Joanna: Ok, so here we are. We are in the basment of the Henry Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles and I'm sitting here with - say your name -

Ira: Ira. Ira Eliot.

Joanna: Ira - Ira or Eliot?

Ira: Ira

Joanna: Your first name is Ira and your last name is Eliot.

Ira: Yes.

Joanna: And you play the drums in Nada Surf. How long have you been playing in Nada Surf?

Ira: Well, about as long as memory serves me. It's been about 12 to 13 years.

Joanna: That's a long time!

Ira: 13 years - that's crazy!

Joanna: When you're around, does everyone ask you to play "Popular"?

Ira: No, it used to be like that. And then some sort of blog thing happened where on someone's blog they wrote that if someone yells "Popular!" at a Nada Surf, the entire crowd would turn on them so...But, no, we've played it - we don't shy away from it. We play it irregularly.

Joanna: Why do you think you guys became - why that song?

Ira: It was the novelty value of the song. It's really catchy - it's simple and repetitive.

Joanna: Yeah, I was in High School and it, like, spoke out to me [laughs].

Ira: There's a lot of people who identified with it - just the ranting and these rules of engagement and people being like, "What do I do? I have to be what what and what?" You know, everyone's confused about what to do, and you remember that time when you were like that. I think that song is poking fun at that.

Joanna: It was for the kids.

Ira: Yeah, exactly.

Joanna: You guys don't get angry when someone requests that song.

Ira: No, no...not at all. It's funny, sometimes we play it and I feel like people in the audience are like, "[imitates people in the audience rolling their eyes] Oh, I can't believe they're playing that!"

Joanna: [Laughs] They get more angry than you do. So you guys just came out with a new album, is that right?

Ira: That is correct.

Joanna: And what's it called again?

Ira: Lucky - it's called Lucky.

Joanna: Are you a lucky person?

Ira: I have to be lucky.

Joanna: Yeah?

Ira: Of course. I'm here on a couch with you in some basement.

Joanna: [Blushing and making girly movemements] Weeeeee...Well, can you tell me a little something about this album? Why should someone buy it? Sell it to me...

Ira: Well, we love melody – in a very basic way, it's basic guitar rock music and it's all about songs – melody and songs. And the topics we deal with are generally relationship issues, so they're not generally abstract, they're easy to identify with, and they're sort of dark and light...sometimes the songs seem “happy-poppy”, and then when you listen to the lyrics, you realize they're kind of dark, and we're always trying to strike this balance between light and dark, fast and slow.

Joanna: So it's not a happy album, it's not a sad album -

Ira: No, it's really a hopeful album.

Joanna: That's really good.

Ira: The last record was maybe a little sadder. I think there's a little more “hopeful” in this one -

Joanna: [Laughing] There's a light at the end of the tunnel!

Ira: Yes, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

Joanna: Maybe it's because it was released in the Springtime...and that's what happens in the springtime...[Giggles]

Ira: Maybe. It is. My birthday is tomorrow.

Joanna: Really? What are you going to do?

Ira: Probably the usual stuff with cake and all that.

Joanna: Cake? What kind of cake?

Ira: I don't know.

Joanna: Well, if you could have any kind of cake for your birthday, what would it be?

Ira: Hmmm...ummmm...I guess...you know, that is a very difficult question!

Joanna: [Laughs] Do you like cake?

Ira: Yeah. I don't know, I don't know. Any cake is good cake. I have the world's fastest metabolism, so you can bring it!

Joanna: Yeah, you could tell. You're one of those lucky people. Do you want me to get you one of those big cakes where a naked girl pops out of it?

Ira: That'd be good too.

Joanna: Did anyone ever do that for you?

Ira: No – no one has ever done that for me.

Joanna: Nobody's ever done that for me either.

Ira: What's wrong with our friends?

Joanna: If I jump out of a cake for your birthday, will you jump out of one for mine?

Ira: It's on! [They high-five]

Joanna: [Laughing] I'm gonna make it happen...SO, what label are you guys on?

Ira: Barsuk.

Joanna: Oh yeah, you're on Barsuk! I knew that. So you're not on a major label?

Ira: No, we were back in the day...we were on Elektra.

Joanna: Yeah, Elektra. That's the label Motley Crue doesn't like.

Ira: Yeah – Sylvia Rome...I think they wrote a song about her.

Joanna: They have chapters and chapters about Elektra.

Ira: They've written lots of stuff about how they hate Elektra. I think they needed to stop writing so much, stop dating strippers -

Joanna: You don't date strippers?

Ira: Well, every girl I've dated at some point has been a stripper. Actually, I was dating this girl for 6 or 7 years, and at the end of our relationship, she started dancing and I went to see her one night, and that was it for me. Really cool place, though – just not somewhere you want to see your girlfriend working.

Joanna: Yeah, yeah. [Pause] So, since you've been in a band for 12 years, you've probably been on tour. A lot.

Ira: Yeah.

Joanna: So, are you married?

Ira: I am soon-to-be-married...

Joanna: But you weren't soon-to-be-married the whole time?

Ira: No, no, I got into some trouble...

Joanna: You got into some trouble?

