Page 9 - ION Indie Magazine SeptOct 2019 Issue

PUNK IS

NOT DEAD!

music, we are of the same battleground and we chewed the same southern Arizona music asphalt.

At least not in Arizona. As I hang out with and listen to Arizona punk Icon Lenny Mental (lead Besmircher) and
share his story, I can’t help but smile in knowing how similar we are. Although we are of different genres of

Returning from Europe in 85’, I remember first hearing of Lenny in a local hardcore underground punk band,
Useless Pieces of Shit. And throughout the years, I followed Lenny in his musical bloody antics and endeavors.
Every time I turned around Lenny would be tearing apart every venue that he performed in.

Mr. Mental has a long history in Tucson and throughout Arizona with most legendary punk bands and his most
recent and possibly the longest-lasting being his current band, The Besmirchers.

Lenny started in music with The Corporate Whores, formed in Tucson, Arizona in the fall of 1981. Then there
was Useless Pieces of Shit, formed in September of 1983 and of course, Civil Death. Lead singer Lenny Mental
was the lead and main driving force behind Civil Death, which was one of Tucson’s most popular bands back
then. While the band plays much less frequently than they once did, their shows are like the original hardcore
punk I remember, just like you would imagine it from back in the day in N.Y.

I recently saw Lenny and his band The Besmirchers perform in a very, very small venue/record store. But the
energy of the band was insane. And yes, there was a mosh pit stirring in front of the band. Today, as I worked
in an alley with Lenny on his shoot, we shared personal stories, we laughed at dumb jokes. It was like I've known
ANARCHY!
him forever. Which in fact, I have from afar. I questioned him and I listened to everything thing that he spewed
at me. But in the end, we left some stories behind. What was said in the alley, was left in the alley. But fortunate
for me, I kept a few secrets and I’m here to share…on with the interview!