Dead Boy Productions

 

11/01/06
Dan-Zig

Dead Boy Productions with Donny of Psychobilly Fury

 

El Donny the Douche is the host of Psychobilly Fury, the podcast that broadcasts 100% psychobilly on Friday nights, and is part of the Subculture Collective with Hellbilly Wreckhouse and Evil-a-go-go.  Bands can send their music to Psychobilly Fury to get heard on Internet radio from Donny’s show.  Deadboy decided to send a few questions his way, since we fully support his cause of supporting local underground music.

How did you first get into psychobilly?

In 1994 I was stationed in Fort Bragg North Carolina (Yes I was in the Army). Off post there was a little record store in a Flea Market. I got to know the guy that owned it and told him I was sick of the music I was listening to. At that time it was Straight Edge Hardcore and punk. He asked me what the first record I ever owned was, I told him that when I was about 7 (1983) my dad bought me Stray Cats "Built For Speed". He told me he had a "faster" version of rockabilly. He gave me (yup, he gave it to me) Demented Are Go "Kicked Out Of Hell". It was raw, powerful and most importantly fun as hell! I listened to it over and over again. The Internet wasn't really big just yet and I didn’t have a computer so I kept ordering from him. I have only been involved in Psychobilly for about 12 years, which is nothing, compared to all the euro's out there who have been wrecking for 25 years or so!!

How did you first get into podcasts?

I ran across the Psychobilly Deluxe MySpace page. The description of the page was psychobilly radio, and there was a button that said, "click here to subscribe". I clicked it and it was like listening to a live radio show, but it played GOOD music, and talked about the shit I care about! I was stoked as hell. I started emailing him requesting bands and stuff.

Where do you broadcast from?

The "heart of rock n' roll" for now! (Cleveland)

What kind of equipment do you need to start a podcast and your own show?

Well a computer is most helpful. Having a mic would be a bonus. Sometimes people want to hear what you have to say (SOMETIMES). A pair of cans, headphones not boobs, but if you do have boobs you'll get more listeners!! Uh, an MP3 player oh and make sure you have a TON of room to store music on your computer. You get lots of music sent to you.........You'll fill your computer up in a few weeks. A URL, and an RSS feed. You will also need some sort of audio program. I use 4 different ones depending on the type of spot or mixdown. I produce all my own little spots between songs and put the show together for a final mix. I am pretty anal, and I probably spend way too much time doing it. It's may seem a bit confusing, but it's easy. Ask and I can email you a how to I wrote for school.

How did the Subculture Collective come together?

Well, I can only speak for me and Bibb (Hellbilly Wreckhouse) on this, because I am not sure how Branwyn (Evil A-Go-Go) and Bibb made it happen......I kept pestering Bibb asking him to play music. If I found a new band I would pass it along to him. I think he eventually got sick of me trying to tell him what to play so he said "Donny, why don't you just do a show?" Branwyn pretty much did the same thing. Plus she is a Satanist so we now have the darkside behind us! HA HA

Recently you got a job as an intern at a radio station and from what I heard on your show it was different than you expected. What was going on at the station?

Well since the payola scandal in the mid 50's, DJ's are not allowed to just play what they want. In fact, if you were to ask a station what song will be played at 9:13PM next Tuesday, they can tell you. Radio stations other than college or volunteer stations have a set playlist. This playlist is EXTREMELY strict. You have to follow it! If somebody calls and requests a song they will play it IF IT IS ON THE PLAYLIST!! Now on this playlist there are a few dump songs, about 3. The station can dump about 2 or 3 songs a day to play a request IF IT FITS THE FORMAT! I can't be the guy to force feed you The Killers or Disturbed. Have you heard that new Disturbed song? DAMN, sucks ass! And it's number 1 on the charts........What the fuck?

(Comment from Dan:  Fuck no I haven’t heard that song and probably never will, I rarely hear anything mainstream these days.  They can actually tell me what they are going to play next week, how fucked up is that?)

You also ended up calling a “mainstream” radio station to request Hayride to Hell. What gave you the idea to do that?

Well, radio play is based on record sales. If you have enough people call their local stations and request, lets say Black Rose Phantoms, the Music Director for the station would have no choice but to contact the band or the record label to request the single or CD. They will then play the song, more people would hear it then they would go and buy the record therefore driving up the bands record sales hence pushing it up the charts and BAM.......we are now on all the stations! It could happen!!.

The motto for your show is “Music is a voice, it’s time to listen” what does this actually mean to you?

Well music is an art form. If you listen to the lyrics it will tell you a story, or paint you a picture. Not letting an artist’s words be heard would be like sewing your mouth shut and locking you in a hole! These bands speak for us and our culture. The things we like and love......the fun we are having. It's our voice, so help them shout it.

What do you consider to be “mainstream” music?

Billboard says what is mainstream. Mainstream is only mainstream because we live in a lazy society, it is much easier to take what is given than to search for something new. Why would America only want vanilla? Vanilla sucks.

What in your opinion makes psychobilly so much different than mainstream music?

It's not political like Punk, it's doesn't make you want to kill your self like Emo, and it's fun unlike the new pop country that is out there. Psychobilly is meant to be fun. No shit involved just pure wreck n' roll. Fuck, would you rather listen to some overly popular piece of man meat talk about losing another hot piece of ass, or listen to a wacked out, blood soaked quiff having bastard talk about transexual lesbians? Come on.......

What can people do to keep psychobilly alive and well?

Support your local psycho, buy their CD's and merch. Go to the shows when they come to your town. Start street teams, spread the word! Call your local radio stations and DEMAND it be heard! STOP DOWNLOADING ILLEGALLY!! DON'T STEAL FROM THEM!

Are you completely against downloading music?

100% unless the band wants you to. The "mainstream" clips I use, I get them from Billboard.com. I click on the radio link and record what I need.........Just to fuck with it of course. Downloading is the same as stealing. Unless the band is ok with giving you the music. It's expensive to make and it takes talent. If you are good with cars, would you build a 39 coupe and give it to your neighbor?

What bands should people be checking out?

Damn, that is a hard one. Well as far as unsigned bands go I am bias because these are all my boys but check out, Black Rose Phantoms (LBC YO), Spooky DeVille (Utah), Judder And The Jackrabbits (UK), Haywire Deluxe (Pittsburgh), Vulture Club (Finnland) and Twisted In Graves (Orlando)

As far as more popular the new P. Paul Fenech is outstanding, and anything from People Like You Records is a sure bet!

Anybody out there you wish to thank?

My hot ass wife, Bibb for letting me vent, Andre of People Like you Records, everybody supporting this bad habbit and of course Lord Goat... (Laughs)

Last words?

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PSYCHO!