Joey Pinter
Interview
By Geordie Pleathur
(SugarBuzz Nation)
SugarBuzz Magazine
PARTY LIGHTS!!! Geordie Pleathur Interviews WALDOS and DECADES Guitar Great, JOEY PINTER!
"IT NEVER WAS QUITE CLEAR-WHY YOU AND I, WE KEEP ON COMIN' HERE..."
Marty from the Dirty Pearls is exactly right, when he sez, "NYC is a drug". I was never tough enough, lucky enough, or rich enough, for Manhattan. Countless times, I tried to get a lasting foot-hold in Manhattan, and countless times, it chewed me up, and spit me back out. One of the many times I was there, trying to form another ill-fated, short-lived, black leather glam band, I discovered the WALDOS at C.B.'s, and they forever altered my ideas about real rock'n'roll. Most people, outside of Manhattan, got no idea how charismatic the WALDOS were, cos you really had to be there. It's a damn shame more people never got to see and hear 'em. Tony Coiro was one of the kindest, most generous fellas, I ever met. Back when I was talkin' about gettin' married(!!) to some
nose ringed chick, who promptly, went on to ruin my life, I used to joke, I'd never marry, unless the Waldos played my wedding. The ex told this to Tony, and he responded, "We're cheaper than you think!" He subscribed to my shitty xeroxed punk fanzine, and right when I was finally gettin' a steady line-up together, and talkin' to Tony on the phone all the time, about playing with them, the world sadly lost one of it's brightest rock'n'rollers! In my book, anyway.
I have not owned a copy of the WALDOS under-appreciated, "RENT PARTY", in years, but those songs are just so deeply etched into my soul. "Cry Baby", "Never Get Away", "Love That Kills". I still find myself whistling, "Golden Days", or "Countdown Love", all the time, while painting houses, or scrubbing plates, at dead end jobs, still dreamin' about rock'n'roll. The Waldos... WHAT A GREAT BAND! Those songs are unforgettable! "Crazy 'Bout Your Love" is exquisite power-pop perfection. Seriously. Look into it.
If you look for the WALDOS "RENT PARTY" on E-Bay, or wherever, you can probably find a copy, cheap. It really is an amazing record. Play it amongst friends, and let the Good Times ensue. It makes you wanna roll out the barrel. I know Joey misses playing those great songs to appreciative crowds, every night. I wanted to interview Mister Pinter, because I saw him live, about a half dozen times, back in the day, and he SMOKES, people. A TRUE ROCK'N'ROLLER. If you weren't hip to him, before now, hopefully, you will be, after this interview. If you live in L.A., go see the DECADES, cos 
Joy Pinter is the real deal. If you run a record label, please consider re-releasing "RENT PARTY", or Helping Mister Lure assemble some more WALDOS outtakes and rarities and revisiting the proud, sonic legacy of NYC's wonderful party band, THE WALDOS.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Origins of Joey Pinter-growing up, teenage years, family life-what were you like as a kid?
JOEY PINTER: My home life was nuts when I was a kid, living in Queens, I managed to get into a very cool high school called Aviation, however, listening to music changed all that. I quit, then went to Caddozo, for a while. I was an odd kid, until guitars became my main focus, I said very little. In fact, the summer of my 16th year, I decided that I wouldn't talk to anyone, I walked around with a notebook to communicate. It didn't work. I walked around the neighborhood wearing nothing but black, the Johnny Cash influence, I guess. My first "good" guitar was a Stratocaster, white with a maple neck, everything started to change then. it's amazing how much a Strat can change ones social life.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: How did you first discover rocknroll? What records really inspired you? When did you KNOW? Bands prior to Waldos?
JOEY PINTO: Music was a real presence in my life early on, I remember listening to the radio all the time, I loved the Motown stuff. I wanted to play guitar for as long as I remember, I never gave any thought to doing anything else. The first album I bought with my own money was Johnny Cash "At Folsom Prison". I couldn't articulate it at the time, but that got the hook in me. Before the Waldos, there 
were many bands. The first "real" band was something called Brooklyn Trash, we didn't do much, except drink beer, and hang out, in the back room at Max's. I moved to Florida, with the bass player, to form The Dogs. Florida in 1973 was not very cool, for a guy with blue hair!! Back to NY, to "fuse", then things really got under way. We were lucky enough to have been at the center of the world. We played CBGB's, when Hilly didn't have a P.A., we had our own because in those days, bands rented lofts to rehearse. Imagine bands renting space in Manhattan!!! Peter Crowley started giving us nights opening up for great bands. An early influence for us were The Heartbreakers. The first time i got to play with Johnny Thunders was in a joint called Mothers on 23rd Street. I was amazed that John wanted to play with me. I don't care what anyone says, that guy was a great guitar player. A quick story, Fuse was opening for the Heartbreakers at Max's, and at the sound check, I couldn't get in tune, Johnny saw this, took a look at the way I had strung my guitar (Les Paul) and told me it was wrong. Now, I'm thinking, "Yeah-Mister Fucking Tuning". However, we sat down, took off the old strings, and he showed how it's done. That was the first of many guitar lessons from JT.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: How were you affected by glam rock? When were you first exposed to punk? Did you like KISS?
