SLADE & MT: GO HEAD TO HEAD!
DATE/LOCATION/TIME: May 26, 2005/ TRASH CAN / 10PM
Now let me set the stage for all of you readers. Acey Slade and I met a year ago and we thought it would be humorous to celebrate our anniversary (ha, ha) by interviewing each other. So, I brought home made lasagna to the trash can, Slade took me out for ice cream and the guys were all in the background doing random things and adding their comments. Those of you who know us together will follow along just fine, but in an effort to ensure the sanctity of my name, I have added some post interview comments! Ok, here goes...(MT takes a deep breath)
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Acey: My first question to you Jo...I would like for you to describe the first night that you met Acey Slade. What were you thinking? Where were you? What time was it?
MT: (of course I am already giggling) It was May 28th, 2004...
Acey: (really close to the mic) Wow, look at that!
MT: at the Velvet Revolver show. Time? I am not really sure, I was kind of drunk and high so I don't remember what time it was...(which is not a regular occurrence for me)
Acey: (shouts into mic) DRUNK AND HIGH!!!
MT: um, and I saw you across the room and pointed you out to one of my guy friends as being "my type"...(post interview comment #1: I was at the show with a group of my work friends (suits) who I drag to concerts to have them experience something different. Unfortunately, some of my guy friends have a bad habit of judging someone because they have long hair and tattoos. Which, I happen to find very attractive)
Acey: ohhhhhh
MT: and my friend said "are you fuckin' crazy?" and I said "no" and that was it. Then we watched the show and after the show you came over to me and Becky and handed us a flyer for Trashlight. ((post interview comment #2: I had also pointed him out to my girlfriends, but we don't want to give Slade a big head now do we? So the guy I pointed out earlier is now talking to us (and Becky and I are looking at each other like he could read our minds and knew we were talking about him earlier, sound familiar?) and I only could only get a few words out and handed him my website card so we could set up an interview))
Acey: Ok and did you ever think you would stoop to such incredible lows hanging out with the Trashlight Vision guys?
MT: Yeeeaaaaa. (we both laugh)
Acey: What would you say has been the single worst experience you've had with the Trashlight Vision guys?
MT: Ummmm, worst? I don't really think there has been a "worst".
Acey: Yea, nothing has driven you out of the trash can screaming?
MT: No.
Acey: What has made you wanna run out of the trash can screaming?
MT: Let's see. No toilet paper maybe. (post interview comment #3: ok, so the trash can is well, the TRASH CAN...but I really should have toilet paper when I visit, come on now! There were a few times that, and I will not use names here, one or several of the guys had not taken a shower for a few days and keep in mind, I take anywhere from 1-3 a day, so...)
Acey: Ok.
MT: Ummmm, that's probably it.
Acey: No toilet paper.
MT: Yea.
Acey: Out of all the smells, sights and varmints you have seen here? No toilet paper?
MT: (giggling) Yea, an exception. (post interview comment #4: now for you to see the big picture and the humor here you have to understand a few things about MT. I am a TOTAL germa-phobe and CLEAN FREAK so for me to even walk into a place called the trash can, yet alone stay there for any amount of time is a total "Slade Exception". There are quite a few more of these exceptions as you will see later)
Acey: Ok. (speaks really close to the mic) I wanna note for the record that this is the quietest I have ever seen Joanne ever before. She is like a timid, quiet, little girl right now. Earlier on she was talking about sucking balls and getting plowed and now she is like a little mouse, she is like (starts talking in a girl voice) "yea", "no". (post interview comment #5: Ok, I need to try to bring this into perspective. I am pretty much a guy in a girl's body, with 90% of my closest friends being men. I do in fact have a nasty, sewer mouth, AND talk about anything and everything with my guy friends and they do the same with me. BUT, guess who always runs out of the room saying "here we go" once I get started on a nasty topic??? LENNY!!! Who would've thunk it?) Ok, anyway. Let's see. From there you went to go see your first Trashlight show which was at the North Star with the Wildhearts, right?
MT: Yea.
Acey: And what did you think of the show?
MT: Well first we interviewed you.
