Peter Blast
Pure Organic Junk Interview
October 2006
By Christopher Duda
(SugarBuzz Toronto)
SugarBuzz Magazine
The man with nine lives of a tom cat, slinks down the alley and turns right on the rain soaked cobblestone heading towards the motel staircase. He gently pushes two drug-addled hookers to make his passage through the entrance while finishing his last drag of a freshly rolled cigarette. Fumbling for his key he peers into the room to find a woman with a stack of quarters and dressed in the latest PVC rubber wear. The motel sign clicks, flashes and buzzes as he heads towards the bed with a cheap bottle of whiskey in his hand. The night that never ends begins again.
Peter Blast begins the next journey with the release of an anthology cd and teases us with a taste of what is around the dark corners.
Blast’s derailed train continues to jump the track……………………………..
1.) Last time we spoke, you were getting ready to record a new CD but now Poptown Records is releasing a Peter Blast Anthology titled “Pure Organic Junk,” how did all of this come about?
Yeah, you’re right. I had just gone into the studio and started recording a new CD. “Poptown Records” was interested in releasing the CD I was recording but as time went on they got back to me saying that they had this great idea, the idea was an Anthology. I thought it was a pretty cool idea, so this is what we agreed upon. We agreed to pick a few songs off of my four previous releases, a few unreleased tunes, a live track, a few alternate mixes, and two new tracks that I was actually recording at the time, a couple of hard hitting rockers (On a Derailed Train / I Ain’t Cursed), a couple of real smashers. So in the end what you get is fifteen songs of “Pure Organic Junk.” Its release date is the first of October so just check out Poptownrecords.com for any updates. I think they might know more than I do at this point. Artwork and all is still being laid out but I do know I’m doing some live dates in New York in the first and second weeks of October.
2.) Who decided what songs would go on the Anthology and what would you have done different in the selection process?
Well the label put together a sequenced list after I sent them tons of material, some of the stuff dating as far back as the late 70’s. I was pretty happy with the songs they chose, it was a bit of a drag that some of the old “Degeneration” stuff couldn’t be used because the quality got a little beat up with time but it’s great that some of the old” Blast Factory” material still stands up. I don’t think I would have changed much at all. The new tracks “On a derailed Train” and “I Ain’t Cursed” really show how much everything changes and somehow remains the same. The CD definitely gives you a great perspective of all the different styles of music I’ve done over the past twenty years and I was glad to see how Poptown put it all together. It’s got a great flow thru the complete CD and I look at it this way - every song that I dig that wasn’t used only lay’s in waiting for a volume two. There are so many songs, that it was mind-boggling. Poptown has really done me well.
3.) I have noticed that your new songs have a less polished feel and more grit to them. Was this intentional and if so why the change in direction?
Yeah it was intentional but I don’t know about a change of direction. That’s funny you know I’m old school. I don’t give a flying Fuck about technology and pro-tool. It’s bare bones recording, Guitar, Bass and Drums. Some of my past releases had some pretty great players but very polished, it was sometimes hard to get the true sounds I was hearing in my head. Now I go into the studio and we play the songs. We don’t piece them together or have a lot of layering. I think the new ones are less polished because I’m playing all the guitar parts; there are no studio type musicians. I did have my bro Tony Christiano play the solos, but that’s all. Its really just three guys and a piano player rockin out, feeding off each other. The thing is if we can’t do it LIVE then why do it in the recordings. The engineer was sayin that in the past nobody really copped the vibe to Blast’s songs and how could they in reality, so what I did was play them myself. I was a bit bored being the straight up front man. Nobody’s got the Blast Vibe down more than Blast. When I recorded the “Explode” CD it was really the first time I played my own tunes, you know, not just producing others to perform my songs but there was still a little more layering then what I really wanted so I feel that the “Explode” CD was really on the right track and there’s no sense in stopping now, I’ve found what I was looking for all along. I love the 70’s Faces and Stones mixes. So if the new ones are less polished and have more grit, to them, so be it – Less is More, and there’s a lot more to come. Trust me on that one.
