If you hadn't heard by now, Germs drummer/sometime WFMU guest-programmer Don Bolles was busted by Orange County police in April for soap possession. After being pulled over for a broken tail light, his van was searched (as any good cop would do to a guy wearing a freaky fur hat) and a bottle of Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap was produced, testing positive for illicit drug GHB according to police. Don spent Easter in the clink until Bronners themselves bailed him out and took on the task of providing legal counsel. While Bronner's products are indeed hemp-based (a controvery within itself in California these days) GHB is an odd thing to have been tested positive for inside liquid soap, let alone the concept of utilizing it via that avenue (it's a common drug used for date rape). Lab tests on Don's soap proved the field test faulty, but he still has to go back to court later this month. In the meantime, this video (You Tube) of the whole episode recap as well as some pretty informative stuff on testing soap for drugs, and testing soap for...soap.
O.K. now this is a model for effective viral marketing. I can barely type so overcome with the urge to head down to the health food store am I. A Marky Ramone spirulina debacle would be a perfect tie-in and a spectacular opportunity for viral co-op advertising. I don't know if anyone's tried that before. That is not just to say co-op like "Park Slope" but rather one or more advertisers, often one of which is the retailer, entering into an advertising venture together.
Uh oh, it's starting to wear off. I do tend to buy toiletries in large quantities. For example, the last time I purchased TP was early 2002. While I do stockpile smaller quantities of soap and shampoo, perhaps it would be better to re-think this when I am closer to running out.
Posted by: bartelby | May 09, 2007 at 01:18 PM
I'm not sure I'd want the Bronners acting as my legal counsel. They crazy!
Love their peppermint soap though.
Posted by: Lester | May 09, 2007 at 02:44 PM
i knew i loved that shit for a reason
Posted by: Holland Oats | May 09, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Loved the Germs, saw the final show, think Don Bolles is a fascinating crazy nutjob....but only when he wasn't walking around stark naked, that sucked. But since I know cops don't read this, I am going to guess that somehow, ex-alcoholic Bolles, really did store alcohol-substitute drug GHB in that plastic bottle. Ha!
Why couldn't they have busted him closer to the release of the Germs dramatization movie. That woulda been good PR! The trailers looks greeeat! Ghoul-luck Bolles! Say hi to crazy little John P from Tom in CO.
Posted by: fred | May 09, 2007 at 11:19 PM
My all-one-god cleanlifaith is pulsing with the primping power of GHB.
Posted by: sam | May 10, 2007 at 12:07 AM
It must be said, that some of the bottles claimed you could use the stuff as some kind of wacky birth control... Now if you were to slip some of that goop into the ladies nether regions, ahhh, forget it. This whole thread is making me feel dirty.
Posted by: K. | May 10, 2007 at 12:18 PM