Dutch Michaels has proven to be quite the man about town. He started out his career at the at the age of 10 years old, being a roadie and a few laters later he now lives in London managing the phenomenal band Syteria.. I Got the chance to ask Dutch some questions and found out so much about him. Enjoy the interview
Punk Globe: Thanks for the Interview Dutch.... You are a California boy am I right?
Dutch: Hatched in California; schooled in LA, and actually went to Hollywood High.
Punk Globe: Tell the readers about your background Dutch?
Dutch: Music business all my life, started selling papers near the Lindy Opera House off Wilshire/La Brea. I used to live near there – bands used to rehearse there, and movies were also filmed there, so I hung around. One day Shelley Winters bought all my newspapers off me for the cast and crew cause she thought I was too skinny. Friends hung round with the bands so I got dumped with the road crew when they disappeared, one day a roadie didn’t know how to do something so I stepped in at the age of 10 and fixed whatever it was that was wrong and that was the start of my roadie career. When there were films in production, I was running for Local 33 working off the books for the stagehands. I was about 14 so I got to hang with these guys and it was fun. Bands started gigging round Hollywood, I got some fake ID and sneaked in to gigs and worked with the likes of Little Richard, Chubby Checker and Bo Diddley. One time Papa Staple of the Staple Singers, was sitting side stage, smoking a cigarette and passed it to me to hold while he rejoined the band on stage to do a guitar solo, Mavis Staple saw me take a draw and whacked me round the face. Like Syteria say – Live, Fail and Learn.
Punk Globe: Are you a musician or mainly a guy behind the scene?
Dutch: Always wanted to be a singer, the whole hairbrush in the mirror thing (naked obvs), but I wasn’t good enough but loved the music biz so became a roadie to be involved in the scene..
Punk Globe: What was your very first concert that you attended?
Dutch: First gig I attended that I wasn’t working the gig was the gig where the drinks were free so I don’t remember.
Punk Globe: Tell us how long ago you relocated to London?
Dutch: 1979/80 Came over with Joan Jett and never went back.
Punk Globe: You certainly seem to be quite the man around London town.. Was it hard meeting all the rad people that you wanted to get to know?
Dutch: Not at all they wanted to know me ha ha! You couldn’t not run into these people – we all drank in the same places, London didn’t seem so big back then, then I went to Scotland - they didn’t care where I was from, accepted me and got on with it.
Punk Globe: Over the years you have been involved with several bands I remember Pink Cigar tell the readers some of the others?
Dutch: Some? OK, so Dead Boys, the Screamers, the Dickies - who still think I owe ‘em a million pounds!, the Controllers, Joan Jett, Rubber City Rebels, The Fabulous Plunger Sisters who helped shape my life, the Go Gos, David Bowie, Hollywood Stars, Runaways, The Heaters, Dyan Diamond, Tokyo Rose, The Weirdos, Chas n Dave, Kenny Ball & his Jazz men, Hazel O’Connor, Hall & Oates, Fashion, Canned Heat, Teddy Prendergrass, BB King, Jermaine Stewart. Girlschool, Elton John, Suzanne Vega, Boris Grebenshikov, Alice Cooper, Soundgarden, Poison, Heavy Pettin’, Nirvana, Four Non Blondes, Cycle Sluts from Hell and a 1000 more.
Punk Globe: Was your involvement with these bands as your duties with Syteria?
Dutch: No, I manage Syteria. Back then I was a tour manager and a tech. I’ve been a publicist, production co-ordinator, roadie etc. I even mopped the stage at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 people before the Rolling Stones went on stage cos it needed doing!
Punk Globe: Tell us how you met and became involved with working with the ultra fabulous Syteria?
Dutch: OK so I knew Jax from before and said if she needed help just ask, I did PR so she decided to tell people I was the manager. So here I am!
Punk Globe: During your managerial duties with Syteria you have been on the road playing some rad places... Tell us some of your favorite shows or tours you have done?
Dutch: Great Yarmouth Legends of Rock, Burapa Rock Festival in Thailand, and Winterstorm in Troon (which we’re doing again this year), Scotland. Corfu Beer Festival, Wild Fire, and The Silja Rock Cruise.
Punk Globe: Tell us about the future. Any big plans coming up?
Dutch: See what hits me and see what I can do with it. Excited to see the resurgence of Heavy Pettin’ – never got their big shot first time round - watch this space. And look out for Syteria in the future…
Punk Globe: Describe yourself in three words?
Dutch: Kind, Loud, & Grumpy
Punk Globe: You also adopted your little son Joe? Tell the readers all about him?
Dutch: Bitey little shit but adored by all the ladies. Still a pup – most pampered pooch in rock. Must be deaf by now he’s been to so many gigs. Nothing phases the little shit, another day and another gig. Rock n roll.
Punk Globe: Does Joe travel with you on the road?
Sure does. He’s the star of the merch desk, loves life on the road, loves people
Punk Globe: Any last words for Punk Globe readers?
Dutch: Grew up with Punk Globe and it was such an important mag from the Bay Area and it’s still relevant and awesome it’s here today for you guys to read.
