Mike: Where and
when did the idea of hamster man come to you?
Paul: I started
drawing Hamster Man in 1985 when I was in the fifth grade. I can't
remember why exactly, but I did have pet hamsters around then
and every week I checked out this book titled Hamsters from the
school library.
Mike: What is your
favorite thing about doing Hamster Man?
Paul: When it's
all done and everyone tells me how fuckin' awesome I am.
Mike: A few years
back you were going to do a book and record set where I was to
do the voice for Hamster Man. is there any hope to bringing that
idea back?
Paul: Yes. But
I think it would be better to do it as a Flash cartoon. It would
be free to produce and would be accessible to a lot more
people.
Mike: Do
you think Chicago understands Hamster Man?
Paul: Do you
think I understand that question?
Mike: Where
around Chicago can you purchase Hamster Men?
Paul: Quimby's
book store on North Avenue. Chicago Comics on Clark Street. Both
Reckless Records locations. Atomix coffee shop on Chicago Avenue
at Damen. You can also buy them on the internet at www.hamsterman.com.
Mike: What
comics do you enjoy reading?
Paul: I like
reading Missy Kulik's comics (look for her at http://indiepages.com/someow/comics/index.html)
and anything by Arthur
Jones (http://www.gorillasuit.com)
Mike: You
have been in many bands, who were they and which was your favorite?
Paul: I played
in The Fighters, Old Dad, Joan of Arc, Owls, Brown Round Town
Hound, Hardcore Reality '98, and even an early version of Craphole.
The Fighters was my favorite because it was guitar driven pop
punk with plenty of catchy hooks and melodic vocals.
Mike: Do
you think you would be doing Hamster Man today, If you were never
involved in an underground music scene?
Paul: Yes, but
it might have been totally different. For one thing, touring has
allowed me to distribute comics all over the world. Also, because
I am more involved with music than the comics scene, I am way
cooler than I might have been.
Mike: Where in
Chicago do you like to see shows?
Paul: My favorite
place is Schuba's because the sound is so good and the separate
bar room silences the chattering of the idiot regulars. The Fireside
Bowl is the most fun but you can only make a big bowling alley
sound so good.
Mike: What are
your favorite Chicago bands of all time?
Paul: The 4-Squares
and Biscayne
Mike: What sector
of the Chicago scene do you consider yourself part of?
Paul: Johann's
Face
Mike: What do you
think was the strangest and most annoying scene ever in Chicago?
Paul: clown punk
Mike: Any last
words?
Paul:
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