4.) Personally I really like the direction of “On a derailed Train” and “I Ain’t Cursed,” will your new material stay in that direction?
Not necessarily. As Dylan said “Songs are made up of observation, imagination, and experience.” Everything’s always changing. The recording process will remain the same but the feelings of the day are forever changing. Some days the sun is shining and other days it’s raining Cats & Dogs. I’d like to think I’ve got a few more tricks up my sleeve. I’d like to give people a few more surprises. People like surprises don’t they?
“Pure Organic Junk” has a lot of surprises, songs you may have missed in the past, but the newer songs have the surprise of styles and formats that maybe you haven’t yet, but recordings will remain the same – Bare Bones, no trickery going on as long as I’m in the control room.
5) Speaking of new recordings. After the Anthology it’s rumored that some of The New York Dolls might be recording with you?
“Steve Conte” may get together with me to play on a song or two and it would be great to work with Sylvain Sylvain after the Dolls tour. I’ll continue using Dan Curry on Drums and Chick Scorpion AKA Chip Z’nuff on Bass. I may also have the two guitarists from the Chicago based group “OFF BROADWAY” come down to separately play on a track or two but the idea is to play most of the guitar parts myself. The newer songs are more melody and hook on top of more melodies and hooks, and a bit less on the solos. It’s so pirate radio, not mainstream at all.
6.) What types of gear have you been using?
Well I’m a Gibson guy. I use the TV Model along with a Gibson Special and a 1971 Les Paul. I also use a Gretch, but Amps vary I’ve used a Vox AC30 head with a two 12 inch Fender speaker cabinet or the Fender Showman. I also use a variety of Fender head’s with different bottoms. I like an Echoplex and that little Brian May Vox Practice Amp. I A-B it to other Amps for the power to push it.
7.) What was it like hanging out with the new “New York Dolls” and where did you meet up with them?
It was a little weird really, cause I hit it off with Steve Conte the same way I hit it off with Johnny Thunders years ago. Sylvain is a way cool cat, a real New Yorker and David is always tellin ya Jokes. I had a blast.
I was invited to a TV filming in Chicago at the Channel 11 Soundstage. I remembered how Thunders was in the crowd for the Stones movie “Gimme Shelter” and I thought wow this could be pretty cool, So I went up into the stands and rocked out like there was no tomorrow, ya know, really out there, to support these cats. Later on some people from the show said I was being filmed. Backstage Sylvain and Steve offered me a beer, saying they were watching me and thought I was really a help in workin the crowd. It was a lot of fun and I wish them the very best with their new CD and tour.
8.) What groups could you see yourself as being a good opening act for?
Rolling Stones and I always wanted to open for Led Zeppelin. I could see myself performing with the N.Y. Dolls and everybody in between. I’m a man for all seasons. Hey isn’t Dylan on tour?
9.) Is there a difference between Glam and Punk today, in comparison to the 1970’s?
It’s all Rock ‘n Roll! Boys will be boys and girls may be boys (laugh). Not really, isn’t it all rock ‘n roll, pissed off people with an attitude or spaced out day-trippers with their heads up in the clouds. It’s hard, its soft and its pop goes the weasel. You can dress it up or call it anything you want, after the spin cycle it’s a little hard to say what it is. Maybe today it’s all about fashion and not much to do with the music.
10.) So what are your thoughts on the music out there today?
I don’t really hear anything new. It’s like younger Duran Duran’s and a lot of stuff being borrowed from the likes of Zeppelin and others. I think a lot of young cats are trying to play 60’s and 70’s rock style and finding out that it’s not so easy to play that cool, sloppy style (laugh).
Playing the blues ain’t an easy thing to do and a lot of white cats just ain’t got it. It’s not something you can buy. So there’s a wave of half ass old stuff being called new, but its not making a huge tidal wave, ya know? It’s not makin me run out to the store.
