The Bad Penny (beta)

Among those who belong on indie-rock’s Mount Rushmore, J. Robbins – Jawbox frontman, hardcore godfather and one of the most prolific rock producers of all time – is an undeniable front-runner. Respected by all and disliked by none, the workaholic legend graciously carved out some time to participate in The Bad Penny‘s On Tyranny series.

He touched on what a bummer it is to share the same birthday as Donald Trump; how tech bros are aiding and abetting – if not puppeteering – the fascist takeover of America; and, in true hardcore DIY fashion, reminded musicians and fans alike that the war can be won if we empower ourselves to rise up and topple those terrorizing this country.

If you liked this edition of On Tyranny, you might also enjoy a brand-new entry we just published featuring Ratboys, as well as these:

• Brett Bradford of Scratch Acid, Suckling Hopes MAGA ‘Will Eat Itself’
• Built to Spill Bassist on ‘Solidarity’ at ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ Rally with Bernie Sanders, AOC
• Bobby Conn Doesn’t Mince Words About ‘Con Man’ Donald Trump
• Eugene S. Robinson (Buñuel, Ex-Oxbow) Leaving US for Spain, Says ‘I’ve Had It
• Justin Sinkovich Focuses on ‘Discipline’ Amid ‘Stressful Times’ as Some Friends Leave US
• Tortoise Wasn’t ‘Sure Any Business Would Survive Donald Trump’s Ineptitude and Destruction’
• Jesus Lizard Vocalist David Yow Ditches US for Portugal
• Thalia Zedek Suggests ‘Artists Should Boycott Playing the United States’

A partial list of producer Robbins’ collaborators includes:

2″ Astronaut
A Band Called California
Against Me!
Ageist
All Eyes West
Alternative Tentacles Records
Andy Bopp
Arctic Rodeo Records
BELLS≥ 
Bitter Branches
Black Clouds
Black Lung
Boister
Braid
Bridge and Tunnel
Clutch
Coliseum
Continuals
Daria (FR)
Dedaires
Dischord Records
Dismemberment Plan
Dope Body
Drug Church
Ex Hex
Flavor Waster
Football Etc
Forgetters
Fotocrime
Franz Nicolay
Geoff Sanoff
Government Issue
Hammer No More The Fingers
Hey Mercedes
Jawbreaker
Jay Turner
Joshua
June Star
Kerosene 454
King Giant
Lemuria
Liars Academy
Lionize
Lower Dens
Mark Morton
Mary Timony
Moving Targets
Murder by Death
No Idea Records
Pilot to Gunner
Ponytail
Positive No
Red Hare
Relapse Records
Rennie Grant
Roomrunner
Self Defense Family
Serpents of Secrecy
Small Brown Bike
Sun and Sail Club
Super! Silver! Haze!
Swain (DE)
Sweet Jesus
TONE
Texas is the Reason
The Effects
The Holy Circle
The Pauses
The Promise Ring
The Sword
Throttlerod
Thrushes
Tiny Moving Parts
Vic Bondi/Report Suspicious Activity
Vinny Vegas
Vivid Low Sky
War on Women
Watergate
Weathermaker Music
Wino (the Obsessed, St. Vitus, et al)

For more on Robbins, go to his website.

Watch J. Robbins performing his Trump “ode,” “Dear Leader,” in concert here.

This entry was posted on 05/25/2026 at 6:29 am and is filed under Interviews with tags AI, authoritarianism, fascism, J. Robbins, Jawbox, On Tyranny, tech bros, techno fascism, trump, tyranny. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.