Thanks for the interview Steve. Tell us how long have you been playing bass for?

Hey, thanks for having Me Ginger. I'm honored. I picked up the bass in 1977. I went to a local music store called Central Music here in Phoenix, and walked out with a 1963 Precision Bass. Had no idea what it was when I got it, Orange Sunburst finish, it was beautiful. I still play it for all my shows, great piece of wood. Had it stripped and re-painted white with a black pick guard. I got the bass, cord and a case for $100! My Grandmother, Rest Her Soul and mom purchased it for me. I had no direction in my life at that time, and we all agreed that it would gimme something to do. Central Music is still around in the same location by the way.

Tell us the name of your very first band?

It was The Answers, we never got outta the living room, we were doing some originals and a few covers too Never did solve the riddle of how to go from living room to the stage! Kind of a poppy type sound. The first band I had that had a gig, which incidentally was our one and only, were called The Ties "fittingly" enough, this would of been 1979. Not like a bow tie, but like when you tie yourself off. We played a benefit for a local punk rock musician to help cover some of his medical expenses. We learned 12 songs in a week, they all sounded pretty much the same. When we got to the show, and got all our gear up on stage, we discovered we had left the one and only copy of our set list back where we practiced! Rookies! So anyways we played the three or four we could remember off the set list and played them all twice! No one seemed to mind, so there it is! The event took place over a three day period in Tempe, at an old club that's long gone,called The Star System! RIP. I saw a ton of bands play there!

Did you learn bass with a pic or with with your fingers?

I learned with both. For me it was faster to use a pic, and in the end, it became all about the Down Strokes. Once I felt the pic had become a part of me, I never used my fingers again. Same with reading sheet music, which I did at the beginning, and when I learned my way around the neck, off I went. I guess in a pinch, like dropping a pic in the middle of a set, I do okay and get around quite fine,

Who were some of your personal inspirations?

My personal inspirations on the bass were Dee Dee Ramone, John Entwistle, oddly enough, they both died on the same day, both OD's. Jon Watson from 999. Sid to a certain extent and Arthur Kane. Each one was for different reasons, so I felt I gotta pretty good mix. Dee Dee for his playing style and Sid Vicious for the look of course, but then I also followed both their leads into heroin addiction and crazy girls and stuff! That's another story. Dee Dee was and still is the man to me. I've had the good fortune to be in a couple publications where I expressed my thoughts on him and The Ramones, and the role they played throughout my life. Entwistle taught me the use of octaves and playing higher notes on the neck, as he was trying to overcome Keith Moon and Pete Townshend's wall of sound. I have to overcome Steve and Keith's Marshall Stacks, of course my SVT and Ampeg cabs handle them quite well. With Watson, I liked the tones he was getting on the 999 recordings. Killer Kane just because.

You are currently in The Glass Heroes.. Congratulations on your 20th anniversary in the business. How did you celebrate?

I am yes, I was one of the co-founders of The Glass Heroes and, still servicing with a smile. Thanks alot for that Ginger, fuck, 20 years, never saw that coming in the beginning. We did honor the time with a couple of shows here locally. One of which was at the George And Dragon English Pub here in town, There was some local bands on the bill with us and we all had a pretty good time! To me it seems that just sticking around and doing what we believe in, this 20th year seems to have taken an energy of it's own. Documentaries, Interviews, Television and some work on soundtracks.

How would you best describe the Glass Heroes in five words.

Sacred, Typical, The Real Deal.

Who else is in the band and what do they play?

Keith Jackson is our singer, has been day for day. The two of us started GH together over 20 years ago. He plays plays guitar. He's a great front man! Keith had just moved back to Phoenix from Detroit City. He caught one of my shows here in town. At the time, I was with a long-running group called Hellfire. I was on bass in their last line-up. So, I'm outside in the club parking lot after we played, and having a cigarette. I'm sitting on a parking block when Keith comes up and said he dug the show. It was our farewell show, so he asked if I'd like to start a band? Next day I'm at his house and the rest is Glass Heroes history!

