Dr. Frank: vocals, guitar
Joel: bass, backup vocals
Jym: drums

David St. Hubbins once said, "There's a fine line between stupid and clever" -- and with every release they put out, The Mr. T Experience bravely walk that thin line. This interview was done with Dr. Frank through email (in July of 1999), since the band is at home currently working on its upcoming album, Alcatraz, which is to be released in September of 1999. Dr.Frank has also released a solo album recently called, Show Business is my Life.

SS: DO YOU KNOW HOW YOUR SOLO RECORD IS DOING AS FAR AS SALES GO? WHAT KIND OF REVIEWS DID IT GET?

DR.FRANK: I'm not really sure. I'm expecting it to do about half what a typical MTX record does, but it's only been out for a couple of months, so it's hard to assess. As for reviews: what reviews I have seen have been mostly favorable, though it hasn't been reviewed all that much from what I can tell. "The kids" seem to like it, though.

SS: HOW DID YOU CREATE THAT GUITAR SOUND ON "THINKING OF YOU"?

DR.FRANK: It's a toy. A "country-twangin' micro-jammer."

SS: WAS IT COOL HAVING THE HI-FIVES AS YOUR RHYTHM SECTION FOR A SONG, OR WAS IT NOT A BIG DEAL SINCE YOU GUYS ARE GOOD FRIENDS?

DR.FRANK: It was very cool, and it was a big deal even though I know those guys. They've always been one of my favorite groups, and it was cool to force them to play one of my songs.

SS: YOU PUT OUT A SOLO RECORD AND JOEL STARTED THE PLUS ONES, IS THE STABILITY OF MTX OKAY?

DR.FRANK: The MTX has never been all that stable, but it's more stable now than it has been in the past.

SS: ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE THE SOLO THING...MAKING ANOTHER RECORD, TOURING, ETC?

DR.FRANK: At this point, I'm just doing shows here and there as they come up. Most of my time and energy lately has been spent on the new MTX record (not counting the many hours spent staring into space lost in silent regret.) Another solo record? I'd like to do one, but I think I've got to wait and see if anyone buys the first one.

SS: YOU GUYS HAD A SLIDE GUITAR AND YODELING ON YOUR LAST RECORD, CAN WE EXPECT THAT KIND OF CREATIVITY FOR YOUR UPCOMING RECORD?

DR.FRANK: Well, I'm glad you think of that as "creativity." The new record sounds quite different from the last couple of albums. No yodeling though. We're making all new and different mistakes this time around.

SS: IF EVERY BRAND OF BEER WANTED TO ENDORSE MTX, WHICH BRAND WOULD YOU GO WITH AND WHY?

DR.FRANK: I prefer Pabst Blue Ribbon, mostly because it has the coolest name. "Pabst" sounds like what one feels when drunk.

SS: WHAT WAS THE LAST RECORD YOU BOUGHT AND WHY DID YOU WANT THAT SPECIFIC RECORD?

DR.FRANK: The new Robyn Hitchcock album "Jewels for Sophia" just came out a couple of days ago, and I bought it because it's wonderful.

SS: AS A WHOLE WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE "PUNK ROCK" THAT'S COMING OUT NOW?

DR.FRANK: I think it's like anything else: most isn't very interesting, but occasionally something will surprise you by being unexpectedly great. Or even by just being unexpectedly not terrible. I wish bands in all genres would take more risks and go out on more limbs. I understand the pressure to stick to a formula that has worked in the past, but practically everything is boring when you hear it the second or third time.

SS: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SPINAL TAP?

DR.FRANK: Great movie.

THE END


***If you would like to read the longer Mr. T Experience interview from 1997 click here.***