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MY INTERVIEWS WITH JOHN
CARCO
Copyright: 1998 -> for everything in this page by Jari-Pekka
Laitio-Ramone,
John Carco and Rob Leddy
MY INTERVIEW WITH JOHN CARCO: PART 2 NOVEMBER
1998
Jari-Pekka:
1) Are you touch with Dee Dee nowadays?
JOHN CARCO
DEE DEE HAS A GREAT NEW
GROUP WITH HIS WIFE AND DANIEL REY (RAMONES PRODUCER ) WE LAST SEEN
EACH OTHER NOT TOO LONG AGO AND HE IS LOOKING AND PLAYING BETTER THAN
EVER...HE'S THE SPIRIT OF PUNK ROCK STILL.
Jari-Pekka:
2) Can you tell some general info of the Metro Styli?
JOHN CARCO
METROSTYLI' IS A AURAL CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE CONSISTING OF PETE
STAHL, FRANKIE O. AND MYSELF AND VARIOUS GRAFFITI ARTISTS. A MIX OF MARVIN
GAYE AND MC SOLAAR AND 70's PORNO TRAX. WE ARE GOING TO TOUR CENTRAL
AMERICA AND POSSIBLY CUBA. WE ARE RELEASING METROSTYLI' AURAL FILM MADE MY
THE BAND AND ROB LEDDY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO A COMPACT CD, THAT WILL
BE FILMED IN SEVERAL CITIES AROUND THE WORLD.
Jari-Pekka:
3) What kind of documentary?
ROB LEDDY:
I'll be lensing the band from rehearsal to tour, Interviews of the band
will be included. Of course I"ll be including shots of all the great
places we visit. So if you are a fan of John's and this incredibly
original band, plan on showing up at the shows, you may end up in the
film. We will be shooting on 16mm funded privately and are hoping for
theatrical distribution. A video and dvd release are planned . We are
ironing out the details with one company.
Jari-Pekka:
4) I heard that Rob is putting to video also Disguided-material. Can you
tell to fans some words of the Disguided also?
JOHN CARCO:
THE MISGUIDED WAS A N.Y.C. GROUP FROM QUEENS,NEW YORK (1981-1984)... LEAD
SINGER JOHNNY RIZZO IS WORKING WITH ROB LEDDY ON A DOCUDRAMA ABOUT THE
GROUP. THEY ARE WORKING ON GETTING ADAM TRESE TO STAR IN THIS PROJECT TO
BE RELEASED SOMETIME IN 1999.
ROB LEDDY:
The Misguided was a great band, way ahead of their time, to put their
story on film is an honor. Queens, New York has provided the world with
such rock legends as The Ramones, Kiss, Johnny Thunders, Jesse Malin among
others. As a native of Queens I feel that I am the only person who can
bring the true "feel" to the project. With the help of Johnny Rizzo, this
project will take the viewer back to a time when bands actually played for
the love of the music , not to make a dollar. We are desperately
searching for one of John's influences Jerry Mataragas. If anyone knows of
his whereabouts please contact us:
E-MAIL: rsleddy@hotmail.com.
Jari-Pekka:
5) Best memories of your career generally?
JOHN CARCO:
TOURING AROUND THE WORLD AND BEING ABLE TO EXPERIENCE ALL THE DIFFERENT
CULTURES THAT EXIST... FINLAND, ITALIA, FRANCE, ARGENTINA, SPAIN,
GREECE,U.K.
THAT AND PLAYING LIVE AND FEEDING OFF THE ENERGY OF THE FANS... AND BEING
ABLE TO MEET MYRIAM LAOUICHI AND LAETITIA CASTA IN THE FLESH!!!!
Jari-Pekka:
6) What is your dream line-up?
JOHN CARCO:
FOR ROCK 'N' ROLL GROUP...STIV BATORS ON VOCALS, RICKY BECK MAHLER (CIRCUS
OF POWER) ON LEAD GUITAR, J.J. BURNELL (STRANGLERS) ON BASS, MICHAEL
WILDWOOD (D-GENERATION) ON DRUMS
Jari-Pekka:
7) How about gigs nowadays?
JOHN CARCO:
WE ARE CURRENTLY PLAYING UNDERGROUND SHOWS IN THE DESERT OF JOSHUA TREE
FOR SECRET POLITICAL CAUSES
Jari-Pekka:
8) How did you started to play?
JOHN CARCO:
I WAS INFLUENCED TO START PLAYING FROM FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE MUSIC
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP IN NEW YORK CITY ... BUT LATER IN MY LIFE JERRY
MATARAGAS REVITALIZED MY NEED TO MAKE AND PERFORM MUSIC. HE TURNED ME ON
TO GIANCARLO TERZO WHO HAD A SONG " I WANNA BE A DOG , I WANNA BE A CAT "
THAT MADE ME REALIZE I WANTED TO PLAY.
