 Interview and intro by: Matthew Parrish / Photograph by: Matthew Parrish The Saint Alvia Cartel: "Rocking The Rattle"Babies can be really freaking scarry! Who wants one?! Not ME! Well not yet anyways...I guess once you are ready they must be pretty cool - and why not deck them out in awesome clothes! No one wants a geeky baby! Truth.Explosion.Magazine: So tell me about Rock and Rattle?
Greg Taylor: Rock and Rattle is our super rad clothing line for Infants and Toddlers.
TEM: Our?
GT: Shasta - my wife and mine.
TEM: Oh awesome! Who came up with the idea/name?
GT: Truth be told (no pun intended) Shasta comes up with most of the stuff and ideas including - the name. I am the slave who does brings the designs to life (kidding). She comes up with most of the ideas and then I do up a bunch of designs.
TEM: Well it's a great partnership! I really like the mohawk hoodie – can you tell us about that one?
GT: A friend of mine turned me on to the idea while at a trade show a while back and we just took it the extra step by making them removable and interchangeable. This is by far one of our best sellers. I mean look at it! I’d want one if I was a kid.
TEM: For sure! I was never allowed a mohawk as a kid – actually I only recently shaved my first full on mohawk!
GT: Nice! Well I guess this hoodie would have been great for you then! There, it’s the perfect piece of clothing for the underprivileged punk.
TEM: Haha! Did you ever have a mohawk?
GT: I had a lot of things. I’m not sure a mohawk was ever one of them. I guess I had what we called a 'floppy mo' in high school. But my parents wouldn’t have given a ratts if I had one. I guess I was lucky that way
TEM: That rules! So, why Rock and Rattle?
GT: It's the perfect match for us really. With our background and love for music, along with all the traits of rock n' roll like attitude, and style, mixed with adorable little babies and toddlers, it just makes sense. And it sounds cool!
TEM: Indeed it does! How do you personally relate to Rock and Rattle?
GT: Well, we have a 16 month old daughter, she already has the attitude and charisma that could put me to shame. And well she needs clothes!
TEM: Really?
GT: The daycare lady told me that whatever koko wants, koko gets . She’ll always find a way and that she rules the house…even though there are older kids than her there. And you’d better not EVER steal her cheerios!
TEM: I won't! I promise!
GT: So that's where the brainchild came from. And the further we get into it, the more and more we're finding that this truly is the baby's time.
TEM: What do you mean – the baby's time?
GT: I mean people are just as concerned with celebrities babies as they are them. It's crazy.
TEM: Oh I know! Celebrity is crazy enough! And now their babies! But I guess it does all make for easy to absorb entertainment. Who is your fav celebrity baby?
GT: You know I have no idea. That would be a Shasta question.
TEM: Fair. Can you tell us who Rock and Rattle is for?
GT: This is targeted at my generation of parents. Not to say that it's not for anyone else. But my generation is ready for something like this, ready to break the conventional mold of traditional baby clothes.
TEM: Totally. Who wants to dress their kids in boring old traditional clothes. You want the little ones to dress and be cool like their parents!
GT: That is the appeal I think. I’ve even had friends ask me to make them a matching shirt. But yeah, out with the old and in with the new. I mean unless you want you kid to wear those awesome white shoes that your mom had bronzed.
TEM: So gross! Do any of your friends have kids?
GT: Perfect example are half of the Billy Talent guys are fathers, and their kids are rocking the rattle line.
TEM: Haha! That amazing! One final question – what is the “truth” about Greg Taylor?
GT: I’ve been told I’m outta my mind, but I think the truth is too insane.
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