Kid Rock encounter led to artist’s big break
No. Bruns. native designs merchandise for acts like Metallica, the Misfits
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

The Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Services has named Tony Squindo its Artist of the Month. Squindo calls his work “cute and creepy.”

NORTH BRUNSWICK — Mickey Mouse, beware!

The North Brunswick Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services’ July Artist of the Month combines cute and creepy to produce an array of cartoon-inspired artwork.

“It is like Bugs Bunny and Alfred Hitchcock mixed together,” artist Tony Squindo said.

Squindo, 35, a current resident of New Brunswick and Stroudsburg, Pa., lived in North Brunswick for six years. He graduated from North Brunswick Township High School and Middlesex County College with an associate’s degree in marketing, and attended Kean University for art education for a year and a half.

Above, Squindo drew “Teacher’s Pet” to represent what he thinks his wife was like in school. At left, he was influenced by hot rod artist Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, Chuck Jones of Warner Bros. fame, and Dr. Seuss.

“I’ve always been into cartoons. I like any Warner Bros. character; Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck,” he said.

Squindo’s top influences are “Rat Fink” hot rod artist Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and Chuck Jones of Warner Bros. fame. He is also a fan of Dr. Seuss.

“I’ve always drawn. At 6 years old, I drew bunny rabbits and my dog. Art in high school was the only class I was good in. I had friends in bands and I did their fliers. [But] I always wanted it to be more,” he said.

In 1999, Squindo unexpectedly achieved his goal of moving forward with his artwork. He went with his wife to see Kid Rock perform at the Birch Hill Concert Hall in Old Bridge before Kid Rock became popular.

“A couple of my friends heard him and said he was all right [so we went]; it was close to where we were living,” he said. “[Kid Rock] happened to be at the bar. My wife is into photography, and they were really cool about it. She took pictures of [the band].”

About a month later the couple went to Kid Rock’s next show at Tradewinds in Sea Bright and Squindo brought along some sketches he had drawn of the artist. The tour manager let him go on the bus, and Kid Rock liked the designs. Squindo designed T-shirts for him for the next seven months.

However, an even bigger break came backstage at a Kid Rock/Limp Bizkit concert at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City in 2000: Kid Rock was in the corner talking with Lars Ulrich from Metallica.

“[Ulrich] liked all the designs. He gave me his management’s phone number on a brown paper bag. I thought it was too good to be true; I’ve always loved Metallica since high school. I didn’t call the manager for a couple of months. [When I finally called], the manager said, ‘I was waiting for your call,’ ” he recalled.

Squindo’s T-shirts became bestsellers on the tour and he started designing the tour passes. His inspiration for the artwork came from the band’s music.

“I listen to some music and try to get some ideas. I sit there with a sketchbook and scribble whatever comes to mind while I listen to the songs,” he said. “They gave me no input. I didn’t know what to do. Because of the cartoon stuff [I do], I drew evil little kids. They loved it.”

Squindo also designed baby clothing, stuffed animals and Metallica bobbleheads. He illustrated their comic strip “Damage Ink” for their fan club magazine from 1999 to 2001.

Through his work with Metallica, Squindo connected with Korn, The Offspring and Kelly Osbourne. He designed the CD cover and booklet for The Misfits’ “Project 1950” and some of the packaging designs for the Ramones’ documentary, “Ramones Raw.”

“Usually, the bands I like I try to hook up with. I never thought I’d be working for any of these guys. Metallica is the biggest you can get,” he said. “It’s cool to meet all of these people.”

Although Squindo has the recognition and approval of major celebrities, pride has not been a factor in his life.

“Doing a design for my cousin and he likes it is just as good as if Metallica likes it. Doing stuff for people who like it and appreciate it is nice,” he said. “It still blows me away, seeing kids walking around in my clothes. Last summer they flashed clips [before a concert] called the Squ-intro instead of the intro,” he said.

In addition to the musical aspect of his artwork, Squindo has also dipped his hand, or brush, into illustrating children’s books.

“It paid very little but we had no money, so it was OK. But all the [drawings] had to be happy and cute. I got so sick of it. Now all I paint are monsters or evil kids,” he said.

He started working with a guy he knew but then switched to working with his brother, Eric, about three years ago.

“My brother is a writer and a folk singer. He’s kind of a cowboy-type person. His [stories] were demented; they matched my characters pretty good,” he said.

Squindo has completed four or five books but none are published yet. Squindo also began experimenting with oil paints a year and a half ago, painting murals instead of drawing his more traditional sketches.

“I did a mural for a band. I took a month off of work. It is way more relaxing. I did a mural for Brunswick Toyota, 400 square feet, in the garage and the waiting room,” he said.

In the future, Squindo would like to focus more on mural painting, finishing the children’s books and participating in gallery shows.

“Trying to find a style I fit into is hard. It is like ‘Rat Fink’ and lowbrow art. I don’t know. It’s cute and evil,” he said. “I don’t know [where my style came from]. I’m basically a happy person.”

The Gallery of Art will exhibit several of Squindo’s favorite pieces of artwork throughout the month.

“Teacher’s Pet” is a little girl with an ax.

“I think that’s what my wife was in school,” he said.

There is a design from Metallica’s United States and European Tour from the summer of 2004. “The Death Dealer” is Squindo’s interpretation of Frank Frazetta’s massive barbarian with an ax with buzzards around.

“Alligator Head” is the cover of one of his children’s books. “It’s about a kid who tells stories but nobody believes him,” he said.

“Roadsick” is brother Eric’s band’s album cover. It features a sketch of the New Brunswick train station.

The DPRCS Gallery of Art is located at the Municipal Complex at 710 Hermann Road. The gallery is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and by appointment. Call (732) 247-0922, ext. 475, for more information. Squindo’s artwork can also be seen on www.squindo.net.