Steve Shelton completes the front line and, the three of us have been together the whole time. He also is on guitar, trading leads with Jackson. Sheltie and I are like the foot soldiers of the band! When on the road, the two of us hang together, always have. He and I had been pals before the band started. The two of us had met at a clinic here after he returned from New York City. Keith and Steve had also met out and about. So it was like the first time he came to practice, it was just great!

Mr. A.D. Adams is in the engine room, pushing us, makes my job easy. A.D. brought us up a couple notches when he joined the fold. He's been with us for seven years now, maybe eight and, actually was a fan and had seen us earlier in our career! Check out some of our viddies on YouTube to see what I mean about A.D.

Do you have any side projects?

Currently I don't have any side projects. I was getting ready to do a European tour with The Freeze in '09, but I had some pretty serious medical issues that came up just before we left The States. I'm grateful I wasn't away from my Doctors when I got taken outta the game - I ended up needing them. Once a year or so I do a Punk 1977 show here in town. That's where a bunch of local musicians get together and do some class of '77 covers. It's a lot of fun and everyone seems to have a good time! A.D. even sat in with us last year!

What prompted the band to stay in Phoenix?

I know for me, they couldn't take me anywhere. I was pretty messed up and I was still property of the State Of Arizona for the first few years. I finally kicked a 20 plus year Heroin habit in our first five, six years. Glad they didn't kick me outta my own band! Plus, with our drummers of which we've had six or seven. There would down time in between them. We'd have to find a new drummer, teach them the set and start all over again. Bob Stubbs, one of Social Distortion's early drummers did a couple of stints with us. He did one in the 90's, recording our two cassettes. In the zeroes he came back for another round. As we got older, we started doing things like having families, and we had day jobs that kept us going.

How many releases do the Glass Heroes have out?

We released a couple of cassettes here locally in the early 90's, on CD we had the self titled release in 2005. Our second full length "Liars, Cheats and Thieves" hopefully will see the light of day later this year. The "Get Out Alive" 7 inch, was released by TKO records as part of their contender series, the flip side is "Kick Down The Doors" a Professionals cover. That about covers it. Here's a list of comps we've appeared on as well as a split:
7" split w/Mean Streets ( 2011 ) Blackhole
Compilation Appearances
High Voltage Oi! + Punk (1995) Bronco Bullfrog - Step 1 Records
Oi! we are the bois (1996) Bronco Bullfrog - Step 1 Records
Carbon14 Magazine issue #27 ( 2007 )
If It Aint Broke Hit It Harder ! ( 2006 ) F- Bomb
Save The Boobies ( 2006 ) Tatdude
Straight From The Underground ( 2005 ) Smash Mag
AZ Punk Volume 2 ( 2003 )
AZ Punk Volume 4 ( 2005 )
Sailor Jerry Presents Volume 2 ( 2010 )

Rat Scabies of The Damned produced "Liars, Cheats and Thieves." Tell us about that?

Yeah, Rat and Keith met online and he really liked our first release, "Glass Heroes". As it turned out, he was coming over to the States anyways, and said he would like to work with us. We were just getting started in the studio on "Liars, Cheats and Thieves", so it just turned out that way. Timing is everything I've heard it said. Ratty had us doing time in the right hand club. Now, when we asked him what the hell that was? He said it was down strokes with A.D's high hat, details, big ones! Lucky us! Tricks of the trade. He's a pretty funny guy!

Did that happen in Phoenix? How long was he there?

It did happen in Phoenix, yes. Rat stayed with Keith for about nine months, So we saw him every day and at the time, between booking studio time and also some vocals done over at Keith's, it was pretty much completed by the time Rat took off. We used the same studio that we had for our first full length. Villian Studios here in town run by Byron Filson. Definitely was a lot of fun, and goofing on old Rat too. What he brought to the table with us was all his many, many years of experience in and out of the studio. He didn't change anything with the material we recorded, we already had that in the can. What he did do, was get better takes out of us. He pushed us and made us work. We may have said, that's close enough for Rock And Roll and moved on, whereas he would make us do it again and again, get a better take. Funny story, Rat is laying on the couch in the studio one day, snoring while were doing a take, and as soon as we stopped playing, he full on wakes up and says "do it again!" What the shit?

Tell us some of the many bands that The Glass Heroes have shared the stage with?

