The Penetrators

Interview From The Continental Magazine, Issue #2

Sean: How long have The Penetrators been around? Stix: Almost three years I guess. Spanky was a late bloomer but we forgive him. Rip: Yeah, it was the fall of '93. We would come home knee-walking drunk after the bars shut down and just start wailing. The neighbors were very cool about this, by the way. Trace and I had been goofing around with the idea of a surf band for several months, and when Stix moved in with his drums it just came together -- he had no choice.

Trace: Plus, the other band he was playing in at that time had a really bad gig at an Indian burial ground in Moundville, Alabama, and after that, he knew his future was with the reverb. Absolutely true.

Stix: Trace no speakum with forked tongue.

Sean: Where and when was your first show?

Rip: We played a party in January of '94 when some chicks in town were bent for the rent and needed to raise money. So, we figured what the hell, let's do it.

Trace: With borrowed amps.

Rip: Yeah -- I played through a friend's Ampeg Reverberocket -- great amp. We were a hit, and finally got offered a gig playing with Thee Phantom 5ive a few weeks later at The Chukker. Spanky came aboard and started practicing with us a couple weeks before that gig, and has been with us ever since.

Sean: What was the first song you came up with?

Rip: "Last of the V-8 Interceptors." We wrote that one in April of '94. We originally never intended to even write an original song -- we started the band as a reaction against all the whiner alternative bands and friggin' hippies, and just wanted to play a few gigs to make a statement and confuse people, and that would be that. But, the old snowball effect kicked in, and the next thing we knew we were getting bored just playing other people's stuff. Trace came in one night and said, "Hey guys, I wrote a bass line!" We choked on our beers, and took it from there.

Sean: How did you come up with the name? Was it from the song 'Penetration', or is there another story behind it?

Stix: I believe Rip came up with it before I even knew about the song "Penetration."

Rip: The name came from the song. We thought about a lot of others that turned out were already taken -- The Eliminators was one. We were keen on "The (something)-ators" I guess. It definitely had to be a plural name.

Trace: Stix likes sexual innuendo so we didn't want to tell him where we really got it.

Spanky: The secret's out.

Rip: I hope he doesn't quit now. Ultimately, we liked the name because it's broad enough that it doesn't scream "surf" to the uninitiated, and the name itself suggests invading new territories to hit clueless potential fans across the head with a sonic 2x4'.

Sean: What groups have influenced The Penetrators? Trace: You mean there's other music out there? Rip: All kinds -- anyone with a sense of melody, energy and drama -- The Lively Ones, Bobby Fuller, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, The Astronauts, The Shadows -- I could name 'em all day.

We're kinda weird to pigeonhole, because we're definitely trad-based, but I don't think we sound vintage at all. Each instrument retains the traditional "sound" -- clean reverbed guitars, sharp snare, rumbling bass, no distortion or wanker effects pedals, etc., but our song structures are generally non-trad, and are often more oriented to chords than as is usual for surf. The thing we've distilled from all our idols is to keep 'em short, give 'em drama, and for the love of God, have a melody!

Stix: Dick Dale influenced me quite a bit until about two weeks ago after seeing him perform in Atlanta.

Spanky: A lot of groups you probably don't expect for surf -- The Flamin' Groovies, The Ramones, The Pixies, in addition to the usual stuff. More there attitudes than their sound. Which may or may not mean they're an influence. I don't know. Next question.

Sean: Do you have any unusual tales from the road?

Stix: Saw some crazy things when we played in California.

Rip: Most of the stories would take too long to relay here. We've had naked people suddenly show up in front of the stage before, which can be distracting.

Trace: Once had this rich little old lady have her driver pull up in directly in front of this antebellum mansion porch we were playing on in Greensboro, Alabama. We had to play some songs for her, and we were told afterwards she was the most powerful little old lady in town. So we're golden in Greensboro now.

Spanky: Still waiting on the statute of limitations to run out before we can tell some stories.

Sean: Any chance that you'll make it over to the West Coast?

Stix: We already did, ya ninny!

Rip: Calm down, Stix. We flew out to the Bay Area in July for four days and played some clubs and Phil Dirt's Summer Surf III. That was pretty cool being on the same bill with Davie Allan & the Arrows, even if they did play the day before. Also played with The Torpedoes, Pollo Del Mar and The Woodies -- all very cool bands.

Spanky: They even let us use their amps and drums. Hope to get back to the west coast in '97 for a real tour next time.

Sean: Do you have any plans to produce a video for all of the MTV kids out there?

Rip: Actually, yeah -- we're in the planning phases for a really cool "Melodie's Dilemma" video with the guys that are working on a Man or Astroman video right now in Atlanta. Theirs sounds like it's gonna be a hoot. We're also planning one with a film grad student at Florida State that used three cuts off our CD for his fall semester film. We'll probably shoot that one on 35mm -- haven't decided for sure what song, but the leading contenders are "Night of the Drunken Cheerleaders" and "Redlined."

Spanky: We look at our songs as soundtracks for movies that haven't been made yet anyway, so we're looking forward to it. As for whether they're for the MTV kids...

Trace: We've got a big-screen TV -- we'll make 'em for us first. If we like them, then maybe the kids can have 'em too.

Rip: We were excited last month when we were asked for usage of "Cheerleaders" in a feature film that's being shot in Atlanta this winter, until we read the script. Turns out it's a murder mystery that takes place in the seamy underbelly of the gay bars and chicken ranches of Atlanta. No babes, car chases, gun fights or anything. Not exactly the kind of subject matter we want to be associated with.

