Discovering Gwen Stefani

Catch a glimpse of the world famous interview of 1991.




An excerpt from the upcoming book,

"In the Blink of an Eye,
--the polarization of a musical revolution".

"Discovering Gwen Stefani"

So It goes like this;
Circa 1989, we were both backstage together in the
Hollywood Hills, immediately after one of her
performances. She was all hot and sweaty when I met her.
I was really enlightened and very turned on by her
essence. So I put my hand on her sweaty hot shoulder
and asked her; "Gwen would you like to go out for coffee?"

I had absolutely no reason not to ask her out. She paused
and smiled looked at me and said; " I'm sorry, my dad is on
his way up from Orange County to take me home"
I smiled back at Gwen and said; "maybe next time"
Gwen smiled back, fluttered her eyes and said; "maybe".

Gwen Stefani never once stopped to tell me she
was seeing someone or that she had a boyfriend.
A beautiful young starlet always leaves her options open.

TSOL:Live from O.C. (Back Story)

An excerpt from the upcoming book;

"In the Blink of an Eye,
--the polarization of a musical revolution"

"I lift up the casket and fiddle with the dead?" I first heard
Jack seething those words in 1981 on KROQ's Rodney on the Roq
show. Back then, KROQ and Rodney were on the cutting edge of
new music and TSOL was often in the rotation. I remember
finding those lyrics and the punk/gothic sound so compelling
that I was sometimes entranced by them. Punk rock was a new
discovery for many people in the early 80's and I was clearly
hooked. Needless to say, it was bands like TSOL, Bad Religion,
The Circle Jerks, and other punk rock gods that helped
cement my tastes in the genre.

It went like this: A 1991 reunion show under the name,
Superficial Love? The original TSOL was not legally allowed to play as TSOL?
They even went under the name L.O.S.T? This show was shot, and
produced over a decade ago. This video production took Producer
Richard A White a total of 11 years to finally put together.
Legal issues with the band, licensing, post production, editing,
graphics, and timing. It was never intended for release on Dvd, as
Dvd in 1991, did not exist. With todays new technology, and being
that punk rock is socially acceptable now, the producer, and T.S.O.L
management, agreed that this should be released as a concert video.

Release date May, 21 2002.MVD/L.A.Access Video.

This TSOL DVD is currently being re-released in 2008
with new footage.

Bad Religion Riot of 1990 (the Back Story)

Excerpt from the book, "In the blink of an eye,
-- The polarization of a musical revolution".

By Richard Alan White © 2008.

contact: raw420x@earthlink.net

Now before I begin you have to remember that
back in 1990 there were no cell phones, video cell phones,
digital, internet, blog spots, youtube, Facebook, myspace
or itunes. Only a few skilled cameramen were out shooting
the guerilla type style of filmmaking in the early pre multi
media stages, and there was no instant world wide vehicle
for posting or sharing your concert films or any other
creative film works or endeavors you might have.

Only the traditional distribution methods were in place
and it was extremely difficult to get distribution in
"the blink of an eye" so that the whole world could see it literally
overnight.

You only had the traditional brick and mortar media as an outlet.
If you were lucky to capture any news worthy footage you'd go to
ABC, NBC, CBS, or CNN. There was no guarantee that the
networks would use your news footage, and if you had silly
home made movies, comedy, short skits or the likes there
was nowhere to show em to the world over night.

So with this story, I'm writing in retrospect going back
in time using the internet and todays technology,
sharing a true life story about myself, and how one
skateboarder, musician, filmmaker and cameraman,
in 1990 would provide world wide publicity for one of
my favorite bands.

In 1990 at the El Portal theater in North Hollywood,
I utilized the ABC network news media and then ultimately
provided a publicity vehicle for a small Independent record
label, which would eventually give Epitaph records, Bad Religion
and Brett Gurewitz, the kick start they needed to share their talent,
their message, and their music, world wide and become one of
the biggest most successful music conglomerates in the world.

So here we go, and I hope you enjoy my story.

Rewind circa 1980, "I remember this great band
called Bad Religion, I was riding my skateboard at
a cement skate park called “The Boogie Bowl” in
Glendale California. I know, that is a real silly
name for a skate park by todays standards but
remember, it was built in July of 1977 and
the disco thing was really happening".

