My Interview With The Fabulous Ginger Coyote

Ginger Coyote, who needs no introduction to the punk community, is the outspoken and ever-fabulous founder of Punk Globe Magazine.  To add to that, she is also the lead singer of the outrageously fun punk rock band, White Trash Debutantes. Coyote is an advocate of gender equality and rights for those who’ve been outcasts in society and/or shunned by many. She has made a great difference in the world by changing it for the better through awareness and party lifestyle FUN!  She’s mingled with some other great talents along the way as well: Pauley Perrette, Donna Destri, Jonathan Gries, Bebe Buell, and the late Joey Ramone — just to name a handful.

PG:  First, it’s truly my pleasure to interview you again, Ginger! I always love what you have to say, as it’s always heartfelt, edgy, and FUN! Now, the last time I interviewed you we talked about the remarkable longevity of Punk Globe. You started the magazine in 1977 as a print publication, but it became available online in 2005 and is no longer a print publication, correct? If so, then would you like to see Punk Globe available as a print publication again, and why? 

Ginger:  No, I am really happy with the size of the audience that Punk Globe reached by being online. Doing a print publication is so expensive with half-tones, printing costs, and all the other incidentals. Then there is getting a good distributor who can get your magazine on the stands and having it placed properly for readers to find. It is a very hard process, but, most importantly, I am proud of all the trees that I have saved by doing Punk Globe on the Internet. We are now on WordPress thanks to Ms.Monsterz. We are all about “Green Power” and Bernie Sanders. I recently suffered a stroke, making life difficult. All the other people who work on Punk Globe have had their share of setbacks. But we are all forces to be reckoned with. So, I am very proud of the fact that I have never closed a door on anyone who wanted to be a part of the Punk Globe family.

 I am mourning the passing of Phil Campbell the guitarist for Motorhead we met when He first joined Motorhead and we  had a fairytale relationship. We rekindled our friendship recently and we were close with one another before he joined Lemmy  in heaven.

 PG:  Punk Globe also reviews many cutting-edge reads, etcetera. Which books, albums and movies would you recommend, based on their really capturing the spirit of punk culture?

 Ginger:  Well, of course, Punk Globe would be first and foremost—at the top of the list. For myself, I have also found inspiration from comedians such as Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho, Judy Tenuta, Julie Brown and the iconic Joan Rivers. They all lay it on the line and know NO fear. Plus, they are so fucking funny!  I am an advocate of humour and how you can reach so many more people by using comedy as a learning tool. A great book called “Hardcore California:  A History of Punk and New Wave.” I was impressed by how diverse the tabletop book was. They covered so many people. As far as fanzines, I always loved Flipside Magazine in Los Angeles. They covered everyone.  Most of the other fanzines were very elitist and did not support anyone but a few choice few. I released ‘The Best Of Punk Globe’ and it was well received. Interviews from Punk Globe that stood out with the readers.  Steven Blush’s movie, American Hardcore, was good, but there was a blatant lack of women in the film version.  Also, the lack of bi, gay and trans people (who should always be included in all films). I was personally sad that I was not lucky enough to have made the movie version of the film. But I am on the DVD release.  I still get stopped and asked about my involvement in punk rock from that DVD. Susanne Tabata from Vancouver has a documentary called “Bloodied But Unbowed,” and I think it is a well-rounded film. There are so many writers, filmmakers, and photographers who are putting together so many projects. I hope I will be included in their projects. Of course, Shameless was stellar! The show was so brilliant that it’s like having John Waters and Matthew Bright on Showtime writing it. The show was one of the best that TV had to offer.

PG: You partially read my mind, Ginger, because I was going to ask you next about some of the comedians whom you and I both share a love and respect for—off the bat, Margaret Cho, Lily Tomlin, and Judy Tenuta come to mind. What makes their comedic sensibilities resonate with you? Who are some other comedians you admire?

Ginger:  As I said in my answer to the prior question, Margaret, Lily, and Judy take no prisoners and say what we all are thinking—that is a gift!!! Margaret was a member of my band, White Trash Debutantes, at one time. I have written a song called “Judy Tenuta” about the Giver Goddess Fashion Plate Saint.  Get on your knees, pigs…Make no complaints…Judy came to see The White Trash Debutantes when they played The Blue Lamp in San Francisco. That is when I first introduced Margaret Cho to the late Judy Tenuta. When I met Lily Tomlin, I was just bowled over by her brilliance. She is an amazingly cool woman, Lisa Kudrow on The Comeback.[me, too, Ginger, that’s one of my favourite shows—consistently funny!] I love Kathy Griffin, Wendy Liebman, Jayne County, the late Joan Rivers, Dorothy Lyman, Fran Drescher, Tina Fey, Joy Behar, Rosie O’ Donnell, and the late Betty White. I only wish I had Kathy Griffin’s sharp wit. She can throw it down with the best of ‘em. 

Pauley Paurette, Ms. Ligaya, Billy Gould, Tara Rez, Heidi Mae, Henry Rollins,  Mr Segs, Colin Stewart, Dave Dictor, Marc Floyd, Donna Destri, Karla McLeod, Wendy Kaufman, Bebe Buell, Nhell Monsterz, Jula Bell, Jon Gries, Jayne County,  Cherry Vanilla, Siobhan Lowe, Meri St Mary, Tom Pitts, Johnny Hickman, Ani Kyd Wolf, Erik Core, Pauli Gray, Eric Bortz,  Chelsea Rose, Joe Back,  Carmela Thompson, Lisa Punker Princess, Sharon Needles, Tilli, and Jaime Pina are just a few of the cool folks