Acey: And what did you think of the interview?
MT: It was great and when you walked away I said to Becky. "He is really nice, I hope they don't suck!"
Acey: Ummm and we went up there and sucked. (laughs)
MT: No, you did not suck. (we laugh, then my phone starts ringing in the background and I have Hoobastank's "Out of Control" as the ring)
Acey: That was the out of control phone. Um...so after the show you are on the way home with Becky and what did you guys talk about?
MT: We thought you guys were great and were making plans for the next show since we had the schedule already.
Acey: What has been your most favorite Trashlight Vision show you have been to?
MT: Ummm, I can't think of the name of that club. That little dive...not sure of the name.
Acey: In Upper Darby?
MT: Name some places.
Acey: That was the Speakeasy.
MT: No, that was the one downstairs. No, this is another one. (So we go back and forth for about 2 minutes and can't remember the name of the club. Which is funny, but way too much to type! So, I checked my reviews and found that it was on 8/21/04, but I did not put the club name! Now that was a HOT show, but I would have to say that the show on April 10th in London was explosive and my favorite to date. These guys have always been awesome in my eyes, but 2005 to 2004, forget about it. They are truly amazing.)
Acey: What was the worst one?
MT: I don't have a "worst one". I have never left a show saying "that was bad".
Acey: Ok, well you weren't at the show after the NIN show. That show sucked, but anyway.
MT: Really? Why did it suck?
Acey: Loooonnnngggg story, but I almost got into a fight. But anyway...
MT: I would have had to bail you out.
Acey: So this is about YOU. So what does your mom, Mother Superior Trash think about all this?
MT: Well at first she was really apprehensive...until she met you guys and thought it was fine...cause I have a tendency of jumping into things that I shouldn't. (post interview comment #6: I am sometimes too nice for my own good and people take advantage of me, luckily not in this case!)
Acey: Ohhhhh, well, well. For example maybe Enron?
MT: No.
Acey: Ok, just trying to think of something as an example. You know? Something clean above the waist, you know. Um, when you went to England. Tell us about that, tell us about when you went to England.
MT: What part? It's all in my tour diaries (now how funny is that? I pretty much refer him back to my tour diaries!).
Acey: Your tour diaries, right. Let's see here.
MT: What part? The pill poppin' or Manchester or London?
Acey: Yea, talk about your pill popping.
MT: I took a bunch of pills and still couldn't sleep on the plane, then I was up for 48 hours straight, then I hit a wall. (post interview comment #7: now remember, I HATE FLYING. When I told my family and friends I was going overseas they were in SHOCK! Yet another "Slade Exception")
Acey: Ok, now, for the record it sounds like Mama Trash is more like the rock star here. (I laugh) Poppin' pills, hitting walls, jet setting, flyin' all over the place...talkin' about suckin' balls! (He starts laughing too) (post interview comment #8: OMG the ball suckin' reference again. Ok, now I have to share a little bit more about a conversation Acey and I had earlier in the evening. We were not talking about ME suckin' balls. We were talking about how girls talk about things and are just as dirty as guys. We are just more secretive about it and far worse with our talk about BJ's, sex, and so on...we were actually talking about one of our crazy mutual friends and a conversation I had just had with her about this very topic! Does everyone feel better now, is MT still innocent?)
MT: Naughty Mama Trash! (post interview comment #9: it was just posted a few days ago on the TLV board that I have a new nickname, Naughty Mama Trash, so much for my innocence!)
Acey: Naughty Mama Trash! Ok, why don't you ask me questions and I will come back to you.
MT: This is a silly one, but I am going to ask it anyway. Since I am a princess, we know that. I will be Snow White, which dwarves are each of you? (post interview comment #10: Acey refers to me as a Princess since they live in a trash can/I live in a big house, they drive a trash van/I drive a Lincoln...you get the picture)
Acey: Lenny - GRUMPY, that is easy.
MT: I agree.
Acey: Steve - is there a forgetful dwarf?
MT: There's Grumpy, Sneezy, Dopey, Bashful, Happy, Sleepy and Doc.
