Jason Kamimura is one of those modern day renaissance men. Not only is he a founding member of BOB, but he works on several different projects at once. The latest is his solo work in CARNIVAL OF SUFFERING, which was just released through SPIFFY / BIGFUN RECORDS (BIGFUN is his own record label!) on an exclusive cassette only release as opposed to the modern standard of vinyl or compact disk. We did this interview at the art tables in El Camino College in Torrance, where he is also an art major.

J = Jason (C.O.S.)
C = Chris Beyond

---

C: So, Jason, what do you play in CARNIVAL OF SUFFERING?
J: I play with myself.
C: What made you put together CARNIVAL OF SUFFERING?
J: Weird forces of nature pulled me towards my instrument and I missed.
C: How did Jimmy De Voca Cabeza, or something like that, get involved?
J: Well, me and Jimmy were having anal sex one day and I enjoyed the sounds he was making so I said, "you should join my band!" That's all.
C: What was the reason for you leaving BOB and why did you return?
J: Well, BOB is kinda' like a bad cold...you'll get it sometimes...and sometimes you'll want to lose it, but you'll always get it again.
C: Do you hate the fat guy from Mtv廣 120 Minutes?
J: I don't have Mtv, so I don廠 know who he is, but I'd probably hate `im.
C: What was the deal about CARNIVAL OF SUFFERING being snubbed from the soundtrack of THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS?
J: Well Brandon Lee and I had a little fallout. We were practicing Kung-Fu moves one day and I kicked his ass and it didn't look good for his ego so he said, "No! You're not in my movie! I'm killing myself now!"
C: Sooooo...you're basically saying that YOU'RE the reason that they shot him. Well, he got SHOT, but somehow, I guess it was a suicide...and...
J: He couldn't stand the fact that being Bruce Lee's son, he got his ass kicked by some little guy in a band.
C: So the record company knew this and they took you off the soundtrack?
J: Well, Brandon Lee had a talk with the record company saying that "This guy...I don't like the vibes he's putting off," and the he just said, "Off the movie, Guy!"
C: He just said, "Off the movie, guy?" That's what he said to you? (I laugh!) Ok, what celebrities have you met on your pathway to stardom?
J: I met the guys from DISMEMBER and SUFFOCATION, uh NAPALM DEATH, CARCASS, uh...no one famous. (Pause) Wait, I take that back...I met Walter Matthou, um...
C: How so?
J: At a supermarket. We used to live by his house. He'd come in often with his sheepdogs. And I met Adam West...also in a supermarket...with his buddy Robin. Um,...and that's about it.
C: Ok, then...that's cool. That's excellent. Is CARNIVAL OF SUFFERING working on anything else for the future?
(Just so you know, dear reader, I am impersonating the way that that annoying fat bald guy from Mtv廣 120 Minutes talks.)
J: Yes, I am currently self producing and recording and engineering, um, and self motivating my new release, "Somewhere In Between Suffering And Pain Lays The Carnival Of Suffering"...that's the title, by the way...and it's gonna be a Maxi-EP-Super Single.
C: Uh,...cool...well, then...uh...what was your favorite dirty movie and why?
J: I recently saw a good one. It was called Buttman's Adventure In Big Tit World or something. I guess why I liked it was the big tits.
C: Not the butt?
J: Nah, I'm not a...well, I like the butts too, but I'm more of a tit man myself.
C: Well, then that's excellent man...that廣 excellent. I'm imitating the fat guy on Mtv. That's excellent...ok, um. How has your college experience influenced you?
J: Well, I've met different people in college...such as yourself, Jimmy Cabaza De Voca sitting next to me...and, uh, (He calls out to Jeff from the band SPACE ROTATO, who is also sitting with us.) What's your name?
C: He's Jeff. That's excellent man...that's really cool man. Ok, uh, oh, um...Critics have called your album "Moody yet fun." What's the deal?
J: Well, I try to have fun while I'm moody...so I guess while I'm moody, I'm having fun...so my music reflects that.
C: Have YOU ever held A monkey?
J: I knew this question was coming...no I haven't, but I have pet a dolphin.
C: What was the dolphin like? Was it monkey-ish?
J: It made chirping sounds just like a monkey.
C: That廣 excellent. What are some of your favorite local bands?
J: Local bands...THE (WEST COAST) IMPOSSIBLES, MINDROT, MUSTARD, uh, BO , uh, let me think here...oh yeah...JUNIOR FISHSKIN, uh, (he refers to Jeff) you廝e in a band right?
JEFF: SPACE ROTATO.
J: CASE ROTATO!
JEFF: SPACE ROTATO!
J: Oh, SPACE ROTATO...oh and MJ-12, CHEWIN' TOBACCEE, and um, oh yeah...what are they called now? MASTER嘯 HAMMER?...is that what they're called? Oh, well formerly KEVORKIAN. I can't remember.
C: Oh well, that's excellent. If you were a a director, how would you do "Enter Sandman" differently?
J: I would have the old man...be a very sexy naked lady and instead of scratching in the wall, she'd be rolling around in grease.
JEFF: That was "Unforgiven!"
J: Oh, well,...same video anyway.
(We all laugh at METALICA!)
C: Ok, uh,...oh yeah...that's excellent. What are some of your biggest fears and weak spots?
J: My biggest fear is being naked in front of Barbara Bush...with the smurfs crawling up my ass...and, uh,...Bob Yukor announcing what was to come.
C: Heh, heh, and your biggest weak spot?
J: Well, when I'm mud wrestling and someone puts too much water in the mud and it gets super slippery and I often fall on my ass.
