INTERVIEW: RICK FROBERG FROM 2023
This interview with the late Rick Froberg (Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, Obits) was conducted in March of 2023 for an article I wrote about San Diego Punk for The Wire. Copies of that issue of The Wire are still available through their website.
Akashic Books recently published a book of Rick’s visual art entitled Plenty For All: The Art of Rick Froberg. The book can be order directly from the publisher.
Prior to this conversation, I was very nervous to speak with Rick. Not only due to the massive impact he had on me with his music, but I heard he didn’t suffer fools lightly during the interview process. Not only was Rick more than willing to speak with me and gracious with his time, but he followed up on some flubs he made in the timeline of the San Diego scene, and scanned some photos that sadly did not make it into the article. Just three months later, he was gone. Time moves fast. Don’t be afraid to let people know how much they mean to you. Froberg Forever!
Rick Froberg: So, this is for The Wire?
Tony Rettman: Yes.
RF: And And you’re doing an article on Heroin and Gravity Records?
TR: Yeah.
RF: So it’s about San Diego, OK. And The Wire—isn’t that a techno magazine?
TR: Not really, It’s more about experimental music and jazz.
RF: That makes more sense now. I like to have context before making a fool of myself.
TR: I should have given you more context. Sorry about that. This article is revolving around a Heroin reissue coming out soon. Everyone I talked to from Heroin and other bands—like Mike Denny from Amenity—cited Pitchfork as inspiration to do something more experimental and not just straight hardcore punk in San Diego. So my question is: what were Pitchfork influenced by and why do you think it rubbed off on these kids like the ones in Heroin and Mike?
RF: We were influenced by Washington, D.C. The only other thing around was Orange County hardcore, and that wasn’t our thing. We liked Dischord Records, Homestead Records, Touch and Go. We felt our town was a serious backwater, and no one else was going to do it, so we did it.