Interview with Mike Park from Asian Man Records

Mike Park is a well accomplished and independent musician, activist, poet, and entrepreneur that has helped spawn several bands, record labels, and revolutionary ideas for over two decades. Some of the productions he has been involved with are Asian Man Records, Dill Records, The Chinkees, The Bruce Lee Band, Skankin’ Pickle, The Plea for Peace Tour, and Ska Against Racism tours (just to name a few).

I first was introduced to Mike’s music and record label back in the early 1990’s when I moved back home to California after living overseas for several years. My personal interest in reggae influenced bands such as the Specials and the Selecter, mixed with my love for playing the sax, got my ears open to the independent, horn heavy, and upbeat focused music scene that was continuing to grow throughout the U.S. after the late 80’s (I make it sound ancient). But anyways, Mike Park was one of the innovators behind much of the ska-punk movement throughout California and eventually the world, and the amazing thing about this era was the sense of community and brotherhood that was felt by fans and bands alike. It had nothing to do with being rich, famous, respected, or acclaimed, but about relating to the normal people just like you that enjoyed raw and original music (not just overproduced pop). Needless to say, Mike Park and his ideas paved the way for many bands and independent minds to be heard and he continues to greatly contribute to the D.I.Y. spirit.

But enough of my own perception of Mike’s history, I will let him speak for himself, so here is my interview with Mike and I would like to thank him very much for taking the time to answer my questions.

*Ego Assassin’s Interview w/Mike Park*

Interview Date: March 29, 2008:

Ego Assassin: Mike, when did you realize that you had a passion for making music? (how did this happen?)

Mike Park: When I was about 13 my dad bought an acoustic guitar and I started fiddling with it. I learned a power chord and I started writing songs right off the bat.

Ego Assassin: What are the major influences on your sound and style? (doesn’t have to be music)

Mike Park: I’m influenced by the DISCHORD RECORDS philophy of punk ethics. Seeing a label try not to become a big label is something I find admirable. You often wonder why it is that people need to constantly strive for #1 when it comes to capitalism, but it’s rare to find entities that are able to survive modestly.
This is what I try to accomplish. As far as music goes, I’m influenced by a lot of stuff. But I grew up listening to the punk rock sounds of 7 SECONDS to BLACK FLAG, then to the 2-tone sounds of the Specials, Bad Manners and now I listen to everything from Suzanne Vega to Bruce Springsteen.

Ego Assassin: Can you share the most discouraging event that has happened in your career/or life? (even what you learned from it?)

Mike Park: Hmmmm… Well, I guess I’m pretty blessed. I can’t really think of anything that’s really been discouraging to the point of wanting to just give this all up. Sometimes the work load can be overbearing or dealing with parents ordering for their kids. They don’t know the ethics of the record label I run and are raging mad if we screw up their order. But overall things have been pretty amazing.

Ego Assassin: How many record labels have you started and are you currently running any labels or projects right now?

Mike Park: I started DILL as a collective amongst the members of SKANKIN’ PICKLE, but ASIAN MAN is the only label I’ve done on my own 100%.

Ego Assassin: In your view, what’s the biggest problem within the music industry today?

Mike Park: I guess it’s the age old situation of people making money off each other. It’s a cut throat business whether it’s the record companies, booking agents, managers, tour managers, etc.. Everyone is an asshole cause they feel that’s what you have to do to get your way, but it sucks. I don’t want to be
part of the music business. What I do is completely seperate from that bullshit. Everything is done 100% DIY. I book my own shows, put out my own records, order my merchandise, book my travel, etc..

Ego Assassin: Are there any current bands making music that you think promotes truth, substance, or meaningful messages to the listeners?

Mike Park: Yes, go to asianmanrecords.com and every band on that roster kicks ass.

Ego Assassin: Can you give a quick history of the ‘Plea for Peace’ tour?

Mike Park: The tour was provided to give music a kick start in terms of blending sounds with a message. We have been inactive for over 4 years now from touring, but we are on the threshold of opening our first music based youth center.