Ira: I did some unspeakable things..

Joanna: I mean, do you guys have any stories from the road you'd like to share? You don't have to say names...

Ira: Ok, I'll tell you that Daniel, who is the bassist in the band, and I had an interesting thing with a “third lady” -

Joanna: - you shared someone?

Ira: Yeah – we shared.

Joanna: Was that weird?

Ira: It was a little weird...it's really weird to get excited around another male that you know. It was sort of one of those thing...she promoted it, though. It was all her idea.

Joanna: That's pretty hot, right?

Ira: Yeah, it was pretty hot. She wasn't shy at all – she was like, “Yeah, bring it on!” And both of us were pretty single at the time so we were like, “Yeah, why not!?!”

Joanna: Do you know in porn there's something called a “DP”?

Ira: A “DP” – what's that?

Joanna: [Motioning with her fingers starring as penises] It's when there's a penis in one whole and a penis in the other one.

Ira: Why is that called a “DP”?

Joanna: It stands for “Double Penetration”...Did you guys do that!?!

Ira: No, no – we tried to keep away from one another.

Joanna: Do you think that's gay?

Ira: No, I don't think it's gay...I think it just depends on your comfort level. If I had been doing it for days, the barriers would've come down and I'm sure it would've been like a free-frall. [Joanna laughs...a lot]

Ira: Next time I do that, we'll have a little “DP” - [Joanna continues laughing a lot]

Joanna: Well, I don't know if you know, but not only am I a porn star, I also direct and produce and run my own company, SO as a Director, I'm running out of ideas...is there anything you want to see? You know, like, if I was going to make a porn for you, how many girls would be in the scene, how many guys, the music, where would it be, would there be a plot?

Ira: Wow – that's a lot to take in. I'm gonna have to have a meeting with you on that! [Yet again, Joanna cracks up] Umm, the first thing that comes to mind -

Joanna: Yeah, what's the first thing that comes to your mind?

Ira: [Thinking about it now] Well, I can't say that...

Joanna: Why? Is it illegal?

Ira: No, it's not that it's illegal. It's just that people are gonna wonder what's wrong with me if I say that...But, that is an awfully good question. Well, I'm kind of fetish-y. I'm a little bit of a Betty Page kind of guy, so a little bangs and garter belts and ridiculous shoes – I'm all for that.

Joanna: Ok, ok. We can do that. That's not a problem!

Ira: And watching girls with toys...vibrators...that's the best.

Joanna: The forced orgasm? Yeah, that's hot. I just came out with this little toy line, so we can do that. I can force a girl to have an orgasm.

Ira: I call it the “No Orgasm”.

Joanna: Oh, when it's like, “Don't, stop, stop, stop – yes!”

Ira: Yeah – the “No” that really means “Yes”. That's the best “No” in the world. But kids – there is still a “No” that means “No”. But I'm talking about the “No – I'm about to go over the edge” - I call that the “Exquisite No”.

Joanna: [Laughs] Yeah. I just came out with this toy that is a mold of my vagina...I didn't think anyone was really gonna buy it, but people are seriously buying them!

Ira: Does that freak you out at all?

Joanna: No, it doesn't freak me out. I think it's really flattering. I was just surprised.

Ira: Yeah – maybe it's an honor.

Joanna: It is – I'm honored. But do you think it could give a guy pleasure?

Ira: Well, I guess it would be a little different sensation...I don't know. I don't know if I could personally do it, but...I guess I could see that. Maybe people need a change of pace from their hands. Like, “Ok, I've been doing this for 15 years – maybe I'll try that!” A friend of mine told me I had to try out masturbation on the plastic shower curtain...and it definitely works!

Joanna: Ok! Well I just learned a lot! [Both laugh]

Joanna: Well, since you've split with Elektra and having all the 12 years of knowledge being in a band, do you have any advice to give to young kids now that are just starting to play in a band?

Ira: Well, it's really hard and difficult to get noticed, but stick to your guns and do what makes you happy. Don't play to impress other people; play to impress yourself. And play with your friends too – that's good – so you always have a good support system when shit blows up.

Joanna: Right. You always have someone to share a girl with!

Ira: [Laughs] Exactly!

Joanna: Ok, cool – I think that's all the questions I have...

Ira: Well, I think that's all the answers I have...[Joanna laughs]

Joanna: Ok, well, people are going to be taking a break from watching dirty movies to read this, so, is there anything you'd like to say?

Ira: They're gonna take a break to read you and I?

Joanna: Yeah – so do you have anything to say to them? Maybe something to get them in the mood?

Ira: I don't know – it's just hard to give instructions to people with erections...

Joanna: I actually feel more comfortable talking to people with erections.

Ira: Oh, ok. A girl actually pulled a knife on me once when I had an erection.

Joanna: Really?

Ira: Yeah. Ok, well for those about to masturbate – we salute you!

Joanna: Ok, bye...well, wait – before we leave, do you want to maybe see my boobs?

Ira: Uhhh...yeah!

Joanna: Ok...[Joanna pulls out boobs...you'll have to buy our next movie with band interviews to see this for yourself...COMING SOON!!!]