Acey: I guess he would be Dopey OR Sleepy and...what are they again?
MT: Grumpy, Sneezy, Dopey, Bashful, Happy, Sleepy and Doc.
Acey: I guess Rog would be Doc since he will buy anything that says new and improved in the pharmacy, but he can tell you what everything does, so I guess he would be Doc. Me?? I dunno. I would say Happy, but the guys would totally disagree with that.
MT: I would say that too, but you are always happy around me so...
Acey: Yea...but after we talked about what chicks like, I would call myself Piggy. (laughs)
MT: We don't have to go into detail about that conversation. (I laugh) Um, let's see. What is the biggest misconception about you?
Acey: The biggest misconception about me, wow. Probably that people think I have a lot of money cause of the bands I have been in.
MT: Ok, best quality?
Acey: My best quality? My perseverance I suppose. That is either my best quality or my worst, I haven't figured it out which yet. I guess we will see in five years if I am dead or not.
MT: You will not be dead. Worst habit?
Acey: Worst habit? Ummmm, it's probably, my worst habit. Probably um, I don't know. Eating cereal out of my crotch, out of my sweaty crotch. Eating breakfast cereal from my sweaty crotch.
MT: Or Steve eating it?
Acey: Yea, or Steve.
MT: How has your life changed since we met a year ago, personally and professionally?
Acey: Well, personally I am a happier person now! (we laugh). Professionally, it is kind of weird. In some ways Trashlight has done so much and we are about to do so much. In some ways we are so much further ahead then I ever expected and in other ways we are not as nearly as far as I hoped to be, you know? It is like we're not as far as I hoped to be, but further than I expected.
MT: Ok, describe each of the guys and me with one word.
Acey: With one word. Roger - clumsy...
MT: Not poopie? (Roger talks to me about taking a shit or is taking a shit every time I am around him)
Acey: No, Roger - clumsy, Steve - forgetful, Lenny - Grumpy, (BURPS LOUD), me - RUDE (laughs)
MT: What about me?
Acey: Oh and you, Mama Trash. Describe you?
MT: One word.
Acey: Rog, what is a word to describe Mama Trash?
Rags: Ahh, innocuous.
Acey and I laugh and say innocuous at the same time, we all just love that damn word!
Rags: Zany
Acey: Innocuous or zany or both.
Rags: Or Zanilyinnocuous.
MT: Zamilyinnocuous, that's good. Ummm...
Rags: No, you know what? I am going to be sappy and change that. One word? Sweetheart (and he smiles at me).
Acey and I say awwwwwwww at the same time.
MT: Thank you, thank you very much (doing a really bad Elvis impression).
Rags: Thank you, thank you very much (a much better Elvis impression).
MT: (I whisper to Acey) I think Roger is my favorite now. (post interview comment #11: This has been a joke between Acey, Steve and I for a long time. Remember one of the first TLV contests I had? Who is MT's favorite...Acey or Steve? Steve and I always joke around pretending we are talking about something secretive to get a reaction out of Acey. So it was funny to drop Rags into the mix for once!)
Acey: (whispers back) Fuck that guy.
MT: If you were given one "do over" in life, would you use it? If so, what for? If not, why?
Acey: Ah, very boring answer, but there is only one thing that I would change. Hmm, yea, well one comes to mind and that is I would have done better in school. Because school is easy and when you are a kid you think the way to get back at every body is to do bad in school. Which is really stupid cause you are only really hurting yourself. Half your teachers like you are just some dumb kid, so when you do bad in school, you prove them right and hurt yourself. So the best way to get back at those people is to study and get A's instead of not studying and getting F's.
MT: Why are you such a likable person? Why do you think people like you so much?
Acey: Why do I think people like me so much, ummm. Wow. Probably cause I am likable? (both laugh) That is such a bad answer.
MT: Cause I am such a sweetheart...(laughing, meaning Acey is a sweetheart)
Acey: I don't know.
MT: Ok, here is a good one. What is the weirdest thing about me?
Acey: (laughs) Oh man!
