INTERVIEW: Paul Collins from The Nerves/The Beat

   Last October I interviewed Paul Collins when he came to perform at The Dial warehouse in Murrieta with his longstanding band The Beat. For those who are unfamiliar, Collins is a fairly iconic figure in early DIY rock n roll, having first performed in the seminal 1970s groups The Nerves and The Breakaways before starting The Beat and continuing to perform with various incarnations of the band for over 30 years. He is sometimes referred to as "the King of Power Pop" due to his various groups' contributions to the development and popularity of the style, as well as his unwavering dedication to its survival through non-stop DIY touring. Considering his influence both to the power pop genre and to underground tour networking in general, I made a point to get some words in with him while he was in town to better understand his perspective on these aspects of American rock culture that he's spent the better part of his life dedicated to.
   It took me way too long to transcribe this but here's how our conversation went:

Ian: This is Ian speaking with Paul Collins from The Nerves, The Beat, The Breakaways, many other incarnations; First of all, how are you doing tonight?
Paul: I'm good, I'm happy to be in Hemet
I: Actually we're in Temecula right now
P: Oh, Temecula
(laughter)
[We were in Murrieta]
I: I just have a couple questions because you have kind of embodied the DIY thing for a long time. I did notice when I was looking up The Nerves - I've been a fan for a long time but this was the first time I really looked into your history - you had set up a tour way back in the day when you guys were first starting out and you kind of did that all by yourself, before that was really the thing to do
P: I believe it was one of the first DIY national tours ever.
I: How did you go about [booking that]? Did you contact the bands themselves or the clubs themselves...?
P: We contacted the clubs. I just did my research which was by looking at newspapers or calling, getting people - actually, one time I think I called a police station to find out the clubs where they were busting people! Just, this is back in the day, before Internet and cell phones and all that so you had to - actually the tour, the claim to fame was that I [literally] booked it on a dime, because I would go to a payphone and I would call the operator and I would say, 'how much is a call to Chicago?' '$2.15 for the first 3 minutes.' So I would call back and say, 'hey I was calling Chicago, a number in Chicago, and I got cut off!' and they'd say, 'well how much did you put in?' and I'd say '$2.15!" So if you had the right amount, they believed you. 'Okay sir, we'll reconnect you." So I had to do all my business in 3 minutes.
I: Damn that's pretty cool. So to juxtapose that, and I'd agree that's one of the earliest methods of underground touring...
P: Yeah we were so pre-"DIY" that we didn't know it was "DIY"
I: You just had to do what you had to do
P: That's right
I: And so now, it's like, you were on kind-of bigger labels, you did stuff in the '80s like "American Bandstand" - I can't even believe that - and now you're doing the DIY tour circuit again, how do you feel about [then versus now], do you see like a parallel or do you feel like there's a different [vibe]?
P: It's totally different. The biggest thing that changed everything was the Internet. I mean you can network online. That makes a big difference. And there's a lot more bands to network with and the concept of DIY is a lot more accepted. But it's [also] still the same, the nuts and bolts are still the same: you're going out there by yourself or with another band, and it's rough & tumble and down & dirty & gritty, and you're still struggling for exposure and to get people to come out -- To Get People To Come Out. You know, rock n roll, at its nucleus, is in the clubs, and it's always been that way. You go see a band, you get turned onto them, and you get that whole experience of feeling that music live
I: In person
P: That's where the energy level is. I mean, records are great too, records are great because they travel all over the world, and some guy in New Zealand can listen to your record that you made in New York or in California. But it's come full-circle; I mean that's why all the bands are out, from Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga all the way down. The road is where it's at now.
I: That's something I had wanted to ask you about - in your career you've had experience with larger arena-type acts; did you ever feel like you had a disconnect with them because you had this understanding of the "DIY" ethic early on when the 'rockstar' attitude was probably even more prevalent than now; Can you speak to that at all?
P: No, I mean I've been hustling all my life, I've always been hustling. We met some of those big people but we were never at [the level of] one of them. It's a big deal, I mean, I don't know what its like to walk out onstage in front of 20,000 people or 60,000 people. I can't wrap my frame around that one. Definitely, some people play for more people than I play for in 5 years in one night. So, right now I've come to accept my position in this and I just out and do it. My main thing right now is just to get the people in the room. That's all it's about for me, whether it's 5, 10, 20, 100, 200...
I: Like you were saying, [you're] just doing what you're doing; a lot of the music that you've made is strongly associated with 'power pop,' often seen as one of its foundations. How do you feel about that term, 'power pop'? Do you feel that it is something that does actually characterize what you've done?
