First things first; these events occurred under a planned design. Remember that one of Barry Soetero's first major addresses occurred in Cairo Egypt:
Now, this has occurred:
...followed by Barry's victory speech...My reactions to the speech: Obama: "This is the way real democracy works..."
HAHA! Yeah, ok Barry...Revolution=democracy? Hell yeah...I'm READY to get our democracy on! Barry Soetero is so full of crap. If the leadership were wild Muslims and the revolutionaries were Christian or plain anti-Muslim; this shithead would do ALL he could to keep the loony Muzzie dictator in power. Since the dictator was weak-to-moderate in the crazy Muzzie realm...GONE...with Barry being all cool with it...Goodbye western-world economy that once ran productively through the Suez Canal...
Further, how many don't think this sonovabitch Barry is actually a damn Muslim at this point...ANY Muzzie victory and this fag is out there running his mouth in pride over it...Barry NEEDS to do this kind of public speaking in regard to OUR country's situations...like our shit's all perfect here and we NEED to be all in Egypt's business...Ok, true we needed REAL diplomacy here...lead by diplomats smart enough to know the balance of power between extremist useful idiot Muslims (used by the NWO) and the importance of the lesser threat western-friendlier dictator...The end game here is obvious though...HUGE quantities of trade go through the Suez Canal...and NOW that is going to be threatened by the radical Muslim useful idiots (or their faked counterparts)...prices will rise and economic instability will create dramatically destructive events world-wide...weakening the people of the planet into a point of desperation that will lead to more and more slow acceptance of the emerging (from their designed necessity) one world government. So, Barry had a win/win today...Getting to side with the psycho-Muzzies AND fuck up the financial future of the western world even more!
Just on a side note; ATTENTION MUSLIM MORONS! You REALLY think that, once your time of usefulness is up; the New World Order won't ditch you too? If you believe that, you really are a bunch of complete retards! I guess their plan is to takeover control once they get their numbers up...But, guess what...The NWO hates you too...You have a God...Allah...and they want to be the one and only deity in your life...In other words; in time, you will fail too...UNLESS we all succeed in destroying the NWO agenda...which seems less and less and less likely as time feebly marches on...
For those good-hearted hippies out there going, "Well democracy just WON in Egypt;" FUCK YOUR IDIOCY! The New World Order is still running the game over there...and they will soon have MILLIONS of wild and crazy useful idiot Muslims at their direct command (without the western-friendlier dictator jumping in to occasionally put a friendlier face on the NWO and kick the psycho-Muzzies back in their place)...The worst is yet to come from "democracy" being taken by people that don't value its core tenants in a manner which in any way will benefit your life ONE BIT...Say "hi" to higher-priced goods that rely on the Suez Canal region for their origin or transport...and remember what I've typed here...Now, to sway the game, I GUARAN-DAMN-TEE there will be this momentary LOWERING of the prices of goods and services from the Suez Canal region at the command of the Saudi-wing of the NWO that will wish to make the events in Egypt SEEM to have been beneficial to all...That is a bubble that will pop with the sound of a thousand planets exploding...Just wait...Keep thinking...Ask yourself about alleged American symbolism we see all around us...Specifically, ask yourself; "Is THIS coincidence?"
Some people, those that actually knew 2Pac and grieved his "passing," would be extremely pissed off...at first...But, I think it would pass pretty quickly. Imagine being in genuine mourning and near depression over the passing of somebody you cared about and later finding out it was all part of a plan...Yes, you would feel deceived (rightly so) but if you truly had care and concern for that person; you would probably just be happy they weren't really dead and you would most likely try to understand their deception. For you to have truly grieved the "loss" of this hypothetical person, you would have built concrete emotional ties to him or her...within that construct lies the reality of the ability to be understanding and move beyond the feelings associated with the deceptive actions...especially if those actions were something you could see as a feasible "near-necessity." In the case of 2Pac's hypothetical faking of his own death; there may have ultimately been necessary reasons for him having hypothetically faked his death. For instance, IF he were in any manner at odds with Suge Knight; he would have HAD to have known his life was in complete danger...Suge had already (at that point) proven himself to be violent and dangerous beyond...If Pac had knowledge of the following, he could have REALLY panicked and cooked up his death faking plan:
watch at about 2:07
If WE in the public know about that, chances are Suge bragged about it behind the scenes. However, the whole death of Eazy E is of great interest to me too and due to lineage is directly tied to 2Pac...Eric Wright very well may have been Illuminati targeted as well...In other words, he served his purpose as a musical anti-Christ but was starting to get wise to how he was being used as well as had reached a point of a turn-around (post death, it was revealed how Eazy LITERALLY financially transformed Compton into a cleaner, safer and more livable place...He was REALLY charitable before he died...)...He started becoming VERY entrepreneurial and independent-minded (which, aside from taxation, the NWO hates!)...So, for financial expediency on Suge's part ("Dre Day is Eazy's pay day..a % of cash from Death Row to E)...Eazy may have been killed...while protected by the NWO from prosecution. But, like Saddam Hussein, Knight's time is coming...You don't go Scott-free once you've failed the NWO...However, so far, Suge has not failed them...But, just wait until the approach of the 20th anniversary of a lot of these Death Row albums...I have a strong feeling Suge will get his as that time approaches...sickly enough, to SELL MORE ALBUMS (or .mp3s or whatever technology of choice will exist at that time).
