Lis Booth speaks to Don from JFA

JFA are also known as "Jodie Foster's Army"   signed to DC JAM RECORDS.

 They are a hardcore punk band formed with roots in  The mainstream Arizona, & California skateboard culture.
They formed in 1981 with original members
 Brian Brannon (vocals),
 Don "Redondo" Pendleton (guitar),
 Michael Cornelius (bass),
 Mike "Bam-Bam" Sversvold (drums).

Alan Bishop of Sun City Girls also played bass in their past, Over the years the band has included many other bass players and drummers but the main core always have remained as Brian Brannon and Don Pendleton.

They recently played the hoco fest with a huge outburst... heres what Don had to say when we asked him a few questions.


You have new music out with DCJam Records, Tell us about that and what your plans are..

*** Don
 We`are stoked to have a label that wants to put our stuff out!
Last year we did "to all our friends" (the live album) and we just finshed "speed of sound"
our first Full legnth studio album since 1996's "only live once"

Tell the readers about your Past recordings...

*** Don
 Well, the recent past I just covered. Before that there were a bunch of comps
and split singles and then the albums on Placebo Records (which folded in 1988)

What was the Last Gig you played.

*** Don
 At a cool repo man/pulp fiction restaruant type outside deal in the LA warehouse
district May 14. That will be our last show for 9 months or so (Brian is out of the country)

How was The Hoco Fest 2009

*** Don
 That was awesome!!! Total John Dillenger era hotel where we played to a (packed)
bar and then stayed over the next day to watch John Doe and Exene (X) and the Meat Puppets.
Before that, I do not think we had played Tucson in 10 years; plus it was Brian's B-Day
so he was in rare form!!!

Do you have any favorite things you like to do when your on stage
for example like bring out water pistols, crowd surf, join the mosh, drench ya self in acohol etc??

*** Don
 No, none of that. We don't "dress up" either...whatever we were wearing when we
skated that day...just plug in and go (let the music do the talking)

How does it make you feel when your on a stage playing to thousands of people.

*** Don
 really cool to the point of being so lost in it, that you do not remember any
of the songs you did...just fully in the moment!

Do you ever get nervous before your about to play?

*** Don
 Not really, but I do remember wanting to play well in front of East Bay Ray (DK's)
and some other guitarists I admire (Ron from TSOL, Jan Orig/Vandals) They are good players
so you don't want to screw up!!!


you have Played some great shows with some other great bands out there in the skate punk scene,
 do you have any fav bands you like to jam with

*** Don
 I like frontside five (they actually skate) and Jan from the Vandals (skates too)
has a new band called Anarchy Taco

i like to ask most of my bands this question, as i like to know who are the sounds in everybodys ears!
who are you currently listening to

*** Don
 I like the "new" (probably a year old by now) Rancid album

what influences have inspired you through to your music

*** Don
 In the late 70's it was the Damned/Clash/Pistols/Sham 69. Early 80's it was the
Dead Kennedy's (DK's), Big Boys, TSOL, Vandals etc. Late 80's new Model Army...and from then on
a whole bunch of different stuff

would you say your music is a release of energy and frustration

*** Don
 The music is energy for sure, but I would say the lyrics are more sarcasm vs
frustration.

will you ever retire from music or will you play forever!

*** Don
 I may not play live forever, but I will always play music

What do you love to do in your spare time,

*** Don
 Surfing!!!!!

 idols - do you have any? & why

*** Don
 No, not really. I was lucky to grow up around a lot of talented folks in
really good bands both in HB and then when I lived in Phoenix...so the folks most people
look up to are just guys I know from wherever. Before I moved to PHX I knew the bass player
from TSOL (bought surfboards from him) worked at a restuarant with the guitarist and
bassist from the Meat Puppets (those guys are WAY talented) and nowadays surf with the orig.
Vandals guitarist every weekend (legend of Pat Brown, Urban Struggle etc.) I do think Capt.
Sensible is an AWESOME guitarist and the orig. New Model Army bassist rules, but they are
not my idols.

What sounds did you grow up listening to?

*** Don See above

Do you listen to any uk punk sounds / who

*** Don See above, but before the pistols I would like to add the who and the kinks!

any plans come to Play in the UK?

*** (Don) Working a lot right now (music does not pay the bills) but never say never.
I would really like to play overseas!


Thanks for sparing some time to answer these Don.


You can find JFA at the following sites:
www.dcjamrecords
www.myspace.com/jfamusic

Lis Booth

Also featured in Julys Punk globe at www.punkglobe.com