INTERVIEW WITH BRAD 'DADDY' X OF KOTTONMOUTH KINGS

When we were asked to conduct an interview with KOTTONMOUTH KINGS, there was a collective head scratch from all of us, and the first reaction we had was "ehh...sure". Not because we didn't care, but simply because we didn't have much information of these guys. Once we started digging, and checking our their new DVD 10 Years Deep, we knew we had to fire off a few dopey questions. Hell, they're all outspoken marijuana advocates...that alone could fuel an interview. So without further explanation, here's a dozen or so questions with BRAD DADDY X from KOTTONMOUTH KINGS:

Steve C: KOTTONMOUTH KINGS has been actively making music and releasing CDs and videos for ten years. Are you all happy with the degree of fame you have attained, or are you still waiting for that one big boost in recognition to push KMK into the statosphere?

Brad Daddy X: YEAH, TEN YEARS WE'VE BEEN GRINDING, TOURING, MAKING RECORDS, RUNNING OUR OWN LABEL SUBURBAN NOIZE...IN SO MANY WAYS IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED... WE JUST SECURED EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTION, TO ADD TO OUR OPERATION IN JAPAN, AND OBVIOUSLY RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA. KMK IS A BLUE COLLAR GROUP WE DO HUNDREDS OF SHOWS A YEAR, PUTTING ON TWO HOUR SHOWS A NIGHT. EVERY MEMBER OF KMK PUTS OUT THEIR OWN RECORDS, D-LOC & RICHTER RELEASED KINGSSPADE, MYSELF BRAD X RELEASED DADDY X ORGANIC SOUL AS WELL AS HUMBLE GODS BORN FREE, DJ BOBBY B HAS A SERIES OF DJ RECORDS, PAKELIKA THE VISUAL ASSASIN HAS TWO RECORDS DYSFUNCTIONILL & ANOTHER CULT CLASSIC. WE ARE CURRENTLY RECORDING OUR 8TH FULL LENGTH SELF TITLED, SET TO BE RELEASED MAY 31ST... AS YOU CAN SEE WE ARE NOT WAITING FOR ANYTHING OR ANYBODY WE ARE STOKED TO BE IN THE POSITION WE ARE IN. WE HAVE BUILT AN UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT, WE MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT WE LOVE, AND WE ARE INCONTROL OF OUR OWN DESTINY...

Steve C: When LINKIN PARK was just starting out, one of their first tours was with KMK, and they spoke very highly of you guys during their run with you guys. When a band that was opening up for you rises in popularity to a point where their notoriety eclipses yours, what is the primary emotion you feel? Pride? Jealousy? Indifference? Ambition?

Brad Daddy X: MUSIC IS NOT A COMPETITION, IT'S ABOUT _EXPRESSION AND EVERY ONE EXPERIENCES THIS LIFE AND REALITY DIFFERENTLY. SO TO SEE ANY BAND I KNOW SUCCEED AND FULFILL THEIR DREAMS INSPIRES ME, I HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD LINKIN PARK EVER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY TOURED WITH US SO IT'S NICE TO HERE THEY SPOKE HIGHLY OF US... AT THE TIME MY BROTHER SPIKE WAS TOURING WITH US AS CORPORATE AVENGER , HE HAS A INTERNET MERCHANDISE COMPANY CALLED MERCH.COM, LINKINPARK WAS A NEW GROUP AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BIZ SO THEY WERE ASKING A LOT OF ?S SO MY BROTHER TOLD THEM HE WOULD TAKE THEM ON, HELP THEM OUT AND GET THEM GOING, SO WHEN WE GOT BACK FROM TOUR THEY SET UP A MEETING WITH SPIKE WENT DOWN TO HIS WHEREHOUSE WITH SOME OF THEIR BUISNESS REPS DID A THOROUGH WALK THRU PICKED SPIKES BRAIN FOR A COUPLE HOURS ON HIS WHOLE OPERATION TURNED AROUND AND STARTED BANDMERCH.COM??? FUNNY BUSINESS DON'T YA THINK? SPIKES IS STILL WAITING FOR A CHECK. (wow, that kind of...no, REALLY...sucks. Sucker had a good idea, and someone 'borrowed' it. That's a serious kick in the penis. Evidently, music IS a competition...and it IS a business.)

