Joe Escalante of THE VANDALS -by Nikki Neil
Meet The Vandals:
Dave Quackenbush (Vocals) likes The Smiths, smiles, and coffee shops.
Warren Fitzgerald (Guitar) likes contortionists, fuzzy bunnies, and wiener dog races.
Joe Escalante (Bass) likes Disneyland, bullfighting, and Clifton’s Cafeteria.
Josh Freese (Drums) likes freaky girls with good hygiene and virgin Mint Juleps. However, he dislikes playa haters.
Ah yes, The Vandals are a wacky bunch. For over fifteen years the veteran punk act has entertained many with their fast-paced punk rock gems and clever lyrics. And while some bands seem to fade with time, The Vandals improve with each passing day. On their latest release, Internet Dating Super-Studs, the group extends their snarled witticism and delivers even more laugh out loud moments than days past.
It is true. You really are a Disneyland freak.
Yeah.
I heard the spiel from the submarine ride while I was on hold.
Oh yeah, that’s the best one.
I’m a longtime fan but first time interviewer and I’ve always wanted to know how the band comes up with the crazy ideas for the songs and album titles?
For the most part, it’s just from spending so much time on the road together. A lot come from inside jokes, like things that we think are funny from just watching T.V. together or playing video games together. We come across a lot of interesting things while we are on the road and usually someone will kind of turn whatever we thought was interesting into a song. That way we kind of know that everyone is on the same page in regards to the song subject matter because everyone obviously enjoyed whatever that happened to be while we were on the road.
It seems like the four of you share a similar sense of humor.
It’s virtually identical. We’ve been touring together for thirteen years.
So you all kind of think alike now.
We’re starting to look alike even.
You all seem to have a pretty carefree attitude. Does anything ever embarrass you?
I think we are all pretty much embarrassed every time we get on stage. I think Warren and Josh are not as embarrassed as we are. Dave and I are pretty old and sometimes we feel like birthday clowns.
Who came up with the idea to do an internet dating website?
Warren came up with the title of the album Internet Dating Super-Studs, and I supported that title because I thought we could have a contest. At first the title was just a joke. He wasn’t serious about it, but then when the idea of the contest came up everything kind of went from there.
Do you plan to keep the site up so your fans can date each other?
Yeah, and we are also going to have more contests where they can date us while we are on tour.
Sounds like fun.
Yeah.
Do you all consider yourselves super-studs?
The idea is that everybody is a super-stud on the internet.
That is true. Did some of the submissions that you received from your fans freak you out at all?
Yes. Maynard from Tool sent in a photograph of a mutilated penis as his picture for his profile and that kind of scared me.
I would be a little scared too.
His regular un-mutilated penis would scare me.
How did you guys pick the winners?
People voted and people won.
I tried to get the CD to play the results of the dates on my computer, but I wasn’t able to get it to work in time for the interview.
Try to get some help from someone because I’m pretty retarded and I was able to get it to work.
I think I have you beat on the computer retardedness scale. I don’t want you to give too much away, but did you have fun on your date?
It was kind of awkward.
Why, because your date was with a couple?
Yeah. They were a little creepy.
I loved everyone’s profiles in the CD booklet. I’m sure that most of the information is fictitious but is there some truth to them as well.
Yes. Some of the information is made up and some is accurate.
I already know that the bit about your obsession with Disneyland is true.
Who doesn’t like Disneyland?
I can think of one person off the top of my head. Who came up with the concept for the album’s cover?
Paul Frank.
It reminds me of South Park.
Yeah, it’s a little South Park-y.
Do you ever watch South Park?
Yeah, I love it.
Do you have a favorite episode?
I like the movie.
The movie tops them all. Are you still handling a lot of the business stuff for the band?
I used to, but now we have a manager and an agent and an accountant and a lawyer and all that stuff, so now I just mostly play the bass.
Now you just concentrate on playing music.
Yeah, but I own the record label now so I have to deal with all that stuff.
Based on your experience handling the business affairs for the band and running Kung Fu Records, what advice do you have for unsigned bands that are looking for a record deal?
When more than one label is fighting over you that is when you will know that your songs are good enough. But until that happens they are not, so keep trying.
I have to say that I generally love every band on your label.
Oh, thank you. I do too.
Obviously, or you wouldn’t have signed them.
Well, some people sign bands just because they think they are going to make money. We don’t. We sign bands because they are good.
What qualities are you looking for when you sign a band?
99% IS THE SONGS. The other 1% is…we have a couple of records with great songs on them but they are not going anywhere because the band can’t tour enough, or sometimes bands are waiting for stuff to happen to them. Sometimes, a band on our label might produce their record and promise to do a lot of things for the band and they end up not doing any of them. I’m not naming any names. And, then instead of doing stuff for themselves they keep waiting for all these promises to be kept and none of them will be. Even though the record is good nothing is happening because they’re not touring. We’re not about MTV or radio. That is not going to happen on Kung Fu Records. But, if you get on the road there is enough support for you to sell some records. You just have to be out there.
