Los Ángeles’ Frank Meyer is a west coast punk legend. On top of being a founder of Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs, Frank has also been a monumental collaborator with James Williamson (Iggy & the Stooges), Wayne Kramer (MC5), FEAR, Eddie Spaghetti (Supersuckers), and played in bands led with Cherie Currie, Sylvain Sylvain, Thor, Schoolhouse Rock’s Bob Dorough, Cheetah Chrome, and more. He’s also an author (On the Road with The Ramones, From Dude To Dad) and an award-winning documentary film director (Risen: The Story of Chron “Hell Razah” Smith, Freestyle 101: Hip-Hop History).
With his debut solo album Living Between the Lines recently released, Meyer is preparing for a run of west coast tour dates. In honor of the tour, Meyer shared with us some of his favorite west coast institutions and memories.
**
Top 5 West Coast punk bands
FEAR, X, The Runaways, The Germs and B Movie Rats
Top 5 West Coast venues
Alex’s Bar (Long Beach), The Redwood Bar (LA), Bottom of the Hill (San Francisco), The Casbah (San Diego) and The Troubadour (LA)
Top 5 songs about the West Coast
“Straight Outta Compton” by NWA, “Los Angeles” by X, “Hollywood” by Junkyard, “California Love” by Tupac & Dr. Dre and “Hollywood Africa” by Red Hot Chili Peppers (based on a Meters song)
Top 5 films about the West Coast
Repo Man, Decline of the Western Civilization, Night of the Comet, Valley Girl and Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Top 5 west coast memories
Seeing Guns N Roses, Jane’s Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fishbone, Poison and many others legends at the clubs before they were big when I was a teenager in the ‘80s.
There used to be this weird little concrete city for kids to play in at Van Nuys Park that my brother and I would play in. But soon stoner teens, gangs and homeless guys took it over and they tore it down. But I loved that spot, even though it smelled like pee. There was also this cool giant robot slide at Studio City Park where kids could slide through his long robot arms!
Watching a very young Metallica open for Armored Saint at the Palladium in Hollywood in 1985 as a young teen and witnessing the most insane mosh pit I have ever seen to this day.
Riding BMX’s with my brother (actor Breckin Meyer) and friends to North Hollywood’s UA6 movie theater to see cool movies, play video games at the ice cream parlor next door, and cruise into music store/head shop Auditory Odyssey to buy records.
Seeing the second Lollapalooza in 1992 at Irvine Meadows and in one day getting to see Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Ice Cube, Da Lench Mob, Ministry, Lush, Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E, Cypress Hill, House of Pain, and the Ugly Americans!
**
Catch Meyer on tour with featuring Nick Oliveri’s Death Acoustic and The Strains at select dates.
Listen to the new album here!
The Indy Review 