I ran into him at a 'costume' party in S.F. years ago...we were the only two in costume,so naturally enough sparked up a conversation~"whoa,you're THE Winston Smith?!?-the artist?-you're a hero to me!!!" He was very humble and gracious,we chatted for at least 2 hours and shared some great stories.Thanks,Vice-another fine piece of agitprop.
lol, my art teacher actually know Winston, he showed him some of my work, winston didnt really say anything about it but now i can brag like this to people XP
This was excellent. Brought me back to that time by brother and I went to the record store and our neighbors' son picked us up to take us home. He was a young, born-again christian and he asked to see the records. My brother had picked up In God We Trust, Inc and the neighbor read the lyrics out loud to shame my brother. It was so awkward. Never forgot it. I'm much older now, obviously, and love and appreciate the DK's and all the art from that period even more so now than I did back then. It all helped me process 8 years of Ronald Reagan.
Winston is fantastic, I have always loved him because of his attitude. He does not try to be profound and over hype his stuff. He just makes stuff that looks interesting to him and sometimes the work may have meaning and sometimes it may not. Such an honest dude.
A tip of the hat to you sir!!! Been a huge fan of your work for years but didn't even know it!?!?!? I worked in a record store all through high school & used to stare at those works of art everyday,, some of those images are burned into my brain!!! Thank you for the imagery & inspection... You are a true artist...
I grew up in the mid to late 70s to this guys work...always loved this man's work.This was the real scene...hand and hand for the youth movement and nobody sold out the design for any fucking gain.Such a great period and a statement of the times.
And what about the DK logo? I always loved Winstons art he and artist Gee Vaucher from British Anarcho/punk band Crass are two very interesting artists who use cut ups in a very interesting way.
Thanks for the interview . I've known his name and DK's artwork since "in God we trust" was released, but had never seen or heard him, and knew nothing of his other work.
did you hear when he asked about political or social , then he said thank god . I'm sure he was just thinking oh great another liberal in the beginning . I think he's just a biased dork looks like he'd fit in better with a pair of Oakley's and a camo hat being just another generic dude
Nardwuar is Canadian and he isn't quite and often times his politeness is condescending. Vice should use Nardwuar for some of their music/art interviews. Especially for the punk rock stuff because no one is more punk rock than Nardwuar.
This is such an awesome video.. It really captured what a trip on acid is.. at least for me. The intense discomfort when having to deal with something and the total pleasure after you accomplish it.
I joined the US Army in 1988 where we had to learn Soviet battlefield signs. When I seen it I was like, that is the Dead Kennedy's logo backwards. I was like, cool!
This was the real scene...the real movement,the heart of protest about a government that didn't care(the truth)about what you're world was and still is.
Any artist knows that traveling is a must. If you stay in one place you only become known in that one city. Where as if you travel you create demand showcasing your art world wide. $upply and demand.
I can see where you are coming from. But there are two sides to art. The technical skills and the ideas. This guy is all about ideas. Well to each their own.
Where do Vice find their "journalists" ? This guy has as much trouble asking his questions as he does writing them.. He didn't even ask him about designing the logo mentioned in the title.. He';s more focused on the negative reactions to his art than the actual art.. Subversive art is supposed to challenge people. Thats the point. Nice work vice. Another great story topic executed atrociously...
There's a lot of detail put into what he does. I suppose anyone can do it, but I don't think that really makes it bad. It probably devalues it in a sense, but any decent painter could recreate the mona lisa, or picasso, or any other famous artist's work. It's really about innovation, without being overly avant-garde or pretentious, which Winston Smith clearly isn't.
what constitutes a hipster? All I see is an old artist and a dude with a mustache and they both seem fairly learned, I don't understand why one would "hate" these gentlemen.
yeah. im subscribed to HBO and they usually have interesting shit. i dont much care for a lot of it but i dont go around screaming it because they have a LARGE AUDIENCE! thank you.
So funny to hear him talk about the 'in god we trust' art and what the meaning was behind it. I bought that shirt when I was about 12 and wore it to school. The librarian made me turn it inside out. Ha!
On a serious note... I think most people like Winston Smith who say they're not political really just want to avoid disagreeing with a lot of people who might otherwise be agreeable. And then emotions and good & bad taste probably have more of an effect than most people want to talk about, assuming they're talking at all... How much do we really expect governments to do anyway? Jobs, roads and healthcare should cover most of it. I wonder though....
I like the part when they talk about the Dead Kennedy's logo.
I think I missed it... 🤔
Time stamp?
Lmfao!?!?!
right!!! lol lol lol what an awesome story lol lol lol
What do you want to know? They've got the dude who made it right there. He made the thing with fuckin toothpicks its not very complicated
I ran into him at a 'costume' party in S.F. years ago...we were the only two in costume,so naturally enough sparked up a conversation~"whoa,you're THE Winston Smith?!?-the artist?-you're a hero to me!!!" He was very humble and gracious,we chatted for at least 2 hours and shared some great stories.Thanks,Vice-another fine piece of agitprop.
