I’ve been playing in punk rock bands since I was 16 years old, starting in the late 1970s. During COVID, a new thing happened: It forced our hand to improvise and work with people around the world. Suddenly we were exchanging audio files via Dropbox and starting bands with members not only in different cities but in different countries. Now I have a band in Antwerp. I had a band in Amsterdam. I made a record and tour with a band from San Sebastian, Spain. And by opening this new-and-improved can of worms, I did a record with long-running punk favorites Hard-Ons. In fact, we recently got off a U.S. tour supporting the Melvins and Napalm Death. All of it was a dream come true.

We don’t have to look at the state of our country or our government to feel ashamed or embarrassed; all we have to do is look at what the U.S. passes off as rock ’n’ roll these days. If we’re lucky, some corporate slob will toss us another watered-down Xerox of yesterday’s heroes, and we’re supposed to bang our heads in submissive unison.