"Bad Religion had a certain style, a unique
sound, I think Jays bass playing for one, and
Pete Finestone’s drumming. Pete hitting lots
of cymbals did it for me. Pete would crash and
ride his cymbals and play his drums like he
had 4 hands, and Greg had a perfect punk rock
singers voice next to that of Lee Ving from the band
FEAR. I also think Jim Mankey the sound engineer
had something to do with it".

--Richard White


Fast forward to 1996,
From the "Bad Religion Riot DVD" as transcribed by Yurika Lin Szabo;

...December 29, 1990 -- My brother, Brian, just
phoned- “Get your ass down here and film!"
NOFX and Pennywise are opening up for Bad Religion!
Eric (of NOFX) says it’s cool. My friend, and I arrive at the El Portal
theater in N. Hollywood a little before 5:00 p.m. No hassles
from security--they've been expecting us. The theater is relatively
empty...except for the members of Bad Religion.
They see us, we all nod our heads, “what's up”?
They're ready for their sound check; I start taping.
We're the only cameramen to film the
Bad Religion Riot of 1990 from first beer
bottle thrown to the last...

--Now Brian was the drummer for our punk rock skate
band called No Apparent Reason. He would have Eric,
drummer of NOFX over on many occasions. NOFX
played one of their first shows in our parents garage
back in 1984. So this is how I got the call and the heads
up to get down there with my camera and roll some
footage. You just didn't pull out a pocket sized cell
phone and start recording video in those days.

You had to get permission. Now at the time I was
working freelance for Goldenvoice productions, they
were the concert promoters that put on all the early
punk rock shows. Kevin Lyman, Paul Tollett, and
Rick Van Santen were my contacts, "my go to guys" these
were the guys I went to, to get permission to bring in a video
camera and shoot proprietary performances. They are an
important part to my story, helping me leverage my
vision of this rock n roll revolution exploding before
our very eyes.

Now, what I would do is, once I was cleared by
Goldenvoice it was now my job to get permission
from the bands and or their management. This was
very tricky and required a little wisdom, skill,
and finesse, and nice teeth for that smile at the end.
I simply leveraged my professional management
skills and made it happen. Based on a hand shake
and my good word everyone involved agreed.
It was punk rock.

So December 29, 1990. The El-portal theater was 64 years old.
Built in 1926 and located in North Hollywood. My grandmother
went there to see movies when she was a little girl.
In 1990 Pennywise, NOFX and Bad Religion are now on the roster.
Pennywise opens the show and gets almost 3/4 of the way through
their set before the power is pulled. I captured their last song
"Bro Hym". NOFX and Bad Religion are shut down completely.

Kroq 106.7 a local radio station promoted
a contest for this show for their listeners behind
the orange curtain way down in Orange County.
Kroq provided the transportation on a Bus.
The fire marshal shut down the show because
they claimed it was over capacity, that all the
aisles had to be clear and all the concert
goers had to be seated. In the video I shot
you can see that the aisles are clear and
everyone is seated as they should be according
to the fire marshal.

So why then did this show get shut down? Why did a riot
break out causing some $25,000 in damages to the the
theaters seats, glass windows and most important the
ticket booth that had remained in it's original state
for over 60 years?

I'll tell you my opinion, the fire department conspired
with the police department to trump up a bogus safety issue
after the concert promoters already acquired the proper
permits for the show. The North Hollywood Police department
in 1990 simply did not want it's private citizens to attend what
was labeled as a "punk rock" show in their city, yet at the same
time they provided the costly permits for this show.

So what did the police and Fire department do? They promoted
their own show. I like to call this "reverse public servant-ism"
if there is such a thing. The best way to describe this would be
like "reverse racism". Why not? It was a freezing cold
December night, there were no fires burning, all the criminals
were home staying warm all except for the mean bad
scary punk rockers.