I actually find this guys work really inspiring. Totally gives me a new perspective on collage, that guy has insane talent.
I find it incredibly ironic that Winston Smith made a 1984 reference....
Carlos Rodriguez wasn't that fucking crazy?!
why ironic?
Winstin Smith is also the name of the protagonist in 1984
Winston Smith named himself after the character.
Carlos Rodriguez That's not ironic. It's appropriate.
Amazing! Thanks for this short doc Vice!!
So nothing was mentioned about the logo
thanks, mate, that's all i really came here for
It's fuckin vice what did we really expect?
Antipodean33 The video is titled “The man BEHIND the DK logo” .... Another, in countless examples of why we need to LISTEN BEFORE SPEAKING.
the video is talking about 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭
Vice doing Vice things.
lol, my art teacher actually know Winston, he showed him some of my work, winston didnt really say anything about it but now i can brag like this to people XP
This was excellent. Brought me back to that time by brother and I went to the record store and our neighbors' son picked us up to take us home. He was a young, born-again christian and he asked to see the records. My brother had picked up In God We Trust, Inc and the neighbor read the lyrics out loud to shame my brother. It was so awkward. Never forgot it. I'm much older now, obviously, and love and appreciate the DK's and all the art from that period even more so now than I did back then. It all helped me process 8 years of Ronald Reagan.
Winston is fantastic, I have always loved him because of his attitude. He does not try to be profound and over hype his stuff. He just makes stuff that looks interesting to him and sometimes the work may have meaning and sometimes it may not. Such an honest dude.
love this dudes work.totally an inspiration. thank you vice for doing an interview with him
A tip of the hat to you sir!!! Been a huge fan of your work for years but didn't even know it!?!?!? I worked in a record store all through high school & used to stare at those works of art everyday,, some of those images are burned into my brain!!! Thank you for the imagery & inspection... You are a true artist...
I grew up in the mid to late 70s to this guys work...always loved this man's work.This was the real scene...hand and hand for the youth movement and nobody sold out the design for any fucking gain.Such a great period and a statement of the times.
And what about the DK logo? I always loved Winstons art he and artist Gee Vaucher from British Anarcho/punk band Crass are two very interesting artists who use cut ups in a very interesting way.
And when talking about Biafra and DK's art, H.R. Giger comes to mind too. Frankenchrist.
something about this guy is deeply inspirational
I define art as any creation by a person that causes others to have some kind of thought or emotion.
beers and great conversation. best thing ever
weed.
winston smith has been my favorite artist for a long while. great to hear from him and get to know him. big ups vice!
Great interview Vice! I've always wondered where DK's album art came from :D.
Thanks for the interview . I've known his name and DK's artwork since "in God we trust" was released, but had never seen or heard him, and knew nothing of his other work.
This was truly great, Vice. An absolute legend
I live the art he did for Green Day's Insomniac. So fucking rad!
None of this could have happened in S.F. now. No art, just money. In God We Trust, indeed.
So true. Different time, different city.
Winston still manages to hang on there. But I know what you mean. I moved to SF in 1993 and left 7 years later. Couldn't afford to live there now
@@earinsound im in the bay area. Mega bucks to live here but I hate to leave. Its my home
Christ, you had Crumb and the hippie bands in the 60’s and then punk/thrash metal in the 80’s👹💀
First time I heard his name from Green Day's Insomniac album cover. Been a fan ever since.
I did, it's just that I'm subscribed to Vice as they usually make interesting docs.
Very humble man.
THIS is exactly what I love about Vice. Thank you guys!
Big Uppppp! I never saw him before, but i love his works and the "Dead Kenneys" from a very long time. Thank's Vice, greetings from Italy!
A true master of his art. Always a great inspiration artistically.
this is the best thing i've watched on the internet in a long time.
I just painted his design on my button for my jacket 🤘 his arts a big inspiration and so are the Dead Kennedys
Cool vid. It's so great to see into the window of this artists life. Thanks!
The interviewer looks like he really doesn't want to be there... he looks bored
Most boring interviewer EVER. What the hell? Did he have to come in on his day off or something?
I think it's because he's Canadian and just too polite and quiet
I didnt get that feeling. He was just chillin. :)
did you hear when he asked about political or social , then he said thank god . I'm sure he was just thinking oh great another liberal in the beginning . I think he's just a biased dork looks like he'd fit in better with a pair of Oakley's and a camo hat being just another generic dude
Nardwuar is Canadian and he isn't quite and often times his politeness is condescending. Vice should use Nardwuar for some of their music/art interviews. Especially for the punk rock stuff because no one is more punk rock than Nardwuar.
damn Vice, you do research about anything, music movies, cultural costumes taboo themes, etc. VICE FUCKING RULES!!!
This is such an awesome video.. It really captured what a trip on acid is.. at least for me. The intense discomfort when having to deal with something and the total pleasure after you accomplish it.
Hipster is a versatile word. One of its uses by boring or standard people is to describe anyone creative or different.
