NO GODS, NO MASTERS, ONLY PIZZA...(and punk rock)

JEREMY DAMASKE IS LIVING HIS DREAM OF OWNING A PIZZERIA AND SLINGING SLICES TO HIS CLOSEST HOMIES IN THE HEART OF THE VERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH HE HAS BEEN A LONG TIME RESIDENT. AS WELL AS BEING A HUSBAND, A DAD AND A BUSINESS OWNER, HE STILL FINDS TIME TO SHRED GUITAR IN THE PUNK ROCK SUPERGROUP TEENER. CHECK OUT JEREMY'S LOVE FOR HIS MUSIC, SUBLIME, AND WHERE HE STANDS ON PINEAPPLE ON A PIZZA.

SMORE JESUS: When I first met you back in 2008 you told me it was your dream to own a pizzeria where your friends could hang out, now that Pie-Sci is a huge success how does it feel to see your dream manifested?

JEREMY: It’s a lot more work then I thought! Unfortunately there isn’t much time for hanging out haha. I do sometimes have moments in the restaurant when I’m all alone, late at night or early in the morning, and I am overcome with joy on how well everything has gone thus far.

SJ: Pie-Sci started as a Sunday pop up at Woodbridge Pub, what is the origin of Pie-Sci, how was the concept conceived?

JD: Pie-Sci was always just a fun idea I had that sounded cute and cool and was goofy but an actual tangible idea and future. It was always a lot of talk until AJ Manoulian took the bait and hit me up one day to say he thought it was a really good idea.

SJ: You first rose to fame in your band The Summer Pledge in the mid-2000s, you guys broke up rather abruptly after putting out your second LP “Vessels”, was that break up a shock? Was it tough transitioning into a new band?

JD: Fame!? Yea well why do I still have so many records in my attic? The Summer Pledge took things very serious for a long time. I think it’s because of the fact that we weren’t where we wanted to be in our musical careers that we had began to get burnt out. It was necessary for the band to end in order to continue our friendships with each other. Bands are always kind of coming and going in and out of my life, I think having a close circle of good musicians as friends makes it easy to start new projects and continue to have fun with playing music.

SJ: Do you consider Uncle Buck a cinema classic?

JD: Anything John Candy was in is considered a cinema classic by me.

SJ: Do you have any favorite memories from living at The Clubhouse?

JD: So many! Probably when we had a surrealist birthday party for our friend Alyssa, or every porch party ever, or that time Cortez shit in Joey’s bed.

SJ: Your new band Teener is something unique, you guys have been really catching a buzz lately, what do you like most about playing in the band? What does Teener have coming up?

JD: The thing I like most about Teener is seeing Ollie become a complete diva and create this new fresh energy that I haven’t felt in a long time with music. We have so many good shows coming up July-September. Also a 7” on a really awesome kinda local big label.

JEREMY (LEFT) AND LEAD SINGER OLLIE (RIGHT) OF TEENER PERFORMING AT THE LOVING TOUCH FERNDALE

SJ: You’re an avid traveler, where are some of your favorite places outside of Detroit?

JD: Spain, Turkey, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Brazil. I don’t get to travel anymore but those countries were all very amazing.

SJ: Nirvana or Sublime?

JD: Nirvana but I secretly love 40oz to Freedom. You can’t fuck with that record because it crosses so many genres.

SJ: Other than your own, whose pizza do you enjoy most?

JD: I don’t eat pizza at many places in town anymore. One of my forever favs is a square pizza from Niki’s with red sauce, onion, feta and banana peppers. Probably throw one meat on there too.

ROCKING HIS TRADEMARKED BACON BOW TIE IN THE KITCHEN

SJ: Do you think Homer was better as an astronaut or Mr. Plow?

JD: Mr. Plow, he was a self made business, he even shot his own commercials. The astronaut thing was kind of a right time right place extreme luck.

SJ: What is your stance on putting pineapple on pizza?

JD: I think the guy who first put pineapple on a pizza should have a statue. I mean he paved the way for shit to get really weird and delicious.

SJ: What bands are you into right now?

JD: Idles, Bony Doon, Meat Wave, Danny Brown, Material Girls

JEREMY PERFORMING IN HIS PREVIOUS BAND, TOUCH OF NORTH AMERICA, WITH MATTHEW CONZETT, 2015

SJ: You have been a long time Detroit resident and are well known for giving back to the community, have you ever given consideration to running for mayor?

JD: Hell no, politicians freak me out.

SJ: Where can people go to keep up on everything you’re doing?

JD: Instagram: @piescipizza @teener.det

SJ: Any parting words?

JD: I’m so proud of you for staying creative and fresh, from your photos to your music to your new hobby, making zines. I love you brother!

THANK YOU JEREMY! IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE!

BE SURE TO STOP IN PIE-SCI (5163 Trumbull Avenue, Detroit, MI 48208) FOR SOME FRESH DELICIOUS PIZZA, AND CATCH THE PUNK ROCK SUPERSTARS TEENER ROCKING A STAGE NEAR YOU.