Bobby Steele - Misfit at Max's
By Chris Rockson
In January 1981, the Lower East Side was one of New York City’s most dangerous, drug infested neighbourhoods…a forgotten and long neglected slum. But something was about to happen that would ultimately rocket this square mile of Hell to international prominence in the art world, and change it forever.
That “something” was the debut performance of a new band, THE UNDEAD, formed by Bobby Steele, the famously exiled guitarist of New York’s most notorious and violent punk band, THE MISFITS. Bobby had been relegated to finding THE UNDEAD a new venue after being blacklisted and banished from every established (reputable, that is) NYC nightclub because, he says, of a few “minor” indiscretions…like leaving Beatle John Lennon covered in vomit, the alleged “stabbing” of the younger brother of a popular TV star, and an incident that involved corrupting the morals of the underage daughter of a Middle-Eastern diplomat leading to an international scandal! Bobby says, “those respectable NY dives had no qualms serving liquor to 12-year old girls, but found these ‘pranks’ reprehensible…and we were banned forever from crossing their hypocritical thresholds.”
Soundcheck : Hey Bobby, tell me about the 'International incident' at max's with the 12-year old girl.
Bobby Steele : She was 15, and the daughter of a Middle Eastern Diplomat. I made the error of assuming the bar I was in had checked her ID - like they did mine. We partied for the night and most of the next afternoon, and then went back to The Club That Cannot Be Named. That was when I found out she was only 15, and the daughter of a Diplomat. They had the FBI and Secret Service asking questions. I caused countless trouble for that place. Rumor is that they had to close because no one would insure them - after me.
Soundcheck : Talkin' of max's, you're playing the show for Peter Crowley in a few days time. What does it mean to you to be playing with so many of your peers again, and all in the name of the club that we can't name anymore...max's kansas city?
Bobby Steele : It's great. I've been a long-time fan of THE VICTIMS - and when they reformed last year I was psyched. Of course, Walter is a living legend, and he hasn't lost a thing. I can close my eyes, and be transported to Maxs.
Soundcheck : With max's long-gone, and CBGB now a fashionable, high-end boutique, is there anywhere left for new bands to perform their art?
Bobby Steele : There are a few places, but nothing substantially sized unfortunately. Once the City Council imposed the new Noise Ordinance - they succeeded in eradicating Rock'nRoll. We may as well have Tipper Gore running this town.
Soundcheck : Looking back at your career as a musician, what would you say were the high points, and the low ones?
Bobby Steele : High points - meeting some heroes, who became my peers. Low Points - almost 30 years of defamation and blacklisting.
Soundcheck : You recently played the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in NYC. There was quite a cast that night for that show, what was it like getting up there and hanging out with your old friends?
Bobby Steele : It was the first time some of us were together... and actually can remember it. I spent some time walking through the audience - where I ran into a few old friends, too. I was never into the backstage experience - I can't sit still too long. So I find myself roaming, and meeting fans.
Soundcheck : Who influenced you as a musician, and who, out of the current crop of NY bands do you like?
Bobby Steele : Of course, my major influences came from THE BEATLES; but if they made a good record, they had some kind of influence. When I was about 9, my best friend's father was the bus driver for the DAVE CLARK FIVE - so I actually played stickball with some of the band and crew when they stayed at my friend's house. But I was also a big fan of Al Jolsen back then.
Soundcheck : After serving two years with The Misfits, you went on to create the Undead. Who else was in the band at that point?
Bobby Steele : The original UNDEAD included NATZ on bass, and Patrick Blanck on drums.
Soundcheck : You were signed by Stiff Records right? How did that all come about? A British label, responsible for acts such as Motorhead, Ian Dury, Elvis Costello and many many more...an interesting move, tell me more?
Bobby Steele : When I formed THE UNDEAD, I told them that my goal was to have a record deal within a year. I know how to get attention - and I got STIFF's. The thing is I still don't know if they signing was a "Revenge" move on their part. What happened was, we were drinking at the Holiday on St Marks Place, when someone came in and told me that STIFF was having a Grand Opening party at their new office. A light went on in my head - here was my chance. I wanted to look legit, and since our manager wasn't around, I grabbed this drunk guy, named Wong -as we flagged a cab. Wong was a trip - he never spoke coherently. If you tried to talk to him, he'd just stare blankly, and blurt out such wisdom as "Whoopah", or "Emena emana emana". "You're our manager tonight", I told him, and he just grinned. We arrived at STIFF, and walked up to the velvet rope. I told the bouncer, "We're THE UNDEAD... this is our manager". It worked, too. Once we were inside - we launched our plan, while Wong made love to a jug of wine. I had a bunch of UNDEAD buttons, and I casually slipped them into the pockets of all the 'suits' - with the pin bent outward so that they couldn't help but notice it when they reached for their keys. Things got even better when we found a few cans of spray paint - and wallpapered the offices with our logo. Then, I ended up in the hospital, and STIFF sent their people out onto the street to find more about the band that messed up their party. They finally caught up with me while I was doing an interview on WNYU, and said they'd like to hear us. They came to see us open for THE MISFITS at THE RITZ, and even though The Misfits tried to sabotage our set I maintained a sarcastic sense of humor, and Stiff asked me to bring them the recordings that would become NINE TOES LATER. We made an appointment to bring the tape to the offices the following week. At the meeting, my pet rat took a shit on the President's desk. We got the deal, and it was completely on my terms.
Soundcheck : More recently, you released the epic 'Still UNDEAD after all These Years' and also did a remake of a Misfits classic, tell me some more about that one?
Bobby Steele : STILL UNDEAD is compiled from a series of 45s that were mostly released in Europe - except for the LOA 45 - while I was tied up in a legal fight over the Trademark. Someone was trying to claim my legacy, and after I won, the title was a jab at his defeat. Last October, for shits&giggles, I re-recorded 12 HITS FROM HELL, and called it "12 HITS UN-Covered". It took about 3 weeks to do, and it was motivated by an interview with Glenn, from Circus Magazine in 2004 - where he claimed that the ill-fated, critically acclaimed, 12HITS FROM HELL was sometihng that I had completely done on my own.
Soundcheck : So, what's next for you?
Bobby Steele : More. I don't like to tell what I'm going to do - that's politics, it doesn't mean anything. I've been recording material for a new UNDEAD LP, and I'm practicing other material for a solo album of Pop Standards - dating back to the 1920s. I play a lot of that in my solo act - Sinatra, Jolsen, Martin, Orbison. People are surprised that I can sing so well. So am I. We just relased a Picture Disc edition of STILL UNDEAD... limited to 500 copies. I'd like to put a retrospective LIVE box set together, but it's a major project. I taped about 80% of our shows.
Soundcheck : Just before you go, tell the readers where they can find out more about you and your band?
Bobby Steele : Go to www.UndeadPunk.com and www.Myspace.com/54441044 Our website has a streaming player - so you can check out our music before you decide to buy.
Soundcheck : Ok, we're outta here, thanks for talkin' to us, good luck with the max's re-union shows...we'll be reviewing them for the next issue, and thanks again Bobby, take care man!
Joey Ramone Bday Show - NYC 5-08 (photo by Les 'FAZI' Opiola)