P: When it first came out, we hated it. We thought it was, you know, bogus and empty; and of course we considered ourselves a rock n roll band, sure. But power pop is a genre of rock n roll, and I what I say to people now about this whole thing - because it is a pro and a con, it's kind-of a stigma, like power pop is nerdy or whatever or that it's not mainstream (and well, it isn't mainstream) - but, power pop to me embodies all the best parts of any great rock n roll: great songs, great guitar licks, great melodies, great harmonics...
I: And quickly done a lot of the time; [songs] don't take, like, forever
P: I read a review, or I heard something, whatever, I read or heard something about Elton John's new album. It said, if he spends more than 40 minutes on a new song, he gets bored. So, some stuff happens quickly, some things take a long time to find their place, you know? Power pop today, it doesn't mean anything of what it did back then. Back then it was a curse. Today its not a curse anymore and I embrace it because - for better or worse - that's what people say I do, so I'm not gonna fight it. But it's an underground genre, and it's still a genre that really needs a lot of help. Bands that do this kind of music, it's tough! You can't go out there and make a living doing this! I mean, I'm doing it now by the skin of my ass. And I'm thankful for that, but in general, it's not like "indie rock." It's not like "garage rock" where [they can go] make 30 grand in a night. Why? Why? Is it because this music isn't good? Because it's inferior? It doesn't have the same kind of merit or quality? It's fucked up. But it's the way it is. And a lot of times, just like, getting people exposed to it - once they get exposed to it they love it - but it's so underground and it's so niche, it's struggling for its survival. I think after now, power pop is in its second generation, so there's no doubt - there can be no doubt - that it's a valid, legitimate genre. But it's still fighting for its life. Plus, the power pop today, is not, you know...I think I see it as a much more elastic genre than it was back in the day. Kids today - they absorbed the music from the past and they make it their own. It's an influence that can be combined with a number of other ones.
I: And at this point, there are so many "pasts"; kids are looking at all these different things, and obviously because of the Internet we're able to find things that in the past was a bit more difficult to mine into
P: People in general have this mania to classify things, but at the end of the day it's still rock n roll. To me, Chuck Berry is rock n roll and Sex Pistols are rock n roll. Although they're not the same, they're still rock n roll.
I: I completely agree with you...Kind of related to that [idea of genres being related], I noticed that you have an alternative-country side band or something?
P: A lot of people say that. I went through a period where I put out an album or two like that, but I don't have a side project.
I: Okay maybe I'm misreading into that
P: No, people have said that
I: Did you ever do anything, like, in the country circuit?
P: Listen, if I went to Nashville, they would shoot me in my head. I am so...I am not country, even if I have songs that might remotely sound a bit country. Most rock n roll musicians love country; country and rock n roll and blues, they're all intertwined. I mean, rock n rollers love Johnny Cash.
I: And Willie Nelson
P: A bunch of cats
I: Alright well I need to actually go get ready for my own set, and I'm really stoked for yours. This is gonna be great.
P: Wait, you're playing a set?
I: Yeah I play in the band right before you
P: Which one?
I: I play in a band called The Gravitys
P: Oh cool
I: But that's besides the point
P: Are we gonna have people here tonight, Ian?
[In a fortunate turn of events, several of my own friends happened to show up and pass by the van right at this moment]
I: I'm trying; Here's some people!
P: There ya go, there's some people
I: Hopefully there's gonna be more...
P: Alright let me ask you, why is it so hard to get people out?
I: Honestly I don't know; My experience has been that nowadays bands are so damn aggressive, you know? [In] my band, I play like an acoustic guitar plugged into an electric amp and I'm pretty melodic with it, and that's always been my goal because a lot of my friends are in hardcore bands or in metal bands or things like that. Sometimes, like, kids just wanna mosh. They're so into the aggressive side of things that they're forgetting about the actual songcraft.That's what I think is kinda lost in the shuffle of saying 'I can play faster than you' or 'I'm more technical than you;' they forget about songcraft I think. So there's this built-in crowd around that and they're just not as interested in more song-based music I think.
P: So maybe we should start a thrash metal band.
[Laughter]
I: I don't think so. I don't want that to happen. Well I'm gonna tie this up cuz I do need to help my drummer
P: Well, listen, thank you for helping us get the word out. You're a part of The Dial?
I: Yeah!
P: Well thats very cool
I: Indeed...Well my last question that I try to ask anybody I interview, and it's kinda arbitrary: what would you say is your favorite breakfast food?
P: My favorite food now is the way they serve breakfast in Australia, which is: fried eggs with some fried mushrooms, fried tomatoes, toast, crispy bacon, and sometimes they put a little bit of steamed spinach. They call it "brekky." It's awesome.
I: That sounds very good. Alright Paul, thanks for the time and insight
P: Good luck on your set!
I: Thank you!!

