Andy's World: November 2012

When I was about 10 years old, my older brother Ben, who got me into bands like Minor Threat and The Dead Kennedy's, turned me on to a band called Old Skull. This was around the time they released there 2nd album CIA Drug Fest. At the time their 1st album Get Outta school was released, the members of Old Skull where between the ages of 8 and 10. I was immediately drawn to them. I did not care that they couldn't play there instruments. I knew that didn't matter. As a very rebellious child I thought their could be nothing cooler than having a punk band at such an early age. a few years later, my brother made some random decision to move to Madison Wisconsin. a couple weeks after his big move (he was 16 by the way) I received a call from him, "hey I made some cool new friends out here. JP and Jamie Toulon. Their brothers and they where in Old Skull.". I was pretty psyched. I had learned everything I wanted to know about them. I had learned that they where put together by their father Vern Toulon with a little help from Mojo Nixon.
After Madison got old, Ben and JP decided to move to NYC and be squatters together. Train hopping was involved as well somewhere within these years. Jamie ended up moving to NYC sometime in the mix as well. JP was 15 when I met him, I was 13 I think. He was like Elvis to me. An Icon. We ended up becoming good pals during the times that Ben would bring him up to visit. Mainly we just watched a lot of television together and would crack jokes. BB guns where a big part of our relationship as well. Jamie and I never got to close. He was a serious loner in most peoples eyes.
JP and Jamie's father had died of a heroin overdose at sometime or another. Their mother, hit by a train. This was probably a big factor in why they fell into deep dark drug addictions. My brother became a big part of that as well. Sometime, somewhere down the road I had joined them. Ben was not supportive of my decision but at times he was forced to overlook that. There I was, going on dope runs with my childhood heroes. I thought I was bad until I saw JP do things like stick a syringe in his neck because all the veins in his arms had collapsed or shoot 10 bags at once. I am not calling myself a saint. I would constantly go on benders, run out of money, get sick, repeat. it turned into a scheduled agenda. I'll spare the real gory details.
To make a long story short, my brother who was doing quite well had one of his little slips about 3 years back. He was found dead on a bathroom floor. One year later JP died of a speedball overdose (cocaine and heroin mix). One year after that, Jamie hanged himself. But no matter how skeezy JP was, everybody loved him. He was one of the funniest and most charismatic people I have ever known. I haven't even thought of doing hard drugs ever since my brother died. He left behind a beautiful little girl named Adelaide, she to me is better than any drug ever created. JP left behind a beautiful son named Aiden, who is the same age as my niece. My brother played a huge role in making me the man I am today and I am extremely thankful for that. I always count my blessings and I still think Old Skull is fucking awesome!

JP Toulon

Oh yeah another thing. I went to the Old Skull reunion at CBGB's. JP dedicated the song Pizza Man to me. They where all really good at playing their instruments which was weird. It was pretty funny.