The legendary 77' Punk band, The Lewd, known for the classic "Kill Yourself" single are a bit of an obsession here at Tx Punk. The band tore through some of the most definitive Punk Rock ever put to record before most US bands even managed to become a legitimate show going act.
So, today we're talking with frontman, Sats, to find out more about The Lewd and all their filthy glory past and present.
So, today we're talking with frontman, Sats, to find out more about The Lewd and all their filthy glory past and present.
Sats circa 1977
All photos Courtesy of The Lewd
All photos Courtesy of The Lewd
Tx Punk: What's your favorite song to play live?
Sats: I WOULD HAVE TO SAY SONGS THAT HAVE A PERTINENT MEANING EVEN MORE TODAY THAN WHEN WRITTEN LIKE "DRESSED IN BLACK" and "CLIMATE OF FEAR". AND THEN THERE'S AMERICAN WINO AND I'M NOT PRETTY CUZ THEY ROCK....
Tx Punk: I know this has probably been asked, but how did you decide on the name, The Lewd?
Sats: IT JUST SEEMED SO RIGHT. THE NAME OF A GROUP HAS TO PAINT A PICTURE IN PEOPLES MIND THATHAVE NEVER SEEN THE GROUP.
Tx Punk: What's your favorite Punk album?
Sats: THERE'S SO MANY. FOR SURE THE SEX PISTOL ALBUM, THE DAMNED. WHEN YOU'VE MET THE MUSICIANS IN A GROUP, THEN THAT'S MY FAV ALBUM THAT WEEK....
Tx Punk: I know The Lewd have resumed gigging their way through California, is there a chance for a wider tour anywhere in the somewhat near future?
Sats: NOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.
WHEN WE MAKE IT TO A DATE IT'S KINDA SPECIALJUST CUZ WE SHOWED UP
Tx Punk: What are some of the biggest differences you notice between the Punk scene back in the day versus now?
Sats: IT SEEMED MORE ENLIGHTENED BACK THEN. PUNK SEEMED MORE HONEST BACK IN THE DAY. IT WAS NO CAKE WALK WALKING AROUND THAT WAY BACK THEN. BACK THEN WHEN YOU SAW SOMEONE WALKING AROUND WITH A DAY-GLOW MOHAWK AND LEATHER AND CHAINS, YOU KNEW PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY WERE INTO... PUNK WAS MORE OF A FOUR LETTER WORD BACK THEN AND NOW IT'S SO MAINSTREAM.
BUT I STILL LOVE PUNK, REAL PUNK... NOW DAYS YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE KID WAS GENUINE OR HE SAW THE LOOK IN A MAGAZINE.
Tx Punk: Do you guys plan on releasing or at least writing any new material?
Sats: YES. TENTATIVELY TITLED "TO LATE TO ABORT".
I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE CUZ PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL IF IT MEASURES UP TO THE OLD CLASSIC STUFF...
SO BE IT, IF THEY DON'T LIKE THE NEW THEY CAN JUST LAY DOWN AND DIE.
Sats: I WOULD HAVE TO SAY SONGS THAT HAVE A PERTINENT MEANING EVEN MORE TODAY THAN WHEN WRITTEN LIKE "DRESSED IN BLACK" and "CLIMATE OF FEAR". AND THEN THERE'S AMERICAN WINO AND I'M NOT PRETTY CUZ THEY ROCK....
Tx Punk: I know this has probably been asked, but how did you decide on the name, The Lewd?
Sats: IT JUST SEEMED SO RIGHT. THE NAME OF A GROUP HAS TO PAINT A PICTURE IN PEOPLES MIND THATHAVE NEVER SEEN THE GROUP.
Tx Punk: What's your favorite Punk album?
Sats: THERE'S SO MANY. FOR SURE THE SEX PISTOL ALBUM, THE DAMNED. WHEN YOU'VE MET THE MUSICIANS IN A GROUP, THEN THAT'S MY FAV ALBUM THAT WEEK....
Tx Punk: I know The Lewd have resumed gigging their way through California, is there a chance for a wider tour anywhere in the somewhat near future?
Sats: NOT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.
WHEN WE MAKE IT TO A DATE IT'S KINDA SPECIALJUST CUZ WE SHOWED UP
Tx Punk: What are some of the biggest differences you notice between the Punk scene back in the day versus now?
Sats: IT SEEMED MORE ENLIGHTENED BACK THEN. PUNK SEEMED MORE HONEST BACK IN THE DAY. IT WAS NO CAKE WALK WALKING AROUND THAT WAY BACK THEN. BACK THEN WHEN YOU SAW SOMEONE WALKING AROUND WITH A DAY-GLOW MOHAWK AND LEATHER AND CHAINS, YOU KNEW PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY WERE INTO... PUNK WAS MORE OF A FOUR LETTER WORD BACK THEN AND NOW IT'S SO MAINSTREAM.
