The Smithereens Compuserve Conference

(Members of the band chat online with their fans, June 20, 1994 ...)

(#4,Glenn - Moderator) My name is Glenn Smith, Sysop for the Music Vendor
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Forum, and I'll be your moderator for tonight's event.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) The conference is scheduled to last for one hour.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) After some opening comments from the band, we'll
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) address pre-conference questions posted in the
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Music Vendor Forum. Then we'll go to the floor
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) for LIVE QUESTIONS to the band about their latest record,
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) "A Date With the Smithereens," their past recordings,
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) tour plans, or whatever is on your mind.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) We received many pre-conference questions, and we will
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) probably not get to all of them so you can talk directly
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) to the band.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) If you have a question, type: /QUESTION.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) When you are "recognized" by the Moderator, you enter
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) your question! Please keep your question brief and be
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) ready when you are called upon. Any undue delay and we
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) will go on to the next question.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) At the end of your question, type "GA" (Go Ahead)
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) so we know you're finished.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) SO - Grab your beverage of choice, strap yourself in and
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) put your keyboard in the full, upright and locked position.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) You've got "A Date With The Smithereens"!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Guys from the band: Say hello to the folks out there and
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) we'll begin with the pre-conference questions.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Hi guys!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Welcome everyone from the Smithereens!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) OK..lemme get ...
(#4,Glenn - Moderator)  a pre-conference question!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) From Elisa Leon:
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Pat,
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Any future plans to get cut from any major films?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Loved your .01 second cameo in "Singles" !
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) By the way, how's Ira?  Wink, wink, nudge,, nudge.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) See you on July 6th in Minneapolis!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Gang!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) In studio at this moment at the Record Plant in LA.  Recording cover version of
(#8,rICK FAGAN)  time won't let me for Jean Claude Van Dammme
(#8,rICK FAGAN) movie "TIME COP"
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Ira is doing well and is surviving the tour.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) OK! Let me get another...
 (#4,Glenn - Moderator) From J-P-pott:
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Hi Guys!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) It was great seeing you at breakfast during the
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) McGathy bash!  I was looking around, and couldn't
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) spot any of your memorabilia at the Hard Rock.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) How do you get stuff on the wall there?  Do you
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) have to ask or can you just donate to them?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) How was the show in Memphis that night? And finally,
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Dennis: Did you get home to check your mailbox for
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) the tape?    C-ya      J-P-pott
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Ga !
(#8,rICK FAGAN) they usually ask for the items. Guitars on the walls in NYC SDGO
 and HHolywoodHard Rocks
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Memphis show wen't very well.  Encore featured drummer Dennis El
vis tribute/ impersonation.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Dennis- No.  I will check it as soon as we get a break from touring.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Thanks!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Y'all done?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Yes
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) OK..let's get another..
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) and the folks from the floor...
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) can get in line w/QUESTIOB
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) woopss.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) that's /QUESTION
(#5,Lou Vitor) sen 7 - donna, how are you?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) From John Intorcio:
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Hey.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) I really enjoyed the Smihtereens appearance on MTV unplugged
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) a few years bag and particularly the performance of
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) "Behind the wall of sleep" with Graham Parker.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) That song has echoed through my mind ever since...
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Has or will the music from that show been released?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Any more work with Graham Parker?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) OK! GA!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Rick?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Did ya catch the last question?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) thanks for Remembering.  Behind the Wall of Sleep featuring Graham Parker, Guest Lead Vocal, Was released on cassette single
(#8,rICK FAGAN) B-Side for Yesterday Girl/ Capitol Records.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Ah..thanks..more?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Probably out of print at this time.  If we release a rarities/ B-sides collection
(#8,rICK FAGAN) it will be included, of course.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Great!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Pat has done two solo acoustic shows with Graham
(#8,rICK FAGAN) NYC, and Providence, RI.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) WHew!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Let's get another:
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) From Charlie Ocean at Rock 104 In Mobile.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) My question concerns the band's "Tastiness."
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) You seem to have a knack for particularly catchy
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) well-formed tunes that fit our AOR/AAA needs. Do you
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) find that you consciously write towards the needs of
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) the "market" or do you just naturally write such well
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) crafted songs?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Ah, a radio question!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Pat-  First, Charlie, sorry I forgot to dedicate a song to you at the Hard Rock.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Mabye next time.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Reguarding your question, the songs are written first and formos
t to please myself and the band.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) It works!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) there is no deliberate attempt to write "HITS", although we like
 to have them.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Hope to see you soon Charlie, Best Regards, PAT
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Thanks, Pat!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Your Welsome!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) OOOPS!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) From David:
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 1) A lot of your music is unavailable on CD. In particular,
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Girls About Town EP, Live EP, and your nonalbum b-sides.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Is there any chance of you releasing a CD compilation of
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) these tracks?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 2) I heard that you recently released a promo collection
of 45s that
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) included alternate mixes of material on your current albu
m, A Date
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) With the Smithereens, as well as a few bonus tracks.  How
 about
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) releasing this on a limited edition CD?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 2) Do you have a fan club?  Perhaps some of the more obscure material
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) can be made available via mail order to fan club members.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) That's a mouthful!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS- There is no immediate plans to release at this time.  But we hope to  UMMMM to compile some of our b-side tracks.  Seriously
(#5,Lou Vitor) There is a fan club - write to D. Israel, RCA RECORDS, 1540 Broad
way - 36th floor, New York, NY  10036
(#8,rICK FAGAN) thinking of boot-legging our older material and selling it at gigs.  Is that a good idea?  We would like to know.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) PAT- No immediate plans at this time to do so.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) From Tim Marks:
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 4) Have you considered doing a new video compilation (maybe with live stuff)?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 5) Is there an e-mail contact should we have other questions?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) (ie. for RCA or management company?)
