Rat Fink Redux – Big Daddy’s Main Man Reflects on Life After Roth interview by L. Charelian
One year ago, on April 4th, the passing of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, 69, sent thousands of baby boomers and hotrod aficionados into kulture shock. Roth-related Internet tribute sites sprang up like mushrooms, and were quickly inundated with email condolences and fond remembrances.
Mad inventor, artist, designer, and skewed philosopher, Roth was a beloved rebel of diverse talents - the ultimate anti-establishment Renaissance dude. One of the original Big Kahunas of the custom car craze, his otherworldly automotive inventions - Beatnik Bandit, the Outlaw, Surfite, and the rest - made a permanent dent in the American psyche. But it was the unexplainable, narly charm of a little green monster-rodent called Rat Fink that put Big Daddy on the map. In the early ’60’s, the ubiquitous anti-Mickey’s leering mug graced countless t-shirts, and many (including my own) grade school binders.
You either got Big Daddy’s art or you didn’t. If you did, you were part of the tribe who worshipped the deviant genius, recognizing the subversive glee and genuine affection emanating from each of his creations. One of Ed’s most loyal devotees and closest friends, Jeff Hillinger aka “Moldy Marvin,” is one of today’s staunchest promoters of kustom kulture art. He speaks here on Big Daddy’s influence, legacy, and preserving the Fink flame.
L So, where did “Moldy Marvin” come from?
MM From Ed Roth. We met about three years ago at Ed’s booth when he was working the Route 66 Car Show out in San Bernardino. We were introduced by a mutual friend, David Chodosh, who told Ed I had a bunch of marketing ideas that he thought Ed should hear. In those days, I had hair down to my butt and piercings everywhere, and later Ed told me privately I scared the bejeezus out of him. But we began corresponding back and forth, and he was impressed by some of the classic car web sites I had created. He said that if I was serious about working with him I had to be more “hotrod,” so I chopped all my hair off. That convinced him I wasn’t just another fan, and we created a Rothian persona for me called Moldy Marvin. Ed originally wanted me to wear a pith helmet and monocle, but those went by the wayside.
L How did he die?
MM Heart attack. Ed had just come back to his workshop/warehouse from buying some gizmos for a new project he was building - a Corvette V-8 powered, aluminum block 3-wheeled contraption called “Rat Boy.” He was supposed to meet his wife Ilene for lunch and never showed.
L How did Rat Fink originate?
MM In the mid to late ’50’s, Ed used to raise money for his car projects by drawing likenesses of guys and their cars on t-shirts at fairs and car shows. He eventually started getting really frustrated and bored with it, and began drawing these monster-like caricatures of the guys, figuring that if he made really ugly t-shirts they’d leave him alone. But it actually backfired on him because the people loved the monsters, and he got more requests than ever.
L When did Big Daddy become really popular?
MM The early ’60’s was Ed’s heyday. He was in the movie Beach Blanket Bingo with his car Surfite wearing the Rat Fink hats, and he had a successful album, Hot Rod Hootenanny, out on Capitol Records. His popularity waxed and waned over the years, and in 1992 there was another resurgence when an art exhibit at the Laguna Art Museum featured Ed, Von Dutch, Robert Williams and others. The term “kustom kulture” was actually coined there. The catalog from that show is in its sixth printing, and is available on ratfink.org
L Tell me about that web site.
MM Ratfink.org, finktank.com, rat-fink.net, and ratfink.tv are all one comprehensive site I’ve created devoted to everything Ed. It features an online museum, a historical area, licensed products, and information on the artists that have worked with Ed throughout the years. It’s updated constantly, and is all G-rated. We have a lot of parents and grandparents that want to introduce their kids to Rat Fink and the hotrod culture. As a Roth representative I feel a great responsibility to Ed, but also to today’s kustom kulture movement as well. To that end I’ve created kultureshoq.com, an online gallery that exhibits more adult-oriented art and features today’s cutting edge artists.
L What’s up with the 3rd Annual Moldy Marvin’s Rat Fink Party and Kustom Kulture Extravaganza?
MM The date for 2002 is set for Saturday, July 20, to be held at 6855 Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood. Last year’s Extravaganza was very successful, despite Ed’s passing. We had an art fair with over thirty artists, a sold-out car show with judging that featured over 240 vehicles, and a battle of the bands with 7 bands, including blues, surf, and psychobilly music. Updates on the line-up for this year will be posted on ratfink.org
L How’s the Roth documentary, Confessions of a Hotroddin’ Pinstripin’ Kustomizin’ Teenage Icon, going?
MM We start shooting the interviews this fall, concentrating on people like Robert and Suzanne Williams, etc. Filming started in December, 2000, but last year (director/editor) Ron Mann got side-tracked with a Woody Harrelson project. We’re hoping to wrap sometime in 2003. With all the footage, we’ll probably have a massive editing job.
L On one of the tribute sites, a fan thanked Ed Roth for teaching her that “It’s OK to be weird.” Do you think that, in the end, will be his most enduring legacy?
