|
T.A.V. Jeroen
Sint Severinuslaan 30
5502 JN Veldhoven
The Netherlands
By: Jeroen Snelders
www.yourenotalone.tk
YNA? You moved from
Philly to New York, how are things going in
NY?
DG: Well it didn't;t work
out. We were in Brooklyn NY for two and a half
months. The person we moved in with wasn't very
clear about the living arrangements. Long story
short she raised the rent from $400 to $1000 a
month out of the blue for a 8 x 8 room in which
we were supposed to be living rent free (aside
groceries and other expenses) until we got
established, was the original deal. Needless to
say there was no way we could afford it. I was
selling artwork on Bedford avenue and had a
very limited on call part time gig. After
911(NYC twin towers terrorist incident) seemed
to be hindering a lot of businesses from
hiring. My girlfriend had the only steady
income coming in working at a coffee shop in
Soho NYC. So we took the meagre amount of $ I
had made and rented a U-haul moved back to
Philly with a friend who needed a roommate.
That worked out much better and I got a couple
of jobs the first week we were
back.
YNA? You used to play in Dead empty …
what ever happened with that band?
DG: I drummed for Dead
Empty for a few years with a few releases and 2
US tours. At the end of the last tour I decided
to leave the band and work more on the art
thing cause the band was taking up all my free
time. The bass player also left. No real bad
blood between members I think some of the
interest just died. They reformed for a short
time with a new bass player and drummer then
called it quits.
YNA? Do you play in any other band right now?
If so what kind of band and have you released
anything yet?
DG: I'm in a new band now
just for kicks havent settled on a name yet
played our first show 10.4.2003 which got shut
down by Phillys finest. After Dead Empty I
played with Dead City Psychos for a year with
former member Eric Dead of The Strychnine
Babies a band we were both involved with a
while back. There are a few free music
downloads of The Strychnine Babies and
unreleased Dead Empty at www.daveglassart.com
click on free downloads.
YNA? How important is punk music for
you?
DG: I was turned on to the
music genre around 1982-84 at a really young
age to young to really get it. My family was
falling apart and I needed something to relate
to. To make an insanely long story short my
life revolves around music in everything I do
ever since. For some it may have been a passing
faze but to me its a lifestyle! Its always kept
me genuine.
YNA? Does punk music
give you inspiration for your art?
DG: Definitely and in turn
most of my work ends up on flyers, CD's, album
covers, a whole barrage of propaganda. II've
always adored women in subcultures being
creative with their looks and
personalities.
YNA? You did the artwork
for Dead Empty … I only have a pic
10” (Blame luck, blame faith). At that
time (2000) you didn'tt use the drawings you
use to make. How long do you draw these punk
women and whats so fascinating about
them?
DG: I did most of the work
layouts for all the releases with help from Ben
Empty. It was agreed that i wouldnt use the
punk pin ups for Dead Empty aside the Tattooed
Women tshirt art, because it dindnt correlate
with the band image. The rest of the band
didn't feel it represented the music. So I
stuck with the traditional skull &
crossbones and flames fast music tip that was
simple and functional. I believe I first
started illustrating the girls off and on
around 1991-93 and got back into it around 1996
til now. Most of the early works came out
poorly but are cool to reflect upon. In the
later 90s there became a real interest in my
work. Its steadily gaining interest today. I've
always adored punk goth girls drawn to their
mysterious eyes, hairstyle's, most of them are
more interesting individuals, real people,
creative, over indulgent, chaotic exotic,
alluring to the mischievous.
YNA? I have some
releases of which you made the artwork. Can you
tell me something more about what you think of
the release/band/label/the artwork you
made?
DG: The NY Rel-X (Paranoia,
Shes got a gun both on Dirty Faces
records).
