ETHAN VIRALE
ZEKE BASS
GUITAR
COM
TRIS DRUMS
MCBAD
INTERVIEW FROM 'THE EYE'
WITH "MCRAD"
The new killer skate band McHad
exploded onto the Philly hardcore
scene bringing us diversity and vir-
tuosity as a musical experience.
Hardcore, reggae, dub, heavymetal,
jazz, funk, pop, and the skatedge,
are what make McRad. Chuck
Treece sponsored Philly skater total-
ly shreds on guitar, bass and drums.
Tristan, a recent alien from Amster-
dam gives the band that certain in-
ternational Intrigue. Tristan plays
drums, bass, guitar and sings. Zeke
Zagar, south street's veteran hard-
core sponsored skater jams out on
bass, guitar and vocals. Ethan Jar-
vis, longtime Philly thrasher finally
takes to the stage and tears it up
with hardcore vocals. Check these
guys out along with the nine other
bands on Philly hardcore compila-
tion, so you can hear for yourself
that Philly shreds.
This Interview was conducted on
October 18th, 1983.
Eye: Since you guys are all skat-
ers how does skating Influence
your music?
C: When I'm skating I'm thinking
about music. When I'm sitting at
home thinking about skating this
music is always running through my
brain. All these thoughts keep com-
ing, it's like brain storming. If I have a
guitar around, the music just goes
right on the guitar. Most of it is like
aggressive type thought.
Z: When I skateboard, you know, I
ride trying to do more and more
42
LOVE
tricks in one run; when I play music I
want to play all different styles with
the same energy, doing my best.
T: When you skate there is a certain
freedom, no one can stop you; the
same thing is true with music.
Eye: How long have you been
skating and what terrain have you
ridden?
Z: In '77 or 78 I skated at this place
near my house where kids used to
build all different kinds of ramps. I've
skated all different terrain: pools,
ramps, halfpipes, banks, streets,
and full pipes.
Eye: Full pipes! Where?
Z: Mexico.
C: I've been skating for six years. I
started off riding sidewalks. After
that I went to a park in Delaware that
was basically just banks, but they
had a halfpipe that was vertical. I've
been to Cherry Hill, Apple, Kona,
and then out to Ca.
E: I've skated for six years, but only
on streets.
T: I started skating in the streets in
76 and then on homemade ramps.
In '78 they built a skatepark in Am-
sterdam and there was a team
which I used to be on. Then that all
broke down and there was only one
halfpipe left in Amsterdam where
everyone used to hang out in gang
formation.
Eye: How long have you played
music and who has inspired your
music?
E: I haven't been singing too long,
but I've been playing drums for two
years. For hardcore music I like to
listen to Iron Maiden and Venom.
For reggae I like Yellow Man and Dil-
lenger.
T: I played guitar seven years, bass
three years and drums two years. I
grew up to Lou Reed, David Bowie,
Velvet Underground, and Bob Mar-
ley; then I got into British punk with
the Pistols, Sham 69, Theatre of
Hate and Basement 5. For reggae I
like almost anything that has to do
with Lovers Rock or Toasting. I like a
lot of soul too, with James Brown
and Otis Redding
Z: I've been playing bass for three
years and I just mess around on
other instruments. For hardcore I to-
tally like the Bad Brains because
they give out that fierce energy that I
like. For reggae I like the Medita-
tions, Nickodemus, Dennis Brown
and the Bad Brains.
C: I've been playing drums since I
was about six, guitar for about one
year and bass for 2% years. In the
beginning it was James Brown, Jimi
Hendrix, and Buddy Miles who in-
spired me to play drums. When I
was 14 or 15 I started getting into lis-
tening to bass and guitar players.
Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorious
for bass and John McLaughlin and
Al Dimeola for guitar. Then in '82 in
Delaware I got into hardcore with
Black Flag and Fear and then about
a year ago I got into reggae with
Dennis Brown and Toasting
Eye: Who has Influenced your
skating?
T: Shogo Kubo, Stacy Peralta, Tony
Alva.
E: Just kids in the neighborhood.
C: Stacy Peralta, Mike Jezz, Steve
Hirsch, Tom Groholski.
Z: Tony Alva, Brad Bowman, Steve
Caballero, Mike Jezz, Jamie God-
frey, Victor Perez.
Eye: How did you get into reggae?
Z: My dad and his friends used to lis-
ten to it and then I saw the Bad
Brains. I liked reggae, but it wasn't
until McRad that I really got into it.
E: First with the Bad Brains and then
McRad I learned a lot about Toast-
ing, and I really got into it.
C: I didn't really get into it until after
getting into McRad, where it seemed
natural for the band to play reggae.
T: About eleven years ago I started
listening to Bob Marley. In 78 or 79
all the punk bands started breaking
up. I got real heavily into reggae and
joined a reggae band in Amsterdam.
Reggae has the same sort of rebel-
lious spirit that hardcore does.
Eye: What do you say to people
who say reggae should be left to
black people to play?
T: It's all white people who say that.
I've always had black people totally
get into it when they see how much
I'm into the music. Color is not im-
portant in music. Anyone who says it
is should fuck off!!
