Interview with Fat Mike (1993)


Interviewer: Where did you get idea for your record company Fat wreck chords? Will Nofx change their record label? Why did you move for San Francisco? Does all guys live there or just you? What do you think about your job? Has the Longest line sold as well as you expected? Why it has black & white covers?

Fat Mike: I started Fat wreck chords, because I’m interested to publish our own records and others bands records, which I think are good. Nofx may change their record label, but we don’t change for Fat wreck chords, but for some bigger label. We’re quite happy to Epitaph. In fact I left Los Angeles eight years ago and I'm the only band member who lives in San Francisco. To being a part of Nofx is my job and I like a lot. The Longest line has sold about 15 000 copies and I’m quite happy, because it’s and Ep. I think that black and white covers suits it’s better and of course it was cheaper.

Int: One English postage firm has sold your records with an advertisement "Thoughtless people Bad religion". Can you characterise Nofx better.

Fat Mike: Nofx is a no bullshit non-pretentious progressive punk band.

Int: I have noticed that you and Eric Melvin have always played in Nofx. But still I must say that, I’m confused when I tried to figure out your compositions. Are your lead guitarist El Hefe, Izzy Drew Lynn, Al Bino and Sal Lyva the same person? Or what about drummers Seymour Butts, Groggy Nodbeggar, Erik Shun and Darryl Licked?

Fat Mike: Well, our compositions has nearly always been the same. The drummer has always been the same, but we had three guitarist. Our ex-guitarist Al Bino called also Izzy Drew Lynn.

Int: And now to politics. Do you think that Bill ’running man’ Clinton is better president than George Bush was or will the shitspeaks continue. Do you think that, those guys have something difference? How many Nofx guys did vote?

Fat Mike: I think that Clinton can do his job quite well. He must be better than Bush. I think that U.S.A. continues its trip to down, but Clinton can do something with civil rights. We didn’t vote, because we were on tour then.

Int: My English dictionary is too cheap or too old because you can’t find the word ’Heeb’ from it (White trash, two HEEBS and a bean). One friend of mine told me that it could be your translation of Germanic beer called Hefen. Did your guitarist El Hefe got its name from it too? Tell me the truth.

Fat Mike: A Heeb is shorter version of word Hebrew or Jew. It's some kind of nickname for Jewish person. El Hefe didn't got his name from beer. It came from Spanish. He's Latino and his nickname El Hefe means boss.

Int: Who did those great words to Death of John Smith? It doesn't represent your typical line. By the way Kill all the white man doesn't sound gammary right. Is the name of song or whole song just a joke.

Fat Mike: I (Fat Mike) have wrote all Nofx's words and chords. Kill all the white man is with it's mistakes and all just joking to reggae music, even it's true. I think that you have noticed that white has made this world crazy.

Int: What kind of thinks argues you? You can say straight edge, if you want. What did you think when Patrick Dubar broke Uniform choice and formed really modern metal-funk band called Mindfunk?

Fat Mike: Hypocritism really pisses me off? Pat Dubar is really hypocrite person. He preached for straight edge and now he has moved to dealing with drugs. I don't think that is a bad think if some band come popular by the time, but I hate when some band change it's music so that they come more popular.

Int: How many U.S.A. and European tours have you made? Tell us something about touring which countries do you like the most?

Fat Mike: We have done five European tours and nine U.S.A tours. U.S.A is the nicest place, because we can go at spare time at the movies, water skiing and anything like that. Europe is still better place to tour, because there are more people tour than in U.S.A and the beer is stronger.

Int: Could you tell me what does Nofx mean? I know that fx means special effects for example for the movies, but what does it really mean?

Fat Mike: No comments, because I hate our name.

Int: I heard that you are making some sort of movie. Is it same kind of spectacle as Poison ideas Mating walruses.

Fat Mike: Yeah, you are right. We will release a video, which contains interviews, concerts and everything from 1986-1993.

Int: And then to so sad thing as Los Angeles. Has L.A.P.D made any problems for you? What do you think when Youth Brigade and Better Youth organisation have raised to Venice Beach.

Fat Mike: I have been arrested couple of times, but I haven't got beaten up or something like that. I'm Youth Brigades Sean Stern's friend so I won't give any comment.


BACK TO PREVIOUS PAGE