PoB Issue 5 by Alan Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 3

Introduction to Issue #5    Well the last four months  flew by.  I started on this  issue the day after I  printed the last and that  steam died off really fast.   As it says on the cover,  this really is the  interview issue.  There  are 10 interviews within  these pages.      During the course of  these last four months,  I’ve loved, hated, had fun,  been sad, been happy,  and everything in‐ between.  I’ve searched  to find myself and found  nothing.  I’ve swore more  in four months than I  have during any point of  my life but remained  fairly happy with my life.   I’ve made more friends,  seen more things, and  barely left the confines of  my home town.      Normally, people would expect to hear about how I’ve found myself  and the pages of this zine contain the answers to my life.  Well  that’s not true.  In fact, this is my break from work and school.   What you hold in your hands is not about where I am in my life but  where others are in their lives.  I’m trying to really round out the  content to include both music fans and riders.  I hope you like it     Alan Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 4

We’ve come to another issue and Alan’s shown here taking time for himself  finally.    Photo: Audra Beeman

Content:

Introduction:        The Queers Interview:      David Grant Interview:      Three Bad Jacks Interview:    PunkTV.ca Interview:      Solution BMX/Skate Shop Interview:  Unseen Interview:        Mark Pappas Interview:      Life Force Studios Interview:    13 Cats Interview:        Matt Watkins Interview:      BARJ behind the Scenes:      Out of the Dog House:      Photos:          Reviews:

Pg. 3  Pg. 5  Pg. 8  Pg. 11  Pg. 14  Pg. 20  Pg. 23  Pg. 30  Pg. 34  Pg. 43  Pg. 48  Pg. 51  Pg. 59  Pg. 62  Pg. 70

Issue #5 – pg. 5

The Queers

by: Audra Beeman

PoB.com: Would you please introduce yourselves? The Queers: Joe Queer leader of The Queers. PoB.com: Where are you guys from? The Queers: Portsmouth, NH. PoB.com: How did you get your start? The Queers: Through a lot of beer drinking and drug use. PoB.com: How did you get the name "The Queers"? The Queers: Well our first two choices were taken-Toad The Wet Sprocket and The Dave Matthews Band so we went with this one. PoB.com: What genre would you say you were? The Queers: Hard core punk rock. PoB.com: How many years have you been in a band together? The Queers: 25. PoB.com: Where is your favorite place to play? The Queers: In a dark smelly basement. PoB.com: What are you listening to right now? The Queers: Black Flag Damaged. PoB.com: Are you signed with a label if not do you plan to? The Queers: Asian Man Records is our label now. PoB.com: How has music changed your life? The Queers: It has taught me that I hate people.

Issue #5 – pg. 6  PoB.com: How many c.d.'s do you have out? The Queers: We have about 10 albums out now. PoB.com: How many shows would you say you have played? The Queers: Maybe 3000 but I have am not sure. PoB.com: What is your favorite thing about being in a band? The Queers: Signing young girls breasts. PoB.com: How has living a "punk" lifestyle influenced your lyrics. The Queers: Well l don't really live a punk lifestyle so it doesn't influence me really when I write. PoB.com: What made you decide you wanted to be in a band? The Queers: Seeing The Ramones and Black Flag.

PoB.com: How did you meet your band members?   The Queers: In a day care center.     PoB.com: Where do you see the "The Queers" in 5 years?   The Queers: In a rocking chair.

Issue #5 – pg. 7    PoB.com: I love the way you guys sound, how would you  describe that sound to someone that has never heard you?   The Queers: A retarded version of The Ramones and Beach Boys.     PoB.com: What sets you apart from any other band?   The Queers: My songwriting is far away the best in punk rock  today.     PoB.com: How can people reach you guys?   The Queers: Right here on MySpace or at thequeersrock.com

Issue #5 – pg. 8

David Grant

POB.com: Name, Age, Hometown, etc... DG: David Grant, 17, Muncie Indiana

By: Alan Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 9    POB.com: Years Riding?   DG: 3     POB.com: Sponsors and people that help you out?   DG: Darken, Anymeans Clothing Co., Hezrin Bmx and  punksonbikes.com    POB.com: What made you want to start riding?   DG: Nick called me up one day.     POB.com: Who do you enjoy riding with most?   DG: All the Muncie/Yorktown kids.     POB.com: Do you ride with an IPod or anything like that?   DG: Def ride w/ an iPod, helps me relax and not get too psyched out  during slow songs and then faster songs help me want to try bigger  stuff. but if there is a larger group of dudes riding i will probably  not ride with one or only use one headphone at a time haha.     POB.com: What are you listening to?   DG: hardcore and screamo mostly, sometimes rap     POB.com: What are your biggest influences on and off your  bike?   DG: On my bike probably nick or jerry, they both push me to try  stuff and off my bike probably my brosef.     POB.com: If you could ride just one spot for the rest of your life,  where would it be?   DG: the RCA dome in Indy, ledges and rails!     POB.com: Are you filming for anything?   DG: yeah, vids for all the companies haha     POB.com: Where do you see yourself on and off your bike in five  years?   DG: On my bike, I see myself still riding hard and progressing. Off  my bike, I would like to get involved more in photography and  maybe even own a bike shop.

Issue #5 – pg. 10    POB.com: I feel it's safe to say that street's your favorite thing to  ride but what, in your opinion, makes street better than park,  vert, flatland, racing, or trails?   DG: The originality that you can have when you ride, you can ride  so many obstacles instead of just jumps or quarterpipes you know.     POB.com: Anything else you'd like to say or any thanks?  DG: Thanks to all the companies that support me and help me out.

Three Bad Jacks

Issue #5 – pg. 11

By: Audra Beeman

POB.com: Would you please introduce yourselves?   Hi, we're Three Bad Jacks. We like long walks on the beach and  holding hands, but not with each other.     POB.com: Where are you guys from?   Los Angeles, California     POB.com: How did you get your start?   We started at the bottom. There's nothing like choosing music that  no one wants to hear and we figured that we could only go up from  there.     POB.com: How did you get the name "The Three Bad Jacks"?   Well there were three of us and none of us were named Jack, so we  figured it was perfect. Just kidding. On the serious side, it's a  complete secret and if we told you we'd have to kill you.     POB.com: What genre would you say you were?   Rock and Roll     POB.com: How many years have you been in a band together?   Three Bad Jacks has been around since late 1995.

Issue #5 – pg. 12    POB.com: Where is your favorite place to play?   The big cities are fun because there's typically more people, but  you can get surprised in the small towns too.     POB.com: What are you listening to right now?   The voices in my head telling me to kill you.     POB.com: Are you signed with a label if not do you plan to?   Most labels are going down and we do better on our own than most  labels. The music industry is rapidly changing and we're better off  as an Indie band right now.     POB.com: How has music changed your life?   It keeps from holding down a steady and respectable job with a  reliable source of income.     POB.com: How many  c.d.'s do you have out?   We have 2 full length CDs  and one EP.     POB.com: How many  shows would you say you  have played?   Thousands, I seriously  couldn't even say.     POB.com: What is your  favorite thing about  being in a band?   Going state‐to‐state and  meeting a bunch of super  cool people that have a lot  in common.

Issue #5 – pg. 13  POB.com: What made you decide you wanted to be in a band? We love playing music. None of the potential fame or fortune never really mattered. POB.com: How did you meet your band members? Brett came to a show and was asking if we knew anyone that was looking for a bass player. Shane stalked us and forced us to hire him. POB.com: Where do you see the "Three Bad Jacks" in 5 years? Hopefully still alive, touring, and making great records. POB.com: I love the way you guys sound, how would you describe that sound to someone that has never heard you? The bastard sons of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, The Ramones, and The Clash. We like to call it "Hellbent Rock 'n Roll". POB.com: What sets you apart from any other band? The way we put together our sound and our live shows. We never use a set list and we like to light stuff on fire. Our sound is very eclectic. It can sound very aggressive and angry or it can sound very traditional. We've bothered to learn the styles that we borrow from rather than act like a cheap imitation. POB.com: How can people reach you guys? www.threebadjacks.com or http://www.myspace.com/threebadjacks

PunkTV.ca

Issue #5 – pg. 14

By: Audra Beeman

POB.com: Would you please introduce yourselves?   PunkTV.ca: My name is Dixon Christie, I am publisher,  photographer and reporter for PunkTV.ca.     POB.com: Where are you from?   PunkTV.ca: I am from Edmonton, Alberta Canada. We are East of  Vancouver and North of Seattle.     POB.com: What made you start "Punk TV.ca"?   PunkTV.ca: I have been a writer all my life. I felt that I had a voice  and wanted a place where my voice could be heard. I have spent all  my life in entertainment and was also just hoping that there would  be some way I could make a living out of it, fortunately, there was. I  have published zines and magazines in the past and figured this  would be the most natural next step.     POB.com: With having a site and being as busy as you are, how  do you keep everything straight?   PunkTV.ca: Managing everything is very difficult. I also own a  marketing company and a record label so it gets quite nuts. My  secret is to work very hard, at least 100 hours a week. It is very  tiring but like I said, I feel that I have a lot to say and I can rest  when I am retired.     POB.com: How many years have you been running "Punk  TV.ca"?