C: Ow! Ok, what are some of your other past, current, and future projects?
J: Past projects include...uh, BOB, which is also future project...other past projects include CONGRENNA which was a cheesy wanna-be death metal band, still around by the way...um...PUTRIFICATION; another not so good death metal band...grindcore I guess. Um, future: THE BELLHOPS is gonna be a traditional ska band with Jeff from THE (WEST COAST) IMPOSSIBLES.
C: Did you know that there was another band from the 60s called THE BELLHOPS? They were kinda' famous.
J: It doesn廠 matter, because we're THE REAL BELLHOPS! Get that straight 60s man! We thought of it first!...after we were born. Well anyway, I was also in EAR BEYOND...which is possibly reviving. POPULAR GIRL...
C: (I cut him off!) Are you saying that YOU'RE one of the secret members of POPULAR GIRL?!?
J: Nope! I take that back! I never heard of that band, but I heard this guy Tran Zorzee is in it. He's a good friend of mine. And uh...
C: So you're just saying that you're their first fan.
J: Yeah, I'm a big fan of Tran Zorzee. I was in some bands that I forgot the names of...and then in the year 2000, I'll be in the band FELCH with Jimmy De Voca. I'm doing tracks with AGENT CHESTER DESMOND. That's a noise-core-techno and that's about it for now.
C: That's real cool man, that's excellent. Oh, are you looking forward to the film The People VS, Larry Flint?
J: Never heard of it.
C: That廣 the film starring Woody Harrelson as the publisher of HUSTLER MAGAZINE and Courtney love plays one of his wives.
J: I don't know if I'm looking forward to that. (Travis from OUT OF ORDER passes by and yells, "Satan!") I would pick better people to be...like other than Courtney Love...and Woody Harrelson, by the way.
(Jeff tells us a tale of how Woody Harrelson kicked some old guys butt.)
J: Yeah I don't wanna see Woody Harrelson in that. He's an asshole. I don廠 want to see Courtney Hole Either.
C: That廣 great. Are you actually considering joining THE CRANBERRIES?!?
J: Well, the girl from THE CRANBERRIES is pretty hot. I hate her music, but if I could just like shut her up and put something in her mouth for a while, yeah, I'd join them.
C: You heard it HERE first! Wow! When you become a millionaire, what will be the first thing you do to suppress the underclasses?
J: Well, first I'd take away some of their privledges like free home shelters and I'd make sure that they aren't allowed to wash people's windows. I'd take away the soup kitchen and I'd basically throw stuff at them.
(Everyone busts up laughing!)
C: I hate it when the rich throw things at the poor! What is the best way to clean your soul?
J: Clorox Bleach. Smooth going down...and hard coming up.
C: So you're one of the Bleach Boys.
J: Yes, me and Gibby Haynes.
C: Why...should people get a copy of your album?
J: Why not?
C: Works for me. Will you be buying airtime to have CARNIVAL OF SUFFERING infomercials and if so, what will you do to keep it entertaining for TV audiences?
J: Always think, uh, I'd go with the basic formula of sex and violence. So I would be mutilating myself while having sex with sheep...and I think that will sell...especially with the TB...what廣 that religious channel? Whatever it廣 called, I think it would sell well there. I know how they廝e into that heavy dramatism.
C: It'll do well with the NOFX crowd. Do you believe in natural childbirth?
J: I like supernatural childbirth actually. I believe in sex with all races of aliens and if I ever met a good foxy alien, I'd do her in a second. There'll be some good supernatural birth going on there I'll tell ya'!
C: So, uh, have the movie offers come in yet?
J: I hear butt bongo fiesta starring CARNIVAL OF SUFFERING is coming up soon and Howard Stern will be playing my naked ass. First he's gonna shave it because I have a very hairy ass.
C: Hmmmm. What is your favorite TV show of all time?
J: Pee-Wee's Playhouse because Pee-Wee Herman is in fact Jesus Christ reincarnated. If Pee-Wee were still on the air, I think there would be less violence in the world today. People would learn lessons like the secret word and how to make foil balls. Everybody would be having a good ol' time.
C: What do you think about sexual harassment and masturbation?
J: I Masturbate 3 to 4 times a day. Sexual Harassment is good on occasion, but it get廣 tiring after a while.
C: Who are some people that you would love to work with musically?
J: Traci Lords, Danny Elfman, anybody from MR. BUNGLE.
C: What would Traci be playing? Would it be a techno experience?
J: I'm heavily into Deep Techno House Rhythms so I'd be beating some rhythms on her and shooting off some good tracks.
C: Um, are you ever on drugs and why?
J: No, I'm completely clean-cut, because I believe I should never be under the control of foreign substances, unless it's by aliens.
C: Ah, But what do you think of the critic who thinks your music is good to take acid to?
J: If they want to take acid, then that's their prerogative, but I'm not into it myself. But if people want to fuck themselves up, then that's their thing to do.
C: So Jim McCray is wrong?
J: No. He's probably right.
C: What's the best way to impress someone of the opposite sex?
J: Take off your pants and yell, "Look at Hairy! Look at Hairy!"
C: Any last words of advise for readers?
J: Buy my tape.
(CARNIVAL OF SUFFERING can be ordered through SPIFFY/BIGFUN RECORDS)


(We wrap up things and go to class. Jeff gave me a tape and Jimmy goes to bed under the table.)

THE END?

---

Chris Beyond