The Stitches ***New Interview***

The Stitches are one of Californias oldest punk bands. They started like a match and they have kept the flame going all these years. As a band, they have a great live show and have put out some great music. Don't miss your chance to catch these guys live. I got Michael and Johnny to tell their story...

Introduce yourself… 

Michael Lohrman- My name's Mike. 

Johnny Witmer- Hi, I'm Johnny Witmer. I play guitar .

How did the band start? 
Johnny Witmer- Ask Mike.

Michael Lohrman- The Crowd was playing at the Anit Club and I jumped up on stage to sing back-ups during "Living In Madrid," I got tangled up in Jim Kaa's guitar cords, he got pissed and shoved me off the stage. After the gig he started yelling at me, saying, "if you wanna sing so bad, start your own fuckin' band!" so I did...

 

How did you come up with the name?  
Johnny Witmer- Ask Mike.

Michael Lohrman- It was democratically voted in from a list of hundreds.... 

Who would you say are your influences? 

Michael Lohrman-  Flipper & Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.

Johnny Witmer- The Viletones.

What was the punk scene like in 1994? 

 Michael Lohrman- "Ours" was quite small.

 Johnny Witmer- A lot of dudes in shorts, so we felt unique. 

How do you feel in has changed? 

Michael Lohrman- These days, there seems to be a lack of angst. 

Johnny Witmer- It's a lot easier to be cool now. Most kids don't have to go record shopping, or read about bands in magazines anymore. They have youtube, facebook & myspace. They learn a sense of dress, and have your whole record collection at their fingertips in 5 minutes.

What is the song writing process? 

Johnny Witmer- Most of the songs were an accident, or were written in 5 minutes. 

Michael Lohrman- Purely accidental. 

You run a record store ‘Underdog Records’, tell us about the store…  

Johnny Witmer- It's closed, but ask Mike.

Michael Lohrman- It closed in 2006. 

After the band formed you guys, did a tour of the Northwest, tell us the tour… 

Michael Lohrman- Our first time out as a band. Super fun times. It was a great test to see if we could stand to be with each other for a given length of time. Logan quit before we left. Ted quit when we got home. Natural selection, really.

Johnny Witmer- We went on a tour with UXA & Corrupted Ideals. Pete had just been fired from his bass duties in Corrupted Ideals for stealing Paul's (singer from Corrupted Ideals) wife in some weird partner swap.They hadn't seen each other in months, and had to sit in the back of Mike's truck the whole trip. It was a great time with lots of Speed & Booze! I almost killed the band when I jackknifed the trailer going 90 mph, and sent us into a 180 spin on the 5 South in Washington!  

You guys also appeared on the ‘You know it’s a Product’ compilation, tell us about the comp … 
Johnny Witmer- We did this comp for the northwest tour with UXA & Corrupted Ideals. Mike hated Dee Dee Troit's cover so we made our own!  

Michael Lohrman- It was pressed for the tour. It was also our first time on record. We hadn't been in the studio yet, so we had to use a live recording. The covers weren't so hot, so I made a few of my own. I figured, If you've gotta have a copy of your own records, it might as well be something your not too embarrassed of....nothing I could do about the song.

Your first release was the ‘Sixteen’ 7”, tell us about the 7”… 

Michael Lohrman- It's actually our second release, "You Know t's A Product..." was first. First takes, all 3 of 'em, on alot of booze & speed- seems to be a good combo for us.  

Johnny Witmer- Still one of my favorites. Done on lots of speed, and booze. We recorded 3 tracks in one afternoon, and it was a masterpiece! 

How do you feel ‘Two New Cuts’, ‘Talk Sick’ and ‘Livin’ at 110’ Differed?  

Michael Lohrman- Johnny Sleeper played drums on "Two New Cuts" and "Talk Sick." Skibs played drums on "Livin' at 110." The first 2 were released domestically and the latter was released in Germany only.

Johnny Witmer- Mike's voice got deeper on those tracks due to his heroin intake. It's kinda like listen to early GG Allin, and then his later stuff. Way different voice. We were a 5 piece on the Sixteen 7", and now we were only a 4 piece. Songs were brilliant. Sleeper left after Talk Sick, and we broke up for 6 months, Mike brought this guy in pajamas to our practice. It was Skibs. Mike liked him because they were junkie buddies. Pete and myself hated him, because we were doing speed. We recorded Livin' @ 110 with him, and it's another one of my favorites!  