Ego Assassin: Did you get any negative reactions from the name of your label entitled ‘Asian Man Records’?

Mike Park: None. The only negative reactions I got were from my band the CHINKEES. All from Asian Americans. I understand their dismay, but the band was created strictly to confront racism in our society.
Ego Assassin: Do you still play the sax? (How long have you been playing anyways?)

Mike Park: I haven’t played in about 3 years now, but will dust it off for a memorial concert honoring my friend Lynette Knackstedt who played with me for 7 years in Skankin’ Pickle.

Ego Assassin: If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be?

Mike Park: Living? Well, I’d love to spend time with Mr. Obama. Especially now.

Ego Assassin: Any tour plans coming soon?

Mike Park: I just returned from EUROPE on a month tour. Now I’m only going to play spot shows around the US.

Ego Assassin: What’s the most important message you have in your heart to tell the world today?

Mike Park: Just the simple message of peace. It seems like a novel idea right? But man, we’ve got some tough guys in the world who thrive on violence and anger and road rage and arggghhh…

Ego Assassin: What brings you joy in life?

Mike Park: My family.

Ego Assassin: Last question; Remember Degrassi Jr. High?

Mike Park: Of course. I still watch it religiously.

Ego Assassin: The End. Thanks Mike, your time is much appreciated. Good luck with making positive change!

Make sure you check out and support Mike’s latest projects at: asianmanrecords.com
www.mikeparkmusic.com and www.pleaforpeace.com

What is The Working Poor?

Are you someone that works five days a week for a modest wage and spends more time confined within office walls than with your own family or friends? Now think about your living circumstances and ask yourself, in addition to this, are you an individual who’s basic living expenses greatly outweighs your earnings (leaving you with no money or in debt)? If this sounds like you, there’s a good chance you are one of the lucky people who can call themselves the working poor. This term is used to describe people that are constantly employed full-time, but although they work at the same or even higher pace of that as a successful management level worker, they are in poverty due to their low income and high level of expenses (living paycheck to paycheck or worse). According to Wikipedia, in the United States, the official definition of working poor is defined as individuals who spent at least 27 weeks in the labor force (working or looking for work), but whose incomes fell below the official poverty level. Many individuals said to be classified as “working poor” have negative net worth and lack the ability to escape personal or economic problems. The truth is that many people who fall into this category actually are well below the poverty level and are many times just poor (and vice versa).

The real problem with this increasingly growing class of people worldwide is that not only is it becoming common, but it is becoming accepted. In fact there is a good possibility that you, the reader, considers yourself to be or have been in this same category. What most people don’t realize is that the class of ‘working poor’ individuals is the major group of people actually making the world turn around (usually in a good way). These souls are the ones not only working to keep food on everyones table, but they are the ones who are the most socially, politically, and environmentally aware. I don’t mean aware as in publicly concerned, extreme, or agenda driven, I mean that these people are forced to remain the “common man” most of their lives, which gives them no choice but to deeply analyze the tough realities surrounding them and the problems they are faced with. Unlike many privileged people who have a false reality, and on the other side, those who flat-out choose not to work and hold the attitude that they are entitled to success.

What category are you in? And does it matter? And furthermore, what will you do to help others get out of this rut?

Augustus Pablo Video – Live in Concert

One of my favorite reggae artists of all time is Augustus Pablo (Lived from 1954-1999). He is a roots reggae genius, a one of a kind creator, and he was unlike anything you would expect when it comes to a lead man for reggae bands. He played an instrument that most people don’t know about, the all mighty melodica. Rest in peace Augustus and thanks for the tunes. This is my video of the week, enjoy.

What’s with the Bootleg Face on the reddit.com Logo?

Am I the only one who thinks that is odd? Looks like the guy just went in his pants.

What is Sleep Paralysis?

For most of my life I’ve struggled with a sleep condition referred to as sleep paralysis. What is sleep paralysis? Sleep Paralysis is a strange phenomenon wherein a persons mind awakes from sleep (post REM stage), but their body is unable to move. This meaning that the mind is completely aware and although the person can hear or sometimes see the surrounding environment, their body is literally paralyzed and unable to move.

