Welcome to Part Four of the Cowboy Mach Bell Interview
Here it is, as promised, the EXCLUSIVE interview with former JPP member Cowboy Mach Bell. Part four [of the five part interview] mostly deals with not directly JPP related questions. I hope you enjoy it.
31] Crossfire: Did you see Glenda attack Billie on the set of the "Black Velvet Pants" video?
Cowboy Mach Bell: No, I missed that action. Project bassist Danny Hargrove and I were busy partying with all our
friends and extras that played the audience during the shoot. We had invited tons of our pals down
to the theater and WBCN had been running contests to help us fill the place. I heard that prior to
the attack, Billie and Joe were together in a small back room. People said that they were engaged
in some funny stuff at the time, which sounds reasonable to me. Glenda McNeil is a small girl.
Somewhat similar to a vintage Stevie Nicks. Billie is a healthy "Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders" type
babe. If these two had a fair fight Billie would most likely destroy tiny Glenda. Normally a peace
loving chick, Glenda felt threatened by Billie and launched a sneak attack. News of the punch out
spread quickly through the video set. I was bummed to hear about it, but it was par for the
perilous JPP course.
Note: Previously I have been referring to Billie Perry as Billie Alexander. She was married to
Willie Alexander for about 6 years -- but she actually didn’t take his name. Before marrying Joe
Perry she was known as Billie Montgomery.
32] Crossfire: Billie Perry says she was friends with a girl named Julia Bell who your were married to...Are you still married...Do you have any children?"
Cowboy Mach Bell: Julia Channing (Bell) was born in Toronto and grew up in London. She hung out in Chelsea during the swinging sixties. The Yardbirds used to practice in the gym at the athletic field she played net ball in. In 1977, she followed her brother Will’s lead and moved to the States. Knowing hardly anyone around Boston, she soon moved into a barn in Lexington with Will’s friend and former roommate (“Earthquake” Greg Morton). Also living at Earthie’s was Doc McGrath (later to become JPP’s road manager). Earthquake and Doc were good buddies and played bass and drums for Duke and the Drivers a very popular local group with 2 albums out on the old ABC/Dunhill label. The Drivers did lots of gigs with Aerosmith including the spectacular Westboro Speedway show on August 18, 1974. Westboro is just up Route 9 from Framingham and Natick, the towns that first supported Aerosmith’s record and broke the “Dream On” single, and this was Aerosmith’s biggest concert so far. Back at the barn (we called it the Webb) was the Jelly Records office. Earthquake had just produced and released my band Thundertrain’s “Teenage Suicide” album (co-produced by the Driver’s guitarist Nighthawk Jackson) on their Jelly label. Julia saw a Thundertrain poster on the wall and seeing my scowling glare, she shuddered. Meanwhile unknown guitarist Elliot Easton and his 19-year-old pal Alan Kaufman arrived in Boston. Elliot met Ric Ocasek and Ben Orr in Cambridge and started a band called Cap’n Swing, soon to be known as The Cars. Alan Kaufman worked as the Cars sound man, and I met Alan when the Cars were opening up for Thundertrain around New England. In 1978 the Cars debut album came out and they took-off. Alan started to do some work for Tim Collins (who was booking Duke and the Drivers), and then decided to start his own rock management company, “Aktive.” Alan signed Thundertrain and brought in Earthquake Morton as partner. Earthie suggested they hire foxy Julia Channing as the front office girl. So in the spring of 1978, I walked into Aktive’s Boston office and first laid eyes on Julia. I immediately left, went up the street and got her some (cheap) flowers. Thundertrain was away on gigs a lot, so I didn’t see much of her until one night that summer. I was hanging on the bar at The Rat in Kenmore square, when in walks Thundertrain roadie OhBob with Julia Channing! They had just returned from an Aerosmith show at the Boston Garden, I think “Draw the Line” had just been released. OhBob kind of disappeared and this was when Julia and my romance began. Aktive Talent was running out of bread due to Alan’s drug habit and my bands inability to make any money. Julia left Aktive to join MCA (!) working at their local record promotion office. MCA had just started their Infinity label and one of Julia’s bands was “New England" discovered by Paul Stanley. They did lots of shows with Kiss, and their drummer Hirsh Gardner later joined JPP’s Danny Hargrove and me in