Your first EP was ‘8x12’, tell us about the EP… 
Johnny Witmer- This was done on speed, after the Sixteen 7", and was our first recording as a 4 piece. I remember it rained in LA for 15 days in a row. My car was floating away on the 710 south on the way to record. My Twin reverb was busted, so I used the studio's Twin. I hated the weak guitar tone I got on that recording, but I'm happy with it now.

Michael Lohrman- I feel it's our best work. Billy Wedgeworth (RIP) did the scream at the end of "Better Off Dead" during a drop off. 

How do you feel ‘Five More Songs from the Stitches’ differed? 

Michael Lohrman- Different drummer again. 
Johnny Witmer- We got Fast Eddie Gaxiola on drums. Slowed down hard punk rock songs, with better production. I like it still! 

Your first full length album was ‘You Better Shut Up and Start Listening’, tell us about the album… 

Michael Lohrman- It was recorded on a dictaphone in the pocket of a leather jacket at Club Mesa. One of the best live albums ever, second only to "Document & Eyewitness" by Wire. They only beat us because theirs is a double LP. 

Johnny Witmer- Some guy taped one of our usual live performances, and asked if he could put it out. I hate it; just as I hate every live punk recording (except for Wire "Document & Eyewitness"). The packaging is great with artwork doe by Asshole Andrew from Le Shok. I always tell people at the merch booth that it's the best LP ever when asked. It's a big seller!

Your current album is ‘12 Imaginary Inches’, tell us about the album… 
Michael Lohrman- Earle Mankey's studio has Weirdos tapes on the shelves. It was cool. He has some really neat toys.... 

Johnny Witmer- Current? That thing came out 8 years ago. Really good LP. Worked with Earle Mankey who has done great stuff with The Dickies, Runaways, 20/20 back in the 70's. Also Pete Dee from The Adicts did the initial producing on the LP, but we parted ways due to a dispute during mixing. We were trying to get wild, and thought we were Metal Urbain, and Ultravox!

Tell us about the current lineup… 

Michael Lohrman- Here we are...again. 

Johnny Witmer- Mike, Pete, Skibs & Me. Back to the 1997 lineup. It's great! 

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with? 

Michael Lohrman & Johnny Witmer- Shane MacGowan & The Popes, Exploding Fuck Dolls, Angelic Upstarts, Guitar Gangsters, Zero Boys, The Crowd, The Simpletones, Rik L Rik, The Humpers, The Registrators, Smogtown, The Naughty Monkey, Slaughter & The Dogs, The Avengers, Rezillos, Fear, TSOL, Adolescents, The Zeros, Flyboys, Cock Sparrer, The Feederz, The Rotters, The Lewd, The Skulls, Shock, The Gears, The Plugz, The Dogs, Deadbeats and The Eyes....the list goes on.

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs? 

Michael Lohrman- Small clubs. 

Johnny Witmer- Small clubs are my favorite. I like being around my audience, and being mobbed by fat chicks. 

Where have you toured? 

Michael Lohrman- Ask Johnny. 

 

Johnny Witmer- 3 European tours (including Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria & Holland.) 200 nor cal shows, 5-6 northwest tours. 4-5 Midwest tours. 1 east coast tour. 1 time in new Orleans, Hawaii & New Mexico. a few time in Texas. Once in Colorado & Montana. 10 or more in Arizona.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with? 

Michael Lohrman- I don't get out much these days, so really any band that I'd like to go see without the excuse of "having to go" because my band's playing....but actually having the excuse of "having to go" because my band IS playing.

Johnny Witmer- The Empty Rum Bottels.

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at? 

Michael Lohrman- Popeye's Pub in Peekskill, New York. 
Johnny Witmer- Any all ages venue!

What do you see is the future of the Stitches? 

Michael Lohrman- Release of The Singles Collection and subsequent tour, playing the record in it's entirety, backed by an orchestra.

Johnny Witmer- Got a new 7" out on Modern Action, and coming soon a new 12" of classic Stitches songs done new wave style and covered by The Jet Set. We also have a new DVD Live At Wienerschnitzel out now. Our next project will be a "Singles Collection" LP/CD. Hopefully new recordings, and lots of touring as well.

How can people contact the band? 

Michael Lohrman & Johnny Witmer- www.thestitchespunk.com, http://www.myspace.com/thestitches and/or www.facebook.com/thestitches.

Johnny Witmer- Ask Mike .