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Dead Milkmen
Interview with Joe Jack Talcum on Apr 28, 2009 by
By: Pete Crigler
Who didn't want to ride around in a "Bitchin' Camaro" in 1985? Who didn't want to date a "Punk Rock Girl" in 1988? Who didn't have their "Methodist Coloring Book" in 1990?
Simply stated, the Dead Milkmen were one of the greatest pop-punk bands of the eighties and their music still sounds as good today as it did then. In honor of the band coming back together and working on new material, the following are some questions that the band's legendary guitarist Joe Jack Talcum took time out of his busy schedule to answer.
What was it like when you got started?
Joe Jack Talcum: When we started we were a fresh new band, which is always a good feeling that cannot last very long. It's great when people don't know what to expect and have no expectations and they're hearing a whole set of new songs by a brand new band. We got positive reactions from audiences from the get-go and that made us want to continue and write more songs. Rodney was a natural front-man entertainer.
How did you guys hook up with Fever and later Restless/Enigma?
JJT: We hooked up with Fever when Dave got an album by a band named Get Smart, which was put out by Fever, and we noticed that they had an address in Chicago and an address in Philly. The address in Philly happened to be a residence just two blocks from our practice space so after practice one night we bought a case of beer and took it to the address along with a tape of 10 songs we had recorded and rang the bell. This guy named Colin answered and we asked him if Fever wanted to put out our first album. He did not say yes on the spot. But eventually he did. He told us that 10 songs was not enough for an album, in his opinion, so he paid for us to record some more songs and those original 10 songs plus another 9 became the album 'Big Lizard in My Backyard'. When the cassette and CD versions were released another 2 songs (Gorilla Girl, Tugena) were added.
What was "success" like and how did you guys deal with it?
JJT: Well, I felt as if we were successful from the start, just by the fact that we got together and were having fun playing music that people enjoyed. That's how I dealt with it.
What happened with "Metaphysical," did you feel the label dropped the ball?
JJT: Enigma was having financial difficulties when Metaphysical Graffiti was released. They were in the process of going out of business, so yes you could say they dropped the ball. But we couldn't really blame them under the circumstances. The Enigma/Restless folks were really good to us right up until they were put of out business not too long after Capitol Records bought them. Capitol Records picked the meat off their bones and we were left without a label. Most of the workers at Enigma were out of a job.
What was up with "Cousin Earl?" I read somewhere that the label hated it. Is that true?
JJT: I don't really know. No one at the label told me, personally, that they hated it. I think there was some confusion over how the tracks were not separated out, but were tacked on to the ends of other songs. They were not titled, so that is what happened to them -- they got tacked to the ends of songs like hidden tracks on a CD. We recorded about a dozen of the "Earl" songs, which Rodney improvised the words to. We picked our favorites to put on the CD and thought they'd be good to scatter throughout the album.
How did you hook up with Hollywood and how did you feel about it?
JJT: Restless/Enigma was started by two brothers, William and Wesley Hein. When Enigma folded, Wes Hein became the Vice President of Disney's new label, Hollywood Records and knowing we were without a recording contract, asked us to sign with them. I felt like there were no other offers so why not?
When did the band decide to call it a day?
JJT: Early in 1994, before we embarked on what would be our final tour (in support of Not Richard But Dick) Dean, our drummer, called us to a meeting and announced that he would no longer drum for us after the tour. He advised us to find another drummer saying that he had fun, but he had had enough. About a week later, Rodney followed suit and admitted that he too had had enough. Dave and I felt that without Rodney we could not continue as the Dead Milkmen. For some reason I felt we still had an album in us, I had some songs kicking around, so I suggested that we consider this our last tour and then we would write a final album, record it, and call it quits. I was reluctant to let go of the band, but it had to happen.
What are you up to now and do you keep in touch with the others?
JJT: Yes, I just saw Dean and his wife and son tonight. We played Rock Band together! I have been playing solo acoustic shows. I play some new songs of my own as well as Dead Milkmen songs. I also play keyboards (organ) for a punk rock band out of Philly called The Low Budgets and I have a recording project with my roommate called The Cheesies.
What are your memories of Dave, if I may ask?
JJT: My memories of Dave are that he was a brilliant funny inspiring man. He had a stuffed bunny rabbit that he named Fred Lettuce (pronounced Lay-too-chay). Fred Lettuce was listed on our mailbox when we lived together in an apartment (Dean, Dave and I shared a place at one time -- at another time I shared a place with Rodney) and would get junk mail. Dave really cared about people, all people, and was great to our fans. He would talk to anyone for as long as they cared to talk. He was a very open person. And he was a good teacher.
What do you think the band's legacy is/will be and what is your favorite and worst song in the catalog?
JJT: I really don't know. I guess we will be remembered, if at all, for being amusing and, hopefully, thought provoking to the right people at the right time. We may not be remembered for very long. My favorite song, that's like picking a favorite child, which you should not do - is probably The Woman Who Was Also A Mongoose. My least favorite song is I Started to Hate You.
