Bad Ass is a Punk band from CA I have been playing them on Whatever68 for a few years now I have also had the pleasure of seeing them live and hanging out with them several times the whole band rocks but these 2 gals rule,they both just had babies and I think were on stage the next week lol. Check out their band Bad Ass and any other projects you see them involved with they ROCK!




Hello Ladies and thanks for the interview can you give us a little history on Bad Ass?

The band started in 2010, myself (Helen) and Mikie had been in previous bands together and were being encouraged to start another one by 'Joe the Cub' the original guitarist who is still with us today, joined by Becca on the bass and Cesar on the drums we started playing under a different name, the name Bad Ass started as a joke, I suppose it still is a joke as we are far from a 'tough guy' band. The line up changed over the years for random reasons as distance and life in general made it hard for some members to keep going with the band and so eventually we ended up with the crew we have now, Mikie still on the mic, myself, Joe the cub on guitar, Tony Bologna on guitar, Bess Grotesque on bass and Jerm King on drums. We've done some recording and put out one cd and two 7", hoping to do some more recording in the future and possibly get our hands on another tour soon, get the Ass outta California again.

How long have you 2 been friends? how did you meet?

We've been around each other for years as we've been in the same scene and around the same friends/shows for ages however we never really 'knew' each other until Bess jumped into the band. We needed another bassist, female preferred as back up vocals had become so important to the sound our band had developed. I (Helen) caught a show at Bobs bang Shack where Liz was preforming with her other band BDSM and I had thought 'we found her!' Mikie approached Cory from BDSM before asking Bess about possibly joining our band to make sure we werent 'stepping on any toes' or moving in on claimed territory ahahaha!


What is the best and worst things about being in a band?

Best thing is the feeling of jumping around that stage to a crowd of dancing punks! I love to see the fun we have while preforming spread and I love, love, love being able to share the stage with some of my favorite bands, bands I've been listening to since I was a little teenager! And hey- it can be a great work out too hehehe. One of the worst things but necessary things is the time that it does take to practice, to put those hours in even when we don't really feel like it to keep pushing the music further. sometimes there are disagreements and we have to work through them, we have six different people in this band, that's six different opinions and six different schedules, yeah you can kinda see how things get sticky once in a while ??

What struggles have you had as a band and how have you over come them?

Most of our struggles come from different views on the bands future- whether it be about booking shows, recording, going on tour or even as simple as writing a song. like a marriage, communication and compromise have brought us this far.


What inspires you?

Well sappy as it is, (oh god I'm that person now) my daughter Exene inspires me. I want her to see that you can do anything you put your mind to. I didn't play any instrument until about 3 odd years ago when Cory of BDSM hit me up to play bass, I had no clue what I was doing but I wanted it and I kept with it.

When I see average people strive to accomplish something and succeed- whether it be a band coming out of nowhere and making music to blow people away or someone picking up a pen and becoming the next author, a paintbrush an becoming the next Van Gogh, a skillet and create amazing food- people who dont give up but keep pressing forward, I love this, it inspires me to keep at what I love, something I hope Treble will pick up.


You both had your babies(both adorable) around the same time has this affected the band in any way?

We do have to bribe sitters, finagle schedules, and sometimes reschedule practice due to fussy babies or sitters not working out. Pumping at shows is a new added adventure ha ha, you should see the looks I get when I break out my cover and use my hand pump while sitting at the bar listening to the other bands.

Absolutely, like Bess said we do have to 'arrange' things now as far as childcare while we play gigs, the pumping at shows is a kicker. Having the little Bad Asses around the same time was completely unplanned, neither of us knew the other was pregnant, that in itself is a whole different story- we already had to take a bit of time off just before and after they were born. But as much as our babies have made life in a band a bit more complicated, it has also put a new bounce in my step. Its empowering to be a mom and also able to jump on stage and sing my heart out, raising a son who will be well immersed in music (and not just punk rock but all genres) I want him to grow up not just hearing music, but seeing it and feeling it, and recognizing his parents up there spreading it!


What is your opinion of the CA music scene?

I love it, I think it's great... but then again, I've only been exposed to the California scene.

California music scene is booming right now, loads of new bands coming around and old ones getting recognition, sometimes there are so many shows going on at the same time its difficult to choose which one to go to (which can be good and bad)

What do you feel if anything can be done to make the CA scene better?

Support each other rather than drag one another down. theirs a lot of finger pointing and judgment in the air, gonna bust out some lysol soon.

Drop the meth people, stop the drama, and start supporting each other more.


What are some of your goals for next year?

Would love to get the band out of California, another tour perhaps, but organizing the kiddos has to go hand in hand with organizing the shows hahaha. Hoping to get some more recording down so we can come out with a full 12" record.

Goals huh mine right now are just live each day the best I can.

Will you be or have you started teaching the Babies to play any instruments ?

Treble's beaten around a bit on the keyboard but aside from the little baby toys that make music that's about it. I would love for him to try his hand at an instrument, maybe piano lessons at the get go, and it would be great if he could pick something up, but who knows. He may not be into it. He may want to try something else- I quit piano lessons when I was young because all I wanted to do was draw. Tried the flute, but again, just wanted to draw. Thank God Im a natural at the kazoo or Id be useless with instruments! hehe

I used to teach 3-5 year olds the intro to music, so of course I'm going to teach Exene her first play mat was a kick n play with a piano attched to it, and we listen to music every day. I'll be starting her with piano, once you know piano it seems you can transition to most other instruments.


I know it's hard with kids and a band how do you do it?

There is no other real option but to just 'do it'. Obviously the kids take priority in our lives, but to be in a band it also requires time and dedication. I dont know if it will get easier later on, or harder, but what I know for myself is that yes I am mom, but I am also so much more. The band is a huge part of me and what I love, music. Alongside my husband and my tattooing I have to balance things lest I lose those things. They played an important role before my son was born, and will continue to play a role now that he is here.

It's definitely a tightrope balancing act.

How can the readers find your music?

Online on Youtube, sometimes the search can get tricky. You might need to search Bad Ass punk rock or 'bad ass southern california punk rock'. Or you can go online or into Dr Strange record shop and get cd's, patches, shirts, ect. You can also contact Helen directly through FB under Helen Farber if it needs to be mailed out. Best bet- come to one of our shows- we always have merch!


Any shout outs you would like to give?

Shout out to Vic from Assault and Battery and also to John Trench at Trench studios- the two reasons we have music out on cd and 7" to share, to Jeff Magro who helped us put out our most recent record, to all the promoters who have gotten us gigs over the years and most of all to the fans that come out and support us! Thank you! We could play for an empty room but it just wouldn't be the same. My kazoo would echo and it would be awkward...

Yea, shout out to all the local bands/ musicians that are pushing and continuing their passions, and keeping music in the scene.

Thanks for the interview and your continued support to me and Whatever68 Radio..You both ROCK!

Anytime! Thanks for asking us to interview!

Thank you for rocking the local bands and getting all this rad music out to more than just the locals!