Summary
Overview
Dax Shepard and Monica Padman sit down with legendary DJ and producer Steve Aoki to explore his remarkable journey from hardcore punk kid to one of the world's biggest electronic music artists. The conversation delves into Steve's upbringing as the son of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki, his struggles finding acceptance in Newport Beach, how punk rock saved him, and the evolution from DIY record label owner to globe-trotting DJ performing 200+ shows per year. Steve shares stories about his father's wild entrepreneurial spirit, the straight edge movement, building Dim Mak Records, and what it's like raising a baby while maintaining a relentless touring schedule.
Growing Up Aoki: Rocky's Wild Life and Legacy
Steve shares stories about his legendary father Rocky Aoki, the Benihana founder who was equal parts restaurateur, daredevil, and showman. Rocky came to New York in 1961 speaking no English, started with an ice cream truck, and built an empire while racing powerboats, flying hot air balloons across the Pacific, and living life with zero rules. Steve explains how his father's incredible work ethic and hunger for life influenced him, even though their relationship was complicated by Rocky's many families and expectation that his kids never complain or show weakness.
- Rocky Aoki came to the U.S. in 1961 speaking no English, lived in Harlem broke, tried an ice cream truck business that failed
- The original Benihana was his grandfather's cafe in Japan, named after a resilient red flower that grew through post-WWII rubble
- Cooking in front of customers was an American-born concept, not traditional Japanese - Rocky was trying to appeal to Western audiences
- Rocky nearly died in a boat accident, waking from a coma to find both his wife and girlfriend at his bedside - all his secrets revealed
- Steve never shared bad things with his father, only good things - if he went to the hospital, Rocky's first response was 'I had to pay for that'
" He was the Evel Knievel of restaurateurs, for sure. "
" I wish I died. You know, this is pre-social media. Everyone's life was a fucking mess, but no one knew. "
Fish Out of Water: Being Asian in 1970s Newport Beach
Steve opens up about the challenges of growing up as one of the only Asian kids in one of the whitest, most affluent beach communities in America. His Japanese immigrant mother moved to Newport Beach instead of nearby Asian enclaves, leaving young Steve struggling to make friends and frequently getting sent to the principal's office at Christian schools. He describes being physically smaller, a year younger than classmates, and feeling like a complete outsider until punk rock gave him a community that accepted him.
- Newport Beach is predominantly white and blonde - his mom could have lived in Irvine 15 minutes away where it's majority Asian
- Steve was one of only three boys in his elementary class at one point, and if the other two didn't like you, you were screwed
- Catholic and Christian private schools were the most difficult - teachers picked on the outsider kid and sent him to the principal's office for spankings
- His mom put him in school a year early, so he was physically smaller than classmates which made things harder
- He never shared these struggles with his father who only wanted to hear good things
" Being an immigrant is a very different life than when you're an adult. You get to really experience racism or you get to really experience feeling left out at the loudest levels. "
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