Mykel Board
Encyclopedia
Mykel Board is a regularly published journalist, especially well known for his articles in Maximumrocknroll.
Born into a Jewish family, Mykel was a minority in his hometown in which the population was mostly Polish
/Italian
. He attended Hebrew School at the age of 8 and had a Bar Mitzvah at 13. When he turned 12 he began to visit New York
weekly with his Father, around 14 he began to visit the city by himself, or with his friend David. It was in Union Square
park that he met "Morris" an "old commie." Together, Morris and Mykel argued theology
. During this time, he discovered Greenwich Village
. Mykel and David began to visit a coffee house, Cafe Wha?, where they met girls, and Jimi Hendrix
. With time, Mykel began recreational drug use
. He also began to become, as he says, the "archetypical discontented Jew." He was in trouble at school, and at home regularly, and he began to associate with the Yippie movement. He met Abbie Hoffman
, Paul Krassner
, Bob Fass
, and Jerry Rubin
. Mykel meshed well with the yippie idea of revolution through having a good time. After highschool, Mykel attended Beloit College
for three years. He attended the infamous 1968 Democratic National Convention
. Through Beloit's "world-experience" program, Mykel was able to work at England's famous anarchist newspaper Freedom
.
In the late 1970s Board began writing the column called "You're Wrong" for the well known punk publication Maximum RocknRoll, which still runs today. In the 1980s he also began performing in various punk bands, most notably Artless, which released a number of recordings and played regularly at venues throughout the U.S., and Big Man, which appeared on the first queercore
compilation, J.D.s Top Ten Tape, released by J.D.s
fanzine
.
In 2005, Garrett County Press published his book Even A Daughter Is Better Than Nothing, Mykel's memoir about living and working in Mongolia.
Born into a Jewish family, Mykel was a minority in his hometown in which the population was mostly Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
/Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He attended Hebrew School at the age of 8 and had a Bar Mitzvah at 13. When he turned 12 he began to visit New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
weekly with his Father, around 14 he began to visit the city by himself, or with his friend David. It was in Union Square
Union Square (New York City)
Union Square is a public square in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York.It is an important and historic intersection, located where Broadway and the former Bowery Road – now Fourth Avenue – came together in the early 19th century; its name celebrates neither the...
park that he met "Morris" an "old commie." Together, Morris and Mykel argued theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. During this time, he discovered Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
. Mykel and David began to visit a coffee house, Cafe Wha?, where they met girls, and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. With time, Mykel began recreational drug use
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
. He also began to become, as he says, the "archetypical discontented Jew." He was in trouble at school, and at home regularly, and he began to associate with the Yippie movement. He met Abbie Hoffman
Abbie Hoffman
Abbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman was a political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ....
, Paul Krassner
Paul Krassner
Paul Krassner is an author, journalist, stand-up comedian, and the founder, editor and a frequent contributor to the freethought magazine The Realist, first published in 1958...
, Bob Fass
Bob Fass
Bob Fass is an American radio personality and pioneer of free-form radio, who has broadcast in the New York region for 40 years....
, and Jerry Rubin
Jerry Rubin
Jerry Rubin was an American social activist during the 1960s and 1970s. During the 1980s, he became a successful businessman.-Early life:...
. Mykel meshed well with the yippie idea of revolution through having a good time. After highschool, Mykel attended Beloit College
Beloit College
Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...
for three years. He attended the infamous 1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. Because Democratic President Lyndon Johnson had announced he would not seek a second term, the purpose of the convention was to...
. Through Beloit's "world-experience" program, Mykel was able to work at England's famous anarchist newspaper Freedom
Freedom newspaper
Freedom is a London-based anarchist newspaper published fortnightly by Freedom Press.The paper was started in 1886 by volunteers including Peter Kropotkin and Charlotte Wilson and continues to this day as an unpaid project. Originally, the subtitle was "A Journal of Anarchist Socialism." The title...
.
In the late 1970s Board began writing the column called "You're Wrong" for the well known punk publication Maximum RocknRoll, which still runs today. In the 1980s he also began performing in various punk bands, most notably Artless, which released a number of recordings and played regularly at venues throughout the U.S., and Big Man, which appeared on the first queercore
Queercore
Queercore is a cultural and social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of punk. It is distinguished by being discontent with society in general and its rejection of the disapproval of the gay, bisexual, and lesbian communities and their "oppressive agenda"...
compilation, J.D.s Top Ten Tape, released by J.D.s
J.D.s
J.D.s is a queer punk zine founded in Toronto by G.B. Jones and co-published with Bruce LaBruce, that ran for eight issues from 1985 to 1991....
fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
.
In 2005, Garrett County Press published his book Even A Daughter Is Better Than Nothing, Mykel's memoir about living and working in Mongolia.