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 As the lights dim and the crowd begins to stir onto the dance floor, we anticipate the arrival of the best 80’s cover band in Los Angeles County: The Spazmatics. They are known across Los Angeles to be the most extravagant, comical and entertaining bands to cross from the 1980’s into 2008.
The Spazmatics consist of four band members: The Kevin with vocals, Curtis on bass, Rusty A. Wussmier on guitar and Syd Sonic on drums. These 80’s inspired musicians take the 1980’s music to a whole new level of entertainment. Their show gives you a sense of being time warped into the 80’s were music seemed to be the only thing that mattered, like Marty McFly in back to the Future. As The Spazmatics take the stage, they are equipped with headbands, helmets, goggles, floods, plaid pants, and buck teeth. As I sit and watch these four comical musicians perform songs like “Turning Japanese”, “Walking on LA”, and Riding on the Metro”, I knew that this interview was going to be one of the most interesting interviews ever. And it was. I could have interviewed these guys all night, it as an absolute pleasure! OBSCENE: You guys play here at the Canyon Club every Thursday night, what do you like most about it?
CURTIS: Well, it’s really close to our school, so we can actually ride the bus. OBSCENE: The band also plays in LA and Vegas, which one do you like better? Do you notice the differences in the audience when playing at each location?
CURTIS: They have more money, and change in their pockets in Vegas—They throw ice at us here, but they throw casino chips at us in Vegas.
THE KEVIN: They sometimes have Salisbury steak wrapped up in tin-foil in their pockets, and they sometimes give us food during a show. OBSCENE: How did you guys meet and decide to form The Spazmatics?
CURTIS: We had a model rocketry club, and we were actually trying to make the model rocketry club into a real rocket club where we can actually get to fly the rockets. The second point was we wanted our own stock car track, but because stock cars are really fast cars, because they’re stock, we need a driver’s license.
THE KEVIN: Yea and we don’t have driver licenses yet. OBSCENE: Who is your biggest influence musically?
RUSTY: Julie Andrews.
CURTIS: Barbara Streisand
THE KEVIN: Kenny Loggins
SYD SONIC: David Hasselhoff. OBSCENE: Who are your favorite musicians from the 80’s and today’s music?
SYD SONIC: The animal, from the Muppets, he rocks!
CURTIS: Adrian Vandenberg and the Vandenberg’s “Burning Heart.” They’re really cool.
THE KEVIN: Yea…real proper. OBSCENE: Have you guys seen any 80’s bands live in concert? Or met any 80s musicians?
CURTIS: Absolutely! We actually played with Terry Nunn from Berlin, John Easedale from Dramarama, the lead singer from Naked Eyes…that guy.
THE KEVIN: Yea, that guy!
CURTIS: And we have actually played with Annabelle Lwin from Bow Wow Wow, she’s still hot!
THE KEVIN: Yea! She’s gorgeous. Oh year! Joe Elliot too, from Def Leppard. OBSCENE: How do you think music distribution has evolved since the 80’s and where do you see it going in the future?
CURTIS: (silence) What’s distribution?
OBSCENE: The process in which record companies promote, sell and distribute your music.
CURTIS: Oh. Well, it used to be 12 for a penny, and now it’s 10 for a nickel. That’s what happened to sales. When we record an album we will look into distribution. OBSCENE: What’s your favorite 80’s movie?
RUSTY: Burning Heart.
CURTIS: Jaws 3 The Revenge (laughs). That was 80’s right.
SYD SONIC: Oh! Mannequine! Mannequin’s absurd!
THE KEVIN: Big Trouble in Little China with Kim Cattrall.
CURTIS: Any movie that starts with the word Jaws. OBSCENE: What is your favorite song to perform?
CURTIS: Dazel and Confused by Led Zepplin.
THE KEVIN: Kimbayah.
CURTIS: A Whole New World—what that Aladdin.
THE KEVIN: Yea, that was Aladdin, remember the magic carpet?
CURTIS: Oh yea. A Whole New World, yea, that was an awesome movie. I love that movie. OBSCENE: What is the craziest thing you guys have experienced on the road?
CURTIS: When the bread is way too small for the meat, and the meat hangs over the edge of the bread.
RUSTY: Going back to the favorite song to perform Gone Gone Gone.
CURTIS: (laughs) Chiliwack! Yea, Chiliwack. That’s a good one. OBSCENE: What are some of your passions outside of music?
CURTIS: Model rocketry.
THE KEVIN: Putting sequins on my socks.
RUSTY: Making a yarn heart. OBSCENE: Do you guys record your own music outside of The Spazmatics?
CURTIS: No, there are too many hits out there to try to write our own. OBSCENE: Where would fans go to check out your music and upcoming shows?
CURTIS: You can see us here at the Canyon Club every Thursday night, in Long Beach at Sachi every Saturday, and in Hollywood at the Dragonfly every Sunday night. |