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 6) How about Detroit area tour dates?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Thanks for the opportunity to ask these questions
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) (Dominique--Tim's girlfriend--on behalf of Reechie, Dave
and Bob)
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA !
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) rICK!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS-  We will be playing in the Detroit area (Rochester to be
 exact) on the 15th of July at Meadowbrook.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Hope to see you there.
(#5,Lou Vitor) Send any e-mail to me through GO RCA.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Yes
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) From Enteo Corp:
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 1. Nirvana listened to you for focus during the recording
 of
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) their last...who do you guys listen to?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 2. Does Dennis still takes pictures of EVERY damn show?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 3.  Will Pat ever wear that itty-bitty goatee under his l
ower
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) lip again? (my crowd has affectionately named the thing
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) "a smitereen...cause its just enough to piss you off!"
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 4.  I remember that MTV unplugged thing too. How do I get
 a recording?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Keep on keepin' on, my friends.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) drm at Enteo
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) hey..that is...
(#8,rICK FAGAN) concerning the compliation of live video footage.  Capitol has t
ons of live performancefootage in their vaults.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) THE LAST pre-conf question!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) We doubt they'll use any of it.  We might have to license it from them.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) for tentative video history entitled  "THE SMITHEREENS STORY(LOOK BCK IN ANGER)"
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) hehehe
(#21,JM) ]/ust
(#8,rICK FAGAN) pat-aBOUT TO SHAVE BEARD OFF
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) haha!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) will apply black grease paint beard ala grouch-marx
/(#8,rICK FAGAN) Just Kidding.......
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) poifect!
 (#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS- Yes I do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) PAT-Concerning the MTV recording,  Question, how do we get a copy!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) hohohoho
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Waiting.......
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) OK....
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) let's go LIVE to the floor!
 (#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Bill!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Ask your cool question!
(#19,bill cullen) is jim there
(#19,bill cullen) we want to know why
(#19,bill cullen) dobbs was never
(#19,bill cullen) given any credit for
(#8,rICK FAGAN) No, he is passed out drunk on the couch in the studio.
(#19,bill cullen) co-writing white castle blues
(#19,bill cullen) with beebs
(#19,bill cullen) and as a follow up
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Beebs says hello!!!
(#19,bill cullen) do they plan to dedicate a future song to
(#19,bill cullen) max gruhin
(#19,bill cullen) (((( Dennis, Dave & Mark Here )
(#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS- Yes some day.... Max was a great man, but beebs ain't
(#19,bill cullen) how about eugene brown
(#19,bill cullen) boys are good
(#19,bill cullen) and girls are bad
(#19,bill cullen) would be a perfect title
(#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS-  Yes it's true that would be a good title.  gene was a good man and we miss him.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Please identify yourself in more detail!
(#19,bill cullen) DENNIS AND DAVE !!!!!!! CPD
(#19,bill cullen) Have you written on any girls jeans LATELY
(#19,bill cullen) Menlo Park
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Gotcha.....Salute!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Thanks.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Godfather!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) ..of Punk.
(#10,Godfather of Punk)  hey , so whats with you guys
(#10,Godfather of Punk)  ya come to LA and dont even
(#10,Godfather of Punk) call ur old friends
(#10,Godfather of Punk)  i am depressed
(#10,Godfather of Punk)   ga
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) boohoo!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Ed, why weren't you at the show.  You broke our hearts.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA G.O.P.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) We love you.  call Home more often.  Call record Plant LA NOW!
(#10,Godfather of Punk) nobody called me i didnt even know
(#10,Godfather of Punk) u played until this afternoon !!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) We didn't want you to know!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) hahahaha
(#10,Godfather of Punk)  so
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) anymore Ed?
(#10,Godfather of Punk)  how ya gonna beat the outsiders version ?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Ed, WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) good answer.
 (#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA David!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Yer on!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Impossible - ask us if we give a SHIT!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Do you?
(#17,David) Ok, Here's aHere's a question for Dennis.  Weren't you going to to t
he liner notes for the Beach Boys Cd reissues?
(#17,David) What happened with that, and would you like to do liner notes more in the future?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS- Yes I was but I had to go on tour instead.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Besides, what do I know about the Beach Boys anyway!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) right. David, done?
(#17,David) I thought Leaf did a pretty good job, even if Capitol is ditching the twofers
(#17,David) So Dennis, what's the prize record in your collection?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS-  I agree David Leaf did do a good job as always.  And re
garding ditching the twofers, another great idea from GERSH
(#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS- Alan Funt candid microphone!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Wow!
