So much has been written about the legendary performer Mink Stole that a proper Google search will present a wealth of information regarding her acting career. This interview is about her music, but- to be polite- I'll go over some of her acting work in brief recap. Let me start by saying that if you aren't already familiar with the work of Mink Stole, there's something wrong with you. Really. It seems that people naturally ask Mink questions regarding her relationship with dear friend John Waters, the two forever linked by celluloid: Director and Actor. But it was friendship first. She met John Waters in 1966 Provincetown, two Baltimore natives fast developing a kinship that continues to this day. Since their meeting, Mink has been in almost all of John's films, making her first appearance in the 3-projector, 8mm black and white, near-impossible-to-screen film, "Roman Candles". In Pink Flamingos (1972), Mink played Connie Marble, the evil foil to Divine's divinity, vying for the title of Filthiest Person Alive. Mink's performance was crucial in making Connie Marble the iconic character she is, delivering the vicious lines in full color, lines we still recite to this day. (At least I do. Not a week goes by that I don't say: I guess there's just two kinds of people, Miss Sandstone: my kind of people, and assholes. It's rather obvious which category you fit into…have a nice day.) And talk about a good friend! During filming, Mink agreed to set her own hair on fire at John's request. He even bought her a wig for after the shoot, to cover up her burned off hair. These folks were ready, and soon enough Mink found herself on-set, flanked by one person holding matches and another holding a bucket of water. Lucky for all of us she stopped the hair-burning scene at the last minute, deciding it was a bad idea, and she is free of debilitating facial skin grafts today. (As Mink has said regarding the scene: even if she would have done it, nobody would have remembered, because Divine ate dog shit at the end of the movie.)



In John Waters' 1974 masterpiece, Female Trouble, Mink played the misunderstood Taffy Davenport, the role she still counts as her favorite. In interviews, Mink has so much love for Taffy, always explaining that Taffy wasn't the problem child so many people saw her as. Taffy was just a kid. She was a good kid. "And she was NOT retarded," says Mink. Taffy's lines will live on as some of the funniest, most tragic, and most well delivered in film history as far as I'm concerned, and if you don't agree then, well, there's just two kinds of people in this world, remember…



As linked as she is to John Waters, Mink Stole is a full-fledged rebel in her own right. Born the fifth of ten children, Mink's take-no-prisoners attitude was in place from an early age, before she even met John Waters. Her early hitchhiking travels, as documented by Cookie Mueller, reveal Mink as punk well before there was a word for it. She's a Baltimore ass-kicker, beyond punk, even today. Punk only wishes. Seriously. One of the hardest working people in showbiz, Mink is a true queen of the independents. Her IMDb reads like a novel, and she's never stopped giving to the underground. Along with her consistently stellar work with John Waters, she has taken roles in such indies as the "Eating Out" series, the horror film "All About Evil", and way too many stage productions to list here. I've already gone too far. We've gone over what an amazing actress she continues to be, so let's get down to business.



Mink Stole is not only a star of stage and film. She's a singer, a cabaret performer, the star of her own one-woman show, "Do Re MiNK"- and a talented musician with a solid ear for what she likes. For years she's been playing shows in front of lucky audiences in Los Angeles and Baltimore as "Mink Stole and Her Wonderful Band", the most affectionate name I've ever heard someone call their band. In public, anyway. Ten years in the making is the CD project, "Do Re MiNK," a collection of versions and songs she loves. This CD is fan-supported, a direction many musicians are taking today. Fan support means freedom from labels, and I, for one, am all for it. I caught up with Mink to ask about the process of making music, her Wonderful Band, and when fans should be looking out for the much anticipated release of "Do Re MiNK".

Since you launched the campaign to get the Mink Stole and Her Wonderful Band's first CD project, tentatively titled "Do Re MiNK", we've been so thrilled for you and look forward to buying a bunch of copies.

Thanks. Yay!

How is the process going?

I've never had more fun! I was unbelievably naïve as going into this (I thought it would take a few days, tops – ha!)…but even now when I know how much work it is, I'm loving every minute of it! I knew literally nothing about recording when I started, and while I'm still a novice, I have learned some things. I was so green, I didn't even know basic stuff, like if I had my mouth really close to the microphone it produced a different quality of sound from when I was farther away. Stuff like that seems so obvious now, but it all had to be learned. But I've made a beginning. I have been very lucky, though – Dave Nachodsky at Invisible Sound Studios where we're recording has been terrific -- he's as much producer as engineer and has been a patient guide, getting me a much better sound than I even dreamed of.

I know it's a LOT of work and sometimes takes longer than planned. Do you have an estimated release date?

I'm hoping for March. Maybe sooner. There's still a lot to be done, and one of the things that I never anticipated was how many things I'd want to redo – either for the vocals, the music, or both. That takes time.

Are you releasing independently or is a label involved?

This one I'm doing on my own. I have no idea what it would be like to work with a label, but if a good label wants to talk to me about a next CD, I'm open to it.

Do you feel like you've had the freedom to let loose with your Wonderful Band on this, or were there restrictions placed on you? I doubt you work well with restrictions, and the music industry is rife with ridiculous "rules". Has any of that affected you?

