GO’s initial existence was a short one (Just a little over two years) But what they accomplished in that short time on wax and of course NYHC/Punk and ABC No Rio will not soon be forgotten. Pioneers of ABC No Rio Punk matinees and the first NYHC band to sing about gay rights, Mike and the band took on the belief system of the untouchable Gods of Hardcore the Bad Brains and somehow survived. Although the band took on some very serious issues. They were always fast and fun. This past October I attended their reunion show at ABC. I could go into depth on how much fun I had that day reconnecting with the band and the many people I used to sweat it out on the dance floor with so many years ago. When I heard Mike was coming East for a couple of shows I asked if he’d like to drop by the gallery to follow up on the interview we did twenty years ago outside the Right Track Inn. He obliged and what started as a short interview morphed into a ride down to Philly  with them for their show the next day. This is the first part of my interview with the man we lovingly call Mike Bullshit.

Mike:It was 2005 when Jim Testa did a fifteen year retrospective on ABC No Rio which of course made me feel like a hundred years old. He had interviewed me, the guys from Rorschach and all of those people. That gave me the idea to call Aaron. I hadn’t spoken to him since 1995. He hadn’t heard from me in all those years and I just called him at work. “Hey Aaron, it Mike Bullshit from GO.” At first he was like “Who?”

I ended up flying up with my husband. We had dinner with him and his wife. He had been a part of other bands and it can be tough. Finding the right people that are on the same musical wave length as you. People you can get along with. The thing about GO is it was always really easy. We worked together really well. We could write a record within a day.

If we can rehearse together for two hours after not playing together for twelve years. I think it will all be fine. I wouldn’t describe it as perfect but we do work together really well.

We played the show at ABC No Rio and played a couple of other shows. We recorded Reactive.

In 2007 we played some shows in my area on the West Coast. Then in 2008 we were going to write some new songs but ended up getting into a fight and breaking up for what seemed like the eighteenth time. Six of nine months later your not sure who called who but for whatever reason it works.

James: It’s amazing that you can live at opposite ends of the country and still manage to put it all together.

Mike: It takes a lot of planning and a lot of air fare. But I’ve always liked planning things. Bringing things and bringing people together.

James: I made it to your 2009 show at ABC and really felt the family atmosphere. I felt as if I was part of the family. I hadn’t seen most of the people or the band in fifteen to twenty years.

All that aside it took only a few minutes before it all felt like new. I was really excited to hear you guys were coming back to the same spot. When I heard Bad Trip and Inflatable Children were added to the bill, my level of excitement hit the roof.

How did that come together and how do you feel about playing with them?

Mike: I asked Bad Trip to do it. It took a couple of days for them to let it sink in. We had found each other on Facebook and were going back and fourth. I just told them about the show and said “Why don’t you play?” They were reluctant at first “I don’t know. We never thought about it.” No one in Bad Trip knew I was secretly corresponding with them separately.

James: Behind their Facebacks? (laughs)

Mike: They came around to the idea. Then Inflatable Children just put the icing on the cake

They aren’t the draw band that Bad Trip or GO are but just having them there is so great.

There were a part of ABC No Rio in 89 and 90. Thinking about it it’s like 1990 again.

When we played in 2006 they were working on the Subways so a lot of people couldn’t make it. Because instead of the train taking a half an hour. It was taking two hours.

Having Bad Trip who haven’t played for fifteen years there with us makes it even more special. Inflatable Children had no desire or idea about getting back together. When I asked them they were very reluctant at first but a week later they were on board. Then there’s Power Point who weren’t around in 1990 but are a lot of fun. Their video on My Space for

Microsoft Outlook is hilarious. Essentially it’s great having this show and playing with these bands. It’s got all the feelings of a high school reunion.

James: Was there anyone from the ABC No Rio family that you kept in touch with over the years?

Mike: No, before My Space in 2005, 2006 I never thought it would be possible see anyone,

Mike: After ABC I lived for a time in Missouri. I lived in a squat in Germany. I went to school in Texas. I moved to California. Over those years most of my stuff had been sold so many times. People move around and there’s just no way to stay in contact. I just haven’t been very good at staying in contact. Having these online outlets has been a fantastic tool thats helped me reconnect with so many people.

James: We’ve been experiencing a tremendous amount of nostalgia for 80’s hardcore. There have been books, films. documentaries and countless reunions. Hardcore has more fans and interest than it ever did during the time these bands were playing. It’s not as much a question as it is an observation.

Mike: It’s funny because when I first called our drummer Jim in 2005. We had both been out of the music scene. Jim said “This is great because all of these bands are getting back together.” I had no idea. The Germs had gotten back together with a new singer. An actor nonetheless. It was just insane. Absolution and Rorschach. It’s interesting. It’s not 1985 anymore. It’s not 1990 anymore. I don’t know how I feel about it. It’s cool for me to be able to make music again. It’s cool to sing, jump around and record again. I would assume that’s what it’s all about for these bands. I don’t feel bad or conflicted about it. It’s kind of a  weird phenomenon.

James: Is the band recording or writing any new material?

James: GO were known for releasing numerous 7 inches. At last count where were you at?

Mike: You know in 1990 we put out five records. We did eleven records. The four original  7 inches. The ones from 2006 and 2007. The live flexi. There was a live record released in Europe from our tour there. The mans name was Yanik. The split with Bad Trip. Then we had the ‘total’ album which combined the first three 7 inches in time for the tour. We also had ‘Existence’ which was re-released in 2008.

Interview and images James Damion. Video courtesy of Rich Trash

Related Interviews:

Bad Trip interview

Early GO! interview