(#17,David) Hmmm . . . .Thanks a lot, on to the next person.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Thanks David!
 (#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Snarf!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Snarf?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 3....
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 2....
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) 1....
 (#8,rICK FAGAN) Out of there!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Mitch!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) (Sorry Snarf)
(#18,Mitch Gurowitz) HOw is the tour going to date and where are you guys typing
 from?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Smithereens!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS-  Hi Mitch good to hear from you.  the tour is going very
 well at this point.  We are in LA at a recording studio laying down trac
(#8,rICK FAGAN) for a movie soundtrack.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Mitch.
(#18,Mitch Gurowitz) Anything you can talk about?
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) ?
(#18,Mitch Gurowitz) What movie?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS- Yes, it is a version of "TIME WON't LET ME" recording for an up-coming movie called "Time Cop" starring Van Damme.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Thanks for the answer again!
 (#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Kip!
(#12,Kip Kleinhuizen) hi guys!!  first, when  are you coming to the colorado springs/denver area on tour?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) DENNIS- July 2nd we will be playing the Ogden in Denver.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Any More Kip?
(#12,Kip Kleinhuizen) great!!  i l\ LOVE the new cd - it's GREAT!!  ok, last que
stions...  what kind of guitar/amp does Jim play and where do you guys live?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Buy tickets for 12 of your closest fridends and we will personal
ly autograph your recently purchased copy of our new RCA Records CD
(#8,rICK FAGAN) "A Date with the Smithereens"
(#12,Kip Kleinhuizen) consider it done!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Hey, very cool.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) PAT-  Jimmy plays a Fender Custom Shop 1952 tele
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Reissue
(#12,Kip Kleinhuizen) what kind of amp(s)?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Amps this tour,  small Marshall 1962 Combo
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Next
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) OK!
 (#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA GB!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Oh Golden Boy!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Yer up!
(#6,Golden Boy) Whoa, easy. Thinking. Just got here.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) ah...
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) ask away!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Come back to us
(#6,Golden Boy) Get back to me in a minute.
hiya
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Dominique!
I just wanted to know
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Golden Boy--do another /QUESTION
what the internet addy would be for those
of ys poor schlubs who dpon'
don't have a Copmpuserve account...and a couple other Qs
Are you guys thinking of releassing a CD-ROM with maybe some material
for collectors...are you thinking of playingeither Woodstock
GA
(#8,rICK FAGAN) thinking about the CD ROM...........
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Up to RCA.
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Lou is responding.
(#5,Lou Vitor) We're trying to access the interactive highway as quickly as possible but it still comes lurch at a time.  Give us three months and we'll
(#8,rICK FAGAN) concerning the Internet,
(#5,Lou Vitor) try to get you the internet address
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Thanks Lou!
Can we us your Cserve addy?
(#5,Lou Vitor) sure, simply GO RCA and post those messages
Can we use your Cserve addy via the Internet...I can send messages
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) thanks again!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Elisa!
(#1,Elisa Leon) Pat, how was your first father's day
(#1,Elisa Leon) ga
(#8,rICK FAGAN) PAT-Lonley!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) yeah...
(#1,Elisa Leon) Did you at least call Liza?
(#8,rICK FAGAN) I mean,, I mean,  OH a ...
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Yes I did.  I sent here educational baby toys for her four month
 birthday.
 (#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA John!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Nice question Elisa!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Fathers Day also, Mary's Birthday.  Sent roses Arozina belt and
wallet
(#11,John D. Shinas) Pat were do those offf the wall
(#11,John D. Shinas) tongue in cheek lyrics (gonzo Weird) come from I love them.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) PAT-UMMM. UMMMM
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) I C.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) UMM.  Your question is so interesting,
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Kind of a hard question!
(#11,John D. Shinas) Well is that just normal thinking  or just trying to make t
he audience think about it more.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) the lyrics just don't mean a thing!  We hire men to write the songs.
(#8,rICK FAGAN) We have fooled the audience all along!!!!!!
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) hahaha
 (#4,Glenn - Moderator) GA Bill!
(#8,rICK FAGAN) I get them from Dr. Seuss books
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) Hi Bill!
(#19,bill cullen) would you guys mind
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) hehehe
(#19,bill cullen) if we get togther
(#19,bill cullen) and start a smithereens fan
(#19,bill cullen) club here in Carteret
(#19,bill cullen) we thought we
(#19,bill cullen) would have the monthly meetings
(#19,bill cullen) at TOMMY THE HOT DOG MAN
 (#19,bill cullen) Dennis ---- By the way ---
(#8,rICK FAGAN) HA HA HA HAHAHA
(#19,bill cullen) we saw your mother
(#19,bill cullen) at the diner
(#8,rICK FAGAN) Only if you invite Johnny Sitar!
(#19,bill cullen) we put the picture up
(#19,bill cullen) that you guys signed
(#19,bill cullen) JOHNNY SITAR WOULD BE THE PRESIDENT
(#4,Glenn - Moderator) thanks Bill
(#19,bill cullen) and she was all excited
 (#8,rICK FAGAN) Lovely!