11.) So is it impossible to create something totally new?
No I don’t think so because when you make combinations of music it creates something new, ya know like fusion. A new twist if nothing else, but the big labels aren’t interested in that train of thought. Not in a Rock format anyway. I’ve noticed a lot of Hip Hop borrows from Classic Rock groups, but rarely the other way around. It’s all about dollars and cents, not creation, it ain’t even the next big thing in my book; but if I’m wrong, and I’m not a fortune teller, I feel sorry for all the kids that will miss out on the real deal.
12.) Do you feel that material on your New “Pure Organic Junk” release is relevant to the music scene today?
Well if what’s old is new I guess I’m in pretty good shape. In fact, I can tell ya that I think there’s something there for everybody and I mean everybody. The new tracks are pure organic rockers for on “I Ain’t Cursed and On a Derailed Train” I’ve got Dan Curry on drums, an ex Hi-Fi & The Road Burner & Chick Scorpion aka Chip Znuff of Enuff Znuff on Bass, Tony Christiano blowing the solos & I’m banging on my guitar and doin vocals. The “Blast Factory” stuff is more Punk and Glam. My first solo release “This Side of Shang-hi” was a mixture of Blues, Country & Western, along with Pop, Rock, and Adult Contemporary. A fusion if you will and the “junebug” stuff is across the board, Power Pop, Glam, Metal, and Punk. The release of that LIVE Bootleg CD “TRACKS” presented some cool recordings and the next release “Explode” just Fuckin Rocks along with some traditional Blues and heart felt ballads. So I think I’d run to the store for this New CD.
13.) It seems you are showing up on a lot of different web sites. Are you aware of things like that?
I’m sure a lot passes by me. But I am aware of a few. I’m up on Poptownrecords.com and on myspace.com/peterblast along with one out of Norway’s rraf.net and there’s the official Peter Blast site peter-blast.com to mention the few I know of. All these have pages, sounds, video, all kinds of stuff not only reviews, so I think that’s pretty cool cause it shows somebody out there is paying attention and ya gotta love that.
14.) You have hit many a different scene over the years. How old are you anyways?
You know it's funny, people ask you how old you are and then laugh like there kidding but really your hoping I answer you, don't ya. It's OK, I don't find it scary to see the ending more clearly than I remember the beginning. So let's open that can of worms or basket of snakes if you will. I'm a Virgo and I was born unto the year of the snake so if you do a little homework it's not too hard to figure out my earthly years. Here's one clue: In being a specific type of snake, I've always found it a little weird that I get a little creepy crawly being too close to water. No ship cruises for me. Being in a plane over water is OK, if it crashes, I'll make believe I'm one of those kamikaze cats. You know, crash and burn. The Virgo and this snake have many of the same traits. So in the crossing of the two, you get all the positive energies of both. It makes you so true to the sign that it's a little scary at times, because if your totally in tune and aware of the signs you can then use them to your advantage. It's like picking your own battles and knowing which ones to walk away from. It's also been written that I'm controlled by the hand of fate, God is my co-pilot. So no matter how articulate and organized I may be, nothing ever seems to meet my expectations because I'm just along for the ride. There's a message in the wind, can you hear it? Boo!
15.) Why was Degeneration not included on this anthology? Have plans been cemented to release any of this material?
As I mentioned earlier, the recordings just didn’t stand up as strong as the other recordings did, but a label in California has been talking to me about releasing some “Degeneration”. There’s a lot of newer groups releasing demo’s today so I wouldn’t be shocked to hear some of my first – last.
16.) If you become established as a dominant world force will you remember me or will you hang out exclusively with Paris Hilton?
I’m sure I’ll remember you! Guys like you are far and few between, your way cool & no matter how much we all love Paris Hilton I don’t think of her as a one man woman & I don’t like to share.
17.) Has Leddah contacted you lately? Enquiring minds report that Leddah is actually Chip Z’Nuff. Can you substantiate this rumor?