Watch this about Eazy:
Layzie-Bone thinks HELLER injected Eazy with AIDS...
So, two injection theories...Heller (industry a-hole that he is, he would be Illuminati-tied...But, C'MON...He was making BIG $$$$ from Ruthless Records...So, I don't really believe that shit...Terminated by E or not, contractual laws exist where Heller would STILL bank on Ruthless and Heller was/is no dummy on contract law)..Plus, consider this...
1) How the hell does the OTHER black celeb with AIDS at the time (Magic Johnson) live this long while Eazy just kills over so quickly?
2) Also, where are Eazy's "whores" that WOULD HAVE come forward to get their "15 minutes" off of the situation...specifically the one that had the claim of passing AIDS to Eazy?
Anyway...my theory...It was mutually beneficial for Eazy to be killed...Suge wasn't wanting to be publicly punked for his money from Dre's HUGE SELLING album and the NWO with their buds in the FCC that control the masses via "media" hadn't calculated the backlash of promoting gangsterism through people like "The Godfather of Gangsta Rap," Eazy E...That backlash can be found in the fact that these armed gangs COULD HAVE (and still could) BECOME WISE TO THE SYSTEM via people like Pac and Eazy (and to a FAR LESSOR EXTENT Biggie)...and if that were to happen a REALISTIC REVOLUTION OF THE PEOPLE could have VERY easily occurred (see the L.A. riots for proof)...The NWO couldn't have that so they used their useful idiots (Suge, MAYBE Heller, maybe some unknown assassin) to change the game...Remember the mourning and changes in rap music (the MOST DOMINATING culturally altering form of music in the history of my lifetime) following the deaths of Eazy and Pac? Everything became this vague bunch of crap about "haters" and "the game?" The NWO, at that point, had hijacked "gangsterism" and put it under a mass-marketing agenda...nullifying it's "street cred/reality" appeal to the young people they were influencing...thus nullifying the potential threat against them...With SUCH A PUBLIC dropping of two prominent figures within the realm of influence; the "violence and taking no shit" game were done in. Instead we got:
Yes, that shit was and is catchy (add that to hype marketing and BOOM...sales a'plenty)...But, it is ALSO lyrically irrelevant...and a contradiction in terms...We went from "Get Money" to "More Money More Problems?" Yup...there's the point...FOR YOU, THE WEAK-WILLED IDIOT MASSES (from the NWO standpoint)...The more money YOU have, the more of a problem it is FOR THEM...Think about that...
Also, take note of the media LOVING Sean "Puff Daddy/P.Diddy/Diddy Dollar/Insert lame nickname here" Combs after all of this. The SAME MEDIA that claimed to hate gangsta rap now promoted (and continues to promote) this dude that was the alleged victim of the lifestyle...The promotion of the victimhood culture contains massive power in that it gives excuses for failure and weakens people. Where people are weakened, they seek strength...The NWO also tries to delete God from the picture (the ULTIMATE strength)...These agendas running in tandem create reliance upon mankind...and the "power" in mankind lies in political leadership...Checkmate for the NWO if any of you have fallen for or are currently falling for this...
..Plus, on a side note:
NWA...."Fuck The Police..." FBI all at their concerts...The feds HAD TO HAVE LEARNED A LOT about this music's influence over the fans...hence a partial source of what they (the feds) were learning about at the time and felt they needed to eventually put a stop to...
Let's look at NWA for a second here:
1. Dre-Great music maker, highly influential...BUT, not loyal to the "G" shit...Further, a HUGE useful idiot for the NWO...One example of MANY:
The symbolism is off the charts with that one...Dre gets a pass from the NWO
2. Ren-Talked down, considered (unjustly) less talented than the rest...a shit talker but without the backing of hype...NWO lets him pass...since he's no real threat...Plus he went Muslim and they LOVE THAT....since the Muslim world contains the new (some would argue ORIGINAL) NWO power base.
3. Yella...Same as Ren without the Muslim thing...Instead, he became a porn producer...another thing the NWO loves for its corruptive effects...so, Yella gets a pass...
