⚡️💥 VIDEO PREMIERE: "Mooks" By Supersport 2000
Plus An Interview With Rod Cervera
“Surf’s up, ready, let’s go…”
The opening line to Supersport 2000’s long lost track, “Mooks,” is a siren call that echoes across the decades from the depths of the ‘90s. It’s a slice of grungy indie rock that ebbs and flows as a young couple channels their sun-soaked passions into catching a few waves together.
“I think ‘Mooks’ is a definitive Supersport 2000 song in that it captures the essence of our sound and is an example of the dynamic of the shared vocals Cherie and I would occasionally experiment with. The recording came out just how I wanted in terms of guitar tones and drums sounds. It's also just a fun song about a boy and girl surfing,” Rod Cervera told me for the interview below.
The LA-based quartet formed in 1994, rising from the ashes of the band Magpie. Supersport 2000’s line up included Cervera (guitar/vocals), Cherielynn Westrich (bass/vocals), Graciela Germann (guitar) and Mike Fletcher (drums).
It’s a real thrill to have “Mooks” on the Generation Blue vinyl compilation that accompanies the oral history book. The world premiere video below features previously unseen footage of Supersport 2000 performing at the Pop in the Parking Lot event in Hollywood in 1996. (Along with Ridel High, Chopper One and others.)
Supersport 2000 was a fixture on the LA club scene in the mid-90’s and recorded a lot of material, but only officially released a handful of songs.
The band put out one single, “Pink Slip” b/w “17 Braids” (the CD and cassette versions also included the song “I Love Christian Stone”—and ode to the Campfire Girls frontman). Their song “Faster Kiddies” was included on the Hear You Me! A Tribute to Mykel and Carli compilation. There is a also a digital Supersport 2000 bootleg called Shine Like the Holy Grail (1995-1997) that makes the rounds among fans.
At the same time, Cervera, Westrich and Fletcher were members of The Rentals, Weezer bassist Matt Sharp’s mid-’90s side project that later became his full-time gig. Cervera and Westrich both played on the debut album, Return of the Rentals, with Sharp and Weezer drummer Pat Wilson (Fletcher replaced Wilson on the road).
“It was always interesting for me to see where The Rentals might go…but the name The Rentals was so appropriate, because it really was just putting together these different pieces from different bands,” Cervera told me for Generation Blue—An Oral History of The Hollywood Geek Rock Scene in the 1990s & 2000s. (Also available as an ebook).
Supersport 2000 continued performing around Hollywood after The Rentals’ tour cycle ended, but the band slowly faded away by 1997. Cervera also played on The Rentals’ sophomore album, Seven More Minutes, while turning his attention to recording other bands. He was a producer on Weezer’s 2002 album Maladroit and contributed a piano part to “Keep Fishin’.”
“I always felt that Supersport 2000 was a pretty good band, but we just never pursued it that far. We really enjoyed playing live and were so happy to be part of the very special scene back then,” Cervera said.
Rod Cervera Interview
Can you tell me a little about the background of "Mooks"?
Rod Cervera: I originally wrote the music for the song for the band we had previous to SS200—Magpie—in '93 or '94. There was a version we recorded with different lyrics and a a different title, but once Magpie disbanded (our last show was at Dreams/Spaceland some time in '94) SS2000 took it in a different direction. I always really liked the soft intro to the song especially, and how it sort of explodes into a fuzzy, heavy sound.
Did members of Supersport 2000 surf?
Rod Cervera: I started surfing in my early 20s. I had high school friends that surfed (and still do) and they finally convinced my to try it. I got hooked on it and would longboard surf in Malibu quite a bit in my early and mid 20s. After SS2000 formed, Cherie and Graciela would go out together sometimes. I absolutely loved the Beach Boys and that had an influence on us.
What's the meaning behind the title of the song?
Rod Cervera: When I was a kid in the ‘80s, we had family friends that lived in Newport Beach, Ca. They were a very interesting family, some with roots in old California surf culture. One of them was named ‘Mooch’ and he lived in Laguna Beach. At the time I knew him as a kid he was already in his late 60s, but still the quintessential laid-back surfer (think Sam Elliot looks).
I think we just riffed on that name and would throw it around as just an imaginary surfer friend we had. So, it seemed like ‘Mooks’ would be a typical surfer guy nickname and a more unique name for the song than ‘Surf's Up.’
This track was previously unreleased. Does that mean that there's more Supersport 2000 music in the vaults?
Rod Cervera: We recorded many songs. I was a recording engineer and had a studio, so we recorded basically everything we wrote—all to tape. Certainly an album or two's worth that is unreleased.
I'm aware of the bootleg that's out there, but there are more unreleased songs (including studio versions of some of the live tracks on the bootleg). Some of the material is still on tape and I'm not certain what condition those tapes are in. But there are several I had digitally transferred. There are also some films of recording sessions. Definitely some interesting stuff in the archives!
What's it like having this track officially out in the world after 30 years?
Rod Cervera: I guess I'm surprised this one hadn't leaked out so I was pleased to provide something essentially unheard. This process has also allowed me to go back and listen to SS2000 in a way I have not in many years, which has been really fun.
I can't recall exactly why or when we broke up, but I know it was no later than '97. Personally I went more in the direction of recording and producing after we ended and did that for over a decade. I'm glad that we recorded so much material though, it might be interesting to explore making it available!
Rod Cervera & S.W. Lauden On Powered By Rock Podcast
The Kindle edition of Generation Blue: An Oral History of The Hollywood Geek Rock Scene in the 1990s & 2000s is available for a special pre-order price of $6.67 (neighbor of the beast…). This book was previously only available in print and sold with a vinyl compilation—but a lot of digital media fans asked for an ebook version. Read all the personal stories and stream the comp on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, etc.