MT: Where is the list? You have to ask Roger that one! (laughing)
Rags walks back down the hall toward us...Now keep in mind, Rags just took a shower and he is standing there with a towel wrapped around his waist, wet hair, but wearing a shirt. Quite a funny sight.
MT: What is the weirdest thing about me Roger?
Acey: What is the weirdest thing about her?
MT: As you and walk down the hall in your towel...(since he was an odd sight)
Rags: (a shit eating grin appears on his face as he yells) JYRKI!...no....
Acey and I yell "OOOHHHH" and start laughing...(post interview comment #12: they have ALL been teasing me incessantly about Jyrki69 from The 69 Eyes since I met him at the TLV show in London, especially Acey. So I was just waiting for this to happen. I don't think it will ever end and if I even play into it for a second they do it even more! But don't worry, I know how to take it and give it right back to them!! God forbid ANYBODY else gets any of MT's attention! Men...ha, ha, ha!)
Acey: I wouldn't say that is weird. I would say that is a pretty natural...normal effect that guy has on women.
Rags: Yes, I think that you are probably right.
Acey: Yea.
MT: So what would you say is weirdest?
Acey: The weirdest thing about you? There is A LOT. Between the constant air conditioning...
Rags: (yells down the hall) THE TITTIE TRICKS!
Acey: Yea, the tittie tricks!
I am cracking up at this point...and I will not go into any further detail on the alleged tittie tricks. You either know about them or you don't, enough said.
MT: The tittie tricks, oh my god, feel my face, I am hot.
Acey: Yea you are. The blushing! The fingers...the finger thing. Yea, um...
Let's not touch on the finger thing right now...
MT: I said one weird thing and you are going through a list!
Acey: Oh, ok, I will stop then.
MT: Well what is the weirdest then?
Acey: The weirdest, ummm...the boob tricks is pretty weird...
MT: And state for the record you haven't SEEN them you have only HEARD about them...(definitely had to get the disclaimer in on this topic)
Acey: and that is because you have this side of you that is very shy. That people would be completely surprised that you would even let us know the you can do boob tricks. That is pretty fuckin' weird.
MT: Ok, but say (I lower my tone of voice to sound like him) "I have yet to see them".
Acey: I have yet to see them.
MT: (still in the same voice) "I have just heard about them".
Acey: I have only heard about them.
MT: Ok...in some circles you are affectionately known as "Scrubby" do you have any other nicknames? Other than Mr. Bones, stuff like that. Anything we don't know about?
Acey: Let's see. "Slade", "Slader" (yells down hall) Hey Rags!!!
Rags: Yea!?
Acey: What nicknames do you have for me when I am not around?
Rags: "Slader Kitty"
Acey repeats...
Rags: Ahhh, Ummmm
(Steve yells from downstairs)..."Stacy Blades"!!!
Acey repeats...
Rags: Ummmm, hell...
Acey: "The Gay Blade of Acey Slade"
Steve: "Cream Puff"?!
Acey: He called me Cream Puff (giggles)
Steve: "Oh no, that's Lenny"!
We are all laughing...
Steve: God?
Rags & Acey: God.
Rags & Steve & Lenny are shouting things back and forth and I can't even follow it. Rags keeps saying "which one?" and each time his voice goes to a higher pitch.
Acey: "Cock-sucker", "Hitler"?
Rags: No. Hitler, that is really not one to use.
Now you hear Steve laughing from downstairs like a damn monster in a deep/dark tone...
MT: Listen to Steve laughing!
Rags: What else? What else Len, nicknames for Slade. Come on, come clean.
Steve: Mr. Grumpy Pants?
Rags: I have never heard that.
Acey: That's Lenny.
Rags: To tell you the truth, Lenny is "Morning Grump" but I don't know. We've got him covered I think.
MT: Yea, I think you have him covered! Ummmm, favorite TLV song right now? And to perform live?
Acey: AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!
Rags: (walks in) I wanna hear this answer.
