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Pot, pollution and milk commercials - that's what the average budding journalist is likely to discuss with a rock group.
Not just any rock group, mind you. These were questions aimed at the Cowsills yesterday by about 20 representatives of high school and college newspapers in the area. The Cowsills are appearing at The Caller-Times International Automobile Show through Sunday.
Dave Davis of Carroll High School raised the question of milk commercials and the Cowsill image. The group did series of television commercials promoting milk about three years ago.
Paul Cowsill, the 19-year-old brother who will be Army bound any day now, admitted that the milk commercials probably did more harm than good to the group's image, "but what's so bad about milk?" he asked.
"Everybody has drunk it at one time or another," he added. Paul's draft number is 123 and Davies asked how he felt about the selective service. Paul said he thought the lottery system was a good one, but naturally would prefer an "all volunteer" army.
Anne Abney of Carrol asked about the Cowsill stand on pollution in connection with their appearance at the auto show.
Paul, who appeared to be the most vocal of the vocal group, said the group was concerned about littering and pollution - "we're breathing it worse in Los Angeles than you are in Corpus Christi" - and that the problem seemed to be that "everybody's yelling about it and nobody's doing anything about it."
Bob Cowsill, 21, discussed marijuana and drugs. He said "when you're talking about drugs associated with rock music, you're talking about marijuana." He said most rock singers stay off hard drugs and Paul referred to Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix as people who "had to want to die."
Paul said the two probably were quite experienced in the use of hard drugs and would have known whether they were getting overdoses or not. Bob seemed to feel that marijuana had a great deal of influence in the composition of rock music but said he did not use it himself.
Paul said he thought many young people are not mature enough to stop at smoking marijuana and not go on to other things. "When you go further you really mess up and that's when have to say that marijuana isn't good." He added that "too much of anything is going to hurt you."
Several student journalists asked questions about life in a rock group, including Tommy Mathews of Texas A&I University, Diane Newman of Catallen High School and Libby Defenbaugh of Ray High School.
In answer to Libby's question on family fights, Paul said "of course we do," but Bob pointed out that since the group is a family and "already knew how to live with each other" when the singing began there was less friction than in other rock groups.
Paul said he did not think the Cowsills would break up because members feel free to make records on their own and then return and record with the family. Of the groups who do break up, he said "I personally think they're all on ego trips."
Thad White of King High School asked what advice the Cowsills would give to aspiring musical groups. The advice was, basically to give up everything else.
Paul and Bob agreed that dates, sports events, movies, possibly college and privacy are just about out for a person who wants to sing in a rock band. "If you're a freak on privacy," Bob said, "Just pack the guitar away had forget it."
Cowsills interviewed yesterday included Bob and Paul, Bob's wife Nancy who does not actually sing with the group - "I don't even hum." - and Barry, 16; John, 15; and Susan, 11. Mrs. Barbara Cowsill, their mother will sing with the group at its Memorial Coliseum performances, but did not attend yesterday's press conference.
Shows are scheduled at 2, 7 and 9 p.m. today with four performances tomorrow and Sunday. Admission to the auto show and Cowsill performance is $1.50 for adults and 50 cents for children under 12.
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