BUT I STILL LOVE PUNK, REAL PUNK... NOW DAYS YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE KID WAS GENUINE OR HE SAW THE LOOK IN A MAGAZINE.
Tx Punk: Do you guys plan on releasing or at least writing any new material?
Sats: YES. TENTATIVELY TITLED "TO LATE TO ABORT".
I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE CUZ PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL IF IT MEASURES UP TO THE OLD CLASSIC STUFF...
SO BE IT, IF THEY DON'T LIKE THE NEW THEY CAN JUST LAY DOWN AND DIE.
The Lewd Live at 924 Gilman Street current day.
Tx Punk: Being a Seattle based band originally, how is it that you got into Punk in the 70's, and decided it was something you wanted to play?
Sats: BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY MUSIC THAT MATTERED ANY MORE. THE MUSIC BACK THEN WAS SO LAME, NO ENERGY, NO FUN, IT DIDN'T GIVE YOU A RUSH..
Tx Punk: In my opinion your music always had a sound definitive of Punk, while remaining unique. What inspired some of your song writing?
Sats: A LOT OF THE SONGS ARE QUIRKIE NARRATIVES ON OUR SOCIETY.
OTHERS ARE ANTHEMS, A BIT PREACHY AT TIMES BUT ALL ARE CALLING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE IN SOME WAY WITH IRONY AND SATIRE THROWN IN..
Tx Punk: Yeah, so how about that Roman Polanski? They chased after him again for a short time back in 09, but 3 decades later he's still free
Sats: MORE POWER TO HIM. HE'S A VERY TALENTED FILM MAKER THAT THE MEDIA TOOK AND RAN WITH BECAUSE OF HIS NOTORIETY. THE WOMAN THAT WAS A CHILD BACK THEN IS NO WORSE FOR WEAR AND ADMITS NOW THAT IT WAS PRETTY HARMLESS. BUT OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM JUST WON'T LET UP. COME ON, THEY NEED TO DEVOTE THEIR TIME TO CRIMES THAT REALLY MATTER...
Tx Punk: I know for fact you guys have a number of songs that ended up in stray places like the "Lewd Conduct In A Public Place" live album, but didn't end up on the "Kill Yourself... Again" album.Is there any unreleased material that may see the light of day in the future?
Sats: I'M NOT SURE. AFTER ALL IT WAS A LIFETIME AGO...
Tx Punk: Who would you like to see kill themselves most?
Sats: IT WAS WRITTEN IN SEATTLE THAT HAS ALWAYS HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF SUICIDE IN THE COUNTRY.
THAT SONG IS PRETTY MUCH "TONGUE-N-CHEEK".
AS I THINK ABOUT IT THERE ARE A FEW INDIVIDUALS IN THIS LAND THAT IF THEY WERE TO OFF THEMSELVES THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE A LOT BETTER OFF. "BETTER OFF IF THEY WERE OFFED" HAHA......
Tx Punk: Say something interesting about yourselves.
Sats: ALTHOUGH YOU WOULD NOT REALIZE IT FROM OUR MUSIC AND SEEING US ON STAGE, I AM VERY HUMBLE...
THERE WAS A SAYING BACK IN THE DAY "LIVE FAST, DIE YOUNG"... AND IT HAS SEEMED TO PLAY A CRUEL JOKE ON US. CUZ HERE IT IS, YEARS LATER, AND WE'VE GOTTEN BACK TOGETHER, ROCK'N AT OUR OWN TERMS, AND THIS NEW GROUP HAS ACTUALLY BEEN TOGETHER NOW LONGER THAN THE ORIGINAL. AND THEN THERE'S OUR FAN BASE. WE'VE GOT THOSE WHO WE'RE THERE AND REMEMBER US BACK THEN AND THEN THERE'S THE KIDS THAT HAVE ONLY HEARD A BIT OF OUR MUSIC AND READ ABOUT US ON THE INTERNET. WE ARE AND ALLWAYS HAVE BEEN AN UNDERGROUND GROUP. THE KIDS THAT KNOW OF US TODAY SEEM TO BE AN ENLIGHTENED GROUP. THEY'VE SEEMED TO HAVE DONE THEIR HOMEWORK CUZ FOR SURE THEY WERE NOT AROUND TO SEE US FIRST HAND.
Sats: BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY MUSIC THAT MATTERED ANY MORE. THE MUSIC BACK THEN WAS SO LAME, NO ENERGY, NO FUN, IT DIDN'T GIVE YOU A RUSH..
Tx Punk: In my opinion your music always had a sound definitive of Punk, while remaining unique. What inspired some of your song writing?
Sats: A LOT OF THE SONGS ARE QUIRKIE NARRATIVES ON OUR SOCIETY.
OTHERS ARE ANTHEMS, A BIT PREACHY AT TIMES BUT ALL ARE CALLING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE IN SOME WAY WITH IRONY AND SATIRE THROWN IN..
