Tom interviews Ted on The Believer websight

[Josh]

online! exclusive!

TS: It’s interesting, because when Ted Leo and the Pharmacists started, the records weren’t meant to be played live.

TL: That’s true. And having just started doing that after being the guy from Chisel at that point, people were freaked out. [Laughs.] People were like, “Wait, it’s not mod-pop songwriting—what the hell is this guy doing?” People were violent about the first couple of solo releases.

TS: Do you miss that part of things?

TL: You know, I haven’t missed it actually. I started playing with a band again because I missed playing with a band and I missed kicking out louder punk-rock jams—and that’s kind of remained my first love in all of this. I’m also at a point right now where I think that I’ll probably wind up scratching those other itches with other projects.

[Dan B]

That should have been in the issue!  They would've had Tony Millionaire portraits.  Great interview.

[kenkwan]

"So after the show, I’m dead tired carrying my huge amp to put in our beat-up van in the rain, and a guy comes up to me while I’m trying to shove it into the van and he goes, "Hey Ted, I gotta ask you, man”—he’s talking about Shake The Sheets—“with this new record, it feels like a step backwards. Why don’t you make Sandinista!?” And I actually put the amp down on the ground and was like, “What the fuck are you talking about?” and started yelling at this guy."

I always get hit up by the panhandlers outside the club every time I unload. I always say, "Do you really think the best idea is to hit up the guys carrying their own gear? We're lucky if we got to drink for free, and able to cover our gas tonight!"

[John Junk]

I played at The Smell one time and got hit up by the doorman, cause the goddamn doormen at The Smell are people who were otherwise loitering in the alley anyway.  And, being The Smell, the all-ages $5 venue, I literally had no money whatsoever, and made none during the gig.  I'm never playing there again.  I'm not 16 anymore.

[A.M. Thomas]

quite possibly the only punk song ever written about the Falklands (“A Bottle of Buckie”).

This guy does not know his Crasstory.

[Jason]

quite possibly the only punk song ever written about the Falklands (“A Bottle of Buckie”).

This guy does not know his Crasstory.

Ha, you're the coolest.

[jed]

I always get hit up by the panhandlers outside the club every time I unload. I always say, "Do you really think the best idea is to hit up the guys carrying their own gear?"

They probably have a better chance with you than with the guys who breeze by them with bodyguards.

[Laurie]

quite possibly the only punk song ever written about the Falklands (“A Bottle of Buckie”).

This guy does not know his Crasstory.

I LOVE IT.

[buffcoat]

Let's not forget the Wolftones:


In the Argentine he died Father Fahey by his side,
Fifty-seven was the year his father mourned him
A hero of the nation he's remembered with elation,
Throughout the world were freedom still abounds
And the Southern Cross take note were bold Willie Bulfin wrote
"The Irish still support you Argentina"
With the Empire tumbling down let no Paddies back the crown--
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina

[Jason]

Since when were the Wolfe Tones a punk band?

[buffcoat]

Just like a Brit, always putting my Irish brothers in chains with his "rules."

[KevinG]

That should have been in the issue!  They would've had Tony Millionaire portraits.  Great interview.

Tony Millionaire just called Tom a "dope" over on the Comics Journal message board- I say he no longer deserves the honor of drawing portraits of Tom or Ted!

[Laurie]

That should have been in the issue!  They would've had Tony Millionaire portraits.  Great interview.

Tony Millionaire just called Tom a "dope" over on the Comics Journal message board- I say he no longer deserves the honor of drawing portraits of Tom or Ted!

I'm going to burn my copies of Sock Monkey.

No, I'm not. I'll probably just sell them or something.

[Dan B]

That should have been in the issue!  They would've had Tony Millionaire portraits.  Great interview.

Tony Millionaire just called Tom a "dope" over on the Comics Journal message board- I say he no longer deserves the honor of drawing portraits of Tom or Ted!

What a creep.

[Tom Scharpling]

At least Tony Millionaire feels the same way I've felt about him for the last six years. Except he's commenting on a blog that I barfed out today in ten minutes. I'm talking about the unfunny one-note crud he's spent his whole life slaving over.

Tom.