The short list is MC5, Sex Pistols, Rubber City Rebels, Motorhead, Texas Terri, Duane Peters, TSOL, and a whole slew of British bands! Adicts, The Business, Anti-Nowhere-League, Cock Sparrer, Peter And The Test Tube Babies, Buzzcocks, Damned, after 20 years that's bound happen I think.

Where all has the band toured?

When Malt Soda put the first album out, we did the Midwest Circuit. We've stuck pretty much regional here otherwise. West Coast somewhat and once took a run to The Great Northwest. We've been invited to play all over the world and many touring bands that come thru town want us to jump on the road with them. Just hasn't worked out for one reason or another. With the forthcoming release we probably will be going out. I'm getting itchy feet to hit the road again.

In your twenty years with the band you have probably played most all the venues... What was your favorite venue to play ? Which venue do you miss the most?

I really liked playing on the outdoor stage at the MUSINK 2010 festival at the Orange County Fairgrounds, Locally, I dig Hollywood Alley and The Marquee. The Double Down in Sin City is always fun!

The venue I miss the most is Alex's bar in LA, actually there's a couple more too, Emerald Lounge here in Phoenix and The Anarchy Library in California. They were all small, tight, sweaty and smoky rooms. Can't smoke anywhere anymore.

Arizona is currently quite a hotbed with all the conservatives in office and what happened with Gabby Gifford. Along with the border issue... What are your thoughts on the situation?

It's hard living here and not hearing about any of those issues on a daily basis. The Gifford incident was crazy, as the reports were coming in, of course it was on the national wires as well, it was almost surreal in that it happened at a Safeway Store. I mean, shit. That's a place lots of us shop at! I understand recently she stepped aside to focus on her recovery, and one of her staff ran in her place at a special election to finish out her term. The world is so much different today than when I was coming up. I wish her a good recovery.

The border? Whatever happened to Border Radio? Really tho, when I was incarcerated for some time, I studied a bit of the political history of Arizona. Going all the way back before Statehood. Turns out, the same officials that were running the place back then, ranchers and all that, are the ones who's relatives are still here today, Superior Court Judges and the like! Fuck, The Wild Wild West! Anyways, with the border situation, I feel there are so many places in the world that if someone enters a country without the proper papers and whatnot, they're turned away and sent packing. Why should USA be different? Look, this isn't going away anytime soon. I think it's best if we all take a step back, take a deep breath.Ya know, if nothing else the discussion is long overdue, and I'm glad we're all talking about it.

I remember one odd law that we got when White Trash Debutantes played there and that was not legal to drink booze on stage. I think that happened in Tucson.. Is that still a law there?

Ummm, I never heard of that one before. I mean, every place that I can think of gives drink tickets out to the bands. I spoke with a pal of mine yesterday in Tucson, he hadn't heard of that either. Maybe it was something that they tried to do when White Trash Debutantes were passing thru! Doesn't sound like it stuck if that was the case.

I think that Linda Ronstadt's brother was the Chief of Police there. Do you know anything about that?

Yes he was. Peter was chief cop for ten years, 1981-1991.

Speaking of stars... I understand your band mate Keith Jackson is also an Actor. Tell us what we may have seen him in? S.D. Right, Keith has turned to some acting and has been at it for a few years now. Here's what he's been in to date: Nightmare Alley 2010, Off The Boulevard 2011, Queens Of Country 2011, The only ones I've seen him in are the same ones that I appeared in as well, Nightmare Alley, I'm a bicycle cop! I'm also in Off The Boulevard.

I understand he will be in a film about Sonny Barger? Is that true?

Right you are Ginger. It's a film adaptation of Sonny's book of fiction called "Dead in 5 Heartbeats" Filming currently here in Arizona and features some of Glass Heroes music in it. You can YouTube it of course, I think our stuff is in day 3 and day 19 that I know of. Jeff Santos is directing it, and he's helped us out quite a bit over the last couple of years. He also directed "Off The Boulevard".

I understand that you will be in the studio soon. Tell us about that?

Yes, in July we're going to be doing some soundtrack work for a film. It's a Troy Duffy, from Boondock Saints fame project, we're writing some new songs to contribute to the film. We're also just putting the finishing touches on "Liars, Cheats and Thieves" here this summer too!

