Simone Parato

To me, it’s a real pleasure talkin’ about JEFF DAHL, a real rocker bursting with TRUE love for Rock’n Roll. Jeff has been extremely kind when I asked him an interview with Slam, and here’s what he told...

Hi Jeff!
For those who don't know anything about your long career, what about talking a bit about you?
Well, I've been doing this for a long time so its an epic and convoluted voyage. Here's a very short overview of the highlights: My first single was recorded in 1976. I was in a band called Vox Pop which also had members of the Germs, 45 Grave & Dream Syndicate. Then I sang with the Angry Samoans for 2 years which I quit to form a band called Powertrip. Since 1987 I've been releasing solo albums with different musicians on each release. I've got over 21 albums released, but who's counting, right? Like I said, it's a very long history and a more detailed accounting is available on my website: www.lastbandit.com/jeffdahl

"Three Chords and a Bad Attitude"... what is Rock´n Roll, in your opinion?
Simple, sleazy and from the heart. Guitars, girls, smoke, sweat, late nights, sex, pounding drums... all that good stuff.

Lets talk about `Street Fighting Reptile´... tell me something about the recording, and all the friends who took part in it.
This is the newest album of mine and I recorded it at my studio and I play most of the guitars, bass and drums on it. I brought in some friends who I thought would suit the styles of specific songs to make guest appearances. GG and Sparkle from the 440s played some great lead guitars, and I had a great session with a lot of friends all drinking beer and singing backup vocals. This is a fairly straight rock n roll record with punk, pop and glam influences. There are also some acoustic moments and some blues as well... Just whatever strikes my fancy. I do what I want.

Why did you think to make a `reprise´ of MOTT THE HOOPLE´s `Golden Age Of Rock´n Roll´?
When I was growing up MOTT THE HOOPLE was one of my favorite bands and they still is. I love everything about them and I devoured every record they released. In the USA they are barely known and I just wanted to sing their praises. It's my personal view of them. Still a classic band...

I really like `Transvestites, Transsexuals and Chicks With Dicks´... its really catchy and shakin´ ass!! Tell me about the lyrics... and the characters you sing about, starting from Andy Warhol to... the Trash Brats!
Thank you. Yeah, that's a funny song and people really seem to love it. It's one of those song that only took 10 minutes to write the whole thing! The lyrics are just little vignettes of decadence and debauchery... I lived in Hollywood for many years and with all the many tours I've done... I've seen it all! The line about the TRASH BRATS is a true story of someone going off with a girl only to discover that this was not a girl. A rude - and very funny - surprise!

By the way, isn't it a pity the Trash Brats recently disbanded?
Yes, it's really sad. I was very surprised because they're such great friends and they've been together for so long. I still keep in contact with Ricky and Brian is planning to visit me in the next month. I hope to possibly write some songs with him and possible record together at some point. I've heard some of his new solo album and it's really incredible. It's more like the Trash Brat punk-glam sound than his earlier solo recordings. And I expect some great new music from Ricky soon too.

I really like the cover of `Street Fighting Reptile´!! The piss spot on the dead-junkie is simply brilliant! Who had the idea of putting together all those people? You see... it looks exactly like a street of my city, where I usually walked while getting out of work! :-)
I think everyone has a street like this! I really do love that cover art also. It was drawn by a fellow named King Velveeda who has done work for the TRASH BRATS and the 440s albums also. We sent him a rough mix of the album so he made his interpretation of the music. And I had also told him I wanted something similar to SAVOY BROWN'S, Street Corner Talkin' cover art. So it's his version of all that. I think it really captures the essence of the music so it seems a perfect marriage.

How is going on with your fanzine `Sonic Iguana´? In your opinion, what are the best and worst aspects of running this alternative medium?
Sadly, Sonic Iguana is no more. I really had a lot of fun making it but problems with printers and distribution and retail are a fucking mess. I had gotten an offer to write for Carbon 14, which is one of my favorite magazines, so I decided to concentrate on this outlet. I love to write about music... I still think of myself more as a fan than a musician. But it's a drag that I stopped the magazine and a lot of people were sad to see it go.

What about TV and MTV... do you think its kinda like a Mc-music-Donald? If they ask you to broadcast a video of yours, would you agree?
I've only produced one video but I don't care who plays my music or videos. I don't watch MTV or any of that stuff. There's really nothing much on MTV that I care about since the end of the Lords Of The New Church.

Be honest... have you ever bought any TYKETTO or STRYPER record? ;-)
Nope, never. Tyketto I've never heard of and Stryper were never of much interest to me.

A lot of rock´n roll heroes have passed away... I´m thinking about Johnny Thunders, Claude of Finnish SMACK, Joey and Dee Dee Ramone. Joe Strummer... what do you think is their heritage?
Yeah, it's very sad. I wish they were still alive and making music but their old records and their memories still live on. In that way they're still alive to me. I have an old song, Dead Heroes, with the line, "Dead heroes never die..." And that's true. They still live on in their music.

Do you know anything about Italy? Do you like any Italian rock´n roll bands?
Sure, I've toured in Italy many times! I love everything about Italia!! The food, the history, the vino... THE GIRLS! I do know several great Italian bands from these tour like THEE STP and TEMPORAL SLUTS. Those guys are awesome rock n roll machines! I've just heard a track from a band called BAD DOG BOOGIE that sounds like vintage BLUE OYSTER CULT which I really love too. There is always good music to find.

Do you see any difference in the American and European r´n r scene? (bands and public)
American bands seem very success oriented. They want the big recording contract and all that stuff. A lot of Scandinavian bands also seem like this. European bands seem more to just want to play music and are more serious fans. I think that's really positive. It's more for fun... For fans, America is a huge country so one area might be great and another area might be horrible. Most of the big cities can be cool but some of the best shows are in the small towns that don't get a lot of shows. It's much the same in Europe - Germany would be very different from Holland, etc... - but overall the fans in Europe probably know more information and details about their favorite bands. And Japan is just crazy. They really love rock n roll there. It's like a religion for their favorite bands.

What are your favorite new bands?
I just got the new TRASHCAN DARLINGS LP that is amazing. A Swedish band I really love is the DIAMOND DOGS. They're like MOTT and the FACES and ROSE TATTOO all rolled into one. I just saw SIOUX CITY PETE AND THE BEGGARS and they were shit hot psycho blues. They play the best version of ‘Cocksucker Blues’ EVER! Honestly we could do an entire long interview about all the bands I like. As I said, I'm still really just a fan. I still buy a lot of records and go to a lot of concerts. I still get excited when I hear a cool song.

What are your next projects?
I have a new Best Of album just being released. And right now I'm playing a lot of shows and I'll be recording a new album in October for a 2004 release. I'm sure I'll be producing some bands in the fall... if it's fun, I'll do it!