Reminiscing With J.J. Pearson Drummer For Toxic Reasons
Interview By: Ginger Coyote
J.J. and I have been friends forever. I have supported his band Toxic Reasons by getting them recording time for their LP ‘Kill By Remote Control’. When White Trash Debutantes played in Indianapolis J.J. and Tufty were front and center. They made our stay in Indianapolis seem like a vacation.
Punk Globe: Thanks so much for the interview J.J. Tell us what is happening with Toxic Reasons and how are my old pals Tufty and Bruce. Does Tufty still have Future Shock and is Radio Radio still operating? Do you ever hear from Rob?
J.J.: Tufty sold Future Shock some years ago. He does still have the rock’n night club Radio Radio AND he has a restaurant called “La Revolution” Bruce is his Chef. And YES Rob & I chat in frequent conversations. He will ALWAYS be my/our Brother. I love him very much
Punk Globe: Our friendship goes back to your days in San Francisco Tell us about some of your fond memories from that time
J.J. Right When Ed left the band that’s when Ginger stepped up & helped us out. She got Dirk Dirkson to let us record a demo at The On Broadway which got Rough Trade interested in releasing our 2nd LP. Then Ginger got us studio time at Hyde Street studios which was the beginning of (my favorite of ours) album “Kill By Remote Control”
Punk Globe: I remember helping get Toxic Reasons studio time for a release on Risky Records. For what release was that for? Did you ever meet Mike Barbeau’s cousin Adrienne Barbeau who was Carol on Maude?
J.J.: Ya, you helped us get Kill By Remote Control rolling and sadly, I never got to meet Adrienne Barbeau. I woulda peed my pants if I hadda 😜
Punk Globe: You are calling Indianapolis home now. How young were you when you hooked up with Toxic Reasons?
J.J.; I joined Toxics in the summer of 81 when I was a wee 16 years old. If you’ve seen pictures from then, I look 10. I was 4 ft nothing, size 4 shoes, fluctuating from 85-95 pounds. I remember thinking, if I hit 5 feet & 100lbs I’ll be a BIG mutherfucker
Punk Globe;: You were born in Canada How did you join the band? Are you traveling back to Canada for family reasons? Are you still in contact with folks there?
J.J.: When Toxics came to Vancouver to play with DOA & Dead Kennedys, after the show, their drummer Mark Patterson decided to quit. Basically stranding the boys in Vancouver. They were staying with Dave Gregg (RIP) and getting some shows at the Buddha (Smiling Buddha Cabaret) Zippy filled in as did Ron Reyes & Dimwit. Just so they could earn some food money. I think it was Dave who told the guys about me, so they called me up & told me about 4 shoes they wanted me to fill in for. We jammed a couple times, played a show at the Buddha & then headed to sunny California. We played a show with DK’S in SF, down to LA for a show with TSOL & then back to SF for a show with Black Flag & then finally a show with Flipper.
Needless to say, I was pretty star-struck with the shows I got to play and I asked if I could stay in the band. The boys talked it over & I guess I did ok cuz they let me stay
Punk Globe: Tell the readers how you met Buffy Rollins and are you working with her band.
J.J: I met my bud Buffy just hanging out at The Melody Inn here in Indianapolis. We had a mutual taste in music and we always had friendly banter. It was brought up a couple of times if I could fill in drumming for a “Panty Line” show & I gave a resounding “Fuck Ya”
I’m a ham & I love to play. I ended up doing a show & now we’re planning to do some recording. The owner of the studio (Joe Cheeseman) coincidentally also asked me if I’d like to co-produce a local Indie band “Panty Line” He didn’t know I had played with them. I figured, holy fuck! This was meant to be. I’m very excited to see what comes of this
Punk Globe: We started conversing over a post I posted on Facebook a photo of our late friend Sia from The Mabuhay Gardens days. We loved and admire her bravery so much.
J.J.: Sia was a dear friend from our SF days. Her & her Mum would cook for us whenever they could so we were kinda her boys. She often got up and sang & danced along when we played our (kinda fucked up) “Funk” version of “Ghost Town” (our kinda reggae 2nd single) We got to see her again when we came out to play in 2018. Sadly fucking cancer took her away.
