Zapata on steroids

Temo Uribe is the frontman/songwriter of Chula Vista–based thrash/punk band Steeltoe, possibly San Diego’s most politically driven band. He doesn’t mince words.

Regarding local punk bands who rage and thrash without a point: “It’s just an opportunity for people to fake something.”

Calling himself “Zapata on steroids,” Uribe is not afraid to unspool other realities/conspiracies that he says need to be spoken or sung about.

As to why you don’t hear System of a Down or Rage Against the Machine putting out politically charged music anymore: “Once you reach a certain level you get apprehended by certain people who tell you to tune it down. What happened to them is a perfect example of what they do to an artist that’s different. They did to them just what they did with Suicidal Tendencies. I believe the Feds got to Tupac. If they don’t get you, they’ll get your family.”

The bottom-line objective with Steeltoe is to give enlightenment to what’s going on. “They are artificially creating criminals from illegals.”

Uribe says his lyrics about social stuggle grew from his days at Coronado High, where he would have graduated in 1993 had he not dropped out.

“I was called a wetback in Coronado High,” says Uribe. “You can bet your horse we were treated a little different.... I now take it upon myself to speak about people being unjust in this country.”

He says his inability to graduate was partly due to his flunking Spanish class. “She wanted me to speak perfect Spanish as if I was in Spain. She was forcing me to accept something I am not.” He says he is by birth an Aztec. “I am not a Hispanic. I am Mexican.”

Uribe says his 11 years in prison on drug charges (1994–2005) were related to his vocal opposition to proposition 187, which denied services to undocumented citizens. “That was the price I paid for speaking against [governor] Pete Wilson [who supported 187].”

Steeltoe songs include the pro–Edward Snowden “Citizen 4” and  “FTP (Funk That Punk)” “...about the big guy in the White House...you know, the tiptoe totalitarian because he quietly does the dirty deed.... I see a bunch of bullshit and I’m not here to play around.”

Uribe says the other guys in Steeltoe — guitarist David Patton, bassist Mauricio Navarro and drummer Dean Osuna — are on the same page. “I believe if they didn’t believe in the music they wouldn’t give me the time of day.”

Steeltoe appears April 15 at the Salty Frog.