As a musical genre, punk isn’t commonly riddled with nuance. What you see is what you get. It’s either on or it’s off. Loud, louder, bombastic, or brutal. But every now and then, something comes along to challenge everything you thought you knew about anything at all.
Ladies and gentleman… Nonbinaries… Enter Mr. Justin Pearson.
By the impressionable age of twelve, Justin had infiltrated Phoenix, Arizona’s hardscrabble punk rock scene. Going to shows like Suicidal Tendencies and Fugazi, a code of ethics started forming around the chaos of his internal and external worlds. As they did his moral, social, and political points of view took shape. It wasn’t long before this shitty, pissed-off kid figured out that punk’s a way of life requiring absolute independence while maintaining respect for yourself, for your environment, and for the people around you.
Over the past twenty years, Justin Pearson has been one of hardcore’s most formidable figures. He’s the owner of Three One G Records; bassist for bands Dead Cross, The Locust, Head Wound City; and vocalist for Deaf Club, Retox, Satanic Planet, and Planet B. His signature sound has found its way around the globe several times over, reserving the right to go wherever it wants whenever it pleases.
Justin and I met backstage after Dead Cross played Denver in 2017. It was the end of the night on the final date of the band’s first tour. Speaking with him, I was surprised that someone so pleasant could make such devastating music. A contradiction of sorts I suppose, or maybe just a product of my own misguided presumptions. Either way, whatever it was got busted into a thousand smithereens that night. Now, I’m honestly not even sure if contradictions exist? Maybe some things just go together and they don’t have to make sense? Rather, we should just smile and say “fuck yeah” when they feel right.
Veronika Sprinkel Ink. proudly presents an interview with hardcore musician Justin Pearson. A conversation about ethics, origins, and other weird stuff. This one’s a real feast. Bon appétit!