Dr. Radical and "Purple Nights" <br><br>

Dr. Radical and "Purple Nights"

Jeff Campbell is the third Teen Wolf. Except instead of being good at basketball he is a designer (Rectagon), illustrator, collector of Dr. Pepper knock-offs and the surprisingly adept drummer for "Leaders of the Free World" a dark-pop synth mustache-core threesome out of Brooklyn. This interview was conducted on a ferris wheel while we ate drippy ice cream.

JC: Right now, me and Kate are dealing with bed bugs. Yes, real-live bed bugs. We had to throw away our whole bed. The exterminator is coming tomorrow. When I called my landlord, he thought I was trying to tell him I had crabs. anyway...

MF: I thought bed bugs were fictitious. Crabs too. Good luck with that.
Anyway, how many self-portraits do you have?

JC: In that show I did at Pratt I had over 300 self portraits. Though, that included prints and variations. So, I probably have like 100 unique images.

MF: How did you get started collecting Dr. Pepper knock-offs?

JC: When I was in middle school, me and my friends noticed all the absurdly titled fake Dr. Peppers at local grocery stores in southern Georgia (Dr. Thunder, Dr. Perky, Dr. Riffic, Dr. Smooth, etc...). So, I started to collect them. Then, I noticed when we travelled, we'd pass different grocery store chains, some of which also had Dr cans. As word of the collection got out to family and friends, they started picking up cans for me too. Today, the value of my collection is upwards of one billion dollars.
On my deathbed, I will drink my Dr. Radical (no matter how old it is).

MF: As the son of a preacher man, do you have any extra sway with the Lord?

JC: Yes, what do you want?

MF: Nevermind... so obviously people really like your song "Drugs" and its sequel "Drugs II." Can we expect a "Drugs III"?

JC: Well, that "Leaders of the Free World" cd also has a track called "Friends III" which was once titled "Drugs III". While coming up with the final track listing, we decided that the title "Drugs III" sent a negative message that we didn't want to associate with our music. I guess it's possible that there will be "Drugs" or "Friends" sequels on future releases...in fact we have a new song that is based on the same melody as "Drugs II", but it's tentatively titled "Purple Nights."

Free Leaders Downloads!

MF: Besides playing bigger venues and touring a bit, what do you and the Leaders of the Free World plan to do about global warming, AIDs, and what I like to call the "China problem"????

JC: There are plans for a "Rocktober tour" this Fall, maybe another recording session, and a possible black and white tie-dye get-together. I'm pretty sure global warming is a farce. Our next release will be under the moniker "Leaders of the Kyoto Treaty Abolition Society."
Did you know my co-workers all call me Teen Wolf?

MF: I heard something about that. Is it because you're actually a werewolf or actually a teenager? JC: It's because of my large sideburns. (in case you haven't noticed, wolves ALWAYS have giant sideburns) MF: I like "Hold your nose and Dance" the best. Can you make a "Friends III" prequel that sounds like a "Hold" sequel? JC: Prequels are for faggots and gayfers. How about: "Hold Your Penis and Cry (Friends Zero)"?

[long pause]

MF: What's next for the Leaders? JC: Our band name is somewhat everchanging...each release will be under a different name (Leaders of Antarctica....Leaders of the Olde West....etc...). But, for now we only have one record out, so the change isn't very evident. I'd like to devolve into concept records. Soon you should be able to visit us on the web at www.leadersof.com
yep

MF: How was working at the Fader and why does everyone in that magazine have the same "messy" haircut?

JC: Working at the Fader was fine... My first day there we went to a bar at like 12:30 and I had 3 pints of imported beer. Then I told them I didn't have any money. They took care of me though...cause I had a messy haircut. Messy haircuts are the bee's knees.