photo by Michael Wilde
photo by Michael Wilde
This interview is reprinted from the Replicant #1 - January 2001
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How did the SKINJOBS come about?
Lee- I was complaining to Mitch about not gettinÕany
so we decided to start a band to get some.
Maon- Mitch & Lee = good tunes, great people; I tried out for the "bass
player" title summerÕ2000. WeÕve been musically holding hands ever since.
Mitch- With the future of all things being cast into a state of uncertainty,
we decided to reclaim all things pertinent in the current consciousness of NOW.
Accepting that we are exactly where we need to be, right now, precisely and
without question, there is no need to spend any more time contemplating "What
IF we were the SKINJOBS?" We ARE the SKINJOBS. So putting truth into action
has lead to the manifestation of what is now simply the SKINJOBS Ð but simple,
it is not.
Do you think that a sexual agenda might be
alienating to people who arenÕt used to thinking about it?
Lee- Come on, everybody thinx about sex!!
Mason- ThatÕs part of the point Ð people need to acknowledge things &
realize that perspective & diversity are only scary because they are unfamiliar.
I want to help show that the alien is actually HUMAN.
Mitch- I would have to agree, society in the past has stifled the subject
of sex and in doing so has created an underworld whoÕs language is not unfamiliar
in our thoughts only unfamiliar in some of our actions. The SKINJOB revolution
shines light on the dark corners of our minds to foster and nurture a reclaimed
state of being Ð one that is not cast is the shadows of shame, prejudice and
judgement. We are bringing attention to the hypocrisy of current conservative
idioms. Suggesting to "stifle the urge (it will politely go away)" while promoting
"Just be yourself" is contradictory. Mind sets that are accepting Ôsex sells
(as long as it fits into a quantifiable little box labeled Ônormal/family values/procreationÕ)Õ
is accepting a two-tier system of ÔnormalÕ and Ôanything different than normal.Õ
We are the different and we wonÕt be stifled any longer. We most definitely
wonÕt politely go away.
Why the name SKINJOBS?
Lee-Because LED ZEPPELIN is already taken.
Mason- ItÕs a term from BLADE RUNNER, replicants of human beings, kinda
like super humans with short life spans. WeÕre super human queers walkinÕaround
like everyone else, and no one (most) can tell.
Mitch- Our name is consciously mis-appropriated. In the movie BLADE RUNNER
(as Mason pointed out) it was used as a derogatory term for Replicants who,
being genetically superior to humans, were purposely created with a 4 year Ôexpiry
date.Õ They could not be distinguished from other ÔrealÕ humans. WeÕve chosen
to use the term SKINJOBS as a parallel to queers who are as equally undistinguishable
from the rest of society or at least masters of surviving under the radar. We
borrow the question from Blade ÔWhat is human?Õ and further ÔWhat is queer?Õ
Why do you think the HomoCore movement never
exploded the same way, for example, the riot grrrl movement did?
Lee- Huh?
Mason- ItÕs just another angle/community which has not had an opportunity
(as a result of various oppressing forces) to be visibly, tangibly acknowledged.
Mitch- In the history of the civil rights movements within North America,
the womenÕs rights movements came before any queer-rights movements. As intrinsically
connected as they are, there seems to be a linear progression of thought plans
that suggest: 1) North Americans are incredibly stubborn and grow overly attached
to archaic ideologies to the point of suppressing their own selves. 2) Our patriarchal
system has thrust nurturing solely on the shoulders of women and thus, it is
from their lead that the rest will follow Ð all in time.
WhatÕs your opinion on where we stand as queers
today?
Lee- We stand on Davie St., Commercial Drive,
Main St. and Stanley Park.
Mason- Oooh Ð toughy. "We" Ð I canÕt speak for every wonderful & unique
queer out there, itÕs too great a range for me to represent. But I will say
I feel movement towards acknowledgment & more understanding of every queer imaginable
Ð I feel a diverse community can unite together for support, comfort, acknowledgement
& friendship.
Mitch- We are at an excruciatingly painful and boring state as humans
that requires us to label ourselves under a sexual identity in order to further
the process of breaking down the societal norms of acceptable sexual interaction
& acceptable gender identification. The goal is simple but the means is complicated.
People want to be their unique selves. In many ways the ÔqueerÕ (for lack of
a better word) communities seem to be fighting for greater acceptance from the
rest of society while trying to quantify and define themselves. This seems to
be leading us to a point were the rest of society will become open-minded, less
defined sexually and more inclusive while the queer community, stuck on maintaining
a separate identity, will implode upon itself as it becomes more rigid and limited.
Sexual identity will be short-lived as compared to sexual-actions Ð which have
been the same since day one, quite diverse just not well documented. ItÕs a
long journey that isnÕt over Ð it takes time. Documentation is the first step
Ð re-creating a sexually diverse history that everyone owns.
How do the SKINJOBS fit into the Punk community?
Lee- We Rock!!
Mason- I donÕt know Ð really. I personally am not a butterfly flitting
in one circle. IÕll let Mitch answer this one.