Stix: Especially with a name like The Penetrators.

The following are some dumb questions that I ask in every interview. Bear with me...

Sean: What is your favorite cocktail?

Trace: Scotch & soda, or scotch on the rocks when it's more than 60 days old.

Rip: Scotch & soda, vodka or gin martinis (clean & dry), and though not technically cocktails, Bud and PBR.

Stix: Scotch & soda.

Spanky: Depends on the mood. I enjoy a good scotch & soda or a vodka martini for most occasions.

Trace: As you can tell, scotch & soda is an important part of the Southern Surf Syndicate training regimen.

Spanky: A good stiff Jim Beam and Coke is mandatory during Alabama football games. And who can argue with ice-cold beer? May it never be said that Spanky Twangler is a wino -- that nasty stuff will sit and burn holes through your innards and thoroughly kill an evening.

Rip: Of course, Spanky's experience is based exclusively on Thunderbird and Mad Dog 20/20.

Sean: Do you have plans of world domination?

Spanky: It's no secret that we're out to win the hearts and minds of the loving public here in the U.S. and the globe in general, but "domination" may be a bit much. Why -- what have you heard?

Stix: Shut up, Spanky. Domination is exactly it.

Trace: Yeah. Mentally, physically, emotionally and monetarily.

Rip: At least in our minds.

Sean: What is the king of all vegetables?

Stix: Broccoli.

Trace: Collard greens or black eyed peas -- actually, they kind of co-rule.

Spanky: That's a no-brainer -- what's the only vegetable that can be mashed, fried, baked, boiled, broiled, grilled, and bought in boxes, bags and cans? The potato, of course.

Rip: Trent Reznor.

Sean: Name a meal you can cook in 5 minutes.

Spanky: Steak.

Stix: Raman Noodles rule, mixed with tuna and a dab of Tabasco. Yummmmmmm-EEEEEE!

Trace: Grilled cheese sandwiches.

Rip: Last night's pizza in the microwave.

Sean: What are your favorite songs to perform live?

Trace: "The Wind Beneath My Kilt" and "Night of the Drunken Cheerleaders," mainly because of the titles. Of covers, I like to play "Unknown" and "Bikini Drag" -- 'cause they're easy to play, and I'm usually drunk by the time we play them.

Stix: Of covers, I love "Baja" and "S.P.Y.D.A.'s Theme" -- they just have the smoothest feeling on stage. Originals? I like them all.

Spanky: Originals: "High Plains Surfer Theme" -- It always seems to just drive forward with a lot of bad-ass triumphant gunslinger attitude -- which is good, since that's what we wrote it for. Also, "Speed Bump." I don't think it's our best song, but its sure fun to play. Of covers, "Bikini Drag" -- that one's fun, fun, fun. Sometimes we change it up without telling each other what we're gonna do, and always seems to sound good. We try to end every show with it, and it's the one song we all agreed to never record.

Rip: "Redlined" -- always grabs the crowd by their lapels early in the set, and "Cheerleaders" -- that one makes the chicks dance in very bouncy ways, if ya know what I mean. Of covers, "Our Favorite Martian" -- Bobby Fuller wrote one of the all-time favorite surf songs here, but it barely sounds like a "surf" song, which we can relate to. Also, "The Jester" -- always a crowd pleaser.

Sean: What is your favorite Frank Sinatra song?

Trace: "Fly Me to the Moon."

Spanky: I'm gonna wuss out and pick "My Way." That song IS Frank, Daddy-O.

Rip: "I Get a Kick Out of You." Frank knows the deal: kicks. Isn't that what it's all about?

Stix: I have no clue.

Sean: What are your plans for 1997? Any new releases?

Stix: World Domination. I thought we went through this already.

Rip: The Syndicate has big plans for '97 -- this will be the year the Southern Surf Syndicate goes truly global. As 1996 wraps up, all the pieces are in place -- the CD has distribution across North America through Get Hip, Subterranean and Dutch East India, in Canada through Cargo, and in the UK through Dama Publishing. The Internet has extended the Syndicate to places not yet reached through traditional avenues, selling discs in places like Finland and Australia -- setting our sights on Japan next. The Penetrators will be represented on a bunch of comps coming out over the winter, and our next single will be a split-EP with Washington DC's The Space Cossacks in February. Most importantly, we will be extending our touring range beyond the South, bringing danger, mischief, and good clean fun to thrill-starved audiences at each point of the compass.

Trace: What he said.

Sean: Do you have any final words for the readers of The Continental?

Stix: Support local and surf music no matter what the circumstances are... you'll really appreciate the true melodies and hypnotic rhythms of our music. Or something like that.

Spanky: Well, I'd hate to ruin this piece by going on a lengthy tirade or preaching about something you really don't care to hear. If you are interested in the philosophies and anecdotes that kept me from getting tangled in the seaweed of life thus far, I'd like to direct you to my forum "All Twangled Up -- Tips for Troubled Teens" on our website. Happy reverbs!

Rip: We invite civilians and like-minded organizations to join the Syndicate and come along for the Big Win, and encourage them to contact us for field agent training materials though our web site at http://www.penetrators.com, email at thrillby@penetrators.com or snail mail at P.O.Box 20715, Tuscaloosa, AL 35402. See ya in the clubs!

Trace: Take care of your bartenders and they'll take care of you.

To order a copy of The Continental where this interview originally appeared, go to our Continental Magazine page.

Continental Records is proud to have released a 4 track EP from The Penetrators called HIT THE JET STREAM. For details on this release, go to the Continental Records link below.

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