Interview with The Sheckies
Punkrockreview.org questionnaire (answered by Andy Social)
1) How did The Sheckies get started?
I’d been going on 4 years looking for a band to play in. Finally I met back up with my old friend King and decided to try and start a band with him on drums. I had a ton of song ideas and I knew I wanted the band to sorta sound like “The Mr. T Experience” (It never did end up sounding like them though). We had a place to jam in the shed at the back of his house…if we only had the equipment. So I spent my time looking for someone who not only could play bass, but had the proper band equipment as well! I met Penny when he was 16 years old at a party that he got drunk at. I knew he was cool because he was actually trying to fly like Superman, and I guess he thought I was cool ‘cause I was bashing my head against a wall listening to music. He wanted to start a band as well. I showed him a couple songs and he loved them. He had a PA, drum kit, and bass amp. I had a guitar and amp, King had the shed, and somehow, we’ve been there ever since.
2) Were any of in you bands prior to The Sheckies?
Oh yeah, I was in about 3 or 4 punk bands, but never really got anywhere with them. But they did help develop the style that is The Sheckies today. King was in many bands…mostly rock n’ roll, classic rock, blues, and jam bands. He was in 1 punk band that was totally insane called “Black Friday”. The singer used to expose himself onstage and throw chairs and tables at people…they were cool. Penny was in 1 or 2, but they sucked. They were punk songs that just didn’t have any structure.
3) Tell us about your band.
Well, we’re stupid, dopey, dumb, and hopefully fun. I know we have fun! We definitely don’t take ourselves seriously, but we are serious about having fun in our own anti-social ways. We are music for the retarded by the retarded.
4) Describe the style of The Sheckies?
The style is simplicity, with a lot of love going into the doo-wop inspired background vocals. Throw in some “Ramones-core” influence and you got The Sheckies
5) Favorite place to play and why?
Any all ages venue because not only are they the most fun to play, but we’re also inspiring the punk rock generation of tomorrow to do it themselves as well.
6) Funniest thing you've seen at a show?
Well in Cleveland, King took his shirt off and exposed his sweet, sexy, sweaty man-boobs. Later on, me and the guys from “Johnie 3” spread peanut butter all over Stiv from “The Hollywood Blondes” nipples as he was playing. That was pretty funny.
7) Craziest place you've played?
An Italian restaurant. ‘Nuff said?
8) Are you on a label? If so, who?
Not currently, although we proudly put out our D.I.Y. CD’s, shirts, stickers, and buttons (and soon DVD!). It would be nice. I do think there is some buzz going around. I’d love to get on Rally Records. Whoa-Oh, and Cheapskate are labels I’d love to be on as well. You never know!
9) Any good groupie stories?
Well me and King are too fat and ugly to get groupies. Everybody always wants Penny! Sorry girls, he’s already taken! Anyways, I ain’t in it for the dingbat girly-girls.
10) Who's your favorite bands right now?
The Queers, Toys That Kill, The Apers, Johnie 3, The Prozacs, Methadones.
11) Who writes your songs and how are you inspired to write them?
I write all the songs, but King and Penny “Sheckie-ize” it so to speak. They add the background vocals and drumbeat that really sound a bit different from the rest. I usually “live” my songs. I write about experiences and people I go through and talk to everyday.
12) When you play at a show are you all serious or do you just fuck around??
Well, a bit in between. I mean there’s no getting around it and it’s a Sheckie trademark that we always fuck up a song live somehow, whether it be me playing a wrong note or otherwise. We’ll always just shoot each other a funny, retarded look when we do and just keep playing! I mean, we don’t try to fuck up, we’re just dumb! We’re The Sheckies! We make fun of ourselves. We don’t take ourselves serious, but we don’t wanna suck either…We just wanna fucking have a good time!
13) Any pre-show rituals?
Nah…we don’t have any rituals, just tuning.
14) Does or did any of you get stage fright?
The only one who may have a problem with going onstage is our drummer King. He has a heart condition and he hopes every show he plays isn’t his last!
15) What's your favorite song that you play right now and why?
Probably a new slow one called “Stoopid Movie”. It’s about going to see a “chick-flick” with a girl ‘cause you wanna get in her pants. That and “Boob Tube”, a song about anti-social TV watching.
16) What does it mean to you being in The Sheckies?
It means a lot. It represents a life I love to live. I’ve met and played with so many cool, kind, caring people. I’ve learned that’s what it’s all about! The bonding and blossoming of friendship, nothing more or less. Sorry if I sound like a hippy, but the truth hurts.
17) What do you do when you’re not playing?
Playing video games, going on my space, watching box sets of ‘70’s Japanese giant robot cartoons, and sleeping. King loves playing Madden on PS2 and going on my space. Penny usually works on our band websites, gets tattooed, watches horror movies, and sleeps.
18) How does your families evaluate the fact that your musicians and not a banker or whatever?
