Christa Dibaise Sounds Off

Christa and I have known each other for a long time. When I saw her playing drums with Koolie Cat. I was floored by what a killer drummer she was…I decided to do this  interview with her to let readers know more about her. 

Punk Globe: Thanks so much for the interview, Christa. Can you give the readers some details about your early life? You were born in Portland, Maine. We share many friends in Portland, including one of my besties, Bebe Buell. Tell us about your life in Portland.

Christa: I grew up in Portland, Maine, in a huge Italian family.  I got into punk rock in high school and lived at Geno’s, where I met your best friend, Bebe. I saw Bebe and the B Sides many times.  My best friend was Tammy Rae Carland, who later moved to Eugene and was in a band called Amy Carter with Kathleen Hanna.  Tammy is also the reason that Nirvana stayed with me in SF for a couple of weeks in 89 (I believe). The band scene was pretty intense in Portland, and we also used to thumb down to The Channel in Boston and CBGBs in NY to see shows.

Punk Globe: In what year did you move to Boston?

Christa: I don’t actually remember when I moved to Boston, sometime in the mid-’80s.  Boston and The Channel were totally going off then, and I saw pretty much every punk band around, including the Ramones for the 1st time at a place called Spit.  The crew I was hanging out with decided to move to SF when The Channel closed down because the Boston scene was getting lame.I moved to SF in 1986 to meet up with my then-boyfriend Corey Hemingway.  He had come out earlier with Jake Phelps, Jason Shapiro, Clam Lynch, Gluehead, and a few more East Coasters.  The first thing they did after I landed was take me to a taqueria for my first-ever burrito and then to On Broadway to see Black Flag and the Circle Jerks.  I met Henry Rollins that night!!

Punk Globe: Tell us about your first drum kit.

I received my first drum set from my best friend, Jill Haley Rose.  She was trying to start a band and decided to switch to guitar.  She gave me her drum set and told me I had to be her drummer.  So I was!  We had a lot of fun!! Covered Wagon/Chatterbox daze.

Punk Globe: You have played with so many killer bands in  San Francisco. Give the readers a rundown of all the bands you played with in San  Francisco.

Christa: Here’s a list of some of my bands:  Wett, Joy of Six, Stellar, KoolieCat, Los Cerveceros, Girl Band, Sassy, SorryEverAfter, Sweet Felony, RampAged, Browntown West, and currently Fast Friends.

Punk Globe: Did you ever play in a band with slide guitarist Maureen Jennings?

Christa: I never played with Maureen Jennings, but we jammed a bunch.

Punk Globe: I know you played in a few bands with the talented Erica Liss. Tell us all about that.

Christa: Erica Liss and I played together for about 20 years!  Best rhythm section evah!  We played in Girl Band, RampAged, SorryEverAfter, Olive Ewe  -that’s all I can remember off the top of my head. 

Punk Globe: Tell the readers about your talented husband, Mike.

Christa: I met my husband Mike when Joy of Six and Los Cerveceros did a show up in Humboldt.  It was love at first sight, and we have been together ever since.  Besides Los Cerveceros, he played in Texas Manglers and BluesCasters (who were Peggy Young’s backup band for a bit).  He also played in RampAged and the Sweet Felony Band 

Punk Globe: Tell us about the Sweet Felony Band.

Christa: My new band is called Fast Friend.  We have Red Moffet shredding on guitar (he is best known for being in Touch Me Hooker and Balls of Steel), Norm Barahona on bass (he and Red were in Rough Mix), and Norm’s nephew, Adam, on drums.  We played our first show at Light Rail Studios. We recorded a record, which is in the final mix and will be out in a couple of months.  Website in the making.

Punk Globe: Tell us about having to turn down the wonderful Dave Dictor, who I love so much

Christa: I met Erica in Austin a couple of months ago for her first show with MDC.  It was great to see Dave and Barry Ward (whom I actually have known since 1987 when RKL moved to SF).  Dave kept saying he wanted me to go on tour with them, playing drums – 2 girls 2 guys!  Unfortunately, I need hand surgery, so I can’t be doing anything heavy until it gets fixed.

Punk Globe:  What does the future hold for you?

Christa: Besides Fast Friends, I am doing a cover project with Mike and 2 great guitarists: Ricardo Torres & Daniel Dickison.  Mike, Daniel, and I are in a project that is kinda hard rock meets jazz. – don’t have a name yet.