Theo Kipnis is a native Tucsonan, freelance marketer, entrepreneur and music fanatic.
What was the first concert you ever saw?
Sha Na Na, with my parents. But for all you know, it (could have been) Black Flag in the UA Cellar in 1984. A bunch of us skipped class near Tucson High to see a free show during the My War tour. Henry Rollins flashed us his "A" side and his "B" side. Quite the memory.
What are you listening to these days?
Current bands like The Dirtbombs, Thee Oh Sees, St. Vincent, and The Real Tuesday Weld; and, always, older bands like Bowie, Iggy, and the Stones. Everyone should check out Slim Cessna's Auto Club.
What was the first album you owned?
I want to say it was Gary Numan, Pleasure Principle. But, really, earlier, my aunt got me into music through Billy Joel. I can't listen to it now, but it instilled a personal connection to music. So, Turnstiles. I said it.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don't get?
A lot of people with great taste love Pavement, Radiohead and The Flaming Lips, but for me, nothing catches. They're missing an instrument, a channel or some discord. ... It's too easy.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
David Bowie.
Musically speaking, what is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Falco.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
"Rhymes and Reasons" by John Denver. Because the children and the flowers are my sisters and my brothers.
What band or artist changed your life, and how?
Devo. They used music as satire to communicate an overall social critique. They articulated ideas about commercialism and being human that inspired me as a teenager. Beyond that, they directly and humorously called out their own role as artists and makers of products.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Whichever Bowie album I've heard last, so Young Americans. No, Scary Monsters! Young Amer—Station to Station. Yes.
