Frank Portman (born September 21, 1964), better known by the pseudonym Dr. Frank, is an American musician, singer, guitarist, and author. He is the singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the
Berkeley, California
Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland, Cali ...
punk rock
Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
band
The Mr. T Experience
The Mr. T Experience (sometimes abbreviated MTX) is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California, United States. They have released eleven full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationall ...
, and has remained the only consistent member of the band since its formation in 1985, performing on ten studio albums and five
EPs. He has also recorded and performed as a solo artist, releasing the album ''
Show Business is My Life'' in 1999 and the EP ''Eight Little Songs'' in 2003. In recent years he has pursued a writing career in
young adult literature
Young adult literature (YA) is typically written for readers aged 12 to 18 and includes most of the themes found in adult fiction, such as family dysfunction, substance abuse, alcoholism, and sexuality. It is characterized by simpler world build ...
, authoring the novels ''
King Dork
''King Dork'' is the first novel by Frank Portman, published in 2006. A work of young adult fiction, the first-person narrative follows 14 year-old Tom Henderson during the first few months of his sophomore year of high school. Tom navigates the ...
'' (2006), ''
Andromeda Klein'' (2009), and ''
King Dork Approximately'' (2014).
Education
Portman attended
Mills High School
Mills High School is a Public school (government funded), public high school in Millbrae, California, Millbrae, California, one of eight in the San Mateo Union High School District.
Mills was established in 1958. Mills High School has been name ...
in
Millbrae, California
Millbrae is a city located in northern San Mateo County, California, San Mateo County, California, United States. To the northeast is San Francisco International Airport; San Bruno, California, San Bruno is to the northwest, and Burlingame, Cal ...
in the
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a List of regions of California, region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, California, S ...
. He then moved to nearby
Berkeley
Berkeley most often refers to:
*Berkeley, California, a city in the United States
**University of California, Berkeley, a public university in Berkeley, California
*George Berkeley (1685–1753), Anglo-Irish philosopher
Berkeley may also refer to ...
and attended the
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after t ...
.
Musical career
Portman's musical career began during his high school years in 1979, when he played in a band called the Bent Nails alongside future
Mr. T Experience
The Mr. T Experience (sometimes abbreviated MTX) is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California, United States. They have released eleven full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationall ...
bass player Byron Stamatatos. The group was short-lived but released a song entitled "No More Riots" on the northern California punk compilation ''
Not So Quiet on the Western Front'' released by ''
Maximum Rocknroll
''Maximumrocknroll'', often written as ''Maximum Rocknroll'' and usually abbreviated as ''MRR'', is a not-for-profit monthly online zine of punk subculture and radio show of punk music. Based in San Francisco, ''MRR'' focuses on punk rock and ...
'' in 1982. After high school Portman left Millbrae for UC Berkeley but kept in touch with Stamatatos. While a student there he hosted a program on campus radio station
KALX
KALX (90.7 FM) is an FM radio station that broadcasts from the University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, California, United States. KALX, a community and student-run radio station licensed to the university, broadcasts in stereo with ...
which prominently featured local punk rock music, and met fellow DJ Jon Von Zelowitz. While working at the station Portman recorded a
rap
Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates " rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backin ...
version of the
Dr. Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel ( ;["Seuss"](_blank)
'' Green Eggs and Ham
''Green Eggs and Ham'' is a Children's literature, children's book by Dr. Seuss. It was published by the Beginner Books imprint of Random House on August 12, 1960. The book follows Sam-I-am as he follows an unnamed character, repeatedly asking ...
''. He also met Alex Laipeneiks, who had been a high school friend of Portman's younger brother John Portman. In the Summer of 1985 Portman, Zelowitz, Stamatatos, and Laipeneiks formed
The Mr. T Experience
The Mr. T Experience (sometimes abbreviated MTX) is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California, United States. They have released eleven full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationall ...
. It was at this time that Portman began using the stage name "Dr. Frank," which he continues to use in his musical endeavors to this day.
The Mr. T Experience recorded their first album ''
Everybody's Entitled to Their Own Opinion
''Everybody's Entitled to Their Own Opinion'' is the debut album by the Berkeley, California punk rock band The Mr. T Experience. It was released in 1986 by Disorder Records. The album established the band's presence in the prolific San Francisc ...
