enough about that magical Los Angeles institution.
C: Without a doubt my favorite food is hot dogs and Cherry Coke is the supreme beverage.
M: Any dish that involves peanut butter is worthy of much acclaim. With regards to beverages, it is a well known fact that grape juice is the nectar of the gods (not be confused the band, The Godz, I have no idea what they like to imbibe).15.On your 7", "Shindig", you have a great song called "Summer School", did any of you have to go to that summertime torture session?
J: In general I was a very good student, however, I flunked my arithematic final exam in 10th grade and faced the ugly prospect of summer school. Fortunately I was able to wiggle out of that by re-taking the exam in the middle of summer. Every once in a while I have nightmares about having to re-take math class.
16.What does the future hold for the Kung Fu Monkeys?
C: I had natural talent for cheating. So....no....
M: No, I was spared the treatment, though in order to finish grad school on time I am going to have to take a class this summer. That shall suck mightily.
C: Its hard to say...I don't know how you feel, Mike & James, but I'd just like to see the band keep up the pace we've set this past year. I'm happy as a clam.
M: More of the same I should hope, wretched excess and the bubblegum sounds embraced by dozens worldwide!
J: Whatever makes the kiddies happy.
17.Well, thanks you guys for doing this interview and if its cool, maybe we could do a follow-up to it later in the year. Is there any final words for all the KFM fanatics out there?
M: What am I the only one who saw this question, or are you guys holding out for the last word? I have no advice to offer but in the closing statement of a recent interview Junior Varsity said that one can surf in Texas. I found that to be as surprising as it was inspiring.
--the Kung Fu Monkeys
C: And appropriate Mike...kudos to you. I'd just like to say how proud I am of my bandmates for not debating the whole Coke/Pepsi thing when they had the chance in Question #14. Bravo Chums! And Bravo to you, Robbie, for scoring an interview with Snorkel Bob. I hear his publicist is a "ball buster".
J: Oh yeah, all that and this... see you at the beach. You're all the very utmost. Please write us at: topsyturvey@worldnet.att.net or visit our web site at http://home.att.net/~topsyturvey...Tootles!
(1/27/99)
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