The guy I smacked a dozen times across the head with a skateboard

‘Poems About Love and Punk Rock’, by Joe McNally, blends poetry, memoirs, and punk storytelling rooted in Southern California. 

As a member of Voodoo Glow Skulls, he toured widely and shared stages with Offspring, No Doubt, Blink 182, Rancid, NOFX, and Sublime, and he also toured with Green Day as a trumpet player, and has appeared in Rolling Stone twice, including once right after a street brawl with bandages still on his head. 

The book is not about name-dropping. It’s about the life behind the gigs; addiction, chaos, and the long recovery that led to sixteen years of sobriety. It’s packed with stories and poems from nights out in the scene, the people Joe met and the crazy situations that sometimes arose. The very first story in the book, ‘The guy I smacked a dozen times across the head with a skateboard’ is a perfect, if a little violent, example of what chaos can happen when just hanging out at a punk show with a bunch of kids.

This time it’s set in Canada, on a tour over there, but no doubt reminiscent of other nights across America as well.

Skating in the car park with some of the kids after the show, eating Taco Bell, and then being hassled by some biker who just didn't get it and was out for trouble.

Sometimes these things turn violent and that can go either way and quickly get out of hand. This time it did.

Read the story for yourself and you'll see. The entire book is filled with heart, and passion, and punk rock spirit.