JOEY PINTER: When I was still in Queens, I was playing what ever my buddys were playing, Clapton, Page, etc. Then one day, someone comes by with "Ziggy Stardust", everything changed, once I heard Mick Ronson, I knew I had to do this. I couldn't believe a guitar could sound like that. The door was opened, and I ran through, now, I'm finding out about T-Rex, Mott, the Dolls. THIS I 
could play!! I did not like Kiss, there was something about the sound I didn't like, I still don't.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Origins of the Waldos-how did you know Tony Coiro, hook-up with Walter, etc., in the first place? Please briefly describe each of your Waldos bandmates?
JOEY PINTER: I met Tony when he started playing with the singer from Fuse, at the time, I was playing with a very cool band called Lost Hatts, the only band I ever played in, with a chick. Tommy (the singer) called me up, and said he's playing with Tony, and a cat named Luigi, and they wanted to replace Loui. So I met Tony on St. Marks, we walked around, drinking beer, and I liked him. Tony was my best man at two of my weddings. Both marriages didn't last, he was the kiss of death. Fast forward to 1989, I was living on the East end of L.I., and Tony calls me, and says, he's playing with Walter Lure, and would I be interested in coming down to listen. It took about two songs, before I realized this was a great band. I knew everyone for a long time, so it was real comfortable, I always wanted to play with Charlie Sox, it was great. One of the positive things about Waldos, was no one was shooting dope, anymore. When people heard that Walter, Charlie, and Pinter were playing together, they thought there will be loads of hopping up! We were clean, so we thought. It was devastating to learn that Charlie died, and how. If we knew he was fucking around again, we would have kicked his ass. Jeff West was the obvious choice to step in.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: What do you remember most fondly about the following folks: Charlies Soxx, Jamie Heath, Richie Lure?
JOEY PINTER: Charlie was a great drummer and very funny, Jamie was a prince, I didn't know Richie well, at all. I was in prison, when
I found out that both had died.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Where did you guys used to practice? Didn't Jeff West run a recording studio?
JOEY PINTER: We used to rehearse at Jeff's place, Ultra Sound, on 30th St.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Some highlights from the WALDOS experience...
JOEY PINTER: One of the coolest things that anyone ever said to me was when Noel Ford from the Continental told me that sometimes, we sound like a train wreck, but it was always a spectacle.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: What is Alison Gordy from the Oddballs doing nowadays?
JOEY PINTER: Funny you should ask, I just heard from Alison last week, she's doing fine, playing and acting.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Did you get along with Thunders? 'Something about that guy that casual fans might not know?
JOEY PINTER: Johnny and I got along quite well, sometimes, he was a pain in the ass, and it made me nuts, when I would see him shoot himself in the foot, all the time, he should have died a wealthy man. I think the story about the strings was cool, oh yes-- this is funny, one day John was over at my place on St.Marks, and my psycho cat attacked him.
GEORDIE PLATHUR: Why did they close the Continental Divide and Coney Island High and C.B.G.B.'s? Wasn't Little Steven supposed to save C.B.'s
JOEY PINTER: I think the Continental closed because Trigger was losing tons of money, you can't blame him.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: I saw the Heartbreakers play a bar called the Red-Spot, on the outdoor back patio on Long Island-the opening band was called Dollhouse-know anything about 'em?
JOEY PINTER: I thought the Red Spot was on Staten Island??
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Maybe it was the Island Of Misfit Toys. The Dollhouse singer was wearing pajamas, that's how come I remembered them. Do you remember anything about a NY group called Dogtown Balladeers?
JOEY PINTER: No, I don't know them.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: I ask, because I think Jamie Heath worked with them. Recall anything about Chris Barry and Pillbox?
JOEY PINTER: No, again.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Who were some fellow musicians from the NY scene you experienced/shared a comaraderie with? Ever go to those GREEN DOOR parties? Did you know Holly Ramos?
