San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec




San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

Badfish bassist talks of Sublime and Scotty Don’t

Courtsey of Mike Farley
Courtsey of Mike Farley

Joe Hanks is a bassist for the band Badfish: A Tribute To Sublime and will be performing at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow in the House of Blues.
The Daily Aztec: Even though you are known as a tribute band for Sublime what inspired the members of Badfish to join together?

Joel Hanks: All of us were just friends who had all been in different bands and we really just wanted to give a Sublime tribute show a chance. We did a show at our local venue and it went really well. It was really fun. We were Sublime fans, obviously. It was music that was kind of common ground for the group.

DA: Where did Badfish start?
JH: Just a venue in Rhode Island called The Ocean Mist.

DA: How has the band evolved throughout the years?
JH: We actually have a different singer than the one we had when the band started. The drummer, Scott Begin, has been with the band since the first day we formed. We have had lots of different members throughout the years, like different guitar and keyboard players. We have had the current lineup for about two years now. It is real solid.

DA: How do you and the band keep the music fresh?
JH: We constantly change the songs that we play live. If we play a song for about three or four months, we usually stop playing it. We visit that particular song six months after that. With a limited selection of songs, it is kind of hard, but we do our best to keep it fresh. We also play music before Badfish performances from our original band, Scotty Don’t. This also helps keep things new.

DA: Does the band have good chemistry behind the scenes?
JH: Definitely. We have been friends for a long time. It is hard for any band to spend so much time together, but we do not really get on each other’s nerves. In terms of friendship, we are all very close.

DA: What do you think is the main reason Sublime was such a sensation?
JH: The band had some monster radio hits. They had awesome songs and great lyrics.

DA: Why do you think the music of Sublime, and to that extent Badfish, continues to connect with audiences?
JH: Just like Bob Marley, their albums continue to be passed on to young adults. People of a certain age can relate to the songs.

DA: What is your favorite Sublime song and album?
JH: The song changes all the time. It depends on how well we perform it. I have always liked the song “Badfish.” We perform that song really well.

DA: One hundred years from now, what do you think Sublime’s legacy will be?

JH: It is hard to say. I would like to think that music would be passed down from generation to generation, but you never know for sure. Maybe we will never listen to reggae again. I do not think there are too many bands of this nature where the music will still be popular one hundred years from now.

DA: One hundred years from now, what do you think Badfish’s legacy will be?
JH: Hopefully, it will be known as getting the career started of Scotty Don’t. It will also be remembered for carrying on the legacy of Sublime.

Tickets and information about Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime can be found at badfish.com.

About the Contributor
David Dixon, Staff Writer
Since, 2005, when he became a writer for the now defunct Rated G column at the San Diego Union Tribune, David Dixon has been writing theatre and film reviews, interviews, covering Comic-Con, and other entertainment related stories, for numerous papers and websites. In addition to his experience as the Entertainment Editor of San Diego State University's The Daily Aztec, in 2014 he won First and Second Place in College Print: Reviews from the San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards, and in 2013 he was awarded First and Third Place. Currently, David is a staff writer for TDA, a contributor for sandiegostory.com and a freelance writer for the San Diego Community News Network.
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Badfish bassist talks of Sublime and Scotty Don’t