Interview with Kepi Ghoulie of the Groovie Ghoulies (2009)

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, a few years ago I interviewed a few musicians. The interviews were posted in a now defunct alternative rock music website. I am now posting them in this blog. Hope you enjoy them, but keep in mind that these interviews were done a few years ago so the content might be dated.


The charismatic former front man of the Groovie Ghoulies took some time to answer a few questions for The Vinyl Potato.

Interview date: July 15th, 2009

The Vinyl Potato [VP]: Hi Kepi. How are you doing?

Kepi Ghoulie [KG]: Hello! I'm doin' fine!

[VP]: You just started a new tour this year with Kevin Seconds. How is the tour going? Are you playing any new songs?

[KG]: Just started my second tour with Kevin Seconds for this year, my third total! It's already been a busy year!

We're at SXSW right now and it's going good!

Not playing any brand new songs, but many that are a year or less old... Plus working on new stuff at home!

[VP]: Good to hear that you enjoyed SXSW. It was great seeing your show last weekend. The show featured some great pop punk bands like the Queers, the Pink Spiders and Teenage Bottlerocket. How was it to share the stage with these bands?

[KG]: I have done show and tours with at least half of the bands, and knew everyone involved who was putting on the showcase, so there was definitely a family vibe going on there...That showcase was actually a clincher for me going to Austin...When you know it's going to be a good show, and that rock family and friends will be there, it's a no-brainer!

[VP]: Many people got to hear your acoustic songs this weekend. What influenced you to change from the fast pop punk sound from the Groovie Ghoulies to an acoustic sound? What motivates you to write the acoustic songs?

[KG]: I like to stay busy and play music, so I started playing acoustic when I was home between Ghoulie tours...I am a fan of Neil Young and Johnny Thunders, both artists whose music would translate either electrically or acoustically...Nothing really changed, it's just nice to have a machine that operates at two speeds!

[VP]: Did you grow up listening to a country music? What introduced you to punk rock music?

[KG]: My parents listened to the local country station, I didn't care for a lot of it, but through that I discovered Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, etc...

I discovered punk on my own, my brother won a Sex pistols record (among others) at a school dance, and I was all "What is this?", then Elvis Costello, Devo, Ramones, and on and on!

[VP]: Your first acoustic record is titled "Yes, Depression". Why did you choose such a sad title for the album?

[KG]: It was just a twist on the "No Depression" music scene and magazine! :)

[VP]: Random question: Who thought you how to whistle like you do?

[KG]: My grandpa taught me how to whistle and tie my shoes! :)

[VP]: Is that Kim Shattuck of The Muffs in "This friend of mine" from American Gothic? How did you meet her?

[KG]: Yes it is! We played random shows with the Queers and such, then toured with the Muffs and Chixdiggit! Kim is awesome, the Muffs are awesome! Lucky Kepi!

[VP]: In recent years, many bands took away the rights of their older albums from Lookout Records, the Groovie Ghoulies being one of them. What was the whole issue with Lookout? Did you take away all your albums from Lookout?

[KG]: We made a deal with Lookout to get our masters back...

I think other band's contracts may have been breached, resulting in them getting their master tapes back...

[VP]: Did you draw the artwork for the "American Gothic" and "Hanging Out" albums? How would you describe your art?

[KG]: The covers for Am Goth and Hanging Out were done by Ben Walker of Sacramento, he is an amazing artist and you should check out his website! My art is more primitive...I call it "Bright and simple art for a dark and complicated world"...

[VP]: Most of the lyrics of your songs with the Ghoulies have horror movies topics. What are some of your favorite horror movies and why did you choose that topic for your music?

[KG]: I like Universal, Hammer, Tim Burton films among others, but that's a good start! Also monsters like King Kong, Godzilla, etc...

[VP]: What's in the future for Kepi? Are you releasing a new album soon?

[KG]: New album, "Life Sentence", coming out in August/September!

Top 15 Green Day Songs That You Didn’t Hear In The Radio

If you are a Green Day fan, you know that some of their best songs are not always played in the radio. These hidden gems are unfairly overshadowed by poppy and radio-friendly tunes that have made Green Day one of the biggest bands in the world. Here’s a chance to learn about the best 15 Green Day songs that were not released as a single.

Top 15 Green Day Songs That You Didn't Hear In The Radio

15. Prosthetic Head (from Nimrod)

It’s not easy to close a such musically-diverse album such as Nimrod. But Prosthetic does it perfectly: keeps you wanting more.

14. Espionage (from Shenanigans)

This one of the few instrumental songs by Green Day. It also fits very well in the Austin Powers Soundtrack. Oh, it was also nominated to a Grammy. Nice.

13. 2000 Light Years Away (from Kerplunk)

Great song to play when your significant other is far away; and one of the best songs in Kerplunk.

12. Scattered (from Nimrod)

The lyrics just cannot get better in this song. Scattered makes a super catchy and sing-along tune for both die-hard and new Green Day fans.

11. 86 (from Insomniac)

When Billie Joe says “there is no return from 86!” you can almost feel the rejection that the band members experienced when they were banned from playing in 86 Gilman St. after signing to a major label. 

10. 409 In Your Coffeemaker (from 39/Smooth)

This is one of the songs that started it all. You can almost see the guys in Reprise Records saying, “we must have this band!”.

9. Horseshoes and Handgrenades (from 21st Century Breakdown)

The loudest song in Green Day’s latest album could have never been released a single. Mainly because it’s built on the phrase “I’m not fucking around!” Which, by the way, might be the best lyric ever.

8. Blood, Sex and Booze (from Warning)

The sounds at the very beginning of the song all of a sudden make a lot of sense once you learn that this song is about a dominatrix. Don’t piss her off!

7. Christie Road (from Kerplunk)

Kerplunk would not be Kerplunk without Christie Road. Listen and understand.

6. King for a Day (from Nimrod)

Fans at a Green Day show cannot wait for Billie Joe to start singing about panty hoses and leather thongs. This has made King for a Day the most fun song to dance around at the concert.

5. Castaway (from Warning)

This fast and catchy song from Warning was made into an instant classic.

4. Whatsername (from American Idiot)

This might be one of Green Day’s most powerful songs. Saved for the very end of Green Day’s comeback album, this song closes the open-ended story of Jesus of Suburbia, St. Jimmy and Whatsername.

3. Stuart and the Ave. (from Insomniac)

Forget about the bass lines in Longview. Mike Dirnt makes ‘Stuart’ the highlight of Green Day’s most underrated album.

2. Burnout (from Dookie)

The band has been playing this song in live shows for a very long time. And no wonder why. Burnout has enough power to start Green Day’s classic album and get us all pumped out at the show.

1. The Judge’s Daughter (from 39/Smooth)

This song from Green Day’s first album looks, sounds and smells like a good Green Day song. It’s fast, loud, angry, and stays in your head like a Rick Astley song… but in a good way.

So, there you go. Next time someone tells you Green Day is his favorite band, don’t turn around. Ask him what is his favorite song. If he mentions a song from this list, you know you are talking to a real fan.