I caught
up with the multi talented Nick Oliveri at The World
Awareness Day For The West Memphis Three at The Anarchy
Library on July 23rd.I had been a long time fan and was
thrilled to have Nick agree to the following email
interview. I hope you enjoy it.
Punk
Globe: Hi Nick, Where to begin. How about with all the
bands you have played with?
Nick:
Katzenjammer, Sons of Kyuss, Kyuss, Dwarves, Jugulars,
Blag Dahlia, River City Rapists, Mondo
Generator, The all time lows, Masters of reality, and
Queens of the Stone age.
Punk
Globe: I had read that you joined the Dwarves after
leaving Kyuss that is quite a change and you played
Guitar rather than play bass. That is cool.
Nick: Yeah,
I've always been a dwarve. In 1990 Blag and,co. took
Kyuss out on our first major tour. Brant Bjork
(drummer) and I being fans of the band , made sure this
happened.
Punk Globe: How long did you play with The Dwarves?
Did we ever meet when you were playing with them. I met
Blag when he moved from Chicago to SF
Nick: I believe we met and as you know I am familiar
with your work with the dwarves. As far as how long I
have played with the dwarves. Since 1993, the Sugar fix
tour.
Punk Globe: Did you tour alot with The Dwarves?
Nick: 1993-on and off again till present. I wasn't able
to always go on tour, because of Queens and Mondo
Generator but I was always on their records in some
form
Punk Globe: That is great! You were always involved
recording with The Dwarves
Nick: I'm on 5 albums as Rex Everything.
Punk Globe: When did you play with Masters Of
Reality? How long did you play with them?
Nick: I played on Deep in the whole record and did the
tour and also we recorded a record called Flak n
Flight. I guess about a year. I hope to do more work
with Chris when he feels like doing Masters again.
Punk Globe: What year did you and Josh Homme
decide to form Queens of The Stone Age?
Nick: In 1997, Josh came to a Mondo Generator show in
Austin, Texas (SXSW) I was living there and most local
unsigned bands were not allowed to play the festival. So
we all played a show called "South by So What" @ a gay
bar by day , punk club at night called the "Blue Flame"
. All these industry folks were there so I took off my
clothes filled my mouth with 151 and blew fire right
over there heads burning eyelashes & grabbing there
attention. after gig Josh asked me if I would consider
moving back to the Desert. The rest is history! (Sorry
about the long answer)
Punk Globe: I remember talking with Mark Lanagan
when he was staying at Duff from Velvet Revolver's house
with Paul Solger (The Fartz). He was mentioning
something about you and Josh and this was in the late
90's.
Nick: Yeah Mark is one of my top 5 all time fav
singers. He sang on Rated R around that time. He sang
lead vox on " into the Fade" And backups on Autopilot ,
& Think I lost my Headache
Punk Globe: How many recordings did you do with
Queens Of The Stone Age ?
Nick: With Studio, live acoustic & band stuff (B Sides,
Ep, Etc) Hundreds
Punk Globe: Were all your recordings with Inpecac
Records? I love Greg Wreckman I knew him well when he
worked at Alternative Tentacles. He really liked my band
White Trash Debutantes alot.
Nick: I also think Greg is a stand up guy! well I
first started working with Ipecac with Mondo G's 2nd
album " a drug problem that never existed "
Punk Globe: Did you tour a lot with Queens Of The
Stone Age?
Nick: Every tour since the band began! About 5 1/2
years . When we off tour we were in the studio , or
on tour together in Masters of Reality or I was filling
in off days with Mondo touring and recording
so its good to get a break from each other. But all the
same a great fucking time!
Punk Globe: No one can accuse you of being lazy! Any
favorite Countries that you enjoyed playing?
Nick: Argentina, Brazil, U.K. , Poland , Japan. to
name my top 5!
Punk Globe: The White Trash Debutantes played an
after party for your show at The Joint in Las Vegas a
couple years back and it got really wild with a big
mosh pit and wild shit going on.
Nick: That was a cool show! I had a really good time.
I think i won a couple $$ that trip!
Punk Globe: What year did you start Mondo Generator
?
