Photo: Scott Compton

Now officially three decades into his career, Chuck Prophet maintains his punkishly defiant swagger. His bullshit-free demeanor has only been fortified by the confidence that comes along with 30 years of playing his up-tempo, Southern California take on 60’s- and 70’s-era guitar-driven rock and roll in studios stocked with veritable legends.

Starting his career in mid-80s Los Angeles, Prophet recorded 1 EP and eight full-length albums with harmonic psych-folk outfit Green On Red, which was loosely connected to the fabled Paisley Underground scene that spawned the Bangles. He released his first solo album Brother Aldo in 1990, and has turned out acclaimed full-length albums at the steady clip of one every two or three years, his efforts culminating in his latest release, Let Freedom Ring. Prophet ignored the ubiquitous warnings from media outlets and health experts to record this collection of “political songs for non political people” in Mexico City, at the height of the H1N1-related hysteria, taking a camera crew along for the ride (see the documentary trailer below). The resulting album was a collection of songs not about the government, but about the people who created the backdrop to the recording process– the Mexican population caught between the grip of a national panic and a new inundation of art and music via the democratizing power of the internet.

Throughout his career, Prophet has collaborated with plenty of notables, from his work as a session musician for the likes of Jonathan Richman, Warren Zevon, Aimee Mann and Lucinda Williams, to the recordings of his compositions by Alejandro Escovedo, Heart and Peter Wolf.

Prophet’s most mainstream successes have been the songs he’s written for top-40 artists, along with some selective movie and TV licensing. Using the money from these endeavors to keep the lights on, so to speak, he is able to simmer busily in the background, working on more personally compelling but lower-profile projects such as 2007’s Dreaming Waylon’s Dreams, a recreation of troubled country legend Waylon Jennings’ 1975 album Dreaming My Dreams, his cameo in the 2007 Sundance hit Revolution Summer and, well, that whole running off to Mexico to record his album thing.

Chuck checked in with TeaParty to answer our questions about his storied career, what he’s up to these days and his upcoming show at the Lizard Lounge.

–Jessie Rogers

Photo: Scott Compton

What was the catalyst that got you into playing music?

I never considered playing music a real job. But where I grew up–in Orange County–if you shook a tree, five guitar players would fall out, so I picked up my sister’s guitar and played the records her boyfriends left behind. Sort of like Goodwill t-shirts, I guess. And it was kind of an emotional refuge for me. Especially after being in and out of mental health facilities.

Later, me and my buddies crammed into some dumb Toyota and went into Hollywood and we saw some of the early punk shows. After one inspired night, I was like, “Hey man, I think we could do that.” I thought we could. So, that’s it, that’s it really. You know? A lucky ride in a crappy car. And here I am driving around in a Ford Econoline like a juvenile buffoon still trying to get it right.

We’re just trying to get it right.

Your most recent album, Let Freedom Ring, was recorded in Mexico City. Why travel outside the US to record? Can you tell us about that experience?

Because I’m crazy? And so are my friends? Making records has gotten complacent with all that technology that’s available now. I wanted to go somewhere energized. And I got it.

It’s an bustling place, Mexico City. Three hours away by plane, but might as well be the other side of the moon. Plus I found a studio that was state of the art — for 1957. And it was like eight dollars a day.

You’ve collaborated with so many big names– Who’s been the coolest? Care to call out any jerks? Is there anyone you are dying to work with?

Greg Leisz comes to mind. All the guys on my records are way talented, difficult dudes.

Uh, Jim Dickinson was a real mentor for me. I was definitely a student of his crazed school of abstract expressionism. I always feel his presence when I’m recording or writing or whatever. He left his mark, that’s for sure. Jim taught me that you might never know when you’d need a roll of duct tape in the studio – as an instrument.

Like a lot of people, I’m still waiting for Dylan to call. He’s bound to. But I’ve got time. I can wait. The way I figure it, Dylan’s been rocking since before we were born and he’ll be fucking with people’s heads long after he buries us. He’s got those legs. Like Ali. Hard to knock down, you know?

The jerks? Oh man, wouldn’t it be fun to settle some scores right about now? I’ve been around some real assholes for sure. Maybe later.

Your music has been featured in shows and movies like True Blood, Sons of Anarchy, The L Word and Teeth– Which has been your favorite project?

I like them all. Any licensing that pays the utility bills is okay with me. And lucky for me, they were all pretty cool pictures. If people think licensing songs to commercials and products is evil, well, hell I’m not about to argue with them. But it’s not like I’m selling drugs to children, right? Or worse, taking money from the government as NEA grants or whatever. Do I sound defensive now? Because I’m really not. It’s just, you know it’s just…

You have ties to San Francisco and Nashville–What about Boston?

Boston? I’ve written with Peter Wolf. And worked a lot with a certain Angelo. So between those guys, I’m sure they could tell me where some of the bodies are buried in and around Boston. I’d check the grassy area at the edge of the beach alongside the Southeast Expressway first.

I worked with Paul Q. Kolderie and Sean Slade on a few projects too. And managed to come out the other end with a friendship intact. In fact, I have this vivid memory of watching a half dozen boxes of 2″ tapes plunking down on the baggage carousel at Logan one Thanksgiving about ten years ago, and how I was hoping that all the songs were there in those boxes. That was when I came out to mix the Homemade Blood record with Sean and Paul at Fort Apache.

Are there any new or up-and-coming acts that you are excited about right now?

Yeah, lots. In San Francisco, I’m anxiously awaiting Kelley Stoltz’s new record. I’m a fan of Sonny and the Sunsets. I put out one of Sonny’s records on my label. And I saw Thee Oh Sees the other night and they melted the paint off the walls. At my label (((belle sound))), we’re fixing to clean up our act to release Stephanie Finch and the Company Men’s “Cry Tomorrow” in May. So, there’s a plug. You’ll excuse me for rooting for the home team, right? I know I’m leaving tons of people out here.

Other than touring, what’s on the horizon for Chuck Prophet?

Just out working the new record really for now. I’ve said it before, but I think I’ve been fair about this record. More than fair really. We streamed the record for free, posted YouTube teasers, booked gigs everywhere. Gigs in places we couldn’t find on a map! And in my efforts to behave like a well adjusted musician, I even opened a facebook account. Okay, so I closed it down five minutes later — but that’s not the point. I see other people here on your site talking like rock stars in training about MP3’s and how they are the future, and how their friends don’t buy records. Blah blah blah… Well, if it’s appallingly old fashioned or outdated or whatever in this day and age to make records, I say fuck it, lock me up.

So check out the record, or download it, dub a cassette copy or wait for the vinyl (it’s coming soon, we promise). Think about it: How much did you pay for that jesusPhone? How much for that second cappuccino? I don’t want to insult anyone’s intelligence with indecipherable “bundles” or “Deluxe Packaging.” What are you, like, 12? Praying for puberty? We know you’re too smart for that. You are smart! You’re reading this aren’t you? You’re fucking smart.

So feel free to come and hang with us at Lizard Lounge.

We make the very best fucking noise we can.

Chuck Prophet ¡Let Freedom Ring! Documentary Trailer

Chuck Prophet plays the Lizard Lounge on Tuesday 3/2