HIGHWIRE DAZE INTERVIEWS MIKE PARK OF ASIAN MAN RECORDS

Updated: 12/14/98

When Nick Traina died, he was 19 years old, just starting up a new band, and dealing with the ills of manic depression. Best known for his membership in Link 80, Traina had just formed a new band called Knowledge and had recorded a promising new demo. Signed to Asian Man Records at the time, the president of the label was to receive the tapes after Traina's death. Left behind were grieving friends who cared for him deeply, a mother and family who loved him dearly, and a brief legacy of tunes that continue to inspire and provoke.

We recently had a chance to speak with Mike Park, the President of Asian Man Records, who was cool enough to give us all a bit of insight on a talented young musician whose life ended way too soon.

Highwire Daze: How long has Asian Man Records been around and what made you decide to start up a label?

Mike Park: It's been around for two years. I don't think it was something I wanted to do -- I just kind of learned how to do it through the years. I use to be in a band called Skankin' Pickle -- we were around from '89 till '96 and we put out our own records and that's how I learned how to put out records. Skankin' Pickle broke up two years ago, but that's how I learned to run a label.

HD: Are you currently in a band right now?

Mike: I'm in a couple of bands. One is called The Bruce Lee Band which is me and the band Less Than Jake -- they're from Gainesville, Florida. We put out one record in '96 and we haven't really done much because Less Than Jake is really busy. And the other band I have is called The Chinkees -- the band is more political than my past projects -- basicallly we're just trying to bring out the Asian stereotypes that we've dealt with in our lives -- it's more of an anti-racist message we're trying to bring out.

HD: So how did you first become acquianted with Nick Traina and his band Link 80?

Mike: They opened up for Skankin' Pickle in, maybe it was '95, and that's how I met them.

HD: What impressed you the most when you first saw them?

Mike: They were just a really good band. They were so young at the time -- their ages ranged from 13 to 16, so I thought "Wow, this band is really good" and "I wish I could play that good when I was that age" and just have that kind of chemistry. I remember being in bands and we must of stunk back then, but this band was really good.

HD: And they were from San Francisco?

Mike: Actually, most of them were from Berkeley.

HD: How long was it before you realized that Nick had manic depression and how did it affect your professional relationship?

Mike: I didn't know until he died. He would say that he was going to a shrink -- but he was very normal and I went out with him a lot so I really didn't know the extent of his problems -- I still don't. I don't know that I believe in everything that was said by his mom, but I know he definitely must have been going through some stuff. I think a lot of people have problems in our society. It's not just him. There's a lot of people who deal with manic depression and bipolar disorder and you deal with it and you get medication. But in terms of your question, I never really knew and it never really affected me.

HD: Describe his personality as you knew him then.

Mike: He was just great! A really nice guy, had a great charisma and just had a lot of potential to do a lot of great things.

HD: How did Nick and the rest of Link 80 get along?

Mike: I think they had their ups and downs like with any group. I think it was more difficult in their case because of his background of who his mom was. A lot of people would pick on him unfairly because he did have more the benefits of what other kids don't have. Especially because there were a lot of people in the group who were from the poor parts of Oakland and basically had nothing. No money and when they had Nick around, he'd buy them something to eat. It was just weird.

HD: Did he ever appear to be like a rich kid at all?

Mike: No, not at all. He never showed off that he had money but he'd always be there to help you. He was never cheap in that sense, but he definitely didn't show off. Basically he could have anything he wanted. If you were put in his situation, no one could have done a better job than what he did in terms of being very noble.

HD: Have you ever met his mother Danielle Steele and what have been your impressions of her?

Mike: Yeah, I've met her. She's a nice lady. I've had brief conversations with her so I don't really know her that well. I think she's a nice person. Just like every other mom but she makes a lot of money.

HD: Did she ever hear her son's music and what did she think?

Mike: She liked it. I'm sure she's not the biggest fan of punk rock, but she went to the shows. She'd go to these small punk rock clubs -- she'd be there with her entourage. But that's cool -- I mean how many people of her status would go to these shows? It was pretty amazing. But I know she liked it and she liked watching him play.

HD: Danielle Steele wrote a book about her son. Have you read it and what do you think?

Mike: I have had it in my possession but I haven't read it. I think it's something that may be emotionally draining for myself that I'm not ready for. So I think I'm staying away from it right now.

HD: What made Nick decide he wanted to leave Link 80?

Mike: I think it was a combination of both sides. I think they kind of got fed up with each other. With him just being a young kid, sometimes you get into arguments just like with any band. Just one day on tour, thing came to a head. It was a mutual agreement that they both go their seperate ways.

HD: What did you think about his new band Knowledge when you first heard them?

Mike: I never got to see them play so it's really hard to make a fair judgement on that band. My first time I heard them was when they sent me the demo -- and this was right after he died. They were together for such a short time. I think the demo that we put out as a record -- it's pretty good but it's not that great -- it's not a great record, but it's definitely something that showed a lot of promise. They were together for only a couple of months and they put this great demo out, but it wasn't meant to be a record.

HD: What ultimately made you decide to release the Knowledge demo?

Mike: His mom asked me to do it.

HD: When was the last time you spoke with Nick and what did you talk about?

Mike: I can't remember. I know he called me a couple of hours before he passed away. He left a message on my machine just basically saying -- they played a show that night and he was just saying the show was great. I think it was his way of just saying goodbye.

HD: How long after was it that you found out the news of Nick's death.

Mike: I was in New Orleans. I was visiting my best friend over there. I was checking my messages and that's how I found out. It was disbelief, but I kind of felt that it could happen or it was going to happen so I wasn't totally shocked. But it's still hard to accept.

HD: Is Link 80 still around today?

Mike: Oh yes. They're going full board. They don't start recording until the beginning of next year.

HD: Are there any other Knowledge releases that we don't know about?

Mike: That's it.

Our thanks to Mike Park for sharing his memories of Nick Traina with us. As you can see from our main page, A GIFT BEFORE I GO, the one and only Knowledge recording is flawed but it's deeply felt and terribly honest -- just like the young man who recorded it. It's a remarkable, unforgetable effort. It is a true gift indeed.

LINKS TO NICK TRAINA RELATED SITES