“Mike
Park’s The Man,” the most frequented reaction you’ll
get when mentioning the dudes name. Hardcore kids say it, punk and
ska kids say it—anyone who knows what Park is about knows
the deal. Making music since the late 80’s with bands like
PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER and ska’s beloved defunct SKANKIN’
PICKLE was just the start. Into the 90’s he founded Asian
Man Records and has since put out releases from ALKALINE TRIO, THE
TOASTERS and LINK80 to name a few, but it was in ’99 that
Park’s bigger purpose came into fruition with Plea for Peace.
PFP is Park’s nonprofit organization that promotes peace and
anti-racist mentalities through tours, benefit comps and whose current
goal has been towards opening a youth center in his home of San
Jose, California. With continued support from artists like ANTI-FLAG
who toured in 2004’s PFP Tour, and those like RX BANDITS and
ALKALINE TRIO who are taking part in the Bike For Peace Tour 2005,
it looks like that one year grand opening they’ve aimed for
will come to be.
Biking For Peace? It’s just that—friends, musicians
and strangers who will soon become friends, will ride great distances
with the help of donations; with guitars on back and the occasional
toothbrush on hand, making stops to play music; some impromptu,
some scheduled at venues. After finishing the U.S leg of the tour,
Park said, “It was a crazy good experience. I’m in disbelief
that I just rode 1,400 miles. I was fearing for my life on Highway
101 in southern Oregon, having big rigs drive by you at 70 mph whilst
you are in a bike lane that is big enough for a squirrel.”
Still rockin’ out with bands he formed after the split of
SKANKIN’ PICKLE in ’96 are THE BRUCE LEE BAND and THE
CHINKEES, but Park just released his solo follow up, North Hangook
Falling on Hopeless/Sub City Records (All releases on Sub City
benefit a charity of the artists choice). “Hangook”
is Korean for “the country of Korea.” In the record,
Park depicts the repressed lives of North Koreans through acoustic
riffs and poignant lyrics.
We know what he’s done, but how does he feel about it, and
how do the bands who have worked with Park feel about him? Most
often people’s contributions are celebrated when they are
long gone and they leave unaware of what their actions meant. This
was meant to find out what Park has to say, what his friends have
to say and to avoid another person’s current life going uncelebrated.
What
Louis Posen of Hopeless/ Sub City Records Says about “The
Man,”
"Mike Park is a visionary and leader in the punk and music
community. His ethics, philosophy and ideology guide his music and
business decisions. We at Sub City have been friends and worked
with Mike for a long time. Each day and each project with Mike has
been a pleasure.
We are honored that he has asked us to release both his solo records.
Together we love inspiring; we love exposing people to music, and
love doing our best to make a difference in the world."
The
Label:
And What Mike Says,
What
made you want to start a record label?
Mostly out of necessity. The realization that the music business
was something that I had little in common with and the hope that
I could make my own rules and be involved in music under my own
guidelines.
Any
labels you look up to?
I model everything after Dischord Records. Their philosophy is inspiring.
Though we are different musically, the idea is to keep music affordable.
I always loved the way they would promote the mail order aspect.
Letting buyers know they could mail order a record for $8 with no
concern that it would affect their store sales.
Word
is you still run Asian Man Records as minimalist as you did back
in the day.
I am down to one employee now and have cut back on almost everything.
I'm still run out of my parent’s garage and still have little
knowledge of how you are supposed to run a record label. I just
put out records I like and hope people catch on. It might sound
silly, but it's the truth...I feel very lucky to be doing what I'm
doing and hope to be involved in one way or another for a long time
without compromising any of my beliefs.
Why
is keeping things so small your style, even when you’ve had
opportunities to go bigger?
Larger scale means larger problems. I don't want to grow into something
that I'm not able to control by myself. I enjoy writing people back
and doing mail orders. It feels more human to me. There's no reason
for me to strive for more when I've got everything now.
The
handshake record deal has always worked out well?
