As the voice of Spike and the Gimme Gimmes, Spike Slawson fronts punk rock’s ultimate cover band, transforming pop hits and show tunes to country classics into full-throttle punk songs.
Disarray caught up with Spike to talk about how he became the Gimmes’ frontman, the art of reinventing familiar songs, and what keeps the band going after all these years.
1. How did you become the singer of the band?
Mike had seen me sing with a cover band with guys from Psychotic Pineapple and the Rubinoos. One day he and Joey came to the mailroom (where I was working at the time) and propositioned me. Out of sheer whoredom, I accepted.
2. What was it like collabing with everyone on “We are the World?
Horrible. The egos we had to deal with! First and foremost my own! I was fucking impossible. Whatever charity this is for better fucking appreciate it.
3. What keeps you creatively hungry after all these years?
Testosterone supplements keep me hungry and in the zone.
4. What song do you enjoy performing the most and why?
Over the Rainbow. If you don’t like Judy Garland, fuck you.
5. What’s a favorite song that you’d like to perform but haven’t yet?
Alexander Graham Bell, by the Sweet. I’ll get there.
6. What has been one of the top memorable moments in your career, so far?
Being booed by 30,000 rabid Pittsburgh Pirates fans on fireworks night. We were meant to play all three fireworks events but were summarily fired after one. A very negative experience at the time but it definitely earned me some cred in the city of Pittsburgh in the ensuing years.
7. Who do you think would be in the ultimate punk supergroup, dead or alive?
Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Shifty Shellshock, Mark McGrath and Avril Lavigne, with Von Elmo on the 88s.
8. Do you have any advice for bands starting out?
If you try to do covers, we will crush you.
9. What’s something about being in a band that surprised you once you started performing?
How fucking good I am.
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About C² (Christy + Chris)
Concert lovers turned creators. Highlighting creators, bands, stories, sounds, and places you need to know.
Disarray Magazine is an independent media platform established in 2009, spotlighting rap, R&B, punk, hardcore, alternative culture, live music, food, nightlife, and the chaos in between. Created by journalist Christy Buena, C² exists to document the bands, people, and moments shaping the scene.
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