Joey Kelly Love Buddy

By Cyndi Ford

Everyone associates the Ramones with this place and time, who were some of the other major acts that were your comrades?
 

The Ramones were really a CBGB band although they played Mudd.
The B52's played New Years Eve 1978, that was the first time I saw them, the night the Mudd Club officially opened for business. The club was over capacity for this new band. Other artists who played The Mudd were Talking Heads, John Cale & Nico, Joe Jackson (Look Sharp, great), The Cramps, Johnny Thunders, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Frank Zappa, Bryan Ferry, Klaus Nomi, Marianne Faithful, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Peter Gabriel, the list goes on and on. Everyone wanted to be part of the Mudd Club, it was new and exciting. You could catch Keith Richards filling in with Sam & Dave.
We even had AC/DC & Judas Priest play the club the day before they would play The Academy Of Music, sort of a glorified rehearsal. In one way or another we all know or knew each other. I would deal with them in the beginning on a business level, you know, setting up the VIP rooms for them, dealing with their Management for the specifics, etc. After a while, once we hung out together and hit it off, there is a certain trust you build up with the artists, that's key in a lasting relationship with musicians. Some of the more interesting folks who called Mudd their home were William Buroughs, Andy Warhol, Jean Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Joey Arias and many more. That's what was unique & fab about The Mudd Club. It mixed Music & Art.
No other club was doing that at the time.

What bands have you played with; when and where?

Well, I've played in many bands over my 30 plus years. Some good and some not so good. The most popular band is probably Buddy Love which was a post punk/pop band that had a chart hit in 1980 with "Sheila". I've played, recorded, toured or co wrote songs with just about every musician you could imagine. From Michael Brecker To Johnny Rao. From The Uptown Horns To Walter Stedding. The List goes on and on.....

When one thinks of Joey Kelly, they immediately think Mudd Club...why is this?

I was the one who would pick you or not to come inside The Mudd Club, I was the doorman. Insiders would say we were the Studio 54 of the punk rock scene. It was actually an unusual situation be in at that time. I mean I would come outside to the chains every 15/30 minutes or so and pick who was to come inside the club. Remember I was just a know nothing Rocker kid from Brooklyn who got a crash course in New York City Underground Nightlife. Of course there were the regulars who never had to wait and unfortunately some folks who never got in at all.
They were usually know as the "Bridge & Tunnel" people. Folks from the outer boroughs who heard of the club and all who hung out there. You had to know your who's who of the Music & Art scene in that position. And if you didn't know that special someone who should be inside, you learned very quickly, usually from another musician or artist. My Boss, Steve Mass would also give me a list every evening of who I should let in and who he was expecting that night.
It may be Iggy Pop one night and John Belushi the next. I never knew who I would meet & greet until I got to work that night. Always an education and never a dull moment!

What do you prefer, writing, producing or performing and why?

Writing can be a drag sometimes, the inspiration muse comes and goes.
You need to grab the opportunity when you can. Producing can be fun and also challenging at the same time. Believe it or not there's a lot of technical stuff that goes into producing and that at times can be a drag. I do like it when a good song comes together in the studio, that makes it all worth while. But for me there is NOTHING like playing live. There's an adrenaline rush that takes over in me & that can't be beat. I don't care if its in front of 100 people or 1,000 people, it's always the same.
Playing live for me is honest, raw, naked and satisfying all rolled up in one. Nothing like it...

What is going on in NYC now musically, and what draws you to make this your home?

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. We really have to start there. Getting my wings musically was done in that borough until I was 20 or so. At the time my band built a 16 track recording studio in Brooklyn, rehearsed there and studied the craft. That's how I actually got the job at The Mudd Club. Me & my friends actually "built" The Mudd Club, from it's bar, to it's stage, to hanging the speakers, on and on. That's how Mudd Club Owner Steve Mass offered the job to me and several other bandmates in the first place. After working with him for well over a year, he trusted us, we assisted in making his dream come true.

There's always something going on musically in New York City. Not only musically mind you, alot of our rocker friends these days are writing books, painting, producing, photography, etc. I like that aspect of things. Yeah, we all go out and check out the new talent all the time locally. It never stops to amaze me all the great music going on in NYC. It is by far the Rock and Roll Capital of the world. I've been pretty much everywhere and there really is no place like home. I consider myself fortunate and lucky being from this town. Don't let anyone try and fool you. Sinatra was right,
"If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere"

You work on reunion shows, what are some of the ones you have done or plan to do and for whom?

The reunion fad has just recently evolved. I guess we all were looking for someplace to hang out, see old friends, meet new ones and catch up. We all spent our earlier years trying to break the music business, most were successful which meant you were away from the NYC scene either touring or recording. Sure you would come back all the time but when you were home someone else was out of town. There were alot of years many of us didn't see each other for whatever reason. So far to date we've
had two Max's Kansas City Reunions (one actually launched my band All Mobbed Up) and two Mudd Club Reunions. It's great getting together again after all these years. I recently was involved with The Jayne County Art opening at The Hotel Chelsea here in NY and got to sing with two of my favorites, Joy Ryder & Donna Destri not to mention sharing the stage with Walter Stedding. Only in New York City!

What is one story that you have in your memory bank, that you think is too important to be left out of the history books?

Sorry Cyndi, I'm saving those dittys for my own book. lol

When you write now do you stick to one style, or has your taste or direction in music changed since your youth?

You're music style is always evolving, it never sits still. I also think alot depends on what you're known for. Who you collaborate with also plays a part in that. For instance look at my situation, I love punk and the blues, always have always will. While you're going through the scene things happen. My chart single (Sheila/Buddy Love) was a pop tune. Back then they called it New Wave whatever but the point I'm trying to make is that if you had a glimmer of success with a record you're tagged with that for the rest of your life. For me there's nothing like a good live Howlin' Wolf or John Lee Hooker record.

What would you like to be remembered for?

The rebel rocker who was full of piss and vinegar coming up and the man who turned into the decent husband, dad and provider that he is. All for the love of Rock and Roll.....

Editor's Note : I would like to personally say a huge 'Thanks' to Joey for taking the time out to be featured in SoundCheck Magazine, and I look forward to sharing a stage with you real soon!

Cyndi