LAist Interview: Mick St. Germain-Walker
On Monday we interviewed Michael Walker, author of "Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock-and-Roll's Legendary Neighborhood." Today, Michael channels his alter ego "Mick" St. Germain-Walker to answer the LAist Interview as if it were 1973. Mick lives in Laurel Canyon and once played bass guitar for Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys. We don’t know his exact astrological sign, but we suspect he’s a Leo.
Age and Occupation:
None of your f----- business; bass player.
How long have you lived in Los Angeles, and which neighborhood do you live in?
I have no f-----g idea. I'm around Laurel Canyon a lot.
Why do you live in Los Angeles?
I was touring with Cat Mother but then, I like, wasn't. See?
How did/does Laurel Canyon inspire musicians?
Christ, finally a question I can answer. People hang out, they get stoned. I like going to Mama Cass's. There's always like lots of food and David Crosby's swimming in the pool, and he's cool. I played bass on that song of theirs, y'know with the--do-do-do-do-dooo-DOO-do-doo-do-do-do--the one about the sparrow. OK, actually I didn't. But I vibed the part so strongly that I might have.
What is your opinion of the LA music scene right now? Do you have any favorite LA bands?
Since those a------ in Cat Mother ditched me and I haven't been getting any gigs, so I don't know. I really like this band Twice Nicely. I think they're from Vermont or something. The guitar player's pretty good. Waddy somebody-or-other.
Where in LA do you like to go to listen to live music?
I used to hang out at Zappa's cabin but then they like moved. Just like that.
What phrase or adjective is overused to describe or explain our city?
Hot? Is that an adjective? People always say it's hot here, but I'm cool.
What is a story about Los Angeles that you are longing to tell or remains untold?
There's the secret government hideout on Lookout Mountain where they send out "mind waves" to make all the musicians stop writing rock and roll. Seriously. Some freak at the Canyon Store tried to tell me that it was really a place where they put together movies of A-bomb tests. Can you believe the s--- people come up with?
What's your favorite movie(s) or TV show(s) that are based in LA?
"My Three Sons." I'll betcha Chip ends up living in the canyon someday, he's cool. I liked that Monkees movie, whatever, "Head." But nobody else did.
What is the "center" of LA to you?
Where ever I am.
If you could live in any neighborhood or specific house in LA, where/which would you choose?
The White House, Washington, D.C. Wait, you said L.A.?
People stereotype Los Angeles as a hard place to find personal connections and make friends. Do you agree with that assessment? Do find it challenging to make new friends here?
I find everything challenging.
What is the city's greatest secret?
Me.
What do you have to say to East Coast supremacists?
"Hey, you're not so supreme." S---, that's a pretty good song title.
Where do you want to be when the Big One hits?
It already did, didn't it?