The Wild Bunch. As the seventies drew to a close, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford left Aerosmith. My band Thundertrain broke up after a five year run and Julia left MCA. She went to work for Tim Collins who was booking bands out of his apartment. Julia didn’t like the way Tim did business so soon she was looking for work again. The biggest rock act in Boston was The Cars. They were making a pile of money, they decided to buy Intermedia Studio at 331 Newbury St. in Boston. This was the studio Aerosmith recorded “Dream On” and the whole debut album at. The Cars gutted the place and put in all new state of the art equipment. In charge of the electronics was Andy Topeka, the wizard that had previously built all the Aerosmith amps and Joe’s talk boxes, effects and switching units. Joe brought all that cool stuff with him to The Project. Now Andy was doing his magic for the Cars. Later, Topeka went on to join The Rolling Stones. Andy put together all the electronics for the Stone’s Steel Wheels Tour. On the eve of leaving on the Stone’s Voodoo Lounge Tour, Andy shocked everyone by taking his own life on Thanksgiving Day. He was loved by all and he did a hell of a lot for rock and roll. The Cars new studio opened in 1981 and they renamed it SyncroSound - Julia Channing was hired to help run the new facility. This was a very cool job! From her desk in the front lounge she coordinated The Cars busy schedule and entertained visitors like Cheap Trick, Peter Wolf, Al Jourgensen and Ministry, Bebe Buell and tons of other fabulous folks that came to hang out and record. Ric Ocasek had also taken a young South American filmmaker, Luis Aira, under his wing. Luis put together experimental films and music videos at SyncroSound. In his productions he used many of the pretty girls from the area including Julia Channing and Billie Montgomery (Perry). The Car’s keyboardist Greg Hawkes released a solo album and Billie stars as a robot babe in the video shot by Luis. While Julia was living in the fast lane Cowboy Mach Bell was in the break down lane, stalled. I had taken a job at my dad’s Stereo shop in Wellesley fixing broken record players, Thundertrain had been disbanded for 2 years now and my rock dreams were fading. That’s where I was when Greg Morton called on Tuesday, February 23rd, 1982. Sitting at my service bench, changing a busted phonograph needle. I picked up the phone, "Mach! It’s Earthquake! Listen I’m down here with Tim Collins, he just signed Joe Perry and they need a singer fast! I suggested your name and Tim said to call you!" I couldn’t believe what I was hearing -- it was so off the wall. "Listen Mach, they want you down here Friday to audition!" I thought for a minute, did I really want to get my hopes up again? What if I failed the audition? Did I really need more heartache? "Wow, thanks for thinking of me Greg - but I think I’m gonna have to pass on that. I hung up the phone stunned. I went back to work on the broken record player, but couldn’t concentrate -- Joe Perry? Wow! The phone rang again, it was Greg, "Listen Mach, I won’t take no for an answer -- I know you want this gig! Audition is at the Cambridge Plex at 1 on Friday. Earthquake told me the songs to prepare and that was that, I had no choice! I went upstairs to the record department, grabbed the 2 JPP albums and started studying. Once I landed the gig, Julia and I were quite the happening couple, between us we got invited to all the parties and got into all the shows. Julia thought it was great when I suggested her old friend Billie as the sax player in the JPP video. Actually, Julia still contends that it was all her idea! It was all too good to last, soon it was over, The Cars broke up, and Aerosmith reunited. Julia and Billie remained close, and we were asked to move in and take care of Billie’s son Aaron while Joe and Billie flew to Hawaii to get married in 1985. Julia and I had a rocky time in 1986 and I split to Hollywood for a couple years to get my life back on track. In November 1988 I proposed to Julia over the phone from LA and she accepted. Her parents orchestrated a lovely wedding for us in London on June 17, 1989 in a little church by the Thames. Julia took a job with a Boston film production company. A couple years ago they shot the Aerosmith footage for a virtual guitar computer game. Julia and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary in France this year. We have no children, but Tony Perry is Julia’s godson.
33] Crossfire: Many people say Brad Whitford gave the JPP a ton of energy at the shows he played at, was that true, or was it just a ticket sales booster?
