JUSTIN PEARSON - RETOX
Name: JP
Band(s): (currently) Retox
Duty in the band(s): Words, complaints, intern
The first time I had the pleasure of seeing one of Justin’s bands was when I saw The Locust on April 27, 2007 along with Cattle Decapitation and Daughters. The show was at The H.O.R.R Bar, a bar inside a run-down junkie filled motel called The Coronado Motel. The motel was closed a couple years later. Vandals and homeless people continued to live in it until the property was demolished. I can still remember certain details about the show such as Gabe giving haircuts to people and having an incessant ringing in my ears for days because I was right next to the stage-left monitor. I first got into The Locust when one of my best friends showed me them in 05’ and while everyone I introduced their music to was thinking “what the hell is this”, “this is not music” ….I could only think of where in the world I could listen to more of this spastic noise that made my ears feel a bit more at home. From then on I found out about JP’s label, 31G, and I was able to find out about more bands in the “noise” realm as well as other bands JP had been in. As the years passed, I was able to see some of JP’s other bands and at one of his All Leather shows I purchased his autobiography, From The Graveyard of the Arousal Industry. A couple of days later I finished the book. Besides having an insight to JP’s life and some wild adventures, it showed me that an artist never has to be limited to one medium to express him or herself. Enough of the chatter, here’s some Q&A with label owner, author, and member of a bunch of killer bands – Justin Pearson.
Goofy
How is the presidential race going to end?
I’m not able to tell the future.
Describe your perfect dinner.
Non-GMO, organic, local.
Who is your favorite modern day actor?
With reality TV there is no need for actors.
Name a couple bands that you would like to wipe off the face of the earth.
I would rather be positive, therefore go right ahead and pick two, I’m sure I will agree with you.
What websites do you frequent the most?
Gmail and YouTube.
Have you ever had a stalker?
Yes.
Have you ever been mugged?
Yes.
Describe your surroundings at this very moment.
A snoring dog, audio, dark, peppermint, uncomfortable couch.
Personal:
What is the last book that you read that you would strongly recommend?
Tour: Smart
You call San Diego home but if you had to live somewhere else, where would it be?
Berlin or Oakland.
Who is your all-time favorite band that hails from San Diego?
Drive Like Jehu.
Any bands you’re currently stoked on/rotating on repeat on your system?
Paper Mice, Kill The Capulets, Wet Witch
Favorite Devo album?
Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!
What is your least favorite part about being a well –known musician?
I’m not well known.
Do you prefer being purely a front man or a bassist/vocalist?
I enjoy both singing and playing bass. I also refrain from being called a “front”.
You have toured extensively. Any locations that you haven’t performed at that you would like to experience?
China, Brazil, Alaska, Russia.
Describe the worst show you have ever played where everything just went absolutely wrong.
There are a lot of worst shows. The absolute worst was when someone died during The Locust’s set in NY once. That made things that “go wrong” seem irrelevant when put into perspective.
With having played in so many bands, I’m sure you have had some incredible on-stage experiences, but which show or couple of shows stand out as landmark shows that you have played?
Off the top of my head, Some Girls starting a riot in Sydney. Also at a Retox show recently somewhere in Canada I punched out part of the ceiling and climbed up into it, finishing the song and as I went onto the second floor.
What record labels do you enjoy and currently purchase from?
Manimal, Mute, Hipster Death, Anti, Ipecac.
Worst day job you have ever held?
I’ve had plenty of bad ones but I just realize that it could always be worse. I’m always grateful that I am not unemployed or a prick with a trust fund.
Who are a couple of bassists and vocalists that have influenced you over the years?
Bassists: Rob Wright, Rika Hamamoto, and Tracey Pew. Vocalists: Lux Interior, Brian Schroeder, Sam McPheeters.
What spurred on your idea of making a fake skit and getting on Jerry Springer?
Andy Kaufman.
If you weren’t involved in music, what type of life path do you think you would have chosen?
