"I think the role of art in today’s society is to provide a place for people to express themselves artistically and for others to experience those creations and take what they want to from them to enrich their own lives. Sometimes I think of myself as someone who spends more time creating art than consuming it, but when I think of all of the time that I spend each week reading, listening to music or watching movies etc. I realize that it’s not even close!"

Joel Orff: Rock 'n' Roll Comic Strip

Joel Orff is a cartoonist and his comic strip Great Moments in Rock 'n' Roll appeared in free weeklies from 2005 to 2014. He's had several graphic novels published in both the USA and France. He's also played drums or bass guitar in several not very good musical groups. Joel says: "I’ve been drawing comics pretty steadily ever since I was a little kid, so there’s a lot of my style that is just instinctive at this point, but I’ve developed what I think I would describe as a kind of philosophy that I’m trying to express. I try to create a positive feeling in my comics, and to feature moments that everyone experiences, but may be smaller or subtler than the ones that are portrayed in most media. It’s important to me to create an evocative story that expresses things that I pick up on in my daily life, and hopefully in a way that also resonates with the reader.  When I was doing my Great Moments in Rock and Roll comic strip people would send in their stories and I would illustrate them, and my favorites were the ones that were very understated and personal."                                       (Photo: American cartoonist Joel Orff)

Joel Orff, continues: "Maybe they wouldn’t normally be thought of as ‘great’, but they were important memories for these people, which to me made them great. With my other books I’m trying to also feature those kinds of moments. I tend to create characters that, to me, seem relatable and nice to be around. This partially happens because I know that I’m going to have to spend months hanging out with them as I work on the book! I’ve thought of trying to create a story with characters that are all unlikable, but I don’t think that I could carry it off."

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has comic Art and Rock n’ Roll Counterculture influenced your views of the world?

I grew up reading comic books and listening to Rock ‘n’ Roll on the radio and it’s hard to imagine a world where neither one of those were a part of my youth. I definitely grew up thinking that being a cartoonist or a musician sounded like very appealing occupations. I was only reading mainstream comic books or newspaper cartoons, but I was aware from a very early age of the underground cartoonists through books on comic history that I read. Even though I had no way of reading actual underground comic books as a kid, I was still subtly influenced by the knowledge that this underground culture existed. I actually think that reading Mad Magazine formed a lot of my political leanings. That magazine had kind of a subversive undercurrent that pointed out the hypocrisy of the world, and implied that everything should be questioned and not taken at face value. Rock and Roll when I was growing up also seemed to be about a kind of freedom, both creatively and as a lifestyle. Partly from that I think I acquired the idea that honest self-expression is important.

What characterizes your comic artwork philosophy? Where does your creative drive come from?

I’ve been drawing comics pretty steadily ever since I was a little kid, so there’s a lot of my style that is just instinctive at this point, but I’ve developed what I think I would describe as a kind of philosophy that I’m trying to express. I try to create a positive feeling in my comics, and to feature moments that everyone experiences, but may be smaller or subtler than the ones that are portrayed in most media. It’s important to me to create an evocative story that expresses things that I pick up on in my daily life, and hopefully in a way that also resonates with the reader.  When I was doing my Great Moments in Rock and Roll comic strip people would send in their stories and I would illustrate them, and my favorites were the ones that were very understated and personal.  Maybe they wouldn’t normally be thought of as ‘great’, but they were important memories for these people, which to me made them great. With my other books I’m trying to also feature those kinds of moments. I tend to create characters that, to me, seem relatable and nice to be around. This partially happens because I know that I’m going to have to spend months hanging out with them as I work on the book! I’ve thought of trying to create a story with characters that are all unlikable, but I don’t think that I could carry it off.    

"I think that in the era of the Internet, comics and music have more impact than ever - in some of the same ways that they always have and in some new ways. I think that they will always be important, as both entertainment and as a way for people to comment on or relate to their own experience. Comics, films and music all influence each other and share a place in influencing the entire cultural landscape." (Comic Strip by Great Moments in Rock 'n' Roll, © Joel Orff) / Wavy Gravy & Odetta)

Why do you think that Underground Comic Art continues to generate such a devoted following?

