GOLDFINGER-the self titled full-length debut LP, on Mojo Records-reels with songs like "Answers," "Nothing to Prove," "Pictures," "Mable," "King for a Day," and "Here in Your Bedroom," the LP's first track and video. Armed with their energized punk/ska blend, GOLDFINGER serves up a sonic potion flavored with wit and humor. The band also enlisted the help of members of the Skeletones, Reel Big Fish and Voodoo Glow Skulls while in the studio.
Recording in July 1995 (between brutal rounds of Mortal Kombat), the album proved to be a challenging experience for a group more accustomed to the unrestrained chaos of playing to a live audience. "Being in the studio is so wierd for us," explains Feldmann. "We're defintely a live band. We're all about playing, and getting that immediate response, whether it's 'Fuck you!' or 'You guys rule!'"
According to the current GOLDFINGER legend, the group-John (lead vocals, guitar), Charlie Paulson (guitar), Simon Williams (bass), 'DANGEROUS' Darrin Pfeiffer-formed after John met Darrin at a Pee Wee hockey match. The two then found Simon during a road trip to New Zealand, where Simon was working as a exotic dancer. Guitarist Charlie was forced into the band after losing to Darrin in a thumb wrestling match.
Simon confides, "In reality, John and I bonded selling shoes together in Santa Monica and began playing and writing together. We needed a drummer and found Darrin at Starbucks. Charlie completed the line-up after our original guitarist left to become a professional surfer in Costa Rica."
These James Bond fans took their moniker from the classis film and match the Bond flick's action-packed intensity in their live set. Charlie elaborates, "We all grew up listening to different kinds of music, but the one common thing was that the bands and entertainers were really flamboyant and very visual. When you went to watch a show, it was called a 'show' for a reason. I think that defintely comes through in what we do. We want to give people something to look at, or else they can just sit at home and listen to the CD."
Citing musical influences which skate the musical alphabet (Bad Brains, Bad Religion, the Beatles, Bowie, the Buzzcocks, Elvis Costello, Kiss, Police, The Replacements and Social Distortion), GOLDFINGER is an amalgamation of it all with their unique and dominating spirit making the music all their own.
Their combined and individual passions for snowboarding, skateboarding, video games and films (Star Wars, Babe, and any Bond flick rate high on the list) have also shaped the band's unique style. GOLDFINGER makes no apologizes for absence of political or spiritual content in their songs: "I'm more worried about things like my Mom walking in on me while I'm jacking off," says JOHN (who handles the lyrical "responsibilities"). "Or a girl dumping me. That's the kind of stuff I can relate to." Lyrically, JOHN sticks to topics he's familiar with. "I'm not a fiction writer. I shouldn't say I never write fiction, but everything so far has been about getting dumped by chicks, " he laughs. Addicted To Noise concurs, "GOLDFINGER's lyrics are sinisterly hilarious; they can turn obvious subjects like relationships and life in general into twisted and amusing works of art."
But guitarist CHARLIE has the last word on the band's songs: "They're hyperactive love songs for people on Ritalin.s"