Category: Interview
Bad Otis Link Part 7: Moshing With The Stars
Interview with Greg Link aka Bad Otis Link continued from part 6. What famous faces were familiar to the scene? Well, we kind of avoided the celebs. In the early ’80s, punk was not considered cool in the mainstream. I would see Emilio Estevez, David Lee Roth and the like at shows. We would usually poke fun at them though. Danny Bonaduce came to a “DOA” show at the Starwood one night (late 70s.) We kept calling him Danny Partridge, he finally got frustrated with us and left. I know there were others, Madonna used to come into the LA ... Read more
Bad Otis Link Part 6: Locations, Locations, Locations
Interview with Greg Link aka Bad Otis Link continued from part 5. Tell us about the Otis & Biscuits operation? There were four stores and many separate print shops. The first store was a small place at Pacific Coast Highway and 7th street in Long Beach, Ca. It had a crappy little apartment in the back with a kitchen, Chuck moved from the shop to the store, so it served a double purpose. We would use the kitchen to boil, dye, and custom make shirts. Chuck’s Dad would work the store for us while we were at the shop in ... Read more
Bad Otis Link Part 5: Linking Up With Biscuits
Interview with Greg Link aka Bad Otis Link continued from part 4. Tell us, Otis, how did you link up with Chuck Biscuits? I met Chuck in the late 1970s when he was just a kid, 13 or 14 years old, playing with “DOA” – one of the first bands I really became close with. They would stay at my place (still do), shop, or house whenever they came through town. Me and Tommy would hop in the van and travel with them from time to time. I really got to know Chuck and his entire Family. His Brother Dim ... Read more
Bad Otis Link Part 4: The Man Behind The Man
Interview with Greg Link aka Bad Otis Link continued from part 3. What’s the deal with your name? My real name is Greg Link, most bands and people that knew me prior to ’82 call me Greg Link. For a very long time, Anthony Kiedus thought we were two different people. I didn’t realize that until one night at a party he asked me if I could have Otis do a design (the Orca). I just busted up and told him I was Otis. He couldn’t believe it. He thought Otis was some mysterious artist that I had hidden away. ... Read more
Bad Otis Link Part 3: The Friendly Stranger
Interview with Greg Link aka Bad Otis Link continued from part 2. What are your roots as an artist and screen printer? I was always interested in art, even as a kid. Always a little twisted, my first recognizable piece was an illustration of President Kennedy gettin’ shot, Crayola. My Dad always asked “why don’t you draw something nice?” I have no formal art schooling, pretty much self taught. In fact I was a high school dropout. School bored me to tears. I hit the ground running at 16, started hustling and working on ideas and projects and haven’t stopped ... Read more