Upclose with Qbert
You can be a scratch master and still be a fuzzy, loved-up type of guy. Check out Qbert – he talks to Natasha Stokes about the universal law and the power of words written on his water bottle.
HK Magazine: Qbert, eh? Were you addicted to the arcade game?
Qbert: Well, that was just my nickname in high school, because I was short like the character in the game. I could only get to the fifth level where the colors would change back and you had to hop on them again.
HK: So you’re not much of a gamer. Why do you get to be a character in Tony Hawk Underground?
Q: They just came to our company, “thud rumble,” and asked for some music. That was cool. Now we sell skateboards and in my long hallway in my new house, I use one to get to the end faster.
HK: People must like you. And your house.
Q: Well, my best friend would say, “Damn, this guy is like a slave to me.” If I could buy happiness, I’d buy something that would make everyone else happy. I love everyone and I have no enemies.
HK: That’s a pleasant thought.
Q: It’s hard to make it only if you are lazy and not doing things to make others happy. As soon as you stop doing that, the karmic law of the universe stops making happiness for you as well.
HK: I bet you’re wild, crazy dancer.
Q: Depends on how much I’ve had to drink that night! All cities for some reason have great dancers, but especially big cities because there is more to choose from. You have a big city! I can’t wait to go!
HK: We’re expecting amazing things.
Q: Yeah, that gets me nervous, haha! Stage fright and all that. I’m learning now to use that nervous energy to make my performance better and I need to understand that imperfections are like a cloud - it has beautiful imperfections.