This is Google's cache of . Google's cache is the snapshot that we took of the page as we crawled the web. The page may have changed since that time. Click here for the current page without highlighting. Google is not affiliated with the authors of this page nor responsible for its content. These search terms have been highlighted: smelly melt banana 11/22/96 Dallas Texas The Orbit Room Driving all night again, got love it. The Memphis show was miserable, the city was cold and abandoned. So the only thing to is get the hell out of there. Arriving in Dallas at 8:00 am. We had the day to blow off. I was beat. I was drained from driving. I used to live here so getting around was easy. this place has changed a lot. Bigger. The Banana Kids went to eat and shop for T-shirts. we ran out again. I was sleeping and the meter maid from a down town parking spot decided to have us towed. Just as the tow truck pulled up I woke up. Jumping into the driver seat, I scramble for my keys, Start the engine and the police officer is shocked. he scolded me and then let me drive away. The fun part was watching the Melt Banana kids come a running after me. I drove around the bloke and I could see them running through a strip mall. They thought I finally decided to leave them. We all laughed and headed for the club. It was early afternoon and the club was not open yet. Melt Banana had a favorite place to eat in the deep elum area. We ate great pasta and then went back for sound check. After this we went to the back area to print the t-shirts. The club was amazed that we were printing t-shirts. I showed YaSuKo some graffiti on the mens room wall and we came to a greater understanding of much Influence i had on this tour. The show was fun. I do not remember the opening band. Maybe i was sleeping? But the show was another hot performance by Melt Banana. There was a small guitar problem a chord or pedal went out for a short moment. After the show the audience bought t-shirts from the stage and they loved the band. It seemed like a real fun gig, but most people musicians hate Dallas. There was this crazy fight outside after the show was long over. three kids beat the fuck out of an older man. he stood there and took most of it. I would have stole the car if I wasn't working. they left it running with the keys in it. they really beat this man. I grabbed this kid i was talking to and stashed behind the van encase of gun fire.We stayed with a young man & his grand Parents. I used the phone line to check the mail and we were off to Austin Texas next. 11/23/96 Austin Texas the Blue Flamingo. Arrived early again. The Blue Flamingo is down from Emos and it is a full on Transvestite bar by day / Punk by night. TYPICAL! I called Scott From PLAINFIELD told him I was coming and we drove to his house. he took us to the drum store and we looked for a part to fix the snare stand and failed. He lent me his extra stand, but I had to return it when I was done. No problem. I called Tim Kerr he has Melt Banana 7" records for us, sent from Michigan. A genital Giant record. We ate Mexican food, went to the club early. We like to be early. Then we went to see The Lord High Fixers. they stunk. We handed out flyers did the cute Japanese in a Texas crowd thang then split. We waited for hours as the packed club was fueled by beer and sweat. I saw a few enemies and a few friends. Jimmy was there an old PLAINFIELD guitar player. The Motards were playing, they SUCKED! Tim Kerr kept telling me they were great and it was the closest thing to The Dicks that Texas has ever seen. He kept telling me it was like the old days. I should go in and relive the old days! I looked at him & said I have a 6000 dollar lap top and 4000 dollars in cash in this brief case. It ain't a thing like the old days. I'm on tour with four Japanese kids and a bearded red neck, it ain't a thing like the old days.Well we were supposed to get 100% of the door. I knew that was a lie. The place was packed. 