A NECESSARY EVIL 

FOR ZEALOUS FANS

KURT: PASSENGER

>>HE DOES MOST OF THE SINGING, AND MAYBE COMPLAINING. ERIK WOULD BE THE NEXT WORST COMPLAINER, AND GORDON IS USUALLY HAPPY (UNTIL KURT AND ERIK START COMPLAINING).  >> HE'S A POLY-SCI RAT FROM UCLA. THUS HIS FREQUENT COMPLAINING AND DIATRIBES ON THE ILLS OF OUR UBERMENT (BUT IT DON'T TAKE NO DEGREE TO KNOW THINGS ARE NOT O.K.) >>HE IS IN THE MASTER'S WRITING PROGRAM AT CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY. HE TEACHES ENGLISH AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AT A LOCAL JC AND CHAPMAN AS WELL. >> HE IS THE MOST LIKELY TO BE LATE FOR PRACTICE AND RENT PAYMENT.  >>HE USED TO BE* THE MOST LIKELY TO CANCEL PRACTICE AND WHINE TO LEAVE EARLY, WHILE ERIK IS THE MOST LIKELY TO COMPLAIN THAT THEY NEED TO PRACTICE MORE. *SINCE KURT'S ACQUISITION OF GOOD EQUIPMENT HE SEEMS TO LIKE REHEARSAL. >>HE IS THE ONLY "STRAIGHT-EDGER" IN THE BAND, HE'S SORT-A-BUDDHIST. >>HE PLAYS A MEAN CLASSICAL GUITAR, AND LIKES TO PLAY WEIRD JAZZ CHORDS AND STUFF WHILE GORDON AND ERIK GO APE-SHIT. >>HE GREW UP IN CYPRESS, AND SAID HE WAS VERY "WHITE TRASH," THUS THE NO-SHIRT-THING (IT WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT 90 SOMETHING WHEN THEY PLAYED). WE STILL LOVE HIM, AND HE'S COME A LONG WAY IN SPITE OF HIS EDUCATION, AND HOURS OF PLAYING VIDEO GAMES.  >>HE'S SHORT. AND LIKES AMUSEMENT PARKS BECAUSE HE IS JUST TALL ENOUGH TO GET ON ALL THE RIDES (AND MAKE FACES AT THE KIDS TOO SHORT TO JOIN HIM). >>HE READS (AND WRITES) A LOT. >>HE HATES LITTER BUGS. >>PEOPLE HE ADMIRES: Marilyn Manson (believe it or not, for his intellect) , MichAEl Moore, Karl Marx, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Williams, Howard Zinn, Kurt Vonnegut, John Steinbeck, P.T. Anderson, Peter Jackson, Frederick Douglas, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jello Biafra… etc. etc. >>WHEN WE ASKED WHOM HE DIDN'T ADMIRE HE SNAPPED "F*ck Bush and His Lying Ass!"...we still haven't determined if this was in regards to sr. or jr.? >>LISTING THE EQUIPMENT THE BAND MEMBERS PLAY IS LAME. HOWEVER, SOME PEOPLE ARE TRULY CURIOUS. SO IN ORDER TO PLEASE THESE PEOPLE AND NIP "WHAT DO YOU PLAY" QUESTIONS IN THE BUD WE WILL TELL YOU WHAT THEY PLAY. NONE OF THEM ARE CORPORATE SPONSORED...NOR DO THEY WANT TO BE (OR IS THAT WANNA BE?). FREEBES ARE NICE, BUT...ANYWAY, KURT PLAYS A PRS (or A FENDER STRAT) through a Mesa Boogie 2:90 Stereo Power Amp racked with A MESA BOOGIE TRI-AXIS, and a G-MAJOR Preamp/EFX processor. (ERIK AND GORDON SUSPECT HE PLUGS INTO THE PA A LOT FOR AN EXTRA BOOST.) >>NOISE HE LIKES: Sysyem of a Down, Tool, Bad Religion, Propaghandi, Dead Kennedy's, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Frank Sinatra, Primus, LunaChicks, The Distillers, Rancid, Queens of the Stoneage...HE ALSO LIKES THE SOUND OF: GORDON'S BASS, DID I MENTION VIDEO GAMES, ORGASMIC MOANS, HIS ALARM CLOCK, BROKEN GUITAR STRINGS, HIS OWN VOICE, "CLASS DISMISSED," AND THE SOUND OF SILENCE FROM HIS CABINET WHEN HIS CORDLESS, CORD, OR WHATEVER ELSE MALFUNCTIONS....