Issue #5 – pg. 15  PunkTV.ca: PunkTV.ca has been up for a year and a half and I am  proud to say that we are now the biggest in Canada, with more  traffic that Revolver or Alternative Press online. A very big deal,  and surprising.     POB.com: What has been your favorite thing about being in  this type of business?   PunkTV.ca: I love working with people, and especially helping  young emerging writers and bands come up. I enjoy doing  photography and making videos as well. I like challenging myself.     POB.com: What are you listening to right now?   PunkTV.ca: Right now I really like The Aggrolites new CD and the  latest "Give'em The Boot" compilation. I also have a CD of  electronic music that I composed for my baby in the CD player in  the car a lot; its music made with natural earth made noise. People  can hear it at my band site: Dixonoxid.com. People might be  surprised to learn that I am also listening to Avenged Sevenfold,  Cellador, Dragonforce, but also James Blunt, Michael Buble and  Norah Jones too!     POB.com: What has been your biggest accomplishment  working with "Punk TV.ca"?   PunkTV.ca: We have been extremely fortunate. One on One  interviews with Stewart Copeland and The Buzzcocks were such an  honor and surreal experience that I had to shake my head a few  times. It just gets better; lately, I have had the privilege of meeting  and interviewing Avenged Sevenfold, NOFX and most recently  Henry Rollins, just getting too weird!    POB.com: How has all of this changed your life?   I have always wanted to create a means to make a life out of  writing and publishing. Although we don't make much money,  PunkTV.ca has empowered me with the tools to do this.

Issue #5 – pg. 16  POB.com: When you first started how did you get the word  out?   Just like you. I started with the first interview, and then the second,  and the third. I tried to keep it fun and interesting, and got luck a  few times along the way. Also, wherever I could, I tried talking to  people in the business like you do, and it's also important to try and  find 'mentors' that will advise you along the way. For the record, I  am honored to be able to mentor anyone that asks for it as that was  offered to me at very early ages, and I still appreciate it to this day.

POB.com: You have interviewed some really big bands; did you  have a certain one that was your favorite?   Ya, I have a secret love for Avenged, always loved NOFX, talking to  the director Floria Sigismondi was an honor, Stewart Copeland  form The Police, there are so many... However, as a kid, I always old  issues of Rolling Stone magazine, and so getting to chat with Ben  Fong‐Torres, ex‐editor of the magazine that started rock and roll  journalism was an incredible honor.

POB.com: When you first started did you ever think it would  get this big, and did you ever just want to give up?   Yes, my soul mate is not such a strong believer in this since it loses  money every month, but she is slowly coming around. I never  wanted to give up, I am pretty pig headed when it comes to projects  that I believe in.

POB.com: What are some up coming goals you have for Punk  TV.ca?   New features require quite a bit of attention especially when you  have more than a few million hits per month. We are just about to  roll out a great new streaming video function plus more user  interactivity will be featured. Users will be able to comment more  on articles very soon and I plan to start a nationwide search for  PunkTV.ca VJ's... so heads up to any kids out there looking to  become a VJ!

POB.com: Out of everything you have done with Punk TV.ca,  what has been the most enjoyable?   Talking to you right now is quite an honor. Actually, it is all quite  surreal and since I don't take any of it for granted, I appreciate it  all.

Issue #5 – pg. 17

POB.com: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?   Owning a publishing empire with dozens of niche specific  magazines. Publishing my own books and having a legion of  minions working with us. Traveling around the world to interview  massive bands and hosting a TV show.

Issue #5 – pg. 18    POB.com: What sets you apart from any other "Punk/Music"  related business?   I have a lot of respect for the leaders in that specific genre. I love  Absolutepunk.net, and Revolver and AP, but I feel that we are very  content heavy and just have found a niche within our punk and  metal community. Kids seem to like it and I honestly just try and  keep it real, try to ask the same questions that we always do, and  just keep working really hard!    POB.com: You have done some major things with your  company, what would be some advice for someone trying to  follow in your footsteps?   Try and partner up with people that can supply you with great  content. Do things for labels, publicists and promoters. I always  look at business like this: "How can I make myself needed by that  company or industry?" So, if you can create traffic on your website  that can be a reason for labels to want to let you interview their  bands. Be kind. Be truthful, honest and most of all work hard. Hard  work beats out talent every time.    POB.com: How can people reach you guys if they would like to  know more?  www.PunkTV.ca   www.MySpace.com/punktv  www.MySpace.com/dixphotos  www.MyDocumentary.ca  My email is Dixon@punktv.ca !  Thanks guys, I wish you all the best!  Dix

Issue #5 – pg. 20

Solutions Interview

By: Alan Sternberg

PoB.com: First off, what is Solutions? Solution: well solution is the new bmx/skate shop that will be inside the new Just Ride skatepark. PoB.com: Who's running Solutions and the new Park? Solution: Solution is Justin Hardin and me Josh Orr/ Wombat or whatever you want to call me. The park is Brian Knopp and his wife. PoB.com: Where did the name come from? Solution: Man, coming up with a name was a hard thing to do. We had a few names that we liked, but nothing really felt right. Solution popped in my head one day and it seemed to fit what we are trying to do, so we went with it. PoB.com: I think one of the big questions is, when's the shop and park going to be done/ridable? Solution: As of today Feb. 7 we have painted the shop area. So there is still a lot of work to do, but we are getting closer. After we get the shop area all done, then we will start on the ramps. The ramps are

Issue #5 – pg. 21  going to take some time. Because there are going to be a lot of them. And Knopp goes a little crazy (which is a good thing). He just wants the ramps to be perfect.

PoB.com: Is there going to e a team and if so, who's going to be  on it?   Solution: Yeah we will have both a skate team and a bmx team.  Right now its still talk.     PoB.com: Is there a website or a way people can contact you?   Solution: No website yet. We do have a MySpace page just like most  of the world. solutionbmxskateshop     PoB.com: What companies or distributors are you going to  carry?   Solution: We are going to carry as much as we can. Too many to  name, but I can tell you that we will be carrying Etnies, E'S and  Emercia. If there is anything people think we should carry, hit us up  on MySpace and we will see what we can do.     PoB.com: Where are you located?   Solution: On north Wheeling in Muncie IN. You can't miss it!

Issue #5 – pg. 22  PoB.com: Could you give everyone out there an idea of what the park will look like? Solution: Oh man the ramps are going to be fun. It’s 2 times the size of the old park. Ramps on ramps /foam pit / skate section. Flow and lines is what this place will be. If anyone remembers the old Just Ride, it will be kind of the same, but way better. PoB.com: Any last words you'd like to share with anyone? Solution: First off I'd like to thank you, Alan for this interview. Also like to thank everyone for their support. And one more thing, there is a lot of work that goes into building something this big. So just give us time, it WILL be worth the wait. peace Josh

The Unseen

Issue #5 – pg. 23

By: Alan Sternberg

Photos from the Unseen’s MySpace

PoB.com: First off, would you introduce yourself, where you’re  from, and who else is in the band.   Mark: I’m Mark; I sing or try to haha. I’m from my moms vagina or I

Issue #5 – pg. 25    guess actually my fathers balls. Also in the band is: Jonny, Tripp,  Scott, and Pat.    PoB.com: How long has the band been together? How’d you all  come together?   Mark: We got together, fuck, like 13 years ago in high school. Tripp,  Scott, and I. We got Pat 4 years ago when his old band Vigilantes  broke up. And Jonny I’ve known for years.  We were in a band  together.     PoB.com: I’m sure as much as you’ve toured, you’ve got plenty  of crazy stories. Any that really standout that you’d like to tell?   Mark: A ton. I’d say my craziest was when my girl, our buddy  Throat, and I got the van we were driving ripped off. we were in  Arizona in the middle of no where.  It sucked, but we got the van  back because it broke down on the crooks haha.     PoB.com: Who has been your favorite group(s) to tour and/or  play with?   Mark: Mine? Hum. Sick of it All are great guys and awesome to  watch every night.     PoB.com: On a different note, where’d the name the Unseen  come from? Is there any deeper meaning to it that what’s  implied or is it just one that everyone liked?   Mark: Tripp and I found it in an old book.  The word sounded cool,  was not used, and seemed to have a few meanings that could relate  to a punk band.     PoB.com: In your opinion, what’s the punk scene like in Boston  right now?   Mark: I really don’t know.  I have been on tour for like 5 years so I  don’t get to many shows.  Most of the people I went to shows with, I  still see once in a while.  It’s odd I’m at that point in my life where  I’ll hang out with someone I used to go to shows with at there  house. Funny we used to drink behind buildings or in parks, now  it’s in a home. I guess that comes with growing up.

Issue #5 – pg. 26

PoB.com: What was it like when you were growing up?   Mark: It was a blast.  So many kids, close friends, and great bands  came through town; I used to book a lot of the punk gigs. Varukers,  Casualties, Conflict, Choking Victim, Aus Rotten, Funeral Dress, The  Pist.  I’d book em a gig then we would hang all weekend at  someone’s apt. or someone’s parent’s house if they were out of  town.   I remember we had a huge party with special duties at my buddy  Chainsaw’s parent’s house.  We ate like 500 bucks worth of the  Riley’s meat haha.

