A new memoir dubs him "the most interesting man in the world," but the reality of being Vinnie Stigma is a lot more down-to-earth: He has only ever wanted to honor the people and places that made him.
Though my face time with him has always been short—“Thanx for playing tonight Vinnie”, “Killer set Vinnie”, “Thank you for years of enthusiastic delivery and honesty Vinnie”—I do have a fun and favorite story:
I was one of a few guys and gals working the stage at Seattle’s now famous RKCNDY club. When during one of the shows that Agnostic Front was to start their set, he kindly asked if I might check on his guitar rig, as he was unable to generate sound out of it. The band all stared at me. The crowd seemed to stare at me (at least I felt so).
The house sound had been turned off and everyone was waiting to witness these icons.
With a rediculous amount of stress and spotlight now on me, I did my best to check all cables, fuses and power. I was able to get things rolling and he thanked me with a hug… like, a real and true hug.
And then, he thanked me by name a few times while pointing at me at different times in their set. Each time, he rolled his guitar volume off, and with hands free to point and clap, he did so.
There was no reason for that. But he did it. We weren’t friends or family. But, you better believe that he made me feel like it.
As one of the 10 kids on that 1992 tour, packed into a single death trap of a van… I was not expecting it, and literally laughed out loud to see that story in this post.
That was easily one of our most surreal moments. The scene was exactly as Norm described. He was totally intimidating and I was seriously wondering if they were going to want to fight us, until he started speaking and then the atmosphere just flipped.
We had acquired a sticker from a record store called EarXtacy in Louisville where we had a long break, it was on our bumper, and in his NYC accent he was like “what band are you guys in?! EarXtacy?!” We all laughed, everyone introduced themselves, and then it instantly just became a hang out with new friends at a random gas station, and then off on our different tour routes.
He really does seem to be one of a kind in the best possible way.
“This next song is about the garbage dump Staten Island it is called Toxic Shock” Agnostic Front (true back then and true now.) really embarrassed being a staten islander at this moment in time. 😞
Vinnie Stigma is the flag bearer beacon for why despite seeming intimidating punk and hardcore does or at least can attract and welcome everybody. He is as great a role model (without trying) as you could find.
Man, that's exactly the interview and vibe I needed for today.
Same. Big same.
What. A. True. Legend.
Though my face time with him has always been short—“Thanx for playing tonight Vinnie”, “Killer set Vinnie”, “Thank you for years of enthusiastic delivery and honesty Vinnie”—I do have a fun and favorite story:
I was one of a few guys and gals working the stage at Seattle’s now famous RKCNDY club. When during one of the shows that Agnostic Front was to start their set, he kindly asked if I might check on his guitar rig, as he was unable to generate sound out of it. The band all stared at me. The crowd seemed to stare at me (at least I felt so).
The house sound had been turned off and everyone was waiting to witness these icons.
With a rediculous amount of stress and spotlight now on me, I did my best to check all cables, fuses and power. I was able to get things rolling and he thanked me with a hug… like, a real and true hug.
And then, he thanked me by name a few times while pointing at me at different times in their set. Each time, he rolled his guitar volume off, and with hands free to point and clap, he did so.
There was no reason for that. But he did it. We weren’t friends or family. But, you better believe that he made me feel like it.
Legend.
I love that so much.
Dude is a bodhisattva, I think.
Publishing this on this particular week feels serendipitous in that way!
It really does, and I never thought I'd find a bodhisattva in Agnostic Front, but I'm happy to put him up there in my personal pantheon.
This was wonderful. I'm glad there are people like him in the world
As one of the 10 kids on that 1992 tour, packed into a single death trap of a van… I was not expecting it, and literally laughed out loud to see that story in this post.
That was easily one of our most surreal moments. The scene was exactly as Norm described. He was totally intimidating and I was seriously wondering if they were going to want to fight us, until he started speaking and then the atmosphere just flipped.
We had acquired a sticker from a record store called EarXtacy in Louisville where we had a long break, it was on our bumper, and in his NYC accent he was like “what band are you guys in?! EarXtacy?!” We all laughed, everyone introduced themselves, and then it instantly just became a hang out with new friends at a random gas station, and then off on our different tour routes.
He really does seem to be one of a kind in the best possible way.
I love everything about this.
Some of these interviews drop exactly when they need to drop. Holy fuck, did this one do it.
“Fuck you. I’m comfortable. I’m here. I’m not going to feel uncomfortable.”
Always and forever.
“This next song is about the garbage dump Staten Island it is called Toxic Shock” Agnostic Front (true back then and true now.) really embarrassed being a staten islander at this moment in time. 😞
Vinnie Stigma is the flag bearer beacon for why despite seeming intimidating punk and hardcore does or at least can attract and welcome everybody. He is as great a role model (without trying) as you could find.