Back in the mid sixties when I was around six I saw the Rolling Stones on the Ed Sullivan show. As I watched one of their early TV performances, I watched the Drummer, Charlie Watts, and decided right then that that's what I wanted to do. And I have been doing it ever since. I went through many years of playing with schoolmates, playing to records, and being fascinated with music to the point where I would seek out interesting music away from the mainstream. My First working high school band was East Bay Extention. We played anywhere we could, and did many gigs, and even a little travelling. The music was some originals, but mostly FM rock covers. I had been attuned to the changes that were happening in music and in 1977 started seeing the local pre-punk, underground, new wave and early punk bands. I saw a creative force happening that didnt seem to be out of reach the way the old larger than life present rock star system was set up. The Heretics radio show on KSAN was the only place th hear the new music. I recorded it and started exclusively listening to this new music, comparing what i learned with friends. One of my favorites was Tuxedomoon,
a very creative band with electronics and sax, violin, and a dark, swirling sound. I bought their records the day they hit the stores. I learned from the heretics that they needed a drummer.(Paul Zahl left to an amazing drumming career!) Since I had the records I came to the audition already able to play six songs.I was immediately thrust into a popular headlining band and got to do some recording and touring. I play on the "Live at the Deaf Club LP, The "Stranger"single, and the rarities album "Pinheads on the move", which has just been rereleased. We played in SF, LA, NYC,and many other places, with many great bands, like the Cramps, Readymades, Klaus Nomi, the Mutants, Motels, MX-80, Noh Mercy, Pink Section. The band decided to exclusively use electronic rhythms, and relocate to Belgium, and I was out. They continue to make fantastic music to this day and will always be one of my favorites. The TOUCHTONES were also working with electronics and keyboards, and I joined them in late 1979. We we were also always headliners at the Mabuhay and other local clubs, and released one single, with two different covers. The music was never "dark" sounding , like Tuxedomoon, but quite the opposite.Punk/new wave/experemental. The shows were often accompanied by other performers, and multimedia. We played with the Plugz, Minimal Man, Vktms, the Beat, Offs, V.S. Flipper, Nervous Gender. The WASP WOMEN shared menbers of the Touchtones, and were more punk sounding with three singers in black latex and white beehives, it was original bondage/fetish rock. We are in the Mark Heustis movie "What ever happened to Susan Jane", and appear on 'Killed by Death 13" punk rarities LP. Guitarist Jeff Trott went on to many other bands including Wire Train and Tears for Fears. We Played with the Symptoms, Romeo Void, the Plugz, V.S., Offs, Dead Kennedys, Zev. Before I joined Tuxedomoon, I auditioned for KGB, who by this time had evolved into NO ALTERNATIVE. They had become one of the more popular S.F. punk bands. I joined them in 1981. We performed constantly and did some recording. The "backtracks" E.P. came out on subterranean, and Paul Rat managed us. We did mostly west coast travelling, making it to Canada twice. We shared stages with so many bands- the avengers, crime, mutants, dead kennedys, zeros, nuns, cramps, flipper, code of honor, D.O.A. ,mutants, X, crucifix, black flag, seven seconds, T.S.O.L., adolescents, lewd, and so many others. Johnny Genocide formed the side project SWINGIN' POSSUMS to showcase his punk/rockabilly crossover music, and for a while, both bands were gigging. The band split in late 1982, yet were to reform in 1989, and again in 2006. The RENEGADES were next, with the No Alternative rhythm section. When we left, they changed their name to Wire Train and put out several L.P.s. I joined BEAST in 1983. Bryan Gregory had just left the Cramps under mysterious circomstances, and since the Cramps were huge at this time, there was real "star-power" in the band. We embraced the new goth sounds and played a post-punk crossover like no other band. Beast put out a few singles, all of which Bryan Gregory play on. We travelled extensively, playing with Iggy Pop and lords of the new church, and toured the U.K. supporting the damned.The band split in england, and continued with one album as "the veil". Returning from england broke and bandless I pieced together a drumset and joined FIRESPORTS, with ex-sleepers'guitarist extrordinairre Michael Belfer. Also in the band was Tommy King and singer/ skateboard pro Duane Peters, who went off to fame and fortune with his bands and fashion line. During this time there were several groups I worked with briefly before settling in with a single band. these included SHUT UP (future Fang), goth rockers NOTHING SACRED, the POP'O-PiIES. FADE TO BLACK was next, with No Alternative bassist Jeff Rees. We did many high profile local gigs with bands like Christian Death,and the Sisters of Mercy, and many more. The SEA HAGS were next, and we worked together from '85 to '88, travelling, recording and becoming popular enough to land a contract with Chrysalis records. We played constantly and shared stages with everyone imaginable! Motorhead, the Ramones, Johnny Thunders, Cramps, really the list goes on and on. We did recordings with Kirk Hammett from Metallica. I also did a beief side project with courtney love, and members of L7 and Babes in toyland called SUGAR BABYDOLL . recordings exist but are of questionable quality. Sea Hags self destructed in claccic rock and roll tradition after I left in death and drugs and dispair... We reformed for a few gigs and are working again. In '89 NO ALTERNATIVE reformed and played for about a year, with one more release. 1990 saw the HELLBILLYS form, and they are still going strong after 17 years! I play on the first three albums and countless compilations and several singles. Not overwhelmingly popular in their own backyard, the band does quite well overseas and in other parts of the continent. I travelled to England with them a twice, and memorable gigs in Mexico city too! Rick went on to join psychobilly greats Demented are Go. I joined the exelent shock punk band the INSAINTS in the mid '90s. WE were known for our confrontational performances which got the band into lots of trouble. An indecent exposure/lewd conduct charge for singer Marion Anderson(R.I.P.) almost shut down punk venue Gilman st. The last gig upstaged GG Allin, no easy task. Guitarist Daniel DeLeon went on to many wonderful bands in L.A. I rejoined the HELLBILLYS after the Insaints destructed, for the Mexico gigs, and stayed with it for a while longer until FANG reformed again in 1995. The always controversial punk band did quite well, and is still together today. I recorded the excellent "American Nightmare" LP and a few singles and several compilations. This was the last time I would tour with a band, other than brief outings. I took a break from music for a while in 2000 and then formed the UNIVERSE with Bill Harper and Cliff Moser. Bill was the singer for '60s garage/psych band Savage Resurrection. We are still going strong! I reformed NO ALTERNATIVE with Johnny Genocide too. The Insaints, Fang, the Sea Hags are also doing occaisonal shows too. I am joining the NEXT for a few gigs in the future.!!!!
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