Under the Influence: Vista Chino's John Garcia

1. The Cult – Love (1985)
The Cult has to be number one. Love was hugely influential to me. A guy on my photography bus at Indio High School had a walkman on and let me listen to this song called She Sells Sanctuary. I became not only a fan but a fanatic. Straight away, I went back to find out more about their previous incarnations – The Death Cult and The Southern Death Cult. But that album was the main reason I ever started singing – it’s all because of Ian Asbury. It’s been a good path, but almost curse-like, because I fell in love with that music so much that it became all I wanted to do; any other plans in my life immediately took a back seat.

When I turned 27 years old he showed up to my surprise birthday party at Las Casuelas Nuevas, Rancho Mirage in Palm Springs, California. I was pretty stoked. It just so happens that Chris Goss, who was Kyuss’ producer, worked with Ian on his solo record Spirit\Light\Speed. It was through that connection I got this unbelievable chance to meet him. We hung out, went to a couple of parties together and I showed him around the place. He’s a great guy, a great singer, and I have ultra-mad respect for him. Plus, it’s a cool thing to say I’ve seen The Doors with Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek – God rest his soul – playing together with Ian. They’re all my idols.  

2. Danzig – Danzig (1988)
I was open to a lot of stuff, but Danzig alongside The Cult were the first to blow the doors open. Misfits’ Walk Among Us and Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood were big for me. But that only got me into the first Danzig record later on, which was monumental, with John Christ, Chuck Biscuits, Eerie Von, and of course Glenn. That was pretty huge in my book, right up my alley. I got to see them and Kyuss toured with them under that exact line-up. That was a dream come true and I’ve since become friends with Glenn.

3. Earth Wind & Fire – The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 (1978)
I was open to a lot of stuff as a kid, but these guys and The Ohio Players in particular caught my ear. I remember sitting down with my brother’s 8-track in the 70s and listening to September over and over again. Right there I became a big fan of Maurice White and Philip Bailie – who still tour as Earth Wind & Fire – and of melody and rhythm 'n' blues. When you share a bedroom with your older brother you kinda have no choice but to listen to whatever he’s listening to.

4. The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs (1987)
The flipside of the coin was that sometimes I’d have to share a room with my sister, and she’d be listening to everything from Tom Petty to Pink Floyd, to The Smiths. I became a huge fan of Morrissey – Louder Than Bombs is one of my favourite records. Wish I got to see ‘em, never had the chance.

5. Bad Brains – I Against I (1986)
As a young man, this was another record that I particularly enjoyed. I think HR is on his own pedestal – he’s so distinct. It’s one of those classic hardcore punk records that I never stopped listening to. This was one of many records I got into via my brothers Chris Cockrell, Brant Bjork, Nick Oliveri and Josh Homme back in high school – they turned me onto those guys. In music, I don’t care who it is – I mean, I’m not embarrassed to say I listen to certain Rihanna songs – because if it’s melodic and it makes you feel, there’s a 99.9% chance I’m gonna dig it.

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