The most common or logical explanation for this phenomenon is a medical one, which is that during sleep, our bodies secrete hormones that are intended to paralyze our body so that we do not act out our dreams (I would probably be several miles away if I acted out mine). However, the detail about sleep paralysis that is highly disputed and ultimately unexplained is the additional, simultaneous event that is called a ‘hallucination’, or sleep paralysis with hallucinations. This hallucination period often occurs in companion to the phenomenon and is reported to last anywhere from a few seconds, to several minutes (for me it is often at least one minute). What is reported, and in my very own personal experiences, there is an extremely dark or evil ‘presence’ that appears in the room or often on top of your body when experiencing the paralysis stage. This presence is usually described as being unseen or even black in color, and usually it presses down on a persons chest or body while the individual is in the paralyzed state.

I’ve experienced this terrible paralysis stage countless times and each time it happens almost in the same manner, like clockwork. I wake up and realize that I’m awake, but my body won’t move, and even though I remember that it has happened before, I’m still scarred out of my mind. Then seconds later, there is a menacing creature that appears either in the room, or on top of my chest. The fear and emotion inside me is something that I cannot explain in words and definitely cannot relate them to our six senses.
It is not a good feeling whatsoever, but it becomes almost normal for people like me who experience this phenomenon. I partially believe it is a medical issue, but also feel it may be something completely unknown to us. If you research this topic thoroughly like I did, you will find that many people range from believing in the phenomenon being responsible for ghosts sightings, out of body experiences, or even alien abductions. However, I personally believe none of the above, as I think most of the unexplained things in life are just as the term suggests……unexplained.

Sleep paralysis itself is said to be experienced by Millions of people throughout the world, and it also has several different names. To name a few; you may hear the term sleep paralysis also described as; “old hag”, “Crushing Demon”, “succubus”, and in Japan, they say “Kanashibiri”, which basically means to be bound by metal.

I would never wish this sleep condition on you, but chances are that you know what I’m talking about.

Why are we Willing to Kill or Be Killed on the Road?

Dead bodies, and over 40,000 of them a year produced in the United States alone. Not from cancer, not from drugs, not from wars, but from something called highway transit. What is causing a vast majority of these deaths? I say it’s caused mainly by pure stupidity, a lack of patience, and no common sense. But we often consider these deaths “accidents” and write them off as being a normal part of life. I disagree with this collateral damage assessment that we hold as “normal”. I mean, what is going on in our minds today when you see these people who are willing to put their own lives and yours at risk, simply so they can get somewhere a few minutes faster. I don’t care if you’re late for work, tardy for shopping, or going to miss your stupid blind date, you need to stop acting like Evil Knievel on the roads and realize that there are hundreds of human beings that die every day over this pointless ignorance with BAD DRIVING. Don’t forget that as much as we joke about speeding, cutting off each other, or petty traffic violations, these practices are in fact KILLING people. They are not all accidents or incidents, but true and final death for some brother or sister, mother or daughter, son or father (who once existed like you do now).

I can’t seem to drive one block without seeing some jackass going 90 miles an hour, cutting of every living soul on the road. What’s wrong with you? If you want a race, go to the desert and play with your friends. If you think you are Vin Diesel from The Fast and Furious Movie, then go get yourself onto a bad Hollywood film as a stunt driver. Either way, keep it away from the rest of us! We are not impressed or amused and it is adding to the problem.
When you drive, remember that there are people living just like you who want to keep living. So slow the hell down and stop trying to rush everywhere. What are you rushing for anyways? What is so important that you are willing to take your life for it? Do you actually think your job is worth dying for? Or perhaps those new shoes you needed to buy today? Is it life or death to purchase milk at the grocery store on time?

Take a nice deep breath and enjoy your drive. Furthermore, be thankful you even have a vehicle to drive and pray you will not fall victim and end up like one of the thousands of corpses.

-From the Mind of the EgoAssassin.