Michael Bitz's guest appearances

Michael Bitz

FRANKY SLAWSON PRODUCTIONS

Cast From The Sewer

In Defense of Ska

Brad Logan

Jordan Morris

Will Harris

Andrew WK

Stefan Babcock

Margaret Cho

Peter Gabriel

Brandie Posey

Ted Leo

Kyle Kinane

Jeff Rosenstock

Ian Fidance

Carly Simon

Patrick Stump

Joyce Manor

OwlTail

Andre A

Greg Robinson

Last year, Loudwire published an article with the headline, "Satanic Ska is a Real Thing That Actually Exists." The satanic ska band they were referring to was New York-based Mephiskapheles. And the band has existed for over thirty years. But mixing ska music and tongue-in-cheek Satanic imagery is only one attribute that distinguished the group from their 90s ska peers. Their music was unlike any other group. On their debut album, God Bless Satan, they mixed traditional ska drums &amp; Skatalites-inspired walking bass lines with experimental, menacing songwriting and strange, jazzy horn lines. And for their 2nd and third albums, Maximum Perversion &amp; Might-Ay White-Ay, they went even further into avant-garde territory. Today, we chat about Mephiskapheles' entire interesting career with singer Andre A. Worrell, bassist Michael Bitz and trombonist Greg Robinson. We talk about their deep love for The Skatalites and The Scofflaws, and how their goal in the 90s was to displace The Toasters as the top New York ska band. We also talk about working with Victor Rice and Bill Laswell on God Bless Satan, their numerous vehicle problems, the origins of "The Bumble Bee Tuna Song," how they managed to get the "Doomsday" video on MTV, and we even talk about their label and lawsuit problems in the late 90s that sent the band on hiatus for several years. But we also talk about what the band is doing now, from touring all over the world and meeting eager fans to holding online seances to still blowing the minds of people that never imagined that satanic ska was a real thing.  Support the show

Last year, Loudwire published an article with the headline, "Satanic Ska is a Real Thing That Actually Exists." The satanic ska band they were referring to was New York-based Mephiskapheles. And the band has existed for over thirty years. But mixing ska music and tongue-in-cheek Satanic imagery is only one attribute that distinguished the group from their 90s ska peers. Their music was unlike any other group. On their debut album, God Bless Satan, they mixed traditional ska drums &amp; Skatalites-inspired walking bass lines with experimental, menacing songwriting and strange, jazzy horn lines. And for their 2nd and third albums, Maximum Perversion &amp; Might-Ay White-Ay, they went even further into avant-garde territory. Today, we chat about Mephiskapheles' entire interesting career with singer Andre A. Worrell, bassist Michael Bitz and trombonist Greg Robinson. We talk about their deep love for The Skatalites and The Scofflaws, and how their goal in the 90s was to displace The Toasters as the top New York ska band. We also talk about working with Victor Rice and Bill Laswell on God Bless Satan, their numerous vehicle problems, the origins of "The Bumble Bee Tuna Song," how they managed to get the "Doomsday" video on MTV, and we even talk about their label and lawsuit problems in the late 90s that sent the band on hiatus for several years.  But we also talk about what the band is doing now, from touring all over the world and meeting eager fans to holding online seances to still blowing the minds of people that never imagined that satanic ska was a real thing.  <a href="https://www.patreon.com/indefenseofska" rel="payment nofollow" target="_blank">Support the show</a>

In Defense of Ska Ep 74: Mephiskapheles (Andre A. Worrell, Michael Bitz, Greg Robinson)

Mike Bitz is the bassist of NYC's legendary satanic ska band, Mephiskapheles. He also plays in another band called Uncle Djuzeppe &amp; The Mob, scores musical charts for the NYC Ska Orchestra and runs a literacy program called The Comic Book Project.Tracks we heard:Mephiskapheles - Break Your Ankle, PunkUncle Djuzeppe &amp; The Mob - Still AliveMephiskapheles - Satan Stole My WeedThis episode is brought to you by Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations. An Allentown, PA based screen printing company run for and by punk rockers! www.xlvacx.comYou can also support this podcast by shopping in the Mad Conductor merch store and purchasing MC music on BandCamp and I-Tunes!www.madconductor.bigcartel.com www.madconductor.bandcamp.comSee Mad Conductor live:12/30/17 at Stehley's in Nazareth, PA(For Mad Conductor booking or to advertise on this podcast e-mail: mcdevlin@themadconductor.com)This episode is also brought to you by Nazareth Shaolin-Do, a Kung Fu and Tai Chi school run by MC Devlin. Classes are held at Nazareth Center for the Arts (30 Belvidere St. Nazareth, PA) Join us for a free trial class!Contact: NazarethShaolin@gmail.com for more infowww.facebook.com/nazarethshaolin

Mike Bitz is the bassist of NYC's legendary satanic ska band, Mephiskapheles. He also plays in another band called Uncle Djuzeppe &amp; The Mob, scores musical charts for the NYC Ska Orchestra and runs a literacy program called The Comic Book Project. Tracks we heard: Mephiskapheles - Break Your Ankle, Punk Uncle Djuzeppe &amp; The Mob - Still Alive Mephiskapheles - Satan Stole My Weed This episode is brought to you by Lehigh Valley Apparel Creations. An Allentown, PA based screen printing company run for and by punk rockers! <a href="http://www.xlvacx.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.xlvacx.com</a> You can also support this podcast by shopping in the Mad Conductor merch store and purchasing MC music on BandCamp and I-Tunes! <a href="http://www.madconductor.bigcartel.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.madconductor.bigcartel.com</a> <a href="http://www.madconductor.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.madconductor.bandcamp.com</a> See Mad Conductor live: 12/30/17 at Stehley's in Nazareth, PA (For Mad Conductor booking or to advertise on this podcast e-mail: mcdevlin@themadconductor.com) This episode is also brought to you by Nazareth Shaolin-Do, a Kung Fu and Tai Chi school run by MC Devlin. Classes are held at Nazareth Center for the Arts (30 Belvidere St. Nazareth, PA) Join us for a free trial class! Contact: NazarethShaolin@gmail.com for more info <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nazarethshaolin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/nazarethshaolin</a>

Episode 57 - Michael Bitz (Mephiskapheles) - Cast From The Sewer