DEA VOLUME FOUR: Staying Alive In '95
If Zepplin could have 2 coolers why can't we?
The year 1994; Bruno, Happy and Raspy are shocked into the reality that
they have no bass player but love the idea of being a three piece trio
again. After many drinking sorties and late night Twin Peaks parties,
as well as Happy's divorce, the three of them decide being a three piece
trio is not as important as having a bass player that can make them
laugh, is an architect, and will be willing to say no to them but seldom
use the option. Brockton Lee Robb fit the bill to a "T".
Formerly of The Dispositions, It's A Thing and True Rumor and Fresh
off his tour with the Herbal Teas, fronted by Happy's sister Nancy which
featured Fred Flintstone on guitbox and Al Mahoney on Sax, Brock gets
his marching orders and gives DEA a shot, checking in on the anxious
threesome at Snug Harbour for the first time. After working up some
of the old standards, Brock Lee started contributing original material
("Chain", "Coney Island White Fish, Baby") giving DEA a new outlet and
fresh take on how to tackle the music scene post Chilli's, madly colored
hats, and degenerate posing.
Putting a guitar into Happy's hands, (still unable to wield a bass)
all members now played instruments and vocalized. New songs like "New
Heavy Ploop", "TCO916" and "Purple Phlo", showed that DEA had yet another
facet to their already rather convoluted makeup. Trying a new marketing
gimmick DEA starts issuing their yearly calendars with artwork by Ovulteen
and Donuts, DEA keeps fans abreast of birthdays and other events celebrated
by the four of them.
Eventually though, things slowed down, the strip they once frequented,
as artists, dryed up and some even fell into the sea, leaving only venues
hosting cover bands and tribute groups. DEA was now a fish out of water,
a creative force with no eyes or ears to be awakened by what they had
to say or do. So rather than turning their livers into an inevitable
porrage, Happy moved to Jersey, Bruno bought a house overlooking Saint
Vincents Emergency Ward (for easy access), Raspy got a wife and two
kids and Brock Lee started redesigning Staten Island, eventually forming
The Recruders, the well known surf\trash blonde
triptet.
Over the ensuing years, having no outlet but still full of vim and vinegary
ideas, our guyz merged with Woof Woof (Whale,
vocals\guitars\scriblings and Antwon Sparkles, blistering guitar) to
become Karl Malden's Nose, a group dedicated
to total freeform recording and studio creation. Many others showed
up to become involved and put their own personal stamp on these historic
recording sessions. Hangdown Harrell, keyboards, legendary firefighter
and multitalented musician, was to be found at some of the proceedings
as well as Nazz Feratu, guitarist and Frosted Egg the Zero, drums, from
the 22 Toxic Chemicals and Rasputin's old band mates. Johnny Pump could
be found banging out guitar licks at several sessions and Jackie
Luv, reknowned songwriter and drinker could often times be heard
laying down his meandering thoughts into the mics strewn around the
old DEA porn palace\recording studio at Snug Harbour.
During this time Rasputin replaced drummer Joe Swain and joined Whale,
Sparkles and Kevin Toye (bass) to play out as Woof Woof drumming on
the storied CBGBs live DVD still to be remastered at mo35x's MULTITRACSTUDIOS.
The others? Bruno went back to mercenary work, with Happy rejoining
his DEA cohorts as well as Whale and Sparkles to emerge now and again
as Chumbucket Woof to lay a wompin' on benefit gigs and kiddie arcades.
This odd behaviour went on till 2003 when . . . |