MM Oh, yeh, that was his biggest message. That’s one of the reasons I was into Ed. He was a huge inspiration to young people and encouraged artists, in particular, to be different and express what’s really inside. As The Man himself would say, “Whatever you are, are it good.” Blaze on, Big Daddy. Rat Fink™ name and device and Ed "Big Daddy" Roth are trademarks of Ed Roth © 1999/2000/2001/2002 Rat Fink device © Ed Roth 1984/89
HollyWeird
Collage, Montage, Hodgepodge
by Anthony McBride
With the recent revitalization of Hollywood (or attempt at) and the hoopla surrounding the Oscars, our little town is again becoming bigger, more corporate. If you are more into the underground spirit of things and not afraid to look at Hollywood with your tongue planted firmly in your cheek, check out this little ray of light.
Hollyweird Gallery: I’m not talking about a Ripley’s type of museum, or a waxed out tourist trap, this is the real deal. The most novel item about Hollyweird Gallery is the fact that it is probably the worlds smallest gallery, with literally only 2 1/4 walls - Believe it or not! The greatest thing about the space is probably the owner and featured artist Jeff Rawwin and his jaded outlook on the current structure of getting one’s work hung in any of the more pretentious galleries (and even some not so pretentious).
Rawwin is slowly becoming known as the paper surgeon to the stars, a fitting title considering he is a collage artist in the spirit of the early DaDa movement (De Champs, William Burroughs and Winston Smith, of whom he refers to as the king of collage.) Juxtaposing of images already created is what he thrives on, and he has come up with some bizarre yet hip and modern images all his own. Take his “Marilynstein” for instance, which is a mixed-up mass-media monster-montage - under the piece you will find “sex, death, glue stick and commerce on vinyl.” Another piece is his “Lounge Lizard King Lives,” combining the head of Tony Clifton (Andy Kaufman’s alter ego) and from the neck down it’s Jim Morrison’s body, a poke at the death hoax that has followed the two aforementioned legends. The current show is full of political satire and statement.
There is something very punk rock about his work, old punk bands like the Germs and Dead Kennedys. There is a certain amount of cheesiness to the Rawwin experience, under all the glamour and money in the art world and in Hollywood today, he shines like the poor man’s Andy Warhol. Prices are fairly inexpensive and he boasts that’s part of his plan, keep it accessible for the average Joe and not inflate it like most artwork in galleries.
I asked Jeff Rawwin one final question, “Where would you like to see your art in the future?” His reply: “In a dumpster behind LACMA.” Of course he really means in your living room on a wall over the fireplace - right, Jeff? Hollyweird Gallery 6733 Hollyweird Blvd 323-469-1496.
So NoHo
by J.C. Peters
The people in NoHo woke up to an April Fools’ Day joke. All the couches that litter the neighborhoods migrated to the empty lot next to the Academy building. Come to find out it was a public art project put together by Barbara Freeman and Susan Krieg. This project called “Sofa Henge” was to focus attention on the unsightliness of discarded furniture. Barbara Freeman, the ceramist, conceived this installation as a statement about the way people leave sofas on the street. This ephemeral art piece was set up like Stone Henge but with ratty couches. The couches were collected in the surrounding area. The “art piece” was set up at 6 a.m. and torn down within 24 hours and hauled away by the branch of the city called “Bulky Item Pick Up.” Some reactions that I heard from the locals range from lukewarm to bad. One local was heard to say that “Sofa Henge” makes a mockery of what NoHo is trying to do, which is to bring quality art to the area and to bring the area up not down. Most of the reaction that I found was that the idea of bringing light to the problem of trash bring left on the street for days even weeks was a good one but not sure whether this was art. All I want to know is how did they get these couches hauled away so fast! KTLA photographed it from the air, making it look very much like Stone Henge, international reporters were also there.
On the same line of what is art or not MOCA hosting a large exhibit of Andy Warhol pieces. The museum is showing over 200 works from the controversial artist, pieces from 1940 to 1986. All the favorites will be there: soup cans, Marilyn, and self-portraits. He is one person that has made his 15 minutes of fame last until 2002. The show starts May 25, tickets are on sale now. This is the only place in North America where this collection can be seen. If you want to see a piece for free, No. Hollywood will be hosting the print of Andy Warhol's “Cow” during the NoHo Theater and Arts Festival.
Some one who is working hard to find 15 minutes of fame is Amy at the Art Coalition in NoHo. I was struck by the new works there in a series called “The Homunculus Tapestries.” The artist Dave Vamos’ inspiration is the early scientific reproductive philosophy that all of us have a little person living in us. His quirky illustrative style really makes you smile and think how far we have come in figuring out where we come from. The Art Coalition has a new show every month and a street block party every second Saturday (4-10 pm) in front of the store:
5227 Lankershim Blvd.
Local Artist
Artist Chris Yormick stands in front of a piece characteristic of his strong style - a large charismatic illustrated figure placed with all kinds of aesthetically pleasingly found contributions in the layout, e.g. weathered masking tape and patches. Now through April 20th, catch Chris' captivating new show entitled "Brigknot Sinkings"
at New Image Art Gallery 7906 Santa Monica Blvd. #208, WeHo;
W-F 1-5pm,
Sat 1-6pm or by appointment; 323-654-2192
Photo by
Jay Matsueda.
