Ep. 21 | “The Lord of Brooklyn”

Everyone’s life was changed after their first Warped Tour experience, especially in the case of Christian Picciolini. Christian is a former American extremist who, after spending time with people from the Warped Tour, founded the Free Radicals Project, to prevent extremism and help people disengage from hate movements. Christian explains how easy it is to pulled into these hate organizations because they prey on people in unfortunate situations and people who are desperate to find their purpose: “you don’t looking for them, they come looking for you.” Christian discusses what he does now to help break people from these groups and how others can help too. Plus, he and Kevin share their positive perspective on how the future can always be brighter. Read Breaking Hate: Confronting the New Culture of Extremism by Christian Picciolini HERE Use Code “KEVIN” on DRINKWEIRD.com to donate 100% of the proceeds from your order to Unite the United. Featuring: Christian Picciolini (@CPicciolini) - Author, Founder of the Free Radicals Project

If any of you have gotten a tattoo while at the Warped Tour, don’t tell Kevin… Or his insurance agent! This week, Kevin shares his opinions on tattoos from Warped, tattoos in punk rock, and tattoos in the workplace by catching up with three of his friends whose lives have been changed by tattoos. Kevin talks with Ink Master’s Oliver Peck, who traveled with Warped Tour for years giving tattoos without ever getting permission. Plus, Kevin asks Scott Alderman about his experience creating the Tattoo the Earth Festival, a massive tour that only lasted one year, and why it led him to write his book, Caravan of Pain. Also, Kevin catches up with Nathan Madden, a founding member of STAPAW (Supporting Tattoos And Piercings At Work) to hear why the organization started and the incredible impact they’ve had on the policies of major corporations. Buy Caravan of Pain: The True Story of the Tattoo the Earth Tour Join STAPAW Use Code “KEVIN” on DRINKWEIRD.com to donate 100% of the proceeds from your order to Unite the United. Featuring: Oliver Peck (@OliverPeck) - Tattoo Artist, Entertainer Nathan Madden (@STAPAW) - Founder of STAPAW Scott Alderman (@TattooTheEarthFestival) - Founder of Tattoo the Earth Festival

After recently rediscovering one of his favorite articles "9 Public Figures Who Famously Hate Heavy Metal" where he hysterically makes an appearance at number 4, Kevin explains why he referred to the heavy metal community as "Gray, Bald, and Fat." He details a very angry call he received from Sharon Osbourne and why he had to make a public apology to Sharon and Ozzy, plus the whole heavy metal community, after sticking his nose in someone else's business. Get a sneak peek of Kevin's new series, "Short Stories of My Warped Life" where you can finally hear about the things that we can't mention on the podcast. This first one is on us but, in the coming weeks, only a snippet of these episodes will be available on Spotify and the full versions can be heard on our Patreon for just $5 a month. Use Code “KEVIN” on DRINKWEIRD.com to donate 100% of the proceeds from your order to my charity, Unite the United.

Whether you lean left or right, the alignment of music and politics has always been extremely important, especially in Punk Rock. In this week's episode, Kevin catches up with 3 of his friends who have done more than their fair share of creating change by reminding people that they can use their voice to make a difference too. HeadCount and #iIVoted are the two largest organizations in America that encourage voting to people attending live concerts. You’ve probably been to a concert or festival (such as the Warped Tour) and been asked to register to vote by some HeadCount volunteers, and you couldn’t have missed the new and recurring #IVoted virtual festivals with artists like Billie Eilish, Taking Back Sunday, and more. Kevin also interviews the incredible Supla. A Brazilian artist and entertainer whose family helped found the labor party in Brazil. Supla talks about his discovery of punk rock and how it inspired him to create his own style of music, “Bossanova”, to use his voice for good. Use Code “KEVIN” on DRINKWEIRD.com to donate 100% of the proceeds from your order to Unite the United. Featuring: Supla (@SuplaOriginal) - Brothers of Brazil, Entertainer Emily White (@IVotedFestival) - Founder of #iVoted Festival, Author & Host Andy Bernstein (@HeadCountOrg) - Founder/ Executive Director of HeadCount

Thousands of Bands, Roadies, Bus Drivers, even Journalists, hit their big break while smoldering in the sun in a random parking lot on Warped Tour. It was the perfect place for developing talent in people who had trouble finding a place for themselves in the “real world.” This week, Kevin interviews 3 journalists who all started on the Warped Tour. These young people were seeking a way to escape home and express their creative expression. They joined the circus of the Warped Tour in one way or another and found a home in the people and the punk rock scene. After putting in the hard work and making sure to meet everyone on the tour, each one grew to achieve success in the ways they hoped. Ashley shoots some of today's biggest artists, Lisa has been in Rolling Stone and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Fish has his own radio show. Kevin wraps up with one of his oldest friends, photographer and skater, Pep Williams. After shooting a famous photo of his good friend and professional skater, Jay Adams, titled, “The Perfect Storm” (now worth over $1 million), Pep realized the impact he could have with his art and created a series on prison tattoos, called “Behind Bars” to reform the perspective that most people have on inmates and present them as what they are, humans. Use Code “KEVIN” on DRINKWEIRD.com to donate 100% of the proceeds from your order to Unite the United. Featuring: Ashley Osborn (@AshleyOsborn) - Professional Photographer Lisa Johnson (@LisaJohnsonRockPhotographer) - Professional Rock Photographer Mike “Fish” Fishkin (@MikeFishkin) - Journalist, Host of “Gone Fishkin” Pep Williams (@PepWilliams)- Photographer, Video Director, Skateboarder Website Links: Ashley’s Photography Website Fish’s Radio Show  Lisa’s Photography Website Pep’s Photography Website Warped Photo Book Vans Photo Book Classy

