Accidental Genius

Suzy's current husband, Patrick Boissel, has been involved with the label since '93, when he immigrated from France following a serendipitous meeting at a European music conference. Boissel runs his own labels, Alive and Total Energy, in loose affiliation with Bomp!, retaining complete creative control over his projects, but sharing business functions like shipping and promotion. He has also become Suzy's emissary when business matters between Greg and his first ex-wife can't be resolved via the fax machine. With the exception of Suzy and Greg, all the combinations of exes still talk and get along quite well. "I'm going to have to marry Greg next," jokes Grant. "And I'm not looking forward to it. Neither is my girlfriend. After that, there's Betsy. . . ."

Wild Don Lewis

Bomp! co-founder Greg Shaw: Responsible for inventing punk, garage and power pop?

Wild Don Lewis

Greg Shaw: "I've always viewed myself as a developer of scenes. I don't really look for isolated bands."

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More About

• Greg Shaw
• Lester Bangs
• Lisa Fancher
• The Brian Jonestown Massacre
• Punk Rock

For the first time in a while, Greg Shaw claims to be looking eagerly toward the future of Bomp!. During the past decade, he hasn't worked with many new bands except the Brian Jonestown Massacre, concentrating on reissue projects like the Pebbles series instead. While this has partially been because of a lack of interest in most of the '90s musical scenes, it also has had a lot to do with his health. A diabetic since the age of 10, his disease worsened several years ago to the point that his kidneys failed, and he required dialysis treatments every three hours. He credits Patrick with keeping his Bomp! business in order when his illness prevented him from doing things himself. In May of this year, however, Greg received both a kidney and pancreas transplant, which he claims cured his diabetes.

Feeling better than he has in ages, Greg Shaw claims that part of the label's ongoing 25th-anniversary celebration (which included a massive concert/party held earlier this month featuring performances by Wayne Kramer, Brian Jonestown Massacre, the Zeros and others) is to "let the world know that I'm back and I'm ready to rock." Although he quickly adds, "But I still don't want any demo tapes!"