200 people in this cracker box. The club workers kept asking me whats wrong? I told them that we need some cool drinks & not alcohol. It was way to crowded to even be in this damp wet sweat drenched hell hole. Time finally passed and it was Melt Bananas turn to play. The P.A. sucked. There was no stage and the kids were drunk. I asked for three men to help keep the kids off Melt Banana. They were supplied to me. One really great man. A big tattooed man. Two other stupid speed tweakers. The first thing that happened was some one stepped all over the Guitar players pedal board. We stopped the song asked everyone to step back. It didn't work.Next thing I see is a drunk boy pulls his pants down to his ankles and sticks his ass right in Agatas face. YUCK! I would have killed him if I could have reached him. Eventually the show started again.dripping in steamy sweat the girls were pushed back. YaSuKo stood on the bass drum & Rika stood on top of the bass amplifier. We were pushing and shoving all night just trying to keep the kids off the band. This place sucked for sound. We should have been at EMOS. We made the best of it. beer cans flying and all the people shoving. It was the Texas version of Muskegon Michigan, well with out the Nazis and bikers. At the end of the night it was raining and the band was spent. It was exhausting to play in that heat and fight 200 people pushing. T-shirt sales were sparse. I had to argue to get 200 dollars out of these folks. It was four bucks to get in and we were supposed to get 100% of the door. NOAB fucked up again. We walked out of there with $200 dollars. Some one pocketed over four hundred dollars. The motards did not deserve it. These people were scum. We got ripped off for the first time on this tour. Next time I'm going over the booking agents head and book the show myself. We showered and a rested at Scotts house. Then Guess what? At four am we headed for El Paso Texas. yes another long drive. this one was one of the last real long drives. Should have been 14 hours.. We drove it straight., and guess again? We arrived early. 11/24/97 El Paso Texas The Attic Arrived early again. The club was locked up tight. We hung out in the parking lot.. Melt Banana would not come out of the van. We all laughed about several different subjects. We waited some more. I do not remember what we ate. Maybe I didn't eat? El Paso sucks always has. The other band showed up The fixtures from Los Angeles. I talked with them for a few hours while we waited. We all called the promoter. he finally showed up. he looked like a base ball coach. Simple and straight. he was not happy. they tried to offer us beer, but Melt Banana was not interested.. We just wanted water and they were pissed off that we wanted bottled water. We never got it. The fixtures were good. I liked them. they sounded like jello Biafra type of vocals and the played good punk rock. But they were not match for Melt Banana. Melt Banana were hot tonight. Even after yesterdays fucked up crazy show Melt Banana were still ready to rock. they had all the equipment dialed in and a lot of shows behind them. They slayed the fixtures and the 24 people in the club. We sold dome t-shirts and packed up. Another.... You guessed it? ALL NIGHT DRIVE! We stopped for food just at the out skirts of the very large spread El Paso. More Mexican food and we were off to New Mexico. 11/25/97 Albuquerque New Mexico The sports bar. After food we drove and drove and drove. I was worried about the border patrol. Zeni Geva had trouble here. But their pot heads and Melt Banana are not. We divided all the money up and drove and drove. I asked if they had any drugs and if they did to get rid of them. The band must have thought I was crazy. well I am but These states are serious about there drug laws. At the base of new Mexico we saw the best U.F.O. Rika and I saw it. It was a large submarine like object in the sky, very close to earth. It blinked and then dissipated from the sky. It was the absolute best sighting in my entire life. We both screamed and looked at each other. Then asked did you see that? Rika was up front most of the tour, she is a very good map reader and navigator. I was tired and Sudoh was to drive. he drove right up to the border patrol. They asked what we were doing and I woke up. I told them I had four Japanese tourist with me and we were recording around Texas. We showed them one or two passports and my drivers license. then they let us go. Cool, no hassles. Like that. They van was starting to scream at me again. I could hear it breaking down. The same FUCKING problem. gas in the oil. I was hoping we could just make it to Tashas house in Albuquerque? We arrived early 7 am and pulled up to her house. I knocked on the door but no one answered. I tried again later and no one answered. We slept in the van and then i woke up and knocked again. Tasha answered the door,I was rolled over with her beauty. She was very happy, smiling, and glowing. Tasha and I have been friends for a long time. I always had a secret crush on her. But I never told anyone. She died her hair black, had on some slick boots and a plaid skirt. I was knocked out with her beauty. She let us in, showed were to sleep and shower. Then she went to school. I passed out, with the image of her grace and beauty in my mind. Tasha has a very innocent way about