Dee Pop and I bonded in the early 80´s during a massive symphonic performance at the Palladium organized by Artist/Green Party politician Keiko Bonk. It wasn´t a musical meeting of the minds so much as we both discovered we owned the same flat black style of Zippo lighters. We were very Bad Boys together, but both survived the trappings of being in celebrated bands in the New York underground…and lived to tell the tale…here´s a taste…

I guess the first thing is how are you holding up?…recent changes in your life would be enough to drag anyone down…But you keep on Truckin, Rockin out…where does your strength come from? I need some…

Well David, I think I´m out of the dark space I so easily can put myself into. As for recent changes, relationships can be tough. But I´m finally learning that “if you can’t love yourself, you can’t love anyone else.” I`d forgotten who I was for a while and what I wanted out of life. I love being a Drummer. I love to make the girls Dance….

Besides BUSH TETRAS, you´ve also performed or recorded with renown artists including The Shams, Black Flies, John Sinclair, Jayne County, Can, Richard Lloyd, James Chance, The Slits, Nona Hendryx, Lenny Kaye, The Gun Club and The Clash just to name a few…could you tell us a few war stories of your experience´s working with such an eclectic and stellar roster?

War Stories? By the law of averages I should be dead from some of the people I’ve hung with. Jeffrey Lee Pierce, You, Topper Headon, James Chance…When you hang with people like that you are putting your life on the line. Johnny Thunders remains one of my favorite musicians, but he was not a good role model, you get sucked into their worlds…

You told me once when I was strung out “You ain´t Charlie Parker…Quit Fuckin Around”… I know you may not remember...But for me it was a life changing moment…I think I stayed clean for four years afterwards… What are your feelings on addiction and how to overcome it? Now that BUSH TETRAS are being newly rediscovered by a young audience, I think these kids would benefit greatly from your thoughts, guidance etc.

That's a tough topic. First of all people like Charlie Parker, Keith Richards, Johnny Thunders are Romanticized. People try and live that lifestyle and usually find out when it’s way too late that it was a huge mistake. A lot of my peers sought that. I think times have changed. The Rock and Roll lifestyle doesn’t exist the same way it used to. Obviously, I don’t advocate drug use, but for my generation it meant something different then it does now. Certainly hope my son doesn´t take after me...

I know your Son is the most important part of your life…Does he have any musical aspirations? If so, and knowing everything we went through, would you steer him towards or away from pursuing the life of an artist?

Charlie plays guitar. We play together sometimes. He just learned “Should I stay or should I go”. He was amazed to find out my connection with The Clash. I don’t think he has any real desire to play music. I certainly wouldn’t steer him towards that. Playing music is a tough and sometimes lonely life.

Yeah I always say the first time my 4 year old picks up a drum stick It´s off to military school (joking, um kinda)… I asked Jay Dee (Patti Smith Group) once what he knew about Jazz Drumming (because I´ve never been able to grasp it) and he said “Go ask Dee Pop”… How did your mastering of the Jazz medium enhance your work in Rock and Roll and vice a versa? I always felt Jazz/Blues (not Elvis) was the original Punk Rock…

At a certain point I just wanted to expand my vocabulary. I’ve always been into Jazz… Krupa, Parker, Rich, Hawkins, and so many others. So when the BUSH TETRAS got dropped from Mercury, I decided to pursue other avenues. It helps me think out of the box. It’s all about triplets and swung eighth notes.

Do you still keep a foot pedal under your desk so as to constantly work on your legendary Kick technique?

No more pedal under my desk. Now I have a complete kit just a few feet away…

Nice, You still own Mother´s Messengers on East 3rd street next to the Hell´s Angels building? I remember one day we were hanging out and one of the members wanted my satin Viet Nam Vet jacket (Now owned by Vincent Gallo) and you politely but firmly told him not to fuck with me…It seemed like you had a good relationship with them as neighbors if not friends..Any interesting anecdotes, memories?

Yeah I still own the messenger company but i need to get out. It´s been a while and it was never anything I ever set out to do. As for The Angels, I made quite a few friends in the club. I was always straight up with them, and they respected that. It also helped that I never asked them any questions that weren’t my business. I can say this though, I got to ride one of their bikes, also I was a model in their clothing catalog…Apparently I was image worthy. I also had keys to their club house which had so much amazing memorabilia. They actually miss us on the block. But you wouldn’t believe the Lower East Side these days. It’s another world. Not one I fit into any more. Nor would you. The artist community has been run out of town…

The immortal Laura Kennedy is well known as a pioneering Bassist, let alone opening the door for countless female artists….What is your fondest remembrance of her?

I loved Laura so much. We were the left handed rhythm section. She was a major architect of the BUSH TETRAS sound. She was like a cross between Bootsy and Bill Wyman. Not a wasted note. She got so much out of what she knew. She was also a real trooper especially when it came to her battle with Hep C... Cynthia, Pat and Laura are family to me. It was always our intention to do one last real tour with the original classic lineup. I cried so hard all during our memorial gig for her. I miss her terribly...

You and I were always hard line vintage drum enthusiasts…What´s the coolest snare drum or kit you´ve ever owned…and what is your collection like today?

As for vintage drums I have owned everything you could ever imagine. I was always a Gretsch guy. Now I kind of feel l like Jerry Nolan. “Any drum is fine as long as I don’t have to carry them anywhere”…

Yeah I became an (albeit mediocre) frontman just to avoid carrying all that crap around Ha!
Ok, Due to the long awaited 2012 release of “HAPPY”, new shows/tours and a general re-embracing of the Avant by a younger generation…BUSH TETRAS have been creating quite a stir of late…How does it feel to live long enough to experience music you created 30 years ago come back in style?….

It´s Amazing! To still be relevant… There are some shows where the entire audience is younger than my oldest kid! Glasgow in particular. And these little girls ask you to come home and party with them. Like whoa! I could be your dad… Still it’s flattering...I do it for the girls. Lol…

Ha! (don´t we all), Man I Just want to thank you for letting me pick your brain and let you know you will always be my brother, and my favorite drummer…It´s been a long road and we are still kickin up dust… any final thoughts, words of wisdom?

David, I really miss seeing you... I hope we can reunite face to face…I am very grateful that we are still here for each other. Thanks for the support. It’s a punishing world… But i will stand my ground for as long as I can… I will die before they make me run….

Pick up a copy of The Infamous Lost BUSH TETRAS album “HAPPY” here..
http://www.roir-usa.com/bushtetras

Stay in Touch with Dee and the Gang here…
http://www.facebook.com/bushtetras

Brand New Video release from Dee´s new side project “Dee Pop´s Private World”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pqGHu8v1EY

More info about David Rat here…
http://dromedary-records.com/artists/david-rat