'' in July 1986. They began to build a local following through tours and airplay on college radio stations and quickly became part of the thriving late-1980s
Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose. The Association of Bay Area Governments ...
punk rock movement centered around the
924 Gilman Street
The Alternative Music Foundation located at 924 Gilman Street, almost exclusively referred to as "Gilman", is a non-profit, all-ages, collectively organized music club. It is located in the West Berkeley, Berkeley, California, West Berkeley ar ...
venue and the
Lookout! Records
Lookout Records (stylized as Lookout! Records) was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California, and later in Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having released Operatio ...
label. At this time Portman briefly also played drums with the band
Sweet Baby, but quickly returned to his main focus The Mr. T Experience, who released their second album ''
Night Shift at the Thrill Factory
''Night Shift at the Thrill Factory'' is the second album by the Berkeley, California punk rock band The Mr. T Experience, released in 1988 by Rough Trade Records. Lookout! Records re-released the album in 1996 with a number of bonus tracks.
The ...
'' in 1988. Included on the album was the song "The History of the Concept of the Soul," which was essentially Portman's college thesis condensed into an 80-second punk song. In 1990 the band signed to Lookout! Records, a label they remain on to this day and through which Portman has also released all of his other musical output.
Portman continues to be the guitarist and vocalist for The Mr. T Experience, also acting as the band's primary songwriter. Zelowitz also contributed significantly to the band's songwriting and served as a second guitarist and occasional singer until his departure from the group in 1992, after which the band essentially became Portman's project. Despite multiple lineup changes over the years, he remains the band's sole songwriter and only remaining original member. The band has released ten full-length albums, several EPs, and numerous singles over the course of their career, with nearly all material written and sung by Portman. After some solo acoustic performances he recorded a solo album entitled ''
Show Business is My Life'' in 1999 and an
EP, ''
Eight Little Songs'', in 2003. Many of the songs from this EP were re-recorded with The Mr. T Experience for the 2004 album ''
Yesterday Rules'', their most recent and stylistically diverse release. Portman continues to perform occasionally as a solo artist. He also occasionally plays in
The Bomb Bassets
The Mr. T Experience (sometimes abbreviated MTX) is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California, United States. They have released eleven full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured internationall ...
with his longtime friend Dallas Denery.
Portman's musical style is generally characterized as
pop punk
Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...
, heavily influenced by the
Ramones
The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States and elsewhere, the Ramones are often recognized as one of th ...
and other melodic rock groups. This is the style most generally associated with The Mr. T Experience. His compositions cover a variety of topics but are concerned primarily with personal relationships; he is known to introduce much of his material with the throwaway line "This is a song about a girl." Over the years his other musical tastes and interests have pushed the band to explore many styles, branching out from the Bay Area pop punk sound which he helped define. This change is evidenced on a number of solo acoustic songs interspersed between the pop punk standards on most of the band's late-1990s albums. Portman's solo recordings have further explored these other styles and influences, including
country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
,
bossa nova,
Rock & Roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...
, and 1960s
beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a British popular music Music genre, genre that developed around Liverpool in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The genre melded influences from British rock and roll, British and Music of the United St ...
.
Writing career
In recent years Portman has published a blog entitled "Dr. Frank's What's-It." His
young adult novel
Young adult literature (YA) is typically written for readers aged 12 to 18 and includes most of the themes found in adult fiction, such as family dysfunction, substance abuse, alcoholism, and sexuality. It is characterized by simpler world build ...
''
King Dork
''King Dork'' is the first novel by Frank Portman, published in 2006. A work of young adult fiction, the first-person narrative follows 14 year-old Tom Henderson during the first few months of his sophomore year of high school. Tom navigates the ...
'' was published in April 2006. The film rights to the book were optioned by
Gary Sanchez Productions
Gary Sanchez Productions, LLC was an American film and television production company founded by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.
History
Gary Sanchez Productions was founded in 2006 by comedians and filmmakers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. The ...
that November. In May 2009 Portman reported that a new deal had been reached with
Sony Pictures
Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment studio conglomerate that produces, acquires, and distributes filmed entertainment (theatrical motion pictures, television programs, and rec ...
and that a director had been attached to the film.
The
Internet Movie Database
IMDb, historically known as the Internet Movie Database, is an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and biograp ...
lists the film as "in development".
Portman's second novel, ''
Andromeda Klein'', was published on August 25, 2009.
A ''King Dork'' sequel entitled ''
King Dork Approximately'' was published in 2014.
