<HTML><PRE>John Doe was a founding member of seminal LA punk band X. He's also made waves on the folk scene with his work in the Knitters and solo. Recently, John released an EP on indie Kill Rock Stars and reunited for some shows with the original line-up of X. This is his story.
SPINspy: John Doe just came off the day stage at SXSW.
Welcome him...
SPINspy: How was it recording your latest album for Kill Rock Stars?
JonDoeSPIN: It was great.
it was made up of a collection of demo tracks
JonDoeSPIN: we listened to them and we picked out the ones that were
the most realized
I like demos. I hear people's demos
and a lot of the time they're fresh and spontaneous
SPINspy: Citcat431:
Question: does anyone like the Backstreet Boys?
JonDoeSPIN: only on the grind
only when they send the grind into a new
reality of spring break
SPINspy: Brwnsugag:
Question: when are you all coming to D-Town?
JonDoeSPIN: the first week of April
By the way, this is not the Jon Doe
from the Internet porno pages
SPINspy: Mud1274:
Question: How did you ever get started in music, getting gigs, and
producing?
JonDoeSPIN: By being lucky
being in L.A. at the right time
and being part of a scene
and having a good band
The Germs, the Screamers, the Plugs, the Go-Gos, the Weirdos
they were all part of that scene.
Black Flag later on
when Keith Morris sang with them
and lots lots more
SPINspy: STEEL313:
Question: John Doe? Is that your real name?
JonDoeSPIN: My real name is Mark Twain
No my real name is Adolf Hitler
SPINspy: GRLSinger:
Question: How was it like acting with Claire Danes? She's really
awesome in all
her movies that she's in and so are you!
JonDoeSPIN: The scenes that we did
together were quite sad
so the acting was
good but sad
my favorite combination of things
as a person she was
extremely grounded and
very intelligent
I wanted to ask her out
on a date but she
and Ben Lee are an item
and not only did I play
her dad but I am old
enough to be her dad
this is very confusing
plus I am married
and have three children
none of which would I like to disappoint
SPINspy: Bflag2136:
Question: what do you think of the anthology? I think the live tracks
are great.
JonDoeSPIN: I'm very proud of it
X as a band worked hard
to compile all those lost
and forgotten tracks
tracks, that is
SPINspy: TREEZ2000:
Question: HEY JOHNDOE.....I NEVER HEARD OF YOU. WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT
TYPE OF
MUSIC YOU PLAY?
JonDoeSPIN: I am the waterbed king
of the United States of America
my music is new age cyber-net
ambient post-modern punk rock
love songs
SPINspy: Sporty885:
Question: ARE YOU A SINGER OR AN ACTOR?
JonDoeSPIN: I have been fortunate enough
to both sing, play music,
be in a band and act
I've also produced some great singers
and bands
so my job is to be creative
SPINspy: Do you have a preference, or is that even a question worth
asking?
JonDoeSPIN: music and acting can be rewarding
in the same but very different ways
music is more collaborative
including an audience and acting
is more of a momentary family
more self-rewarding, for yourself
the short answer is no
I don't have a preference
they're equally rewarding
SPINspy: StWeBr:
Question: do you like singing or playing the guitar better?
JonDoeSPIN: singing
because it hurts
and it's less exact
and I'm a terrible guitar player
no - I'm a moderate/mediocre/so-so
guitar player, but I'm trying
SPINspy: Myself977:
Question: What would you say is your favorite new band around?
JonDoeSPIN: Elliot Smith
as a singer songwriter and
creeper lagoon or verbena
SPINspy: SPRulz11:
Question: WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO PERFORM, WHAT CITY?
JonDoeSPIN: Boston or Rome if someone
will send me there
SPINspy: TheeXViru:
Question: What do you think of the current trends going on in music
today? The
pierced, skateboarding, etc. nineties genres...
JonDoeSPIN: rock on with your bad self
SPINspy: AcatTom:
Question: What did you think about British punk like the Sex Pistols?
