Feature / One Question Interviews
Druglords of the Avenues

Words: Loren • April 25, 2014

Druglords of the Avenues
Druglords of the Avenues

Johnny Bonnel (Druglords of the Avenues, Swingin’ Utters, Filthy Thieving Bastards)

SPB: Where does your band name for Druglords of the Avenues come from?

Bonnel: I was watching a documentary on a Jewish community in Alphabet City, New York and the narrator mentioned "Druglords of the Avenues" more than a couple times. I thought it sounded like a cool band name, but I was already in two: Swingin' Utters and Filthy Thieving Bastards. It ended up being a song title for FTB. I'm constantly grabbing phrases and words from other forms of art. Anything that immediately conjures images of human dysfunction. When we first formed DLOTA we were called Bay of Pigs, but that was taken. I mentioned the song as a band name and the rest of the fellers said okay. It has an ironic, heroic quality to it and I kind of dig it.

Loren • April 25, 2014

Druglords of the Avenues
Druglords of the Avenues

Related features

Guest List: Panopticon's definitive crust / hardcore / punk classics

Music / The Set List • April 24, 2024

Panopticon may be more widely known as a "metal" band - I use that term loosely because Panopticon is a lot more than the black metal base genre it derives from - yet founder Austin Lunn finds his inspiration from many different genres, punk and hardcore being one aspect of … Read more

Stephen Hamm

Interviews • April 24, 2024

Stephen Hamm might be best known as Slow's bassist in some circles. Slow’s Against The Glass was voted the 17th best Canadian LP ever. Further, the lead single “Have Not Been The Same” was ranked the 10th greatest song. Stephen has played in many different bands over the years (starting with Chuck … Read more

The Wesleys

One Question Interviews • April 18, 2024

Willy (The Wesleys) SPB: What is the best show you’ve seen so far this year?:  Willy: Got to see a lot of cool shows this year so far, but I think my favorite one was seeing Shadow Show from Detroit playing with Tilden at NYC TVEYES. It was such a rad … Read more

Hook

One Question Interviews • April 16, 2024

Ikka (Hook) SPB: What are your favorite venues to play in Finland right now? Ikka: I like Lepakkomies in Helsinki. That´s a cool little place with very nice atmosphere. Read more

Sneak Dog Records

One Question Interviews • April 15, 2024

Gwendolyn Giles (Vocals/Guitar - Dog Party), Lucy Giles (Vocals, Drums - Dog Party) SPB: What inspired you to start a new record label in 2024? Sneak Dog: When Dog Party finished recording our seventh record, we sat and really thought about different ways we could release it. We were leaning … Read more

Related news

Red Scare Signs Druglords Of The Avenues

Posted in Labels on August 1, 2008

More from this section

The Wesleys

One Question Interviews • April 18, 2024

Willy (The Wesleys) SPB: What is the best show you’ve seen so far this year?:  Willy: Got to see a lot of cool shows this year so far, but I think my favorite one was seeing Shadow Show from Detroit playing with Tilden at NYC TVEYES. It was such a rad … Read more

Hook

One Question Interviews • April 16, 2024

Ikka (Hook) SPB: What are your favorite venues to play in Finland right now? Ikka: I like Lepakkomies in Helsinki. That´s a cool little place with very nice atmosphere. Read more

Sneak Dog Records

One Question Interviews • April 15, 2024

Gwendolyn Giles (Vocals/Guitar - Dog Party), Lucy Giles (Vocals, Drums - Dog Party) SPB: What inspired you to start a new record label in 2024? Sneak Dog: When Dog Party finished recording our seventh record, we sat and really thought about different ways we could release it. We were leaning … Read more