- What is One Foot In The Grave's motto?
To have fun so that the audience has fun. If the audience has fun they have fun.
Audience participation is very important to them.
- Who founded One Foot In The Grave?
JoDina founded the band. She came up with the idea and got all the band members together. She is the primary
manager and spokesperson.
- Was JoDina really an embalmer or is it just a gimmick?
The former! She worked as a mortician and embalmer at her cousin's funeral home in Philadelphia and is still licenced
to practice the trade.
- What's the deal with the Garzone Funeral Home T-shirts?
It's the logo of the funeral home that JoDina used to work for as an embalmer. Rather fitting for a band of old fogies
that call themselves One Foot In The Grave, don't you think? Also see "Was JoDina really an embalmer
or is it just a gimmick?".
- Does One Foot In The Grave have anything to do with the British sitcom by the same name?
No. The name is coincidental. However, on the 1996 European tour The Foot met the producers and some of the actors
of the German version of the show.
- What's so special about Sun City, Arizona?
Well, probably nothing, it depends. Sun City is a retirement community west of Phoenix, Arizona. It's one of
Del Webb's artificial, gated paradises con golf course in the desert. Applicants are required to be at least 55
years old and may not bring children. Residents therefore do not want to pay school taxes, for example, they just
want to take their Geritol in peace and quiet and race their golf carts between naps. One Foot In The Grave sings
about life in Sun City.
For a short, alternative profile of Sun City see the road movie and documentary "Road Scholar"
by Andrei Codrescu (also see "Can I see One Foot In The Grave on video anywhere?").
- Is One Foot In The Grave really from Sun City?
Initially, several members of the original band lineup indeed lived in Sun City and practice
sessions did take place there. After the many lineup changes, however, all of the current members live somewhere
in the Phoenix metropolitan area outside of Sun City. The band continues to associate itself with Sun City because,
well, they technically could all live there.
- Can I see One Foot In The Grave on video anywhere?
Yes, you can. Although One Foot In The Grave does not have a music video clip at this time, there is a 3-minute
segment about Sun City and One Foot In The Grave in the movie "Road Scholar", a road documentary by Andrei
Codrescu, copyright 1991. It originally was aired on PBS but has been released on video also. In the segment,
One Foot In The Grave is joined for an interview about their perception of old age and retirement and excerpts
from a practice session in Gino's living room.
Other than that you'd have to know someone who taped their appearances on syndicated talk shows, VH1 or any
other as listed in the Credits section of the Biography Page.
- Can I see One Foot In The Grave play live anywhere?
Certainly! Check the Concert Dates Page for scheduled, upcoming shows. One Foot
In The Grave plays the local Phoenix club circuit and if you're in town, come on down and show your support! The
band will certainly appreciate it and you will probably get a chance to talk to them or get your CD signed, if you
so desire. The Foot often played the Mason Jar on 24th Street and Indian School in the past but shows can be scattered
all over town and, due to a fairly irregular schedule, all over the year too. Special announcements for out-of-town and
out-of-the-country shows will of course always be made on this site too.
- Where can I get the first CD, "Lookin' Good! Who's Your Embalmer?"?
Unfortunately, "Lookin' Good! Who's Your Embalmer?" is technically out of print,
that is you can check with your local ZIA Records (in the Phoenix area), if they have any used copies left. However,
Gavan still has them in stock and you can order them on the Merchandise Page.
- Where can I get the second CD, "Old Farts"?
"Old Farts" is currently only distributed in Western Europe. Their new record
label, Voices, is located in Germany and does not have a license to distribute in the US. The band currently has
professional "Old Farts" music cassettes for sale which you can purchase via the Merchandise Page.
Note that in late 1996, Voices went out of business.
- Does One Foot In The Grave play any songs not on any of the CDs?
Yes, they occasionally do a cover of the whacky Mojo Nixon tune "Elvis Is Everywhere" and a
cover of the Ramones' "Pinhead". They also do some classic Elvis tunes occasionally.
- Is One Foot In The Grave really a genuine punk band?
That depends on your point of view and definition of punk and derivatives (for the purist I guess there hasn't
been any punk since 1979). One Foot In The Grave sees itself primarily as a humerous and alternative novelty act
that falls into the (by now) broad genre of punk rock. If you listen to their first album you
will probably get the impression that they are not punk. It doesn't capture the true essence of the band too well.
The second album is much rawer with edgier guitars and more agressive songs. The Foot has always
been more of a must-be-seen-to-be-believed live band anyway. It is my opinion that One Foot In The Grave is a punk
band. Their attitude is to spit in the face of retirement and conservative old-age lifestyle in general, which is
expressed in both their songs and their appearance. While they certainly are experienced, proficient musicians, it's
not as much how you play as long as you play and have fun doing it (so why argue over semantics). As JoDina says "I
saw all of these bands that couldn't sing. I realized I couldn't sing either and got that idea of starting a band".
They certainly show a Ramones influence and it's not a rare occasion to see mohawks pogo-ing at the shows on their tours.
- What do you mean by "Oldest"?
Do you mean oldest by age or by how long they have been around? As you probably have guessed by now, it's
(so far undisputed) oldest by age of the band members. One Foot In The Grave was founded in 1988 after JoDina
had been working on the concept for two years prior to that. Oldest by age it is.
- Do they have T-shirts and other stuff?
Yes they do, T-shirts, keychains, magnets and more! Check out the Merchandise Page.
- Do they have any credits and recognition?
They certainly do! One Foot In The Grave has been featured in various local Arizona, US-wide and international
media - paper, radio and television - and particularly Europe is very fond of them. For a list of credits see the
Biography Page and for selected reviews see the Reviews Page.
- Can I review The Foot for my zine, newspaper, radio station etc.?
Of course, and it's greatly appreciated! Just Contact us, tell us who you are
and we'll send you a promo package. If you're doing an online piece also check out the
Sound Clips Page for downloadable material.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
