Jeff Magnum - Dead Boy

  

    JEFF MAGNUM TALKS...

    WE LISTEN!!

   

    By Chris Rockson

 

    SC. So, what have you been up to since the demise of the Dead Boys Jeff?
  
    JM: Keeping busy, still playing bass. I played on The Cyclones most rocking CD, available at www.thecyclones.net


    SC. Looking back at the NY scene, CBGB and Max's, how does that compare with the scene today?

    JM: I dunno, I’m really not all that involved with the young bands in the NYC music scene today.
    In a related story, the existing CBGB building is now a hideously overpriced designer boutique, where the asshole
    clerks play “air guitar” to Blondie songs. I wish to God I could say I made that up, but no dice.

    SC. What was your motivation and inspiration as a band back then?

    JM: My personal motivation was to play rock and roll music louder and better than anybody else, and play driving,
    melodic bass within the “punk” style. Looking back, I think I did okay. Don’t you agree?

   

    SC. You were originally in a band called Frankenstein from Ohio. How did you end up in New York?

    JM: In 1975, Cleveland, Ohio was a horrible place for a band like ours to get gigs. Bar owners weren’t interested in
    booking local bands with original tunes. They (and their customers) preferred the popular cover bands that played
    mindless FM radio hits. Eventually, we relocated to NYC because “punk” was happening here and we
    sorta fell into that category.

    SC. It must have been great playing with the guys again at the Stiv Bators Tribute Show. How did that come about?

    JM: That was alotta fun, I liked both Beachland Ballroom shows (the Tribute gig in ’04, and the 30th Halloween
   anniversary of our first Frankenstein gig in ’05). As for the Bators thing in ‘04, somebody set it up, booked the bands,
    and we rehearsed and went in and did it. I thought we kicked ass, and so did the crowd (they told me as much afterwards).

    SC. What guitars are you playing nowadays?

    JM: For many years I used a Guild Jet Star II bass, lately I’ve taken to the semi-hollowbody bass.
    I have a Guild Starfire II, and last Summer I got a new semi-hollow Epiphone that plays and sounds great.
    It’s the best bass I’ve ever played.

   

    SC. Which bands do you like from the original scene, and also, which were the best musicians?

    JM: I liked the Sic Fucks, Heartbreakers, Dictators, Steel Tips. Ross from the Dictators was a primo guitar player. Still is.

    SC. When CBGB closed for good, did that signal the end of the NY rock scene?

    JM: No, there’s still plenty of bands playing around town any night of the week. It wasn’t the end of the world,
    like some people of my generation would have you believe.

    SC. Do you have a favourite venue? Why?

    JM: I like the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland. That room has a great bass sound, for me anyway.

   

    SC. If you had to live on a desert island, what three things could you simply not live without, and why?

    JM: I already live on an island, a tourist island. I hate questions like this, better to ask me what 3 bands were influential
    to me on a major level and here they are, 1. The Who, because they hated each other and made a load of fierce 45’s.
    2. The Sex Pistols, because they hated everything and made a buncha fierce 45’s. 3. The Monkees, because they
    made a stack of fierce 45’s, and everybody hated them.

    SC. Ok, what's next for Jeff Magnum?

    JM: Who knows what the future will bring, but I’ll be ready and hopefully it ’ll be something I can bitch about!

    Thanks for taking time out to chat with us Jeff, stay safe!