Contracts don't make sense. They've only caused problems. My deal
is if you're not happy, then please leave. I give a very fair royalty
and bands understand where I'm coming from. This seems to work out
as I'm always supportive towards the bands decision for their music.
Who am I to say what they should do? If they ask my opinion I'll
let them know what I think, but I'll also let them know that I'll
support their decisions.
What
Matt Skiba of ALKALINE TRIO Says,
“Mike
Park was the only person that wanted to have anything to do with
ALKALINE TRIO when we were starting out. As the band grew in popularity,
Mike encouraged us to make the move to a bigger label. He wished
to keep Asian Man Records small, self-run and out of his parent’s
garage. Mike is someone that has and always will be there for us.
Without Mike, I think we'd probably still be looking for a label.”
The Music:
How did you first get into ska?
It was 1983 and my sister was a fan of MADNESS and the ENGLISH BEAT,
but the big turning point was seeing the movie Dance Craze in theaters.
To this day it's still my first and only experience of people dancing
in the aisles of a movie: Mods, Skinheads, punks, Rudeboys, Rudegirls.
It was incredible.
A lot of kids don’t know why SKANKIN' PICKLE broke up.
It was time. We had lost the passion and instead of going through
the motions because of the current popularity of ska in 1996, it
was best to disband.
What did you think about the change in sound from traditional
ska to it’s sound in the 90’s?
The evolution of ska was exciting to me in my younger years, going
from the 2-tone sound of the SPECIALS and then to U.S bands like
the UNTOUCHABLES, and FISHBONE to the BOSSTONES, OPERATION IVY,
NO DOUBT and REEL BIG FISH. I think it's normal for a sound to evolve.
Though my ears have mostly been listening Reggae, Dub and Rocksteady
the past ten years, I still support the idea of making a sound your
own.
What
went through your mind when Laurel Aitken passed away in July?
It's always sad when someone you look up to passes away. I'm just
glad I had a chance to see him perform live. The reggae greats are
getting fewer and fewer as father time clocks through, but we still
have the records forever.
What band could you personally not live without?
THE CLASH. They were essential to my youth and through my adult
life. They have the rebel sound that can't be taught.
What was the last show you went to that you weren’t performing
at?
I can't even remember! It might have been the EVENS in Santa Cruz,
Ca. as far back as March 2005. Yikes, I don't get out much anymore.
Why have you decided to go in a more rock, acoustic direction
with your solo project?
With my solo stuff I want to play quiet music. I hope people can
feel the heart I put into it because I’m really proud of it
and I love everything about it: The songs, the message, the artwork,
and everything in between. I've done stuff in the past where I wish
certain things were done differently, but I feel extremely satisfied
with this final product. The songs touch on subjects that run deep
in my cultural history. The music unveils new territory and pushes
new boundaries for me and that's what I would like music to do at
this point in my life: Challenge me and push me towards new ideas
and sounds.
What Dave Hillyard of THE SLACKERS Says,
“The
first time I saw Mike Park was at Gilman Street in Berkeley. This
was when he was working on being a tenor player. It was around 1989
or 1990. It was possibly the first SKANKIN’ PICKLE gig ever…They
put on a frantic show…
I’m really proud of Mike because unlike a lot of other people
who came out of the 3rd Wave Ska thing or what you want to call
it, he has not been apolitical. He realized that you can feed peoples
minds with positive intellectual messages while at the same time
feeding their bodies with rhythm and soul. That's a very cool achievement.”
What David McWane of BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE Says,
"Mike
Park gave me hope with music, hope with touring, and hope that I
too
could be in a band even though I wanted nothing to do with today’s
sound."
The
Activist:
Has anyone been a role model for you in regard to philanthropy and
activism?
There's been so many, but my father was the first to show me that
you are only as good as what you make of yourself. Talk is cheap,
actions speak volumes, and that's what I've tried to do. Act upon
my ideas and bring them forth.
What
happened in your life that has made you an activist against racism?
