...Moon paid for my baby. Okay, I need to do some explaining here. My son was born thirteen years ago today. At the time, I was working full-time at Moon and was fortunate to have health insurance through the company (an independent record label, I'd like to point out). So Moon didn't exactly buy my baby, but the label's health insurance coverage for f/t employees paid for all the doctor's and hospital fees relating to his birth.
Even back in 1998, it was a considerable business expense for Moon to offer health coverage to its employees, but Buck thought it was the decent and right thing to do--and I sensed that he was quite proud that the label had grown to such a degree that something like offering health insurance was even possible.
And for this, I'm forever grateful.
+ + + +
I guess I should also mention that the one condition of receiving health insurance coverage through Moon was that employees' first born children be "marked" in some way. So, if you manage to comb through my son's thick head of hair and find just the right spot on his scalp, you'll find a small Moon Dog tattooed there...(just kidding!).
Great joke! We all know it's ACTUALLY the Dub 56 logo...
ReplyDeleteGreat story. I've only met Buck once, and he was a hell of a nice guy.
ReplyDeleteThis story put a smile on my face.
How I miss Moon Ska. It was sure nice to see Bucket and the Toasters a few weekends ago in CA.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dr. Ska. Moon Ska misses you, too.
ReplyDeleteMiles, glad to have made your day a bit happier.
KJ: Yes, and the tattoo is on his bum!
Moon Ska was also cool in that no one minded that I unplugged the ska jukebox everyday and played Sisters of Mercy instead.
ReplyDeleteAdam: How true. We were pretty laid back about things in true DIY spirit...though you could sell the ska, man!
ReplyDelete(Forgot about the ska jukebox...that was another cool thing about the store...though the coolest was the in-store we did with Laurel Aitken!)
Thanks.
Steve
From the limited pictures I've seen online, that Moon Ska store looked and sounded awesome. I always wanted to visit/shop, but I was in high school and lived in CA. Now that dream will never come to fruition. Damn.
ReplyDeleteI still get excited when I see a Moon record at a used shop, even though I own damn near all of them.
Dr. Ska:
ReplyDeleteIn its day, the Moon store was pretty awesome. Obviously, you could buy all of our releases and merch, but we also carried a TON of things from other labels around the world...
Steve
Now, I really want to get in a time machine!
ReplyDeleteThe in-store with Laurel Aitken was AWESOME. I also liked the little fridge where I stored my beer. Fun times!
ReplyDeleteWe had all kinds of amazing amenities, right? And lots of great take-out right near by...
ReplyDelete