ERIK: ENGINE

>>HE HAS BEEN VOTED THE MOST LIKELY TO FORGET DURING PRACTICE, BUT HE DOES PRETTY GOOD AT SHOWS. >> HE'S A "LIGHT WEIGHT." >>HE'S ONE OF THOSE VEGAN WEIRDO'S. MAYBE THAT'S WHY HE'S GOOFY FOOT AND GORDO IS REGULAR FOOT. >>HE'S HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION FROM PEPPERDINE. MISSED 4.0 BY 0.05 SO HE PLANS ON GETTING ANOTHER MASTERS TO COMPENSATE. HE HAS A BS IN PLANT SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.  >>HE WORKED IN THE GOLF INDUSTRY FOR TEN YEARS. NOW HE...WAITS FOR THE SURF TO PICK UP. >>HE IS IN TWO SIDE-PROJECTS: ham radio ensemble and mr.firley >>HE GREW UP IN VIRGINIA BEACH ON SECOND-HAND-SMOKE, SOUTHERN ROCK, LIMA BEANS AND CORN, EAST COAST PUNK, AND MEAGER SURF (W/ LOTS OF JELLYFISH).. >>HE THINKS CALIFORNIA SURF IS OVERRATED (O.K. SO. CAL).  >>HERETIC. SECULAR HUMANIST. ANARCHO-SOMETHINGOROTHER. >>HE CLOSES HIS EYES SOMETIMES WHEN HE PLAYS, AND HE USUALLY ALWAYS MAKES FUNNY FACES (AT KURT AND GORDON). >>SOMETIMES HE COMPLAINS ABOUT HIS ARMS, UNLESS HE'S SURFING, HE COULD DO THAT ALL DAY. >>HIS HEART RATE OFTEN REACHES 190 BPM+ ON THE FAST PARTS. (WAS THIS REALLY NECESSARY?) >>KURT AND GORDON HAVE CONSIDERED GETTING A DRUM MACHINE NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY FEEL SORRY FOR ERIK. >>ERIK AND KURT FIGHT ABOUT SONG WRITING SOMETIMES. HE LIKES TO WRITE LIKE KURT. THEY USUALLY JUST IGNORE POOR GORDO, BUT THEY'RE BOTH SCARED OF HIM (ACTUALLY, GORDON CREATES A GREAT NUMBER OF THE FOUNDATIONAL RIFFS OF THEIR SONGS). >> HE PLAYS BIRCH PREMIER GENESITAS 12",14",16", 22", 2- 13" SNARES (PAISTE AND REMO), REMO EMPEROR'S, ZILDJAN CYMBALS, AND CAN'T SEEM TO FIND STICKS HE LIKES (USUALLY 2B's, and ALWAYS NYLON TIPS). >>NOISE HE LIKES: NO MEANS NO, PROPAGHANDI, VICTIM'S FAMILY, SMILE, BIG DRILL CAR, SHADES APART, NO KNIFE, ALL, RISE AGAINST, SUICIDE MACHINES, T(I)NC, THRICE, THE LINE, CHEMICAL PEOPLE (not brothers), THE WEAKERTHANS, SIX GOING ON SEVEN, DOA, THE DAMNED, BEHIND ENEMY LINES, BAD BRAINS, MINOR THREAT, THE MISFITS, THE CJ'S, NINE POUND HAMMER, THE MUFFS, SUICIDE MACHINES, COMMON RIDER, FU MANCHU, SOUTHERN ROCK BAND HERE_______, JAZZ/ ACID BAND HERE_______, DIGABLE PLANETS, PUBLIC ENEMY, PARIS, MR.DIBBS, PELDING, PREFUSE 73, RESTIFORM BODIES, DEAD PREZ, BDP... AND REGGAE DUB AND ROOTS/ROCK STEADY A LA ~1980's--ASWAD, BLACK UHURU, SLY AND ROBBIE, STEELE PULSE, LINTON KWESI JOHNSON, DUB TRIO, BILL LASWELL.....HE ALSO LIKES THE SOUND OF: THE FIRE TRUCK DOWN THE STREET, THE TRAIN DOWN THE STREET, "THE SOUTH SIDE IS NOW BLACK-BALLED," GORDON'S BASS, PEOPLE QUESTIONING AUTHORITY, AND GORDON AND KURT TUNING...

Erik's side-projects: hamradioensemble.net | www.mrfirley.com | why vegan?