PoB.com: You’re working on a follow up to ‘05’s State of  Discontent. When will that be released?   Mark: June on Hellcat Records.  I’m psyched for it. It sounds way  better then State.  Some kids will probably bitch that it sounds too  professional.  That is something that always seems odd to me.  Not  being into a record because it sounds good?? I love Discharge but I  don’t want our new album to sound like an early Discharge  recording.

PoB.com: What’s been the motivation for the new album?   Mark: Well for me, it’s been to try and top the last record all  around. With me, I’m trying to come up with better lyrics that are  still relevant and also, I’m trying to improve my singing skills.   Mainly, I’m having

Issue #5 – pg. 27    fun and getting some anger out of my system.     PoB.com: You’ve released records on some pretty prominent  labels like: BYO, Punkcore, Rancid Records, and Hellcat. Has  the trip been surreal or has it seemed like the natural  progression of the business?   Mark: It’s both, I feel so fuckin lucky to be involved with the labels  that have worked with us.  I also feel it is a progression as you go  on, you keep trying new things.     PoB.com: According to the Vans Warped Tour website  (http://warpedtour.com/warpedtour/index.asp), you’re  playing the whole tour this year. Do you feel Warped Tour  offers something beneficial to the punk community?   Mark: Well to me, I like it because you get in front of more kids and  different kids that may never have seen The Unseen on their own. I  wasn’t born punk, I found punk.  I’d like to also help get new people  into bands like The Unseen and other smaller lesser known punk  bands.  Show’em there is more then bands like Fall Out Boy, and  Aiden.    PoB.com: What bands have you been listening to lately? Also,  what bands have been a major influence to you?   Mark: for me Blood for Blood, Sick of it All, Dissables also a ton of  older bands Varukers, Samhain, Misfits, Minor Threat   influences to many to list.     PoB.com: I love Scream Out on you’re last LP. Who writes the  lyrics or does the band write collectively?   Mark: as for lyrics, I write most of them.  I feel it’s easier and more  emotion goes into signing something I write. Tripp also writes  some lyrics.  He inked Weapons of Mass Deception, Never Go Home,  and a few others on the last album.  We also did about 3 songs for  this new album.  As for music, Scott writes a lot of the music. Tripp  also writes some songs. Then we all work on it as a band to get it  tight and tweaked it.

Issue #5 – pg. 28

PoB.com: Out of all the songs the Unseen has recorded, what’s  your personal favorite?

Issue #5 – pg. 29    Mark: Tough, I won’t pick a new one. So let’s see.   Live in Fear, off Anger and Truth or Fed‐Up off Explode     PoB.com: In your opinion, what was your big break?   Mark: I’m still waiting for it hahaha.  So far I’d say def signing to  Hellcat, it opened a ton of doors for us. Better distribution more  tour opportunities etc.     PoB.com: Where do you see the Unseen in five years?   Mark: I have no fuckin idea either broken up or still making  records.     PoB.com: Punk Rock and skating and bike riding have some  similar roots due to the all originated in the underground and  by misfits. Have any of you ever skated or rode bmx?   Mark: Not really, I dig all that stuff and think its amazing some of  the stuff that people can do but I never got into it.  When I was real  young, I rode dirt motorbikes, it was a blast but I stopped around  17 years old.     PoB.com: Other than the Unseen, what do you do in your spare  time? Does anyone have other side projects they’re working  on?   Mark: I don’t have much spare time.  I’m the asshole that deals with  the band work on a day to day basis.  Even when not on tour, I’m  writing words or dealing with planning tours, talking to the label,  etc.   I am working on a side project, no name yet.  It’s with my buddy  Ian.  He actually wrote 2 songs for the Unseen: Dead Weight Falls,  off State of Discontent and a new one called Left for Dead.  I’m  psyched because I like his style of music he writes.     PoB.com: I’d like to say thanks for your time and I guess this  time would be a good time to ask if you have any last words or  thanks?   Mark: I think emo is finally dying out woooooo.

Mark Pappas

Issue #5 – pg. 30

By: Alan Sternberg

Mark bump jumping.  Photo: John Burnham

PoB.com: Name, age, and hometown?   Mark: Mark Pappas, Indianapolis, 19     PoB.com: You've been getting some decent exposure lately.  I've seen pictures in BMX Plus, you had a bio in Ride, you're  going to have clips in the Cinnci video (From Nothing). Have  you noticed any difference in how people treat you now as  apposed to two or three years ago?   Mark: uhhh...not really. I just try to ride good and not worry about  things too much.     PoB.com: What do you have planned for the next year or so?   Mark: Try and stay healthy, work on some new tricks, get some  more ink done, lift weights, maybe go back to school, and I may try  to take a trip to London with Matt Sal.     PoB.com: Other than riding, what else do you to occupy your  spare time?   Mark: I do a lot of painting. I play guitar here and there when I feel  like it. I also try to pick up girls that are actually my age! hahahaha

Issue #5 – pg. 31

Hip table at Ollie’s Skatepark  Photo: Mark’s MySpace

Issue #5 – pg. 32    PoB.com: What influences you when it comes to both your art  and riding?   Mark: I have always enjoyed really creative riding. so anyone who  looks at things in a diff. way pushes me to be more creative.     i have always looked to Ruben and riders like KP and Aitken, Brian  Kachinski (I hope I spelled that right) Gerber was always pushing  me hard to ride well.     PoB.com: You’ve been listening to a lot of music that a lot of  people haven’t been exposed to. What are you listening to?   Mark: lately a lot of metal...i think just because it is winter. I don’t  really think of myself as a music buff, but i did spend a lot of time  and money at LUNA over the past few years.     PoB.com: You’ve been traveling a lot this past year or so.  What’s your favorite travel destination that you’ve been too?   Mark: Cinnci has been a lot of fun. the riders there are a lot of fun to  hang out with and they are super creative. i do try to travel as much  as i can.     PoB.com: Are you riding for anyone right now or are you just  doing things your way?   Mark: I am just chillin right now. i thought i might have had the  chance to be on Micreation but that kind of went away. i need to  send some footage out.     PoB.com: Who are your favorite people to ride with, shoot  with, and video tape with?   Mark: I used to film with Ryan Meijer a lot (hahaha I don’t know if I  spelled his last name right, I am a jerk!) me and him got a lot of  stuff done in the past few years. i like shooting with Matt Sal  because we both don’t really care if anything gets done, but we  usually get it done. Mullen films pretty good by the way.     PoB.com: Are you filming for anything right now?   Mark: From Nothing and random stuff at UV

Issue #5 – pg. 33

Mark street hop.  Photo: Matt Sal

PoB.com: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?   Mark: i hope i am still riding and hopefully killing it.     PoB.com: Any last words or thanks?   Mark: I would like to thank my parents for being awesome. I would  also like to thank all my friends I have had throughout the years. I’ll  also give a shout out to the higher power, whatever it is.     peace

Issue #5 – pg. 34  Life Force Studios                    Interview and Intro by: Joel Janiszyn   (photos provided by Joel)

I still remember the first time I ever met Jak. At the time, I had one tattoo that had been  done by someone else. I was ready for my next piece but I wasn't sure where to go. I had  just started college and met my girlfriend Meagan. She had a handful of tattoos already  and we talked about tattoos all of the time. I told her that I wanted to get a new piece  and she told me about Life Force Studios in Marion. I thought this was weird because I  have lived in Marion my whole life and had never heard of Life Force Studios before. I  took her word and took a trip to the studio one day after school. Trevor came with me  and we weren't sure what to expect.     I went in and met Jak and Josh the owners of the studio. It was like we instantly hit it off.  We were joking with each other the first day we met. I dropped off my drawing of a bike  chain that I wanted and set up an appointment.     I came back about a week later to get the tattoo that I had previously dropped off for  them to look at. I sat in the chair while he was tattooing me and while I was looking at  all of the random things on the walls like posters, pictures, certificates, etc...I seen a  framed picture of Mike Ness. I simply said "Oh, is that Mike Ness up there?" and I can't  remember exactly what Jak said but his reply let me know that Mike Ness is next to  Godliness to him. It all started at the moment I think.     That was over a year and a half ago. I still love to show up at the studio and even if I'm  not getting a new piece, I still love to just hang out in the basement with Jak and Josh  and just talk about whatever random things that our slightly tweaked brains can come  up with. I consider Jak to be a great friend and a great tattoo artist.     Here's an interview with Jak. Hopefully you can learn a little more about him, even if  you have met him already.

PoB.com: Just describe yourself to everyone, who exactly is  Jak?   Jak: Just a guy who tries to do the best he can with what he's got  and try to convince the rest of the world you need to have what he  has.