Eye: Do you feel there is a future
In the hardcore scene?
C: There is a future but not as far as
making money or getting famous to
a mass quantity of people. There is a
future in building yourself and your
musical career. In hardcore original-
ity is what you go for, and that chal-
lenge always makes you a better
person.
Eye: Do you see more people get-
ting away from programmed rock
and into hardcore?
Everyone: Yeah! Definitely.
C: I see more and more people add-
ing on to their programmed rock
roots but I don't think a lot of people
will ever give them up.
Eye: Why do you think people are
holding onto those rock roots?
C: It's a cultural thing. Hardcore is a
step above rock 'n roll. It's just a lot
faster, but it's got the same basic
feeling. A lot of kids are putting hard-
core into their musical vocabulary.
Eye: What's it like to be on a rec-
ord?
T: It's great to know that more and
more people can get into the things
that you make. Music is just a piece.
of art and the best way for a band to
show its art is to do gigs. Since we're
in school the best way we can per-
form our art is on record, so it's great
for us to be on a record.
C: A record always keeps you on top
because you always have to top
what you've already done.
Eye: Do you have any closing
comments?
T: Keep skating.
C: Definitely keep skating. Do as
many things as possible. Whatever
you feel is right for yourself, go for it.
Go to shows!
E:
Z: Don't put someone down for hav-
ing long hair. Let people do what
they want to do. Keep Skating!!
Write:
McRad
5616 Cedar Ave.
Phila., Pa. 19143
Conted from
Juan became like, his guardian angel. He said that as long as they stuck
together, that they'd be okay. They survived out of every one they started
out with, and the thought of that always blew his mind from time to time.
Then he started telling me things that he probably really wasn't supposed
to. You see after Pops was discharged, Juan stayed in and went on to
learning technical stuff. He actually was involved with alot of the progress
in the beginning stages of computer technology. So he knows a lot of shit
I guess. Apparently, he adapted well to computers and when he finally got
out, he got the biggest offers for the biggest jobs in the biggest corporation.
"So why was he on a ten speed?"
"I don't know. He has a Corvette and a Lamborghini in his garage. Did
you see the bike though? It's a two thousand dollar graphite thing. Anyway,
Pops tells me that Juan landed some job for a firm that makes parts for
cable technology. Something about having thirty different engineers
design a part apiece, for a specific transmitter or receiver, I forget which.
Anyway, each engineer didn't know what the other one was working on.
Well, Juan put all of the parts together. He was the only one. It's an
important machine."
"That's heavy." Hellrita again began gyrating up the walls and main-
tained a steady grinding nature. I loved her riding style. She was graceful.
But too bad that she insists on being a bitch. She started doing back to
back frontside grinds. Each successful one radically different than the
next. I looked back towards the '56 and could see the top of Juan's head
bopping around. I looked at the horizon, realizing the sun was going to bed
in about five minutes. That meant that the mosquitoes would be out any
second. Besides, the stench was only tolerable for so long.
We took a few more runs apiece. I twisted my wrist a little on a layback
air, so I figured that was it for today. It was pitch dark out when we hit the
road back into town. Juan had calmed down and was laying back on the
seat. He was mumbling.
"It's like Michael Jackson said, 'It doesn't matter what's wrong or what's
right, just beat it! You just got to beat it."
Jesus Christ Eddy-Boy, Hondon's a freakin' Michael Jackson fan!"
"I know, I hate it when he goes on the Michael Jackson tangent." I
turned, "Hey, shut up! I can put up with all that other crap, but when it
comes to Michael Jackson...well...that's where I draw the line. I'm sick
of running into people talking about him. You hear me? First he saturates
the airwaves and then he methodically wins a million awards, just because
his poor excuse for Homo-pablum-pop-sanitized r & b music goes right
down this nation's throat. To top it off he dates Brooke Shields." I was
pissed.
Take me to the East side and drop me off. I won't bother you any more."
I sort of felt a little bummed for shooting off at the mouth to him like that.
"Sorry Juan, it's just that talk of M.J. makes me crazy."
"Hey Hondon, what's all this stuff you've been ranting and raving about
supposed to add up to?"
"Well, it all amounts to the end. The way Nostradamus put it, basically,
was that in the year 1999 there would be a cataclysm, not the end of the
world, but the end of a period and the birth of a new age. It'll be ushered
in with earthquakes and a double eclipse of the moon and sun. He foretold
of millions of troops marching across Prussia and that's happening as I
speak. But my ancestors, they also fit into this. Back, many centuries ago,
a European explorer Cortez came to the South American continent and
betrayed the Aztec empire by pilfering secrets from the king's daughter
while they made love. It was at this time that Cortez learned of where the
Aztecs mined the precious gold metal that was abundant in their society.
You see, the Indians were very naive and idealistic at that time. Basically,
they were pretty wound up on drugs. They were the earliest drug culture
known, Opiates, and coca leaves were their major substance. Long before
Cortez came, other visitors came. These were from out of space."
"Bullshit," cried Hellrita.
