Editors Note: Brad J hung out with the The 2001 ESPN Actions Sports and Music Awards Skier Musician of the Year, Moby in Salt Lake City before his performance at the Winter Olympic Closing Ceremonies. Here's what went down.

How was that last year getting voted Skier Musician of the year by the inaugural ESPN Action Sports and Music Awards?

Moby: It's strange because I am almost completely inept when it comes to winter sports! I grew up in Connecticut and all my friends were amazing Skiers, Snowboards and Skaters. I guess I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks because my friends on the weekends would head up to Vermont and I would hang out at home and watch TV, so being honored by athletes is really cool; I just wish I were better at Winter Sports.

I saw in your acceptance speech last year you said you were gonna go out and learn to ride, well have you been out yet?

Moby: What with Global warming and everything there really isn't any snow were I live in New York City. I think we might have gotten an inch or something like that. I arrived in Salt Lake to perform in the Olympic closing ceremonies and it is 60 degrees and sunny, the Olympics are gonna start having to be held in Greenland or somewhere north of the Artic Circle in order to have any snow.

Our man on the inside Brad J. hangin' with Moby in Salt Lake.

How about next year, are you thinking about strapping on a board or some skis and charging it?

Moby: I got this idea to combine two sports. I think they should combine Skeleton and Curling together

NICE!

Moby: Curling is pretty slow, so you could have the Curlers curling across the Skeleton Track and the guys on the Skeleton would have to avoid the Curlers!

Did you know Curling is the only event at the Olympics that required a smoking patio to be built for the Athletes?

Moby: They built a Smoking patio for the Curling Athletes? That's outstanding.

Yep, the way they look they kind of remind me of bowlers.

Moby: The bowler's fatter more slobby cousins! I was in a health club in Amsterdam and they had a smoking patio as well.

I know a health club in Santa Barbara that serves Beer, but that is a good thing. So I hear you are a Vegetarian, is that true?

Moby: I'm a Vegan!

What is your favorite Vegan meal?

Moby: There is a restaurant in L.A. called Real Food Daily and they have these Fajitas called Satan Fajitas that are pretty remarkable and they also serve this chocolate cake that is Vegan and you would never know the difference because it is so good.

What do you think about music playing such a big role in action sports?

Moby: Music has the capacity of being really inspirational. Even though I am really inept in winter sports I think that if I were trying to do my best, I would want my favorite piece of music playing. If I was a snowboarder and I liked Limp Bizkit and want to ride to it... Music puts you in a different frame of mind.

The US Snowboard team won 5 Medals at the Olympics, what did you think about that?

Moby: I watched the medal count everyday on TV, and it was very impressive on the US totals, but if you added all the European countries up together they would be destroying us in the medal totals. I know we are doing well in the Extreme Sports but we are getting blown away in everything else.

Who were your Musical Influences?

Moby: I grew up listening to Punk Rock and new wave, my background is kind of weird!

Did you listen to the Dead Kennedys?

Moby: Oh yea, fresh fruit for rotting Vegetables. I am 36, so that makes me old, In fact there is a song on there first Dead Kennedys' Album called Stealing Peoples Mail, when I was 16 my friends and I would drive around and take peoples mail just based on that song.

You said you are 36, that means you have 20 year High School Reunion coming up, are you gonna go?

Moby: I went to my ten-year reunion and had a wonderful time. I am a little afraid to go to my 20 because at my ten-year a lot of my friends were getting fat. If I see them now it's gonna make me realize just how old I am getting. I am sure I am still gonna go I guess its pure Masochism.

I can't wait to go my 20-year reunion; I will have to wear something real freaky.

Moby: You should take a couple of hookers!

One under each arm should work. What do you think about Tenacious D?

Moby: They are so good at what they do. I know Jack pretty well and they are such nice people. I can't say I adore every song they do, but they're good songs, they're clever, they're funny. I have seen them perform in many different situations. I saw them in New York, they were playing a pretty big venue that held a few thousand people but the next night they came over to a friend's party and brought their guitars over and jammed all night in a full impromptu session. I like them a lot

What piece of advice would you give young people trying to achieve their goals and dreams?

Moby: Two things, Pick something you love and work as hard as you can to achieve it. One of the saddest things in life is when someone ends up working in a job they hate. It is better to be happy and poor then unhappy and rich, even if I never would have made it in music, I would still be happy playing music because it is what I love to do.

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