I joined the US Army in 1988 where we had to learn Soviet battlefield signs. When I seen it I was like, that is the Dead Kennedy's logo backwards. I was like, cool!
This was the real scene...the real movement,the heart of protest about a government that didn't care(the truth)about what you're world was and still is.
Really one of the best logos in punk or just ever
I think Winston is so good at making collages.
Thanks for twisting my mind in the right direction during my 80s teen years.
thanks for making this interview, I had always wanted to know who had made those images.
as usual, nice interview Vice :)
Art-wise; Winston Smith and David Choe definitely have some Affinity.
Great interview! It's even better than the one on Mocatv's Art Of Punk. Vice rocks!
Why not title this: "Gorillas Have Sperm"?? That got as much screen time as discussion of the DK logo.
The video is called: the man behind the Dead Kennedys logo ...
winston smith like the guy of the book 1984! nice
Vice still has it's groove.
His IN GOD WE TRUST imagery I had on a huge poster in my room growing up, magnificent, visceral.
he also made the art for green day’s insomniac record! you can see it on the wall at 0:45 :)
10 years ago I used to scribble that logo in every school desk i sat
Any artist knows that traveling is a must. If you stay in one place you only become known in that one city. Where as if you travel you create demand showcasing your art world wide. $upply and demand.
This guy also made the Insomniac album art? Very cool.
I can see where you are coming from. But there are two sides to art. The technical skills and the ideas. This guy is all about ideas.
Well to each their own.
congratulations on your achievement david
Where do Vice find their "journalists" ? This guy has as much trouble asking his questions as he does writing them.. He didn't even ask him about designing the logo mentioned in the title.. He';s more focused on the negative reactions to his art than the actual art.. Subversive art is supposed to challenge people. Thats the point. Nice work vice. Another great story topic executed atrociously...
There's a lot of detail put into what he does. I suppose anyone can do it, but I don't think that really makes it bad. It probably devalues it in a sense, but any decent painter could recreate the mona lisa, or picasso, or any other famous artist's work. It's really about innovation, without being overly avant-garde or pretentious, which Winston Smith clearly isn't.
That's a beautiful fucking studio.
what constitutes a hipster? All I see is an old artist and a dude with a mustache and they both seem fairly learned, I don't understand why one would "hate" these gentlemen.
Covered my high school walls with it.
What is art only with oil paint brushed on to a linen canvas with a size 12 round mohair brush?
You guys have to do an interview with Edward Culver!
He looks like sk8boarder Andrew Reynolds in that teenage photo of him !
A favorite band of mine
In God We Trust, Inc. Is one of my favorite punk cds of all time...
9:06 That isn't a bomb it is the X-15, an experimental rocket plane. Smith is correct when he later calls it a rocket, but bomb is a bit inaccurate.
What song is that at the intro to this video. A DK song?
No, sounds like something generic
kenny g
andrew chaddock Kinda sounds like the intro to 'pull my strings'
All the music is generic so they don't get copyright strikes
I think it's the generic rendition to chemical warfare
DKs are my favorite punk band. them and BR.
That's the point, any thing is art. It's always been that way, how ever art is a illusion for most.
If Pat Robertson dislikes his work... he gets my seal of approval!
stan's work still rings true.
Stannous Floride, you mean?
Wow I feel the same, I can draw really good, but it takes TREMENDOUS effort.
you got the gold medal, well done!
What's the background music?
I love the Dead Kennedys
Take it outside guys!
Does he sell Shirts
I love his work, but...... that's not a missile. That's the X-15. It's an airplane.
It's like what Nietzsche says, stare into the abyss for to long and it will stare right back at you.
he's drinking a Sierra Nevada, fucking good beer too!
i want to hangout in smith's studio.
Hipster = someone who has specialized interests and likes new things that you do not or cannot understand.
yeah. im subscribed to HBO and they usually have interesting shit. i dont much care for a lot of it but i dont go around screaming it because they have a LARGE AUDIENCE! thank you.
So funny to hear him talk about the 'in god we trust' art and what the meaning was behind it. I bought that shirt when I was about 12 and wore it to school. The librarian made me turn it inside out. Ha!
it's about time
what are the feature assosiate with the term hipster?
Check out "the cut ups".
yes! totally agree.
Hey VICE, do an interview with Jello Biafra! Please. You're so close to it.
Awsome stuff
Hi, Punk Surrealist Winston Smith .
this is brilliant...
Lol I can hear it now "Yo dawg quit queefing we get it already".
art of punk already did dis
the best logo band ever made!
His work is fucking rad!
It looked like he was nervous and felt intimidated by this dudes accomplishments.
Caesar's way of saying "You've gone and fucked up now!"
No way was he 14 in that first photograph 😳
1:05 that could be the cannibal from the other vice vid
On a serious note... I think most people like Winston Smith who say they're not political really just want to avoid disagreeing with a lot of people who might otherwise be agreeable. And then emotions and good & bad taste probably have more of an effect than most people want to talk about, assuming they're talking at all... How much do we really expect governments to do anyway? Jobs, roads and healthcare should cover most of it. I wonder though....