Pennywise

Another interview conducted at the 2003 Warped Tour. Jim from Pennywise talks about censorship, the state of punk rock today, Britney Spears, and "face orgies." Awesome band...awesome interview!

Just for anyone who doesn't know, can you give a brief history of the band and talk about your new album coming out?
The band's been together since '88 and we started playing music in our garages and playing parties and writing our own songs. We got signed to Epitaph in 1990, started playing shows and putting out albums. Now our 8th album is called "From the Ashes" and it sounds like all the other Pennywise albums.

What's the best and worst part about touring?
The best part is playing. The worst part is waiting around to play.

Do you think the Warped Tour is impersonal at all? Would you rather be playing clubs?
I think they both have their cool parts. Getting to play with all these bands in a nice place like The Gorge - that's the cool part. The cool thing about clubs is you get to play a longer set to more just your fans. So, like I said I think there's great parts about both. But the Warped Tour is a lot of fun.

I know Fletcher is famous for his pranks, has he been up to any mischief lately?
Nothing so far, but the tour is still young. There he is right there - he's getting a little old though.

Do you guys still do the points? Like in the video (Pennywise home videos) you get three demerits?
Yeah, he usually gets the most demerits these days for being gross.

What's the funniest thing that's ever happened on a Pennywise tour?
Him cramming hot dogs all the way up his nose.

No way!
It's ridiculous. He had a face orgy.

Wow. You've been around since '88 and I'm sure you were a punk fan before that. How has punk changed over the years from your perspective?
I don't know if it's changed so much, I just think it's gotten a lot more popular. I think if there's any kind of music now that kids naturally gravitate to, it's punk music. And it all depends on what your definition of what's punk and what's now. I have a pretty liberal definition of what can and can't be punk. I think there's a lot of people out there that waste a lot of time and energy on trying to define what it is and I think that's pretty much impossible. But, I think back then it was obviously a lot newer and a lot of stuff was being created spontaniously. Where as now, the form is very well established. So a lot of people are just trying to add on or put their own stamp on an already established form of music. Much like jazz has been around for years, but there's still people coming out with jazz records, trying to add their own interpretations to it.

If you could get rid of one band, who would you get rid of?
Gosh, there's so many. Fuck, let me think about that because I have a hard time - I think there's a lot of bands that get a lot of shit. But I don't take that because I think if bands are doing what they're into, then that's fine. I think there's got to be a band out there that's really offensive. I don't know, I can't think of one. I'm sorry.

If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be and what would you do?
I would be God for a day and I would make the world perfect.

What are three CDs that every punk fan should own?
Every punk fan should own Black Flag - Jealous Again. I think that album perfectly exemplifies everything punk rock should be. It's very explosive, very heartfelt, plus sarcastic. It has everything in it. That and "Suffer" by Bad Religon.

What was your last purchase that was over $100?
A air purifier. It's the honest truth.

What do you think about MP3s and people downloading your music on the internet?
That's a tough one. I don't do it, just because I like buying the CD and getting all the lyrics and owning the CD. There's something about having a computer in between the band and you and just downloading, I thin you lose something. I think the artwork and the liner notes and having all that is very important. I think it's just as much an expression as the music if the band is doing it right. The band is trying to present the album as a whole. Downloading songs kind of takes a lot out of it for me.

What are some smaller bands people should check out?
Western Waste is great. I don't know - most of the bands are getting pretty well known now, but my favorite band right now is Rise Against, who are getting very popular. I like this band called AIA from Long Beach, they're pretty cool.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Budweiser.

What are your favorite movies?
I like all the Coen Brothers films like Barton Fink and Miller's Crossing and Big Lebowski. All kinds of stupid shit...Farrely Brothers comedies are always great.

Alright, I'm going to say some things and you just say the first thing that comes to mind whether it be a word or a story or anything. Britney Spears...
My daughter loves her.

Fat Mike...
A musical genius.

Good Charlotte...
(long pause) They've got some good harmonies.

Reality TV...
Overexposed.

President Bush...
Criminal.

Alright, the last thing is - I've always wondered about this and I want to know with the song Fuck Authority. If you look on the back (of the CD), it's F*** Authority. Don't you think that defeats the purpose or takes away from the meaning at all?
Probably. But unfortunately the way the music industry is, they have problems when you put labeling like that. That's just how it had to be.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
We are going to be putting out a DVD after our new record that people will definitely enjoy. It has all kinds of very disgusting things on it as well as a lot of us playing all over the world and behind the scenes footagae and things like that.

A lot of barfing?
Too much barfing!

BW