Well no, Leddah hasn’t called me lately but I did see Chip just yesterday and he gave me a couple of shirts, so they couldn’t be one in the same. One difference is that Chips got a nose for hooks and Ledda’s only got a hooknose. (Leddah is a possessed doll that you could experience for a price on ebay)
18.) When do you plan to release your next cd and do you have material planned for it already?
Well I’m not even thinking about the release of a cd that’s still in the making. I demoed like twenty new songs and picked ten of them to record, so that’s where that’s at for now. Today I’m preparing for a “Pure Organic Junk” tour.
19.) When will the world tour begin? Are you traveling with a full band or hope to pick up musicians on the way?
Well, Oct. 1st is the release date for the new “Peter Blast, Pure Organic Junk” so I have had some New York dates set up for the 1st and 2nd week of Oct. and I am having a few Chicago dates lined up which will be right before or after I go to Holland. When I play Holland I’m flying solo doing a few in-store promotion performances. Otherwise I’m performing Live dates with a full group. The Live shows are way cool, I’ve got Dan Curry on the drum kit, he’s an ex-member of Hi-Fi and the Roadburners and he also found his way on the two new tracks of the new Anthology release. The other cats performing with me are Spider and Charles of the New York based Rock group “The Detox Darlings” and there’s a possibility that the Darling’s Jett Set Jenna may join in to sing a few back-up parts as well. We’ll all hook up for rehearsals in New York and then do some kick ass shows, hop on the bus, hit the gas, and go go go. Zero to a hundred in a wink of an eye, off into the Orange Sunshine…
20.) What are your feelings about young women wearing low cut hip hugger jeans and thongs?
A lot of people say (mostly women) say women that wear that style don’t leave much for the imagination, I guess they don’t realize that a mans imagination has no boundaries.
21.) Will Poptown release your next venture?
I think that’s yet to be seen, but it has been mentioned once or twice. I’d like to shop the next one to the majors but at the same time I know Poptown will do me justice. It’s nice having artistic freedom.
22.) Dedicating your life to music and not reaping monetary gain can be a tough road to wander down. Why are you personally in this business and how are you personally surviving?
Yeah it ain’t easy being me. I’m like a traveling minstrel. I’ll take the high road and the low road, in fact I’ll even take the back dirt road - but don’t think for a minute that I’m doing without the things I want and need, yet they always come to me one way or another. It’s weird, I think I’m holding hands with God and I’m trying not to let go, but we all get what we deserve in the end. Also Thanks to licensing my cd’s to several Record Co.’s around the world those little checks just keep coming. I survive but ya gotta keep moving onto the next big thing. Music is my life, many things have come and gone but Music is always there. Music’s the one thing that keeps me sane in a world that’s gone mad. My guitar has been with me longer than anybody else. I kiss it everyday and say “who loves ya baby…. I DO.”
23.) Has anyone covered any of your compositions?
Yeah and without asking I might add. But I don’t say anything and I hope they make it a hit. As the numbers grow is when I bring in the lawyers. I’ve even written songs with people and never received my credits, now the cats dead and the songs on fuckin T.V. but I don’t bring lawsuits against dead people. Let sleeping dogs sleep. God Bless.
24.) Are you partial to Batman, Spiderman or Superman and why?
None of the above. Why do they hide behind masks? Everybody love’s Santa or The Pied-Piper and I think It’d be pretty cool being a Pied-Piper, everyone would hail you for getting all the rats out of dodge.
25.) Any parting thoughts or comments?
I’d just like to tell everybody that I LOVE ‘EM and hope that they pick up the New CD “Peter Blast/Pure Organic Junk” from Poptown Records or one of their distributors & I hope to be hangin out with everyone very soon. Keep rockin all you juveniles at heart & Remember – It’s all “Pure Organic Junk!”
http://www.myspace.com/peterblast
http://www.poptownrecords.com/