PoB.com: How did you fall into tattooing exactly?   Jak: That's exactly what it is, I fell into it. It chose me. I was on my  second hiatus from college. This was 1997. And some friends of  mine had a studio and I had been hanging out there in between  classes. I was going to Indy everyday and that was a good place to  hang out. I had a truck and one day they were moving from one  location to another location across the street. I had a truck and  when you have a truck and someone is moving you help them  move. I just never left, I started hanging out there even more and I  liked my job less and less. I

Issue #5 – pg. 35

met up with one of the owners, Brett Schlemmer's mentor, the guy  who taught him how to tattoo, and one night over coffee he was  looking over my sketchbooks i had and he asked me if I had ever  thought about doing tattoos. I had two tattoos at the time and I had  never even considered it you know, it was something I wasn't even  remotely interested in at the time. Being dubbed "old fashioned",  I'm not afraid to learn how to do anything and he's the one to teach  me. So he set me up with a line drawing and put a stencil on and  showed me how to put a line on myself and left me alone for two  and a half hours while I proceeded to carve a trench in my leg  [laughter]. The lesson behind that was, once you learn how to scar  you'll never do it again so it's better to do it on yourself. I tattooed  my best friend after that. I worked on my friends, saved up enough  money to buy my own equipment, quit my job, and I've been doing  it ever since.     That's when I was 29.     PoB.com: So what are your tattoo roots? Where all have you  worked?

Issue #5 – pg. 36  Jak: Sturgis, Michigan. I worked in Clearwater, Florida, Kendalville,  Kalamazoo, Muncie of course, Anderson. I started to travel the  metropolis that is Marion [laughter]. Pennsylvania, you know, just  different spots.     PoB.com: What would you say is the most meaningful tattoo  you've ever done on somebody?   Jak: The one that had the most meaning? Or affected me the most?   My mom's friend Becky.  She was a cancer survivor and she had a  mastectomy. They did a really good job of reconstructing it  afterwards with the implant and stuff like that. They did a tattoo of  the areola where the nipple should be. The pigment they used  faded away so she had one normal breast and the other one was  awkward. She always felt strange about it. It looked perfect but she  just felt bad about not having it there and she just wanted to do  something other than a brown ring. We talked about doing a smiley  face [laughter]. It ended up being a flower. For some reason it just  kind of ended up giving her life back to her, you know? It was like  she was complete again by having that done so that was....it wasn't  something that was done for someone who passed away or just  done to be cool, it was a part of her that was missing and it was like  I was giving it back to her.   I would have to say that one.

PoB.com: What do you enjoy the most about someone else's  tattoo ideas when they bring it to you? Is it their own  creativity or is them putting their own meaning behind a  certain picture?   Jak: Hmm, It's kind of an interactive thing. Like for me it's kind of  selfish. It's taking their idea and finding a way to bring it to life in a  way so when they are done they are as happy as if they had done it  themselves. It's just providing....it's like skipping a step, it's  providing a service that they can't do on their own. When they light  up and say "that’s exactly how I wanted it". It's great.

PoB.com: Not to toot your own horn, but what makes you  better than your average "Johnny with a tattoo machine"?   Jak: Well I don't know, there are a thousand guys out there that are  faster, better artists. I just take what I do very seriously. Like I've  said

Issue #5 – pg. 38  from the beginning, if  someone was not  happy with their  tattoo when I got  done I wouldn't do it  anymore, I would  quit. It's just because  it's like the old saying  "tattooing is not a  matter of life and  death, it's a little bit  more important than  that". I think it's just  throwing your heart  into every single piece  even if you don't like what they're doing, just do it to the best of  your ability so at the end you can't say that you didn't try your  hardest.

PoB.com: What are your biggest influences whether it be  music or different artists?   Jak: I think it's everything. It's just that whole as an artist you have  to take everything you experience as a life lesson. It's like if you're  not comfortable and the person isn't comfortable then it's not going  to work. It's like setting a mood. Music is important. Having  reference is also really important. A thousand comic books is going  to get you more art reference than a one thousand dollar art book.  It's all accomplishing. If the person is wearing sweats or leather  pants it’s just whether you can put them in their own comfortable  element. You've all been tattooed (Meagan and I) and you know if  your not comfortable with the person or if you're just not into it  that day you're not going to get experience with it. It's all those  things.

PoB.com: I'm sure you've asked this question to death, but I  have to ask it anyways, what is the weirdest tattoo you've ever  done?   Jak: I thought you were going to ask "Is this going to hurt?" as the  over asked question [laughter].

Issue #5 – pg. 39    Subject matter  or person?     PoB.com:  Subject matter.   Jak: I did this  Toxic Avenger  silhouette, a  green army  man,... I tattooed  two kids from  England  [referring to me  and some of my  friends]. That’s a  hard question  because  everything is  kind of strange  on its own. After  nine years it's  trying to roll  through and  remember  everything. I did  a Mayan black  tribal around a guy's navel. It had a tribal stem that went down  from his navel to....we'll say his stem? [laughter]. That one was  weird just because of the placement of it. Or I had a weird tattoo  because the guy was weird, he had the hiccups the whole through it  and the tattoo was on his stomach. It's just what people decide to  put on their bodies and it will be there forever, like the guy who got  the little carnival sign, like "this way to the Matter horn". It said  "You must be at least this tall to ride" on his hip. It was funny, we  were laughing the whole time. I don't know if he was into midgets  or just little people. [laughter].     PoB.com: What are the ups and downs of owning your own  studio

Issue #5 – pg. 40    rather than working in someone else's studio?   Jak: Well, most of the people who do tattoos have the luxury of...it's  more of a freedom thing. Say, if something goes wrong, like you  don't get along with your boss, you can just get up and go. When  you have your own place everything that happens, you are  responsible for, even if you didn't do the work. It's like if you work  for somebody you can show up when you want to, do whatever you  want to do, then you can go home and you don't have to worry  about your reputation, paying the rent, keeping the lights on,  liability insurance,... unlike the guy working out of his garage. It's  like all of the other stuff you have to do plus the work. All of the  non‐glamorous things like cleaning up your own mess, cleaning the  tubes, sterilization, bagging, scrubbing, taking out the  trash...sweeping the snow off of the sidewalk. Those are some  downfalls but the upside is if I want to listen to U.S. Bombs or Social  Distortion all day over and over again no one is going to tell me I  can't do it. It has its advantages.

Joel: What separates Life Force Studios from all of the other  studios out there?   Jak: Mostly just...we treat it like a job...a business, not just a lifestyle.

Issue #5 – pg. 41  We are thinking about the past today. You're creating a relationship  with people. Some people look at it as a form of income but you’re  making a permanent change to someone who is always going to carry  that with them. What we do in our kind of business affects not only  ourselves but the next guy. If someone before them comes in our door  and has a bad experience....say a guy went to Spokane, Washington  and the guy there had a bad day and was a jerk to somebody...this is  somebody who may have gotten a lot of tattoos and now can't enjoy a  lifestyle of being tattooed because they had one guy sour that  experience for them. They may never get another one, or their friends  may never get another one. The way we do things we think about how  it affects not only ourselves but those people. We think outside the  box, we think about longevity. We're nice to people.

PoB.com: It pretty much seems like you live here, but when  you're not at the studio what do you do in your free time?   Jak: Most of my free time is taken up by sleep. Letting my dog  out.....I live an extremely simple lifestyle. We easily work over three  hundred days a year. Sometimes seven days a week, mostly six  days a week. My free time is very, very, rare. It's mostly spent  working on the house...doing laundry. It's not very glamorous.  [laughter]

PoB.com: What advice would you have for anyone else  interested in doing tattoos?   Jak: Stay humble. Stay hungry. Mouth shut, eyes open. Learn as  much as you can. A lot of people start out thinking they are going to  be Omni James or Kat Von D. There are dues to pay. Every lesson  you skip is going to bite you later on because you’re just coming in.  No one wants to be an apprentice; everybody wants to be a tattoo  artist.

PoB.com: Who would you like to thank?   Jak: All the people who told me I couldn't do it. It's like back when I  was a D.J., everyone told me "you're never going to make any  money doing that". All the people that was down on me or made it  hard...I thank them because if it would have been easy I would have  just walked away from it because it was all given to me. I had to  earn everything. To all the people who were negative or tried to rip  me off...that just made me want it even more. All the bad stuff just  makes you stronger.

Issue #5 – pg. 42    Greg Labarbra,  Brent  Schlemmer...they  gave me a chance  when there was no  future in it  (tattooing). It turns  back to that whole  life lesson thing. I  made a lot of  mistakes but I  waked away from  them....luckily  [laughter].     PoB.com: Well to  sum things up, do  you have any last  words for anyone  at home reading  this right now?   Jak: Some things are  hard to walk away  from and bad decisions in this line of work are one of those things  you can't walk away from. Take your time, think about it. I guess in  the words of my mentor Scott Melchi, "If you don't feel like you can  go out to eat or have a beer after you're done getting tattooed,  maybe that’s not the person you want be" There's millions of us out  there doing it, but you know, you have to get it. You have to get  along with and trust this person. Trust your instincts.     To learn more about Jak, check out www.myspace.com/jakthe3rd  and www.lifeforcestuios.com

Issue #5 – pg. 43  13 Cats Interview

Interview by: Audra Beeman

POB.com: Would you please introduce yourselves?   Danny B. Harvey: guitar and occasional keyboards  Tim Polecat: Lead Vocals    missing from this interview is:    Smutty Smith: Stand up bass  Slim Jim Phantom: Drums and backing vocals    POB.com: Where are you guys from?   TIM: Danny B. is from Texas, Slim Jim fro Long Island, Smutty and I  are from London . .  DANNY B: but we’re all from the bad‐side of the tracks    POB.com: How did you get your start?  DANNY B: Smutty and I toured together for years in the 80?s  rockabilly band THE ROCKATS, Tim was in the POLECATS and

Issue #5 – pg. 44  was a good mate of mine when I lived in London as a teenager and of course Slim Jim was in the STRAY CATS and we all hung out together in the 80?s. TIM: In the mid 90?s Smutty, Danny and myself booked a gig at the grease bowl in San Francisco with Levi Dexter and when Slim Jim heard we were playing together asked us if he could play drums... . . It was the prefect ROCKABILLY combination and a super group was born . . hahaha DANNY B: We booked our first show for Friday the 13th December 1996 and worked everyday writing original songs and getting ready for our debut.

