Lunatics On Parole interview with Kenny the Gardener 11/01/03

1. Hail, and how is it going, except for the fires I know those gotta suck?
answer: Yea, they really do. A lot of beautiful trees, houses and land was destroyed. We are recovering from our last tour, we did 6 shows in 8 days. We went to Orlando Fl, Huntsville Al, Little Rock, Houston, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. We had a great time and are looking forward to hitting the road again soon. Of course there's nothing like California green, although Florida had some nice stuff.

2. I enjoyed the hall out of the last time I seen you guys at the Milwaukee metalfest, actually I watch the tape of it religiously. So what do you have going on right now?
answer: We are writing our next CD, our third. We will be recording it sometime this spring. Don't have a title yet, we have about 5 songs done right now. We have a few shows in L.A. coming up in November, the 15th at the Whisky-a go-go, and we are also looking for a new bass player and possibly a second guitar player.

3. What releases do you have out at this point, demos and everything?
answer: We have 2 cds and a remix cd. The first CD, "Welcome to the U.S.S.A.", is more hardcore punk and it reflects my political views. The second one "Life Sucks (and I Love It!) is more metal and is basically about a night of drinking and partying after a breakup with a girlfriend and how it turns out. The remix was done with Mathias Schneeberger (Schneebie) who works with Masters of Reality, Goatsnake and others in the desert scene of QOTSA. It was an idea to try and make an industrial/techno sound. We also have a three song demo of the new songs with the song "#3" put out on the Milwaukee Metalfest XVII compilation. The new sound is heavier and darker than the past.

4. So how did you get the name Kenny The Gardener?
answer: Ha-Ha-Ha! That's a good trivia/contest question. 1)real last name 2)lived on Gardener street 3) I Grow pot 4) I grow grass in the dog park 5)named after Larry "Bud" Melman character 6)worked for landscaping company 7)I run a vegetable stand.

5. How do you feel about the way they are trying to crucify Tommy Chong?
answer: RIDICULOUS! They had a record number of pot busts in California this year. After we voted to legalize it for medical use. The people in power are against marijuana because it hurts several powerful lobbies, starting with Oil, Lumber(paper), Pharmaceutical companies and the liquor/tobacco group. The commercials they run are stupid. There is no evidence or medical proof of pot affecting your driving or anyone dieing from Marijuana. When they say 1 in 3 reckless drivers that tested positive for drugs tested positive for pot, they don't mention how many reckless drivers did not test for drugs.  According to statistics, you are more likely to be hit or killed by a sober driver. They are going after Tommy because he represents the culture and is highly visible on TV. They are just fucking with him because they are assholes!

6. How about a little history on Lunatics On Parole?
answer: L.O.P. started out as my (Kenny the Gardener) project to express my political opinions. Music is still the best way to express yourself when you have something you want to say. I recorded the 2 CDs and the remix with several different musician friends. I put several songs on compilations and even had a #1 song with "Marijuana" in Phoenix. I organized a permanent band in September 2002 and we started touring this year. A more complete history can be found on this website.

7. You know if you`ll be playing Milwaukee next year, or if you will be coming to Missouri any time soon?
answer: We would like to, I set up the tours myself so if there is a place where we can play, we'll go there. We hit Montana on our way back from Metalfest last summer and had a blast.

8. What all merch do you have for sale right now?
answer: We have 4 different t-shirts, including the infamous "Can't We All Just Get a Bong?" one; 3 CDs-"Welcome to the U.S.S.A." "Life Sucks (and I Love It!) and the red remix; baseball hats, stocking caps and beanies, posters, stickers.

9. How can people get ahold of it, by internet and snail mail?
answer: www.lunaticsonparole.com
lopinla@yahoo.com
Lunatics On Parole
1335 N. La Brea Ave #2235
Hollywood Ca 90028

10. Does anyone in L.O.P. have any side projects are all of you focusing on this?
answer: At this point no. L.O.P. in the past has been a side project of many musicians but now all the energy is concentrated on L.O.P. Thor and Zeke came from a band Hell's Children but Mutly, the singer/bass player who was also our roadie and their roommate passed away on the day we left for Metalfest.

11. What influences do you have, if any, and what are they?
answer: Kenny (singer) - Black Sabbath, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Wrathchild America, Lords of the New Church, Metallica, Pink Floyd, Crack the Sky, George Orwell, Frank Zappa, Cheech and Chong. Thor (drummer) - Pantera, Morbid Angel, Slayer.  Zeke (guitar) - Jimi Hendrix, Randy Rhodes, Eddie Van Halen, Slayer.

12. How would you describe your style of music?
answer: The music is a mix of hardcore metal and punk with a sense of humor. The first Cd is more hardcore punk while the second was a metal CD. The remix had an industrial/techno sound and the new one will be heavier metal reflecting the current member.

13. In the Marijuana (remix), I love the incorporation of the reggae beat, whos idea was that?
answer: It was mine, I like to listen to different kinds of music. I got introduced to reggae when I was Jimmy Cliff's personal security guard at the Reggae on the River Festival 9 and 10 in Humboldt County. Oh yea, talk about good smoke, man.

14. Are any of you into horror movies, if so which ones?
answer: Thor - Nightmare on Elm Street 1, Evil Dead 1+2, Army of Darkness, Texas Chainsaw  Massacre (original), House of a Thousand Corpses. Zeke - Halloween, The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original). Kenny - Young Frankenstein, Three Stooges Meet Frankenstein, Frankenstein (original), King Kong (original), I always root for the big guys to win.

15. What are some of your favorite bands, old or new?
answer: Kenny - The band influences mentioned before, Rammstein, System of a Down, Static X, Motograter, Coalchamber, Mentors, Ramones. Thor - Doors, Pantera, Perfect Circle, Tool, Coalchamber.  Zeke - Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, AC/DC, Aerosmith, SUPERJOINT RITUAL!

16. Well this is about it, if I missed anything, and I am sure I have, speak now or forever hold your piece.
answer: Thank you for the interview, we appreciate the chance to express ourselves and answer questions and especially the opportunity to reach new fans. We are looking forward to playing in the Midwest again and hope to see you soon. Keep on Rollin'

Thanks for the interview, and some killer music.