4. Ice Cube-Follow the analysis of Dre...Same story, but O'shea Jackson is the BIGGEST SELL-OUT POSSIBLE...One minute gangsta, the next a family man movie maker...This blurring of the lines sets the wrong precedent for weak-willed-influence-ready people...They begin to think something along the lines of, "Hey, I can shoot up the block and wild out too (or at least CLAIM TO)...Then just chill with a family and play Ozzie and Harriet...while still bragging and boasting about being a 'gangsta.'" Yup, I'm sure there's a gang of jailbirds that were lead down that path of bullshit...Hence, Cube is STILL the most useful idiot of the group for the NWO....Hmmm...NWO....NWA...NWO...
5. Eazy E-NEVER sold out the gangsta imagery/lifestyle on the surface...and in media, surface counts above all else...since that is what is most marketable...Behind the scenes was another story...as mentioned before...Hence, Eazy got no pass...
Eazy lead to NWA...which lead to Dre...which lead to Death Row...which lead to Pac's major fame...Eazy was the root of this...The root was killed, thus killing the "tree" that could have branched into actual revolution (and one revolutionary branch WAS killed in the process...Pac)...However, this is all just my theorizing/thoughts on the matter...So, back to the question...Would people be mad at Pac for faking his death? If they had any hint of any piece of the known variables that exist here and those even deeper that only Eazy, Pac and a handful of others knew and know about...NO CHANCE IN HELL WOULD THEY BE MAD AT PAC...In other words, most people would be like:
As MLK day approaches once again; I am sitting here wondering what the agenda is behind the following. Traditional, pre-1990s calendars indicated the following celebrated dates that are now expunged from MOST modern calendars:
January President Fillmore's birthday (b.d.)-7th Composer Steven Foster's b.d.-13th Ben Franklin's b.d.-17th Robert E. Lee b.d.-19th President McKinley-29th Read more about Ben Franklin here
March President Jackson b.d.-15th President Madison b.d.-16th President Cleveland b.d.-18th President Tyler b.d.-29th Read more about Andrew Jackson here
April President Jefferson b.d.-13th President Buchanan b.d.-23rd President Grant b.d.-27th President Monroe b.d.-28th Read more about James Buchanan here
July Battle of Gettysburg (1863)-1st President Coolidge b.d.-4th President John Q. Adams-11th Battle of Bull Run (1861)-21st Postal Service begins (1775)-26th Read more about The Battle of Bull Run here
August President Hoover b.d.-10th Panama Canal completed(1914)-15th President Harrison b.d.-20th Women's Suffrage (1920)-26th Kellog Treaty(1928)-27th Read more about Women's Suffrage here
YET, here we are celebrating (meaning having the day off and having to wait a day late for our mail/banking/etc.) MLK day. This entire premise of discarding our history is part of the typical agenda of minimizing the greatness of our forefathers and of our abilities as a nation. Sure, King was a great speaker in spite of his questionable background (he was a plagiarist among numerous other not-so-"reverend"-like qualities) and he DID create momentary positive changes in the United States (Does this formula sound AT ALL familiar? Let's hope the wicked forces in power don't plan to re-tell the WHOLE story!) but he is no more important than any of the rest of our American forefathers and history. I say that we should include the celebration of King and restore all of our formerly celebrated people/events into the celebration lexicon to eliminate the ongoing strides of revisionist historians. The sad fact is that the death of Dr. King ushered in the likes of Malcolm X and black militancy that still survives as a socially corrosive element of American society today. We SHOULD honor MLK as a memory of the very unity that was emerging through his actions, in stark contrast to the useless violence and angry rhetoric of those on the militant pathway to power and full equality. The very forces that silenced the unity Dr. King spoke of now live on in the retaliative efforts of forces more closely resembling those of Malcolm X's ilk. As social unity was momentarily put to rest via the violent death of MLK; violence and ignorance toward all things race and truth was advanced that tragic day in the United States. This very racial idiocy swings from side to side like a wicked pendulum, from one group to the next and so on and so forth. Vengeance is born and the victors of eternal grudge-holding are by and large responsible for the lack of celebrations of our ACTUAL HISTORY...After all, we are NEVER allowed to celebrate the American events that resulted in our victories and unity as a people because doing so may be seen as "offensive" by some. How dare we feel good about our "evil" country that has oppressed so many, right? This is the typical diluted fool's line of thought that's been forced upon all of us as being "acceptable" for decades now. Further, we wouldn't DARE be allowed to celebrate birthdays of possible "slave owners"(even though 70-80 some odd percent of the founding fathers were NOT slave owners and were IN FACT ABOLITIONISTS)! Part of the dummying-down of the people of this country arrives in the form of revisionist history, but let's just call it what it really is...Satanism...AKA Luciferianism...AKA New World Order agenda driven garbage...Wow! Quite a jump, eh? Well, it is the Christian belief that Satan is the father of LIES...Revisionist history is a collective of LIES...Therefore, one could surmise that revisionist history is the equivalent of a Luciferian tool. This tool has been and continues to be used by those in power to create nothing but division, strife, misery and the increased stupidity of the American people. If we lose our history; we lose the lessons learned and great strides made within that history...lessons we could use now...and for the improvement of our future as a united nation living up to its best and brightest potential...Consider these factors on this, our day off...and rest in peace Martin Luther King Jr.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The cold February winds howl through gray winter skies. The holidays are over, spring is seemingly a lifetime away. The Earth seems a dead shell, awaiting new life. Yes, we are in the typical cycle of life, yet there is nothing typical about the meteoric rise of underground buzz surrounding Punk'n, the blues-rock, psychedelic punk rockin' experience one has to see and hear to believe and understand. We're here with Gary Forney, your master of ceremonies on the audio voyage that is Punk'n.
