| James BDC |
How did you first get involved in DC hardcore and punk? |
| Steve |
I started going to shows in my early teens, but it wasn't until I was 16-17 that I started hanging out in Georgetown and meeting some of the guys like Dante and Mark (who were in Iron Cross at the time) and getting involved with the scene. I'd been interested in the music for a few years previous, but I lived in the Virginia suburbs. Once I met Dante and Mark we started jamming a little and after IC broke up we formed Gray Matter. |
| James BDC |
How was it working on such on iconic comic such as Batman? |
| Steve |
Loved it. I never realized how engrained the character was in my subconscious until I sat down to type and he just poured onto the page. Very fun. |
| James BDC |
I heard you had a brief involvement with EGG HUNT, can you indulge us? |
| Steve |
There was a brief period where Gray Matter split because Mark went off to collage. Dante had formed Ignition with Alec Mackaye, Chris Bald and others. Me and Jeff Turner jammed around with Ian Mackaye and Jeff Nelson for about a month and a half. We played some Egg Hunt songs and a few that wound up as Three and Fuzagi songs, but in the end it just didn't work out. I couldn't play Ian's bass-lines and he and Jeff bickered, so Ian wisely went off and started Fugazi while the two Jeff's me and eventually Mark created Three. I remember having fun playing with Ian. |
| James BDC |
What was it like playing shows with the likes of RITES OF SPRING, BEEFEATER and the rest of the "revolution summer" crowd? |
| Steve |
It was fantastic. There had been a long lull in the scene since bands like Minor Threat and The Faith had split. All of a sudden there was an explosion and all this fresh energy. Rites of Spring were unbelievable. I remember the first show they opened for us and then the second show we were like "fuck that, let them lead". They were so good. They really reignited the whole DC scene. |
| James BDC |
Do you feel any bands from that era didn't get proper exposure because they weren't part of dischord? |
| Steve |
Not that I now of. |
| James BDC |
Any advice for someone who wishes to start their own publishing company? |
| Steve |
Yeah. Make sure you like being a business person! I started mine as a writer and sunk it like a chunk of lead. Just be sure you love all aspects of the biz. |
| James BDC |
Do you still have any involvement in music, didn't Gray Matter recently play a reunion at the Black Cat? |
| Steve |
I didn't show! I thought I'd make it. I even went and bought a bass, but in the end my work here in LA kept me from going. I heard it was fun. I think Alec B played bass in my place...I think. |
| James BDC |
What was it like working with Rob Zombie?, any film projects in the works? |
| Steve |
Rob's great. Hard work fucker that's for sure. We did two comic series together THE NAIL and BIGFOOT. One of them Rob and I will be writing as a film. |
| James BDC |
Any interesting stories regarding DC hardcore shows in the early 80's? |
| Steve |
I got a zillion of them, but my favorite is at my first show I was so scared I had my back turned to the crowd and Ian came up and turned me around. |
| James BDC |
Why do you think there is such a connection between punk rock and the horror genre? |
| Steve |
Not so much in the genre but definitely in the way I approach it. The one thing I learned from being a DC kid was if you wanted to do something, the best route is to it yourself and don't sit around wait for approval. Wanna put out a CD? Start a fuckin' label. I've tried to apply that attitude to my writing career as well. |
| James BDC |
Thanks! |
