Mr. T Experience
From Blow #1
Blow: When did the band form and why?
Aaron: The band formed in 1986. Actually, I wasn't there since I just joined the band about a year and a half ago. But I can guess the reason they formed it is about the same as the reason I joined it: to improve the overall moral character of humanity through the spiritual strength embodies in our music. No, really we're just trying to relieve the boredom of our daily lives by jumping around in front of lots of people and making loud noises. Surprisingly enough it actually seems to work.
Blow: List names/ages/instruments of members.
Aaron: Dr. Frank: guitar/singing, 25, Jon Von: guitar?/singing?, 28, Alex (Puss): drums, 19, Aaron: bass, 22 (Byron played bass through the "Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood" EP)
Blow: What music do you listen to? Who influences you?
Aaron: Of course we listen to the Ramones, Dickies, etc. But what we really love is classic rock like Rick Derringer and Steve Miller. We also rarely leave home without Blue Oyster Cult's "Tyranny and Mutation" LP. Actually, our main influences are not musical, but from TV. We all yearn for the halcyon days of the Brady Bunch, the Partridge Family, Nanny and the professor. Our current favorite is American Gladiators.
Blow: Why Mr. T Experience?
Aaron: Again, I wasn't there when they named it, but Frank always says that at the time there were Mr. T TV shows, cartoons, breakfast cereals, underwear, toys, etc. He just thought there should be a Mr. T punk rock band, too.
Blow: Did Mr. T object at all?
Aaron: As far as we know, Mr. T, like most of the world, is blissfully unaware of our existence.
Blow: Is your area scene cool?
Aaron: Our area scene is pretty cool. There are lots of bands, and Gilman Street is still having shows every weekend.
Blow: Who do you enjoy playing with gig-wise?
Aaron: Some of our favorite local bands to play with are Green Day and Samiam. We also like to go down to Los Angeles to play with bands like the Creamers and the Lazy Cowgirls.
Blow: When was MTX's first show?
Aaron: I think they told me their first show was at a battle of the bands at Alex's high school.
Blow: List all demos, records, compilations and zines you're on or in?
Aaron: First LP, released 1986 on Disorder Records, "Everyone's Entitled to Their Own Opinion." Now out of print. (Reissued by Lookout! since the interview). Second LP, released on Rough Trade, "Nightshift at the Thrill Factory." Seven-song 12-inch EP on Rough Trade, "Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood." 7-inch single on Lookout!, "So Long Sucker" b/w "Zero." "Boredom Zone" cut on "The Thing That Ate Floyd" compilation on Lookout! "Psycho Girl" cut on the "Make the Collector Nerd Sweat" 10-inch compilation on Very Small Records. "Flying Jelly Attack" cut on the "Every Band Has a Shonen Knife That Loves Them" compilation on Giant Records.
Blow: What are your songs about?
Aaron: Frank writes most of the songs. He says they are about TV, girls, his boring life and the various relations between those topics.
Blow: Any political opinions?
Aaron: We are all firmly committed to not being firmly committed. Except Alex, who definitely should be committed.
Blow: Organizations you guys belong to? (Greenpeace, PETA, Boy Scouts?)
Aaron: We wouldn't join any organization that would have us as members.
Blow: Why don't you use cellos?
Aaron: But we do, can't you hear them? Actually, we tried, but playing them kept giving us scabs on our knees.
Blow: Ever use saxophones?
Aaron: Frank really does play the saxophone, but we're saving it for our freeform jazz odyssey on the next album.
Blow: What's the name of the babe in the arms of the monster on the insert in the "Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood" 12-inch record?
Aaron: That's no babe, that's my girlfriend! Actually, that's just some picture Jon Von found.
Blow: How many prepositional phrases were in that last question?
Aaron: I went to college, I know there were five.
Blow: Anything else you want to say?
Aaron: Write to MTX at 48 Shattuck Square, Box 48, Berkeley, CA 94704. We have stickers, T-shirts, etc. And buy our new 7-inch "So Long Sucker" on Lookout! Records. Available at your finer record emporiums or through Blacklist Mailorder.