JULY 2 2006 Yes finally I'm telling some music stories

If when you read any of these blogs and I reference the Cathouse era I am talking 1986-1995 ish. This was the time that rock music was alive in Hollywood. I know I sound like an old relic rehashing the good ol days but they were. We didn’t know it at the time. It may seem all fun and happy like a Poison video but there was a lot of dark times as well. We thought we were all indestructible whether it came to sex or drugs. Many proved we were not. Guns n Roses were are friends as was Faster Pussycat, LA Guns,Janes Addiction, Junkyard,Blind Melon,Alice in Chains, White Zombie the list continues. We didnt expect any of us or I should say them to become some of the biggest bands in the world . The scene was different then. Yes I will say that over and over again We would go to clubs not only to see our friends bands play but just to go out. While many basked in sunlight we bathed in the light of neon. Usually you would wake up around the same times the banks were closing. There was no breakfast you started the day wth lunch.We were all nocturnal rats

 There were several places to go almost every night. Of course Cathouse Tuesdays and Bordello Thursday but then again those were my clubs. I promise in future blogs I will go into greater detail not only regarding that era but all that went down at the club. Ok not all that went down but........If you want to know more there is a watered down history lesson at www.cathousehollywood.com

If you know about the Cathouse history you probably know that the first year I opened it I was doing the club with Taime Downe who was my room mate at the time. We lived in a dumpy old apartment on Hollywood Blvd. Taime at that time was starting his own band. He took the name of his band from a Russ Meyer film  Faster Pussycat Kill Kill. Faster Pussycat went on to success with a gold record and a big hit with “House of Pain”

Today Taime and I are better friends than we were in the 80’s or 90’s. He also has a Harley so we ride quite often. For several years we were distant. I’m not sure if it had anything to do with dating my exwife at the time. Todays Blog is from July 2006. Taime and I had not spoke in years.  There was a big rock show with a lot of bands I had not seen in a long time.Poison was also on the bill . This was one year before Rock of Love so I had no idea Bret and I would be working together in the future

JULY 2 2006 Faster Pussycat, Cinderella, Poison are playing in San Bernadino
Ok I aint gonna lie here. Those bands are friends but I would never go out of my way to go see them play. Ive ALWAYS been into the heavier louder and faster stuff . Regardless I got on the Harley and rode to Blockbuster or Hyundai or whatever that place is called. I have an idea for the venue's name  how about.....Hell.
It was way over 100 degrees and for some reason no matter who takes care of me I NEVER have the right passes...Ever. Iswore after Ozzfest I would not go back to that place ever.
.. So after going back and forth I get a working pass go inside and the 1st person I see is Bret Michaels from Poison....I may not have been the biggest Poison supporter but I do have to say this. Brett Michaels truly is one of the good rock guys out there. Very nice very genuine and I hate complimenting people. He made sure me and my friends were all dialed in. He didnt have to do that. We didnt even ask...... I went to look up my old roomate Taime from Faster Pussycat. I had not seen him in years .We  had a falling out but we really need to talk about the Cathouse 20th anniverasry. Of course Faster Pussycat needs to be one of the bands on the bill. Not only was Taime such a big part of the club Faster Pussycat even have a song called “Cathouse” These days Faster Pussycat is not like they used to be .Very Black very dark very goth.more Marilyn Manson than Hanoi Rocks.

       First band on was Faster Pussycat. I can not tell you when I saw this band last. I think once 5 years ago and all the songs had a more techno vibe and I wasnt digging it. The time before that was probably another 5 years. So Taime and the "new Faster Pussycat took the stage. All dressed in Black, perfect for 105 degrees. It was a more goth look darker almost german army. Nope no light colors or shiny things. If I thought the band sucked I would have no problem telling you that. They didint they opened with a new song I think it was called Power and the Glory hole. the song was great no it really was. His old songs were perfect and the boy can still do House of Pain as good or better than the past. Gayle (Mrs Rachtman) never saw  any of these bands. .She really liked the show.
Only complaint. Very curious
The song wasnt called "Best Cathouse in Town" anymore it was something else I dont even know what they said.Perhaps the word Cathouse was left out due to some bitterness.
. So would i go see Faster Pussycat in another 5 years ?
Hey I would go see them again tomorrow. Good job Taime......

Next on was  the band Slaughter which meant it was time to go find something to eat. Or do anything else..Backstage  It was great catching up with old friends.  It was a reunion of a lot of people I used to work and play with. The next "old friend " I ran into was Fred Coury of Cinderella. Fred and I were very close back in the day. We recalled going to lonely guy Christmas dinners at Sixx's house . We were the guys that didnt have girlfriends not to say we did not have girls just no relationships. Fred and I would go to Vegas and pretend we were highrollers . Fred is one of those really nice guys. I gave him the name cupcake because of that. It became a running joke. One year on Headbangers Ball he called into the show while I was pelted with cupcakes. Ya maybe next time let them thaw a little.

Cinderella has a problem.
They are lumped into that whole 80's hair band  thing. Deserved they did have some pretty silly costumes back in the day but the truth is. The band has songs. Good songs. Songs that I would put in a category with Aerosmith . Yes I think they are that good. They put on a killer show. I was always a fan of Tom Kieffers blusey voice and the man can play some scorching leads too. Cinderella's music does not sound dated at all. I remember when they had a record release party in New Orleans. One night the guys in the band and I went to Bourbon St.
Tom got up on stage with a bunch of ol blues guys and belted out the blues enough to gain some respect from the ol timers. This was not some hipster club. It was an old run down "real blues bar" Tom was the only white cat on stage. I would go see Cinderella again and I may dig up some old records and start playing them again. The show was incredible. I suggest checking them out and for you young pups. Give them a listen

Now on to Poison. Ya know I will tell you this. The band does appear to be having fun on stage and the audience was digging it. The fans were a majority of 40 year old screaming like they were 2 decades younger. They didnt seem like a bunch of relic's. Was I ever a big POISON fan ? NO but the show was a blast. Ididnt think I was going to have a good time but I did. See I did not use the word “nothin” Funny how I appreciate certain bands more now than I did.
On the way home I listened to Lamb of God