Companion interview in K Composite No.8, pages 192-194

Born October 14, 1977 in Milford, Delaware
5' 11'', 155 lbs.
Blue eyes
Favorite Atari game: Barnstorming

Jim Suptic lives in the Kansas City area and plays in a band. During a tour stop in Louisville in the summer of 1999, he was interviewed for K Composite by Mark Brickey and photographed by Ron Jasin.

DO YOU ATTEND CHURCH SERVICES OR STRIP CLUBS MORE OFTEN?

[embarrassed laughter] Strip clubs. It's true. We play in more churches, though. I've played [music] in more churches than I actually go to church at, though.

GWYNETH PALTROW HAD A BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK... HOW OLD IS SHE?

I think she's actually pretty young. Younger than you'd think. I'm gonna guess 25.

YOU BID UNDER. IT'S 27. TELL US ALL ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS.

My favorite Christmas? Oh God. Back to the Atari question, my favorite Christmas was when I got my Atari. I almost cried. And also, my other favorite Christmas, I got a Volkswagen Beetle which was awesome. [sarcastically] But, you know, Christmas isn't about getting presents or gifts. It's about being being with family and your loved ones, and the spirit of giving. It's more about giving than receiving, you know what I mean? [laughing]

HEY. I'M ALL ABOUT GIVING.

I actually used to hate getting presents when I was little. I'd cry. Like on my birthdays whenever I got presents, I'd cry. Because I hate getting something even though you know your grandparents get you the most ugly sweater in the world, and it's got little pom poms on it and it says like “Go team!” Isn't it cute? And I'm 20 years old. You know, it's like, “Grandma?” And you've got to act like you like it, “Oh, Grandma, this is great! This is great! Thank you so much... Thank you.”

HAVE YOU EVER DONE IT IN THE SHOWER?

Of course! The pool. A Jacuzzi bathtub. Those are the best. Jacuzzi bathtub, the big ones that you get in specialty hotel rooms, where you can go by the hour [laughter]. Hourly rates.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR FREE TIME?

Play video games, play guitar, hang out with my girlfriend, listen to music. That's all I really do is listen to music and play music, and watch movies.

DESCRIBE TELEVISION AS IF TO SOMEONE WHO HAS NO IDEA WHAT IT IS.

Maybe... [heavy exhale]. Something to do with when you use the restroom, but you watch it all the time. [laughs] Actually watching someone defecate. But's it's in a box. That's what television is, except for Total Request Live, which is like eating Bonbons with girls fanning you in bikinis. That show rules, man. I'm totally kidding. [laughter]

WHICH MOVIE TITLE BEST DESCRIBES YOUR LIFE?

[five seconds] Man. Now you've gotta make me think. [three seconds] I'm trying to think what my favorite movies are. The Goonies. That movie represents my life.

GOONIES? WHICH CHARACTER?

Mouth. [laughter] Sometimes I don't know when to shut up. But I don't know what title represents my life, but that movie is awesome. Always be a kid, stay young forever, right? Never grow old.

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR FIRST BICYCLE?

It had a banana seat. It was like a low-rider bike, but without the “low-rided”... I guess would be the terminology [laughter]. Now that I think about it, I wish I had it now because I totally would have dropped it, [laughing] and get chain handlebars. It wouldhave been hot. But it was blue. It was a Schwinn. I remember one time I was riding it and I was just looking at the ground and I nailed a parked car head-on and flew into the windshield. Looked around like, [matter-of-factly] “Oh.” But no one saw me.

HOW OLD DO YOU THINK YOU WERE WHEN YOU GOT THAT BIKE?

Probably six, when I learned how to ride it.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?

[exhale] Right now I'm on a 70-day tour with my band. Uh, just living life. Have a new record out and started a record label. That's what's going on in my life. Missing my girlfriend. Being on the road, dog. [laughter]

Companion interview appears in
K Composite No.8
Pages 192-193