10 Questions with ... Kevin Zinger

NAME:Kevin Zinger TITLE:President RECORD COMPANY:Suburban Noize BORN:1972 RAISED:Los Angeles

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I began as a concert promoter when I moved to San Diego out of high school, and then started managing bands like Sprung Monkey and Lucy's Fur Coat. I started SRH clothing in 1991 as an action sports brand influenced by music, and then started Suburban Noize Records in 2000 as an avenue to develop artists.

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

I worked in a surf shop for three months when I was 16. Other than that, I've never had a "real" job.

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

The Police "Ghost In The Machine"

FIRST CONCERT:

The Police

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

Jane's Addiction if they kept making records.

1. What got you interested in the record business?

As a kid I grew up around action sports. Surfing, skating, and snowboarding were a part of my life and the music was such a driving force that blended it together as a lifestyle. When I was 18 years old I moved to San Diego and I realized that a lot of bands from LA weren't getting any recognition in San Diego. So we started premiering action sports videos and inviting the bands down to play. During those years we had everyone like Pennywise, Sublime, 311, and The Offspring coming down and playing our shows. Eventually one of the bands-Sprung Monkey-asked me to manage them. It was the natural progression of things to start a label.

2. What was your favorite radio station to listen to when you were a kid?

91X. I remember as a kid when you saw someone with a 91X sticker on their car they were the "cool kid." Even living in LA you knew that. The station lost that branding. But I think with Capone and some of the folks down there can create that feeling again. I also loved KROQ when I was a kid. Rodney played some good punk records that made me wake up to different sounds.

3. Who are your mentors?

I would say Fat Mike in the punk world. I truly think what he did for his own band and the scene was genius. And I have always said that Russell Simmons is the man.

4. What would surprise people most about Suburban Noize?

I think the fact that we have such a diverse roster. A lot of people have no idea. Kottonmouth Kings, Unwritten Law, hed p.e., La Coka Nostra, etc, are all very different musically. But kids today have diverse tastes in music, and so do we.

5. What would shock people most about you?

People usually are shocked when they find out I'm involved in so many different businesses. People in the record business don't know I have a clothing company. And people in the clothing world don't know to what extent I'm in the music business. It's an educating process on both sides.

6. What is your biggest frustration running an independent label?

The perception that an independent can't deliver like a major. The majors have the big machine. But I have 15 passionate employees. I will take that any day over a lazy machine.

7. Explain your role with Skratch N Sniff?

My partners Malcolm and Mike Check are the personalities. I play more of a business and marketing role. We have created something really cool with the show, and have big plans for the future. We all understand how difficult it is for stations right now. So we are there to work with our stations and help however we can beyond just making a great radio show.

8. Of all the things you've accomplished, what are you most proud of?

How we have created a fan friendly environment. We try and get a direct connection with the fans, and it has been the cornerstone of our business. We get people flooding our website everyday with new pictures of our logo tattooed on them. That is pretty cool. I don't think people are getting Universal Records tattooed on them. Just means we made a connection and what we do means something to them.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without __________?

Red Bull (liquid crack).

10. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Losers make promises, and winners make commitments.

What are your hobbies?

Surfing. Anthony Kiedis, and Flea have been showing up at my local spot everyday. They shouldn't quit their real jobs. Nice guys though...