Steve C: Out of all of the times a member or associate of KMK has been arrested, which instance(s) stands out as being the most undeserved (i.e.; was there ever a time someone in the band was being thrown into a squad car, and you just said "Oh Come ON, man!")

Brad Daddy X: THE SINGLE MOST UNDESERVERD ARREST WAS IN TUSCON, AZ WE WERE PLAYING A SHOW AT A COUNTRY BAR THEY HAD A BUNCH OF FOOTBALL PLAYER TYPE SECURITY GUARDS, WE STARTED PLAYING KIDS STARTED JUMPING AROUND AND THESE BOUNCERS CLOSED IN AND STARTED POUNDING KIDS INTO SUBMISSION. I STOPPED THE SONG, VERBALLY STOPPED THE ONE SIDED ASSAULT AND TOLD THE SECURITY TO CLEAR THE DANCEFLOOR OR WE'RE GOING HOME. THE OWNER MEANWHILE CALLS THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT WHEN WE FINISHED THE SHOW THE STAGE WAS SURROUNDED BY THE RIOT SQAUD WHO ARRESTED ME IN THE PARKING LOT TOOK ME TO JAIL FOR ASSAULT, INCITING A RIOT DISORDERLY CONDUCT AND A SLEW OF OTHER CHARGES. ALL FOR SAVING A 16YR OLD KID FROM GETTING PUMMELED BY 4 HUGE SECURITY GUARDS, I NEVER EVEN LEFT THE STAGE.....AFTER SITTING IN COUNTY JAIL FOR TWO DAYS I GOT BAILED OUT AND FLEW TO NEW MEXICO TO DO A SHOW WITH 311, LIMP BIZKIT, KIDROCK AND MORE IT ALL TOOK PLACE ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF TOUR... ONE OF THE BOUNCERS TRIED TO SUE ME HALF WAY THRU THE FRIVIOLOUS LAWSUIT HE WAS BOUNCING AT ANOTHER CLUB AND BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF ANOTHER CUSTOMER... NEEDLESS TO SAY THE LAWSUIT GOT THROWN OUT...THAT'S CALLED KARMA.

Steve C: A number of KMK home videos have hit the market in the past five years. In that time, has there ever been footage that you guys videotaped (either on stage or off) that made you think "Oh man, we're NEVER going to be able to show anyone this" (any outlandish sexual encounters or illicit activity that made you think twice about pointing a camera at it?)

Brad Daddy X: OF COURSE THOSE ARE THE XXX RATED VIDEOS SITTING IN OUR DRUMMER LOU DOGS HOME SAFE...SOMEDAY THAT COLLECTION WILL BE WORTH ALOT OF MONEY. (Hell, it's probably worth money now. Gimme a call if you ever want to market it)

Steve C: If you could have ONE of the following, which would it be:
- A hundred pounds of the best marijuana you have ever smoked
- A hundred sessions with the most attractive, most perverted call girl you have ever seen
- A hundred envelopes, all jammed with crisp, new, tax-free hundred dollar bills

Brad Daddy X: THAT'S EASY I'LL TAKE THE CASH EVERY TIME, THEN I COULD FILL WHATEVER VICES I NEED....

Steve C: Hypothetical situation - KMK is offered a brand new, international record deal worth several million dollars by one of the few remaining major record labels. You will be given a three-album deal, with millions in tour support, and guaranteed rotation on video outlets and radio. The one catch is that your first single MUST be a pop-music, mass-appeal collaboration with a former boy band member (pick one, there are plenty) who is trying to resurrect his career now that he's not marketable as a pre-pubescent pop idol. Do you suck it up and take the money (and compromise your style) or tear up the contract?

Brad Daddy X: WELL THAT'S A FUNNY SCENARIO, HOW LIFE CAN IMITATE ART...WE SIGNED A MILLION DOLLAR DEAL WITH CAPITOL RECORDS AND NEVER EVER COMPROMISED WHAT WE WE'RE ABOUT, THEY DID ASK US TO DO SOME COMPROMISING SONGS SO WE TORE UP THE CONTRACT. (Damn. Who knew I'd hit the nail on the head with THAT question. Figures it would actually have happened to someone)

Steve C: Describe, if you would, the garden variety KMK groupie.

