Howie Pyro Email Interview

1. You were in a band called the BLESSED that played shows with the MISFITS. What was the BLESSED like? How old were you at that time?

H.P. - the blessed started when i was 16 & the oldest-at first we were very punk [we couldn't really play at first, but we just said fuck it & learned on stage] then we got walter lure from johnny thunder's heartbreakers & got a bit more rock n roll/punk.

2. Do you remember when you first met GLENN DANZIG? Did you have any first impressions?

H.P. - don't exactly remember the first time we met, but me & glenn & jerry clicked right away & were good friends-like now, with glenn at least, we like the same shit & back then we loved getting fucked up & going crazy!!

3. Between the BLESSED and DGENERATION there was a project called FREAKS. What was that, and what other bands have you been in?

H.P. - freaks was like an early version of the stooges/mc5 punk rock n roll that many bands are into today - i've done tons of other stuff - i've written a song on the last rancid record, played bass on a swingin' utters record, and with electric frankenstein, was in a band called the action swingers [a band that like a million people have been in!] did a cd with genesis p orridge from psychic tv/throbbing gristle & have played with everyone from kid congo powers [cramps/bad seeds/gun club/knoxville girls] & annie anxiety to joey ramone & ronnie spector [ronnettes] - i was even in the gun club for a couple of weeks!!

4. According to MisfitsCentral.com, you and Bobby Steele did a show with Annie Anxiety's Aisexuals. How did that come about?

H.P. - we were all just friends - a lot of people did that gig, including alan vegafrom suicide. she then went on to move to england to perform with crass.

5. You did a song with the Action Swingers with Courtney Love, or about Courtney Love??? And apparently you've worked with Rancid as well right?

H.P. - see above!

6. Ric Ocasek produced some DGEN material, who's idea was it to use him?

H.P. - we all thought it would be cool as he worked with the bad brains & suicide a lot & we really admired that & figured he could take any bullshit we could deal him if he could deal with those guys.

7. How's the recording of Danzig 7 been going so far? Is anything that you recorded last spring gonna make it out? Will we get to hear the GERMS and BOWIE covers?

H.P. - we're almost done! it's great & will surprise & blow everyone away!! we worked on the bowie one, but i don't know what will happen with that.

8. What's your equipment set up like? What Gear do you use? And does that change when it comes to studio v.s. live?

H.P. - i just use old ampeg svt's & precision basses - for now...in the studio it's "whatever the fuck works" & i leave it up to those who know better.

9. Have you and Glenn ever considered collaborating before? How does working with Glenn differ compared to someone like JESSE MALIN?

H.P. - everyone is different - it's as different as talking to 2 different people - i started most of the bands i was in so this is different in that way. even though me & glenn have a long history this is definately his band - not that he isn't totally open minded [much more than i thought he would be] but it's definately his band.

10. Who did you beat out in the audition stage? I remember talking to you in Springfield Il., and you mentioned Danny Nordahl from NY LOOSE auditioned.

H.P. - he's the only one that i know personally - i guess a bunch of people that couldn't cut it...

11. Are you concerned about touring Ohio? Considering each time you enter the state, there's a chance that someone will recognize you as the "fake" JOHNNY THUNDERS; and subsequently try to make you a 'DEAD BOY'. (You must read 'Please Kill Me' if for this story alone!) Seriously though, there probably are no tour plans yet, uh?

H.P. - we haven't made any solid plans yet..i'm sure at least by the summer...

12. If you tour Spain, do you think that you guys might streak the stage during the opening bands set like DGENERATION did to GREEN DAY?

H.P. - mighty doubtful - how do ya know all this shit????

13. I thought I remember reading awhile back that DGENERATION's version of REAGAN YOUTH'S Degenerated was going to be used for the AIRHEAD'S SNDTRK. What happend?

H.P. - they wanted the song - found out it was a cover, found the writer, gave him some rent money [or whatever] & just took it even though we totally rearranged it & rewrote parts - they used our version & had [we were told] white zombie minus rob - [not sure if that's true] play the music & the retard actor from the movie "sing" it - godawful hollywood bullshit.

14. Any news on the SON OF SAM project TODD'S working on? Who all guests on it, release date, anything?

H.P. - it should be out soon - it's basically the last version of samhain with davey [afi] on vocals - me, joey & glenn are on a song & the singer of tiger army sings too.

15. What did you think of the SAMHAIN boxset? Were you a fan?

H.P. - i love the boxset - even though mine didn't have the pin in it! i always liked samhain, though i think i only saw them play once.

16. So the legend goes, you and JERRY ONLY were at SID VISCIOUS' party the night that he died? How did that come about?

H.P. - we were hanging out together a lot at that time & our friend eileen who i lived with, was friends with sid & his mom & we hung out a lot & then after someone [certainly not sid] killed nancy we would go visit him in jail & shit & when he got out we had that "party" - my teenage years were pretty interesting, i guess!!

