I first met Dez Cadena while I was living in San Francisco. When I moved to Hollywood I started hanging out at Al's Bar and low and behold who did I start hanging out with but Winter Rosebudd, Liz McGrath, Jimmy Wilsey (Rest In Peace), Rik Collins, Dukey Flyswatter, Sharon Needles and Dez Cadena... I recently caught up with Dez to talk about his career and the future... I hope you all enjoy my interview with my long time friend Dez Cadena
Punk Globe: Thanks so much for the interview tell us a bit about your early background Dez?
Dez: Well ,thanx too Punk Globe,and Ginger for this jarring Interview!
I was born in Newark N.J. on June 2nd,1961 to Oscar and Gloria Cadena.I grew up there in a musical environment.My Dad produced Jazz,and owned a record store,so there was always music around.I think I decided music is what I wanted to do at the age of 5 or 6.My first instrument was a smaller sized drum kit.It barely fit in the kitchen,so they had to go.I think My Dad realized I was more into guitar.So then He came home with a Harmony Sovereign acoustic.That's how I got started playing.Everything from The Beatles,Monk,The Mothers,The Monkees,Fats Waller,Cream,Hendrix,and everything in between.In '74,We moved to Hermosa Beach.California.I was my dad's choice.That's where all the fun started.I was 13 at the time.I remember liking the Velvet Underground album cause it had a Banana on the cover,at the same time I liked Z.Z.Tops record,Tres Hombres,cause on viewing the cover,if you opened the gate fold,there was a full Mexican dinner.A preview tho moving too California I guess.So I liked alot of different shit I guess.I went too Mira Costa in Manhattan Bch,then East Side High in Newark.Then Redondo High in Redondo bch.After that Red Cross (Redd Kross)and Black Flag were My schooling.
Punk Globe: Is it true that you were a founding member of Red Kross and Twisted Roots? tell us more about that?
Dez: No I was not a founding member of Redd Kross or Twisted Roots.
I was in Redd Kross before and after I was in Black Flag.Playing with people like Jeff and Steve McDonald,Janet Housden,And Paul Roessler of Twisted Roots,opened Me up musically even more than just playing 3 chord punk.That was always important to me. Grow musically.
Punk Globe: You also made a guest appearance on the Husker Du Lp 'Zen Arcade'. How did that come about ?
Dez: In S.S.T.Lore, Bands Like the Huskers or Meat Puppets,having released records on S.S.T. Would be in town recording on occasion.Other bands liked to hang out with me because, I'm a hang out type of dude. So Grant,and Bob said to me,We have a song in mind for you, I sang Whats going on.... And maybe on a gang vocal situation on Turn on the news. Husker Du was beautifully, melodically,sonic. A Great Band! R.I.P. Grant Hart.
Punk Globe: In what year did you join up with Black Flag?
Dez: :I joined Black Flag in mid 1980.
Punk Globe: When did the band decide to switch you to rhythm guitar player and use Henry Rollins as the singer
Dez:I never thought about being a singer.It was always guitar,Guitar,GUITAR! So when Black.Flag asked me to be the singer,I did it solely ,with the thought of that they were my favorite band.After a year of singing ,in '81,the guys knew I was unhappy singing and said,We will buy You a guitar and a amp ...and we will try to find a lead singer.I said sounds good to me!
Punk Globe: Did you have any idea that the Black Flag release 'Damaged' was going to be as iconic as it is?
Dez: We didn't think that anything we did was gonna be iconic.We had no thoughts of that.It was not in our psyche.
Punk Globe: Tell the readers about the projects you were involved in during the mid 90's?
Dez: Ah the 90's ..First I have too go back to the 80's and say I can't forget My band D.C.3. In which we tried to denounce punk by jamming long solos,remember Deep Purple came back in the 80's.Thanks too My Friends who played in the band...Paul Roessler,Ceaser Viscarra,Louie Dufau,Kurt Markham.....Later in 90's I would like to thank my friends who played In the band Vida,with Myself.Caesar again,Bill Bowman,George Hurley(Minuteman,and Firehose.) Tom Troccoli.The '90 also found Me playing with Carnege Asada,The Mysteries Featuring Jimmy Wilsey ,of the Avengers and Chris Isaak. R.I.P.Jimmy. Lets not forget Duff Mckagans Loaded.