Playlist for May 2014

This is a list of all the full-length albums, EPs, demos, singles etc. that I listened to in their entirety during the month of May 2014. Afterwards are lists of the movies I watched, shows I went to, zines I read, and my notes regarding all.

5/1/14
Clitorati - "At Least We're Not Arby's"
The Two Tone Boners - 2013 Live Demo
Such A Mess - "Times Like These" EP
Second Guess - "The Greatest Hits" EP
Go Deep - "Counseling" EP
VYGR/At Our Heels/Griever - 3-way spli
Desperate Living - Demo 2012
Bone Sickness - Demo
Skinfather - "Succession/Possession" EP
Nails - "Obscene Humanity" EP
ele - "Noir" EP
Dirt Squad - Demo 2013
La Bella - "Recomposition" EP

5/2/14
Man Vs Man - "MvM" EP
Griever - "Inferior" EP
Circle Takes The Square - "Decompositions: Volume Number One"
The Speaking Tongues - S/T
Pretty Little Demons - "Unknown Species"

5/3/14
Peg - "Unwinding of a Vein" digital single
Hydro Thunder Hurricane - 2014 Demo
Burn Infinite - "En Fury" EP
Caveman Movies - "Presents..." EP

5/4/14
Endeavor/Servants - split
The Gravitys - "Unplugged at The Dial" EP
AvLMKR - "Thugged Out" mixtape
My Iron Lung - "No Such Thing" EP
Gates - "You Are All You Have Left To Fear"
Frameworks - "Small Victories" EP
Tiny Moving Parts - "Old Maid"/"Coffee With Tom" 7"
Malditas Drogas - Demo 12
Kybele - "Slipped Out" digital single
Lost Years - "Traditions"

5/5/14
WCKR SPGT - "Shitty Lou"
Wooden Wand & The Vanishing Voice - "Early Days, Volume 1"

5/6/14
Holy Shit! - S/T
Simon Joyner - "Ghosts" 2XLP
Roxy Music - "Avalon"
Japanese Game Show - "Live at Lucky's 1.11.13"

5/7/14
KRAMPVS - "Hangman's Noose" EP
Rodents Of Unusual Size - Demo
Them Jeans - "Balloons" EP
Gardens & Villa - S/T EP
Crisis Arm - "Rend"
Little Bear "I'd Let You Winn" digital single
Half Goon - "Thee Men's Warehouse Session" EP
Ground Up - March 2008 Demo
Supertramp - "Breakfast in America"

5/8/14
Whip Hand - "Carnal Sect" EP
New Gods - "Sex & Destroy" EP
Serengeti - "Brett and Vance" digital single
Yoni Wolf - "Old Dope" mixtape

5/9/14
Downward Spiral - "Fall" EP
New Gods - Demo 2013
Haruka - S/T EP
Prince - "3121"
Faith No More - "The Real Thing"

5/10/14
Holy Shit! - "Jazz Phase" EP
Prettiest Eyes - "PEEP" EP
Fury - 6-song demo
Strike Fast - "Time's Up" digital single
New Brigade - Demo
No Truce - "My Life. My Struggle" EP
Vanna - "The Search Party Never Came" EP