Acey: Perform live? Probably "Dead Waves" is my favorite one to perform live. Ummmm, or Bored actually, doing that live too. I dunno, I am so bias since I am so close to the songs. I mean right now probably "Wanna Be" since we just got finished recording it. But I know that is going to change. (post interview comment #13: Not to be a tease, but just wait until you hear "Wanna Be" on the new CD!!! IT IS AWESOME!!!)
MT: So when did you know we were really friends?
Acey: Probably when Steve's car broke time...that one time...
MT: In band camp?
Acey: Yea. (we both laugh at the movie reference) Probably before that, but that is the first one that comes to mind.
MT: Yea, in the fall. You didn't think I was a freak at that point, right?
Acey: No.
Now at this point you can hear Lenny practicing downstairs. Rags is down the hall clearing his throat and spitting up god knows what...between the throat clearing, the burping, the farting, the sweating...Ahhhh, nothing like feeling at home with my boys at the trash can. I am so happy I make people feel so comfortable around me!
MT: If you could change one thing about your life today, what would it be?
Acey: Ummmm. I wish I wasn't so fuckin' busy.
MT: Here is a good one for you. Do you see yourself settling down and getting married?
Acey: (very quick, one word answer) Yes.
MT: How about this...best thing I have given you and it does not necessarily have to be a gift.
Acey: Best thing you have given me? Well that is definitely my big Jack. Without a doubt. Ummm, outside of that, just...it sounds goofy and cliche', but definitely support and understanding. You know? And the cookies and the brownies!
MT: MT Brownies!
Rags: (walks by door) MT Brownies!
MT: Ok, favorites...(I hand him the list)
Acey:
Favorite food is Stone Cold Creamery Ice Cream.
Favorite color? It changes, but blue right now.
Favorite scent? (long pause) Ahhh, Paris Hilton...(we laugh) Umm, Burberry cologne
Go read Jyrki's interview from 5/26 and you will catch the reference
Movie? Come on now! Everybody knows it is NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, for the record, I hate that movie. The characters are cool, but the movie is...well....stupid.
Place in the world? wooooaaahhhh (no answer)
Star Wars Character: Bobba Fett
Tattoo: The Nightmare Before Christmas one which I don't have yet.
Gift from a fan: Any of my 6 foot Jack Skellington's. (post interview comment #14: Note the word, ANY. Now to show you how spoiled and loved Mr. Slade is, he has...wait a minute, that would be a great contest question! Forget I mentioned it!)
Cartoon: wow, I will come back to that one.
TV show: Simpsons, there you go, cartoon.
Actor: Gary Oldman
Actress, I really don't know. I don't really identify with female actresses, I am not in touch with my feminine side.
Hobby? I wish I had one...well the Nightmare Before Christmas stuff, collecting.
MT: How about this...Do you believe in...(I hand him the list)
Acey: Karma, absolutely...Ghosts, absolutely...Love at First Sight, mmmmm, I don't NOT believe in it...Afterlife, yes....de ja vu, yes...soul mates, I don't know that I believe in soul mates, I believe in best friends...everything happens for a reason, yes...first impressions mean everything? ahh, yea...aliens, yes...ESP, yes. Physics, yes.
MT: Actually, it is supposed to be Psychics, but I spelled it wrong (laughing because I am always yelling at him and teasing him about his crappy spelling in his emails and trash talk). Damn, and I was just teasing you earlier!
Acey: AHHHHHH (we both laugh) psychics, not so much. Well I would say that maybe 5% are believable, but 95% are bullshit.
MT: Ok...this is the last question. Ready? Try to give me one word answers with this.
Acey: Ok.
MT: If I ran into the darkness with _________________ never to be heard from again, how would you feel? I am going to drop names in now, you ready?
Acey: Ok.
MT: Jack Skellington
Acey: Ummmm, hurt.
MT: The Devil
Acey: HURT!
MT: a total stranger
Acey: Surprised.
MT: Steve
Acey: Scared.
MT: Angelina Jolie
Acey: Jealous!
MT: a puppy
Acey: Warm.
MT: Antonio (my adorable son)
Acey: Ahh, happy.
MT: (giggling, I just love to instigate) Jyrki
Acey: (long pause) No comment.