POB.com: How did you get the name "13 Cats"? DANNY B: There's a famous tattoo that old school Bikers used to get that showed a black cat sitting on the number 13. TIM: I think We’ve always considered 13 and black cats to be more in line with our personalities and lifestyles then good luck charms like four leaf clovers horseshoes... DANNY B: Unless you the horseshoe is hanging upside down. Tim is also a great artist and as soon as the name was decided upon he drew the 13 CATS logo which has become so widely copied and recognizable. .

Issue #5 – pg. 45  POB.com: What genre would you say you were? DANNY B: That’s a good question, we’ve been called rockabilly, psychobilly, garage, surf and even hard rock . . . TIM: I think Psychobilly is more up our alley, however if you listen to the 13 CATS you’ll see we’re not like any other band and all musical genres find their way into our music. You’re also finding cult film, Juvenile delinquent, S&M, bondage, car culture and horror themes into our lyrics. POB.com: How many years have you been in a band together? TIM: We were together from 1996 to 2000 then because of other projects we were involved in the band took a back-seat. I’ve been getting more into film making as well as doing reunion tours with my old band THE POLECATS, Danny and Slim Jim have a band with Lemmy from Motorhead called the HEAD CAT and have been really busy lately. DANNY B: I’ve also been touring with Nancy Sinatra the past few years, touring worldwide with the duo I have with Lynda Kay called THE LONESOME SPURS as well as composing the scores for films like ?THE RAGE: CARRIE II? and ?BETTIE PAGE, DARK ANGEL?. TIM: Slim Jim besides touring with Danny in the HEADCAT has been spotted in Europe touring with DEADMEN WALKING . . We’re a group of busy guys. . . POB.com: Where is your favorite place to play? TIM: LONDON or NEWE YORK CITY DANNY B:: FRANCE, NEW YORK and TEXAS (my home state).. POB.com: What are you listening to right now? TIM: Gene Vincent DANNY B: Johnny Cash POB.com: Are you signed with a label if not do you plan to? DANNY B: Our only studio CD was released on Cleopatra in the States and Raucous in the UK, if and when we record a new studio CD we’ll probably take it to different labels before deciding who to give it too.

Issue #5 – pg. 46  TIM: In the meantime there is three live CDs out as well as a live DVD. POB.com: How has music changed your life? DANNY B: Of course, it is my life TIM: Ditto POB.com: How many c.d.'s do you have out? TIM: One CD of studio cuts called “13 Tracks”, two live CDs released in Japan called “In The Beginning” and ?In the Beginning 2?, a live CD that was recently released in Europe called ?Live IN Las Vegas? and one DVD of that same concert. POB.com: How many shows would you say you have played? DANNY B: About 150 in total . . All in the States except for one tour of Japan POB.com: What is your favorite thing about being in a band? TIM: It’s a lifestyle and a brotherhood . . like a gang, you feel protected..

Issue #5 – pg. 47  POB.com: What made you decide you wanted to be in a band? DANNY B: Same reason Tim gave in the previous question TIM: as well as getting girls. . . hahaha POB.com: How did you meet your band members? DANNY B: We all seemed to arrive together in London at the same time in the 80s and have been great friends since. POB.com: Where do you see the "13 Cats" in 5 years? TIM: Hopefully playing more gigs and recording more new CDs . . DANNY B: Ditto POB.com: I love the way you guys sound, how would you describe that sound to someone that has never heard you? DANNY B: A Garage band trying to sing Elvis Presley songs while being drunk out of our minds, with all the amps turned to ?11? and a 60s porno film playing behind us . . . is that good? TIM: Link Wray meets the Sonics at a Gene Vincent concert . . POB.com: What sets you apart from any other band? DANNY B: How unique and original we are both musically and in our personality. TIM: That fact that we don’t imitate the 50s and use all our musical influences to create our song. POB.com: How can people reach you guys? http://mysapce.com/13cats http://myspace.com/dannybharvey http://myspace.com/timpolecat or email us at the13cats@earthlink.net

Issue #5 – pg. 48  Matt Watkins Interview:

by: Alan Sternberg

PoB.com: First off what's your name, age, hometown? Matt: My name is Matthew Allan Watkins, a.k.a. Watkins, Matt, FittyWat or whatever. I was born in Kokomo, IN. then moved to Naptown when I was 12. I have been residing in Muncie for 2 years. I am 20 years old and still kickin' PoB.com: How long have you been riding? Matt: I started out on dirt bikes and then I started riding mountain bikes around 10 when I saw these kickass downhill riders while I was riding trails one day. Ever since I have been hooked. At 15 I got my first BMX. PoB.com: How has your riding changed since coming to Muncie for school? Matt: Yeah a little. I don’t get to shred parks that often but it's alright because the street here in Muncie is sufficient. PoB.com: Who's your favorite people to ride with? Matt: I'll ride with anyone with a good attitude towards other people. I don’t like riding with people that talk shit to strangers and try to get attention. Recently I have been doing a lot of solo riding. Dale Richards, Randy Reynolds, Jordon Kingdon, Jesse Shelby, Sean Seacat and many many others. PoB.com: I know you used to ride with an iPod. Do you still ride with it and if so, what are you listening to? Matt: Yeah I usually do, it depends on my mood mostly. I listen to something with a lot of flow. Hip-hop, funk.

Issue #5 – pg. 49  PoB.com: What are your influences on and off your bikes? Matt: My friends influence and encourage me quite a bit. You know that feeling you get when pull something so smooth and dialed, that influences me the most. PoB.com: Other than riding and school, what do you do in your spare time? Matt: Listen to music and hang out at my house or my girlfriends place. I chill with Clark, my baby python. I play F.E.A.R. on an unhealthy basis. Watch movies and sports. Ride the Schwinn

PoB.com: You've got kind of a different style. Lots of speed, gaps, and flow on street. What lead you to that style riding instead of lots of tricks? Matt: I really don’t know. That I think about it i have always ridden like that. I guess it’s because I love to go fast, riding dirt-bikes and mountain bikes gets you used to cruising at high speeds. I used to bust my ass all

Issue #5 – pg. 50  day doing tricks but I realized that getting hurt is the worst ever. I wish I could still force myself down a rail or to extend a no-foot can over a roaster at the trails but I feel those days are long gone. PoB.com: What's your favorite thing to ride? Matt: I will ride anything. I have sessioned parking blocks for hours. Trails, Street, Park. I love how riding can be so unique and individualistic. PoB.com: What are your riding plans for 2007? Matt: Well when 2007 warms up I'll be on a bike everyday. PoB.com: If you could only ride one spot for the rest of your life, where would it be? Matt: Beech Grove trails (with a little work), the outdoor, downtown Indy. PoB.com: Lastly, what ever happened to Autumn’s Fall Clothing? Matt: It pretty much died off. We sold two batches of t-shirts then I had to resign due to college you can still check our site. Our video is still posted. PoB.com: Any thanks or last words? Matt: I want to thank max miller, A-1 Cyclery, everyone that ever hooked me up with parts over the years, my parents. Keep rollin'...

Issue #5 – pg. 51  Behind the Band and Ramp Jam:

by: Joel Janiszyn

Here's a very large chunk of everything going through my brain about band and  ramp jam. I have the history laid completely out. Right now I'm working on "Fun  facts and crazy stories". I figure the whole history of everything is a good start  and you can probably put it to use. I would have had the entire thing done last  night but the tattoo studio wanted me to get on the red cross site and become  certified on handling blood and preventing blood borne diseases. It took forever  so i didn't have the chance to finish everything. Still, this should be of use to you.  I'll have a rest done really soon. Tell me what you think.

