Blasting your door down with an iron wall of angry sound,
the One Man Army is going to strategically conquer the free
world as we know it. This three-man militia tramples over
fake-ass so called "punk rock" bands like a Sherman Tank
and takes their lunch money. These guys will give you a heart
punch, a kick in the ass, and a slap in the face so quick you
won't know whether to call mom or order yourself a tall glass
of milk. I recently caught up with them at Andy's ramp in
Oakland after a sick session and a couple cases of beer:
90 T
Who was in the original line-up?
Brandon Pollack, drums: It's always been
me and Jack Jack and I started playing
in my bedroom with just drums and guitar
and just screwed around, and we got this
guy Mike to play bass, and we played with
him for about six months, and that fizzled
out, and now we've got James
How long have you guys been
skateboarding?
Brandon I've been skateboarding for
fifteen years
James Kotter, bass: That's how I
hooked up with these guys. I came over
to skate the East Bay ramp, and I caught
a ride home with Pete the Ox, and
Brandon was there and told me they
needed a bassplayer.
Did you used to play guitar, Brandon?
Brandon: Yeah, but not in the band. My
whole thing is I want to play the guitar, but
Jack played so well that we were like, "We
need some drums," so I got some and
started playing. I try to play as much gui-
tar as I can, but I play drums in the band
because we needed a drummer
You play drums really fast. How did
you learn how to do that?
Brandon I'm sure it's got something to
do with the way Jack plays so fast,
because ever since I started playing music,
I've played with him
James has a toothpick in his mouth at
all times. Why don't you pull it out
when you skate?
James I don't know, I never really think
about it. I've always got one in my mouth
anyway, I might as well leave it in
Where are you from?
James I was born in California, but I
grew up in Virginia
Did you ever skate the Cedar
Crest ramp?
James: I was a loc, but I used to hang
with all the Windsor Wood Warriors
What about you, Brandon, where are
you from?
Brandon. I was born and raised in the
Bay Area, pretty much anywhere from San
Jose to San Mateo. Now I live in Daly City
And Jack?
Jack Dalrymple, guitar/vocals I was
born in San Francisco, but I ended up liv-
ing in Tempe, AZ, then moved back and
hooked up with One Man Army
Who is a One Man Army?
Jack Duane Peters
Brandon. I've got to give it to the local
boy. Pete the Ox
James: I'll back both those guys up, but
I say Rodney Dangerfield
Got any influences or dislikes from
around the Bay Area?
Brandon: In a couple of weeks we're
going to record a 7" But right now we
don't have anything out, and that's next
on the agenda
Does skating have anything to do
with how gnarly you guys play and
the energy you have at shows?
James Skating, the way I always saw it.
revolved around energy, and the punk
music that we were always into had a kind
of energy 100
What about some other bands that
don't even skate?
Brandon: Those are probably the
guys that quit skating that tell you. "Oh,
I used to skate. All those guys in high
school. I've seen guys that used to
make fun of us for skating at our shows
now. It's ridiculous. Those guys should
just stay home or rollerblade or do
James The worst band I've ever seen something else.
in the whole city was Flower SF
Brandon 1 like The
Swingin' Utters. Those guys
are a really good band.
ONE
MAN
ARMY
Jack I like The Barfeaters
How about Fang?
Brandon: I've got two Fang
records, and one of them's a really bad
one. I guess they had some wack shit
too. Fuck, I listened to it more than
once, so I guess it's alright.
I think Sammy, the singer, was a One
Man Army.
James Scotty from Verbal Abuse
What about Dave Chavez on bass?
Brandon: I skated with his brother, and
he was wearing a hardhat skating the black
bottom pool
That's a One Man Army for sure.
What was the most memorable show
you've ever played?
James Recently we played at the Nude
Bowl with a few other bands. It was a
childhood dream come true.
Brandon: We probably sounded like
shit out there, but the atmosphere was
one of the best, just people skating
while we played
Is your band a you-have-to-see-it kind
of experience, or could you just buy
the record and feel your music?
James: The energy won't translate as
well on record, the whole experience.
Playing live is a lot better. You might hear
the record and think we suck, but don't
let that be the deciding factor
Brandon We just finished a record, and I
was listening to it the other night and was
thinking that we're definitely a live band.
It's hard to capture it on a record. You lose
the energy somewhere along the line
What else have you guys got going?
Do you try to appeal to rollerbladers?
Brandon: Rollerblades are the sorriest
excuse of entertainment. To all the peo-
ple who rollerblade, you look ridiculous
And your tricks are even worse. Come
up with your own names. I don't care if
you like our band or not, stay home if
you rollerblade.
You guys are pretty fucked up in your
instrumental antics. Where did you
get your skills?
Jack: My cousin bought me a guitar
when I was thirteen and showed me how
to play some Ramones chords, then I
started playing some metal, and that
helped me out I haven't really learned
anything else. I could never sing and play
at the same time until I started jamming
with Brandon,
Brandon Jack showed me my first drum
beat. I got this drum set, and I didn't know
how to play the thing, and Jack thought be
knew a beat, so he showed me one, then I
would just sit there and play and taught
myself, pretty much I haven't been play-
ing the drums for that long
Do you got more chicks now that
you're in a band and playing a lot
of shows?
Brandon It's all a myth, man Girls don't
like jerks like us. Nah, Jack and James
both have girlfriends I'm single.
Brandon's waiting for the taking. All
you chickies out there, get ready.
-Ruben Orkin
SPITFIRE
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