In this lively and wide-ranging episode, Pipeman sits down with CODEFENDANTS members Sam and Ceschi at Louder Than Life Festival. The conversation covers everything from wild tour stories and music industry insights, to candid discussions about immigration, skate culture, and the punk/metal scenes of past and present. The trio trades personal stories, explores the band's formation, discusses their relationship with Fat Mike, and reflects on the challenges they've faced within and beyond the music world.Main Topics Covered
- Louder Than Life & Festival Experiences
- Sweltering festival conditions and comparisons to other festivals such as Inkcarceration at Shawshank Prison.
- Immigration and ICE Issues
- Personal stories about bandmates impacted by ICE and U.S. immigration policy.
- The band's multicultural background and roots in South Florida, Venezuelan, and Brazilian communities.
- Wild Stories from the Road
- Adventures (and mishaps) in Costa Rica and Nicaragua including surfing, skateboarding injuries, and unlikely instructor gigs.
- Near-death experiences, including Pipeman's heart attacks while surfing.
- Skateboarding & Surf Culture
- Nostalgia for early skate and surf scenes.
- Stories of draining pools to skate, skateboarding on highways, and working for Thrasher magazine.
- Music, Band Origins & Fat Mike
- How Sam, Ceschi, and Fat Mike connected and formed CODEFENDANTS.
- Behind-the-scenes negotiations for development deals and career-saving legal help.
- Evolution of punk identity, friendships across music genres, and the blending of cultures in modern scenes.
- Reflections on Safety and Society
- Commentary on feeling safer abroad versus in the U.S.
- Jokes and serious moments regarding American societal challenges.
Key Discussions & Stories
- Festival Heat and "Hotter Than Life"
The guests joke about extreme heat at Louder Than Life (00:27), compare it to Vegas weather, and reminisce about previous blistering festivals.
- Personal ICE Experiences
Ceschi and Sam describe how the band was directly impacted by ICE with members deported or fearful of flying (02:46).
- Skate/Surf Mishaps
Sam confesses to being a surf instructor without knowing how to swim, and recounts skateboarding accidents in Costa Rica, including a DIY arm cast episode (04:19, 09:08).
- Heart Attack Stories
Pipeman shares harrowing tales of heart attacks while surfing in Hawaii and Costa Rica, contrasting medical care in the U.S. and abroad (07:11).
- ‘80s Punk vs. Metalhead Divide
Pipeman recalls dangerous tribalism between punks and metalheads in '80s California (14:37).
- Band Formation & Fat Mike’s Role
Sam and Ceschi detail their musical partnership, initial session guesting, Fat Mike’s deep involvement, and creative/financial support over legal trouble (24:07, 25:41).
- Music and Skate Games
Talk about curating music for a new surfing video game, inspired by the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series (17:53).
- Community and Resourcefulness
Examples of musicians supporting each other, the reality of struggling artists during COVID, and Fat Mike’s generosity vs. the opportunists (28:03).
Notable Quotes
- "If we're playing fucking music, you shouldn't be fearing for your fucking freedom, bro." — Sam (03:22)
- "I don't even know how to swim, and I was a surf instructor." — Sam (04:15)
- "If you're stupid, I don't care who you are, if you're cocky and you go, I know, you don't know the lay of the land. You don't know what's under that water." — Pipeman (06:42)
- "The jocks were bullying, beating the shit out of both the metalheads and the punkers. Why aren't we joining forces to fuck them up?" — Pipeman (16:45)
- "What joined us was the iPod shuffle, right? …Once they started, like, making CDs where you could make mixes and shit, people were like, oh, fuck." — Sam (16:54)
- "From the beginning, me and this guy were like, we don't want you to be the Fat Records guy paying for this band. We want you to be in a band where you don't pay for shit. Just be in the band, motherfucker." — Sam (28:57)
- "People ask all the time, what's the scariest place on earth you've ever been? Fucking America." — Sam (29:58)
Resources & Links Mentioned
- Bands/Albums
- Get Dead (Sam’s punk band, Fat Records)
- CODEFENDANTS
- Fat Mike (NOFX, Fat Records)
- Chesky (solo projects, collaborations)
- Festivals
- Louder Than Life
- Incarceration at Shawshank Prison
- Locations
- Gilman Street, Berkeley
- South Florida, Las Vegas, Bay Area, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Hollywood, Agoura, Santa Teresa, San Francisco
- Other Mentions
- Thrasher (Skateboard Magazine)
- Tony Hawk Pro Skater (video game reference)
- TNC Surf Designs (classic Nintendo surf game)
- LaCroix, Coca-Cola (personal anecdotes)
Click Here to Subscribe for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS!
Follow @pipemanradio on all socials & Pipeman Radio Requests & Info at linktr.ee/pipemanradio
Stream The Adventures of Pipeman daily & live Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 1PM ET on W4CY Radio & Talk 4 TV.
Download, Rate & Review the Podcast at The Adventures of Pipeman, Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & All Podcast Apps.
