Kepi Ghoulie interview - from punk rock raduno 4 fanzine - 2019

Kepi Ghoulie was on stage Friday, July 12th, 2019

Since you re-recorded Re-Animation Festival with the Copyrights and part of Edoné is a former graveyard, let’s start from here: can you remember how a song like Graveyard Girlfriend came out?

Maybe Graveyard Girlfriend was written for Edoné, as a premonition!

Beast with 5 Hands is one of our favorite Kepi’s tunes: where did you get the inspiration to write it?

Beast with 5 Hands just came to me, as do all the classics I guess! A gift from the cosmos!

Most of Groovie Ghoulies' songbook is about monsters and horror stuff: when you were a kid, how did you get involved in sci-fi and creepy comics and movies?

I always loved monsters and mystery and sci-fi and weirdness!!!

And growing up as a teenager, how did you end up playing rock & roll music and being involved in the punk rock scene?

I think the energy of Devo, Sex Pistols, Ramones, etc… got me excited!

What's the very first punk rock show or punk rock album that somehow changed your life?

Tha albums that were game changers were Johnny Cash at San Quentin and Nevermind the Bollocks… My first rock show was the Cars and Thin Lizzy, first punk show the original Dead Kennedys… It was crazy.

Here at Raduno you’re going to see a few old friends from Lookout! Records. What are your first memories about Larry Livermore, Dan Vapid and Pansy Division?

Larry was just getting out of Lookout when we came on board, but we are still friend to this day. I have played many shows with Pansy Division at Gilman, and I think I first met Vapid at a Mopes show. Raduno will be fun!

We saw you playing here in Italy with Dog Party and Chixdiggit as backing band, you played with Accelerators, Miss Chain and the Broken Heels and members of Prima Donna, you’re coming back with the Copyrights… How do you choose your bandmates?

I think my bandmates choose me! I am very fortunate! I also had a great tour with Sons of Buddha and began playing with Lone Wolf this year! I am so lucky! Oh, I toured with Mean Jeans as well!

Is there any musician or band that you’d like to play with, but you haven’t had the chance yet?

I would love to play with NoBunny or the Pooh Sticks, hmmm...

What does punk rock mean to you?

Punk rock to me now means RESPECT for yourself and others, personal and global evolution, and trying to help make a better community for all! Oi!!!

10 artists that define Kepi’s World.

Johnny Cash, Ramones, Bob Dylan, Joe Strummer, New York Dolls, Jonathan Richman, Toots/Maytals, Nick Cave, Tom Petty, Dum Dum Girls.

Thank you, and remember: NO GHOST LAKE!

MB

Kepi Ghoulie interview
From Punk Rock Raduno 4 fanzine - 2019