With 4 stops in Texas on the So-cal Invasion tour(San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and El Paso) we thought it would be the perfect time to talk to Punk Legend Mike Palm.
Mike Palm Singer/Guitarist/Songwriter of Agent Orange. (Pictures from November 9th at The Meridian Houston TX)
TX Punk: So you got back from an international tour not too long ago. How did it feel to play for people almost halfway around the world?
Mike: Yeah well, we have been touring outside the U.S. for many years, so we've met alot of cool people along the way. It's good to have friends all over the world. Touring in Europe is very different from the U.S. but it doesn't usually feel any different onstage. It seems like it could be any show. More Europeans can speak perfect English than you would expect. Everyone knows all the words and they sing along real loud, so It's easy to forget you are in a foreign country.
TX Punk: What is your favorite Punk album?
Mike: Oooo, that's a tough question. How punk does it have to be to qualify? I guess I would have to pick something classic instead of something new. Even though I love all the first wave New York and UK punk bands, I would have to go with something closer to home: The Germs GI. Darby had an original vocal style that was punk to the bone, and I'm still amazed that he wrote all those incredible lyrics. The band was/is so amazing. They always sounded like they were about to implode at any moment. Brilliant. Sick. Unbelieveable.
TX Punk: What is your favorite song to play live?
Mike: El Dorado. It's the shortest, fastest song in the set. OK, I always say that, and it's not really true. I really like doing Wouldn't Last a Day, even though it's not that easy to sing. I also like Bloodstains. How can you not like a song that everyone absolutely demands to hear every single night?
TX Punk: How did you pick the name "Agent Orange"?
Mike: I was looking for something that says where we are from, and we had the surf/spy thing going on from the beginning. We had heard the phrase used in news reports and things at the time, but we weren't really aware of what was going on. Punk bands have had a history of coming up with shocking names, but that's not really what we were going for. I think it suits us.
Mike: Yeah, it's called "No Such Thing"! That was actually the drummer who said that in the interview, and he never wrote a single word. Typical.
TX Punk: What do you think about all the electronic artists that keep showing up on various online music stores that use the same name as Punk bands(there is one for Flipper, Fear, X, and there is even one called Agent Orange).
Mike: I think it shows a frightening lack of knowledge regarding musical history, especially since it's so easy to do research about anything online now. Get a clue you kooks. I'm hoping one of them will sell a shitload of records so I can sue the crap out of them.
TX Punk: You were in that Surf band The Deoras right? Are The Deoras still together?
Mike: We have a recording that is about 1/2 finished, but I've been so busy touring with Agent Orange that I haven't had any time for the Deoras. We havent played together for almost two years now, but it's a great band, and I am hoping we will play sometime this summer.
TX Punk: (This one was a request)
"Who is the coolest person you have Surfed or Skated with?"
Mike: I usually surf alone, but I once surfed Malibu with Christian and Herbie Fletcher. Christian was in full punk mode at the time, and just his presence was pissing off the locals. Herbie is a legend, and he just dominated the lineup. The coolest person I have skated with is probably Duane Peters. I skated a backyard pool with him years ago, then again when we toured Europe together. I was there the first time Tony Alva and Tony Hawk sessioned, but I was one of the only other people there, so I stayed in the shadows.
TX Punk: You've played at a few Skate parks over the years. Have you thought about doing a Skate park tour, or maybe a stop at one in Texas?
Mike: We talked about getting some battery powered amps and just barging different parks. We usually check out parks on the road, but I mostly skate them after the show when no one's around. I don't wanna skate a park in Texas, there are too many good ditches there!
Mike: The Ramones were great. Green Day. The Weirdos. Hmmmm, I can't think of many others that we actually played with! I guess I would have to admit that I am not necessarily a big fan of many of them. I'm not gonna name names, but lots of `em just plain sucked live. It's usually the unknown band that's low on the bill that somehow grabs my attention.
TX Punk: When do you think the Punk scene was strongest, now, or back in the day?
Mike: Well, there is certainly a bigger army now than in the beginning, so if strength in numbers is a factor than I would have to say that punk is now stronger than ever. When you tour as much as we have, you get to see a broad overview of the scene on an international level. Even in small, out of the way places, we can still draw a significant crowd. It took years for the punk world to take root beyond the major cities, but now alot of times we like playing places where most touring bands won't stop.
TX Punk: So what lies ahead for Agent Orange? Any new recordings?
Mike: The last two years have been our busiest by far, and the opportunities keep pouring in. We need to take a break from the road to get some recording done. It's hard to stay home long enough to dedicate the time it takes, but that's now the plan. Stay tuned.
TX Punk: Thanks for your time.
Mike: No problemo. L8R! ~Mike Palm
