This interview with Goldfinger was done in the summer of 2001 and appears in issue number 7 of Sink Hole.
An interview with John Feldman of Goldfinger...
So much like Green Day, NOFX, New Found Glory, The Offspring and Good Charlotte – people are always arguing whether or not Goldfinger is a 'punk' band. I'm not going to argue either way because it doesn't matter. What does matter is that I thought they were a pretty good band AND I'd never seen them live. I had to rectify that and I'm glad I did. On CD they're decent, live they get rockin pretty good! Although their shows can be pricey, they were pretty damn dynamic. I'm not used to the big crowds (1000+kids), but it was a good time. Live, their songs definitely got a little faster, a little louder and a lot more intense. Save your pennies and check them out when they hit your town...
Goldfinger is: Kelly on bass, Darrin on drums, Charlie on lead guitar, and John singing and rhythm guitar.
I had arranged an interview before the show with John, Goldfinger's founder. It almost didn't happen as he had kept me waiting for quite a while and I was about to forget about him all together. He finally did locate me. Apparently he was entertaining a friend and they took off on a skin-diving excursion prior to the interview. As soon as he changed out of his dive-gear, he apologized for the wait and we sat down for an enlightening conversation about his Vegan obsession, The Sex Pistols, censorship and what it means to be "punk"...
Sink Hole Zine-So how was skin-diving?
John: Not good man. I got certified in Key Largo and I've always had great luck in Florida. I brought a friend of mine out and it was his first time diving. It pretty much sucked, because of the stormy weather you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. There wasn't shit down there. We saw a Pepsi can, that was it. It was really disappointing.
SHZ-Unless your ears are still waterlogged, I'm gonna jump right in. How long have you guys been together and how long did it take for your first album to come out?
John-We played our first show in October of '94. We released "Richter" in '95, then the first self titled album in '96.
SHZ-So I've heard a story about you slipping demos in shoeboxes to get signed, is there any truth to that?
John-Yeah, I worked retail like so many people in bands do. I worked at a shop in Santa Monica and had been there for about 2 years. Well, me and Kelly (bass) had been in a band (Electric Love Hogs) that had split up a couple years prior. Anyway, this random kid, he was like 3 years younger than me, came in and asked me what happened to that band. He said he loved them and all that. So I told him what I was up to now (at the time), he seemed interested in what I was doing so I grabbed a demo and slipped it in his shoebox. He took it home. He liked it. As it turned out he worked for the guy who owned Mojo Records. He played it for the Mojo guy, he loved it and within a week we signed a deal with Mojo. Within a few months we were making our first record and I was no longer selling shoes. You never know why you have to be somewhere, shit has a weird way of working out. There's no rules as to how you get signed, you need a lot of luck and creativity.
SHZ-So what made you guys ditch the horns after your first couple records, and are they coming back?
John-We had horns on the first record, the guys from Reel Big Fish helped out and did "Pictures" and "Answers". The second record we had even more horns with a rad brass section. We had Gabe from No Doubt and Jonas and Kit from the Skeletones. There were horns all over "Hang Ups". We ditched the horns for "Stomping Ground". It's my fault because of my personality. If I like something, I'll burn out on it cuz I get so into it. Playing it, watching it, listening to it so much. I just burnt out on the horns. I mean I grew up on that 80's ska revival with The Selector, The Specials, The English Beat and Madness. When we recorded those first 2 discs I was listening to my old Ska records like crazy. I listened to that stuff (ska) so much, that I got sick of it. Dude, I was over it, I told everybody we got to go back to rock and that's what we did with Stomping Grounds.
SHZ-Stomping Grounds seemed a lot harder and faster than the 1st two, is that the direction your going to continue in?
John-I have about 20 songs written so far for the next record and they aren't different than the first record. I wanna say that it's kind of a NOFX-ish pop-punk thing. With our last album, it was a real rock record. Our guitar player Charlie had a big part in that. He grew up on KISS and AC/DC. He co-wrote a couple songs on Stomping Grounds, it helped bring the heavier side out, which was great. With this next album I want to go with more of a melodic punk sound to it. Then again, I don't know-it's only half done and anything can happen.
SHZ-Do you have a label to release it?
John-No, because MOJO is now defunct. We've had a lot of interest from other labels, but we're kind of stuck right now because the owner of Mojo hasn't released us yet. He says he will, but he hasn't yet. Right now all we can do is tour and write and wait. I'm not whining or anything, dude, I signed the contract. I knew what I was getting into.
SHZ-All right, all this talk about Stomping Grounds, I have to ask about the censored copies. I got mine at an indie record store, and it's completely censored. Bleeps on the songs, asterisks in the lyrics. Do you know about this, and do you have any control over that?
