stupids
90
Interview by Pushead
Photos by M.Fo
When you think of comedy in
England, it's the madcap humor of
Monty Python's Flying Circus and
Benny Hill that usually comes to mind.
You probably don't think of a
humorous hardcore outfit, especial-
ly one called The Stupids. Yet, since
their creation through a cor-
respondence ad in Punk Lives (a slick
and glossy punk People), the Stupids
have risen to an unexpected level of
popularity for their genre.
Originally named The Deads, The
Stupids got their moniker from a
band-chosen list of some 90 names.
Their first demo, "Fat, Drunk and
Stupid" got them a second guitarist
and they recorded another demo
which landed them a gig with the U.K.
Subs. With their third demo, "Leave
Your Ears Behind" and the help of
scenester Dig, The Stupids got a
record deal and the assault began.
With "Violent Nun," a 7-inch Ep, the
"Peruvian Vacation," "Retard Picnic,"
"Van Stupid" and "Jesus Meets The
Stupids" Lps, success seems in-
evitable for The Stupids. Their simple,
harmonic hardcore punk sound
blends with a strange, sarcastic
humor that gets people rocking and
still leaves them guessing.
We recently cornered Tommy
Stupid at a local bait and tackle shop
(he had flown all the way from the U.K.
to buy high quality American equip-
ment). He agreed to give us an inter-
view if we'd publish a list of the best
Smug, sarcastic, serious-the full range of Tommy Stupid.
worm spots in the US, but we lied.
You've had a few member changes
since the Stupids were formed,
and you're the only original
member. Is that because you're a
difficult person to get along with?
I should think so. In the studio I don't
trust anyone else's musical judge-
ment, really. I write all the music.
Lyrics too?
No, not the lyrics. The lyrics and im-
age are contributed by everyone.
What is the image that's behind
the Stupids?
I guess it's baseball, clowns, joking
around, eating food, getting red
faced, hot and sweaty.
How has England responded to the
Stupids?
Oh, wonderful. Everyone loves us.
Sarcastic mode there?
I'm scared that a lot of idiots will like
us and not the right people,
Who would be the right crowd to
like the Stupids?
People who interest me.
Do you want intelligent people to
like the Stupids?
If I formed a band called Thug, I
wouldn't expect a bunch of thugs to
turn up. We played a show and lan
MacKaye bummed a ride with us. A
bunch of rowdies ruined it for us, but
after the show lan said, "Thanks for
bringing me here, I've never seen
anything like that."
Was he disappointed with the
crowd?
Yeah.
Was that a typical Stupids crowd?
Yeah, they heckle like crazy.
What do they say?
"Tommy, go out and skate." Most of
it is directed at me because I'm the
most outspoken onstage.
What do you say onstage? "More
bread, more flour..."?
It depends. Sometimes I'll say "Stop
heckling. We're the band; you shut
up" Satirical stuff like that.
Sometimes they take it wrong. It's
real hard to tell who hates us and who
likes us because of the way we go
onstage. We say, "You can go home
now; we've got your money." They
think if we do it to them they can do
it to us.
That would be a double standard
then?
Well, basically, they do like us and
they do come to see the show, but
they still heckle us. That's when it's
really hard for us.
So they're harmless jabs, but
you're working real hard and
they're making fun of it.
Yeah. It's kind of hypocritical
because we do it to them, but it's like
a natural reaction.
So what's happening in England is
that they're giving you the abuse
back and you can't handle it?
We can take the heckling but we
have so much shit directed at us by
people who don't like us, we can't tell
who's who. ►