Comics are as popular or more popular than ever, and I think that it’s partially due to the fact that they can be so personal and that anyone can make one. It always comes down to the person’s vision expressed with a pen on paper. There isn’t the necessity for expensive cameras or editing equipment or recording studios. Consequently there are many very talented artists creating amazing comics these days.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I really love the energy that comes from hearing live music performed by musicians actually playing their instruments, both in concert and on record. In some ways it’s wonderful that someone who can’t even play an instrument can create a record in their bedroom on their computer that sounds like a full band, but I hope that it never replaces real musicians and that a time doesn’t come when younger people don’t know the difference or don’t appreciate that kind of music.

Already I think that the idea of a full album of songs by one artist seems kind of foreign to younger people, they think more in terms of single songs. I still have shelves full of CDs - I like the information, graphics, etc. A teenager looking at those shelves would probably be a little mystified. I do enjoy the convenience of downloading music and even the ease of putting together playlists. It used to take hours to record a mix tape onto a cassette from albums, now it’s almost instantaneous.  

"I grew up reading comic books and listening to Rock ‘n’ Roll on the radio and it’s hard to imagine a world where neither one of those were a part of my youth. I definitely grew up thinking that being a cartoonist or a musician sounded like very appealing occupations. I was only reading mainstream comic books or newspaper cartoons, but I was aware from a very early age of the underground cartoonists through books on comic history that I read." (Comic Strip by Great Moments in Rock 'n' Roll, © Joel Orff) / Albert Collins)

What has made you laugh lately and what touched you from the local music circuits?

I don’t get out to see live music as much as I’d like to, but when I do go out now it’s usually to see my friends play, which I always find very inspiring. Last summer some friends and I found ourselves in a small place on a summer night dancing and singing along to a soul music cover band, and the energy exchanged between the band and crowd along with the joy of getting to dance and sing along was fantastic.

What is the impact of comic art and music on the socio-cultural implications? 

Those are big questions! I think that in the era of the Internet, comics and music have more impact than ever - in some of the same ways that they always have and in some new ways.

I think that they will always be important, as both entertainment and as a way for people to comment on or relate to their own experience. Comics, films and music all influence each other and share a place in influencing the entire cultural landscape.

What is the role of art in today’s society?

I think the role of art in today’s society is to provide a place for people to express themselves artistically and for others to experience those creations and take what they want to from them to enrich their own lives. Sometimes I think of myself as someone who spends more time creating art than consuming it, but when I think of all of the time that I spend each week reading, listening to music or watching movies etc. I realize that it’s not even close!                        (Photo: Joel Orff, Comic Art by © Joel Orff)

"Comics are as popular or more popular than ever, and I think that it’s partially due to the fact that they can be so personal and that anyone can make one. It always comes down to the person’s vision expressed with a pen on paper. There isn’t the necessity for expensive cameras or editing equipment or recording studios. Consequently there are many very talented artists creating amazing comics these days."

How do you want your work to affect people? Is there a message you are trying to convey with your art?

I’ve gotten a lot of letters from people who have read my books over the years, telling me how much they’ve enjoyed them and how they’ve even sometimes helped them through difficult periods in their life in some way - which is much more than I could’ve imagined or hoped for. I do try to create a positive feeling in my work. I’ve never tried to write poems, but I try to create maybe a poetic feeling in the mind of the reader and try to highlight these kind of intangible moments. My advice to cartoonists starting out is always to draw a comic that you’d like to read, which is basically what I do. As long as you’re honestly creating something that resonates with yourself I can guarantee that there’s someone somewhere, and maybe many people, that it will resonate with as well.

How would you like to spend a day in the Fillmore?

If I could spend a day at the Fillmore during that 60s era it would be amazing to see Jimi Hendrix.

What would you like to ask Bob Marley and John Lennon? 

It would be fascinating to talk to Bob Marley and John Lennon about the way that music has changed and developed. I think that they both would’ve found a lot during the last 40 years to be surprised and inspired by. I’d be curious to hear their contributions to social media and comments on the Internet age and political trends of today.

Joel Orff - Home

(Comic Strip by Great Moments in Rock 'n' Roll - The Day I Met Bob Marley, © Joel Orff)