Discography
With the Bent Nails
*"No More Riots" on the ''
Maximum Rocknroll
''Maximumrocknroll'', often written as ''Maximum Rocknroll'' and usually abbreviated as ''MRR'', is a not-for-profit monthly online zine of punk subculture and radio show of punk music. Based in San Francisco, ''MRR'' focuses on punk rock and ...
'' double
LP compilation ''
Not So Quiet on the Western Front'' (1982) – vocals, guitar
With The Mr. T Experience
''Albums and EPs listed only, for a complete listing of releases see
The Mr. T Experience discography
The discography of The Mr. T Experience, a Berkeley, California-based punk rock band formed in 1985, consists of ten studio albums, five extended play, EPs, and nine single (music), singles.
The Mr. T Experience formed in 1985 with an initial li ...
.''
*''
Everybody's Entitled to Their Own Opinion
''Everybody's Entitled to Their Own Opinion'' is the debut album by the Berkeley, California punk rock band The Mr. T Experience. It was released in 1986 by Disorder Records. The album established the band's presence in the prolific San Francisc ...
'' (1986) – vocals, guitar
*''
Night Shift at the Thrill Factory
''Night Shift at the Thrill Factory'' is the second album by the Berkeley, California punk rock band The Mr. T Experience, released in 1988 by Rough Trade Records. Lookout! Records re-released the album in 1996 with a number of bonus tracks.
The ...
'' (1988) – vocals, guitar
*''
Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood
''Big Black Bugs Bleed Blue Blood'' is an EP by the Berkeley, California punk rock band The Mr. T Experience, released in 1989 by Rough Trade Records. Lookout! Records re-released the EP as a CD in 1997 with numerous bonus tracks.
Track list ...
'' (1989) – vocals, guitar
*''
Making Things With Light
''Making Things with Light'' is the third album by the Berkeley, California punk rock band The Mr. T Experience, released in 1990 by Lookout! Records. It was the band's first album to include bass guitar, bass player Aaron Rubin, replacing former ...
'' (1990) – vocals, guitar
*''
Milk Milk Lemonade'' (1992) – vocals, guitar
*''
Strum ünd Bang, Live!?'' (1992) – vocals, guitar
*''
Gun Crazy
''Gun Crazy'' (also known as ''Deadly Is the Female'') is a 1950 American crime film noir starring Peggy Cummins and John Dall in a story about the crime-spree of a gun-toting husband and wife. It was directed by Joseph H. Lewis, and produce ...
'' (1993) – vocals, guitar
*''
Our Bodies Our Selves'' (1993) – vocals, guitar
*''
...And the Women Who Love Them'' (1994) – vocals, guitar
*''
Love is Dead'' (1996) – vocals, guitar
*''
Revenge is Sweet, and So Are You'' (1997) – vocals, guitar
*''
Road to Ruin'' (1998) – vocals, guitar
*''
Alcatraz
Alcatraz Island () is a small island about 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco in San Francisco Bay, California, near the Golden Gate Strait. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fo ...
'' (1999) – vocals, guitar
*''
The Miracle of Shame'' (2000) – vocals, guitar
*''
Yesterday Rules'' (2004) – vocals, guitar
*''
King Dork Approximately, The Album'' (2017) - vocals guitar
Solo releases (as Dr. Frank)
*''
Show Business is My Life'' (1999) – vocals, all instrumentation
*''
Eight Little Songs'' (2003) – vocals, all instrumentation
*"Andromeda Klein" (2009) – vocals, all instrumentation
*"The Way It Sounds Like (2015) - Vocals, all instrumentation
Bibliography
*''
King Dork
''King Dork'' is the first novel by Frank Portman, published in 2006. A work of young adult fiction, the first-person narrative follows 14 year-old Tom Henderson during the first few months of his sophomore year of high school. Tom navigates the ...
'' (2006)
*''
Andromeda Klein'' (2009)
*''
King Dork Approximately'' (2014)
Short stories
*''
Mark Pang and the Impossible Square'' (From Baseball Stories) (2008) – author
Radio and podcast appearances
Portman appeared on
Ken Reid's ''TV Guidance Counselor'' podcast on February 9, 2017 in an episode recorded live at SF Sketchfest.
References
External links
Frank Portman's websiteFrank Portman's MySpace profileDr. Frank's What's-It (Frank Portman's blog)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Portman, Frank
1964 births
American punk rock musicians
American rock singers
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
Living people
Singers from San Francisco
American writers of young adult literature
The Mr. T Experience
Writers from San Francisco
Guitarists from San Francisco
American male novelists
American bloggers
20th-century American guitarists
American male bloggers