All Star Ska: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts drummer Michael McDermott talks about his ska supergroup The Kilograms
We need more ska supergroups! Mutiny and Rude Girl Revue are both amazing. But today we reveal that Joan Jett the Blackhearts drummer Michael McDermott is in the ska group The Kilograms, which formed in 2023, along with Mighty Mighty Bosstones bassist Joe Gittleman, THEE Sammy Kay, Craig Gorsline and J Duckworth. After a handful of releases, on April 4, they release their debut LP, Beliefs and Thieves.
We had a delightful conversation with Michael about the Kilograms, Joan Jett and his string of ska and punk bands he’s drummed in since the ’90s: The Bouncing Souls, Murphy’s Law, Skinnerbox, Stubborn All Stars, Mephiskapheles, and apparently, he played percussion for The Slackers one time.
Plus, we learn which stage one of the biggest shows McDermott ever played was: WWE SmackDown!
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Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023.
The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.
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