I grew up as one of four Asian Americans to go to school in the
small suburb of San Jose and having kids come up to me slanting
their eyes, making ching chong gibberish, karate kicks, and all
the racist bullshit. It made me stronger. I still grieve at the
ignorance. Just a few days ago a car drove by while I was on my
bike and yelled some bullshit racist remarks at me. It's a reality
that people seem to either ignore or accept.
Perhaps the stereotypes we face are partly due to the media and
their portrayal of Asian Americans. We are the nerd or the karate
expert. We aren’t cast as the romantic, the stud, the lover,
the singer, the dancer. Believe me, corporate America isn't dishing
out the money for an Asian fronted band. Try naming 5 bands with
an Asian American singer that has distinct Asian features that are
on a big label or at least have a big draw on the underground. It
doesn't exist.
Are there any non-profits you especially love that we should
look out for?
I love the local Loaves and Fishes in San Jose. I work on Thursday
in the soup kitchen at 7th and Santa Clara in San Jose. There's
a church there that feeds the homeless every night for 2 hours.
Nobody is turned away.
What advice do you have for kids who want to make a difference,
but don't know where to begin?
I think people would be surprised at how many opportunities there
are in your own neighborhood. A good website to check out is VolunteerMatch.com.
They give you a big list of interests that you can choose from.
It's a way to work with something you'd like to work with instead
of being forced to do something you don't care about.
What
Jane Park of XOXO Records Says,
Growing
up I would get, ‘Are you related to Mike Park?’ because
we’re both Korean and share the same last names. We’re
not related and actually never even met, but he was one of the few
Asian Americans in the punk scene that I could really look up to.
I would sometimes even be the only Asian American attending a show.
In the mid 90's people were really passionate about certain beliefs
like being vegan and straight edge. These beliefs were great, but
there wasn’t anyone I could connect with. I feel like Mike’s
been such a strong voice for me and other Asian American’s
not just in punk, but period. I believe we’re all grateful
for that.
What Ronen Kaufman of ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE & Non-Profit SecretMedia.org
Says,
“I
wish there were more people doing the kinds of things that Mike
Park does… His work is a great example of how the music community
and non-profit organizations can work together…
Really, the guy deserves credit simply for saying anything at all
with his music. These days there are more bands than ever, and yet
most of them aren't saying a damn thing… I don't know if today's
mall metal kids are going out looking for the next Joan Baez, but
they should be.”
Check out Kauffman’s nonprofit, SecretMedia.org.
What Jimmy Doyle of Ska/Punk up-&-comers THE FAD Says,
“Mike
Park has always been one of the most responsible for my introduction
to underground music. My cousin gave me "Skankin' Pickle Live"
for my birthday one
year, and I was hooked from the start. From there I discovered Asian
Man Records, the Ska Against Racism tour, which was one of the best
shows I've ever attended, and also started to educate myself with
literature I picked up from the ARA (Anti Racist Action).
Mike Park is one of the reasons why I have cared to gain knowledge
on the subject of racial prejudice. He is one of the reasons why
I got into ska music and still have a deep interest in it. He is
someone I would love to work for or better, with in the future.”
The Past:
What’s been your favorite experience so far?
Touring in Japan I met some of my best friends. With a huge language
barrier, we were able to communicate through writing and body language.
I think it's one of the greatest feelings to be in another country,
especially a non-English speaking country and to develop friendships
through music is something that’s very special to me.
Why
do you think the third wave of ska came to its slow?
When corporate America took over and ska was all over the air waves,
every young person tried to start a ska band and the integrity of
the music was shot, whereas the history of this music rose from
the streets of Jamaica and the music was almost an anthem of rebellion.
Even the next wave in Britain developed a scene based on equality
with 2 tone records. The U.S ska scene seemed to be more party music
instead of political anthems for the people.
What was it like for you when Nick Traina from LINK 80 took his
own life? Did you see it coming?
Well, I think all those close to him saw it coming. When I got the
call that he had passed away I wasn't surprised. I treated Nick
like my brother. After all these years I still feel if his mom would
have let Nick move in with me he would still be here. It's a tough
thing to say, but I just felt like I understood him better than
the people she surrounded him with.