GORDON: DRIVER

>>HE USUALLY DOESN'T F*CK UP, OR SO HE CLAIMS. SOMETIMES ERIK AND KURT HAVE TO KEEP HIM IN CHECK. THE LATER THE SHOW, THE MORE ALCOHOL GORDON GETS TO SNEAK BY THEM. REMINDS ERIK OF MR.FIRLEY. >>HE EATS A LOT OF MEAT, CHEESE, AND POTATOES. MAYBE THAT'S WHY HE DON'T SCREW UP MUCH. >>HE LIKES TO DRINK_________________.  >>HE FREQUENTLY DISAPPEARS...SOME SAY THEY HAVE SEEN HIM IN VEGAS AND IN ARIZONA AROUND PARKER DURING THESE DISAPPEARANCES. >>HIS NAME IS "GORDO" CAUSE HE SURFS DO-HO, and SAN-O ON A LONG BOARDO A LOTO. >>HE ALSO GOES TO THOSE SPOTS TO GIVE HIM SOME TIME AWAY FROM ERIK (F*CKIN' SHORT BOARDER). KURT DOESN'T SURF, YET, HE WEARS A FLOTATION DEVICE IN THE TUB. >>HE HAS A NUMBER OF HAWAIIAN FRIENDS. >>HE GREW UP, AND THREW UP, IN RIVERSIDE PLAYING LOTS OF WATER POLO AND GOING TO LOTS OF PUNK SHOWS. HE HAS BEEN SURFING SINCE HE WAS A GROM. >>HE IS THE MEMBER MOST LIKELY TO BRING PRACTICE TO A HALT WITH AROMATIC BODILY EMISSIONS. >> HE WORKS IN THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. >>HE GREW UP IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL LIKE KURTIS. DON'T YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THEM? >>GORDO READS SURFER'S JOURNAL, CONSTRUCTION BIDS, AND ON OCCASION, PORNO--CAUSE IT ENDS IN "O." >>HE LIKES TO SIT ON PATIO FURNITURE, BEACH CHAIRS, SAND BARS, AND PORCHES. >>HE HAS CHANGED BASS HEADS LIKE MOST PEOPLE CHANGE UNDERWEAR. RECENTLY, HE PLAYED THROUGH A SWR 8X10, AND SWR 900 HEAD (HEAD NUMBER 4? SINCE 1999). NOW IT SEEMS HE HAS FINALLY FOUND WHAT HE WANTS?? A MESA 400+ AND A MESA 4x10 with one 15. >>HE PLAYS AN ERNIE BALL MUSIC MAN BASS. (THE DATE ON HIS PHOTO IS A YEAR OFF)...AS OF 8/2003 HE SOMETIMES PLAYS A FENDER P-BASS SPECIAL W/ SEYMOUR DUNCAN QUARTER POUND PICK UPS...HE DOESN'T LIKE PLAYING WITH A PICK.  >>NOISE HE LIKES: THE TOASTERS, STUBBORN ALLSTARS, BACKSIDE, AFI, SUBHUMANS, FYP, YELLOWMAN, PATO BANTON, IZ, SEAN NA'AUAO, FALLING SICKNESS, SKELETONES, VGS, LONG BEACH DUB ALLSTARS...HE ALSO LIKES THE SOUND OF: SLOT MACHINES, FAST CARS, "HEY, HEY GOIN' RIGHT!!," HIS BASS, "CAN I GET YOU ANOTHER BEER," THE SOUND OF HIS BOAT ENGINE, AND ERIK MAKING NOISE WHILE KURT TRIES TO TUNE OR TALK....

STANTONA: DASHBOARD: INTROS, OUTROS, ET AL.

>> SHE IS BY FAR THE BEST MUSICIAN THE WORLD HAS EVER HEARD, HANDS DOWN, NO ONE CAN COME CLOSE TO HER ACCURACY IN REPLICATING SOUNDS >> SHE PLAYS WHATEVER WE WANT AND NEVER COMPLAINS...WHICH IS SURPRISING GIVEN THE FACT THAT IT IS USUALLY KURT THAT HANDLES HER >> WE'VE BEEN TOLD SHE'S NOT VERY PUNK...WHICH IS A REAL PUNK THING TO SAY, YOU KNOW...FALL IN LINE AND CONFORM TO SOME PUNK RULES... DID I JUST SAY "RULES"? >> SHE IS SOMETIMES UNCOOPERATIVE...CAUSE SHE'S PUNK ! ...SHE IS HOWEVER A TWO-TIMER, BECAUSE ERIK USES HER FOR A SIDE-PROJECT  >> LIKE HER BAND-MATES SHE NEVER GETS PAID  >> SHE HAS KURT AND ERIK BEAT-- SHE DOESN'T EAT AT ALL ! WHICH COINCIDENTALLY MEANS SHE HAS THE PLEASURE OF NEVER HAVING TO USE THE CRAPPER (WHICH IS A GOOD THING GIVEN THE CONDITION OF MOST CRAPPERS AT PUNK VENUES) >> SHE HAS NO PAPERS ...OR WARRANTY...LIKE HER BAND-MATES >> SHE GREW UP IN SOME PARENT ROCK AND OIL DEPOSITS...WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE MOTHER OR FATHER ARE, BUT WE DO KNOW SHE IS A CLONE, AND WE SUSPECT INDIRECTLY GENETICALLY MODIFIED >> SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE DOING SOUND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HER...AGAIN, BECAUSE SHE IS SO PUNK (AND RUNS CIRCLES AROUND EVERYONE) >> NOISE SHE LIKES: THIS CAN'T BE ANSWERED BECAUSE SHE NEVER COMPLAINS... LIKE A GREAT MANY WOMEN, IT'S SUSPECTED THAT SHE'S QUITE HAPPY WHEN SHE GETS PLUGGED... IN AND TURNED ON.

photos/kurt            photos/gordon            photos/erik     

GROUP PHOTOS