I had my video camera rolling when Brian Meckleberg one of the
concert promoters broke the news to this eager christmas crowed of
punk rock fans, most were in attendance to see Bad Religion.
The crowed started booing they started thumping on the chairs,
finally one angry fan ripped a set of chairs out and it was on, it was a riot.
Lots of breaking glass, and the El Portals 64 year old ticket booth was
damaged. A guy sliced his arm up really bad.

The angry crowed left the theater on a rampage the perfect
end result that the "reverse public servants" conspired
to create on this cold December night. The Battalion chief
of the Los Angeles fire department gave the okay to hose
down these concert goers in freezing cold weather.
I would later find out in 1998 from a high school friend
who is now a Los Angeles fire chief that the Battalion chief
on call in 1990 was later reprimanded and demoted for doing
this. I personally feel that the city was the cause and provoked
a calculated response from the upset concert goers.

After the riot CBS news showed up based on reports of a
punk rock riot in North Hollywood. The CBS cameraman
noticed me rolling tape, he asked me how long I had been
there, I told him "from the beginning" I captured all of
it, he told me to stay with him, that CBS needs that footage
for their 11 o'clock "Breaking News". So I followed him
around as he captured some aftermath shots inside and out.

After about 5 minutes Perry Tollett, brother of Paul Tollett
approaches the CBS cameraman and accidently pushes
him causing him to lose his balance and somehow causes
the camera light to fall off the camera and crash to the floor.
The CBS camera man starts yelling for help and has Perry
handcuffed by the L.A. Police, and is ready to press assault charges.
The Police are now asking the CBS cameraman what he wanted to do?

Now Perry and his brother Paul are part of the reason I'm there
capturing all this madness. The CBS cameraman already told me
that CBS needs my footage and here is the CBS guy having my
friend handcuffed and now arrested and potentially charged
with a felony. Perry was seconds away from being hauled off
to jail. So I told CBS that; "if you press charges, I'm going to
ABC news with my footage" CBS agreed to not press any
charges, Perry was released on the spot.

About 20 minutes pass and I'm now in the CBS news van
headed down to the CBS news room to make a transfer
of my footage. In those days I shot on a Panasonic pv 420
half inch format. The CBS guy and I arrive at the CBS news
room around 10:45 pm, just in time for CBS to transfer tape,
cut and edit it for their 11 pm news broadcast. About 10
minutes pass and the assignment desk editor says they
can't match the signal from my tape to theirs.
They're sorry they can't use the footage.

I laughed, thought about Perry, then called the ABC
news desk and spoke to the assignment desk editor Jay Eckstein.
Jay asked me what I had, I told him I had the "Bad Religion Riot"
beginning to end, Jay told me to get myself down to
the news room, and make it snappy! I show up and meet
with Jay, hand him the tape, they transfer it and offer me a
licensing fee for it's use. The Bad Religion riot was broadcast
on ABC's local news December 31, 1990 and reported by ABC
news man Marc Brown. A news report was also broadcast on
ABC's World News Tonight with the late Peter Jennings, but
reported by Forrest Sawyer, as Mr. Jennings was on vacation.

A month passes and Bad Religion decides to have a make up
show at the Hollywood Palladium February 1, 1991.
Kroq 106.7 announces this and the band honors the tickets
sold for the canceled El Portal show. I show up
early to meet with Brett Gurewitz. Brett sees me
comes up and puts his arm around me and says; "thank you
for the publicity". I said; "you're welcome, you guys deserve it".
Brett told me that the ABC news footage gave him a spike in
record sales, and that he'd license the footage from me
if he ever needed it.

I later spoke with Bad Religions "spiritual advisor" the
late Henry Hanoi Kuzdak. He had the biggest smile and
said the news publicity helped Epitaph and Bad Religion
sell tens of thousands of records, Henry said; "it put them
over the top". As we chatted the Palladium lowered their
big screen I handed a VHS copy of the ABC news report to
the in house video engineer, he broadcast the ABC news
story on the Hollywood Palladiums big screen to some 3,500
Bad religion fans as the band entered the stage, the
crowed went wild, and Bad Religion began their set.

