I met Jerry when Legionnaires Disease played their very first show at The Mabuhay Gardens.... The audience got a double dose of shock rock as they performed with Lady La Rue and Mr. A...I have been a fan ever since....
Punk Globe: Thanks for the interview Jerry. Tell us all about Legionnaires Disease? You were the original GG Allin...
Jerry: GG Without the shit.lt happened as the result of a my life of drug dealing,drug taking, ( Marijuana, LSD, Heroin) going to prison where I received a sentence of 10years for possession of pot my first time before a judge.when I got out after 5 years and 6 months. I had a vision.my plan was to go to school at the University Of Houston. This so I didn't have to work square job. I was a navy vet so I was getting money on my GI Bill. then after my parole was complete I sprang into action and started dealing again. since I ,in my feeble mind,was now, an expert in how to work this criminal life, I figured it would take em at least 6 to 7 years to get me back in prison. Smart huh? looking back,I was as dumb as shoe leather.ha! I was saved by meeting some folks who got pot from me and them turning me onto Carlos Castenada's books about the Toltec people in Mexico and,the the wheels began to turn.
Punk Globe: Who were some of your influences when you putting Legionnaires Disease?
Jerry: Iggy Pop , Dead Boys,The Sex Pistols, Richard Hell.after meeting these guys I had a flash;I can do this! I went home and told my girlfriend, who had been asking me what was I going to do with my life,”Hey baby,I’m gonna perform punk rock music!”.she said,”Oh, that's nice”she just thought I was just shucking.Next time she walked in I had sold all our brand new furniture and they were taking the television out the door. She says,”What's going on!?” I said,”I need a practice place. I told you I was gonna do punk. She believed me then…
Punk Globe: I remember seeing you perform at The Mabuhay Gardens when you graced the stage with Lady LaRue... You wore a Chastity Belt with padlocks and chains. How long did it take you to get that on?
Jerry: Dirk Dirksen made that contraption as The Fuckettes (Virginia, Leslie,and Victoria) kept trying to pull my dick out ot the chastity belt. It didn’t work so they picked the lock
Punk Globe: The audience went wild and I remember Lady LaRue saying I have a class show not anything like this... With her taking the stage pulling of her wig and singing I'm a female cat in heat.. And I'm looking for some tom cat meat.. What did you think of her act?
Jerry: Lady LaRue was the closest thing to me that there was at the time. I loved playing with her and Mr.A. we were more old school characters, where most young punk bands were from different realms.
Punk Globe: Did Legionnaires Disease tour alot?
Jerry: We toured a bunch. We lived off of our shows and touring. During the gas crisis of 1979 I started a fashion style, with the syphon belt. Our biggest mistake was not recording all our songs.wWe only recorded rather than See You Dead and Downtown as a single that we cut in order to play the Whiskey. At that time you couldn’t play there without a record to support. We went to a cheap studio and,as we walked in, i was counting my money and said,”gimme 180 bucks worth of time”. We had the single pressed and we got on the bill with The Dead Kennedys. We did more records later after we stopped touring.
Punk Globe: You were one of innovators of shock rock . Did your show ever get busted by the cops or closed down by the clubs?
Jerry: Our first show in Houston Texas at The Rock Island we blasted off and during guitar solo i started playing my dick like a guitar,windmilling like Pete Townshend. The owner came to my mic and said,”We can’t have this kind of stuff here Jerry."I said,let us do one more and he said,”ok” during the next lead I pulled it again but Iclimbed the pa speakers and punched out a ceiling tile and climbed up into the attic and made my way to center of dance floor,where I kicked the tile out and finished the song hanging from the ceiling with one arm with my dick hanging out! and Ginger,as u know,I’m hung like a Tennessee Sugar Mill Jackass
Punk Globe: I thought you were really John Holmes singing in a band! Not!!!! How long were Legionnaires Disease together for? Who else was in the band and what did they play?
Jerry: We were together from 1977 to 1986. The other musicians were,David Tolbert (Paul Bearer) - Lead GuitarNorman Storm Cooper- bass, Byron C. Haynes- drums, Gwen Duke- rhythm guitar,and,yours truly on vocals.
Punk Globe: When did the band call it quits?
Jerry: 1986
Punk Globe: Prior to Legionnaires Disease did you play with any other bands?
Jerry: No, Legionnaires Disease was my only band.
Punk Globe: You are no longer living in Texas where are located at now?
Jerry: I moved to Mendocino County (Laytonville)and became a gentleman farmer.
Punk Globe: Are you performing musically anymore?
Jerry: Some friends in Texas want to do a show in Houston in July. I'm trying to build up some steam. I’ve been suffering since 2008 after 2 spinal ops. that went south on me. We’ll see how that goes.
Punk Globe: Are there any plans for a film or a book about Legionnaires Disease as you were so groundbreaking for that time.
Jerry: I’m collaborating on a book with Torrey Mercer in Houston. I got into film in 08 and did an animated film called,”Neocons Gone Wild” that is sold on Amazon.
Punk Globe: Tell us some of your favorite shows that you played with the band?
Jerry: Lets see Smoke in in 1980 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco with The Lewd and The Wittnessess , The University in Houston with The Clash, Jeds in New Orleans. Playing with John Cale in Houston. Those were most memorable.
Punk Globe: Describe yourself in three words?
Jerry: All Fucked Up (on painkillers)
Punk Globe: Do you have any Internet Addresses that you would like to share with the readers?
Jerry: The Mabuhay Gardens Page on Facebook you can leave me a shoutout there
Punk Globe: Any last words for Punk Globe readers?
Jerry: I want the Punk Globe readers to know is that they are reading the world's foremost punk zine in the world.