John-The first record I absolutely refused to release a clean version that could be carried in Wal Mart, or chain stores or whatever. After that I did a little research with some of our fans and what I found out was crazy. There are lots of people out there, who the only place they can buy music is at Wal Mart. Most big cities have killer record stores where you could find anything you want, but if your stuck in the middle of the country somewhere-its either buy at WM or drive 300 miles to the nearest indie-store. I just wanted the most people to have the chance to hear our music. At this point in my life, that just seems more important. As far as you buying a "clean" copy in an indie store, that is fucked up. That shouldn't happen, it should have a warning label on it that says "this album if for 5 year olds". It should warn you that it is not the real album as it was intended, it is a censored version. It really sucks and I'm sorry. You should have had the choice, When we get back home, I'll deal with that.
SHZ-So, I know you've been producing and shit, are you going to start your own record label?
John-Right now, I'm just doing production. Showoff (www.showoffmusic.com) opened for us in Chicago, I heard them and I thought their songs were great. Their singer had all these great harmonies and he could really write songs. I flew him out to California and had him stay at my house. We made a bunch of demos and I gave it to a bunch of people locally. My manager shopped it around. Maverick was really interested. They were real gung ho and they signed 'em up. The next time, with Mest (www.mestcrapp.com), I got them signed (to Maverick) and we got a production deal, too. Basically, now if I really like a band, I can invite them to my place, I have a studio in my house. We can work together, and if they like what I'm trying to do, we do it. It's worked out 3 times, so far. As far as starting a label, that's a lot of work, dude. I'm friends with Fat Mike(Fat Wreck Chords & NOFX) and cuz of the label, that dude works all the time. We (Goldfinger) are a touring band, and we tour 9 or 10 months a year. NOFX tours about 2 months, so you can tell I don't have the time. If I had the money where I could pay people to run it, I would totally do it, I'd love to have my own record label to release what I wanted to, how I wanted to. Right now playing music is a priority for me, I still love playing shows and recording and I'm not ready to give that up.
SHZ-So, I know we aren't your only interview today (Flux TV was waiting outside), when your being interviewed are there any things you hope people don't ask or any extra annoying things they do?
John-Most questions make a little sense. People love to ask the "punk rock question". Are we, aren't we. We can't be because we're on a label and we have a video. It's really hard because everybody has their own definition and we don't always fit that. People ask me what kind of music we play, I say punk and the floodgates open. People start giving me a million reasons why we aren't punk. I mean I hate getting into that argument. I don't want to try and rationalize what kind of music we play. If people already know the answer, and aren't willing to accept any other answer, well they shouldn't ask.
SHZ-So are you guys a "punk band"?
John- (begins to laugh, but looks like he might throw something at me, so I move on)
SHZ-Seriously, do people try and make you feel guilty for being successful?
John-I think we are very lucky. I do know what it's like to be in a struggling band and look at another band who has "made it". There's jealousy, I think that most bands would love to have a nice tour bus to tour the country in, to sell out shows and live off their music. It's awesome. We know how lucky we are and we never take that for granted.
SHZ-So your a Vegan, huh?
John-Yes!
SHZ-I've been a vegetarian for nearly 15 years now, the one thing I've come to expect from Vegans is they cheat, and they lie about it. In your years as a Vegan, have you ever cheated?
John-Well, I've only been a Vegan for a year. I am sure that there have been one or two things that I've eaten that has had whey in them. It's possible that I have and haven't known it. We play Poland, and small towns in Germany-the language barrier is really hard on a Vegan. I do my best. When your in a big city, it's no problem at all. It blows my mind how many different soy substitutes are out there, and how good they are. Veganese, whatever. I've got the soy milk, the fake mayonnaise, I just stock up now so it's not that hard on a bus. In Europe or Asia it's still tough. I went 3 days eating nothing but cashews and water. It's worth it, though. I know in my heart, what I am doing is right. People like us, well you almost (laughing sarcastically), we know that it's obvious. It is not okay to enslave any being, it's not okay to enslave a human, animals should be no different. I think people will understand, eventually, I hope. Really I just want to tell people-ITS A LIE! I mean, milks good for you? That's such a fucking lie. You know, don't get me wrong, I don't judge. I was raised on McDonalds, I know. My sister was Vegan for 12 years, and I used to make fun of her before I was awakened. I don't judge, but at the same time I know that what I do is right.
SHZ-Is the Vegan message a key to what you want to get out there?
John-The older I get, it has become the only thing that really matters.
SHZ-How involved are you with PETA and their cause?
John-If I'm at a grocery store and I see lobsters in a tank, I'll buy them all and release them in the nearest ocean. Any time I see an animal who is suffering, I will stop whatever I am doing to relieve that animal's suffering. Obviously with job and lifestyle I don't have the chance to be out all the time liberating animals from factory farms and stuff. That takes a lot of time and planning, but I back that cause. If anyone eats anything around me that I know is wrong, I tell them. I try not to be too judgmental and I try not to be angry, because if I was mad while I was saying this shit I'd just come off as 'crazy Vegan guy'.
