{"id":8206,"date":"2014-02-27T06:10:51","date_gmt":"2014-02-27T06:10:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.modernfix.com.php72-4.lan3-1.websitetestlink.com\/?p=8206"},"modified":"2014-02-27T06:10:51","modified_gmt":"2014-02-27T06:10:51","slug":"morris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernfix.com\/culture\/morris\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: Circle Jerks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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by bushman<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my little 15 year old, mid-80’s, mid-west world, music was rather hard to come by. MTV was only a couple of years old and championing Twisted Sister as extreme underground music. I knew punk existed, I just had no real outlet of exposure to it in rural Wisconsin. Then two bands were placed in my hands with a disclaimer, “Here, this is ‘punk rock’.” The Ramones<\/i> (“A Rocket to Russia” vinyl) along with their greatest hits “Mania” tape and a dub tape that had the Circle Jerks “Group Sex” on one side, and “Wild in the Streets” on the other. I had found punk rock. And got it. I won’t say I then became the crusty patch wearin’, liberty spike sportin’ punk rawker (I’m a metal head at heart), but as a music geek, I went on to embrace, enjoy, jam and slam to pretty much any and every punk band that was worth checking out. I still have my beaten and torn, but still occasionally worn 7 Seconds “Walk together, Talk together” T-shirt. But it always came back to: The Ramones and The Circle Jerks. You can debate the validity of other bands that may have preceded them, but punk will always be defined to each individual, by the bands that first opened their eyes and ears to a disenfranchised world that made it “ok” to be an outsider. A freethinker. A punk.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And years later, I actually get the chance to talk to thee fucking Keith Morris, singer of the Circle Jerks. One down and none to go in the world of punk rock since me and Joey Ramone never seemed to cross paths. Thanks to Keith for taking the time to share some insight into his world as of late. And also allowing me to notch one more off my life’s ‘to do’ list.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does one ask Keith Morris that hasn’t already been asked?
<\/b>That’s a tough one. For one thing, I grew up listening to a lot of different music. So to like, peg me as a ‘punk rock guy’ would be completely false. I am working at a record company and we’re listening to all different kinds of music, and believe me, some of the last music I want to listen to is punk rock. Having played punk rock music, or what people would label punk rock music or hardcore or what have you, for about the last 22 years. It would be real easy NOT to want to listen to that kind of music. But I love it. I went through a period where I was like the hermit in the cave. It’s like, “I never want to hear this stuff ever again.” And all of a sudden, here’s The Distillers<\/i>. And here’s Hot Water Music<\/i>. Alkaline Trio. I can rattle off a few names off the top of my head, but it’s just, there’s so much great music out there. I grew up listening to AM radio. My grandparents listened to country music. Johnny Cash<\/i>, Hank Williams<\/i>, Bob Willis<\/i> and The Texas Playboys<\/i>. My mom listened to AM radio so we were constantly being exposed to bands like the Beatles<\/i> and the Rolling Stones<\/i>. I can remember the first time I heard “Happy Jack” by The Who<\/i> on KHJ. And the first time I heard “Summertime Blues” by Blue Cheer<\/i>… I got in a lot of trouble for that…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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