New York Rel-x Paranoia 10 & CD was an
earlier piece Id drawn for a The Strychnine
Babies/Violent society flyer for a show at The
Kill time in Philly. Adi (the engine revving
the New York Rel-x) always wanted to use it for
something when she got the band together. So I
reworked it for the album cover. The original
drawing is only about 5 high and a sketch in my
sketchbook. Shes Got a Gun12 EP is one of my
favorite pieces to date, but when it was
created I didn'tt want to put it out. The day I
was inking the sketch I got a phone call that a
friend of mine had been missing all weekend,
the day after we had been painting a friends
apartment together with some friends, and found
murdered shot in the chest in cold blood by an
18 year old gansta piece of shit. On the Gun it
self reads CG4251977-3302002RIP that is his
initials CG (Chris Guston) birth and death date
Rest In Piece. No actual model was used for
either images just various magazine references
drastically altered. They are in a way todays
Vice Squad. They had some problems with their
original singer (suing for music rights which
settled out of court no real case) before these
releases. Erica has more previous band
experience and it shows.
YNA? The Krays (A time
for action on TKO records)
DG: The Krays A Time for
Action 12 & CD was a rush job. The band
wasn'tt happy with the original artwork created
for the CD by another artist so they gave me a
call. Im terrible at drawing guys and action
heroes I cant get into it. I referenced a
couple of old Punisher and Daredevil comics for
the Demon and Angel image. The devil and angel
battle idea was Johnny Krays. For being a last
minute job I think it came out well. I was
impressed with the album when I got it. I think
its some of their best work. Jon also plays
drums with Roger Miret and The Disasters &
The New York Rel-x. The Krays are a great live
band they pull unexpected covers out of their
hat from show to show.
YNA? The Agitators
(Meeting the lads on Street anthem
records)
DG: The Agitators Meeting
the Lads CD cover idea was generated by the
band they wanted some sort of bar scene. The
model Fem Cenepuss (deadflesh.org) had recently
contacted me and I thought her image was
fitting. The Agitators were new to me classic
Oi street punk sound from Belgium.
YNA? Did you do all the
artwork for the ‘A time for action
release from The Krays?
DG: The drawings in the
booklet are a bit different from all the other
stuff you design. Just the cover art. The
soldier was some art that Jon had but I am
unsure of the artists name. Which was a shame
being the case because I wanted to give them
credit on the record.
YNA? Youre website
(www.daveglassart.com) is well taken care of,
people can buy a lot of things on the website
… can you make a living out of it? Do you
also have exhibits / galleries or anything like
that?
DG: Thanks I taught myself
how to build a website from bootleg programs
and a little reading. I try to keep it updated
as often as possible. I'm gearing towards
making a living out of it, but I do have a day
job as an electricians assistant. I sell prints
more at events than off the website. II've been
censored by 2 different online pay companies
for hosting adult related material so I cant
have any buy/pay buttons to link them back to
my site. You can paypal orders through my email
and mail order with a printable form. Its very
frustrating but you have to struggle to get
where youd like to be unless your lucky enough
to have it all handed to you on a silver
platter. I currently dont receive any money in
percentages of sales but I will have to start
doing that soon. I have only been charging the
initial cost of illustrating or designing. Im
working harder now to push to be totally self
employed, but it will still take some time.
Patience is a virtue. I have had a few exhibits
usually held at bars or events. Past month a
small Kustom Kulture show at The Hotrod Hoedown
2003. October 2003 all month at Tattooed Moms
south street Philadelphia with a few other
artists, end of the month doing 1 piece for The
Day Of The Dead Gallery show, it will be my
first participating in a legitimate gallery
show. I was recently turned down a show by Off
The Wall gallery in Philly. At first they were
very exited to show my stuff. The proprietor
felt it would attract a bad
element.
YNA? What are your
artistic influences and which artists do you
admire for their work? How would you describe
your art?