‐Joel

"I can't believe this thing is still going on!" ‐ As Told By Joel Janiszyn

Infancy   ________________________

The history of Band and Ramp Jam kind of started by accident in a way. The year  was 2000 and Trevor and I were just shitty little kids that would ride bikes all  day and into the night. We had a small ramp set up compared to what we have  today. It was a quarter pipe and box jump set up like we have now, only scaled  way down. The tranny was terrible and there was hardly a deck on the quarter,  not to mention there was no coping. We still rode it constantly though. We'd  have tons of friends from all over the place come and ride and skate it. We would  just all ride and have the best time it seemed like. We were in Junior high at the  time; it couldn't have been past 7th grade. We had a lot of friends that were in  bands at the time. They too were in Junior high and a few might have been  freshman in high school. They were always trying to land gigs and because of  their age, couldn't play many places besides school auditoriums and community  centers. I can't remember exactly who pitched the idea of making a day where  some bands came over and played while everyone rode and skated. I thought it  would be a one time thing and everyone would forget about it. We agreed to do  it.     If I remember correctly it was in the middle of summer. We "advertised" for  maybe a week prior to the first one. There weren’t even any flyers or anything,  just word of mouth. I came up with the name "Band and Ramp Jam". It wasn't  very catchy, but fuck it...it was named after what it was...bands and ramps...in a  jam format. Just a time where everyone did their own thing and had a good time  doing it. Anyways, I think the bands included "Slow Children At Play" (who  Trevor was drumming for), and Kummode (headed by the late Counter‐Coulter  Unity's Joe Savarino). Anyways, we actually had a decent turn out. Around 50 or  so kids showed up and had fun. This thing was just a party more or less. There  was no real set up to it the way it is today.     Anyways, after all was said and done, I went to bed that night happy that nothing

Issue #5 – pg. 52    sketchy happened and everyone had fun. I didn't think anything more about it. It  was strange though because the next year around the time where we got out of  school for the summer everyone started asking "When's the next jam?" Everyone  seemed to actually show an interest in it. I was hesitant to keep it going but after  some deciding with Trevor we figured we'd do it again. It just grew from there.  Everyone just kept asking and asking when the next one was, and now it is to the  point where it is an expected thing. I never thought it would grow to that point.     The Early Years   ____________________________     Like clockwork it just started to happen every year. We had the same shitty ramp  set up until year number 4 actually. Still, everyone wanted to come ride our  sketchy ramps and whatever other obstacles we could find to ride. (Some extra  "ramps" included sheets of metal arranged into a launch ramp, a 2 foot "box  jump" made out of an old chicken coop, and a box with an angle iron screwed to  it to grind on.) We still had no real set up to the whole thing. Everyone just came,  rode, watched the bands, and went home. We were also starting to gain a  reputation for planning the Jam on the rainiest day of the year. At this point, 2  out of 3 of our jams had rained the entire time. And not just rain, but POURING  rain. Much to our surprise though, no one left. Instead, everyone just was doing  belling slides through puddles and riding and skating in the storm outside.     It was around year number three when we realized that we attracted  very...."strange" people. Our first real encounter was the homeless tuba guy. It is  still just the strangest thing to me; I'll talk more about this guy later on.     Year number 3 was also our first year that we had flyers. As far as I know there is  only one original year 3 flyer in existence and I have it in my room (and oddly  enough) cherish it. The flyer wasn't very pretty to look at. Our friend Joe  Savarino made it with a little help from me. I still remember him making during a  publications class that I had with him. He would just tear random things out of  magazines and paste it to a paper (much like how we do it today). He told me he  would go make copies of it at the hospital he worked at. He made the copies but  got caught doing it. I think he actually lost his job for it!     That was kind of the changing point for Band and Ramp Jam. After year #3 we  decided to try out some new things. Like everything else in band and ramp jam  history, it somehow caught on.     The New and Improved Band and Ramp Jam   ____________________________________     Year four was our year to really make it ours. Every year prior, since there was  no real planning to it, everyone who came kind of made it what they wanted. We  liked that everyone made it "theirs", but we started this thing, and we wanted to  make sure

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Issue #5 – pg. 54    it was truly in our hands. From that year on we started to do it all ourselves. We  made flyers, we actually planned the format of how the jam would go, and we  even started to feature some of those weird little "attractions" that Band and  Ramp Jam has became famous for.     Trevor and I made the flyers for year 4 and that particular flyer still seems to be  the favorite of all of the flyers we have ever had. It featured a mug shot of me and  Trevor with a black "censored bar" over our eyes with the caption "BARJ  Founding Father" below the picture.     Our first strange "attraction" took place at that jam. My little brother had a friend  named Clay. Clay was this fat, goofy little kid that was just some kid who hung  around my house. I ended up talking him into doing a "Clay the Amazing Dancing  Boy" routine at year number 4 and he agreed to do it.     Year number 4, like almost every other year, had terrible weather. The second I  woke up that morning I thought "Fuck, not again". The sky was just a nasty  terrible color and I knew it was going to be terrible. But, we held the jam  anyways and even had a van full of bmx kids from Michigan drive all the way  down for this thing. Of course 30 minutes after they began riding, the rain  started to pour. It was raining so hard no one could ride or skate, let alone plug  in their amps and play music. What ended up happening was this: Me and Trevor  had a big stack of plywood sitting in the garage that we were going to use to  repair the ramp with after the jam. We decided to plug in the bands under the  carport connected to my garage, and to set up the plywood on all sides of the  carport to make something comparable to a big room. Well, that’s what we did,  and it was crazy. We crammed 50‐70 kids into this tiny little space with the  bands playing at full volume. It was insane, but actually work and everyone still  had fun. About 2 hours or so of staying in this deafening, tiny, little room, the sun  started to come out and shine. The weather warmed right up, the sun was  shining, everything was starting to get better. And since the weather had became  beautiful in just the blink of an eye it seemed, I prodded Clay to go out there and  do his Dancing Boy routine. He was hesitant but I made him do it anyways  (because I’m a harassed boss to work for, haha). I pushed him out the door and  he started nervously walking to the big crowd that awaited him. He was wearing  a little top hat with a huge ceramic flower sticking out of the top and had a super  tight little white t‐shirt on with a rainbow I drew on it that said "Clay the  Amazing Dancing Boy". He walked up to the audience and just froze. I started  barking at him to "DO THE DANCE!" DO THE DANCE!". He sat down his little  boom box and plugged it in. He stood their seemingly terrified while waiting for  the song to start. The song finally started which was "The Whole World" by  Outkast. He just started to dance. He danced, and kicked, and jumped, and  everyone was holding their sides they were laughing so hard. The thing I forgot  to tell Clay was, the song was about six and half minutes. He danced through the  whole thing, gasping for air, and dripping sweat everywhere. He still did an  impressive job and I still laugh my ass off every time I think about it.

Issue #5 – pg. 55    Band and Ramp Jam 4 went really well, minus the shitty weather at the  beginning. We (just like the audience) were already looking forward to Band and  Ramp Jam 5.     Half of a Decade!?   ___________________________________     Year number 5. I still can't believe we did that. By far the best year we ever had.  There was so much going on it was insane.     We started many things that at the time was "new" to band and ramp jam but  has now shaped what band and ramp jam is known for. We started to sell our  own merchandise including D.I.Y. t‐shirts, patches, CD booklets, and a ton of  other stuff. We also had a pool of popcorn which is still one of the weirdest ideas  I've ever came up with (not to mention the messiest). We also had a mascot that  year which was a huge chicken running around reeking havoc. The most  important concept though, was that of doing an intro to officially kick off the jam.

Trevor and I always just did piddle little speeches before. "Thanks for coming, I  hope you have fun". Blah blah blah. We decided we wanted to do something that  would grab the audience by the balls, so to speak. We tossed around a ton of  ideas, but settled on the 3‐wheeler intro.

The intro was set up like this. Next to the ramps is my pop's big workshop. We  opened up the garage door and sealed the entrance with empty boxes. Trevor  spray painted a huge mural on the boxes so it looked just like a graffiti wall or big  banner to take everyone's attention away from it. The intro started with having  someone read an intro that Trevor and I wrote together. The whole time the  audience was focusing on the reader, we were in the shop with a little three‐ wheeler sitting on top of a launch ramp so we could get enough speed to break  through the wall. We engine kept stalling and we started to panic. It was almost  to the point of the story where we came out, but we still couldn't get the thing to  run. Literally, about 10 seconds before our cue to exit, the motor fired up, he  hopped on the three‐wheeler (Trevor driving and me on the back), went  barreling down the ramp, and broke through the wall...all the while wearing  suits, sunglasses, and smoking a cigar. We made our first "big" speech and will  continue to make one every year that band and ramp jam lives.

We actually had "real" bands play that year. Ingsoc (the first time we ever heard  of them) played and everyone loved them. Our friends "The Displeased" played,  and of course, it was Counter Culture Unity's final show which was wrapped up  by having the singer jump off of a roof and land in a shallow pool of popcorn.

Everything went according to plan even better than we had hoped. I think year 5  just made us hungry for more. Now we are always trying to improve. Whether it  be new ramps, more merchandise, better bands, new sponsors, we're always in  the market to make it bigger and even more unforgettable.

