Bass- guitarist Randy Bradbury talks Stephen King’s It, touring with Millencolin, and why he’s more focussed than ever
“Have you seen Stephen King’s It?” I ask Randy Bradbury of Pennywise a few mere seconds into our conversation. While it might seem like a slightly unconventional way to start, just hear me out on this.
It felt almost fateful that, just days after watching It, I was about to speak with Bradbury. Now, for the record, I watched the 1990 TV version, not the recent remake. And as someone with a mild case of coulrophobia (look it up), it was probably not the smartest movie choice—especially since I spent the next two nights trapped in nightmares. So, when the chance to chat with Bradbury came up, it seemed like the universe was giving me a little nudge.
“I remember I started watching the TV version, but it was so bad I never finished. I never read the book either,” Bradbury chuckles in his Southern Californian drawl. “The name came about before I was in the band too. A friend of the band, Steve Martin had read the book in 89. And the rest of the group just felt it was right. It’s about overcoming fears with positivity.”
As to whether Bradbury has any future plans to revisit the films, a firm shake of the head is given. “Nope,” he says, his tone firm. “I don’t do scary movies. They stress me out. I can get stressed just scrolling through Facebook.”
As someone who shares this personality trait, I knew from this point on that the interview would be a breeze.
Dialling in from his beachside home in Huntington Beach, California—just a short drive from Los Angeles—Bradbury presents a striking contrast to the rock star persona that millions have come to know. In fact, he could easily pass for one of those carefree surfer types you see living out of their van and barefoot by the shore.
“There’s good surf here,” he says with a grin. “But I don’t surf as much anymore. If you don’t go all the time, there’s no point. I’m not about to go out there and flounder around.”
That’s not to say Bradbury hasn’t embraced the surf culture—he’s spent countless hours riding waves across Australia, touring with Pennywise. “I remember we came down for the Warped Tour, and we surfed everywhere—Burleigh Heads, Snapper Rocks… you name it.”
In fact, Bradbury has spent so much time Down Under that he’s affectionately referred to Australia as his “second home.” So, their upcoming tour of the country with Swedish punk band Millencolin actually feels like a long-awaited homecoming of sorts.
Unlike past tours though, Bradbury freely admits that on this one will be far more contained. “For me, it’s all about the show now,” he says. “I want to give a great performance. I’m not out partying all night anymore. I used to do that a lot, but now it’s all about focusing on the music.”
While it’s not very rock and roll answer, Bradbury’s position feels entirely fair. Especially when you consider the fact that he has been playing in Pennywise for thirty years now. An entire lifetime, really. Upon asking Bradbury how he feels about this solid number, he smiles.
“It all came about quite weirdly. My entrance to the band. “Jim [Lindberg] left for a while. Then Jason [Thirsk], who was the bass player sang, and I played bass. Then when Jim came back to sing, I left for a bit. But then Jason was having some trouble, so he went home to work on himself. So, I came out on October 23rd 1995. Thirty years ago.”
Given his long tenure in both the band and the music industry, I was curious to ask Bradbury about what kept him quite so invested in music. Where so many have become jaded, Bradbury appears spritely, even excited by the possibilities of new music.
“I have a thing where I like to do things as good as I can. It’s always a new challenge to me to play better than I did before.”
For Bradbury, in fact, his love of music nears obsession. Something he is entirely aware of. “I will spend eight hours in my studio writing songs at a time. For me, it’s like a personal challenge, always. It’s how can I sing that part better. There’s always that something else.”
Pennywise will be touring Wollongong, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth from February 22. Tickets can be accessed here.
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