DG: Tons of artists. Coop,
Robert Williams, Rachel Huntington, Mad Mark
Rude, Shawn Kerri, Jamie Reid, Jennifer
Janesko, Andy Warhol, Kozik, Olivia, Sorayama,
Vargas, Justin Hampton, stainboy, Mark Vallen,
Pushead, Scrojo list goes on….Kustom /
PopArt / Outsider art t/ Punk Pin up art- A
rendezvous with Chaos Kittenry
YNA? What do you hope to achieve with your
art?
DG: A name for myself. I
hope to make this my meals on wheels, to stop
renting shitty apartments have a place of my
own, a studio to work alone in without a
million distractions. Something memorable to
leave behind when my 3-chord rumba is
over.
YNA? You do a lot of
album covers, what is you freedom when you
design an album cover?
DG: Generally a client
already knows what they would like me to
portray. I do have artistic freedom but have
never been able to just go nuts on a cover to
rule with my own invention.
YNA? Which album covers
impressed you?
DG: Birthday Party
Junkyard, The Drones Further Temptations,
Ramones Road to Ruin, Sex Pistols Never Mind
The Bullocks, Sham 69 Thats Life, Leather Nun
Prime mover, Social Distortion Mommies Little
Monster, Slaughter & The Dogs Do It Dog
Style, Adverts Gary Gilmores Eyes, Metallica
Master Of Puppets, Motorhead, The Helicopters
Dog Gone your Bad Luck Soul, Plasmatics
Butchure Baby, Black Flag Nervous Breakdown,
Blood on The Cats, Rockabilly Psychosis and The
Garage Disease, King Kurt The Last Will and
Testicle, The Cramps Can your Pussy do the Dog,
Dwarves Free Cocaine, Fistful of Rock n roll
comps, Electric Frankenstein covers, GBH
Midnight Madness and Beyond/City Babies
Revenge, Rolling stones Tattoo You, L7
“Everglade, VKTMS 100% White girl, and so
on…
YNA? Every artist hopes
to get some recognition for his/her work. Do
you feel appreciated for the art you
create?
DG: Yes thanks to this
interview and others anyone who displays my
work. It always amazes me when I see that
someone actually had something framed. Most
importantly the models praises and feedback are
well received.
YNA? How is the artistic
recognition outside the punk scene? Do you sell
stuff to non-punks?
DG: The Goth scene seems to
embrace it, pop art enthusiasts, fetish
culture, the average joe sometimes, tattoo
artists … all of the above and more.
Besides most punks I know aint got any
money.
YNA? How would your work
look like without the punk influences? And how
would your life be like?
DG: Possibly more 50s pin
up style smoother lines, oils or airbrushed,
and I might be living well off of it, free of
debt traveling the world, Or Id be homeless
addicted to crack an alcoholic living on the
street making cardboard signs, chasing girls
around with my magic scepter from what lies
below the sewers. Calling upon my pigeon
minions to shit on passers by.
YNA? Vinyl is something that will always keep
on existing in the punk scene, what do you
think of vinyl releases? (As artists and as a
punk who likes to listen to the
music)
DG: I didnt even start
buying CDs til the 90s. Ive always preferred
vinyl cause the packaging is more interesting.
I love the ride of the needle the snaps and
pops and in many cases have found vinyl to
sound better than CD. It was the worst when the
crossover from vinyl to CD's hit. All the major
record stores were no longer record stores and
smaller businesses got rid of all the vinyl and
tapes.
YNA? Is there any new work coming
up?
DG: I have a list of models
to illustrate. Just finished a Distillers
poster for 15th Precinct Magazine in Australia.
Have some new projects including a GBH 25th
anniversary CDEP Japanese release cover art, a
The Cramps poster, Arizona roller Derby poster,
and some logos and t-shirts designs. Just
posted original art for sale at
www.daveglassart.com click on art for sale,
original art. Also a $5 sale on the last of the
1st edition of prints I put out. Awaiting a few
books that I have published work in: Electric
Frankenstein art book and Art of Modern Rock
Book.
|
