A group of teenagers at Larkin Street Youth Services is strumming chords on shiny new Fender guitars. Sitting among them is the man who delivered the instruments - Lars Frederiksen, 38, guitarist and singer for the punk band Rancid.

Q:Latest project?

A: Just trying to help these guys out from Larkin Street, without all the red tape.

Q:What made you think they needed electric guitars?

A: When I was a kid, having that music outlet, kind of a place to go, saved my life. I'm a 10th-grade dropout, know what I mean? I've had my battles with addictions and things like that and because of music giving me that escape, it just made sense.

Q:Where did you grow up?

A: Campbell.

Q:What did you want to be?

A: A lion tamer.

Q:First job?

A: Paper route. I stole a shopping cart from Safeway and walked it. I'd wake up at 4:30 in the morning. I was 10. I kept it until I bought my first pair of Doc Martens. Then I quit.

Q:Childhood nickname?

A: Lars is one of those names where you don't really get a nickname.

Q:Moment you knew you were a punk?

A: The moment I saw the Ramones movie "Rock 'n' Roll High School." It was 1979. My brother and I watched it 32 times.

Q:Did you play sports growing up?

A: I was a baseball player. They didn't put me on the All-Star team because I was into punk rock. They straight-up told me that to my face.

Q:Did you have tattoos then?

A: Shortly thereafter. When I was 11 years old I got "Oi!" Oi! originated in England. It was music for punk rockers and skinheads unified. It's on my ankle. I had to hide it from my mom.

Q:How many tattoos since then?

A: Thousands.

Q:What's the most recent addition?

A: I got a double-headed snake on my knee a week ago, from Danny Boy Smith at Let It Bleed Tattoo on Polk.

Q:What does your mother say now?

A: She can't really say much. My mom's Danish, so she's pretty liberal.

Q:What about your dad?

A: I spoke to my father once in the last 20 years and decided never to talk to him again.

Q:Where do you live?

A: In San Francisco, the Richmond District.

Q:Neighborhood hangout?

A: The park with my kid. He's almost 3.

Q:Have a pet?

A: A cat, Shamus. It's spelled however he likes it to be spelled.

Q:What kind of car do you drive?

A: One that runs. I got a speeding ticket for 103 mph once.

Q:Describe your driving style?

A: Smooth. I just got my driver's license when I was 35. I knew how to drive because my old job was driving other people's cars without asking.

Q:What would you buy if you could?

A: More instruments for Larkin Street. They need studio equipment, they need a drum set, they need a lot of stuff. That's the whole reason that I'm here.

Q:What is the potential for a Larkin Street Youth Band?

A: There is great potential for multiple bands. All these kids that come in here have some sort of creative thing. How do I know this? Because I used to be one of them.

Q:What would you call your autobiography?

A: "A Survival Guide to Growing Up Working Class."

Q:Who plays you in the movie?

A: Brad Pitt (laughs). Denzel Washington.

Q:Do you carry a business card?

A: Absolutely not.