Fast forward to 1996, I decide I'm gonna put together a
20 minute video of the "uncut" riot footage, include a
few songs from their 1988 "suffer tour" which I shot at
Devonshire Downs from the 1988 show and see what happens.
I meet with Brett at his Epitaph office on Sunset in the
Silver lake area December of 1995. I gave a video
presentation. During the presentation we
had a little misunderstanding.

During that same year Pennywise released a VHS video
called "Home Movies" on the Epitaph label.
In this video the producer included footage of my riot
that had not been cleared. I held an exclusive with ABC news.
Back in 1991 Brett told me he'd "license" my work if he
ever needed it. So during this meeting it got a little heated,
actually really heated as a colleague of mine at the time was
really making things difficult for everyone. Voices
were raised and fists were pounded on the table. It was
a beautiful thick oak table too. Brett told me
I could release the riot footage on my own and that
he would not provide me with Distribution.

That was it, the presentation was over we were
asked to leave, Brett had his head buried in his hands.
I walked up to him and said "no worries Brett, it will
all work out" We both shook hands I told him I
I'd be releasing the "Bad Religion Riot" on my own.
I was later contacted by Fletcher Dragge guitarist of
Pennywise on behalf of Brett Gurewitz at Erik Melvins'
(of NOFX) coffee house on Melrose.

Now it goes like this, I'm a 5'11" skateboarder, skinny
and thin, I'm the bass player of skate punk band called
"No Apparent Reason" which we started because of NOFX
playing in our garage back in 1984. We are a total underground
punk band. Fletcher is 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide he's huge
and could kill me if he wanted to. But he didn't he was one of
the coolest and nicest guys I've ever met. He took care of this
misunderstanding like a gentleman and a great businessman.
Fletcher was also real good with my brother Brian during all
the shows they'd meet at. Fletcher and I shook hands and
everything was restored at Melvins Coffee house in 1996.

After this meeting, I quickly went to work as my own distributor,
under the L.A. Access Video Label. I had made my first vhs graphic
on pre cut vhs insert covers using stickers printed from my computer.
Using the internet in 1996 for ads, my computer printer for sticker
graphics, I'd make VHS copies. I started getting orders from all over
the USA about 3 a week on average and a few in Italy and England.
I'd mail em out, all online orders. I was a UPS driver at the time and
was delivering to American Sound and Video in Burbank. They could
duplicate VHS, a library jacket, and shrink wrap in bulk.

After meeting with American Sound and Video I'd produce 250 units
at a time. With this I'd travel to all the independent record stores
including Tower records in Glendale and Las Vegas. I'd sell 20 to 50
units a week, plus online sales. I would later send out letters to all
potential distributors in which I received some of the best rejection
letters ever written.

Four years of this self distribution would finally pay off for me.
In July 1999 Amazon.com reported that the VHS
Bad Religion Riot was in the top 500 out of two million
movie titles. Not bad for a home made production, I was
blown away by this. In the months following I was
contacted by a guy named Ed Seaman with a
distribution company called MVD (music video distributors)
he offered distribution, and a new format called "DVD"
it was a 5 year contract it was a no brainer. It took me five
years to make this video, and ten years to get
world wide distribution for it.

Today in 2008 all you have to do is Google the "Bad Religion Riot"
it's sold around the world for future generations to see.
I hope that by writing this back story I can share the dream,
vision, and relentless determination it takes, with new
filmmakers, students, musicians, artist, and fans, that if
you fight hard and long enough you really can
control your destiny...

In 1990 at only 25 years old my finesse, skill, and wisdom was key to making it happen.

Continued from the Bad Religion Riot DVD...

...The Fire Marshall's decision to cancel the gig incited
an over-capacity crowd of 1,000 Bad Religion fans into
an angry mob. Rocks & Beer bottles went flying causing
an estimated $25,000 in damages. Paramedics rescued
the injured, firemen hosed the masses, and police "escorted"
the diehards. You've seen "The Riot" footage when KABC-TV
aired it internationally on ABC World News Tonight and when
Pennywise used it in their 1995 Epitaph release
"Pennywise: Home Movies." Now you can see it live and
uncut in its entirety. Bad Religion: The Riot - a piece of punk rock history." -Richard White


Contact: Richard Alan White

raw420x@earthlink.net

www.youtube.com/raw420x