5/14/14
Melting Corpse - "Ramirez" demo
Adolescents - S/T

5/15/14
Lobster Party - "Party of One" digital single
Ed Ghost Tucker - "Sofia" digital single
Inspired And The Sleep - "Fly Low" digital single
Pharmakon - "Abandon"

5/16/14
Birote The Musical - "Things Could Be Way Worse...I Forget What I Was About To Say"
DK Slider/File Island/Suzy's Dead - 3-way split
Dogs - "Inquire Within" digital single
Robber's Roost - "Live @ The Filling Station"
CityCop/Les Doux - "Family Ties"/"Labors of Love" split EP
So Much Light - "Supine/Spellbound"

5/17/14
Astronaut Samurais - "I'm Gonna Stay The Night" EP
Caveman Movies - "The Digital Tracks"
enjoiSka - "Dirty Love Songs" EP
Blood Orphans - S/T EP
The Telephone Projects - "Sigil." EP
Be Still Cody/bulldog eyes - split EP
Plastic City Pariah - "A Rambling of Somewhat & Some Sort"
Hot Hot Heat - "Elevator"
bulldog eyes - "Shame"
Exiled Force - "The Dirty Dog" demo
Blood Orphans - "blanket ghost" EP
The Crucifucks - S/T
Active Kissers - S/T EP

5/18/24
Igor Amokian - "Beat Expo Sampler" digital single
cleaninglady - "Friday 01/02/13" digital single
Pigs Of Exile - "Hey Girl" digital single
Golly Gee Whiz - "Pony Should Mashup Pony (Nonsexually)" digital single
Dogs Of Ire - "Sterile Thoughts From A First World"
Media Jeweler - "No Exit" digital single
Canyons - "Human Pyramid" digital single
flowergirl - "My Therapist is a Rapist and I Want to Die" digital single
Wide Streets - "Little Babies" EP
Holy Shit! - "What The Fuck?" EP
Arjuna Genome - "The Universe is Blinking"
Singled Out - West Coast Tour March 2014 Promo CD
Heathers - "Fear" 7"
Post Life - "23" digital single
Dash Jacket - "Ten Thousand Things"
The Crucifucks - "Wisconsin"
Surprise Vacation - S/T digital single
The Freeze - "Freak Show"
Neighborhood Brats - "Total Dementia" EP
Holy Shit! - "Jesus Fucking Christ!" cassette
Zero Boys - "Pro-Dirt" EP
Goldfinger - S/T
Pod Blotz/Mark Lord - split
Witch Prayer - "The High Priestess Reigns Again" EP
Dissension - "Why Work For Death?"
Fejhed - S/T
The Freeze - "Crawling Blind"
Jay Levy - "Classy Enough for a Cardigan, Punk Enough for Jameson"
Dharma - "Sea Nothing" EP

5/19/14
Struckout - "You're Not Very Good At This" EP
Band Aparte - 4-song demo CD
French Exit - "statecheck" digital single
Hard Girls - "Isn't It Worse?"
The Acetates - "Self Portrait (alt. mix)" digital single
Summer Vacation - "Condition"
Skate Death - "You Break It You Buy It"
The Crazy Brave - "Television Television" digital single
Pg. 99 - "document #8"
Filter - "Short Bus"
Calculator - "New Forms" EP
Imaginary Pants - "Kites at Night" EP
The Teen Idles - "Minor Disturbance" EP
Pig DNA - "LIVENOTLIVEFUCKER" digital single
Bogsey & The Argonauts - "Skinned Knees"

5/20/14
What Life Is - "Ill Intentions" EP
Embrace - S/T

5/21/14
Courtaud & Bobtail - "I Can't Get My Shoes On" single/EP

5/22/14
Integrity - "In Contrast of Sin" EP
Go Deep - "Counseling" EP
What Life Is - "Ill Intentions" EP
The Gravitys - "Nutrition (rough mixes)"

5/23/14
Leechbath - "Insight" digital single
Ridgeway - "Sleep" EP
Head Creeps - 2014 Demo
Vices - "The Out Crowd Blues" EP
7 Seconds - "New Wind" demo
Innards - "I've Lost Everything"
Cursed Graves - S/T EP
V/A - "Metal For The Masses Vol. 666" Century Media Records sampler CD

