Joe Escalante on possibility of new material from The Vandals

Contributed by alex101. Posted by aubin on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 12:00 PM (EDT)

In a new interview, The Vandals guitarist and Kung Fu Records co-founder spoke about the Vandals relative silence since the release of 2004's Hollywood Potato Chip. While the band has been performing (albeit controversially) in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Toronto, they have not been able to release any material in more than six years. Escalante explained:

Our last release was marred by a frivolous lawsuit filed against us by the show business trade publication The Daily Variety. They are really into promoting show business by ruining the releases of punk bands and record labels. They've sued us again, for something we didn't do, so we have to deal with this first.

We are trying to file an answer in the Delaware court system, which is a nightmare.

Joe also talks about the band's visit to Iraq which cause no end of controversy including cancelled shows in Europe, and the status of Kung Fu Records. Check out the interview via Kerpunk.

Bands in this story

The Vandals

Kung Fu Records (35 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Cos (July 1, 2010)

Good god, this needs an editor badly.

Also, there are some choice quotes that beg for a follow-up question, like "Drugs and obsessive atheism have ruined some labels, but you never know when they will rise again from the ashes. The Devil has been doing that since the dawn of time." What does that mean exactly?

And "We've had the same 4 guys for 20 years and we are close friends." Don't you mean "same 4-6 guys, since Josh can never tour with us"?

And "We'd rather release some new material. I think people would think us quite lazy if we releases a live record at this point." Your move, Reel Big Fish.

Bob_Ice (July 1, 2010)

I miss you. Come back to me.

Cos (July 1, 2010)

My demands are: 10 million dollars, a jet to fly me to Cancun, and freeing my comrades-in-arms being unjustly held around the world. And cheese.

Bob_Ice (July 1, 2010)

I offer you these things but they'll be yours anyway...

bastard_squad (July 1, 2010)

Hans Gruber?

Dante3000 (rich) (July 1, 2010)

McGruber.

Cos (July 1, 2010)

I read about them in Time Magazine.

bastard_squad (July 1, 2010)

I love you for that.

ExtraCheesePizza (July 1, 2010)

How about $30, a bus trip to Cleveland, and I'll get together bail for somebody? You already got the last part *I don't know how to make the English pound sign but pretend that is here.*

reissdawson (July 1, 2010)

The interview was conducted via. email, so it was pretty hard to add follow-up questions considering how busy Joe is not only as a performer, but as a person.

As for "needing an editor", I posted the interview in its original form, so I cannot be blamed for the other party's mistakes.

Apart from that, I hope you enjoyed the interview. I run Kerpunk in my spare time as a hobby, so the fact that an interview of mine has reached a site like this makes it feel worthwhile.

lookingforcorpses (July 1, 2010)

He's busy as a performer and a person? The Vandals aren't out on tour. That Morrisey tribute he's in plays less than 10 shows a year. His label doesn't exist anymore. He doesn't do his morning show. Is his weekly legal "advice" show still online? So he has his "legal practice," which I'm sure consists of lots of threats and frivolous lawsuits of his own and????

Cos (July 1, 2010)

It definitely felt like it was done via email, so maybe this line should be reconsidered: "Kerpunk recently had the chance to speak with Joe".

Typos with the interviewee, such as "Who like's Terrorism?" and inability to ask follow up questions are just a few reasons why email interviews are bad for both parties. You'd think Joe could just pick up the phone and talk to someone for 10 minutes.

reissdawson (July 2, 2010)

I agree. I'm a newcomer to this type of thing, so everything is a learning curve. I hope you enjoyed at least some of it.

BluthCo (July 1, 2010)

I'm guessing "drugs and obsessive atheism" refers to Fat. I read an interview with Fat Mike a few years ago in which he said that he didn't get along with Joe Escalante anymore because of their religious and political differences, and I would expect Escalante (or anyone) to harbor ill feelings over something like that.

Maybe the "rising from the ashes part" means he thinks Fat could change, or he's implying that Kung Fu could start being more active.

reissdawson (July 1, 2010)

It's definitely about Fat.

bastard_squad (July 1, 2010)

Joe and every other 'right wing punk' can go fuck themselves with the constitution.

elcapitan (July 1, 2010)

stoked!..almost..

bastard_squad (July 1, 2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZVcXiUNhRE&feature=related

mikeinflames (July 1, 2010)

that show in toronto was amazing.
except i remember one of the openers being horrible. i think it was the brown dude from sum 41s new band.

skolarx (July 1, 2010)

i had a girl freak out at me for calling him the brown guy. i told her that is what he always called himself and it makes it a whole lot easier to explain which tiny guy from sum 41 you're talking about. haven't talked to her since..

anarchypants (September 10, 2010)

That was a fantastic show though.

hashbrowns (July 1, 2010)

hey buddy how you doin today?

notfeelingcreative (July 1, 2010)

Too much drama.

hey_ska (July 1, 2010)

Iswydt.

MrIndecisive (July 1, 2010)

Saw em in Austin last year. Fucking AWESOME live band. Was not disappointed, played every song.

loveshackbaby (July 1, 2010)

Must have been a long set...

mattramone (July 1, 2010)

Fortunately Joe is a gun toting lawyer.

davebrave4 (July 1, 2010)

Uh, isn't Joe Escalante the bassist? And Warren Fitzgerald the guitarist?

rightcliqificus (July 2, 2010)

I'm no scientist, but that's the way it appeared on their live dvd.

IllaZilla (July 1, 2010)

They did that Shingo Japanese remix album in '05, and the b-sides release "BBC Sessions and Other Polished Turds" last year (which I think was only released digitally here in the States but I found a Japanese import CD copy somewhere for cheap), but yeah it's been 6 years since there was any new material. They haven't been totally absent from performing; I went to the winter formal show in Anaheim (Brooks was on drums), and they opened for Bad Religion on the 30th anniversary tour in Hollywood (which I had tickets for but was unable to go to), but I guess they haven't really toured in a while. The Daily Variety situation sucks in that they're being blamed for images on the internet that they have no control over. I wish Kung Fu hadn't slipped into inactivity; there were a bunch of bands on that label that I really liked incl. Tsunami Bomb, Assorted Jelly Beans, & Ozma.

Did anyone see that movie Cake Boy that they did? I never got around to ordering it & wondered if it was worth it.

burntorangepeel (July 2, 2010)

I really liked the Shingo remixes all the way through enough to want a sequel, especially because I thought the best track was the hidden medley of the Nitro-era stuff at the end. And "I'm Becoming You."

Kung Fu was a pretty good label for a while there.

germburn (July 2, 2010)

Its not the interviewers fault that Joe Escalante would only do this over e-mail. Its not like he can demand a phone interview and he would have to do it. And regardless of whether or not you think Joe has the time it doesn't mean he has to give anybody an interview. I understand that some answers beg more questions but what the fuck is the guy supposed to do? I don't see any of you calling up Joe Escalante and demanding that he speak to you over the phone for a specified amount of time and answer any question you ask him. However if someone does do that than I guess you win.

reissdawson (July 2, 2010)

Thank you!

almostpunkenough (July 2, 2010)

i look forward to anything new they put out, i've missed the Vandals.

necktattoo (July 2, 2010)

Escalante doesn't believe in dinosaurs?