Issue #5 – pg. 56    Back to our roots?   ________________________     Year six was our most recent Jam. I love the Band and Ramp Jam and I have  treated it like a child for the 6 years it has been in existence but year 6...was just  watered down. We had big plans but they just didn't unfold how we had hoped.  The first problem was that Trevor and I had been really busy the whole year. I  was in college, Trevor started a full time engineering job, and we were trying to  juggle all of that while taking care of our British friends who were living with us  for a month or so. Since we were so busy the date just kept getting pushed back  further and further. We eventually settled on a date of the last Saturday in  October (not a good idea). We knew it would be cold and nasty but we had no  choice. The show must go on as they say...Well, the weather was terrible. Frigid  and ungodly windy. I can't stress enough how terrible the wind was. Trevor and I  was carrying a sheet of plywood and the wind caught hold of it and almost  carried us across the yard. The turnout was rather disappointing too. We had a  small crowd of probably around 50 kids. It just felt like first or second band and  ramp jam all over again. Small crowd, and just havoc and chaos. Riding was  unbearable because of the wind and everyone was miserable. We had to actually  set up burning barrels so everyone could huddle around it and keep warm.     Our intro was pretty funny though. We set it up as an old school magic show. The  magician was played by Fairy Pie (who played the chicken mascot the year  before). We ended up making a mixture of everything that makes up a Band and  Ramp Jam host (some of the ingredients included unfunny jokes, bicycle parts,  and a bottle of sexy?). We "magically" appeared inside the box and it actually  went a lot smoother than we had thought it would. Our speech was of normal  cheesiness and everyone seemed to enjoy it (keyword: seemed).     I don't know...I hate to speak ill of any band and ramp jam moment but it just  wasn't what we had expected. I would like to say though, that we had some really  good sponsors who helped everything be not so terrible. Our good friends at Life  Force Studios helped us out a ton. I seriously can't thank them enough, you guys  rule. A local discount grocery store called "The Food Cupboard" donated a crazy  amount of food and drinks. Thanks everybody.     The bands actually had a positive attitude despite the weather. We had Ingsoc  return and everyone loved them once again. We had a new band play called  "Epta", it's not what we're used to but it was still cool of them to come and play  anyways. The Displeased also made another appearance only this time, they  were minus a drummer. They somehow coaxed Trevor into drumming for them  which was hysterical to watch. Trevor didn't know the beat or stops or anything.  He'd just keep one steady beat the whole way through and when the song was  over he'd still be drumming because he didn't know when the song ended.     Not our best year but it was still amazing to see everyone who braved the  weather to

Issue #5 – pg. 57  come support Band and Ramp Jam. Thanks to everyone who came out year 6,  you guys are seriously amazing. We just really want to make it up to everyone  this upcoming year. We want it to be a thousand times better than it's ever been.  Looks like we have a shit ton of planning to do....

What makes the Band and Ramp Jam Possible?   _____________________________

Me and Trevor to make things simple. That’s the main drive behind everything. It  sounds stupid to say, but there is actually a TON of work that goes into making  this freak show happen every year. We plan the whole thing, repair the ramps,  build new ramps, make the flyers, book the bands, book extra "gigs", make the  merchandise, try to organize sponsors, and of course, just get everything set up  in general. We have this inside joke that we sit around on our asses until the  night before Band and Ramp Jam and then we stay up all night trying to get  everything done. It's absolutely true. We didn't even have our "Magic box" done  last year until the night before...well actually, the morning of (we built the box in  my living room and after it was done we discovered that it was too big to fit out  the door of the house so we had to dismantle it and rebuild it in the morning!).  Somehow though, we still manage to get everything in order.

Our sponsors really help out a ton too. While me and Trevor hammer out the  details, our sponsors help supply us with things we need to make everything go  smoothly. It makes me feel so good to have people actually go out of their way to  help us out with this thing. Not to toot my own horn but Band and Ramp Jam  really does deserve sponsors. The Band and Ramp Jam is about one thing, and  that’s fun. We just want people to ride, play, and enjoy themselves. Trevor and I  don't make a penny off of donations or sponsorships. It all goes back into the  ramps, and supplies and merchandise for the next year. It's a really good feeling  to know that there are people out there that recognize band and ramp jam as a  good thing to be a part of. We're not making money, we're not peddling anything,  we're not trying to get a message across to everyone or shove anything down  anyone's throats, just fun.

What About All That "Weird Stuff"   ________________________________

Like I said before, we seem to attract very..."odd" characters to Band and Ramp  Jam. Even if there are no weirdoes to come stir things up, something still seems  to happen regardless. I'll list some of the things that still make us laugh to this  day.

‐The homeless tuba guy. This was year 3 or 4 and everything was going  smoothly. Half way through, a sketchy car filled to the ceiling with garbage pulls  over on the middle of the highway. He asks someone near if he can skate and  they told him yes. I guess we assumed it was just some grimy skateboarder who  wanted to come session for a few minutes. We were wrong. A tall, lanky, old man  (probably early 50's) steps out of the car with his tattered clothing and wild  stringy hair blowing in the wind.

Issue #5 – pg. 58    He straps on some cheap old rollerblades that were falling apart and he began  skating in circles in the driveway. The whole crowd just went dead silent. No one  knew what was going on. He then returned to his car and opened up his trunk  while the whole crowd was silently watching him. He pulls out a banged up, full  size tuba and tosses it up on his shoulder and here he goes again. Now he's  skating in circles while playing a tuba. The only sound being made besides the  tuba was nervous laughter. He finally spoke and said "does anyone have a song  request?" Someone yelled "KORN!!!!" just to get under the guys skin but he  shrugged it off, replied with an "I don't know that one" and started playing  "When the Saints Go Marching In" for the 30th time. After a few more minutes of  that, he dropped his tuba and skated over to a microphone and began yelling  about Jesus. "In Heaven there are ramps WWAAAAAYYYY HIIIIGGGGHHH" this  nut job was screaming at everyone. He was able to preach for a few more  seconds before my dad threatened to beat him to death if he didn't leave. That  was the end of that. No one knows who he is, where he came from, or where he  went. It was still a classic moment for sure.     ‐How about the story of an abducted child? On the morning of Band and Ramp  Jam four I am awoken by the sound of a helicopter. This sound was LOUD and  sounded like it was right outside my window. Sure enough, I look outside and  there IS a helicopter hovering about 20 feet about my house. I could already tell  that this was going to go well. I shuffle downstairs and there is about 7 or 8  sheriff cars in my driveway. These cops are interrogating my parents when I  come downstairs and I have no idea what is going on. They ask me "Do you know  Luke Lines?" I say "No, never heard of him, why?" They proceed to explain to me  that a teenage kid by the name of Luke left his house the day before claiming that  he was going to ride his moped to Band and Ramp Jam. Already a couple things  didn't make since. For one, this kid lived about an hours car drive away, and he  was going to ride his moped here? And Two, why would this kid leave the day  before the event even began. Nothing was adding up. The cops finally took off to  pass out "missing child" flyers and would stop by every hour or so during the  jam to see if he arrived. It turned out that a few days after Band and Ramp Jam,  the police obtained a surveillance tape of him boarding a bus in Indianapolis  towards Chicago or something like that, he just used Band and Ramp Jam as a  smoke screen to buy him some time. Needless to say, we got some publicity that  year, that's for sure.     For the year 5 Band and Ramp Jam flyer, Trevor and I actually did a satire of the  whole situation. The flyer included a search helicopter and a milk carton with a  missing child picture on it.

Issue #5 – pg. 59    Out of the Dog House:

by: Alan Sternberg

I’m writing this article for one, because I need to vent, two to give  an example of why bureaucrats in general suck.  It all started when I get a  phone call from my roommate/brother‐in‐law at 8:00am one morning.   He informs me that my dog had run off within the last 20 min.  I was  across town at my fiancés’ apartment and started to head back across  town when I get another phone call.  At 8:15am, the pound calls to tell me  they had my dog.  This was his 3rd time in because people fuck with him  and cut his cable.   I asked how much it would be and they quoted me  $35.00.     At this point, I need to step back to the last time(s) he was in the  “joint.”  The 2nd time he was micro chipped so if he returned, his file  would be brought up.  This included my phone number, violations, he had  had, vaccination records, etc…  They charged me for the chip and putting  it in without my consent.  Grudgingly I paid it, thinking, it was kind of a  good idea.      Returning to the current situation, I went to the store to get a new  tie out.  I had $47.00 in my pocket.  The tie out cost $5.00 and I was left  with $42.00.  Plenty to pay the $35.00 fee right?  Wrong, I drive across  town and get to the pound around 9:00am.  I get in the door and this  woman throws a ton of attitude about how they don’t open until 9:30.  I  tell her about the phone a call, how they told me I could come then and  that I had a class at 9:30 and couldn’t wait.  Finally she decides to start  with the paperwork.      Thinking everything was on file, I didn’t bring his rabies’ shot  papers (he’s tagged as having his shots with a number that they can  check).  The lady asked if I had the papers with me and I explained they  should be on file from last time.  I had gotten a ticket for not having them  the time before.  As if someone had hit this woman in the side of the head,  she had no idea he had been in before.  At this point, I’m pissed.  They  didn’t know he had his shots, that he had priors, and they forced me to  pay for this chip that didn’t do what they said it would.  I asked how much  it’d be and the lady informed me that it would be $45.00.  I explained I  only had $42.00.  She started to get upset and says, “Sir, I only do  paperwork.  We are only charging you the price for a second offence and  we are actually helping you out!”  I told her, “No, you’d told me it would  be $35.00.  You misquoted me and now I don’t have enough because of  you!”  Again she assures me that she only does paper work.  This goes  back and forth until the supervisor comes over to say the same thing.      Clearly they could have taken it because they were charging me  for 2nd offence even though they wrote 3rd on the paperwork.  I couldn’t  wait anymore because I had a class.