5/24/14
Wiccans - "Field II"
Encyclopedia Of American Traitors - "Discography"
Steel Cranes - "Ouroboros"
V/A - "The Hard & The Heavy" Disc 1
Tzadikim Nistarim - S/T 7"
Maladjusted - "Death is the Only Relief" EP
SOA - "No Policy" EP
Gas Up Yr Hearse/Coma Regalia - split 7"
Cottontail/Moon Bandits - split 7"
Gorilla Biscuits - "Start Today"
Suicide Machines - "Destruction By Definition"

5/25/14
end of the summer - "Three" EP
The Gravitys - "Nutrition (rough mixes)"
Charlie Moon - "Little" EP
V/A - "The Hard & The Heavy" Disc 2
Enta/Anodes - split EP
Minor Threat - S/T EP
Government Issue - "Legless Bull" EP
Minor Threat - "In My Eyes" EP
Youth Brigade - "Possible" EP

5/26/14
VERSEatyle - "The Reel" mixtape
Thrash Kitten - "Are You Kitten Me?" EP
The Art Of Noise - "The Best Of"
EmptySev - "Seven Empty"
Norma Jean - "Bless The Martyr and Kiss the Child"
George Michael - "Patience"
Real J. Wallace - "HashOilBluntFullOfKeef" digital single
Sea Of Trees - S/T
P.O.D. - "Satellite"
The Effigies - "Reside"
External Menace - "The Process of Elimination"
B.Watt ft. Nevonte Sparks - "JFK (Head Shot)" digital single
Foxmoulder/Coma Regalia - split 5"
My Former Self - 4-song promo CD
Bam Circa 86 - "Soufca Rising" digital single
Ten Grand/Meth and Goats - split 7"
Mr. Bungle - S/T

5/27/14
Youth Code - S/T
Secret Smoker - "Part Time Retail" digital single
Whirr - "Pipe Dreams"
External Menace - "Seize The Day" EP
Bastro - "Sing The Troubled Beast"
Nothing - "Guilty Of Everything"
The Coltranes - "I've Got Heaven In My Smile"
The Gravitys - "Nutrition (rough mixes)"

5/28/14
Rudimentary Peni - "Echoes of Anguish"
Joos - "Don't Smile" digital single
The Insect Surfers - "Infra Green" LP Version
Suzy's Dead - S/T EP
Michael Jackson - "Xscape"
Shad - "The Old Prince"

5/29/14
Helmet - "Unsung: The Best Of Helmet (1991-1997)"

5/30/14
Nayru - "Recollections"
Flowers Taped To Pens - "Nice To Meet You, I Hate You"

5/31/14
The Saddest Landscape - "Exit Wounded" EP
Gang Green - "Another Wasted Night"
60 Cycle Hum - "Don't Cast Your Spell On Me" EP
Adaje - "Yore Veils"
Ghost Noise - "This is the Next Part of Your Dream"
At The Drive-In - "Acrobatic Tenement"
Suis La Lune - "Riala"
Bur Gur - "Alligator Cheesecake"
Jurassic Shark - "Miracle" EP
Saves The Day - "Stay What You Are"

