I remember seeing that “Basquiat” movie years ago, and in it someone told Basquiat to give up making music in order to take painting more seriously. I can remember thinking I was lucky to be an animator, getting to use both music and visual art. I think that’s why a lot of us end up in this profession – it’s an excuse to make music and draw pictures.

Off the top of my head, Christy Karacas, director of SuperJail! is guitarist in the band Cheeseburger. John Kricfalusi wrote the Ren & Stimpy theme song. Alan Foreman, director of Three Delivery, is in the band Ten Minute Turns which also makes the soundtrack for the show. Songwriter Benji Cossa started off as an animator. I’ve heard Mike Judge is quite a bass player. Animator Jim Diotte plays for Major Dad and about seven other bands. Animator Nate Mulliken was the drummer for the great Tie Reds. I’m sure there are more that slip my mind right now.

Anyways, a great song called “Clinically Dead” by a guy named Chad VanGaalen kept popping up when I was listening to Pandora. It turns out that he’s also an animator, and has animated videos for his own songs as well as a few for other bands. Really neat stuff, though I’m guessing he gets a lot of “What is that guy on?” type of comments. He’ll be playing New York on the 21st, but I won’t be back from Ottawa by then. Darn!

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