Mitch- Simply with the history of punk being a social cast for misfits,
freaks and queers. Somehow, that is often forgotten. The early punk scene of
the Ô70Õs (not that I was around back then) was very queer (or sexually ambiguous)
without labeling itself as such. Non-conformity was a strong held statement.
In being so open-minded and accepting the punk scene was an easy target for
mainstream appropriation. Mass marketing in the 90Õs watered it down, to make
it seem less threatening Ð and in doing so, omitting anything about punk sexuality.
WeÕre here to bring it back.
How do the SKINJOBS fit into the Queer community?
Lee- WeÕre sexy.
Mason- This is hard to answer too Ð the level of interaction now with
band & community (except as shining individuals) has been minimal. I have XTREME
HOPE for a friendly, two-way good-street-to walk down and smile at every fuckinÕ
person you see Ð typeÕo relationship.
Mitch- Questionably at times, on the fringe of the community if anywhere
Ð sex sells so we give it to them. I donÕt expect the queer community to embrace
us as fully as an ABBA cover-band, but I believe they will embrace us more,
in some ways, than the punk community. Our existense seems to threaten the calm
blue water of complacency. The queer communityÕs strongest power as of late
has been itÕs money Ð and in a capitalist system that means something, however
shallow that may be. With all the Hoopla over rainbow banners on streets in
the gay ghettoÕs of whatever city, itÕs hard to imagine anyone taking a break
from their lattŽ to question privileges and realize that the visibly queer community
is only for those who can afford the image while within the safety of a queer
friendly community. Is there a parallel between high rent prices of many urban
centers and the yuppy queer communities that thrive in them? Ð I think so. Pride
has a price.
WhatÕs the Queer Punk scene like in Vancouver?
Lee- FuckenÕbleek!!
Mason- uhhhÉ what queer punk scene? Fuck, this is great Ð I feel like
a pioneer.
Mitch- ItÕs starting to grow thanks to all the kids in the Queer Punk
Collective plus Vancouver has lotsa cool zines, spoken-word performances and
the File This Cabaret. If it werenÕt for the Queer Punk Collective we probably
wouldnÕt exist! Kisses to them all.
What are some of you influences?
Lee- Animal, beer, Sunny Day, chicks, Thirty Ought,
beer, pizzaÉTV.
Mason- I am a latticework of influences Ð classical to jungle/new house
to metal to folk. But a few inspirations are Tori Amos, James Brown, Dave Matthews,
Pearl Jam.
Mitch- Cute boy bands that take their shirts off, BLINK 182 for mocking
a cute boy band taking their shirts off, IMPERIAL TEEN for making the best queer
pop punk IÕve ever heard, GREEN DAYÕs Tre Cool for shoving a drumstick up his
butt and telling everyone at the party he liked it (OK, maybe thatÕs a rumour),
Grant and the SMUGGLERS, PANTY RAID, XLIMPWRISTX (for simply being), Maynard
from A PERFECT CIRCLE, Rob Halford from JUDAS PRIEST, Demian from PLAYINGENEMY,
Dan from the MURDER CITY DEVILS, SLOW from Portland, Meegan and Che Chapter
127, Chi Pig from SNFU, the singer from BOYS SETS FIRE, Jon and the boys from
PANSY DIVISION and donÕt forget, LILÕKIM for rappin with the best of Ôem and
telling them were to lick it!
Where do you see the SKINJOBS going in the
next year?
Lee- To the depths of the sub-conscience, building
a tight bond among aspiring queers, making them unafraid to be who they are.
Mason- Up Ð up- and away! Fuck Ð I donÕt know or really care this is
the most fun IÕve had since grade 3.
Mitch- New York. Home is calling, weÕve been away too long. Vancouver
is a nice place to live but the SKINJOBS need to go home to the East Village.
We want to record, make a video and play for a bit in Vancouver - the boys &
girls here are cute. After taking advantage of Canada and the great American
exchange rate then weÕll rock back to DUMBA, SQUEEZE BOX! & CBGBÕs and maybe
move back to NYC. I have a date waiting at COCK 129 and I need some GoldbergÕs
Peanut Chews!
The SKINJOBS definitely have an image Ð how
would you explain it?
Lee- Our image reflects on how sexy we are and
that with a bunch of make-up and hair accessories, anything is possible.
Mason- Imagine being honest & kind, ready
to learn, ready to listen- and fuckin ready to rock and having a sweet time
doing it. Surprise! ItÕs true! ThatÕs us. No goopy pomp ignorance negative Ð
just 3 awesome queers trying to do good with music > attitude that surges with
good zesty & delicious queer power.
Mitch- Freak-Perv, itÕs not just about us, itÕs the audience Ð what a
bunch of freaks! WeÕve taken pointers from Priss Ð the Princess of Blade Runner
Ð from there on, anything goes! I think you also have to ask our go-go dancers
about their image, because without them, weÕd have no image Ð and we never know
what is going to happen with them on stage. Miss Cookie, Miss Kelly and Darlene
The Ambassadors Wife have always been one step ahead of us and the audience
Ð they give great punk fashion tips! -