NOTES:
- Clitorati and The Two Tone Boners are both just as stupid as their names would imply
- Go Deep had their van and all their possessions stolen, including nearly an entire album's worth of recordings, while in the middle of the country on tour a few weeks ago; help them out if you have anything to donate: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/go-deep-we-were-robbed-in-chicago
- Favorite 'new finds' for this month: Bone Sickness, ele, Gates, Half Goon, New Gods, Holy Shit!, Pharmakon, So Much Light, bulldog eyes, Media Jeweler, Hard Girls, Pg. 99, Encyclopedia Of American Traitors, EmptySev, Youth Code, Bastro, Suis La Lune
- Worst of the month: Malditas Drogas, enjoiSka, Active Kissers, Golly Gee Whiz, Jay Levy, Pig DNA, Tzadikim Nistarim
- New releases from Skinfather, Circle Takes The Square, Crisis Arm, Zero Boys, Vices, Whirr, and Nothing all kick major ass
- "Breakfast In America" is so classic...Some old fat guy who got hired at my call center says he did some minor engineering on it back in the 70s which is badass if true but I don't see why it wouldn't be because he introduced the subject without him knowing that "Casual Conversations" has become an obsession of mine come lately...He said the saxophone parts were recorded in a bathroom
- Goddamn Pharmakon is brutal
- I'm not much into folk punk because much of it seems so unauthentic but in terms of musicality in that realm Robber's Roost is pretty legit. Similarly most surf music all the sounds exactly the same to me but The Insect Surfers really fucking wail; very very good guitar work on that album.
- The Crucifucks have really grown on me over the years, especially the second album "Wisconsin"
- Every time I listen to that Dogs Of Ire CD its as good as it was when I first was blown away by it...One of my favorite hardcore albums of the last 10 years for sure
-I almost never listen to multiple releases by the same artist in the same day but that happened with both Blood Orphans, Holy Shit! and The Freeze this month, the latter 2 both occurring on the 18th together....Not mention listening to those EPs by Go Deep and What Life Is multiple times...At least with the others they're different releases
- Dissension and Skate Death were both highly underrated...I have albums from both on a collection CD called "Hit Squad For God 2" and I'm surprised I can't really learn anything about either band because the music itself is really good, especially the Skate Death album..."My Parents Are Disappointed"
- What the hell ever happened to What Life Is???
- I can't wait to unveil the new Gravitys album to the world because that shit fucking kicks ass
- Listening to "The Hard & The Heavy" compilation after all these years really cemented home how godforsakenly terrible most of the metal music coming out in the late 90s was
- My copy of "Start Today" is scratched to shit
- You read that right: I listened to full-length albums from both George Michael and P.O.D. in the same day...I can't say I'm proud of every decision I've ever made let's just leave it at that
- External Menace sucks
- It's weird how all these up-and-coming rappers are trying to charge like $5 for a digital single...Like what world are they living in? How much are they used to paying for a full album?
- I never thought I would ever hear Rudimentary Peni sound as tame and boring as they do on that "Echoes Of Anguish" album...Some bands just don't benefit from increased sound production and man o man are they one of them
- The new Michael Jackson album is actually pretty alright; what sucks is that the song with the best groove happens to be about child abuse and I'm just thinking, was this really the wisest subject choice for you MJ?
- "Wilma's rainbow of peaceful colors; The richest drug dealer."
- Man the screeching tire vocals on that Nayru album are just way too much for me to take
- "Another Wasted Night. I've lost another friend."
- I didn't realize til reading about the album as I re-listened to it but "Acrobatic Tenement" has a different lineup than any of the other ATDI albums and Omar is actually playing bass not guitar...Say Whaaaaat
- Last time I checked out Jurassic Shark I actually listened to the wrong band that was mainly girls so when we played with them in Pomona a few months back I was all confused but apparently there are 2 Jurassic Sharks and the other one is from the East Coast.

SHOWS:
5/8/14 - The Coltranes/New Gods/Whip Hand/Half Goon @ The Dial
5/28/14 - Alone/Bur Gur/(end of the summer)/Suzy's Dead @ DBA256 Wine Bar
5/30/14 - La Bella/Kilgore Trout/Flowers Taped To Pens/Leechbath @ The Dial
5/31/14 - Abideer/Ghost Noise/(end of the summer)/60 Cycle Hum/Jurassic Shark @ The Dial

SHOW NOTES:
- I got a 15-minute interview with all 3 of the members from Ghost Noise after their set on the 31st; Transcription coming in like 5 months.

MOVIES:
5/8/14 - "We're The Millers"
5/16/14 - "Top Gun"
5/25/14 - "What Lies Beneath"

MOVIE NOTES:
- That was the first time I had ever seen "Top Gun," despite it being Mark Gravity's favorite movie and it constantly being played at his house
- "What Lies Beneath" is an alright movie but wasn't what I was hoping it would be like and goddamn it was long...But theres no denying Michelle Pfieffer's hotness

ZINES:
5/19/14 - KYEO Speaks 6 - Winter 2012

ZINE NOTES
- I made a list of all the artists named in KYEO 6 and have been slowing chipping away at listening to everything...Hence all the "skramz"