SHZ-All right, lets get back to music...you've been in a bunch of bands before this. Tell me about them and your famous bandmates...
John-My first real band, Family Crisis was straight up Minor Threat meets Social Distortion. Chris Cayton was obviously one of my biggest influences, the song explains that, but...As he got older he discovered other kinds of music other than punk. Like new romantic, gothic, whatever. Well, he got into Southern Death Cult and started IMRU (2nd band) with that in mind. It was pretty awesome post-punk Cult style music. I moved to San Diego and Lars Fredericksen from Rancid replaced me. I know some people say we were in the band together, but we weren't. My band after that was Electric Love Hogs, Kelly who plays bass for us was in that band with me. We played with IMRU a lot. I got to be pretty good friends with Lars and everybody in Rancid.
SHZ-Speaking of Rancid, who are on WARPED tour, is it hard for you to tour against WARPED?
John-Not at all. We've sold out every show so far. We've been really lucky. I think we have 2 advantages over WARPED. One is they are always outside in the sun and it's fucking hot as hell, and we're normally playing inside an air-conditioned club. The other thing is we're only a 3 or 4 hour thing and we're less than half the price. Also, I think that we share alot of fans with Reel Big Fish and it's been 4 years since we've toured together. Maybe people didn't want to see us on our own or didn't want to see them on their own, but they'll come out and see us together.
SHZ- Okay, can we talk about movies...Movies like American Pie, Water Boy, King Pin, how do you guys find your way onto so many soundtracks?
John-Basically the guy who owns Mojo Records is partners with Hans Zimmer. He scores almost every single movie you see out now. He is the composer, arranger, whatever. So he's got a huge in. People come to him and ask if he knows bands he can use, or would do this. For the most part he has always allowed me to choose whether we want to do it or not. There were a couple of movies he just put us in, and that really fucking pisses me off. I heard we were in some movie with the Olsen twins and that sucks. But the other movies have been great to be a part of. American Pie is one of my favorite movies, so to have a song in that is really awesome. The Water Boy is special, too, because Adam Sandler is hilarious and he actually asked us himself to do it. He's a fan of the band and he called up and asked for that song. We were in King Pin and that was funny. We were in the trailer for Something About Marie which is one of my top 5 of all time favorites. There have been shitty movies, too. We did a song for Meet The Deedles, which sucked. When we record for a record, we record like 20 different songs. We only use 14 on the album so we have 6 extras for B sides, for overseas release and movies. So when someone asks for a song, they tell you about the movie, it sounds cool, so you okay it. Then the movie comes out and it's crap. Oh well. For the most part we've been really lucky.
SHZ-Yeah, so you guys are on the Tony Hawk playstation game...
John-That has been the biggest promotion for our music. Its done more for us than the radio, Conan O'Brien, MTV, the movies. That video game has gotten us more exposure than anything else. It's the biggest selling video game of all time. We go to Europe where we have no record label and we sell out every show and it all started because of that video game. It is fucking awesome to be on there, and it's done so much for us.
SHZ-So tell me about the Conan O'Brien experience.
John-Man, Conan was cool. He's really funny, he used to work on the Simpsons and that's awesome. We were psyched to be on, but... At the end of the show, our drummer Darrin tried to pick him up by his legs. Well, Conan is a big guy, he's 6 foot 6 and Darrin started to fall because he was too heavy. So Darrin flips back, Conan lands on his neck. The audience went white-they thought we killed him. Dude, it was the craziest fucking thing ever. We will never be on a talk show again ever because of that. It was cool because he's funny. I actually watch his show, so it was exciting being on there. He was into it, too. He watched the whole sound check, he was rockin to it.
SHZ-While we're name dropping, you toured with the original Sex Pistols, how was that?
John-If I could go back, I would have done a couple of shows just to be able to say that we played with them, but we did a 40 show tour and it was too much. They just showed up, played, got paid and left. Steve Jones hung out a little and he was really cool, but most of them were pretty well settled with their families and shit. I mean, what were they going to do, go out and get wasted with a bunch of 20 year olds that they don't know? I wouldn't either.
SHZ-Other than the Pistols you've played with a ton of big name bands, sharing the stage with NOFX, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Pearl Jam, No Doubt, etc. Who has been your favorite band to play/tour with and why?
John-The most fun I have is when we play with those bands that I signed, Showoff and Mest. It's awesome because they've become my little brothers, they've become family and we have a blast. As far as the headliners, I think the best tour we did was with No Doubt. They were our age, they'd been doing it for 10 years, they were on the way up but they were still really humble. They hung out and watched us every night.
