The Last Word
Nardwuar the Human Serviette
Q: What’s the most important lesson you ever learned?
A: My dad told me “the first 50 years are the worst.”
Nardwuar the Human Serviette, BA’90 (History), is a legend in the world of Vancouver indie-music. Not only is the tartan-hatted one a UBC alumnus and CiTR radio host, he is also a celebrity interviewer, a pop culture historian, and front man for Vancouver punk rock band The Evaporators.
This interestingly-attired Canuck is known for his quirky and energetic interviews, which typically begin with an ambush of the unsuspecting subject. For almost 20 years, Nardwuar has been baffling, flattering, impressing, and sometimes offending his interview subjects, who include the likes of Canadian politicians Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, and pop culture icons Kurt Cobain and Lady Gaga.
Nardwuar recently released a compilation LP/ Calendar, Busy Doing Nothing. The first video for "I Hate Being Late (When I'm Early), a song by his band The Evaporators (with Andrew W.K.), was shot at CiTR UBC Radio . For more information, visit Nardwuar’s website.
Keep on rawkin’ in the free world!
What is your most prized possession?
Probably my lifetime membership to CiTR UBC Radio! CiTR is the best radio station in the world! You are not a DJ at CiTR. A DJ is told what to do. You are a programmer, an operator, a writer, a producer. You are in total control. You can do whatever you want, within the CRTC guidelines.
Who was your childhood hero?
My great cousin Eric Nesterenko who used to play for the Chicago Black Hawks. Not only was he an amazing hockey player, he also was the coach in the movie Youngblood with Rob Lowe!
Describe the place you most like to spend time.
I kind of alluded to this earlier – it's CiTR Radio. But radio does make you hungry, so I love to spend quality time at the Tomahawk BBQ in North Vancouver eating the tasty Skookum Chief hamburger. What's on it? Egg, bacon, weiner, meat, and cheese. Basically three meals in one. Bryan Adams once worked there as a dishwasher!
What was the last thing you read?
A whole bunch of my favourite magazines and fanzines such as Discorder, Maximum Rock 'n Roll, Shindig, Beatroute, NME, and Ugly Things. Oh, and the book Violence Girl by Alice Bag about the legendary LA punk band The Bags.
What or who makes you laugh out loud?
My face in mirror! I am just happy to be here on this earth!
What's the most important lesson you ever learned?
My dad told me “the first 50 years are the worst.”
What's your idea of the perfect day?
Finding some rare vinyl at Zulu, Red Cat, Neptoon or Beat Street Records. Vancouver has such good record stores!
What was your nickname at school?
Didn't have one although people used to scream “clam chowder and chips!” at me, in reference to my favourite foods.
What would be the title of your biography?
Doot doola doot doo … doot doo!
If a genie granted you one wish, what would it be?
Since this is an interview from a UBC publication I would have to say it would be that the SUB building would play CiTR Radio in the halls to help expose students to the best club on campus.
What item have you owned for the longest time?
A poster from the play “Billy Bishop Goes to War”
What is your latest purchase?
An original Velvet Underground poster from when they played the Retinal Circus in Vancouver. Yes, I love posters!
Whom do you most admire (living or dead) and why?
My mom, who has sadly passed away. She inspired me with her journalistic skills and got me interested in history.
What would you like your epitaph to say?
Can I use this again? Doot doola doot doo … doot doo!
If you could invent something, what would it be?
A device that would tell me what notes to play on the organ when jamming with my band The Evaporators
In which era would you most like to have lived, and why?
Courtney Booker, a prof at UBC, interviewed me recently and told me about a medieval poem written by Alcuin that had the line “O little Nard, you small man, be well.” So judging by that, can I say the Middle Ages?
What are you afraid of?
Gouda cheese. Just don't like it. Seems to give me a rash.
Name the skill or talent you would most like to have.
I'd love to be able to draw like Vancouver/Toronto/London artist Jason Mclean!
Which three pieces of music would you take to that desert island?
My favourite 60s band, The Sonics, from Tacoma, Washington. My favourite 70s band, The Pointed Sticks, from Vancouver and my favourite band from now, Montreal's Grimes.
Which famous person (living or dead) do you think (or have you been told) you most resemble?
The lead singer of the Canadian band The Tea Party. And he looks like Jim Morrison. Who I look nothing like. Someone also once said I had an Oregon accent.
What is your pet peeve?
If I can do something, anyone can. I would urge anyone interested in media to get involved with CiTR! I joined when I was a teenager and am still involved! CiTR has hooked me up with so many interviews over the years with everyone from Mikhael Gorbachev to Nirvana to Snoop Doggy Dogg to probably your mother! You can also get involved with sports, news or writing for the station's program guide, Discorder. Don't just sit there, do something! Become the media!
Thanks for your time, keep on rawkin' in the free world and doot doola doot doo ...doot doo!
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