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Dean P. - Infectious Grooves |
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I have always been an avid supporter of Suicidal Tendencies. In 1990, when Mike "Cyco Miko" Muir and Robert Trujillo decided to do the sinister by forming Infectious Grooves with Dean Pleasants, I followed suit and immediately dug their silly brand of punkified metallic psychodelic funk. How could anyone forget those ridiculous videos on MTV! Infectious Grooves are back, even though, they never disbanded. I recently held a conversation with Dean Pleasants. I learned that they are working on a new album and touring with Suicidal Tendencies. They have just released a live album called: 'Funk It Up & Punk It Up: Live In France \'95' with a double disc of material from "Cyco Miko's" solo effort, live. I still celebrate the plague that makes my booty groove, and one sip from the oozing green cup of those infectious monster skank liquid riffs still has me seeking therapy and feeling mas borracho con mi amour de las cosas Metallicas! MettleAngel: Hey Man, it is really cool to jive with you and discuss the funk that makes my booty move.
MettleAngel: So let us do the sinister!
MettleAngel: I have loyally followed the band over the years. I am a die hard supporter of Suicidal Tendencies. I remember when I first purchased 'The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious Grooves' on CD, and sat down to read the lyrics, and laughed my ass off. I had just seen the video for "Therapy", and I wanted to hear more.
MettleAngel: That is awesome! I have most of your titles on CD, but I have had a bitch of a time finding, how do you say it, 'Sarsippius' Ark' ?
MettleAngel: Well, finally I met an awesome metalhead at Warriors Of Metal III, who has hooked me up with some rare shit, including this album! Before this, I only had it on cassette.
MettleAngel: I guess I am showing my age. I just discovered that you have released a new live album, recorded back in the glorious Infectious daze?
MettleAngel: This is where the live album was recorded?
MettleAngel: That is so cool! Infectious Grooves really made their mark in the early '90s. ST were at the height of their success, and Mike and Robert Trujillo continued this by founding IG. You are an original member who played on every album, so how did you get in the band?
MettleAngel: I understand that you also now play in ST full time. I just got those last few more punkified ST albums in the last year. I was always a big fan of the band in the late '80s. This is when they really became a Metal act.
MettleAngel: My favourite album by ST is 'Join The Army', and that still has me in a possessed to skate, Venice beach mood, always wanting to excel.
MettleAngel: I like to keep interviews lively. It was right around the 'Controlled By Hatred / Feel Like Shit... Deja Vu' (EP) with the song and video for "Waking The Dead", that ST truly crossed over. They also just released a Live DVD called: 'Live At The Olympic Auditorium'. You play on that, right?
MettleAngel: I noticed that several of those cuts on the DVD were from their earlier material. It seemed like most of the classic 'How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today' and 'Lights... Camera... Revolution' material was omitted. Is this owing to the fact that the new fans of ST are more into the punk / crossover feel?
MettleAngel: I love all ST, but I prefer the Classics. I see that Sony Records has released another greatest hits album, which is not all that different from 'Prime Cuts'. I assume the band are not too happy with Epic/Sony capitalizing on their past glory.
MettleAngel: I assume you mean Suicidal Records. Well, I am glad that this includes Infectious. Sony are probably only profiting off the band because Rob was in Ozzy, and now he is in Metallica. At least he kicked Metallica's ass inot gear!
MettleAngel: I always thought that was a waste of his talent. I mean, I dig the Cro-Mags, but Rocky is such a versatile guitarist. He did a few guest spots on the Infectious debut right?
MettleAngel: I understand that you also played with Ugly Kid Joe?
MettleAngel: Like what songs?
MettleAngel: They too had a funky feel, but they were 100% Metal. I am amazed that Shannon Larkin went from them to a career with Godsmack.
MettleAngel: Yes, and he is doing way better there than he ever did with Wratchild America or UKJ. I am amazed that UKJ are not at the Metal-Archives.
MettleAngel: There was something so special about these non-grunge bands of the early '90s who were at their heart Metal, but allowed for some R&B flavour. Bands like Mordred, UKJ, and Mindfunk epitomized this!
MettleAngel: This was also a time when Red Hot Chili Peppers were finally get recognized, and becoming a huge success. Of course Jane's Addiction were real popular, and you even had Stephen Perkins playing drums for Infectious.
MettleAngel: How could anyone ever forget Rob's bass tactics! Your videos also really stood, out, as did Green Jellö's. Now still known as Green Jellÿ, after changing their name from a bullshit lawsuit, they have also reformed and are touring.
MettleAngel: Yeah, with such a claymation type low budget video, that song really stood out. So tell me how you got into Metal and playing guitar.
MettleAngel: There is that word again - cassette.
MettleAngel: Dude, I have thousands!
MettleAngel: Speaking of Ozzy, tell me how you got him to do the vocals on the song off your debut called "Therapy".
MettleAngel: So he had no problem with it.
MettleAngel: He is always drunk and wasted.
MettleAngel: I recently read his autobiography, and he has barely been sober for four years following his near fatal motorcycle accident.
MettleAngel: The Ozz Man was mas borracho on that song. I still love that cut. Did you know that he also included it on his box set called 'Prince Of Darkness'?
MettleAngel: Surely you recall playing guitar for Jessica Simpson!
MettleAngel: As far as "Therapy", the track is on disc three of four. The third disc includes all the bands or artists with whom Ozzy recorded, including his "Born To Be Wild" duet with Miss Piggy. You should hear his Bee Gees cover of "Staying Alive""...all aboard the disco train!".
MettleAngel: So I hear you are working on a new album.
MettleAngel: I have not heard 'Mas Borracho' which came out ten years ago. I just got a digital promo version of the new live Infectious CD. I think it is cool how it includes split material with Cyco Myko. I also love how the Sarsippius character reminds me of the late Richard Pryor version of Mudbone.
MettleAngel: Does he also do the band's manager named Kashmir?
MettleAngel: Like the early era of Gwar, but not as perverted, this made the music more appealing. I would love to see that new ST DVD too.
MettleAngel: Not yet, and I missed out on the Mike Muir interview opportunity a few months ago. I should get it eventually, as I would love to see you play guitar for ST live.
MettleAngel: Indeed! Well, brother, I am glad to discover than the infection is spreading again. I look forward to showing my son those cool videos from the past.
MettleAngel: I just look forward to catching both acts live. Unfortunately, I never have seen either. I almost caught ST with Megadeth on the 'Countdown' Tour, but was too broke at the time. I do look forward to hearing some newer material. In the meantime I will just keep playing my 'Sarsippius' Ark' album, which is playing right now in the background.
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