The Tim “Napalm” Stegall Substack Interview: Keith Morris, Part Six
No, the Circle Jerks/OFF! hero still has much more to say. I’m willing to listen. Aren’t you?
Keith didn’t get the memo that this photo session would be the history of hand signs. (pic: Jeff Forney)
Stop yer whining. Keith Morris is one of punk’s grandest treasures, not just because he’s one of its few singers who can really sing. As you are coming to find out, he also is a King Hell raconteur who remembers everything. So of course, this interview is six parts and counting, thus far. But no worries. We’re close to the end. Or are we…?
When we left off last time, Brother Keith was explaining the particulars of swapping out OFF!’s rhythm section in the thick of recording their new FREE LSD LP/motion picture soundtrack. We cut him off mid-anecdote, as he explained how he had to assuage guitarist Dimitri Coats’ fears of stagnation if they learn any of their oldies and don’t learn the entire album for their tour.
KEITH MORRIS: And he said, “Well, we need to do this because we need to keep it fresh. We need to be able to change the setlist every night.” And it’s like, “I’ve not argued with Dimitri yet, but he’s gonna get a fucking earful when it comes from me telling him I’m not learning all these songs! No!”
What’s gonna keep this fresh is the fact that our drummer is not going to be playing the same drum beats every night. That’s gonna keep us on our toes, that’s gonna keep us fresh. Don’t forget – we’re also going to be making noise between some of these songs. And every night, that’s not going to be the same. So, that’s gonna keep us on our toes! We need to get a feel for what is being created on the spot, and knowing (when to say), “Okay, let’s stop right here and jump into the next song.”
So, we’re gonna be fresh. Our ears are gonna be perked up, and we’re gonna need to pay attention. So, it’s not just feel. It’s not just being able to hear the drums in the monitors, and being able to feel the beat and hear the beat. It’s not gonna be anything like that.