Hometown:
Claremont, Ca.
When did you begin seriously listening to Top 40 radio?
When I was 5. I hung around my cousins that were in
high school at the time and that's all they would listen
to.
What station and where?
Listened to KRLA & KFWB in Los Angeles where the D.J.'s
would be Joe Yokum, Wink Martindale and Cassey Kassem.
For better or worse, earliest songs etched in your memory?
"Put another candle on my birthday cake" which was on the
"Sheriff John's Birthday Show", a childrens T.V. show in
L.A. in the '50's.
If stranded in the jungle, ten songs you would take:
Get a Job, Just like Romeo & Juliet, Blue Moon, All
Shook Up, Blue Monday and Groovin.
First few records owned and why:
Roy Rodger's "Happy Trails" T.V. show 78 RPM. Because
I liked, and wanted to be Roy Rodgers.
One Song, a Hit the first time you heard it and why:
"Express Way to Your Heart" I was cruising around with my
cousins, windows down, radio on loud, hot summer night,
a little heat on and a '63 Impala full of fine women pulled
up next to us on Geary Avenue in Pomona...it was perfect
- the song is a hit with us. Timing is everything.
First trace of show business in your blood:
It was when I was an altar boy at Our Lady of Assumption.
I liked being up on the altar. I wanted to be the best and
the fastest at saying the prayers in Latin.
First performance in front of a captive audience:
It was at Straw Hat Pizza in Berkeley when Jerry Murphy,
Nick Ferrua and Mark Ferrari went and sang on open mike
night. We sucked but we thought we were hot. It was like
being on the altar at Assumption all over again.
Between the ages of 6 and 16 what was your favorite
radio station:
KRLA & KFWB in Los Angeles
Between the ages of 6 and 16 your average daily exposure
to music?
The exposure was constant with the transistor radio I got
for my 7th birthday, the Mexican radio station, KWKW, was
always on in the kitchen. Even at night I listened to music
on this wierd radio I got that looked like a rocketship,
it had a clip you would connect onto a set of pliers and
you would find a radio station by moving the nose of rocket
up and down until you found a station. And it was usually
only one station.
Ulterior uses of music (this one's for Julio but if
you can answer it too):
I never had an Ulterior use for music. I only used music
for what it was created for. To highten the senses, calm
the mind and to relax the muscles.
Name of first band?
Butch Whacks and the Glass Packs
Musical repertoire of first band?
Since everyone knows the repertoire of our band, I thought
I would take this moment to give an award for "The Best
Use of the Band" to Bruce Lopez. Every night we played,
it usually happened three quarters through the second set,
Bruce would decide it was time to "cut one out of the herd".
Bruce would spot her out in the audience, and he would start
to play the bass a little louder and with a little more
style. He would catch her eye with his devilish look that
just ooozzzzed out "I want you. I want you tonight! And
only for tonight!!!" He would start to walk, no, slither
to the front of the stage never taking his eyes off of hers.
Then he would slowly slither back to his original position,
again never taking his eyes off of her eyes. And if she
never took her eyes off his during this whole ritual, she
was his, that night, And only for that night. Boy he was
good.
Earliest musical influences and why:
Bruce Lopez
Between ages of 6 and 16 favorite comedians?
Red Skelton, Jack Benny, Soupy Sales
Punch line of earliest joke you can recall:
"Well you better let him out!"
Who or what influenced your sense of humor?
My entire family. Which consisted of 3 brothers and 2 sisters,
mom and dad, and 84 first cousins. they were all nuts in
different ways, you had to have a sense of humor.
How did you first hear the name BWGP?
I was in the room when it came to be. I do remember
hearing another great name being tossed around of "Julio
and the Cruseaders". Nah, I guess "Butch Whacks" is alright.
When and why did you join BWGP?
Jerry and I were there in the beginning. Nick and Mark
(from the Straw Hat Pizza)didn't want to do all oldies so
we had to call up a few volunteers.
Earliest recollection of performing with BWGP?
Just as Craig mentioned we were actually rehersing
for the Hootenany (James we need spell check for this page)at
St. Mary's and it got rained out for 2 or 3 weeks in a row.
I believe that we played at the Berkeley Sorority before
we played at St. Mary's.
Most desperate BWGP moment:
Getting home after a performance and after the Sun had risen.
Trying to speak to Debbie(My wife)coherently, telling her
why I'm just getting home while she is walking out the door
going to a real job. The most often answer given was, "Band
Meeting, you know that Jerry is a real asshole!"
Most embarrassing moment performing with BWGP:
It happened at the infamous "Boathouse" in Sausalito.
For almost 2 or 3 years we played every Tuesday at the "Boathouse".
It was the time the Marin chapter of the Hells Angels was
in the audience. Thank God they loved the show. In fact
they loved the show so much , at the end of the last set
they bought us a round of Tequila shots. At the first encore,
they bought us 2 more shots. By the time we got to our final
encore, which took maybe 15 to 20 minutes, they had bought
the whole band 6 shots of Jose. Well you see the last song
we'd do in those days had a 5 minute monologue before we
would sing "Goodnight My Love". During the Monologue the
band would play behind me the song "Sleep Walk". Well as
I Started talking I could feel myself getting drunker and
drunker. Never had I ever or since ever felt myself going
through each step of intoxication as I'm speaking and a
spot light in your face. Well needless to say the 5 minute
monologue went on for 30 minutes. It just went on and on
and on while the band, being the true professionals that
they are continued to play. Later that evening while we
were tearing down the gear. Gary and Jerry got into a little
discussion of their own. In fact they began to fight, throw
blows. I went in between the two to break the fight up.
They both end up hitting me and I end up on the floor. We
later told the bartenders of the "Boathouse" and anywhere
else we played, if the audience buys us a round, give us
water.
Fondest recollection of BWGP:
My fondest recollection is each year when we all get on
the stage at Bimbo's with the opening number, we come through
the curtin, the lights hit my face and you hear the audience
cheering. You can tell that the audience is having as much
fun as we are on stage. Wow! That's a great Recollection.
That's why I still do this.
Finest sketches:
"Elvis Camp and O.J.Jepordy" Elvis Camp with Ritzo
as Gandi and Karl as E.T. - Classic Butch Whacks. O.J.Jepordy
- Props to Gary and Larry for one of the funniest sketches
we ever did. Catagories- "I scream you scream", "Heisman
Hitmen" Just Great.
Not so finest sketches:
I would like to take this space and thank you Gary
Murphy and Larry Strawther for some of the funniest sketches
I have ever seen anywhere. You two are among the most gifted
writers around. I look forward each year to see what kind
of costume I'm going to have to get into each year. Great
Job, Don't ever stop.
Weirdest BWGP moment (on or of stage):
I have to give this one more thought.
How do you explain your role in BWGP the 19th Annual
Farwell Performance to new friends or colleagues who have
never heard of BWGP and didn't know you have a secret closet
life?
Butch Whacks and the Glass Packs is Vaudeville on Steroids.
I can't really explain it to anyone...they don't get it!
You have to come see and hear what it is all about. Once
you see it, you will envy my secret life.