Punk Globe: You played with Duff McKagan band promoting an album that was never released. Tell us about playing with Duff?
Dez: I Met Duff around '98,When I was dating Sharon Needles of Betty Blowtorch,at the time.He was producing a record for the 'Torches. He had just dropped a album,which was gonna be on Geffen.Beautiful Disease,was the title of his solo album.It was already done,and He was searching for a touring band.So Sharon,comes home after a day in the studio and says to Me, Duff would like to meet you,wanna come to our session tomorrow? She warned me about the touring band issue.So We go up to his house ,in the Hollywood hills overlooking LA and the valley,and all we did was watch NBA playoffs. While His engineer tracked the girls.He brought up the touring band thing. Gave me a promo CD and called it a day after a few hours. It turns out the next day ,Sharon comes home ,after that session and says ,"All Duff talked about all day ,was how Dez Cadena was at my home watching hoops!"What blew me away was here's a guy with gold records on the wall,raving about me hanging around. Anyway ,I ended up joining the band,which He called Loaded.I played with him for about a year,year and a half.The album got shelved cause of a big record company merger/liquidation! It was a shame cause you dedicate all that time and effort,and then it's all over with no release.What did impress me about him was, him having none of that big rock star egotism. Probably cause he came from punk rock. Lol.Quite a great guy. Also a great experience.
Punk Globe: When did you hook up with The Misfits? You also did projects with Marky Ramone. A very impressive list Can you tell us about them?
Dez: I joined the Misfits in 2001. I played 13 years with them, enjoyed my time there ,ups and downs,but mostly ups.I recorded 2 albums with Misfits Project 1950,and Devils Rain. Project 1950 was the record with Markey. We just picked some oldies that we wanted to do and did so.It was fun.
Punk Globe: You left working with The Misfits and emerged back with Flag. Did you play Punk Rock Bowling with them?
Dez: Flag has played punk rock bowling several times .Vegas,and the one in New Jersey. We will be playing in Vegas this year in May, hope to see some old familiar faces there...
Punk Globe: I know that you returned to California for personal reasons but you also played at Rik Collin's Studio for a memorial for the late Jimmy Wilsey. You also played a show at Nela what band did you play with there?
Dez: The Jimmy Wilsey thing was a gas it was just like the parties Winter and Jimmy used to throw in the Late '90s. I was in California for a month and wanted to do a little gig,So I got together with some friends from the South Bay and did a gig at Cafe Nela.It was,Rob Holzman,Bill Bowman,Steve Linn,and Jim Mellon.We called ourselves,¡Dondo! Short for Redondo.Next time Im there ,we'll play out again.
Punk Globe: The last time we hung out was at a record store that Rio Warner had on Highland off of Sunset. I was with Josie Cotton and you brought this huge jar with Jack Daniels that was lethal.. Do you remember that night?
Dez: :That's like asking Lemmy if he remembered any certain thing He'd done. I do remember showing up to something,and seeing you,Ginger, but the rest is a blurr.At least we didn't end up in jail!
Punk Globe: Do you have any Internet Addresses you would like to share with the readers?
Dez: You can contact me at Mister Stratosphere on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Mister-Stratosphere-717777365230468/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARDbooa-2GiN9x_-9ThOE0LdB0BPe_nV8IvthY3bUmsux55oF6Hmz-M4zTPz6sC7MPHohwI1qiYhrR3L
Punk Globe: What is in store for the rest of 2019?
Dez: I've been thinking about coming back too California,to help around my mother's place. She's 93 and still a pistol!
Punk Globe: Describe yourself in three words Dez?
Dez: Play With Conviction!!!
Punk Globe: Any final words for Punk Globe readers?
Dez: Whether its punk or anything else, remember what Frank Zappa said. Music is the Best