TD: Gary, I'd like to thank you for allowing another interview. I know life is busy for you and the band at this point.
Gary: "Busy" is relative.. In the overall view of the universe I haven't really been that busy. In the view from the ant hill I suppose I have been.
TD: It's been a successful yet chaotic year for Punk'n, with steady concert gigs, a short film, crazy experiences with the weather and deranged fans, and more potential film work on the way. The chaos has left you feeling dead at some points in recent time and you claim you want to let the world know that you're "back from the dead." Could you elaborate on what you mean by this? Gary: "Dead" is also relative. I guess I meant that the old Iowa Mountain Tour, Off The Charts, and a few other things are dead, at least for me. Punk'N is the new reincarnation of things. No matter what the incarnation though, they are all cloned from the same soul.
TD: Punk'n has become synonymous with everything admired by underground music. The experience that is Punk'n contains modern originality yet reverence for past rock greats, a unique variety of "show" that respects great showmanship of the past and a following that is eclectic yet focused on getting the most one can get out of a live musical experience. In this day and age of limited creativity in the musical/entertainment realm, how do you stay original and creative? What artists of yesterday and today inspire Punk'n to remain a unique force in the underground music scene?
Gary: In the words of Johnny Cash, "Black was the only shirt we all had. If we could play different, we would." The best way to explain things on "backgrounds and influences"Josh and I each have our own. I can't speak for Josh. I bring a strange mix of art and root music. For those that don't know, I was an art student at the University of Northern Iowa.My mother was also an artist. So were her ancestors. Mom could also play accordion. So,art definitely enters the equation. I really loved the surrealists, Salvador Dali, AndyWarhol and Marcel Duchamp are personal favorites. Art is a definite influence that I bring to the table. That accounts for the films and a few things. Musically, growing up in a small town in the midwest, I bring a lot of "root" music into things. I went to a small rural elementary school where I learnt all the great old folk and cowboy songs. At the same time my family went to an old time southern Baptist Church. There I learnt the great old time gospel songs. Can we still call them "Negro Spirituals" At home, it was before TV reached poor people and entertainment came from the radio or old records. I had three sisters so I heard all the teen idols of the fifties! My late father also played a lot of old blues on 78 RPM records. The evolution of rock paralleled my growing up and coming of age. I was born in the 50's, came of age in the 60's, was on my own in the 70's. So,all those things were absorbed by me like a sponge. They mixed together and what you hear and see, experience is the resulting mix. Of course that all gets mixed with Josh's influences.
TD: I've heard rumors that Doc Rhythm, your percussionist has been considering a solo career. I know you've had problems seeing eye-to-eye in the past and have been reported as saying in a past interview that you believed the Doc "had no soul" but, do you believe the Doc and Punk'n can work out their differences?
Gary: Oh yeah! The good Doctor will either do what I say or will be replaced. I am innegotiations with a Japanese drummer if the Doc doesn't work out.
TD: Early reviews of your short film "Message from Space" have called the short clip a "revolutionary voyage drifting between light satire and omniscient telephoto insanity."Would you care to respond to this viewpoint regarding your film?
Gary: Yeah, with a "Huh?!"
TD: If you were given unlimited funds to produce a big screen feature film, who would you cast in it and what would the story-line be?