JOEY PINTER: There were, and are, so many great musicians that I knew.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: What do you remember about the Thunders Memorial Concert that Tony Coiro put together?
JOEY PINTER: Ah, that, what a cool night. Watching Syl and David was wonderful, I got to play both the Waldo and Heartbreaker sets. Jerry Nolan was always fabulous, it was an honor to play with him, another person taken away, when their are so many douchebags still walking around.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Who put out that WALDOS 45?
JOEY PINTER: That was a cat named Dave Ing who ran something called Bayside Sound.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Some of those "RENT PARTY" songs are just so, so good. I'm thinkin' "Golden Days". I know many of those tunes were written over the years, honed in the bars-did you get to help write any Waldos material? What do you remember about recording the classic "Rent Party"? Where is Jeff West, now?
JOEY PINTER: Recording "Rent Party" was wonderful, Andy Shernoff really put teeth in the guitars. I think Jeff is still running Ultra Sound
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Do you remember a band who opened for you, from England, called GUNFIRE DANCE?
JOEY PINTER: Nope, tell me about them
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Which of the following do you prefer: Circus Of Power, the Throbs, or D-Generation?
JOEY PINTER: Frankly, I'm not crazy about any of them, however, D-Gen was cool, and I liked Rodger from the Throbs.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: What happened to REAL ROCKNROLL? Are there any contemporary bands you enjoy listening to?
JOEY PINTER: This is a sore spot with me. out here in L.A., I see a lot of white boys playing fucking rap music and bands with turntables on stage, it blows. There are a few bands here I like. United Snakes, my friends, Joe and Cynthia NY Junk, the Extremes from Sweden, Richard Bacchus, Inazuma (a great Japanese band) my old friends the Victims, and the Hudson Dusters.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: What have you been doing to support yourself in recent years? Have any kids? Married?
JOEY PINTER: I get some money here and there, I have two daughters, Margaret-who lives on L.I., and Isadora, who lives in France. I just got married to Angie. I can't believe I talked her into it!!!
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: What did you think of the revamped NY DOLLS?
JOEY PINTER: I am glad for Syl and David.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: What brought you to El Lay?
JOEY PINTER: My wife Angie, I love this place.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Please tell me about the DECADES, what you're currently working on, etc.? Will the DECADES be recording? Have any merchandise available?
JOEY PINTER: The Decades are coming along just fine, we managed to secure a night a month at a place called 2nd Street Jazz, in downtown L.A., it will be one Saturday a month, where we can book whoever we want. We recorded two songs that are on our "my space" page, and as far as merchandise goes, everything is for sale.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Some all-time favorite guitar players?
JOEY PINTER: My biggest influences are, Keith Richards, Townsend, Mick Ronson, Marc Bolan. There are cats from N.Y., named Binky Phillips, Bill Thomson, and of course, Thunders, Greg Vancook
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: It costs about a grand maybe, to master and press 1,000 CD's, so if Walter's got such a great job on Wall Street, why hasn't he compiled a rarities/live CD for the many devoted, enthusiastic, life-long WALDOS fans? I'm sure there's no shortage of NYC rock royals, willing to donate their abilities penning liner notes, and contributing vintage photos to such a project, so what's the hold-up?
JOEY PINTER: Walter and I are working on a tour of Japan, the promoter over there owns a bunch of record stores, who want to sell a box set of Heartbreakes/Waldo/Knots stuff.
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: Awesome. Pleae tell Walter there are people who still love those tunes. Somebody in America should re-release "RENT PARTY" with a new booklet and bonus tracks! Are you listening ACETATE RECORDS?
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: OKAY, Here's some SugarBuzz Word Association! ONE WORD 
TO DESCRIBE
EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:
Dictators: Shernoff
Dee Dee: Nuts
Fleshtones:
Joey Ramone: Underrated
Walter Lure: Mr Spock
Brigitte West:
Cycle Sluts From Hell:
The Senders: Great
The Phantoms:
Pillbox:
Phillipe Marcade: Annoying
Gas Wylde:
Mad Juanna:
Michael Monroe: Cool
GEORDIE PLEATHUR: What did I forget to ask you about?
JOEY PINTER: I don't know, I forgot.
ALRITE YOU ROCKNROLLERS, it's Christmastime, so if you're fortunate enough to live indoors, IN MEMORY OF JOHNNY THUNDERS, get off that wallet, maybe buy yourself six less microbrews, or something and do something to help the homeless.
*SPECIAL Thanks To Andy Shernoff.