SHZ-Is it a goal of yours to get as big as No Doubt or bands like The Offspring or Green Day?
John-Somedays I do, and some days I don't. Mostly I do when I listen to the radio and I get really frustrated listening to all the crap that they play. Other days, I think about my freedom. I mean I could cruise wherever I want and not get bothered and I like that. I spend a lot of time with myself and I like that, I am not a real social, party guy. I think how lonely it must be to be Billy Jo (Green Day), I mean he can barely walk down a street without getting recognized and bothered. It's just got to be annoying and I don't really ever want to have to deal with that.
SHZ-Well, you guys are pretty big as is. Has your 'celebrity' ever gotten you down?
John-I don't really understand the whole autograph thing, but I don't mind signing them. I mean I understand why we are successful-it's cuz people buy our records. That's the only reason and we can't forget that. There are days when I'm just not in the mood. If I only get like 2 hours of sleep, haven't eaten and I get off the bus and some kid is jumping all over me wanting me to give him something, hang out, buy him shit, sign his shirt, hat, whatever. That gets annoying. For the most part, though, it's fucking awesome. I don't get it, but it's awesome. Me, I don't even want to meet my idols.
SHZ-Yeah, you meet your heroes, their assholes and it's ruined.
SHZ-For you personally, what was it that made you want to do this. Was there any song, record, band or person that made you say-'hey, I wanna be in a punk band'. ?
John-Yeah, definitely. Hearing "Mommy's Little Monster" by Social D and then seeing them live in Palo Alto in 1983. I had seen them a couple times before, but it was that show that I watched and thought that I could do it, that I thought that was what I wanted to do. Their the only band I'd ever have tattooed on me (he said as he pulled up his pant leg to show off the smoking skeleton).
SHZ-Have you met Mike Ness?
John-Yeah, he's fucking awesome.
SHZ-So, it didn't ruin it?
John-No, not everybody's an asshole. I've met a few of my heroes and it hasn't been that bad yet. I met him, I got to meet Paul Westeburg (Replacements) and Pete from the Buzzcocks were all really cool. I still haven't met Elvis Costello, Sting or Paul McCartney. The Beatles are my all-time favorite band, the Police are one of my favorites and Elvis Costello is one of the greatest song writers ever. I don't think I want to meet them, it would be too much of a let down if it didn't go perfectly.
SHZ-Being a Replacements fan, do you cover any of their songs and if you do, will you record any?
John-We do "Skyway", "Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out", we've done "Can't Hardly Wait". I doubt we'll ever record them, but we do them live every time we go to Minnesota.
SHZ-Any chance of doing one tonight?
John-No, no chance at all. We only have 50 minutes to play. We get 40-45 minutes to play, then a 5 minute encore. We have a specific set of songs we really have to play. I mean I'd love to mix it up, but we really can't go out there and not play "Mable" or "Here In Your Bedroom".
SHZ-So do you guys anticipate the encores?
John-As a headliner, it's 100% encores, always. On this tour we've been playing 2nd to last a lot and it's been kind of weird. You know, if no ones yelling and clapping, we're not just gonna go back out on stage and start playing again. We just take it each show as it comes, I mean if there's 1000 kids in a club and 100 are chanting your name, but 900 aren't-it would be pretty cheesy to take an encore.
SHZ-Last thing, okay? Describe yourself in 5 words.
John-5 syllables?
SHZ-No, 5 words.
John-How 'bout "Dude, That Fucking Question Sucks".
SHZ-All right, I can take a hint. Goodbye.
John-No dude, don't take it the wrong way. I just don't like limits.
We said our good-byes and packed up our gear. Then John busted out the PETA propaganda and we sat down and had a bitch fest about nasty carnivores who eat roast beef in your face-bastards. Finally, we got the message that it was almost stage time for John and he might want to put a shirt on. Our Vegan/vegetarian conference was over and we left the bus and headed back to the Courtyard just in time to watch Mother Fuckin Zebrahead Bitch, who put on a very entertaining show complete with onstage lap dances. About 45 minutes after I hit stop on my tape recorder, Goldfinger was racing towards the stage. John ran to the microphone and started the first song in true 'punk' fashion before his bandmates had even grabbed their instruments. The show absolutely rocked, John had his mohawk spiked up and had the audience in the palm of his hand. Security did allow everyone to come up on stage for "Mabel", as is tradition, and there WAS a 2 song encore. The highlight really was a surprise appearance by Destinys Child who sang their hit song "Survivor". All right, it wasn't really them, it was Darrin (drummer), and the guitar and bass techs (sorry guys, don't know your names). Anyway, they were way underdressed (see photos) in camouflage bikinis and they danced about before the fat hairy one hit the skinny little one over the head with a bottle. Ya gotta see it for yourselves...
For more info on the band, check their website, Goldfinger Music dot com
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