When we heard the title of Jim Lindberg’s book, “,” we knew we needed to read it right away. Not only are we fans of his band Pennywise, but a punk rock dad is practically the same thing as a yuppie punk, only the other way around (ok, not really, but close enough). We were even more pleased to find out that he was willing to answer some of our stupid questions. Then again, Jim’s used to dealing with kids (or at least his guitar player Fletcher), so we figured our questions would be right up his alley. “Punk Rock Dad” is available now at fine booksellers everywhere, and Pennywise will be spending most of their summer headlining the Warped Tour.

Can you describe the writing process for the book? In the acknowledgments you thank your band for letting you use the back of the tour bus to write it.
I wrote half the book at home with my kids going crazy around me, and the other half on a tour bus with my band mates going crazy around me. We were on tour in Europe, so I’d be writing on my laptop while people would be partying and playing German techno music as loud as the stereo would go. I became very good at tuning things out.

Did you ever consider writing about your band adventures instead of your parental adventures?
We have plenty of inspiration for a book about tour stories. While you’re asleep, in every city in the world, there’s a band and their crew who has just finished their show and they’re marauding and pillaging and engaging in blasphemous and disgusting acts somewhere. Our guitar player is the pied piper for our crew and he’s not happy unless every night ends with a good story to tell the next day.

Where did the idea to write a book about parenting come from?
I was working on a book about the history of the Hermosa Beach punk scene, and near the end I was talking about what it’s been like for our band to come from the same small town that produced bands as influential as Black Flag, the Circle Jerks and the Descendents — and also what it’s been like for me now that I’m a dad and a touring musician. That’s when our booking agent said that they were looking for someone to write a book called “Punk Rock Dad.” So it just kind of flowed from this other book that I was writing.

Do you think the book will appeal more to Pennywise fans or parents?
Hopefully it will appeal to both, but I think anyone can get something out of it. It’s just about my experiences in a somewhat unique situation. My old neighbor is a retired art teacher who never had kids himself and he loved it. So I don’t think you necessarily have to be either fan or parent to relate to it on some level.

Who are your favorite writers?
John Updike is far and away my favorite writer. Every dad should read “The Rabbit Omnibus.” Vonnegut and Graham Greene are also two other big ones for me. Dave Eggers is really inspiring. I also just laughed my ass off at David Sedaris. I saw him do a reading recently in Long Beach and he’s like a rock star now. There were probably two thousand people there and he killed it.

After playing a local show at the Henry Fonda Theater you say in the book, “… the second the last chord is struck, I’m done. I’m my real self again.” Have you compartmentalized these two parts of you, the dad and the punk? Do they ever exist at the same time? Can’t you be both at once?
To be totally honest, it’s kind of hard to be both at the same time. I’ve always been aware that I’m kind of adapting a persona in a band like ours. Pennywise has always been about a collective voice, not any one individual in the band. I’m pretty sure no one that comes to a Pennywise show wants to hear me complaining about having troubles putting my kids to bed or getting them to eat their vegetables. I also don’t walk around my kid’s school singing punk anthems at the top of my longs. But I think they’re both part of who I am, however confused that definition may be at any given time.

Do you let your kids listen to Pennywise?
They can if they want to, but they’re into the usual kid stuff, which is fine by me. A lot of our music is angry and frustrated about the state of the world. It’s an escape valve for a lot of bottled rage and testoserone that some guys need to get out so they don’t go mental. Sometimes I think it would more direct and to the point if I just screamed.

How is the process of writing a book different from writing a record?
With the band, you’re working with three other people with very diverging viewpoints about how things should sound and progress. One guy wants to grow and develop and change styles, the other wants to stay the same and stay true to the original sound. On the next album, those two people have switched opinions. It’s like trying to paint a picture with four other guys, so it’s contentious at times to say the least. With a book, it’s just you and the page. Then, of course, you work with an editor they way a band works with a producer, though for the most part a book is a solo project, so in that way it’s a little easier. Compromising isn’t fun. Kids know that better than anyone, and adults just have to pretend to like it.

Do any of your band or crew have kids?
Our bass player has two kids but most of the crew is young and single. Thankfully our guitar player hasn’t procreated yet. I’m not sure the world is ready for that. He’d probably be a good dad though. And I’m sure his dad would be happy to see him get back back some of the hell he put his parents through. We were all pretty difficult adolescents.

Will you be doing a book tour? If so, how will it differ from a Pennywise tour?
We’re going to do some stuff on the Warped Tour this summer, but I’m going to let the book get out there and circulate a little before I do too many readings. I want to put together a show where I can play some songs and read from the book and do a tour. It will differ from a Pennywise tour in that there will be a lot less beer and a lot more complaining.

Can one be both a yuppie and a punk?
If a yuppie is just an abbreviation for a Young Urban Professional, and if that person enjoys punk music, then yes. If you mean a yuppie in the derogatory sense, as in someone who is materialistic, mercilessly driven, emotionally immature and intellectually shallow, then yes to that as well.

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