An Interview with Chris Crud

Punk Globe: Thanks for the Interview, Chris. We have known each other for years. Did you ever play with Fright Wig?

Yes in Sacramento in 87? For Punk Rock Jail Bait… Where Cecilia comes out to sing, and I filled in on drums. I’m mainly the audio person for them, when we can make it happen.

2013 Mixing Frightwig in LA…

Punk Globe: You are Canadian, correct? Did you live in the USA? 

I was born in San Jose, California… but came up with my parents during the Vietnam War.

Duel now…

Punk Globe: What is your instrument of choice?

I used to be a drummer. Trained in it and was in several punk bands here in Vancouver in the early 80’s. The Braineaters, Slaughter Squad, and a few others. 

Punk Globe: Who are your musical influences?

Geez, that’s a hard one…. So many… off the top… My dad’s band is Brain Damage. We used to tour when I was a kid. We had a circus tent and did shows around North America and Mexico. After that… The Damned, DEVO, and Sex Pistols sure changed my life when I saw them. I was to young to go to the last show in 77 in SF, but I was in SF with my mom visiting and saw some of the show that night on the local Public TV Station…. Did a few shows with the Ramones and Cramps.. Got to know them all, great people. At least to me. The Remones did not get along with each other. Lux and Ivy were the nicest. Those two were huge influences, like Iggy Pop. Iggy was bigger than life. I have stories about him, but perhaps another time.

Punk Globe: You were in Vancouver for the original punk bands. Tell the readers about that.

The early years here, when it was starting was amazing, magical, and brutally scary… especially as I was super young… barely a teen. Violence was off the charts. Beat up a few times.

At any rate, the amazing part was that it was small, and we all felt free to be ourselves. When I was in SF in 77 for that Sex Pistols show, which changed my life, I came back and didn’t even know there was anyone here like me… very alone and being beaten in high school, until I changed to an alternative school.

Once I found everyone, my heart exploded. So many beautiful friends, and everyone was so talented here. There was a lot of love in the room every show, at least to me. There was hardly anywhere to play.. The Smiling Buddha is one of the few that would have us. Nancy and her family were mostly supportive. I was underage, so hard to get into the bigger shows at the Commodore.

There were a lot of warehouses, and some people were able to get a hold of… City Space and The Laudromat… being two of the early ones. Amazing shows and the Hall shows were epic. Hardcore 81.. 2 days of insane fun… everyone at that point was like I don’t play, but so what, let’s start a band… I then got involved… because of my dad’s band I really loved music and was starting to get trained in tech for shows. So shows started up at the old New York Theater. I came in roading for one of the opening bands for 2 nights of Dead Kennedys there. I ended up stagemanaging the 2 insane days and that was the start for me. I really wanted to bring the level of production up, make sure everyone got a sound check and got their time to play, plus safe for everyone. 

Punk Globe: Which bands were you most close with? I would assume DOA would be one of them. 

Yes I was with DOA from 86-90… Also toured and was with Belero Lava, NomeansNo, Enigmas, Subhumans, Pointed Sticks, I Braineater, Frightwig, Furnaceface, Roots Roundup, Art Bergmann, etc… very close to the Dead Kennedys, Residents, SNFU, many many local and US bands…

Punk Globe:  You are currently doing sound. Tell us about some of your favorite jobs doing sound?

Sound is mostly my focus these days, after my son was born in 2008 I stopped mostly touring and stayed local. I had to really change my focus from Live band shows to Theater. I’m currently head Audio at Bard on the Beach, a very large outdoor summer Shakespeare festival.

I very much enjoy the creative process of putting on a theater production.. I come at audio from a musical artist perspective. I think of it as painting with sound… I work with amazing artistic people. It’s hard work, but the result is so rewarding personally. Us folks in the arts on the production side are not in it for the recognition, because there basically isn’t any. Not to say we don’t get thanked, that we do… but it’s all in person outside of the public. Once in a while we do get a bit of light, which is nice to be fully recognized for our ha

Punk Globe: You are a single dad raising your son. I saw that the two of you were in Mexico. How long were you there? Did you visit Elise Hortobagyi there?

Well yes…. It’s been brutally hard the past few years for my son and I. The divorce, my dad’s passing away as well as one of my sisters during that time, has heavily taken its toll on us both. My son got an opportunity to join his closest friends from school for a nice vacation there. I have been taking my son to Mexico since he was just under 2 every year. So he really loves it there and in March I took him there and we went for a day trip to the town he went to this time with his friends. So he already knew the place. I realized I could also get away to try and help myself a bit mentally… Unfortunately my trip was really not good, a bit of a setback for me, but at least I tried. His was amazing though and that is really all I wanted….

Punk Globe: What are your thoughts on the Dick Tator from the USA?

My thoughts are the same I have for Hitlar… as I do with that horror.

I really feel the human race has evolved as far as we can and now we are heading backwards.

Cruelty seems to be on the top of the menu… I fear for us all. My poor son.

Really, we can do anything and this is what the masses come up with.. Wow.

Punk Globe: Have his outrageous demands for tariffs affected you?

Oh big time…. I am having to plan shows for next year with the budgets I’m given and all audio gear is going up, The supply chain is so fucked! Food is insane… how we are going to survive this… have no idea.

Punk Globe: For us, it has been a horror roller coaster ride.

I fear for you all down there, my beautiful friends and family. I really hope we are not Poland in this horrific scenario.

Venezuela seems to be taking the fire at the moment.

Punk Globe: Tell us what 2026 holds in store for Chris Crud?

Trying to keep myself and my son alive. Have four shows at Bard to put together.

Also thinking on the idea of touring again, but having the States in Nutzi mode, kind of dampers anything tour wise there. Been putting together a small prolevel mixing console package for touring. That part has been fun.

Punk Globe: Describe yourself in three words?

Oof I’m in such a dark place right now.

Father, Artist, Caring…

Punk Globe: Any last words for Punk Globe readers? 

Please support and care for each other, be kind. Never stop fighting. Big love all….