Q&A with TDGD International

How did you first come into contact with Missing Persons?
AJR: My friend Brian Alex was the gtr player and they were looking for a drummer (in '86, Missing Persons' Terry and Dale Bozzio split up and Terry left MP to work with Andy Taylor - ed.). I learned Terry's parts note for note by writing them out and playing to the "Best of" c.d. for two straight weeks and got the gig.

How did that lead to working with Duran Duran?
Around 1989 I began rehearsing with Dale Bozzio, around Boston with Brian Alex on gtr, Jeff Calder on keys, Paula Cole on bg vocals and Van Spragins on bass. We toured the summer '80s shows with Flock of Seagulls and the Tubes etc. I did about 70 shows with her over the next 3 years.
During down time Dale and I got together and did a couple of abstract poetry type techno oriented pieces. She wanted me to send them to Warren and was trying to get Warren to write for us or get him involved. When I sent the tape along, I put my solo c.d. on the other side. Warren flipped over the sonic warmth and big low end it had, and was frustrated with the way the mixes for Thank You were coming out. They sent me 911 Is A Joke and I did new drums, replaced the heavy gtr with people blowing into conch shells, added that cowboy lady etc. They flipped and said you need to come over and work on some other tracks...
So my partner Bob St. John and I got on a plane and headed to London. Since then we have worked on over 30 tracks counting Thank You, Thank You remixes, Med., Med. Remixes and TV Mania and Blondie.

What is your involvement with TV Mania?
Warren was bored waiting for Simon to write lyrics and melodies for Med. so he and Nick came up with the whole TV Mania concept. They sent the tapes and I spent 6 weeks adding drums and sound fx and mixing with Bob. I ended up being the other third of TV Mania when they heard the stuff, which was quite an honor. Warren called and said, 'you're the drummer in TV Mania, man'.

And now you've come full circle in doing Missing Persons remixes...
I've only done one, Mental Hopscotch. I played it for the president of Cleopatra (record label - ed.) over the phone, he said he liked it but never sent a check. I had paid for mastering and rentals out of my own pocket so my manager won't let me release the master until we receive payment so it may or may not e on the remix album. I spent a week on it, and I love it. It's really wacky and different. High speed techno acid samba.

And how does it feel to be nominated for the Boston Music Awards? Who are you up against and are you going to win...?
It's a cool honor, I am up against Mike Deneen, and some people with credits like Hole, Radiohead etc. so I doubt I'll win but it's fun to be nominated. I am taking a good friend of mine, Nancy Hickey, we're getting a limo and dressing up and stuff. Nancy is going to cause traffic jams, she's really beautiful both in her looks and soul. That alone makes the trip worthwhile...

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