Brad Daddy X: FIRST OFF THE TERM GROUPIE IS ALWAYS SAID IN A DEGRADING WAY BY PEOPLE NOT IN GROUPS. WE'RE IN A GROUP SO WE LOVE GROUPIES BUT WE DON'T CALL THEM GROUPIES WE CALL THEM FREEBIES... AS LONG AS THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THEIR PLACE AND DON'T CROSS THE LINE INTO PSYCOVILLE OR EXTREME STALKERISM WE LOVE LADIES IN ALL COLORS SHAPES AND SIZES.....AS FAR AS GUY GROUPIES THEY JUST NEED TO HAVE THE CHRONIC. (that sounded like a knock against me because I'm not in a group. Oh well. I can still spell 'psycho' and I know that 'stalkerism' isn't a word. I'm not in a group though...)

Steve C: In the U.S., we currently have one of the most conservative administrations in place that we have seen in a long time. If you could get ten minutes alone with George W. Bush to state your case FOR the legalization of cannibus, how would you present your case?

Brad Daddy X: I WOULD BRING A FAT JOINT, SPARK IT UP WITH GEORGE AND ASK HIM HOW COULD A PLANT BE A CRIME? LET THE CREATORS CREATION GROW FREE.... IT IS THE PERFECT PLANT, IT COULD BE USED FOR FUEL, MEDICINE, CLOTHING, ROPE, PAPER ECT....... COME ON GEORGE I KNOW YOUR A TOKER.......

Steve C: Traveling together on the road usually means that you have to get used to the habits, mannerisms, odors, and general aroma of your band mates. Which member of KMK would fare the worst after an all-you-can-eat burrito dinner (which of you will clear out the bus with a single fart)?

Brad Daddy X: AFTER SO MANY MILES TRAVELED TOGETHER YOU ACCEPT EVERYBODIES NUANCES,UNFORTUANATLY ONCE THE BUS IS ROLLIN THERE IS NO ESCAPING, THAT'S WHY WE ONLY ORDER BUSES WITH LOT OF WINDOWS...IT ALWAYS SEEMS THAT THE ROADIES ARE THE STINKIEST CATS THAT'S WHY WE CALL EM ROAD DOGS.

Steve C: Hypothetical situation #2: Let's say you're walking down the street in your neighborhood...about to get yourself a slice...or even a sandwich... and some excited teenager wearing a pair of those new Nike Pigeon sneakers runs up to you and says "Dude! I just downloaded your entire album! You guys RULE!" How are you going to react to this kid, who judging from his footwear, can obviously afford to buy your CD?

Brad Daddy X: FIRST OFF I LIVE UP IN THE MOUNTAINS SO A SLICE IS A LIFETIME AWAY... BUT ON MANY OCCASIONS PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THEY BURNT OUR CDS I UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE GET SOME OF THEIR MUSIC THAT WAY, INCLUDING MYSELF, THE IMPORTANT THING IS THEY GET THE MUSIC BY ANY MEANS NECCESARY HOPEFULLY IF THEY DOWNLOAD OR BURNT OUR CD THEY'LL BUY A TICKET TO A SHOW OR A T SHIRT....

Steve C: Which city in which country in which part of the world has the finest:
- Women?
Brad Daddy X: I GOT TO SAY CALI, CUZ WE GET ALL THE IMPORTS THAT WANT TO BE MODELS & ACTRESSES....

Steve C: Drugs?

Brad Daddy X: I CAN ONLY SPEAK ON WEED THAT I DON'T CONSIDER A DRUG IT'S A HERB, BUT CALI ONCE AGAIN HAS THE FINEST.

Steve C: Food?

Brad Daddy X: CHICAGO HAS GREAT FOOD, I LOVE THAT TOWN.

Steve C: OK, now which city in which country in which part has the most foul, puke-inducing:
- Women?
Brad Daddy X: YOU CAN FIND HOT LADIES ANYWHERE....

Steve C: - Drugs? (heh...no answer for this one. You don't want to alienate a potential hot spot, I suppose)
Steve C: - Food?

Brad Daddy X:TRUCKSTOP DINERS ACROSS AMERICA....

Steve C: When a case of the munchies hits, the first thing you reach for is a big, fat, juicy, delicious...?

Brad Daddy X: PIECE OF FRUIT,JUICE OR ANY THING NATURAL IF IT COMES FROM THE EARTH IT HAS SOME WORTH (I wonder if that's the first time he's used that line. Nah, probably not)

Check out the Doc's review of the latest Kottonmouth Kings DVD 10 YEARS DEEP.

Then head over to the band's official website KottonmouthKings.com