Cowboy Mach Bell: Hardcore Aerosmith fanatics all know how powerfully important Perry and Whitford’s guitar tag team chemistry has been to that band. I got to see how strong their friendship was off stage as well. When I joined the JPP , Joe was so thin , frail and disoriented -- we were all very concerned about him. Thank goodness Brad was there to support Joe musically and emotionally. Unlike Perry, who could go for days without uttering a word or making eye contact with me, Brad was straightforward, funny and friendly. On the road Joe would rarely mention Aerosmith. We could be setting up in some small theater or club, and Perry acted like it was nothing that a couple years earlier he’d packed the arena across the street with Aerosmith. Brad on the other hand, was easy to talk with and shared lots of cool Aero-adventures with me. Brad could bring Joe out of his shell, talking about passions they shared -- automatic weapons, health food and explosives. Musically the Project went into orbit when Whitford joined us. For me, it was an unreal experience to be out in some backwater roadhouse and launch into “Toys in the Attic”, “Same Old Song and Dance”, “Back in the Saddle” or “Train Kept A Rollin’ ”with the real deal Aerosmith guitar stars burning up the stage beside me. I don’t think Joe could afford to keep Brad Whitford full time, and Brad had other offers, so Perry took him when he could get him. I’m sure it boosted ticket sales when Whitford was around, but it went much deeper than that.
34] Crossfire: Was is weird knowing that the Aerosmith "Back In The Saddle" tour started in the same month that the JPP ended?
Cowboy Mach Bell: I was totally devastated when my daily relationship with Joe Perry ended. It has left scars that are still tender. Technically, Aerosmith started rehearsing for their reunion tour the day after the Project¹¹s last gig. I don’t agree with the "Walk This Way” book regarding the first Aerosmith concert show date. It was at the Capitol Theater, Concord, NH. I bet it was about 6 weeks later, in late June 1984.
35] Crossfire: Joe Perry lists Chuck Berry as a major influence on him...was "Walk With Me Sally" a direct tribute to him?
Cowboy Mach Bell: Joe Perry is a fascinating guitarist to watch. His fingerings and attack are unique to him. Like Hendrix, it’s hard to figure out what chords he’s playing or what key he is in. Isolated from the band, his licks can sound dis-jointed, un-musical and just plain wrong, but heard in the context of the song - he’s dead on. Soon after joining the Project, Joe invited me up to his mansion in Chestnut Hill. The Perry’s place (soon to be repossessed) was an authentic rock star estate, high on a wooded hill. Joe’s Porsche, Jeep, motorcycle and Bentley graced the drive. A full suit of armor stood in the entrance hall. The expansive living room had heavy wooden moldings and was ringed with balcony landings; Japanese made Godzilla and Mothra models battled on the fireplace mantle. While Elyssa and young Adrian drank organic apple juice, Joe and I went upstairs to work on some songs and Joe told me he had a title stuck in his head. “Take a walk with me Sally", he muttered. Later that night, back at Julia’s apartment I scribbled out some lyrics, which all refer to Perry’s life at the time, in the format of Little Richard’s "Long Tall Sally.” I sang it to the guys at the next practice session and Joe quickly arranged the 1-4-5 progression in G that does sound like a salute to Chuck Berry. Joe was way into Chuck’s "Berry’s On Top" album at the time and we covered "Sweet Little Rock ‘N’ Roller" in later JPP shows. Personally, I think Joe’s wah-wah drenched solo on that song owes more to "Ain’t Superstitious" era Jeff Beck..
36] Crossfire: Joey Kramer says in "Walk This Way" that Joe Pet was fired, if so, why? Joey also said that he played 10 shows with the JPP...is that true?
Cowboy Mach Bell: The amazing Joe Pet had a wife and child to support. After the 1984 JPP West Coast swing ended on April 2nd (partying Pet missed the plane home!) we got word that Joe Perry would re-join Aerosmith. Pet immediately put out the word that he was available for gigs, and got good offers. The wind was out of the Joe Perry Project sail, and we only played one more show in April, the WBCN Boston Music Expo on 4/28. It was probably our largest hometown crowd ever. On the afternoon of May 10 we played Peabody High School with Joey Kramer in the audience. That was Pet’s last show, he had better paying gigs that night and weekend. So, later that night we played at the Worcester Airport with Joey Kramer in the drum seat. Wow, what a powerhouse. Our stuff sounded good with that massive Aerosmith beat. The next night we played Frolics with Kramer and special guest Steven Tyler joined the Project for a song. Then, on Saturday, May 12th, Kramer joined us for the final JPP concert at “The Twilight Zone” in New Haven, CT. As far as I know Joe Pet was not fired, you might say he resigned. Joey Kramer played 3 great shows with us.
