Dave Blood | Memorial Concerts | Donation Info | Dandrew Interview

How was it that you were chosen to play bass at the Dave Blood Memorial Concert?
Joe asked me when there was talk of a show in California for that box set thing and at first I said no….or maybe. I felt weird because Dave was my favourite bass player and had large shoes to fill. Mine are only 8 1/2, which is below average as far as size of feet. But don’t believe what they tell you about small feet. Anyway, I had always wanted to
Play IN the Dead Milkmen, but that was more of a pipe dream because they already had four members and didn’t need a trumpet player. I hesitated because I would have rather had Dave playing (obviously). Then later that night (that Joe asked me) I was thinking (and drinking) and decided that yes, it would be an honour.

How many practices did you have before the concerts and how did they go?
Um…once a week for a while, then twice a week for two weeks. I guess we started in….early October (?) The practices were great after the first few. And I only say that because I was nervous. They picked up the songs pretty quickly, it’s like riding a unicycle. They made me feel totally comfortable and accepted right away and I was less nervous.

Did you ever meet Dave Blood?
Unfortunately, no. But I did tell Kurt once to tell him he was my idol. Kurt came back and told me Dave said I was crazy then. Maybe. But still…

How was it up there on stage where Dave Blood would’ve been playing with the other Dead Milkmen?
Weird because I had stood about three feet away from Dave during there last show ever at the Troc. At one point I looked down and saw some kid that looked like me at 15 in that spot but it turned out to be a bouncer. Other than that it was an interesting view of Rodney’s back (and him running to and fro), Joe’s profile and Dean’s ever smiling face.

What is your favorite Dead Milkman song?
‘Watching Scotty Die’ was the first song of theirs I had ever heard, so maybe that one. Well, I also love ‘Dean’s Dream.’ You know and ‘I Walk the Thinnest Line’ rules too. ‘Jason’s Head’ and ‘The Woman Who Was Also a Mongoose’ are awesome. But I think it’s probably ‘I Hear Your Name.’ Or ‘Depression Day Dinner.’ One of those songs mentioned.

What song was the hardest to play during the concerts?
‘Serrated Edge’ is a lot harder than it sounds. Repeating that line over and over though fun, starts to cramp the hands a little. But I love that song. That’s a favourite too. And ‘Part 3.’

Is it really true that you were playing Dave Blood’s bass?
Yes. Kurt asked me and I was like ‘whoah.’ I had heard about how particular Dave was about his bass (wiping it off with a towel before and after every show, boiling bass strings, not having a chip or marking ANYwhere) and thought back to the many basses I had smashed accidentally (or on purpose) and still decided to do it. And then the next question comes…

You did a balancing act with the bass at the end of the show. Had you practiced that much and did you intend to give Kurt Blood a heart attack?
I hadn’t actually ‘practiced’ that, per se. I had done it many times in other bands after seeing Dave do it in the ‘Punk Rock Girl’ video and ripped it off. I balance a lot of things. Spend more than an hour with me and I’ll balance something. A broom, a hockey stick, a head of lettuce, babies. So yeah, I guess I practiced it. As far as giving Kurt a heart attack, yes.

What’s your favorite food and what does nutrition mean to you personally?
Pizza. Nothing.

What do you believe in? If not swordfish, please explain why.
I believe in Swordfish. And ghosts. I think ghosts travel through radio waves because once I was monitoring them with a little radio that Joe has and every time a ghost was around this weird sound would come in. Then, later in the car I heard it for a long time and told Brian and he said we were passing a cemetery. As soon as we were past it, it stopped. And I believe that ‘Swordfish’ is another hard song to play over and over. And it’s my favourite song. That and ‘Anderson, Walkman, Buttholes, and How!’