Does Kung Fu provide tour support for its bands?
Oh yeah, but I can’t book a tour for a band. That’s not what we do. Especially in the early part of a band’s career. They have to get on the phone. They have to make friends with other bands and they have to go out there and get punished for a long time. That is what The Ataris did. They didn’t have an agent. They didn’t have any good shows lined up, but they booked their own tours. They didn’t care what was going to happen. They knew their songs were good, and they wanted to play them for as many people as they could. And that is why they became a success. We provided as much support as we could and a few tours with The Vandals, but they mainly did it on their own.
A number of bands that I have interviewed have mentioned that they are huge Ataris fans and that The Ataris have been a big influence on them. How does that make you feel?
Nothing makes me more proud.
How does a band benefit from signing with Kung Fu Records?
If a band signs with Kung Fu they are mainly going to get a realistic career path. Their record will be out in the U.S. and pushed as much as reasonably possible. The record will be released in Europe and pushed the same way. It will be manufactured in Europe and distributed in Europe pretty aggressively. There’s no better distribution worldwide. A lot of the labels use the same people, but there is nothing better than what we have. The one thing that we can say is, “If you sign with King Fu you’re going to Japan.” It is very, very hard for most labels to send bands to Japan. But we have the right partners over there that make it happen every time. Take a band like Mi6 that hasn’t done a lot in the U.S. They haven’t been able to tour that much. They haven’t got that many shows and haven’t sold that many records. But in Japan they’ve sold ten times the amount of records they’ve sold in the U.S. In that tiny country. A country where 15% or maybe 13% of the music they buy is non-Japanese music. So the whole world is competing for that 13%. It is very hard. But that is one thing that I can say about Kung Fu is that if you sign to Kung Fu you are going to Japan. We’re taking another two bands there in January. They will be playing two festivals in Japan. Then after that, Tsunami Bomb and Audio Karate will be going together. We also license our records to Shock in Australia, so they are pretty well looked after there. It’s gonna happen all over the world. You’re not going to be on mainstream radio. You’re not going to be on MTV, but you are going to be able to forge out an honest punk rock career if you work hard.
So what happens if a Kung Fu band works their ass off and all of a sudden MTV begs for a video?
We send all our videos to MTV. We don’t think we are so great that we don’t send them. We do everything we can for the band. I can’t tell the band, “I’m not going to send your video to MTV because it is not realistic that they’ll play it.” I can’t do that, and I won’t do that. I will send it every time, and I’ll follow up. I go to KROQ and I have meetings with the people there but it is not realistic to follow that up with a couple hundred thousand dollars in marketing for a radio campaign because they are not going to play something from an independent label either. They’re just not. You can listen to the radio. They don’t play independent stuff, and there is nothing in regular rotation on MTV that is on an independent label either. But, there are a bunch of independents knocking on the door. We do whatever we can for the bands but we’re not going to spend a lot of money, especially the band’s money to do it. We think a band can have a great career without all that just like the Ataris have had and other bands like Pennywise on their indie labels and NOFX. It can be done and it’s more of a sure thing. It’s not a gamble. If your songs are good and you work hard you’re gonna do fine. But, if you’re too obsessed with radio and MTV you could miss out on all the fun. Just look at The Vandals. We have a lot of fun not being on MTV and KROQ. There’s a lot of freedom associated with what we do, but you’re losing that chance to get that huge, giant payoff. It is like saving all your money and buying a house with it rather than buying lottery tickets. It’s the same thing.
Why did The Vandals wait so long to put an album out on Kung Fu?
Everybody in The Vandals has always wanted to be on the best label they could possibly be on and when we signed our deal with Nitro it was definitely Nitro. Now times have changed and Kung Fu has worked hard to be an attractive label to any band. And The Vandals...all four of us thought, “We want to be on Kung Fu.” I didn’t even weigh into the decision since I own Kung Fu. I didn’t push the band one way or another. They said that they wanted to be on Kung Fu. A lot has to do with...in the U.S. there is not much difference, but in Europe, Australia, and Japan there is a big difference. Overseas is where we are having our increase in record sales. In the U.S. it’s pretty much the same as it has been for the last three albums, so the band wanted to concentrate where we are doing the best.
That makes sense. I can see where the band is coming from in regards to making that decision.
As the owner of an indie label, what indie labels do you respect?
I love Asian Man records. I love Fat Wreck Chords because they do whatever they want to do and they don’t play games anywhere. They don’t raise people’s expectations and fill them full of hype. Asian Man also does that and so does Adeline records. They find bands that they like and they help them out. They don’t hold them back, and they don’t blow them full of hot air.