her. Plus she is a radical guitar player. She took us out to eat Tai food and to the record store. Showed the bar we were to play at and Gasp A fucked up sports bar. These stops in between Austin and Los Angeles are boring and fruitless. The van was struggling at this point. The tools were stole in Boston and I knew I had to fix it again before we could leave for Phoenix. We bought fuel pump, oil, oil filter and a couple of wrenches. At sound check I started to work on the van. It was routine at this point. But I got covered in oil and gas.The opening band was from Los Angeles. A very typical hollywood rock band. I kind of liked them. Or was it that I just liked the feeling of being close to California again. They were wearing jet black everything. Make up and sounded like motley crew and U2. funny. Echo on all guitar and vocals,. Tons of gear and a rent of van with a U-haul. Melt Banana was hot. They played the best they could for 36 people tonight. Rika and i slept to the music of the first band on the bleachers. After the show we went back to Tashas house. A much needed rest. And not driving was good. The van was fixed. We would get up early tomorrow and leave. Tashas overwhelming beauty was killing me. I wanted to kiss her, but I fought off the urge. I finally wanted to let go and just grab her tight and kiss her. So I asked the magic eight ball if she would be offended by this action. The magic eight ball said probably. So I went to sleep and we left in the morning. Rika wanted to leave a CD but I was in a hurry to get out of town. I did not know what the van was going to do? We left then turned around because some one forgot some thing. But then we never left the CD with her. I mailed it to her after the tour was over. The memory of her supple flesh still remains ingrained in my mind. 11/26/97 Phoenix Arizona Hollywood Alley After another semi long drive we arrived early. The club was another sports bar. Imagine that? The people were very cool here. feed us good food, we talked, gave us lots of drinks, orange juice and milk. The opening band sucked . Hated them. They went on last though so we could leave if we wanted to. The band played well tonight, we were all tired at this point. Maybe I was more tired then the band. I could smell California in the air. We loaded out got all the drinks said our good byes. And drove for the border of California. Man was I ever glad to be heading back to my com state. 11/27/97 San Diego canceled. We drove all night from Arizona to reach Los Angeles at 7:00 am. I made a wrong turn and ended up down town in the middle of rush hour. I should have kept going to Mikes house in Venice. But I turned around and headed to Alans in Hollywood. Man Regan want to kill me. She hated my friends and me. I wish I would have went to Mike & Lisas house. We slept on Alans floor and I could not sleep knowing That Regan wanted me out of her house. Alan came home early from work and we talked. I love this battle creek Latin Dog man. About 7:30 pm we headed to mikes house. So the next few days we had off. It was thanks giving pyre weekend. We hung out and I was never so glad to be in a place that I knew I was safe and people loved me. I crashed out good at there place. We ate a lot of food, played video games and talked. Karen And Tom were to come down tomorrow. I could not wait. Sleep holy sleep was all I could do. 11/28/97 Day Off I was completely delirious by this point. I felt like I had been in solitary confinement for 45 days. It is nuts how your mind turns to melting brain cells after two weeks with out sleep, clean showers or a normal everyday to day life style. touring is not for every human. But these kids are warriors. the can hang on to me and run the U.S.A. night and Day. 11/29/97 Los Angeles Space land little kids band, Bottom 12, Rudolph and Melt Banana. Bottom 12 were cool. I did not love them but they played well. tribal beats and drums. Davs was not with Tom And Karen. I was so glad to see Karen, but she was still disgruntled about Dave Nuelken and the police. She was real FUCKING mean to me.Well we told Sudoh that he had to play in Rudolph. Because Davs was not here. I never told him that Mike was the first Rudolph drummer. Sudoh started to get nervous. He really did not want to do this. But at the last minute mike took the drum throne. We played good, for no practice. The Audience seemed to like it. A couple of PLAINFIELD fans showed up to see me. After the set several people rushed up to Karen and told her how great she was. Then A man told me he was Phil Spector, I just laughed. Melt Banana were scorching hot tonight. A very fiery show for them. My L.A. friends showed up and liked both of the bands. The Claw Hammer drummer, Troy, Mark, Allison, Mackie and Alan. Back to Mikes for one more sleep and then to Fresno. Karen spit on me before she left the club. At the last possible minute Danny Hefietz of Mr. Bungle showed up. I let him in the van and he started the van. Like he was going to drive away with Melt Banana inside. They never even recognized him. He had shaved his beard. After about two minutes they figured it out. We all laughed. 