BS: Over 20 years of punk rock... I started going through some of the tapes - we taped almost every gig from day one. There's some incredible shit, and some hilarious shit. I don't know where it's gonna lead to, but it's already spawned two future LP's - aside from the box-set. I'd like to include a DVD from some of the nutty shows we did back in the day, too. I've got to track down some of that footage. I've got backstage footage from the night we opened for THE MISFITS.
I want to give something better than THE MISFITS box. That's not gonna be easy to beat, but I've got the material to do it. Back then, THE UNDEAD was regarded as the top band in NYC - the MISFITS were considered a joke. The box-set is gonna show that.
Q5. Bobby, you have worked with many musicians wether it has been with live shows or album and single releases. Do you ever reflect on your early days in the band and wish you had a more solid line-up for a number of years? Or, was it always your intention to change the members in the band regularly and keep things fresh and different?
BS: I had hoped that the original line-up would be permanent, and every line-up I've formed was with that intention. But musicians are generally flakes. In some cases, they'd start to Dictate to me what my songs should be...no love songs, no songs about individuality - just about the proletariate, and evil governments...total bullshit. Some, disrespected the fans or road crew. Others were just lazy and expected me to do all the work and give them all the money. They all accomplished just one thing - they held me back.
The one person who's been good, and upfront all the way, is Bryce - which is why he's still officially a member of the band - even though he can't play with us at this time - due to his own personal problems. He's still writing songs, and we still stay in touch, and when the new studio record is out and we start touring. he'll be there - circumstances permitting.
Q6. Through all your years of touring has there been any paticuarly memorable shows that you reflect on with fondness?
BS: Yeah...We played this outdoor festival in Canada one year. I've never been to a town like that - all of the girls were incredibly HOT, and when we hit the stage, the crowd knocked down the barricades, and began to climb on the stage. Girls were attacking me onstage, groping me, kissing me...they had to assign three cops to keep them off me. I tried to tell them I could handle it, but they felt I was in danger. They were tearing my clothes off. I felt like I was in THE BEATLES for awhile. That's just one of many...
Q7. After your split with The Misfits in 1980, you very quickly got things and people together and formed The Undead and were quickly playing shows. Did you already have a catalogue of songs to put to use?
BS: I did. We were getting together throughout 1979 and 1980 - whenever THE MISFITS weren't busy, and work on the songs. Some of the practice tapes of this lineup are gonna be in the box-set. There are actually songs that we never did live, they're on these tapes.
- Knowing that Glenn played a dominant role when it came to writing in The Misfits, did you ever suggest lyrics to Glenn whilst your time in the band?
BS: I suggested that he write lyrics...like London Dungeon - that was my idea. I told Glenn, while we were in jail, ''You oughta write a song about this and call it LONDON DUNGEON.'' I also showed him one of my VIOLENT WORLD magazines - which inspired the song. I tried to get him to write lyrics to what eventually became WHEN THE EVENING COMES.
Q8. As I previously said, you were playing shows with The Undead pretty quickly after your split with The Misfits, what was the reaction like at the time when you guys burst onto the scene?
BS: Explosive. I never realised it until recently, but the reaction to that gig was that a neighbourhood that had been blighted for decades suddenly grew into the Music and Art Capitol of the World...the EAST VILLAGE. Up until then, there was no rocknroll east of 2nd Ave. I brought it into a no-man's land that no one else had the guts to go to. Thanks to that gig, many people have become millionaires.
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