Gary: I would really like to do my own life story. The trouble would be how to end it.Maybe several alternate endings? Failing that opus, I wouldn't mind doing any of the other "Plans from Outer Space." So far we have only seen Plan Nine. What about the other eight? Were there plans beyond nine, such as ten and up? Be worth exploring. TD: You have a new tour in the works and your fans need to know immediately: When are these concerts and where will they be performed? Also, is there free beer at any of these venues? Gary: No free beer. I am performing at all-ages venues this tour. We will be at Swing State in Lake Villa, Illinois on April 23rd and 24th. The 23rd we will be screening Puppystarring Calico Cooper. Also doing a set. We will be joined by "Let's Get Out Of ThisTerrible Sandwich Shop," whom I am trying to get to change their name. LOL. Maybe to "Sammich Shop" On the 24th we will be doing "song poem night," which should be interesting. We will attempt to write songs on the spot and let the bad notes fly where they may. We will be being joined by "Sandwich Shop" again and also "The Oliver Twists" and "Nonagon." Come both nights to get the full experience! At this time, mid February, I am also talking with another venue who may have us for April 25th. It's not definite yet, but looks good. Check my website at www.punkn.org under appearances for updates [ to just about everything going on ]. We will also be at The Straight Edge in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on May 2nd.
TD: What would you do if you found people bootlegging your merchandise outside of one of your concerts? Would it be Chuck Norris style skull cracking time or what?
Gary: Why should I care? Actually, I do find it at times. I found someone trying to sell copies of "Mojo Bone" online. They gave us credit and a glowing review of the song! So, I let it go. There was also the Southern Sea with their song "Iowa Mountain Tour." They hadn't asked permission, so at first I was leary. I listened to it. It wasn't bad, if a little off center. I let it go too. The thing is I am not getting rich, doubt they are either. If some one were to start getting rich off my stuff it might be a different story. Meanwhile I don't see where it hurts.
TD: What is the one message you wish to send to your fans at this time?
Gary: "THINK!" Put that message on a big sign somewhere. Doesn't matter what you think, just think! If I could add to that message: THINK FOR YOURSELF!. Don't let someone else tell you what music is, art is, who you are! THINK. And if allowed two more messages: EXPERIENCE and CREATE!
TD: What it the one message you wish to send to the trouble makers and demented people you deal with at this time? Gary: I AM NOT GOING AWAY! If it bothers you that I am still here, GREAT! TD: A rather typical question for you: What was the last great movie you saw, one which inspired you? One that spoke to you? One that was just damn fun to watch? Gary: I really liked WALK THE LINE. Also BELIEVERS. IRON MAN.
TD: If you had this lifetime to live over again, what would be the primary elements you would change or would you even wish to change anything?
Gary: I may already be living this live over. How would I know? I may keep living it over and over. I would chose a different father...maybe. Also maybe do some things younger than I did, but then, if I had or would, the timing might not be right. TD: 2012 is said to be the last year of humanity, according to numerous calendars. If you knew this to be true, what would you rush to do before the arrival of 2012?
Gary: The Mayans said that! They are gone! Are you familiar with the Ghost Dancers? The last year of "humanity" That's an interesting word. What does it mean? Suppose I told you that my own world would end on November 24th, 2026? Would it mean anythingto anyone else? [ go to www.deathclock.com ] The End, is relative. TD: I know you're not a major fan of discussing politics, but I have to ask and I'll keep this short: Newsweek Magazine has recently claimed on its cover that "We Are All Socialists Now." Did you ever perceive a day when the United States would turn toward Socialism? As someone that lived through the "us verses the establishment" era, how do you feel now that the "us" has become the establishment only to allegedly turn Socialist?
Gary: Didn't "Them" win the war of "Us vs Them" We learnt our own fathers would and could kill us at Kent State! Jim Morrison must have been horrified. There are two separate theories on the continued evolution of "Mankind" [ there's that strange word again ]. One says that through racial blending we will become one golden race. The other says that through our basic animal instincts we will remain separate tribes. Then there are always the non-tribal lone wolves. As much as possible I try to remain a wolf. My least known album was "The Wolf's Prayer." What I am saying is I try to remain apart from the golden race/giant family/Big Brother.
TD: What would you do if Socialism got out of control and tried to shut Punk'n down? How would you combat such evil in this hypothetical time?
Gary: By following this great advice. "To thine own self be true!". In other words "keep on keepin' on!"
TD: I know you worked in television for a while there, producing the very enjoyable "Let's Talk Music." If you had an opportunity to do more television, what sort of show would you produce and who would star in it?
Gary: Man, I would love, just love, to do my own "reality" show! Just have a few cameras follow me around for awhile. TD: People have claimed that "Hip Hop is Dead," and still others have claimed that the media itself is dying out. What are your thoughts on these matters? Do you agree that certain music or media forms die or do they merely remain dormant until a new fan base emerges? Do you perceive of a time when Punk'n may die and be reborn to future generations?