"Whatever you want to think, but I'm telling you the truth. Anyway, the
space ship people were impressed with the Aztec ability to travel within
their minds, and the Aztecs, likewise were intrigued by the space people's
ability to travel through space. The Aztecs built great temples and
chronological time-tables, devising a calendar, all through the space
people's influences. The timetables also predict the future and foretell
things not unlike what Nostradamus says. Even to Haley's comet which is
to pass again next year, nineteen eighty five. Soon after that will come
famine, etc. The second coming of the people's savior. The divided people.
Things are coming to a hit, my little ones. I pity your futures. What ties this
together, is what you cannot know in detail. But of what I know about the
people in the real high places, it all falls into place in obvious detail as to
the outcome. There's no way around it. The courtship between Cortez and
the princess resulted in an offspring. That genetic line ends with me, Juan
Dominic Cortez.
"Shut the headlights and pull over here. Use the parking brake to stop.
O.K. here." He handed me a folded up piece of paper.
"Here, you don't know what you've done for me. This is for you two, don't
open it till you're well away." He opened the door and ran off into the night.
That was the last we, or anybody, ever saw of Juan.
We drove on down the highway a mile or two before a large pickup truck
with a heavy duty grill and one headlight sped past in the other direction.
"What's in the paper, what's in the paper?" she cried. I opened the paper
to a crystal glimmer, and Hellrita's eyes almost fell out of her head.
COLLECTORS!
1981 Vol. 1
THRASHE
BACK
ISSUES!
1. JAN-Gold Cup Finale. In the Street, Downhill, S-SOLD OUT
2. FEB-Lakewood Pro/Am, Berkeley Sessions, Community Skateparks
3. MAR-LA Skatepark Paradise, Modem Moves, ASPO, Eastern Front
4. APR-LA Parks part II, Mission: Possible, Pipes, Ollies, Dallas
5. MAY-Skate City Pro/Am, Streets, Sweden, Florida, SOLD OUT
6. JUN-Colton Spring Nationals, Pro set-ups, Secret SSOLD OUT
7. JUL-Ramp Raging, Exposure, Morro Bay slalom, Apple skatepark,
8. AUG-Maximum Downhill, Controlled Insanity. Baldy, na SOLD OUT
9. SEP-Kona Summer Nationals, Great Canadians. Skatepark death.
10. OCT-Del Mar Pro/Am, Ramp Ranch, Capitola Classic, SOLD OUT
11. NOV-Operation Infiltration, Pool mercs, Wimpy skaten SOLD OUT
12. DEC-San Diego style, 1982 Pic calendar, Indoor skat SOLD OUT
1982 Vol.
1. JAN-Mike Smith, Photograffim, Lakewood
Texas Fall Series
2. FEB-Radical Manifesto, $1,000 Pomona Contest, Steve Caballero.
3. MAR-Duane Peters, Desert ramp. Fresno, Summit ramp contest.
4. APR-Catalina Island, Parking garages, Looking down the gutter.
5. MAY/JUN-Stacy Peralta, Edge of speed, Photograffitt, KAATIK fits
6. JUL-Upland Pro/Am, Texas madness, Micke ALba, Sweden's hot.
7. AUG-Jay Adams, Rusty Harris Series-Whitter, Ohio, Nor Cal
8. SEPT-Paramount freestyle, Kona Nationals. Flat-freestyle, Sides.
9. OCT-Rusty Harris finals-Del Mar, Freestyle. Eurocana. East Coast
10. NOV-Worldskabe 82. The Calgarians, Capitola Classic, Comix
11. DEC-Skate & Destroy, Competition wrap up, Pool Party, Heavy metal.
1983 Vol.
1. JAN-Mile High Ramp, Lance Mountain, Calendar, Competitic SOLD OUT
2. FEB-Upland Xmas Classic, 82-83 review preview, Steve Alba, Ramp Building
3. MAR-Whittier Xmas Classic, Taking killer photos. Billy Ruff, Skaterock
4. APR-Great Desert Ramp Battle, Wild in the Streets, Ramp Building Part 2
5. MAY-Del Mar Pro/Am, Example; San Jose, Modem Skate Comix, Photograffit
6. JUN-S.F. Streetstyle, East Coast Thaw Out. No. B.S. Sequences,
7. JUL-Skalerock Weekend, Backyard America, Photograffiti SOLD OUT
8. AUG-Joe's Ramp Jam, Upland Summer World Series, Spot Check, Red Devil's
9. SEPT-Six Important Questions, Easter Summer Tour, Rad ISOLD OUT
10. OCT-Eurocana Sum. Camp, Annandale Ramp, Oceanside Del Mar. Ve SOLD OUT
11. NOV-Midwest Melee, Capitola Classic, Mike McGill Interview, Skating in the City.
12. DEC-Mystery Lance's, Concrete Criminals, Skate Views, Competition SOLD OUT
1984 Vol. IV
1. JAN-Dallas, SUAS Finals, Snapbacks 1983, School's Back SOLD OUT
2.FEB-St. Pete Jam, Skate Comix, Ramp Building Part 1, Ska SOLD OUT
BACK ISSUES! $3.00 each
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Adurust
State
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Enclosed is a check or money order for S.
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