Jack Grisham is the firebrand lead singer of legendary Los Angeles-area punk band T.S.O.L. (True Sounds of Liberty) and has strong opinions on many things.
California politicians? Not a fan - he's run for governor himself.
Disco? He digs The Stylistics.
Those thoughts and more might emanate through the magic of song and his always colorful stage banter when T.S.O.L. tours China for the first time, invited by Shanghai art-punk band Round Eye.
The band will be playing four concerts - in Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai - as well as doing a live interview event in Shanghai.
T.S.O.L. first emerged as a vital voice of the Southern California punk scene. Formed in 1979, just a step behind the first generation of LA punk like X and Black Flag, the band represented a suburban surf n' skate hooliganism, delivering that energy into chaotic live shows.
"Years before Beijing band Second Hand Rose, Grisham donned dresses, antagonizing audiences in a world where most imagined a frontman to be the traditional masculine peacocking archetype of Rod Stewart."
Their early sound evolved from their hardcore punk roots. With the helpful addition of keyboardist Greg Kuehn, the band released what is considered the first ever goth-punk album in Beneath the Shadows.
After major shifts in lineup, the band has been steadily active since 2001 with Grisham at the helm.
"Live shows from the band today feature foundational hardcore classics like 'Abolish Government/Silent Majority.' Meanwhile their latest album, A-Side Graffiti, features Grisham's crooning reinterpretation of the Louis Armstrong classic 'What A Wonderful World.'"
A Conversation with Jack Grisham
On Discovering Music
"There's a whole generation of listeners who were introduced to T.S.O.L. by video-games like Grand Theft Auto V."
"I think it's cool how people find music these days... You would hold vinyl in your hands."
Introducing T.S.O.L. to New Audiences
"For people in China who might not be familiar with T.S.O.L., but are interested to learn...""I would watch ... Ignore Heroes." "It tells ... You'll love it."
Dinner Dates & Culinary Choices
- Dinner Date:
- If I was going ... I'm going with Bezos...
Culinary Preferences:
- As far as I'm concerned they can eat what I eat...
Lifelong Musical Partnerships
- You’ve been playing on-and-off ... When you're onstage...
- I guess when you've played... He's a good guy – good friend.
Tackling Long Flights
I enjoy flying...it's control....a dictator of life!.