Gary: Andy Warhol's "fifteen minutes of fame:" Why do some artists want more? Each act of creation has its beginning and end. One day I might say a particular thing. When I say something else the next day, it doesn't mean the previous day was invalid. Just that time moves on. Certain things remain true though. There will always be music. It just moves from note to note. All part of the vast harmony or lost chord. It would be a little presumptuous to predict Punk'n future. I just hope what I have created amounts to something and lives on. It's much like every parent hopes for their children. Since Punk'n has some deep roots, I hope it will "leave a mark."
TD: Your new tour is in the works. Any new merchandising on its way as well?
Gary: We have T-Shirts now, but I don't really promote merch. If people feel a need in these economic times to buy something, buy my CDs, films, Digital Down loads, etc.That's more important than drinking some beer I might endorse. LOL. Corona on ice is Punk'n's beer of choice!
TD: Fans oftentimes wish to read or view more about their idols within the media. Is there any chance of a new edition of your autobiography or a possibility that you will do an autobiographical feature film? Gary: Ah, there have been yearly updates to my autobiography. In 2007 there was "BEYOND THE CHARTS." In 2008 there was "YEAR OF THE PUNK'N." Look for them. I also really want to write a book of fiction, and more poetry.I keep trying to think of a way to do a film. I just hesitate making some self-centered film about myself. You know? I would rather someone else did [ a self-centered film about me LOL ]
TD: I would like to thank you once again for taking time out of your busy schedule to be a part of this interview. Please, if you don't mind, reiterate when and where your next gigs will be and also, in closing what do you wish to leave the readers with A message? A thought? A motto perhaps?
Gary: THERE ARE THINGS KNOWN AND THINGS UNKNOWN AND IN BETWEEN IS A PUNK'N PATCH.. Jim Morrison would have said that, if he was smart. But, he wasn't. He's dead. Jim won't be back.
Dr. Jimmy Freeze, a Vietnam Veteran turned broadcasting professor, discovers the villains of his past are still up to their old and deadly game. Freeze is forced back into the picture to right unsettled wrongs.
The time is September 2008, the place is the electronic realm we all know and love and the subject matter is “Punk’n,” the semi-underground rockin’ experience provided by Gary and Josh Forney. This interview follows a hugely successful concert 9 days ago in Washburn Iowa. Tony Downs: So, what is the next step for “Punk’n?” Gary Forney: I don't really know. We are already booked into Chicago almost a year in advance. We might play three places over one weekend, which will be a record for us. We are lucky to perform two places in a year, so multiple bookings is pretty amazing. It seems Punk'N is taking off a lot faster than the IMT ever did. I think it's due to the blues material, which people understand. Almost everything IMT did sailed over people's heads. They just didn't get the surrealism, the art, the satire. There was the Gilbert Shelton tribute in “Chicken Insurrection,” The Doors quotes in “Three-Eyed Boy,” etc. Anyway, getting back to Punk'N; I guess, for the next step, we'd like two things. One is to leave the IMT behind. The other would be to do another film. A film would help things right now.
Tony Downs: Sounds like a great line-up of plans there. It seems that, from what I’ve read, the Washburn concert was rather different from the rest in some ways. What made the Washburn concert unique? Gary Forney: Actually, I made a little geographical error. The concert was in Waterloo, Iowa. See, Washburn is a suburb of Waterloo. The roadhouse we performed at was on the border I guess. Maybe it just depended on the side of the street it was on. The main thing unique about the Waterloo/Washburn concert was the plans to document the entire event. We hired a professional photographer to take photos of the entire event. We hired our usual studio to record us live. Our resident videographer also video-recorded everything. A great last minute surprise was when Jeff Isaac, our producer, showed up for our show. Jeff had a massive stroke in late 2006. We hadn't seen him since. It was great to see him doing well, and lending us support. The hall had great acoustics too. So many halls don't. The concert was also very rare for us. We don't perform in Iowa often. We get offers, but somehow seldom play in our home state. I think the last time was October of 2005 with the modern day black-face act Leslie Hall and the Lys.
Tony Downs: That reads like a world of pluses there. Speaking of “pluses,” financially this time, do you have any new merchandise on its way to the market?
Gary Forney: Not yet, but soon. Due to the heavy documenting of the last show, we should have some new stuff soon. By the first of October (2008) there should be a "live" CD! There are also plans for a photo-journal. There will most likely also be a new video or two. There are some vague plans to film another “Punk'N The Movie,” or maybe assemble a documentary. The main new merchandise will be the new CD. It will feature us during a full half hour show. A few new songs too.
Tony Downs: People, LOOK for that and buy it when it’s released. You won’t regret it one bit! Well, to side-step the average questions here: If you had a dream concert, a Lollapalooza-style event, what other artists/groups would you like “Punk’n” to appear with?