From ages 5 to 12, Chad Tepper and his family were homeless, finding different places to sleep every night. Listening to bands like Simple Plan and Bowling for Soup gave him the escape he needed and convinced him to pursue music as a career. After gaining attention online for his wild antics, he reached out to Pierre Bouvier and Jaret Reddick directly to tell them how big of a fan he was and that he wanted to make a song. Now, he has a hit record with each one. Kevin interviews Pierre Bouvier and Jaret Reddick to ask them what they thought when Chad reached out to them and what it took to convince them to make a record! Kevin also asks them if there's a difference in recording now, with a newer pop-punk artist, versus back when they were headliners. Plus, Chad shares his perspective on the music industry as an independent artist for his entire career and, what he would want from a label if he were to get signed.  Featuring: Chad Tepper (@ChadTepper) - Artist, Influencer, Entertainer Pierre Bouvier (@PierreBouvier) - Lead Vocalist and Bassist of Simple Plan Jaret Reddick (@Jaret2113) - Lead Vocalist and Guitarist of Bowling for Soup

When word got out that someone was filming a horror movie on the Warped Tour, every band wanted their own on-screen death scene. Earning “the highest on-screen body count in slasher film history” using entire crowds and over 110 band members doesn’t come easily. Kevin catches up with the Director, Doug Sakmann, to ask how Doug came up with the idea and what it was like to write, shoot, and edit a movie while on the road- especially without letting everyone know! The film achieved enough success to produce a sequel and to be translated into several foreign languages plus, it gave Kevin and the crew their first glimpse of stardom. Kevin also sits with Julia Ramadan, the Executive Director of Cancer Teamwork Response, to discuss what the charity does to help underserved cancer patients and why she joined the team. Featuring: Doug Sakmann (@DougSakmann) - Director/ Producer James Lynch - Editor/ Writer Heather Rasmussen (@heatherheatherbobeather) - Pit Reporter, Actress Julia Ramadan (@Julia.Rama) - Executive Director of Cancer Teamwork Response

We all know, when it comes to driving, it wasn’t Kevin getting everyone across state lines… it was the bus drivers! That’s why this week, Kevin interviews 5 of his favorite tour bus drivers, and 2 bus company owners, to highlight some of the most ridiculous moments from off of the stage. Whether it’s pretending to be a bull and running each other into walls or senior drivers pulling knives on each other, there was never a dull moment when it came to the unique personalities of these road cowboys. Even with all of the chaos, the drivers kept coming back year after year and worked together to succeed in bringing Warped to the punk rock kids in the next city. Plus, Kevin finds out exactly how it went down for the bus companies and drivers when all of the tours started canceling in March 2020. Featuring: Mikey Smith (@hotratts) - Tour Bus Driver Stephen Copeland - Tour Bus Driver Harlow Huggins (@harlowhuggins) - Tour Bus Driver Judi Teggart (@tinytegs) - President - California Coaches Jamie Morral (@jgm_coach_llc) - Founder, Owner - JGM Coaches Walter Trachsler (@fuqet) - Tour Bus Driver

The US justice system is far from perfect. Thousands of people a year are wrongfully put in prison for crimes they did not commit. Kevin sits with Jason Flom, CEO of Lava Records, to highlight the work that Jason does with the Innocence Project in assisting incorrectly incarcerated individuals. Kevin is also joined by Kiera Newsome, Darnell Phillips, and John Huffington, three wrongfully incarcerated citizens that Jason and the Innocence Project were able to assist in releasing from prison. Kiera served 19 years, Darnell served 27 years, and John did 32 years. Each for a crime that they undeniably did not commit. And, Jason details his other projects like; hosting his podcast, Wrongful Conviction, producing a children’s book alongside his daughter, managing the Church of Rock and Roll, and continuing to sign new artists. Jason hopes to educate and inspire people on how we all can make a difference and help change the broken judicial system that is tearing families apart every day. https://innocenceproject.org/ Featuring: Jason Flom (@ItsJasonFlom, @WrongfulConviction) - CEO of Lava Records and Host of Wrongful Conviction Kiera Newsome (@mrs.raychampion) John Huffington (@huffingtonjohn) Darnell Phillips (@darnphil19)

Getting it done by any means necessary, by hook or by crook. That is the Brooklyn way. Hear a true 'rags to riches' story as Kevin catches up with a long-time friend and renowned Brooklyn artist, Michael McLeer, better known as Mr. Kaves. Mr. Kaves grew up on the streets of Brooklyn trying to figure out how to use his creativity and artistic skill to make a name for himself. He achieved large fame as a graffiti artist before turning his attention to MC’ing and rapping as the frontman for the Lordz of Brooklyn. After a few years on the Warped Tour and the loss of his mother and sister, Mr. Kaves realized he was growing out of the scene and turned his attention to starting a tattoo parlor and a pizza shop in Brooklyn. Since getting off of the road, Mr. Kaves has continued with his art and recently found 7-figure success after partnering with Doodle Labs on an NFT project titled ‘The Family Mooks.’ Kevin also gets a word from Mr. Kaves' long-time wife and partner, Donna, as well as an explanation from the founder of Doodle Labs, Matthew Dweck, on why he wanted to partner with Mr. Kaves in the first place. Featuring: Michael McLeer (@MisterKaves) - Lordz of Brooklyn Frontman Donna McLeer (@DonnaMcleer) - Art Director, Editor Matthew Dweck (@MattDweck) - Founder of Doodle Labs