Ep376: Spike Slawson of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

Spike Slawson is the frontman's frontman. Spearheading the supergroup Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, Spike talks about forming MFATGG, the early days of the band, the rare records, being hated by The Eagles and more.

Topics include:

• Is Spike a record collector?
• Describe your record collection
• How do you shop for records?
• Who influenced Spike’s frontman persona?
• Irony within performing covers
• How do they pick songs for the Gimme Gimmes to cover?
• The strategy of putting out lots of 45s in the early days
• Involving lots of labels besides Fat Wreck
• Music from Spike’s youth & household
• The first records Spike bought w his own money
• Did Spike always want to be a performer?
• Spike’s friends who influenced his musical tastes
• Impact of Dead Kennedys “Fresh Fruit” LP
• Shocking his music teacher w Husker Du
• Moving from Pittsburgh to San Francisco
• Spike’s first bands & performances
• Rough stories from early punk clubs
• Becoming aware of Fat Wreck
• Spike was a really bad employee
• Getting moved from Shipping/Receiving to Lead Singer
• Fat Mike & Joey Cape invited Spike to lead the Gimmes
• Cover bands can skip song writing and go straight to performance
• Early shows of the Gimme Gimmes
• Artists that didn’t like the cover of their song
• Response from Eagles
• Who he’d like to hear the cover
• Bands/artists that East and West coasts dislike
• A strong dislike of Fleetwood Mac and associated fashion
• Being influenced by John Waters and Hee-Haw
• The upcoming Australian and New Zealand tour
• Interview wrap up

Tix/info on Me First & the Gimme Gimmes 2023 Aus/NZ Tour

High-resolution & Commercial Free version of this interview available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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If you like records, just starting a collection or are an uber-nerd with a house-full of vinyl, this is the podcast for you. Nate Goyer is The Vinyl Guide and discusses all things music and record-related