Jari-Pekka:
9) Tell some crazy things about the commune living with Dee Dee, Nina
Hagen and others.
JOHN CARCO:
NINA WAS THE MOTHER OF THE I.C.L.C. COMMUNE AND DEE DEE WAS THE LEADER, WE
WOULD STAY AWAKE ALL NIGHT MAKING MUSIC AND LISTENING TO MAT ( THE
I.C.L.C. MANAGER ) COMPLAIN ABOUT HAVING TO HARVEST THE GANJA
FIELDS
Jari-Pekka:
10) Have you heard Los Gusanos or Marky Ramone And The Intruders?
JOHN CARCO:
I HAVE NOT HEARD LOS GUSANOS..I WOULD LIKE TO THOUGH. MARKY AND THE
INTRUDERS ARE A GREAT LIVE BAND.. ALOT OF ENERGY!
Jari-Pekka:
11) How did you see Ramones influence in USA nowadays?
JOHN CARCO:
A LOT OF BANDS REALIZED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO PLAY AS POLISHED AND
TECHNICALLY PERFECT AS AN ERIC CLAPTON ... AND THEY CAN LET THEIR OWN SOUL
SING THROUGH, PLAYING THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE AND BE IN A BAND AND DO IT AS
WELL...BUT OF COURSE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE JUST ONE RAMONES. VIVA LOS
RAMONES...QUI SEME LE VENT RECOLTE LE TEMPO...
MY INTERVIEW WITH JOHN CARCO: PART 1 APRIL
1998
Jari-Pekka:
1.The best memories of the ICLC time?
JOHN CARCO:
Playing in front of 10,000 people in Argentina, meeting really cool
european women especially in Italy, Spain, Greece and France.
Jari-Pekka:
2.How did you first time met Dee Dee?
JOHN CARCO:
In a bar in New York city. We were both drinking coca cola
(International Boycott
to Coca Cola-company, hope Jari-Pekka.)
Jari-Pekka:
3.Could you tell how all started. You and Dee Dee got bored about New York
and then you moved to commune in Holland? How was life in commune?
JOHN CARCO:
I got bored in New York , moved to Dee Dee's commune in Holland. We
harvested marijuana fields and rehearsed at night.
Jari-Pekka:
4.How all finished?
JOHN CARCO:
Legal problems with the record company and with customs in the
netherlands.
Jari-Pekka:
5.For me ICLC time had great. Pure punk without unnecessary tricks. How
did you got this rough sound.
JOHN CARCO:
Because of Dee Dee's guitar playing. He wanted to sound like the first
ramones record.
Jari-Pekka:
6.Own ICLC favourites of the songs?
JOHN CARCO:
Curse On Me, It's Not For Me To Know
Jari-Pekka:
7.Have you something to say of Nina Hagen's appearing on album?
JOHN CARCO:
Lot of fun to work with her. She was the mother of the commune.
Jari-Pekka:
8.Do you member some things of the gig in Finland?
JOHN CARCO:
Lot of , the northern lights (the most beautiful place on earth), Helsinki
I met a beautiful girl who showed me the city.
Jari-Pekka:
9.What you're thinking about Ramones retirement?
JOHN CARCO:
They did all they could do. It's good that they went out on top.
Jari-Pekka:
10.The best things about Ramones? Own favourites?
JOHN CARCO:
They were punk innovators, because of them a lot of people realized that
they too could play music without being great musicians.
Leave home record and road to ruin
Jari-Pekka:
11.You've did almost gigs with Johnny Thunders and Stiv Bators. Can you
tell something of these happenings.
JOHN CARCO:
Johnny Thunders used to walk around with an empty guitar case in Jackson
Heights, Queens New York. Rob's (my friend) sister was good friends with
him. Vinny Perkins was his mentor. Stiv Bators was a punk rock Steven
Tyler. He should have been world famous. He did a great performance on
the Uncle Floyd Show.
Jari-Pekka:
12.Could you list albums were you're featuring?
Jari-Pekka:
13.What you and Danny Van Lommen (ICLC drummer) are doing nowadays?
JOHN CARCO:
I'm still playing music and persuing an acting career.
Danny is in Berlin, playing in a band.
Jari-Pekka:
14.Do you wanna say something to my homepage readers?
JOHN CARCO:
Yes, thanks for the support to your readers and you Jari. If
anyone wants to send fan mail or pictures (especially women)
please send email to rsleddy@hotmail.com
(THANKS REALLY TO JOHN CARCO AND ROB LEDDY)