“Psychic” Mike Gray moved to Tucson from El Paso in 1986, and has
traveled back and forth ever since. He has played in numerous local
punk bands, including Cosmic Jackhammer, Opinion Zero, Cancer Brides
and Schizm. Gray is currently a pest-management professional at
University Termite and Pest Control and educates the public about
keeping their homes pest-free in an environmentally friendly manner.
What was the first concert you ever saw?
Thin Lizzy in ’79. They opened for Kansas and blew them off the
stage.
What CDs are in your changer right now?
Neil Young, Harvest; Napalm Death, Time Waits for No
Slave; the Residents, 13th Anniversary Show—Live in
Tokyo.
How many total albums do you own (CDs, vinyl, cassettes,
8-tracks)?
Thirteen records, a dozen tapes and 800 CDs with the title
… Like Fairy Tales of Modern Times.
Do you download music, and, if so, legally or illegally?
I’ve never downloaded music before in my life! Apparently that (not
downloading music) in itself has become a crime!
What was the first album you owned?
Various singles of the Jackson 5 when I was a kid.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
Frankie Laine, “Rawhide.”
Musically speaking, what do you love that your friends don’t know
about? What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?
I don’t have a guilty pleasure; however, I doubt that too many
friends know that I like Elton John’s music.
What band or artist changed your life, and how?
Black Flag. They were so powerful on stage, yet were humble, normal
people. I really admired their strong work ethic.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all
time?
The Who, Tommy. Pete Townshend at his songwriting best …
and Keith Moon rules!
This article appears in Oct 29 – Nov 4, 2009.