Nick: I recorded "Cocaine Rodeo" with my friend Steve
Feldman @ Chris Goss' Monkey Studios in Palm Springs,
Ca. It was a Kyuss reunion that kinda slipped through
the cracks. I called Josh, John, and Brant all
separately and they didn't know that we were going to be
playing together until we were all in the same room!
Oh yeah: 1997
Punk Globe: Was Mark leaving Queens Of The Stone Age
a major factor in you also leaving the band?
Nick: Well that is quite complicated. I was a 50%
owner/partner with Josh in the Queens. Josh had fired
Mark after a tour in Australia, and didn't bother to ask
me my opinion. Up until this time everything we did we
made sure both partners agreed on any and all decisions.
Unfortunately , Josh had me sign a thing that was
suppose to be a limited liability partner agreement.
Because I trusted my longtime friend(known him since age
14) I just sign it. Well it turns out I signed my
"voters share' of the band.(50% Josh 50% Me) away to
Josh. In other words @ 50/50 , neither one of us could
vote each other out. Now with Josh having a controlling
share he also voted me out of the band. Mark was fired
for using , and I'm still not sure why he dissolved our
friendship and partnership? He has said about 10
different things in 10 different mags.The fact still
stands , I was fired right before the record advance for
, what would have been our next release come in.
Punk Globe: That is really fucked up! Might I add I
think you were the coolest member in Queens Of The Stone
Age. You had a heart, liked to have fun and that rawks
for me!
Nick: Thank you
Punk Globe: I really enjoyed your set at The West
Memphis Three benefit at The Anarchy Library? But, that
was not the full band am I right?
Nick; No , I sometimes have my whole band with me ,
but,my band lives in England . I''ve Ben Perrier on
Guitar , And Ben Thomas on Drums . Both from the band
'Winnebago Deal". Check them out . very heavy and great
live too! But for the WM3 I'd play by myself if no
one else can!
Punk Globe: Tammy Adin will be so happy to hear that.
How long have you been a supporter of The West Memphis
Three? I know that Margaret Cho is like a Guardian Angel
for them.
Nick:
I first found out about them from " Paradise Lost" 1 &
2 then a phone call came in from Henry Rollins,
and I got to sing vocals on "Jealous Again" on the "Rise
Above" record. Rollins was very cool too! It was a
pleasure and if anything that I can do to help is cool.
Punk Globe: Who are some of your musical
influences?
Nick: Black Flag! , Black Sabbath , Ween , Dicks , Bad
Brains , RAMONES , Motorhead , Butthole Surfers, Modern
Lovers , Devo , New York Dolls , Stooges ,Sonics , Elvis
, Dead Kennedys , Rollins Band , & of course
the Debutantes
Punk Globe: Nick, You DO know how to make a girl
feel good! Tell the readers about Mondo Generator
recordings.
Nick: Well the recordings so far have been nothing but a
good time , With nothing to lose it's always fun!
angst , humor , sex , a little this a little that! you
name it . Anything goes, Uncensored!
Punk Globe: You just got off tour with The Dwarves.
Where did that tour take you? You are also
going to Europe right?
Nick: We just did a west coast . But we are going back
to Europe! Very exciting! Dwarves @ Reading & Leeds
Festivals both about 100,000 people! Very big shows , I
cant wait!
Punk Globe: I know I should not ask you such a
serious question but what the hell. If you could be
one of the girls from "The Facts Of Life" Who would you
be? Natalie, Tootie, Blair, Jo, Mrs. Garrett or Beverly
Ann.
Nick: I do know this show from being a kid. And I always
wanted to be Gerri Jewel! Or maybe I just wanted
her?! Blair's cousin the comedian!
Punk Globe: Any words of wisdom for Punk Globe
readers and tell us what is in the future for Mondo
Generator?
Nick: Positive: sex on speed , Negative: being alone
on speed
Mondo Generator will be recording new songs for new
record this fall! Check it out !
Thank You - Nick Oliveri aka - Rex Everything
Punk Globe: Thank you Nick! It was my honor and
privilege to to speak with you. Readers make sure to
check out Mondo Generator The Dwarves, Rex Everything
and most importantly Nick Oliveri.
