"The Fall Of A Modern Man" by Paul Winchell

I first heard the Kathy Mcginty CD at a party last year. It seemed mildly entertaining kids stuff but had an originality that I couldn't fathom at the time. I borrowed the CD from the owner and learned to like it on more of a social commentary level. After a quick internet search I became acquainted with the creator, not on a personal basis but through his extensive website. A website full of mean-spirited pranks as well as light hearted art and innocent journal entries. It seemed as if Derek either attracted the odd or the other way around. From further internet searches I learned that he was either loved or hated - some people passing him off as a 'base misanthrope' or 'remarkably clever, to the point that you have to wonder where he steals his stuff.'

As I continued to read his site I began to feel like I knew him. That's the weird thing about blogs, they seem anonymous enough to the author but anybody with a connection can delve in as well. Which begs the question, why would somebody spend time writing so much about themselves? Is it because they feel important and ignored? I got the idea to do an interview with him for this site after a friend admitted that he checked Derek's website 15 times in one day, waiting for an update. The pathetic thing was that I had done the same, sometimes returning numerous times a day just to see what would be next.

I found his number in a Chicago directory and after getting some questions together with some equally interested friends, I called him under the guise of doing a Kathy Mcginty related interview for a music website. The reason we chose to be untruthful was a tribute to the subject & we thought he'd appreciate it. I didn't get to all the questions, but it turned out well.

The following interview was conducted on April 19th of 2003 at 7:30pm PDT. Complete transcript.

Hello, is Derek there?

(unidentified male) Uh, I think so, hold on.

(two minutes pass)

(unidentified male) Who is this?

This is Paul, I'm calling for an interview with Derek.

(unidentified male) Does he know you?

No.

(unidentified male) What's your last name?

Winchell.

(unidentified male) Ok, hold on again, please.

(two minutes pass)

Hello?

Hello, Derek?

Uh-huh.

This is Paul Winchell calling from San Francisco. I was hoping to ask you some questions about Kathy Mcginty.

What's it for?

It's for Popmatters.com.

That's an internet website?

It sure is.

Uh, ok.

We're all big fans of Kathy Mcginty, as well as your website and I just wanted to get a little information about the origins of the CD and maybe other things that you may be up to.

I have a bloody nose right now, does that help you out?

Sure, of course it does! How did you get the idea for Kathy Mcginty?

It was actually my girlfriend's idea. I just hooked up the wires and pressed the buttons.

So she was the brains behind the operation?

I came up with some of the phrases...I put the idea to work.

How many copies have you pressed?

I'm not sure, maybe 700? They're all hand made and recordable CDs with a rubber stamp. We're cheap, but you can call it DIY. There've been some bootleggers as well. A guy named Michael Sheppard from Los Angeles made copies and never paid us. I had my crummy old modem call his 1-800 line over 1,500 times. He said the bill was over $500. We had an offer from a reputable label, but we said we'd only license it if it came with a DVD of us throwing things at cars. They may have thought we were serious.

Were you?

At the time, sure. You can throw a lot of things at cars. But I'd settle for a large onion pizza now, or at least a case box of Toffifay candy bars.

Those are really good.

So, then you know where I'm coming from.

Yes, of course. How did you get the people on the CD to call you?

We got them from chat rooms. We'd sit at the dining room table and chat with people and talk them into calling us. And then they'd call. People tend to be pretty naive.

Or trusting.

Oh, I guess I know where you're going with this. Sure, I felt bad for taking advantage of sad sacks who want to molest themselves over the telephone. Who wouldn't?

Did you go to college?

I dropped out. I went to school in Kent, Ohio. The only thing good about college was destroying things with Matt Eland.

Are you from Ohio?

That's correct. It's not a half bad place to be from.

What part of Ohio?

I grew up in Cleveland mostly, we moved around a lot when I was young. California and some other place, I guess.

What part of California?

I think we lived in Redlands and Riverside and San Bernardino. I had an aunt that lived in the mountains near Big Bear. She's fantastic. Her husband had an old 286 that I spent an entire vacation learing DOS on when I was younger. I remember also from that trip walking up and down the streets of her neighborhood looking for G.I. Joe figures. What's weird is that I found a couple in a sandbox at a playground. There was another time when I was in college that I went looking for a radio antenna behind my house with Bobby Burg. I told him that we were going to go find a big metal pipe and we combed the woods for an hour or so. I think we found one eventually. He thought that was really funny. I guess it's the old addage of "you find what you look for".

Do you have a lot of friends?

Right now I have a group of what I consider good friends. I haven't been terribly kind to people in the past. I think it's something I'm learning more about. I spent a lot of time by myself as a child and I think I missed out on bonding as a youngster. That sort of turned into judging people in terms of value rather than a genuine connection.

So you liked people for what they had to offer?

Sure, I think that's a common mistake. Or a matter of convenience. I was always aware that there are endless people in the world, so when you get bored you can just move along.

And how has that changed?

Well, I guess I realized that it has to stop somewhere. You have to embrace somebody. I think that's a part of growing up. I still have a hard time seeing people from my past. I have a lot of guilt. it's beeter to have a foundation.

So would you say you are a bad person?

Bad enough, but I think I'm getting better.

How long have you been painting?

Oh, I don't know. Painting to make money? About a year and a half. People want to spend money and if I can give them something to buy, then I guess we're all happy. You'd be surprised at what people will put on their walls.

Did you go to art school?

Oh dear, no. I'm totally remedial. Julia calls it 'con-art'.

Do you sell a lot of paintings?

I think I'm well over 200. They're extra-cheap. Cheap materials and made quickly. I can make 20 in a week. So I sell them cheap. There's an annual art fair in my neighborhood where people just come into your house and buy stuff. They don't even flinch, it's like, "I'll take that one and that one and two of those." And there's a lot of great galleries here also. Gallery 645, Unit B - it's all quite nice.

This is in Chicago?

Yes. Pilsen is a neighborhood just south of downtown. It reminds me a lot of Mexico. Food vendors, big churches, bright colors.

Where do you get most of your ideas?

I'm not sure if that's a pointed question. Pills perhaps? A free and or lax upbringing?

What is your family like?

Oh, it's just me and my mom. She still lives in Ohio. She's really great, the type that lives by her own rules. It was sometimes embarrassing when I was young. We were pretty poor, but she took good care of me. She doesn't care much what others think, I sometimes have problems with that. I remember that she drove a rusty car without brakes for a month or so. She's just rear-end people to stop. I'd get so embarrased. It's probably why I act on impuse so freely, if I get a strong urge to throw a brick through a window and the timing seems right, I'll more than likely do it. Ihave to go now, we're going to eat.

Ok, well thanks a lot for your time.

Yes, Mamskam now.

Ok, goodbye.