I recently sat down with my old friend John Adams. John is an artist, songwriter, and filmmaker. I first knew him from his punk party band Banana Fish Zero, which was based here in NY. You all may know him more from his incredible work as a filmmaker with his family, Adams Family Films. They have made eight features since 2012 including 2021’s Hellbender which is also the name of the family’s super cool music project (spelled H6LLB6ND6R).
John was first inspired by bands like Black Flag that took him on a journey through punk with many bands and establishing himself and a benevolent master of chaos ceremonies. In 2008, he was cast in a Fuse Channel show called Rock and Roll Acid Test in a stuntman/maniac with a hammer role. This is what first brought the family out to California, where they started making their very distinctive films entirely on their own. Now they have become punk masters of horror.
I encourage you to go track down all his music, all Adams Family Films, and keep your eyes peeled for the next one currently making festival rounds, Mother of Flies, which is being distributed by Shudder Films in 2026.
Radar features discussions with artists and industry leaders who are creators and devotees of music and is produced by Dylan Hundley and The Vinyl District. Dylan Hundley is an artist and performer and the co-creator and lead singer of Lulu Lewis and all things at Darling Black. She co-curates and hosts Salon Lulu, a New York-based multidisciplinary performance series. She is also a cast member of the iconic New York film Metropolitan.
