> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.jewsrock.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Beck Represents - URL: https://www.jewsrock.org/beck-represents/ - Published: 2005-06-22T12:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-20T22:09:00.000Z - Author: JewsRock - Tags: The 4 Questions *by Barbara Rushkoff* \*In the mid-nineties, zine author Barbara Rushkoff was a DIY dynamo: a self-published person of the book. Her zine Plotz lasted for sixteen issues of rants, raves and Yiddishisms and lives on today at [Plotzworld.com](http://www.plotzworld.com/?ref=jewsrock.org). Plotz scored some major coups, but the biggest might have been an interview with Mr. Milk and Honey himself, Beck Hansen. Below, Rushkoff’s 1997 interview with Beck.\* Beck Represents in Plotz Ultimately I think I guilted Beck’s "people" in to this interview. You see, I was all set up to talk to him months before, only he blew me off (don’t hate me for being truthful!). When I arrived at what was to be my second change, I was told within the first few seconds that I was there that it wasn’t going to happen again. Hmm, I thought, as I kvetched openly. Then all of a sudden I was ushered into the hallway at Roseland for my 10 minutes with Beck (props to Ben C for that!). I was nervous and excited (kvelling in effect). I thought about whipping out my camera and photographing Beck’s traveling trunk where a pair of rhinestone cowboy boots lay perched atop (that’s a photo right there) and many western style shirts were inside (along with orange shoes). I didn’t want to overstep my privilege though cause it took me too long to get this close! I do have to say that Beck was really nice, very genuine and most definitely mench-like. (Which is pretty much the biggest complement I give to anyone). Plotz: Do you even know what this is for – do you know what Plotz is? Beck: Yeah, it’s a Jew thing. Plotz: Right. Can you tell me the Jew make-up of you? Beck: It’s all on my mother’s side. My mother’s mother was all-Jew. Eastern European Jews. It runs through the female side of the famile. Plotz: Then it counts. You look Scandinavian to me. Beck: Yeah, I’m a Scandinavian Jew. Plotz: I’ll take that. Please tell me you were Bar Mitzvah’d. Beck: No. I wanted to be but we were so poor when I was a kid. I remember for years my mother griping about that. I went to Hebrew School for a while though. I got some of the Jew-knowledge, I just didn’t get the ceremony. I remember my friends getting Bar Mitzvah’d though. Plotz: So I can’t ask the fashion question then. Beck: Well, if I was Bar Mitzvah’d I would’ve worn a blue blazer, gray slacks and Florsheims and a phat tie. It’s the uniform. Plotz: When I read about you and you being Jewish, it always seems that the person writing the article is shocked that you’re a Jew. What’s up with that? Beck: They can’t believe it. I don’t know because the tribe is large. I think there’s more people that have Jew in them than don’t. Plotz: Do you have a favorite Jewish holiday? Beck: Passover, because it’s the first time I ever got drunk. I have fond memories. We had pretty rowdy Passovers because my mom would invite all her non-Jewish friends over and they brought a party atmosphere with them. There’s serious parts at Passover but there’s celebratory parts too – hiding the Matzoh. I used one of the prayers from Passover in a song I did on a Christmas jam I did. It was a Hannukah interpretation of The Little Drummer Boy. Plotz: Back to drinking. Do you know of any Jews who drink? Hard liquor? Beck: I drink and so do all of my Jewish friends. Yes. We do it all. Most of the people I know who are Jews have evolved to embracing this now. I’m talking West Coast Jews here. Maybe it’s different on the East Coast. Plotz: So there are Jews on the West Coast? Beck: There’s so many but the West Coast isn’t about tradition at all. Plotz: Can you get a good knish there? Beck: Yeah, there’s an area called Fairfax district where it’s a pretty heavy Jew scene. Lots of Jew food there. East L.A. used to be a massive Jewish community – they’ve got Brooklyn Avenue there. Now it’s Latino, but there’s a lot of Jewish heritage there. Plotz: What Jew would you like to duet with? Beck: That’s a good one – I would like to sing something very traditional with Isaac Bashevis Singer. Something very poignant. Maybe a medley. Plotz: Last question. (Pointing to mutton chops). You’re so close to payess. Would you give me props and wear payess to the Grammys? Beck: I just shave yesterday because I had a full-on Jew beard going. The sideburns are out of control. I could easily show up to the Grammys like that – everywhere I go I try to represent. I’ve played a lot of those X-mas radio shows and there was nobody there. I mean the Wallflowers played there and he wasn’t giving up for Hanukkah. We came there and we represented. We’ve got to take back the holiday – musically. Plotz: Beautiful.