Which happens quite often in this industry.
Yeah. Most labels just fill kids full of hot air and by the time reality sinks in they’re depressed.
The Vandals have been at it a long time and have worked really hard to get to where they are now. How does it feel to hear that bands like No Doubt cite you guys as an influence?
That is pretty cool because for a long time we were just a joke to so many people. Nobody paid attention to us. Bands like The Offspring, No Doubt, Sum 41, and New Found Glory have been so nice to us. If you just keep doing what you do sooner or later someone will notice it. It might not be in the form of “Hey, I like what you are doing and here’s a million dollar check.” It could just be in the form of recognition and respect. We never got into punk rock to make money anyway. When we got into it no one had ever made money at it. We were purposely entering a field where there was no possibility of making a living. Now there is, so great.
Is it true that Adrian Young might fill in when Josh is unavailable?
He has done that in the past, but Josh has been more and more available lately so we’ve had less reason to replace him. I think on the next tour he’ll end up missing one show. I think Brooks Wackerman is going to replace him.
Do you have to ask friends to help out or do people just volunteer?
Now, if Josh is going to be gone he finds his own replacement. He’ll call around and see if someone good is available and then he’ll do what he is going to do. If not, he’ll say “no” to it. Brooks Wackerman or Derek Grant from The Alkaline Trio are the only people that we’ve been using. We have a couple of people waiting in the wings like Cirrus from New Found Glory and Steve from Sum 41. Those guys have pledged to help if necessary. They’re just waiting for the right time.
That is good to know.
It’s fun.
Everyone in the band has other projects on the side, does this sometimes cause tension with the group?
Yeah, sometimes. We’ve been trying to make a video for the new record but we haven’t been able to because everybody has been too busy the last three weeks, so hopefully we’ll get it done this week.
For which song?
“43210-1”. We are also going to make one for “Disproportioned Head” if we can get Mark Hoppus (Blink 182) to star in it for us.
That would be great. I’ve been singing that song all day. I can’t get it out of my head.
But it is not about Mark Hoppus. I don’t want people to say that, but maybe he will be in our video.
Since we are on the subject of song topics…does Dave have a brother?
No.
I was just wondering because if he did I wanted to know what the initial reaction was to “My Brother Is Gay.”
I think he wrote it because he thinks I’m gay – his band brother – but he is wrong.
But you’re married.
Right. I try to tell him that.
And I heard that your wife is hot.
My wife is hot. I don’t know what he’s trying to say.
Do you have an all time favorite Vandals song?
I like “An Idea for a Movie” and “Pizza Tran.”
I just got the Kung Fu DVD Secret Weapons of Kung Fu, which has the video for “Pizza Tran” on it but my favorite is the animated version of “My Girlfriend’s Dead”.
It was pretty cool. That just got sent to us in the mail. Some kid made it. He was a fan.
That guy has talent. I didn’t think it was possible to be so creative with stick figures.
Yeah, he nailed it.
What do you love most about what you are doing with the band and with the label?
In regards to the band, I like the fact that we’re still going and that things are getting better and better. Playing on the Warped Tour is the best part about being in the band. As far as the label goes, I enjoy being able to help bands realize their dreams. So many bands have these punk rock dreams of success and so few of them come true. When you have a band like The Ataris who reach all the way to pretty much the top of punk rock there is nothing like it. Right now the same kind of thing is happening with Tsunami Bomb, and it is so good to see it actually working rather than failing because if it fails you feel responsible. If it is working you feel great.
I’m sure your definition of success is different than a band that is signed to a major label. So tell me what your idea of success is?
It is really easy. Basically, just making a living off of your music without playing the corporate games. You can be on a major label...like Pearl Jam. They don’t play any games. If they don’t want to make a video they don’t make a video. They don’t play radio games. You won’t see them at the Weenie Roast because they are doing what they want. They’re not trading in their freedom for airplay or in the name of marketing. They do whatever they want. Another band that does that is NOFX. And guess what? That’s about the end of the list.
There’s not that many.
There really isn’t. There are bands on indies that are trying to get on majors or they think they are missing out because they see Sum 41 on MTV. They think that the reason why they are not on MTV is because they are not on a major label. There are a bunch of bands on major labels that are just being used as suicide machines and are ruined by a major label. They were on a major and had good songs, so why didn’t it happen for them? I don’t know. So many punk bands think that if they were just on a major label it would be them on MTV instead of Sum 41, but there’s so much more to it than that. They’re really taking a gamble by taking their punk rock success and trying to see if it can be expand by shipping it out to radio and MTV. The odds are so much against it that it is not a good idea. But if you’re a band like Simple Plan (Lava/Atlantic), who have nothing to lose, their attitude was, “We have nothing to lose. We’ll be on a major label and play the radio game.” There is no reason not to do it, especially if all the indies have turned you down and then the majors want you. Okay, fine. Give it a try. But if you’re already a band that is successful, like The Ataris or Strung Out, and you try to switch gears and go that way it is going to be ugly because you already have success. The majors will never understand the success you have and they’ll just tell you “Screw all that. We’re going to play some radio shows and if we do a million favors for the radio people they might play your record a couple of times.” Well, if you do that at the expense of your loyal fans it could be dangerous.