Since I don't know the rules, I've paid no attention to them. So far no "recording police" have come after me, so I'm probably okay. The only restrictions I have to cope with are time and money.

How long have you been playing with your Wonderful Band? Have you known each other for a while, or are there new pals?

I love my musicians! Walker Teret mainly plays the upright bass, but on some tracks he plays one or more guitar parts. On one track he actually plays five instruments – bass, two separate rhythm guitars, organ and tambourine. I don't how we're going to work that out when we play live, but I love the track! Skizz Cyzyk, my wonderful drummer, has played with tons of Baltimore area bands, including The Jennifers and Garage Sale, and wrote one of the songs on the CD, and Glenn Workman is an incredibly talented and versatile keyboard player. Walker and Skizz have been playing with me for a few years, but Glenn is a more recent addition. I've also got some other terrific local talent on the CD, including Arty Hill, Dave Chappell, Michael Raitzyk, John Irvine, Jamie Wilson, and Scott Brown. And there may be more! One of my fondest wishes is that one day I can have all my Los Angeles musicians and my Baltimore musicians together in one great big Wonderful Band!

You're extremely versatile as an actress; you seem to be able to disappear into any role. Do you feel like you slip into another character when performing live music, or is the process of making music the real Mink, unplugged, in her housecoat? (I mean that in the most positive way. Who doesn't love being in their housecoat?)

I absolutely try to create a character for each song. Not to hide behind, but to personalize and individualize whatever the emotional content is. But each one is very much a facet of me – although I never wear a housecoat! (I can often be seen in an apron, however!)

Of course you don't wear a housecoat. What the hell am I thinking? Ok, then. Do you enjoy live performance more than studio work?

That's like asking whether I like film or live theater better – and I like them both, for very different reasons. In the studio I'm aiming for perfection; it seems such a luxury to be able to redo a song as many times as I need to until I have it the way I want it. But there is nothing like standing in front of a crowd and just letting it out! And I love applause!

And we love applauding you! You've offered to play shows in people's living rooms in exchange for listener support. This is lovely. Has anyone taken you up on it? It seems a bargain at any price...

Not yet, but the offer's still open!

Your fans love you to bits; we'll EAT your music. Do you have a tour planned post-release?

Nothing official. We'll see what the response is, and make our plans from there. I want to get out and go to as many places as I can, and hope I can figure out a way to make it happen.

Had you been playing these songs around Baltimore before you decided to release your first CD?

Some of these songs I've been performing for years, first in Los Angeles and then in Baltimore. I don't "gig" really, though; it's more of a one-woman show with music in cabaret clubs and small theaters.

If you had to pick a favorite track off of "Do Re MiNK", what would it be? Was it hard choosing the songs or was it pretty organic?

Can't choose – they're all my favorites. The song choices were pretty easy, actually. Like I said, many of them I've been performing for a number of years, although the arrangements have changed for the CD. I called my one-woman show "Do Re MiNK," so it seems right to call the album that too.

We've gotten to see you here in San Francisco- with Peaches Christ at her Midnight Mass series, and in your role in "All About Evil", a film by Joshua Grannell (a/k/a Peaches Christ). Have you been busy in other cities as well?

Except for a few months this time last year doing a play in New York and Provincetown, I've been staying pretty close to home - my priority is getting this CD done. Let me just say though, that I adore Peaches Christ and always have a really great time when we get together.

What are your Holiday plans for performing? Will you be with your Wonderful Band, doing songs from the upcoming CD?

That's a lovely thought but, sadly, no. One of the toughest things about the CD is that, except for studio sessions, I rarely see my musicians. We won't be performing anything from the CD until it comes out.

Were the choices on the CD collaboration between you and your band or did you select the tracks yourself?

I chose them all. For better or worse.

Are they covers or is there original material?

There are so many really talented songwriters that I feel no need to do it myself. A couple of the tunes were written and recorded by Kristian Hoffman, who played keyboard for me in L.A.; another is by George Baby Woods, who was my L.A. bass player. Brian Grillo, who wrote "Sometimes I Wish I Had A Gun", contributed another, as did my current wonderful drummer Skizz Cyzyk. The rest were written by various people. I don't like to call them "covers," though, because to me that sounds like I'm trying to replicate the originals. I prefer "versions."

If you could play a double-bill with any band, who would it be?

I'm still at the stage where I want to play with just about anyone who wants to play with me!

What are you listening to currently? Any new favorites?

I like listening to lots of people from Frank Sinatra to Amy Winehouse to Nina Simone and Sade.

Where can we keep up on all things Mink, so we can buy the CD when it comes out? And will you let us know, so we can plug it relentlessly?

You bet! My Facebook page is where I post most stuff. For some weird reason, FB thinks it should limit the number of friends a person can have, but I have a fan page: facebook.com/minkstolefans, so I post just as much stuff there. I have a website too: www.minkstole.com. When the CD is ready, I'll make sure it's findable!

Thank you, Mink, for doing this! We look forward to all of your upcoming magic, and we love you dearly. Thanks for being so generous, and so gracious to your fans. We couldn't be happier for you.

You're very welcome, and thank you!