37] Crossfire: Joe Perry says in "Walk This Way" that you were the one in the JPP who gave encouragement to Joe Perry to rejoin Aerosmith...did you feel that was the best thing for him?
Cowboy Mach Bell: Well Scott, all the guys in the Project, during my line up anyway, wanted the best for our leader. When Joe was railing against Steven and the rest of his old band, we’d stay out of the way and let him vent. The rest of us had too much respect for Aerosmith to add anything to Perry’s fire. At live JPP shows, usually during "No Substitute For Arrogance", Joe would often veer off into a tortured rendition of "Dream On", while we continued to hold down the "Arrogance" pattern. Perry was letting off steam, and the Project was a safe and supportive place for him to do that. Having been an early fan of Tyler and Perry’s, and having seen their meteoric rise from close up - I was very aware of what Joe had walked away from. I believe Joe may have taken some of his success for granted. My previous band, "Thundertrain" had struggled for so long, getting so little, it made me all the more aware of Aerosmith’s unique success story. I believe Joe Perry would have made it very big as a solo star. He may still do it yet. I also felt that Tyler, Perry and the original Aerosmith may have lost their way, but still had a lot more great music to make together. Joe re-joined Aerosmith a single man, saner, stronger, wiser and with new management, a great crew and loads of fresh ideas and energy. He and the rest of the Aerosmith never took their success for granted again. I was pleased when Joe singled out my support of him and Aerosmith in the book, but I think he had all of us in his corner.
38] Crossfire: Why did you choose "Bang A Gong" out of all your covers to put on "Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker?"
Cowboy Mach Bell: We thought it was a cool song that hadn’t been heard for a long time. It sounded like it fit the times and could be a hit. It was, but not for us, a few months later it became a top ten hit for Power Station (Robert Palmer and some Duran Duran guys).
39] Crossfire: Steven Tyler has bumped into Elyssa Perry over the years...have you?
Cowboy Mach Bell: No, I ran into her once at The Channel concert club in Boston soon after the Project folded and she, or she through one of her friends, said something hurtful to me. I kind of blacked it out. I had some strange times with Elyssa. I got to know her early on in the Project and found her alluring but extremely tricky. We shared a love of horror movies and would play hangman together in the dressing room before JPP shows. When Joe was drying out at the Lodge, I drove her down to visit him. I had previously hung with Elyssa’s little sister Nikki, who was a good rock singer. Nikki dated (the late) Matthew Mackenzie, guitarist for Reddy Teddy -- another Boston band that opened lots of Aerosmith shows. Just before Joe was released from the Lodge, Tim Collins called me to the office. He told me that it was going to be all over for Elyssa, Joe was ready to divorce her as soon as he got sprung. Tim told me not to take any of her calls and to lay low. I felt so bad for their son Adrian; he was only about 2 or 3 at the time. A year or so later I got to meet Steven’s ex-wife Cyrinda Foxe when the Project was gigging up in New Hampshire. Cyrinda was also ex-wife to my hero David Johansen; I used to read about her fabulous life in Rock Scene Magazine back in Holliston. It was easy to see why the boys loved her, she was really fun and I couldn’t stay away from her that day. I was disappointed to read her book; it’s too bad she has such bad memories.
40] Crossfire: Have you seen Joe's son Adrian play?
Cowboy Mach Bell: Not with his band. I did finally get to meet grown up Adrian backstage at an Aerosmith show a few years ago. I think it was the final leg of the Get a Grip tour. Adrian, who now plays guitar, was 16 and into the bass at that time. In the dressing room Tom Hamilton handed Adrian an axe and Adrian played some nice McCartney riffs. Joe told me later that his son dug the Beatles and had a Hofner bass.
Joe Perry with a cigarette up his nose?
Joe Perry wearing a wig?!!