Well, I’m the only one with an actual family and they’re supportive for the most part. Of course, they still worry that I wash dishes for a living. They just want me to be happy. I’ll probably be playing punk rock ‘till the day I die.
19) What is your current evaluation of the current punk scene?
I’m not going to be the person who says “oh, it sucks, there’s not anyone good around anymore like the old days”, because you know what? Old days are the past, now is the future! There are 2 kinds of people, doers and listeners. If you listen and complain, you’re a critic. If you play music and say the scene sucks, you’re a hypocrite. Because listeners and musicians are the scene!!! There will always be people who play punk and try their best to make a difference! I believe there are thousands of awesome bands out there that need to be heard, and it’s our job as listeners and players to be open minded and give everyone a chance! I do also believe it’s a time of transition in the punk scene. There are new bands that are being born right now that carry on the legacy of old ones, but not enough record label support. We need a new wave of record labels and new bands that lead them into a new era of punk rock! Gabba Gabba Hey!!
20) Who are your musical influences (and please don't say Johnny Cash)?
Ramones, Screeching Weasel, Queers, Lillingtons, MTX, Methadones, Nobodys, Riverdales, Apers, Retarded, Prozacs, Johnie 3, etc. etc. (not Johnny Cash, I’m more of a Ray Stevens fan myself.)
21) Any bands you really want to do a show with and why?
The Queers would be stellar. Joe Queer is such a fun, cool guy. It would be an honor to play with those Punk-Pop legends. You get a sense of family at their shows. A unity for the underground punk movement! It’s still alive!
22) Who's the craziest band you've ever done a show with?
Xyile from Atlantic City. They’re like a Death Metal band that doesn’t give a fuck about anything. When we played with ‘em the bass player blew out Penny’s amp and their old guitarist wore a gas mask. The drummer plays on what almost looks like a toy drum set. They’re demented man!
23) Has your style of music changed at all since the band started? If so, why?
More like, more “defined”. As song after song is written the songs evolved faster, catchier (in my opinion), and “background vocally”. It’s just a natural progression of evolution and cooperation from working with the same people!
24) Favorite Band of all time (from each band member please)
Andy Social – Screeching Weasel, King – Led Zeppelin (sorry punk rockers!), Penny – a tie between The Lillingtons,The Methadones,The Groovie Ghoulies and MTX
25) What are your general thoughts on the world today?
Like anything else, there’s good and bad in it. Live life and help people. That is all.
26) What's your favorite part of being in a band?
Influencing other people to get off their asses and start their own band and scene.
27) What are personal thoughts on the mentality of today's America?
It’s a bit fucked up, but deep down I think almost everyone could have some potential of being cool. Sometimes I love America and the people in it sometimes I hate fucking everybody. People can be so PC, and I hate it.
28) What are your thoughts of the Warped Tour?
It’s too crowded, overpriced, and commercialized. I mean for some people I guess it’s OK, but it’s definitely not for me. It puts too many dumb people on a pedestal. It sucks.
29) When you look into the crowd, what would you say are the kind of people at the shows?
The fun loving, dopey, goofy kids (and big kids) that wanna dance and have a good time, not practicing kung fu (those kids punch the air for christsakes, what did the air ever do to them?)
30) How did you come up with the name The Sheckies?
It was a characters name in the movie “It Came From Hollywood”. I thought it was a catchy, snappy, stupid name. So I used it!
31) What makes The Sheckies different from other bands?
Maybe we pour a lot of love (and a little hate) and heart into our songs and performance more than most bands. I know I eat, breathe, and sleep punk music! Every morning when I wake up, there’s a drumbeat in my brain!!
32) I saw that one of you likes Love Gutter, how did you come to know about them?
Well, living an hour and a half from Philadelphia keeps you on top of local Philly punk talent. But actually, my friend was friends with them, and the first time I heard them was on a 23 song demo my brother (who was a DJ at a college radio station) stole from the station he worked at. It was called “Sucking In The ‘90’s” on Black Hole Records. It definitely rocked.
33) Anything you want to add or say?
Yeah, if you wanna sample our songs and meet us, visit us at our my space page (www.myspace.com/thesheckies). If you would like to purchase our stuff (CD’s, Shirts, Stickers, etc.), visit our shopping cart feature at our website www.the-sheckies.com ! We’d love to hear from ya’s!
34) Anyone you want to thank?
Hell yeah! I’d like to thank my fellow band mates for sticking with this band thru thick and thin. Bands that have helped and supported us like Johnie 3, The Prozacs, The Apers, The Uncomfortables, Rydells, The Pity Whores, No Reason To Live, The Leftovers, The Shuttlecocks, Jumpship, The Checkers, The Hollywood Blondes, the list goes on!! Thanks to anyone who has helped us, gigged with us, paid us, let us crash at their house, and let us copulate any where near or on them! Later days!!
