Sam McPheeters talks Danzig, writing fiction, and The Loom of Ruin

• Photo by John Michaels

Throughout the ’90s and most of the aughts, Sam McPheeters made a name for himself as the agitated and politically charged singer for such lauded hardcore and post-hardcore acts Born Against, Men’s Recovery Project, and Wrangler Brutes. But his name is also synonymous with such underground zines as Dear Jesus and Plain Truth, and he even did time as an indie record label owner running Vermiform Records, and churning out records by Screeching Weasel, Man is the Bastard, Moss Icon and the likes.

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Over the last several years, McPheeters has also written for a handful of publications, including Village Voice, Chicago Reader, and recently his writings have graced the pages of “Vice Magazine,” including a fascinating profile on former Crucifucks singer 26 (formerly Doc Dart), and an unwittingly epic interview with Glenn Danzig. This month McPheeters is on the road reading selections from his first novel, The Loom of Ruin (Mugger Books). Tonight he’s making two Atlanta appearances, beginning with a reading at Criminal Records at 6 p.m., followed by a more intimate reading at Gato Bizco Café in Candler Park around 9 p.m. Both readings are free, and he’ll have copies of the book with him.

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Chad Radford: How’s it going, Sam?

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Sam McPheeters: Right now I’m sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch of a Cracker Barrel in Lafayette, Ind., so you’re getting me at my most relaxed - listening to wind chimes.

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Nice. You’re out reading from your new book, but I haven’t actually had a chance to get through it yet.

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Well, it hasn’t been out for very long at all, so I would be surprised if you had, actually.

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But I am familiar with a lot of the stories you’ve written for Vice magazine: Things like the piece you did on the Crucifucks’ singer, and the Danzig interview was truly great.

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I had no concept of that interview being anything. I got the job two days earlier and thought I was a good person for the job because I’m Danzig neutral. I didn’t grow up with the Misfits, I like the first Danzig album a lot, but he’s not a beloved guy. I don’t have any beefs with him, either. I had no agenda and I thought, “I’m going to walk into this with some interesting questions and get a paycheck,” and that would be the end of it. Now I have a suspicion that my gravestone - which hopefully won’t be until many many years from now - will read “interviewed Glenn Danzig.” Very strange.

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I grew up a diehard Misfits and Samhain fan - on some days I’ll even give him up to the first four Danzig albums, and I always fall into the role of the Danzig apologist. The writing is on the wall, and his flaws are apparent, but he wrote “Hybrid Moments,” and some of those Misfits albums really changed my life.