Issue #5 – pg. 60      Finally I just walk out.  I quickly turn around and ask where the  nearest ATM was.  It was in a shady part of town and it took over a ½ hour to  find an ATM that wasn’t empty, broke, or ripped out of the building.  Finally I  get back to the pound.  I pay the fee and she writes a fucking ticket.  I asked,  “What’s the ticket for?”  She then tells me I have a “running at large  violation.”    At this point I’m really pissed.  This is the 3rd time I’ve been in and  this is the first time I’ve heard about it.  No warnings or anything.  I sit there  watching her as she fills out the ticket and she says to me, “The officer that  picked him up is issuing the ticket.”  At this time, I watch her sign the ticket  Jennifer something.  Thinking it was funny she was singing it when the  officer that picked him up issued it (remember, she ONLY does paperwork).   I grudgingly asked for a note for class.  She writes one and signs it Julie.    What the hell.  Since when can you forge anything, let alone tickets?  I  asked a cop that frequents the gas station I work at and the told me he didn’t  think it was right either.    So now I’m going to court for “running at large” because someone cut  my dog’s cable and I got shitty with the lady.  Because Julie or Jennifer, or  whoever got on a power trip.  A month goes by and I’m sitting in a courtroom  to decide if I want to pay the ticket or have a trial.  Of course I pick a trial  because I didn’t do anything wrong.  My court date’s a month later.  The fine  in Muncie is $184.00.  Damn!    A day after I go to court, we get our fence done that we’d been  working on to prevent this because a 4th offence you don’t get your dog back.   Anyways we get the fence done and my dog is on his tie out.  I know he’s  gotten off before by lodging his tooth into the clasp and letting himself off so  I tape it so that doesn’t happen.  I come home and the rope that held the  fence gate shut (the lock hadn’t been put on yet) was cut along with the tape  that had been on his tie out and he was gone.  The day before my sister’s  dogs had been let out of their pin but someone returned them luckily.      Well we called the police and made a report.  We did the “good  citizen’s” thing and made a report.  We went to the pound Monday morning  to see if he was there after another shitty encounter with them on the phone.   He wasn’t there.  Not an hour later and I get a phone call saying they have  him.  Since one of the times they did not have on record, it was officially his  third violation.  I drive back across town to find out they called on their lunch  break and I’d have to wait an hour.  I dick around come back and realize my  checkbook is at home.      Eventually I get back with money and the argument picks up again.   They force me to sign a paper saying if the dog is “running at large” again  that I wouldn’t get him back.  I argue again saying that I didn’t violate the  “running at large” charge because I didn’t let him run off (the way the

Issue #5 – pg. 61    ordinance is written, it says if you allow, let, etc… that you are in  violation).  Since I had a fence up, a tie out on him, and was a victim of  vandalism, I was not in violation of the ordinance.  More arguing about  how I’m wrong and how it’s all my fault ensues until they tell me that  unless I have video proof of someone letting him off, next time I won’t get  him back.      Fuck bureaucrats!  This dumb shit comes about because

they think they are someone.  Because they can issue a little  ticket and ruin your day.  That’s not real power, that’s shit  people with real power cast out on the masses to turn them on  themselves.  These bitches would be a lot more understanding  if they were in my shoes.  They didn’t dare write me a ticket  this time because I was armed with the knowledge of what the  ordinance says.  This knowledge allowed me to do something  that they hate.  For once I started to beat them at there own  game.  There is no reason to respect these people.  They were  not saving lives or protecting me from anything.  Instead, they  have robbed me of hard earned money on four separate  occasions now (none of which have been my fault).  They  dread me coming in because I argue so much with the girls at  the front desk that every time they bring one of the big guys  from the back to be an intimidating force.  They always seem  shocked when I don’t back down at a moments notice.   Penalties and intimidation is their main tactics in forcing the  masses to conform.  FUCK THEM!  Don’t let bureaucrats win.   Don’t let them turn our kind against us.  Fuck bureaucrats,  they’re traitors to the working class.

Issue #5 – pg. 62

Photos:

Jordan Stark turndown air at OXP  Photo: Alan Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 63

Jeremy Lackey turndown the first set at the Stark’s  Photo: Alan Sternberg

David Grant rail hop  Photo: Alan Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 64

Nick Carunchia up rail in the dark at the Anderson park  Photo: Alan Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 65

Jarron Freed tiny launch to pick nick table nose manual  Photo: Alan Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 66

Adam Strieby opposite tailwhip at sunset  Photo: Alan Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 67

Danny Rumple big 360 over the 18ft. double at the Stark’s  Photo: Alan Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 68

Joey “Whitesnake” Marks floats over a double  Photo: Alan Sternberg      Nick Carunchia  barspin 180 over  the euro gap in  Anderson    Photo: Alan  Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 69

Joey Ross smith at BSU  Photo: Alan Sternberg

Issue #5 – pg. 70

Reviews:

A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich   (Book)              by: Alan Sternberg  A Rebel Life is a book written about an ex‐punker and his thoughts for  three days following his brother’s death from a Heroin OD.  A somewhat  complex theory of how the lower‐class does not have the same choices as  the rich and are lead into drugs and dead‐end jobs is expressed  throughout.  It is because of this theory that the author concludes that his  brother’s death is actually the rich murdering the poor.  I personally  loved it.  Check it out (available through Amazon).   10/10    YCKMD: Issue 8  (Zine)                  by: Alan Sternberg  So if you haven’t figured out by now, Sybilla and I are friends.  I write for  here and she helps out here too.  Youth Culture Killed My Dog is her baby.   I’ve loved some issues and hated some.  This issue seems to be lacking  something.  There are several articles that I just didn’t know what to  think about.  One that really stuck out was about 9/11.  This one pissed  me off a lot because it seemed very biased and like it was copied off some  9/11 truth site.  In fact, I think it even said to check one at the end.  There  was a lot of good too.  Sybilla always has good interviews with local  bands.  Issue 8 seems to be a coming of age issue and I can’t wait ‘til Issue  9.  6/10    Naptown BMX: Issue 2  (Zine)                  by: Alan  Sternberg  This one is old but the only BMX zine that I have.  (other than Issue 1)   This was Chris Castle’s baby from 03‐04.  This issue contains a mini‐trip  write up, a day at the track, a couple other things, and a spot review of  some of Indy’s popular spots.  There was some drama over it and  ultimately the drama and Chris’s busy busy schedule forced Issue 2 to be  the last issue.  There was some talk of bringing Naptown back as  Kickstand BMX (which ultimately lead to the creation of Team BMX and  now Punks on Bikes).  Without Naptown, this zine would have never  come to be.  Chris, I’m still waiting for Issue 3.  6/10

Issue #5 – pg. 71    Bad Brains  "Banned in D.C.: Bad Brains Greatest Riffs"         by: Joel  Janiszyn  I've been a fan of Bad Brains for a long time now and when I found their greatest  hits collection I was beyond excited. The cool thing about this album (like most  Greatest Hits albums) is that there are songs from every album they have ever  put out. It almost like you can sample each record they've ever recorded. The  first track "Pay to Cum" really paints a picture of who Bad Brains are; loud, fast,  and really quite clean with their instruments and vocals. The last 6 or so songs is  nothing but reggae which I'm not a big fan of. Don't get me wrong, I love reggae  influenced music but straight reggae just isn't for me. I wouldn't pass this up.   8/10     T.S.O.L.  "Revenge"                  by: Joel Janiszyn  I found this CD for $5.99 in the used music bin at the local music store. I figured it  was worth a shot since it was only 6 bucks so I picked it up. Revenge is the album  that was the turning point for TSOL. This was the transition where they started  to turn into a "Goth" rock type of style. They lost a lot of fans and I can see why. I  love older TSOL but Revenge was kind of hard to swallow. Everything just seems  so slow and watered down. The last track "Everybody’s a Cop" is amazing  though, it reminds me of their salad days with a little bit of their new style mixed  in. If you only know and love TSOL by only their "Dance With Me" and  "Disappear" days then album probably wouldn't be your cup of tea.   4/10

The Terribles: Banned for Life              by: Alan  Sternberg  If you’ve never heard of the Terribles, they’re from PA and are worth a listen.   Banned for Life is the Terribles new album.  The band seems to have an older  punk feel.  Their maturity shows in their acoustic songs and in slightly political  songs like Working Class Hero.    Banned for Life seems to almost be a melodic  but still aggressive tribute to punk’s Hardcore days.  Check it out when it comes  out this summer.  7/10    Discharge  "Never Again"                by: Joel Janiszyn  This was a gift to me and I was excited to finally own a discharge album. They are  legendary for being one of the pioneering bands of anarchy punk up there with  Crass. The album is pretty good, but nothing to get me wound up about. Almost  every song is good, but there are few "stand out in the crowd" songs. The song  "Ignorance" is by far their best work though. They've inspired a plethora of  bands of different genres, rumor has it that Metallica claim Discharge as one of  their biggest influences? Hmm. If you’re into collecting music for the sake of  having some big names in punk rock, pick it up. If you’re just into having  something to listen to, I'd sample them before I bought their CD.   6/10

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