Gary Forney: I'd love to perform with Robbie Fulks again. I also think I'd love to gather a few of the "outsider bands". I am a big fan of "The Legendary Stardust Cowboy", and "Crazy Amy" (Hasil Adkins' "widow"). There are a few others too. I would love to play for a few thousand drunken people in a football field sized arena. People who wouldn't catch the vibes, or understand them. It would be interesting to bounce our music off their heads, like a full can of beer.
Tony Downs:Moving on with the interview here: An odd hypothetical question here: If it were possible for there to be a “battle of the bands: Iowa Mountain Tour (you and Josh’s former musical incarnation) verses Punk’n;” who would win? Gary Forney: The IMT had a very limited song list. You have no idea how many "concerts" amounted to us just doing one or two songs. The IMT had an interesting acoustic sound though. Josh used to play 12 string. Some of the influences are still there. Punk'N is a lot harder rocking blues band. Since we added our drummer, Dr. Rhythm, it freed Josh up to float some amazing riffs over the drum sounds creating a great new sound. So, I would say Punk'N would blow the IMT off the stage! Actually, we have already started blowing other bands off the stage!!
Tony Downs: That’s great! I had heard that Punk’n had stepped up the game. In fact, I heard through the net-vine that you have completely technologically upgraded your stage show and media-accumulation entourage. Could you tell all of us a little about that? Gary Forney: Well, we went completely 60's retro at our last show. Rather than laser lights, we used a 3-M projector, antique clock crystals, colored oils and water. We did use a modern fog machine, but it was used sparingly. For our main "Fog," we used the old method of dry ice in hot water. It creates a truly great effect that a fog machine just can't. We also have speaker stands now. We use a stand for our P.A. system head, etc. A few other colored flashing lights. Don't look for us to drag it all to Chicago though. We might lug some of it, but not all of it. Maybe when we are big time enough to have a roadie crew or something. I don't see it in the near future. Look for it on the new video!
Tony Downs: That’s cool that you’re going back to the “old school” realm of stage-effects. Too many groups rely on the same ol’/same ol’. Well, just for another path to take here. You mentioned Chicago, and the media’s been pushing Chi-town community organizer Barack Obama for president, then on the other side you’ve got McCain/Palin…and then somewhere in the middle you have a lot of the country distrusting every bit of this “political show.” Speaking from the “middle ground;” how do you feel about the “9/11 Truth Movement?”
Gary Forney: I am not sure what you are referring to. I am not really very political. I do wonder why I hear the Bush administration had memos 3 months before the attack warning him about the possibility of an attack, then they did nothing. I also wonder why high ranking D.C. military officers were warned not to fly that day. I am also very suspicious of how easily both buildings just collapsed. The whole 9/11 thing is just too immense to really get into. I hope you spell check this! LOL
Tony Downs: I always run spell-check…If I didn’t my interview questions would read like a 4th grader wrote them…and I like to keep my work on that ‘slow 7th grader level my readers expect of me! In fairness, here’s some links to help y’all make up your own minds:
Tony Downs: From what I’ve read and from what reveals itself in the media, I have less and less faith in the political system. I don’t 100% believe in a “shadow government,” but there seems to be a growing validity that such a thing does exist. Do you believe that an “illuminati” or “New World Order” exists and affects us all?
Gary Forney: Why are we getting so political all of a sudden? The hidden eye that watches us all? Big Brother is here! He was busy in 1984 preparing his arrival is all. Tony Downs: Why am I getting political? Well, I had to be selfish and indulge my own interests for a minute…and continuing on that path…On religion: Do you believe in the “End Times?” If you do, do you believe we are currently living in that time-frame? Gary Forney: No, I don't! There have been dozens of "End Times"! The plague wiped out over a third of the world. Outside of on commercials for insurance, when was it you last saw a cave man? Their "Doom Clock" struck the midnight hour, but life went on. How about the Aztecs, Incas, Sioux, etc? There have been countless cultures and peoples who have faced their final hour. We might be in the fall of the Roman Empire now, but life will go on. Maybe in a Mad Max kind of way. But, it will probably go on.... without us!
Tony Downs: Interesting perspective, breaking down the “end times” into compartmentalized eras that do less to effect a ceasing of the Earth at large and more to do with the extinction of specified cultures/nations. That makes very logical sense and I agree on the “Mad Max” style future. Never seen it? Check out this clip from “JimLad800” of Youtube:
And for the record, Wikipedia can be a helpful resource, but the entity is ran by absolutely unprofessional web-nerds with an axe to grind against anyone that does not march in lock-step with their nerd-dom. For more information on why I type that, email me at: internetjunky1975@yahoo.com or look up Gary Forney on the web and ask him. Tony Downs: A truly historical piece of morbid 1980’s action cinema…Speaking of history: If you could have been any historical figure, who would you have been?