You could lose them.
You could. To me, people should just appreciate the fans that they have and try to expand and get more of those people. But don’t sacrifice those people to get the kind of fans that beat up your fans at school.
As a punk rock veteran, what does punk rock mean to you?
The kind of stuff I’ve been talking about. Freedom to enjoy music or play music without the strings attached that normally go into the marketing of music.
I think some bands have lost sight of that along the way. You kind of expect rock bands to sell out, but punk bands have always been about D.I.Y. and doing things their way.
Yeah. You can have a punk band that is going through the whole motions of major corporate ways and when those bands are played on the radio I love it a lot more than I like everything else they play. If they play KoRn I’m gonna change the station. If they play Avril Lavigne I might listen a little more. But they’ll never have the kind of freedom that punk rock bands like NOFX and The Vandals or even Pearl Jam would enjoy. Pearl Jam can afford to, so it is kind of a weird example. But NOFX has been doing it ever since they couldn’t write a song or couldn’t draw a crowd or sell a record and they’re doing it the exact same way now.
NOFX does what they want to do and they have a lot fun while they are doing it.
Yes. So, my wish for all punk bands is that they are able to do that too and be content with it.
Content is the key word. Be content, not greedy.
Exactly. Don’t be greedy and don’t worry that maybe you think your band is better than say Good Charlotte who get played on MTV. They’ll see Good Charlotte and say, “My band is way better than that.” Okay, so you’re not on MTV. Just be content with what you have and don’t give it all up. There are many variables as to why that is going on with Good Charlotte. If you enter that world it might not happen with you and the chances are that it will never happen to you, so you have to be careful about that. A lot of these bands…it’s not even so much that they are greedy for money but they’re just pissed every time they turn on the T.V. and see a punk band and they think they are better than the punk band on T.V. and they’re not. Sure, everyone would love for their band to be on T.V. I would love for my band to be on T.V. everyday, but I’m not going to ruin my band to do it.
That is a very good point.
Thank you.
I know you are working on an indie punk film called Sewlyn’s Nuts. Is it based on a true story? (Sewlyn’s Nuts is a story about a frustrated baker (played by Warren Fitzgerald) who escapes his abusive girlfriend by becoming an abused roadie for No Use For A Name and later falls in love with a girl in an electric wheelchair.)
It is based on an unpronounceable name.
Yes it is.
The story is completely fabricated by Warren.
I can’t wait to see it. The trailer is very funny.
I wish I could finish it. It’s been sitting in my computer. I’m staring at it right now, but I have so many DVD’s to finish up. I probably won’t be able to edit it until November.
You do a lot of the videos for Kung Fu.
Yeah. This label runs without me here. It has to because I tour so much. So when I’m here I mainly do a lot of our film and video production, DVD authorizing, film editing and stuff like that.
You are very busy.
Yes I am.
Do you still have your law practice?
Yeah. I started the law firm to fund the label and then the law firm really never went away. It kind of just became the business affairs department at Kung Fu. We also do a lot of outside stuff for other people. I tried to stop but people want us to do it for them.
I guess that’s a good thing.
It’s helpful to a lot of people.
Are you really a matador? (Joe’s favorite Matador is El Juli.)
Yes. That is my hobby. Everyone has a hobby and that one is mine. I’ve killed five bulls so far.
It really isn’t that dangerous. Maybe a broken bone here or there or a hurt eyeball, but the animals I fight aren’t big enough to rip my insides out. They can do a little damage – possibly paralyze me. I just have to be careful.
About two and a half years ago.
So you haven’t been doing it too long.
I didn’t know that regular people were allowed to learn the secrets of the world of the matador, but now I know.
He played bass for us one time when I was at a wedding. It was just for a party.
When the Vandals finally decide to call it a day, what do you hope people remember most about the band?
That we wrote a bunch of good songs.
Yes. The Kung Fu Tour is coming up, so everyone should come and check out Audio Karate and Tsunami Bomb. They are two of the best bands in punk rock today, so make sure you get there early and watch them and if you’re there to see Tsunami Bomb please stay for The Vandals.
Absolutely.
For more on The Vandals visit www.vandals.com and be sure to also check out
www.internetdatingsuperstuds.com. Bite Me! will have a live review of the Kung Fu tour up in very soon – keep looking for it.
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