11/30/97 Fresno California Fulton This was an easy drive. After two day rest in Los Angeles. We arrived of course early as always. we were never late for any of these shows. We arrived at the Fulton and it was locked up tight. I saw several Melt Banana posters on the wall and in the display windows. Cool were home and Fresno can rock right up there with Muskegon. I called Dale & Josilen to see if Mike Tom & Karen had made it there yet? They were all there. I drove the van over to the Capitol Punishment house. Josilen had a nice treat for all of us. Deli tray complete with the works, cokes and beer. We relaxed and then I called the Fulton. Well Joe the owner said the show was off. That NOAB Booking never confirmed the show with him. FUCK! I said. I got the Melt Banana kids in the van and headed down to the Fulton. When we strolled inside the posters were taken down. The Fulton was acting like we never arranged anything with them. I called the living members of Circus Bogus and screamed at them. Junkie mother FUCKERS. So no one confirmed the show with Joe of the Fulton. Not NOAB booking, Not Jeff from Circus Bogus absolutely no one. I would have done it from the road if I knew this was going to be a problem. But Fresno is like home to PLAINFIELD. I could not believe we were being treated like this. After a bit of arguing with Fresno junkie crew, I asked Melt Banana what they wanted to do? # of them wanted to go home to San Francisco, But the amazing Agata wanted to play. I wanted to play because A) my mind was burning up with tour fever, I wanted to scream. B) Rudolph had drove from two different citys, San Francisco & Los Angeles. C) because Fresno is always fun and a good home to PLAINFIELD D) Because i was pissed off now. Agata put his vote on playing the show. By the way we had to play for free. Joe from the Fulton hired a mariachi band. A Mexican 16 pieces band. After a bit of discussing Melt Banana decided to play for free. I was happy but mad at Fresno! They lied to me and melt banana. The posters were up. Some back stabbing shit went down. NOAB fucked up by not following through with confirmation of this show. Well I will never come back to play this town again. Not after this move. It would have been one thing if it was PLAINFIELD. But this was a band from Tokyo Japan. Once in a life time would Fresno get this opportunity to see such a wonderful passionate band. They (FRESNO) Burned me. Rudolph opened the show. I was on fire. I was mad. I was playing like it was my last show. Melt Banana were next. They stuck up there tunes with a passion of many souls. The people who showed up were here to see them. 52 of of them FUCKING FRESNO creators were here. That was good for such a back stabbing move that was made. You should have seen the mariachi band! They started to play along with Melt Banana. They were trying to play Melt Banana music as they watched from the crowd. It was beautiful. Jaws were dropping left and right. A meeting of three countries on one stage. WONDERFUL! Melt Banana blew some minds. A few of the regular scene goers were not there. Later i got many of inter net letters about Melt Banana playing in FRESNO! Next were the Mexican band. It was wonderful. They were fun to watch. But they got Melt Bananas money which was unfair to the kids from Japan. 12/1/97 San Francisco California Killowatt Here is where the political & social aspect of this tour fell together. Dave Capplin was refusing to let Rudolph play the support spot. I told him & NOAB booking if he did not let us have the spot then we would move the show. We everyone was mad at me. But I was right. I was out here working my ass off for Melt Banana. A van, free equipment, driving, selling t-shirts and just sharing everything in my life with Melt Banana. Rudolph deserved the support slot. I was not going to budge. NOAB fucked up by not setting this straight from the first get up and go of the tour. I was almost animal about this territory. Well Bakkamoano was pissed. because they have a half Japanese singer guitar player, they think they can open for every Japanese bands that comes to the Killawatt. He was pissed off to. But Let me just say I