Gary Forney: Hmm. I like being me. I hope I will emerge as a historical figure. If not, maybe a hysterical figure? Let's see... Edgar Allan Poe! I like him. Or Omar Khayyam. Maybe even Emily Dickinson...I think a poet from the past.
Tony Downs: Speaking of the physically dead that still speak to the masses: If you were to have a séance, who would you try to contact and why?
Gary Forney: I wouldn't. The first person that comes to mind is my father, and I don't want to talk to him! If the dead have an issue, I feel they should contact us! Here's the deal, anyone can talk to the dead, but when they start answering I think you have a problem. There is also the possibility of demons or something else possibly evil pretending to be the dead. Don't try to contact me when I am gone. Just let me rest. I would like to know what some deceased people thought or might think now, but I kind of know that if they really had something to say they would have said it while alive. I really don't know what to think of ghosts and spirit orbs though. I have seen both. Are they the dead though? I don't have the answer to every spiritual or supernatural question. To quote the Moody Blues, "I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band"! Tony Downs: Interesting. I too have seen many unexplainable odd potential-hallucinations or realistic spiritual beings, both when wasted and completely sober. On that: If you could use any illicit substance without any negative legal or health consequences, what would you use and why? Gary Forney: If it weren't for the legal consequences, I would still smoke pot! Well, maybe not smoke it, maybe eat it in brownies. I am a non smoker. LOL. I would also do LSD or Peyote about once a year. No more than that! Possibly as part of a Native American belief system. I haven't tripped in over 35 years. Don't miss it either. Try reading a book! It's mind-expanding without side effects (sort of!). Reading does lead to thinking!
Tony Downs: Y’all read that, “books! Check ‘em out!” as they used to say on local TV in Wichita way back.
Books, check ‘em out ad:
Speaking of “way back,” let’s cut way back to Punk’n here. Yes, I am the segue-way king!: when is the next installment in the franchise going to be available to the public? Gary Forney: Look for the live album very very soon. Tony Downs: We fans’ll do that. Also the possible documentary is in the works as you said earlier. Could you elaborate on that a bit?
Gary Forney: I always hesitate when it comes to announcing projects. I was to work with Troma films. I announced it, and my stalker contacted them pretending to be me and ruined it! I announced my possible appearance on a national TV show, same thing happened. Last summer, a Paramount Films executive, Luke Ryan, was talking to me about a possible project. That one just fell through, I think due to the writer's strike. Anyway, YES! There may be a documentary! There is a ton of video and audio of us dating back years! Right now, we are talking to several producers; yet are also still looking for someone wanting to do the project. Maybe I'll do it. I studied film. Who knows? I do believe there will be a film though. Just not sure when. Tony Downs: Well, a currently finished project, your recent concert, was just glowingly reviewed by noted musical insider ANGRY FOYER, where you were once again compared to Jim Morrison. Do you ever get tired of that comparison? If Jim were alive now, what would you say to him? If "Mr. Mojo Risin’" and Punk’n were to perform together; what song would you like to perform and why?
Gary Forney: The main similarity between Jim Morrison and me is we are both poets first. We are both blessed and cursed with genius level IQs. I drink, but not like Morrison, wouldn't even want to try. I am all right with the comparison, but there are a ton of differences too. IF Jim were still alive, and he is NOT (get over it ); I would recommend de-toxing and getting away. I read where he did try, but it was too late. It's too bad, but the legend probably wouldn't exist if Jim aged into a fat old drunk... I would like to perform any of the longer songs, “The End,” “When The Music's Over,” or maybe the lesser known "Rock Is Dead." I did the “Celebration of the Lizard” in high school. I'd really love to recite poetry together in a studio! “An American Prayer” rocked! I would want to perform material together that showed us both to be poets first and all the rest after!
Tony Downs: For those that don’t know Morrison’s work (and you’d have to practically be a Commie for that to be the case…haha), check this video clip out:
“Rock is Dead” Jim Morrison, posted by “obrez” over on Youtube:
Tony Downs: Well, in my opinion, Jim Morrison probably would have appreciated that answer above more of the “radio friendly” potential answers, like “I’d like to perform ‘L.A. Woman’ with Morrison…” (or similar). After all, and according to numerous biographical sources, he was a poet first…and, at the end of it all, remained a poet, as evidenced by “An American Prayer.” To close out this interview, I want everybody reading to watch the following video:
“An American Prayer” Jim Morrison, music by the Doors, posted by “shatterdwing” over on Youtube:
Tony Downs: Gary, thanks for taking the time to catch up with your fans. Make plans for a road-trip to Chicago….Do yourself a favor and see Punk’n in 2009….OR BEFORE IF POSSIBLE…For now, plan that April 2009 road-trip...