Tx Punk: Yeah, so how about that Roman Polanski? They chased after him again for a short time back in 09, but 3 decades later he's still free
Sats: MORE POWER TO HIM. HE'S A VERY TALENTED FILM MAKER THAT THE MEDIA TOOK AND RAN WITH BECAUSE OF HIS NOTORIETY. THE WOMAN THAT WAS A CHILD BACK THEN IS NO WORSE FOR WEAR AND ADMITS NOW THAT IT WAS PRETTY HARMLESS. BUT OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM JUST WON'T LET UP. COME ON, THEY NEED TO DEVOTE THEIR TIME TO CRIMES THAT REALLY MATTER...
Tx Punk: I know for fact you guys have a number of songs that ended up in stray places like the "Lewd Conduct In A Public Place" live album, but didn't end up on the "Kill Yourself... Again" album.Is there any unreleased material that may see the light of day in the future?
Sats: I'M NOT SURE. AFTER ALL IT WAS A LIFETIME AGO...
Tx Punk: Who would you like to see kill themselves most?
Sats: IT WAS WRITTEN IN SEATTLE THAT HAS ALWAYS HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF SUICIDE IN THE COUNTRY.
THAT SONG IS PRETTY MUCH "TONGUE-N-CHEEK".
AS I THINK ABOUT IT THERE ARE A FEW INDIVIDUALS IN THIS LAND THAT IF THEY WERE TO OFF THEMSELVES THIS COUNTRY WOULD BE A LOT BETTER OFF. "BETTER OFF IF THEY WERE OFFED" HAHA......
Tx Punk: Say something interesting about yourselves.
Sats: ALTHOUGH YOU WOULD NOT REALIZE IT FROM OUR MUSIC AND SEEING US ON STAGE, I AM VERY HUMBLE...
THERE WAS A SAYING BACK IN THE DAY "LIVE FAST, DIE YOUNG"... AND IT HAS SEEMED TO PLAY A CRUEL JOKE ON US. CUZ HERE IT IS, YEARS LATER, AND WE'VE GOTTEN BACK TOGETHER, ROCK'N AT OUR OWN TERMS, AND THIS NEW GROUP HAS ACTUALLY BEEN TOGETHER NOW LONGER THAN THE ORIGINAL. AND THEN THERE'S OUR FAN BASE. WE'VE GOT THOSE WHO WE'RE THERE AND REMEMBER US BACK THEN AND THEN THERE'S THE KIDS THAT HAVE ONLY HEARD A BIT OF OUR MUSIC AND READ ABOUT US ON THE INTERNET. WE ARE AND ALLWAYS HAVE BEEN AN UNDERGROUND GROUP. THE KIDS THAT KNOW OF US TODAY SEEM TO BE AN ENLIGHTENED GROUP. THEY'VE SEEMED TO HAVE DONE THEIR HOMEWORK CUZ FOR SURE THEY WERE NOT AROUND TO SEE US FIRST HAND.
The Lewd circa 2011.
Tx Punk: How do you feel about smoked cheese?
Sats: UHMM, TASTEY....
Tx Punk: So what do you like to do when you're not: touring stadiums across the globe, enjoying scores of fangirls at your respective mansions, or receiving government bailouts?
Sats: MAINLY JUST ENJOYING LIFE AND CREATING CUZ LIFE IS GOOD... I FEEL FORTUNATE I'M STILL ALIVE CUZ SO MANY OF OUR PIERS ARE NOT. WE'RE WORKING ON NEW MATERIAL WITH NO DEADLINES, ON OUR OWN TERMS...
Tx Punk: Any advice for upstart bands?
Sats: YEA, DON'T GET FULL OF YOURSELVES.
DO YOUR ART FOR FUN AND DON'T CHASE FAME TO BE THE NEXT BIG THING.
Tx Punk: Anything you'd like to say for anyone still reading this?
Sats: YEA, GET A LIFE....
SINCERELY,
J. SATS BERET
Sats: UHMM, TASTEY....
Tx Punk: So what do you like to do when you're not: touring stadiums across the globe, enjoying scores of fangirls at your respective mansions, or receiving government bailouts?
Sats: MAINLY JUST ENJOYING LIFE AND CREATING CUZ LIFE IS GOOD... I FEEL FORTUNATE I'M STILL ALIVE CUZ SO MANY OF OUR PIERS ARE NOT. WE'RE WORKING ON NEW MATERIAL WITH NO DEADLINES, ON OUR OWN TERMS...
Tx Punk: Any advice for upstart bands?
Sats: YEA, DON'T GET FULL OF YOURSELVES.
DO YOUR ART FOR FUN AND DON'T CHASE FAME TO BE THE NEXT BIG THING.
Tx Punk: Anything you'd like to say for anyone still reading this?
Sats: YEA, GET A LIFE....
SINCERELY,
J. SATS BERET
Be sure to check out The Lewd on Facebook!