JonDoeSPIN: The sex pistols almost
single-handedly ruined punk rock music
they kept many bands from achieving
the status and influence they deserved
by making punk rock fashion
and not music
SPINspy: CERRUTTII:
Question: what do you think of Clinton, you obviously didn't care for
Reagan
where
are the anti Clinton and nafta songs?
JonDoeSPIN: Exene writes the political songs
Reagan was a dupe
George Bush was Satan
Clinton is just horny
NAFTA and GATT have nothing to do with politics only corporate
influence on politics
SPINspy: ASH 073:
Question: WHY ARE U JOHNDOE?
JonDoeSPIN: Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough
and doggone it, a few people like me
SPINspy: Chellygrr:
Question: What was the last song you wrote?
JonDoeSPIN: "Telephone by my Bed"
It's about missing somebody
and my favorite line in the song is
"hell on earth is hell on your nerves/
I held your hand, now it's hell to hand it back"
SPINspy: AcatTom:
Question: Did you ever play w/ Adam and the Ants ?
JonDoeSPIN: no, they sucked even more
than the sex pistols
SPINspy: CHELFERT:
Question: John, I saw X in SF. I thought it was great. Did it feel like
the
old X
or diff? Tell us about the reunion.
JonDoeSPIN: it was frighteningly similar to the old X
so much so that I wanted to look at a calendar
and see what year it was
SPINspy: Myself977:
Question: If you had anything to say to the young people of America
what
would it
be?
JonDoeSPIN: Don't be a sheep, don't follow trends
make up your own mind
and then you can be proud of yourself
SPINspy: Fit Guy28:
Question: John, you duetted with Sandra Bernhard in her film Without
You I'm
Nothing. How did that come about?
JonDoeSPIN: I was a last minute replacement
replacement for k.d. lang
and actually, we're the same person,
no she's a better singer than I am
and Sandra and I have been
friends ever since
SPINspy: StWeBr:
Question: what do you think of the Spice Girls and Hanson?
JonDoeSPIN: the Kill Rock Stars EP was recorded
and co-produced by Dave Way
who mixed half of the first spice girls record
and TLC and Babyface - worked with them
both of them are incredible
phenomena
I dig it for the phenomena, totally
like watching the Monkees TV show
how did this happen?
my daughter likes both
she's 10
SPINspy: TheeXViru:
Question: Of the scene you are speaking of, which bands were you the
most
upset to
see go?
JonDoeSPIN: the Germs, the Alleycats, and the Plugs
SPINspy: What did you think of Pat Smear's decision to play with the
Foo
Fighters?
JonDoeSPIN: I love pat smear's playing
because he insists on being a rhythm guitar player
SPINspy: StWeBr:
Question: what are your favorite movies and why?
JonDoeSPIN: I can't answer that
there are too many movies
I love big movies and very small movies
for all different reasons
John Doe is unprepared to deliver
a
top ten movie list at this point
SPINspy: StWeBr:
Question: do you try to keep your children out of the spotlight of the
press
and
stuff?
JonDoeSPIN: nobody really cares about
John Doe's children
SPINspy: AcatTom: have you broken a hip yet ?
SPINspy: Why don't you come up onstage and have this out?
JonDoeSPIN: how old are you and what are your creds
SPINspy: Tom?
AcatTom: I'm a six yr. old girl w/ 4 kids
SPINspy: How nice for you, Tom
JonDoeSPIN: void
AcatTom: How can you say the sex pistols suck
JonDoeSPIN: because they were after
the New York scene and
the clash, the Buzzcocks and sham 69
kicked the sex pistols ass
SPINspy: CHELFERT:
Question: Looking back on your punk days, what's the strongest
impression
that it
left, and how did it influence you or your music?
JonDoeSPIN: punk rock taught me
you can do anything if your
will is strong and you want to
nobody says you can't
SPINspy: Fit Guy28:
Question: John, you mentioned producing other artists. Who have you
worked
with?
