ROTD “Mooorree Than Just Another Comp” edition: 5 questions with Mike Park of The Chinkees

Interviews, News, Roll of the Dice

This special edition focuses solely on the upcoming Operation Ivy tribute comp Mooorree Than Just Another Comp, due out in April via Sell The Heart Records and Lavasocks Records. supplied their previously-released version of “The Crowd” for the comp. TGEFM got a chance to do an ROTD with scene legend to discuss. We rolled a FIVE.

1) Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions! Do you remember the first time you heard Op Ivy, and what do they mean to you?

Of course.  Since I'm old AF and grew up in the bay area I was aware of the band and their buzz in the underground punk/ska scene.  With a group of friends I went to see them at the Berkeley Square which I believe was their 2nd to last show ever.  And this here's the kicker (justifiably)…. i didn't go inside.  This was a common practice by me in the 80's.  I would go to shows, but was too poor to pay to get in, so I would stand outside and listen and hang out with other punks. Here are some bands I missed due to this common practice:  The Ramones, Toy Dolls, Nirvana, GBH, and a ton more.  

Operation Ivy changed the way I look at music.  How a sound can influence emotions on another level.  How lyrics can transport you to a completely different mindset.  The melding of raw emotional punk rock with that cutting ska guitar was just incredible to hear back then and equally as incredible to hear today.  

2) The Chinkees released their Op Ivy cover of “The Crowd” back in 2016. This song essentially lends itself to the title of this compilation, what led The Chinkees to choose “The Crowd” to cover?

I was just singing along to it in the car one day and felt like I had a good push vocally that kind of matched Jesse's intensity.  That's pretty much it.  Ha ha

3) The Chinkees also covered “Bankshot” back in 2002, if you were given the option/had the time to record a new cover for the comp, would you choose a different song, or even change something about one of the previous versions?

I would love to do a cover the full album to be honest.  Just like Clawhammer did Devo are we not men or the Queers doing The Ramones Rocket To Russia.  That's what I really want to do.  The entire energy LP. 

4) If you were to choose a band to receive a tribute album next, who would you pick and why? I personally would like to see a Skankin' Pickle tribute (or has there been a Fishbone one yet?

A cool tribute comp would be for a band like The Muffs.  That's what I would love to hear.  After Kim passed away I think a lot of folks did covers as a tribute, but just live on social media.  If bands laid down studio recordings it would be cool to hear.  Especially from some of the bigger female fronted bands. 

5) Have you ever met Amanda Stepto, and what's your favorite thing from Taco Bell?

Of course.  It would be too long to explain the process, but  basically I was a real life stalker and found her in Toronto, ON. Google it, I bet there's a story online about it.  And my $1 potato taco is my go to jam at taco bell because it's only $1.  I get a hard shell instead of the soft shell and that puts it over the top.  

Mooorree Than Just Another Comp is due out 07 Apr 2023. You can preorder digitally at the STHR Bandcamp. For physical releases on vinyl (inventory is going fast!) visit the Sell The Heart or Lavasocks web stores.

Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A Pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.