What Adam Davis of LINK80 Says,
“Sometimes
I'll be hanging out with Mike and he'll say something like, “Man,
I just spent so much money on food, oh geez,” to which he
will answer himself, "Why do I care? People are dying all over
the world, it’s so bad..." I know he's kind of joking,
being sort of self-deprecating, but at the same time he is really
trying to maintain his focus on helping to make the world a better
place.”
What Punk/Ska up –&-comers PATENT PENDING Says,
“Mike
Park is an inspiration to everyone involved in underground music,
ska or not. He understands and embodies everything that is Punk
and Ska music. It's about revolution, togetherness, and music and
I think his entire life is a testament to that.”
And What Dave Kirchgessner of MUSTARD PLUG & Creator of Ska
Is Dead Tour Says,
“The
first time I met Mike Park was in ’92 or ’93. I was
promoting a SKANKIN' PICKLE show in Grand Rapids, Michigan and my
band MUSTARD PLUG was opening.
In those days we used to always throw big BBQ's for bands that would
come to our town…We were all pretty much in awe of Mike and
SKANKIN' PICKLE, but I remember my first impression being how down
to earth and sincere they all were, especially Mike…
Despite all his many successes and growing fame in the indie world,
Mike has stayed the same, down to earth, humble, and incredibly
generous person he always has been…In a music scene that seems
to be more about money and marketing every day, Mike seems to be
able to ignore all that and go jump on a bike to support a good
cause...Even when he we was selling 80-gazillion ALKALINE TRIO records
and everyone hated ska, he was still putting out ska records that
he knew would lose money on. How can you not love Mike?!”
The Present:
How do you balance the record label with Plea for Peace, your own
musical projects, touring? Each one of these could be a full time
job alone.
Exactly. I don't know how I do it. It's definitely something that
affects the other. Plea For Peace is what I want to be my full time
job. It's where my passion is. The label is amazing; don't get me
wrong, I just feel that I can do so much more with Plea For Peace.
To help young people through music.
What Kevin Seconds of 7SECONDS Says,
“Mike
is just simply one of my very favorite punk rock heroes. We became
friends when 7SECONDS toured with SKANKIN' PICKLE back in 1995 or
so and I've valued his friendship, intelligence, commitment and
sense of humor ever since. He's a great songwriter and as a record
label dude, no one has treated me better than Mike has. Does anyone
work harder? I don't think so.”
And What Chris #2 of ANTI- FLAG Says,
“Other
than the fact that Mike Park does everything with the utmost honesty
and integrity, all I can say about him when it comes to his music,
his work, and how he lives his everyday life are 3 words he repeated
daily on our travels together: "Michael still hungry!!!"
Will somebody please feed this man?”
The Future:
When do you think there will be a 4th wave of ska and who do you
think some of the key players will be?
I think it's happening now. The AGGROLITES seem to be a band that
really knows the history of the music and will be a band that does
some important things.
What The AGGROLITES Say,
“Besides
being one of the nicest and most humble people we have ever met,
Mike Park loves and respects original Jamaican Ska, Rocksteady,
Reggae as much as we do. Much respect to Mike Park for keeping the
faith all these years."
And What Rob “Bucket” Hingley of Moon Ska Records and
The TOASTERS Says,
“I have always been a fan of what Mike has been doing, not
only in the field of DIY punk rock, but also for his involvement
with Plea for Peace and The Ska Against Racism tour. There are not
many people in this business with much integrity at all, so working
with Mike since 1988 has been a pleasure for me.”
“Mike
Park’s The Man,” the most frequented reaction you’ll
get when mentioning the dudes name. Hardcore kids say it, punk and
ska kids say it—anyone who knows what Park is about knows
the deal. Making music since the late 80’s with bands like
PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER and ska’s beloved defunct SKANKIN’
PICKLE was just the start. Into the 90’s he founded Asian
Man Records and has since put out releases from ALKALINE TRIO, THE
TOASTERS and LINK80 to name a few, but it was in ’99 that
Park’s bigger purpose came into fruition with Plea for Peace.
The
Activist: