MIKE & REED of C.O.C.
Interview from Uptight Citizens zine #6, January 1986
Q – Where did your name originate?
A – C.O.C. was originally gonna be the name of a band that me (Reed) and Woody were gonna be in called No Labels. I thought of the name when I was sitting in chemistry class in high school.
Q – What do you most of your songs deal with?
A – A lot of my songs deal with organized religion and money making evangelists of the south, like Jerry, who are getting millions of dollars a year tax free.
Q – How long have you been together?
A – Since June of 1982.
Q – What do you think about all this unity you read about but never see?
A – Well who do you want to be united with and for what purpose? Because people say, "punks and skins unite"? Well, unite and see what it's like. I wanna see massive fucking social change in America, you know? Fucking stir it up and see what happens. I'm not necessarily an anarchist because I don't think it's practical. I don't think people are responsible enough to have no laws but we sure as hell could use some cutting down on laws and have a lot more freedom.
Q – Have you had any run-ins with the cops?
A – We all have– I've been framed for shoplifting simply because the undercover officer didn't like my manner and who I was. The cops at one time were convinced that punk rockers we a cult and were trying to figure out who the leader was, and at one time trying to frame Reed for a series of burglaries.
Q – Is the Klan still active down south somewhat?
A – For a while they were doing a lot of protests and we'd all go there and hassle them and the cops would have a big barricade around the protesters and the KKK would shout all these things at us.
Q – What do you think about the press?
A – The press is massively distorting new particularly from Central America. What's going on down there, their slant is so heavily in favor of the Reagan administration and the war policies that it's hard for the American public to get a clear picture of it.
Q – Are you putting out a new EP soon?
A – Did you notice there's a difference between side 1 and 2 of Animosity? We're recording it at the same place we did Side 1 out in California. It'll be on Death Records again, five songs probably.
Q – Any last statements?
A – Yeah, humanity, I'm very disappointed in it.
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