Why did the band start? Well basically it started because of our love of music. We were motivated. Motivated by bands like the Pistols, The Clash and the Ramones. These bands proved that anyone could be in a band - even bubs from Assonet and Freetown. If you felt it you could play it..............and we felt it. Rick and I started off first in a rockin band called the Juvenilles. We penned such instant classics as "Second childhood" and "Fraulien Dilemma". Thankfully that ended when our guitarist at the time decided to pursue other interests,like getting drunk every day. Rick and I then managed to convince Frank to ruin his life and join the band. We started out doing covers by the Ramones, Tom Robinson and the B52s. It was fun it gave me a real sense of accomplishment. And I actually thought we were good. Rick's parents were nice enough to let us practice at there house even though I really don't think they liked it. We eventually got Tom the drummer through my cousin Patrick. Rick was definitley the star of the band and I mean that in a good way. He had star quality and he loved the attention. He really did have some great moves. He also did a great job teaching himself how to sing. I also believe Frank to be a talented guitarist. He was good at developing his own style which every good guitarist must do. He was also the perfectionist of the band (thankfully someone was). I don't know how Tom ended up with us. He was into king crimson and yes. He was into musicianship so I don't know how he put up with me. I never played the bass before the band so I had to work pretty hard to learn fast. Thankfully everyone helped and was patient.

I've read the lists of Rick and Frank's favorite shows and I agree with all their choices. But to be different and add some variety I am going to list some shows where we got our most negative responses. New bands take note - have faith in yourselves no matter what anybody else thinks:

1. Roger Williams Park - bass amp blows after two songs which gives Rick time to talk to the 10,000 people there about how all their dead heroes suck. Bottles thrown......band pulled off the stage to make a quick getaway..............people pounding on Rick's car as he drives away.....................

2.1st time at Lupo's in providence - band thinks they played a good set only to hear that the owner describes us as the worst band that ever played there. Hooray for us.......................

3. Laffeyette club in Taunton - banned music after we played.................honest to god.

4. Paradise club in Boston - Don Law cancels afternoon all ages show because of poor advance ticket sales............what an idiot. Band plays nasty set at night taking the time to properly thank Don for sticking it to all our underage fans. Don thanks us by telling us that we will never play at one of his clubs again and by threatning me with physical harm (while three huge bouncers stand by................what a tough guy).

5. The Rat in boston - band plays to a lethargic Dead Boys crowd which angers Rick so much that he tells the crowd that the Boys suck.......and that we rule. Guess what? The crowd agrees which sends Stiv Bators around later to beat up Rick who was long gone.........................

other favorite moments:

G.G. allin pissing on the crowd............watching Johnny Thunders shoot up.................asking the circle Jerks to play wiffle ball....................... not going to a birthday party for Belinda Carlise...........any show with Burma..............watching Chuck from Black Flag slap a girl because she said she liked us better............................watching Lethal from S.S.D. do a back flip onto a concrete floor...................bringing my girlfreind to the hospital after a show because she got cut from a physco girl with a can opener.................. kicking some junkie in the face for moving my mic stand during a show and then watching Tom beat him up afterwards.......................... telling Amiee Mann that she can't use my bass amp................meeting Ian Mackaye,Jello Biafra and Keith Morris..........................hearing any of our songs on the radio........................writing new songs.....................getting a compliment from Clint Conelly on my bass playing..................hearing people tell us that our songs changed their lives...........

I am sure there are other things that I have missed but I can always add them later. I am very proud of what was accomplished in the band and I am proud to have played in a band with Tom, Rick and Frank. I would also like to say thank you to Jim, Lou, Patrick, Robin and everyone else who helped us. I would also like to say that my three sons all play instruments which I am very proud of.