Will you be recording "Back Biter" by The Ruts?

Yes, we did record "Back Biter" and are just getting ready to mix it down. We have a few special guests appearing on "Liars, Cheats and Thieves" as well! The second record feels a bit darker than the first, and when Rat was in the studio with us we came up with a brand new song. So everyone is looking forward to it coming out. The songs on the self titled record were ones we had been playing for years and it was long overdue in getting it out. Now, with "Liars, Cheats and Thieves" we have a lot of new material and also a few older ones we dusted off. There's a video by Nick Orciuolo of "Back Biter" on YouTube that came out really great! Check it.

What label will you be putting it out on?

We've had a few labels that are interested in releasing it for us. We paid for all the recording of it ourselves, so we have more control over everything and will keep the rights to our music. We're also taking a look at putting it out on a net label. There's also an agency that's looking to place our music in television as well as films. So we've got a lot of possibilities and options. We've had a few songs already used for those purposes.

You are close pals with Warhol Star Holly Woodlawn. How did you meet?

Oh, Aunt Holly! She's the best, cracks me up every time we talk! There was a fashion show here in Phoenix in 2002, that Arizona's Costume Institute put on at the Phoenix Art Museum. That an old pal of mine, Paul Barquinero invited me to go with him to. There were different collections of costumes dating back centuries at the show. Some of Vivienne Westwood's pieces were on display from her days with the Sex Pistols. It was free and I was interested in seeing Holly perform Lou Reed's "Walk On The Wild Side" and seeing Vivienne's piece from Sex too. I also wanted to get my hardback copy of Holly's biography autographed, I was a fan and had followed the Warhol Superstars for so long. Anyways, when she signed it for me, she told me she didn't even have a copy of her own book! She came back the following year to do an in-store with John Waters that I attended as well. Of course she remembered me, and from there we went downtown for drinks. So, that was the start of our long friendship.

Has she seen the Glass Heroes ?

She hasn't unfortunately, no. It's my hopes that one-day she will, we'll see. The times we've been out in L.A. or Hollywood for shows, she's been on the road. Holly stays pretty active. I'm happy for her, it's long overdue.

I remember going to a party for the closing of the Record Plant in Marin County.. It was Holly Woodlawn, Naomi Ruth Eisenberg, Maryann Price, June Pointer and myself... We were all high on ludes and booze and lost Holly.. We eventually found her in a hot tub with Elvin Bishop. While his hit "Fooled Around and Fell In Love" was blasting through the speakers... Any thoughts on that?

Holly does the darnedest things! Of course, her timing is impeccable eh? Wonder if Elvin even knew about her surprise? Actually, I think that's pretty funny! I'll have to ask her about that next time we talk! Sounds like everyone had a good time!

Those were the days.... Do you have any website addresses you would like to share with us?

Loved those times Ginger. Life is good tho. I have a blog if anyone cares at
http://stevedavis77.blogspot.com/ also
https://twitter.com/#!/stevedavis1977 The Glass Heroes can be found at
http://www.myspace.com/glassheroes and
www.facebook.com/glassheroes ,
http://www.reverbnation.com/glassheroes our main website is currently under construction.

Besides recording what does the rest of 2012 hold in store?

We will be playing live here in AZ a couple times this summer, and we're working on going out regionally in the fall.

Do you miss Jeff Dahl now that he and Sylvia have moved to Hawaii?

I didn't get to know Jeff very well, but he brought a lot here musically to our town, that I do miss. Jeff consistently put together some great shows around the Valley back then, and he always had a kind word to say to me when I ran into him. Can't remember how many times we shared the stage with his band. They'd open for us and he always stuck around to catch our set. He'd often stand to the side of the stage by me.Jeff was totally supportive of the local scene in many ways, and contributed talents on many levels. I understand he's originally from Hawaii.

Any last words for the Punk Globe readers?

Drugs are bad. No really, keep up the good work that you do for the entire punk community you guys! The Punk Rock saved my life in more ways than one. Punk is my family and look out for the new Glass Heroes release and maybe we'll be in a town playing near you soon! Adios!