worked hard for the right to support Melt Banana. Besides the fact his band sucks. Well bakamaono opened the show and played way to long. Bored 85 % of the people. next was Rudolph, Now Davs was back on the drum set. I really noticed the difference between him and Mike. Back to Back I could see who was my drummer. Rudolph played well, but we needed something special. Well it was missing. So it all seemed like a soft dream that went by fast. Dave Capplin told me he was sorry about the booking mess. He told me he liked Rudolph. I just said NOAB fucked up. Melt Banana were up. The sound at the Killawatt sucked. The band plugged in and wailed some fine music. About 120 people showed up. The locals did not want to pay the high door price at the Kilowatt. they were waiting for the next San Francisco show. The social ass kissing is not something i participate in. So the show got just what it called for. Small attendance and a local audience. Killawatt always sounds bad. Melt Banana did the best they could. But the energy of the social politics killed the passion. better luck next time Mr. Dave Capplin. 12/2/97 through 12/5/97 Recording with Trey Spruance Of Mr. Bungle. I stayed out of the way on this one. Trey is a genius. melt Banana know what they want to sound like. I went back to work right after returning home. T-shirts were in need and I had to start printing I took the next few days to spend time with my best friend. ROXANNE she was glad to see me. I missed her so much. We walked talked and played for the next few days. During this period we went to Amoeba records in Berkeley. I delivered Met Banana back and forth to the recording studio. Cooked them a big PIG dinner and made up lost time with My best friend ROXANNE . It was nice to be home again. 12/6/97 Berkeley California Gilman street There were some other bands but I didnt get there names. there are always five or six bands at gilman street. After the few days off and being at home I was rested. I love gilman street. there so PUNK here. But i can scare the shit out of them. I believe this was the best Rudolph show ever. I was on fire and I felt very strong. I commanded the stage like a solder at war. I screamed in two kids ears. Most people stayed back. We played the Politically incorrect song by the NIEG HEIST (Walking Down The Street). After we play many of workers said they loved us and invited us back to play again. The kids were dying to see Melt Banana. It was the first time they played here. And I believe this is a very important venue to play threw out America. the kids loved them with much intent. Melt Banana were a bit tired from all the recording, touring and being my prisoners for eight weeks. This was not their best show, not their worst show. Just a show that seemed to deliver the sound and the image. maybe the road has taken its toll on Melt Banana? 12/7/97 Debauchery Ware House San Francisco California Rubber Room, Rudolph, Melt Banana This was the the show of the fall tour to remember. At least on the west coast. It had a real Michigan feeling to it. Chances of that happing in San Francisco are slim to none. But Bob from Detroit was onstage first and he set the mood for the night. One of the finest shows I had ever seen Bob perform. Bob was wrapped in a pork rib apron. Now I dont mean apron like cloth. I mean REAL FUCKING pork rib slab. He had a round steak sewed up as a jock. It was so beautiful. The ugliest man from Michigan wrapped in MEAT. He was screaming at the top of his lungs, poring BBQ sauce all over himself. Yelling Mattitude, Mattitude, KILL, DUH HUH BBBB DEAD DEER. It brought tears to my eyes. The P.A. was cracking and distorted. It was a real mess. The Melt Banana kids were taking by surprise by Bob and his meat. Maybe a bit more then they had ever seen? I know I have been on to tour with them now. The worst thing was Muskegon and Austin. But bob was a case text serial cave man killer. I had to follow up with the best I could. I reached into my bag of Michigan tricks and made the best of it. Tom was wanting me to use one of the sun amplifiers for the P.A. because it was distorting and cracking so much. But I refused. I have played many shows on these type of P.A.s so I knew what I could do with it. I used it like a distortion box on vocals. When Rudolph took the stage, there was sauce all over it from Bob. Now if that wasnt Michigan enough for me I dont know what is. So we started up, I looked at davs and said make it the best you can or I will going to hurt you. He fired up the drum set like a chain saw. I was not pronouncing the words, I was just using sounds and syllables. With the fact of the P.A. being so