Crime.
Ever thought of having a career in politics?
I am not a fan of bureaucracy.
If you could have a face-to-face conversation with anyone dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Probably my dad. I’d like to figure a few things out that I didn’t understand as a kid, when he was alive.
Bands/31G/Book/Stuff
When, where and why did you create 31G?
1994. San Diego. Because I wanted to do better than some of the labels that I was working with or that were offering deals to the bands I was playing in at the time.
Did the name 31G come from the song “Warsaw” from Joy Division?
Yes.
Did you have any other names for the label?
No.
You always seem to find yourself playing in a bunch of bands so I have to ask, which bands are you currently in?
Currently my only active band is Retox. I am still in The Locust but we are on a hiatus.
For people that are fans of your previous work and don’t know exactly about Retox, what would you say differentiates this band from your other musical projects?
Different people and hopefully an entirely different sound. To some, like my mom, it all sounds the same. But in my opinion it’s much different. Especially the new Retox LP we just recorded.
The Locust “Molecular Genetics From The Gold Standard Labs” was recently put out on Anti Records. Any word or hints as to when you guys plan on perhaps playing a live show or putting out new material?
I have no idea. If you want to, try to track down Gabe and Joey and see when they want to play again. I think Bobby and I are ready to go.
You have collaborated with well-know musicians over the years. Some of those people include Karen-O and Nick Zinner from The Yeah Yeah Yeahs to Wesley Eisold of ex American Nightmare and Cold Cave fame to Jordan Blilie and Cody Votolato of The Blood Brothers. Who else would you like to collaborate with if the opportunity presented itself to you?
I have been talking with Martin Atkins about doing something, with would be cool. Honestly, there is a huge list of people that I would love to work with. But some of it would never work out, or I could not get in touch with them, and so on.
In the past couple years you have submerged yourself into writing books. What got you into inking all of your memoirs/experiences and publishing them?
Free time in the van got me to start on writing and a push from John Waters suggesting to write a book was what got me to solidify things. As far as getting them published, I am still a bit confused as to how I pulled that off.
Over the years, the way music is being sold has evolved substantially. What do you believe are the pros/cons of the more grassroots way of selling merchandise when kids had to go to shows or go to a record store to pick up a record they wanted versus nowadays that the internet and techy gadgets have played a huge role in sales and everything can be easily purchased through the click of a button?
I think to some extent people have become lazy and have little regard for financial stability of independent artists. There is oversaturation thanks to social media. But at the same time, it’s easier to get the word out about things and certainly much faster and cheaper. My only real issue is that things are no longer special as they were in the past. When you had to seek out a rare 7” from a band or hear about show that was word of mouth, that made things way more personable, which I wish all art had more of.
Touching on the last question, tapes and vinyl have been making a comeback where as CD’s are dropping out and making an exit. What music format do you think will be king in the foreseeable future?
Beats me. As far as I can tell, nothing sells. I’m thankful for my day job, which is technically a night job.
Many people look up to you and admire your work. Being a multi-faceted individual that has engaged himself in many various aspects of the art realm, what advice would you give to others who would like to live a similar lifestyle as yours?
Take risks.
Retox is about to do a short tour with Regents (ex-Frodus, Sleepytime Trio, Combat Wounded Veteran) through Texas and Arizona. Any other tours in the works?
Once our new LP, “YPLL” comes out, we will be touring extensively on that.
Do you have any questions or comments for me?
Nothing that I can think of at this juncture.
Thanks! See ya November 1 with Red Fang, Black Tusk, and Lord Dying at Tricky Falls.
Thank you! See you soon.
end.
It’s always rad to talk to a musician you look up to. In my freshman year of college, Justin helped me out on a research paper I was writing that revolved around music piracy. I’ve always leaned towards kind and humble musicians and it’s way cool that JP has made the time to do this type of stuff. Check out his tour schedule to catch him at a show and check out his label to buy some records and other related goods.
Chris
