It’s time again for another installment of My First Time, the series where I ask some of my favorite bands to share stories about their musical “firsts.” Everything from the first song they ever wrote to the response they got when they first played their songs for their family. It’s all here. Because after all, the best way to see where a person is going is by understanding where they’ve been.

MP3: Crocodiles – Summer Of Hate
MP3: Crocodiles – I Wanna Kill

Today we’re joined by the band Charles Rowland of the band Crocodiles. He’s not the most talkative person we’ve ever had, but at times his brevity is funnier than lengthiness.

First record that changed your life
Iggy Pop – Lust For Life

First concert you attended
Rolling Stones

First concert that blew you away
Arab On Radar

First time playing live
1997 Coronado Teen Center

First tour (horror stories, unexpectedly great shows, etc)
The van was smoking as we pulled away from home to our first gig in Phoenix, it died the next day. We bought a junker with what little money we had and continued the tour until that van died two weeks later…

First instrument you learned and/or first piece of equipment you loved
Guitar (The Terminator)

First band you were a part of
Thalidomide (1997)

First time getting press and/or being interviewed
2001 (?) Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower

First song you wrote and/or recorded
Rather not remember

First awesome thing that happened solely because you were in a band
Met Mark E. Smith

First horrible thing that happened solely because you were in a band
Tires slashed

First reactions from your family when you played them your music
Bewilderment

First musical obsession (band, song, singer, genre or otherwise)
Andy Gill