uncontrollable, I learned to control it. In between each song I mumble like a back woods freaky hillbilly. It sounded like amplified Deer hunter. It was not as good as Gilman street. But Davs and I put out all the visuals we could. Spiting Smiling tweaking or faces. There were these two kids up front who were just mesmerized by Rudolph. I wanted to kick them in the face but that was not possible with this band. later those kids became my friends Drew & Carey. So Bob & Rudolph pushed the buttons on the Japanese kids. Could they keep up with this attitude? Were they absolutely as strong as some of the most dirty punk bands in America? Well blow me down. Because this was their finest performance of the whole tour. I plugged in The sun Amplifier for the P.A. so that YaSuKo could be heard clearly. This made a big difference in the quality of the vocal sound. Melt Banana fired up that Japanese engine called to their gods and delivered the best show of the tour. Hard knocking, dialed in and tight. This was better then New York City. I was so happy that I cried. Rock & Roll had been put to the stage once again. 150 people came, mostly the folks who use drugs, the real rock & roll characters. This show was by far the most intense from the feelings by the band and the audience. I was paid in full from the first note of Rubber Room to the last note of Melt Banana. That was truly the finest set melt banana had played on tour. WOW 12/8/97 Oakland California Stork club Rudolph & Melt Banana Right down to the end NOAB were trying to kick Rudolph off the stage. Trying to remove us from the bill. This was the last show. I worked for the right to open for Melt Banana. Rudolph was not going to quit now. NOAB BOOKING sent smelly a nasty e-mail about wanting us off the bill. I showed it to Melt Banana and they agreed that NOAB were wrong and that Rudolph were to stay. It has been tradition that Melt Banana end the tour with the Stork club. two years now. My van was dead. Beat by the road and the troubles of an over packed van. It was not running good. I hired Cuz'n Dave to drive melt Banana and the equipment tonight. he was good to be with. I was home and my best friends were at hand. Rudolph took the stage and it felt great. Like all of this was finally come to and end. My life was going to be mine again. Rudolph was going to set me free from these Japanese kids with pure notes of passion. I was cussing up a storm, singing and making noise like it was the end of my life. Trey Noticed right off how different I was from PLAINFIELD To Rudolph. t was a fine set & it felt like I was totally rewarded with the passion of ten lovers. I think This was Karens best set. But gilman street still ranked higher on a scale of group performance. Melt Banana were up and down with their emotions. It was all over after this set. The once again slayed the audience with one of the Worlds finest bands. The next morning they were to fly home to Japan. YaSuKo always gets sad at the end of a tour. But they played their hearts out. Another FUCKING incredible set by Melt Banana. After 35 shows 7 days of recording 3 radio live recordings and 48 days as my prisoners Melt Banana were triumph over all the things that kill American bands. Strong the stood, Tall they stood, Victorious they were. My friends have conquered the states from the underbelly. It was one of the most amazing events of my life. I have seen more Melt Banana shows then any other living human. I love them for life, like a tattoo. They will always be with me. 112/9/97 departure San Francisco Airport Heading back to Tokyo Japan Every one was up late packing there bags. All of them wanted to return home for the much needed rest. Dave put on a dress and said goodbye in a very special way. We all laughed out loud. We talked shared and help one another through this night. They paid all their debts. Beat like a wet dog they struggled to finish all the things they needed to do before they left for home. The next morning we all over slept. i woke and got them up. We were about 30 minutes off schedule. this could have really affected an over seas flight. I bought coffee, loaded there bags and Roxanne and I drove them to the airport. After all the times we arrived early we were almost late for the most important event of all. The flight back to Japan. Well I drank Agatas coffee. We all said good bye. The hugged and bowed to me then I danced with Agata. Roxanne barked a small woof for Rika. She loves her and i really can not tell you why Roxanne loves Rika so.?? I pushed them through the doors and said go, get out of here, go home. ARUMPA. bye bye. Closing statement. (end page 4 - mean3.html)