MT: Alone
Acey: Ohhhhh, sad.
MT: (repeats Acey in a sarcastic tone) no comment...(post interview comment #15: did I strike a nerve? Is Jyrki going to be MT's new favorite? Hmmmm...nah, we all know Slade will always be my favorite - like my Mama Trash shirt says across the back, "It's All About Slade". But remember how they have been teasing me? I am just having a little fun, plus in all honesty, it is nice to feel needed.)
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At this point, I shared my list of "Slade Exceptions" with Acey. These are basically things I did not normally do prior to meeting or becoming friends with Acey Slade.
1. Letting Acey (and TLV for that matter) kiss me on the lips, especially when they are SICK! (now the only other exception, well there have actually been two, if we are talking about complete strangers kissing me on the lips. Sebastian Bach and Jyrki69, but it is that whole long hair, big lips, pretty face, rock star thing. What can I tell you, I don't make any sense, all germ worries fly out of my head at certain times, I am an enigma. Meanwhile, god forbid someone sick even talks to me in public or at work, I have to total disinfect myself!).
2. Letting them hug me all sweaty and dirty and gross. This is rather funny because I don't go near ANYONE and I repeat, ANYONE, if they are sweaty and/or stinky.
3. Taking an international flight to go see them in the UK! That was HUGE for me! It was so worth it! I got to meet some great people.
4. Walking into a place called the "trash can".
5. Spending the night in a place called the "trash can".
6. Sitting down on the toilet, unprotected, in a place called the "trash can".
7. Stepping foot into a place without air conditioning (I HATE TO BE HOT!) and staying for more than five minutes. BEST BUY HERE I COME!!! SUMMER IS HERE!!!!
8. Being around smokers and smoking.
9. Traveling alone, even in the car!!!
10. Going out late on a school night! MT needs her 8 hours of sleep, well I am trying to get used to not getting sleep at this point.
11. Driving the trash van...well you get the idea. I don't want to sound like a primadonna, but my parents always took care of me. I was totally spoiled, but NEVER a spoiled brat. That is why I am the person I am today. I always do for others, I am a giver, not a taker. I am pretty selective, but if I truly care about you, there is nothing I wouldn't do for you, but be warned, if you take advantage of me, THAT IS IT!!
Here are few positive changes to jo (so I have been told or see in myself) over the past year!
1. I am a much happier person!!!
2. I am less bitchy (operative word, LESS). I am 100% Italian, remember??
3. I am really into TLV music and have seen them over 24 times in 12 months! The only other artist that comes remotely close is Manson (HUGE MANSON FAN!!) and that would be, I think 6 times? Well, wait a minute, I have seen Anthrax over a dozen times, but that is over 10 years or so, not 12 months!
4. I have always struggled with my weight since I graduated from college. BUT...I have lost 37 pounds since I met Acey! I guess that will happen when you are constantly surrounded by good looking rockers and their good looking rocker friends, huh? My friends call it "the rock star diet"...No, to be honest, it is because I feel so good about myself when I am around these guys, no matter how I look, it just helps me not worry about the outside as much. Self esteem has always been an issue of mine. Well, 20 more to go!!! Maybe MT will be Hot Mama Trash, we will see.
5. I am having more fun than I have ever had in my life. I thought it may be a mid-life crisis for a while there, but Acey says I am just re-living my youth!
As you can see, we had a great time, we always do. Now you can see why I am always laughing around Slade. We are just like a little family and I am definitely the "mama". There is nothing I would not do for them and them for me. That includes protect them like a den mother. I don't think I will ever lose this nickname, but that is fine with me. Acey and I get along famously and we have never gotten into an argument or even a tiny disagreement since we met. I am so glad I went to that Velvet Revolver show on May 28, 2004, my life will never be the same. I am 39 years old and this is one of the most unique and special relationships I have ever had in my life. I can't imagine not having him around. Anyone that has Acey as a friend knows they have a special gift. Thank you for letting me share this gift with you.
As Yoda would say...a lifelong friendship this is.
MT
THEN!
June 2004
NOW! May 2005 ...a picture paints a thousand words!