JonDoeSPIN: lately, a singer named Gregory Page
who used to play with the rug burns
and green apple quickstep,
Tex and the Horseheads
and I worked with Dave Grohl
for a movie soundtrack called Touch
and shudder to think, as a singer, for
a soundtrack First Love, Last Rites
SPINspy: Chaz853:
Question: our band is great but we need a gig!!! what do you recommend
doing?
JonDoeSPIN: play a party
throw a party and play
and hopefully the police will bust it
if you're a) good and b
have friends
but don't tell your parents I told you so
SPINspy: Viper9834:
Question: Ho long have you been in this business?
JonDoeSPIN: really long, maybe 20 years, oh my god
oy vay, etcetera
SPINspy: SHguitar1:
Question: what record label are you under
SPINspy: And is your new EP out yet?
JonDoeSPIN: it's an EP, and yes it is out
it was released at the end of January
SPINspy: What's the title?
JonDoeSPIN: For the Rest of Us
SPINspy: And do you have a favorite track on the record?
JonDoeSPIN: "A Step Outside"
SPINspy: TheeXViru:
Question: So you think people should be more spontaneous? You didn't
really
answer my question...do you think everything is stale now? As to
the Pistols
comment...I don't think they really made it any more fashionable
than Stiv did...and lots of people seem to
JonDoeSPIN: intuition and spontaneity are the shit
Stiv Baters was a great frontman
as was Johnny Rotten
the dead boys seemed more grounded to me
SPINspy: BADBOY604:
Question: HEY JOHN DID YOU KILL ANY ONE
JonDoeSPIN: just myself, day by day
SPINspy: StWeBr:
Question: do you feel more comfortable in the studio or on stage
JonDoeSPIN: on stage because
it's there and gone
it's difficult to be in the moment
when you're recording something
forever
SPINspy: Namirror:
Question: Jon who's your favorite singer?
JonDoeSPIN: John Lennon
SPINspy: Stynger1:
Question: john any chance for a knitters reunion. I saw you at McCabes
long
ago.
great show!
JonDoeSPIN: the chance of a knitters reunion
are slim and none
I'm glad you were there
everyone is too busy
with other reunions
SPINspy: TommiG1rl:
Question: Boxers or briefs?
JonDoeSPIN: boxers. Joe Boxer
send me some
please
for free
I will endorse your product
SPINspy: StWeBr:
Question: do you believe in god and Christianity?
JonDoeSPIN: no
SPINspy: Viper9834:
Question: Have you ever thought about doing the show LOVELINE ? I
would
love to
hear you there.
JonDoeSPIN: if they ask me
I would love to
SPINspy: Niki86: DO YOU PLAY THAT LITTLE GITUAR????
JonDoeSPIN: I used that toy guitar
on the last recording I did
it plays hack licks
SPINspy: TheeXViru:
Question: What were your kids' reactions to seeing Decline... if you've
yet
let
them see it?
JonDoeSPIN: they haven't seen it, not for any reason, but they haven't
they have seen Roadside Prophets
and they think it's a little odd that
I'm kissing this other woman
but they're OK with it
SPINspy: Gogobooty:
Question: what ever happened to ol' Texacala Jones? did she OD yet?
JonDoeSPIN: no, I believe Texacala Jones is
sober, living in Austin,
and she was Courtney Love to the tenth power
before there was a Courtney Love
SPINspy: For the closer, we go to our favorite curmudgeon AcatTom:
Question: what the hell do you know about love ?
JonDoeSPIN: I have "prisoner of love"
tattooed across my back
what do you have?
SPINspy: Thanks John Doe for sitting down with us today
SPINspy: Pick up his new EP on Kill Rock Stars at your local record
store...
SPINspy: Go to keyword: SPIN to get some soundclips from the album
SPINspy: and pictures
JonDoeSPIN: I appreciate everyone spending the time