Punk Globe: Who were some of your favorite bands to play with during your SF days
J.J.: My VERY first fave SF band was “No Alternative”
Sadly never got to play with them in Toxics. I did with No Exit (my former band in Vancouver) at DOA’s “Hardcore 81” show. I’d have to say my fave SF band to play with was “Social Unrest” Cretin & I got to be good buddies. My best SF friend Paul Casteel was always a blast to play with in “Black Athletes”. “Code of Honor” & we played a bunch of times & they always made us have to bring out our “A” game. I think the band that impressed me the most & I thought was destined for big things was “Los Olvidados” I stole a (quick, cool) fill from their drummer that I use on our “Never Give In”
Punk Globe: Toxic Reasons has toured all over the world. Is there any place you missed? What country or area did you love to tour?
J.J.: I always wanted to tour in Japan but we never got to do that. I’d have to say our home away from home (and being the gypsies we were, we never really had a home) was Germany. We were ALWAYS treated so well & we made so many Lifelong friends like Hannes, Uli, Ralph & Lampe from the great German band KGB
Punk Globe: White Trash Debutantes toured Japan. It was so much fun. Which one of your releases are you most proud of?
J.J.: Well… can I narrow it to two? “Kill By Remote Control” was our FIRST outing after our lead singer left the band. I don’t have any lead vocal duties on the album but it’s when we ALL took over the vocal duties and we put more emphasis on group background vocals. I think it made our overall presence more powerful, so THAT LP is probably my favorite. A close 2nd (or maybe even a tie) is our last album “No Peace in Our Time” Bruce, Tufty & I put our ALL into THAT and we had our Buddy Mass Giorgioni on the controls producing so I think it’s a fucken killer album.
Punk Globe: Tell us does Toxic Reasons have any new releases coming out? Are any tours planned?
J.J.: Well in 2022 a British label “Plastic Head” re released 5 of our old (unavailable) LP’s Kill By Remote Control, Within These Walls, Bullets For You, In The House Of God & No Peace In Our Time and a kinda sampler album called God bless America and it has 2 previously unreleased songs. We HAD a tour planned with DOA & TSOL in Europe last summer but due to Mr Shithead having a medical issue, we were unable to make that tour happen. We ended up just doing a few shows in England. We’ve done a few shows here & there over the past few years & we’d like to come out & do a full-fledged tour but we just need all the ingredients to be right.
Punk Globe: Tell us what is in store for J.J. Pearson in the future.
J.J.: I’ve had a couple of fun projects somewhat recently. I formed a backing band for a buddy’s kid to do a show. He plays the Theremin… I know. But believe me, it was cool as hell. Well, pretty fucken fun anyway. We were “Xan Hughes & the Thera-Men”
I also did a one-off country band thing “OCD” (outlaw country driver) I’m now a truck driver & another buddy of mine Mo Foster (also a truck driver) on stand-up bass good ole Bruce Stuckey on guitar and this AMAZING musician John Byrne playing slide guitar & lead guitar & me on stand up drums & vocals It was a ton of fun & we plan to do it again. I am also putting together another band to play my solo material & I am going in the studio to start my 2nd solo album here very soon but RIGHT NOW I’m going in the studio with Buffy & Panty Line with me on the drums & along with Joe Cheeseman, I’m going to have my hand in production. I’m REALLY looking forward to THAT
Punk Globe: Thoughts on what the orange blob is doing with his band of deplorables are doing?
J.J.: I’m VERY scared at the direction (or lack of direction) this country is going in. I’m not sure what to do. I try to keep aware of important issues and not get lost in the onslaught of bullshit news on social media. I find myself watching endless “reels” on nonsense flat earth, patriot crazy shit. I try to seek out international news so I can see our world from a distant (& not fucking crazy) perspective.
But ya, I’m not sure WHAT to do. I just did some killer head shots for an acting career.
Punk Globe: Any Internet addresses you would like to share with the readers?
J.J.: Just look for me on Facebook.
Punk Globe: Describe yourself in three words.
J.J.: True Kind Heart
Punk Globe: Any last words for Punk Globe readers?
J.J.: Don’t take anyone for granted. Let the ones you love KNOW that you love them. You may just fuck up, take them for granted & next thing you know, they are gone.
Seize the fucking DAY!