17. Do you know if there is any truth to the rumor that SID wanted JERRY, BOBBY STEELE, and JOEY IMAGE to leave the MISFITS and become his back-up band?

H.P. - that's a new one on me...

18. Have you had any thoughts or feelings about what JERRY's doing with the MISFITS name now? I know DGENERATION played a couple shows with them?

H.P. - i kinda helped them put on their first show...i hadn't seen or spoken to them in so many years & they started coming around a bit & i was still very involved in the punk scene [or whatever] in new york & it was cool for a little while, but come on when ya run out of those incredibly all time classic songs & ya never wrote one yourself...it's kinda too late to try to pull that one off, ya know. they made a bunch of money [or "he" did] & now it should be laid to rest, in my opinion.

19. (note: these questions were sent out in early November, before Glenn made his official statement regarding this matter.) Also, to clear up rumours just one more time, can you confirm or deny GLENN's participation in the 25th Anniversary? Apparrently JERRY, and their new singer from IGNITE are telling everyone that GLENN's doing it? Sounds weird to me.

H.P. - ask sal!!!!!! no really - IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN! glenn has integrity.

20. Time for some Generic questions...Act as though the question is, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE... or WHAT IS YOUR BEST...Then just fill in the blanks. Feel free to give more than one answer and give detail.

Bands?(past and present)
H.P. - that's soooo hard - i have like 20,000 records! i like every thing from elvis to the birthday party-louis jordan to the ramones, sun ra, the swans & alice cooper & the cramps!t he answer changes daily.

Musicians?
H.P. - above

Albums?
H.P. - stooges - funhouse alice cooper - 1st 5 records, walk among us, bad brains roir cassette, early stones, i mostly listen to real weird obscure retarded shit that no one can deal with!!!

Concerts Attended?
H.P. - the damned & the dead boys at cbgb's the germs, alice cooper - ac/dc with bon scott- the list could go on forever.

Concerts Played?
H.P. - i guess the most memorable was playing with kiss at madison square garden but certainly opening for the dead boys at cbgb's was more exciting!!

Authors?
H.P. - phillip k dick, william burroughs & j g ballard are certainly old, if obvious favorites. lester bangs, nick tosches. i read a lot about movies, history, murderers, & rare records. some of my favorite writers are in fanzines like "kicks"[billy miller & miriam linna] & sleazoid express [bill landis].

Movies?
H.P. - horror hotel is my all time favorite & freaks, but anything by william castle, john waters [especially female trouble], h.g. lewis, russ meyer, etc. samuel fuller's shock corridor & naked kiss are amazing too. also t.v movies like helter skelter & go ask alice. it's the same as with records it changes daily.

Actors/Actresses?
H.P. - vampira! karen black, divine, jayne mansfield, bela lugosi, peter lorre, karloff, dick miller, etc. RONDO HATTON!!!

TV Shows?
H.P. - addams family, munsters, bewitched, outer limits, twilight zone, SCTV, bugaloos, bat fink, i like oz & some of those type new shows.

Comic Books?
H.P. - any pre-code horror, underground comix, & stupid/weird bizarro era dc stuff. my favorite super hero is plastic man. i really like the spirit, deadman, the spectre & brother power - the geek!!

21. If you could work with any one person musically, who would it be?

H.P. - SATAN!! [almost there!!]

22. Any thoughts or opinions on current events such as NAPSTER, the PRESIDENTIAL RACE, BRITNY SPEARS LATEST COSMETIC SURGERY?(note: once again, this question has become dated due to circumstances beyond my control; Howie was nice enough to answer, and that is why it is included.)

H.P. - i don't have enough time in the day to think about things that are important to me, never mind that crap!! whoever the president is, i lose because i don't live in his world.

23. Do you play any other instruments besides bass?

H.P. - i play a little guitar & keyboards & like remixing shit into total weirdness!! i'm really good at making horrible noise with effects & shit like that.

24. Are there any differences from playing punk rock n' roll, to this sort of quasi-metal Danzig thing?

H.P. - i don't think so, really. it's all down to whether you're honestly into the music or not - i love being in this band - wouldn't trade it for the world - if i wasn't into it that much i couldn't do it. i can't [& am not interested] in faking that shit. some people can [obviously most people can, look at mtv], i can't.

25. That's pretty much it. Would you like to say anything to any of the Howie Pyro fans, or give any updates on current Danzig happenings ie.tours, album's releases, etc.

H.P. - i'd just like to thank all you guys for being so fuckin' cool to me & danzig fans are the real deal!! fangs!!

"Thank You" Howie, and special "Fangs" to Devilman138 for putting this up on The7thHouse.com!
All pictures by Devilman138

InfectShaun

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