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The New Bassist For THE SHEETS
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In the 80's The Sheets always consisted of male members.. But in 2008 that all changed.. They added a female bass player to the fold. Billie
Duffey wife The Sheets guitar player Pat Duffey has replaced original bass player Chris Domino in the band... They recently went into Weston House
in Sacramento to begin recording a new full length... They are also busy filming a new video... Check their Facebook or My Space profiles for updates...
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Punk Globe: Thanks for the interview Billie. It is always nice to interview Women
musicians... Tell us how long have you been playing bass?
Billie Duffey:I started playing bass in 1989. It was at Selkirk College of Professional Music in Nelson,
B.C. Canada. I was 39. As a Composition major I minored in bass because of the
paralyzed finger on my left hand. I arranged, scored, orchestrated, conducted and
recorded the soundtrack for a scene for the Vancouver T.V. pilot Fly By Nite and wrote,
arranged and recorded 8 of my original tunes for a 9 piece band with a 5 piece horn
section and 5 vocalists on Oscar Peterson’s 24 track board in the studio. I enjoyed
writing and selling a theme for a cable T.V. station and jingles to local merchants.
My bass influences are Carol Kaye, Tina Weymouth, Me’shell Ndege’ocello and Tal
Wilkenfeld.
Punk Globe: Have you played bass with any other bands besides The Sheets?
Billie Duffey: I am playing progressive indie rock with Robin Lovejoy of Amalgamation
in S.F. and improvise and record nu jazz with classical concert cellist Sue Ellen Primost
in Oakland. My husband Pat and I will be playing originals together internationally in our
new age duo called Light & Sound out of Alameda.
In the 80’s and 90’s I played the C rooms in Western Canada on the circuit in cover
bands in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Eelectric Eels punk, The
Rhythm Method new wave, Skydog blues and Tumble Ridge country. In the late 90’s in
Connecticut I played in The Hat Band bluegrass. Being the only woman in a band on
the road . . . I can tell you I really enjoyed a lot of my fans! I worked 5 days a week, 4
sets, 40 tunes a night and twice on Saturdays. Sunday was spent driving to the next
gig. I can play electric, fretless, acoustic electric, electric upright, acoustic upright and
washtub.
Punk Globe: Tell us who is currently in The Sheets and what they play?
Chris Domino – Vocals Pat Duffey – Guitar/ Vocals Jimmy Perito - Guitar/Vocals Billie Duffey – Bass/Vocals Greg Batlin - Drums
Punk Globe: Who was the original bass player with the band?
Billie Duffey: Chris Domino was the original bass player and lead singer. Now he is the
lead singer. Adrian Barrios played bass with the Sheets for a bit during the 2nd
incarnation, late 80’s and I happily belong to the 3rd. Chris is a riveting performer, Pat
and Jimmy play great guitar and Greg plays anything he wants on the drums. I wish
Greg would make his restaurant SAGE in S.F. CA. into a club at night!
Punk Globe: How many shows have you played so far since the band has reformed?
Billie Duffey: The Sheets played their reunion show at the Ness Aquino benefit in
November of 2007. We played Pat and my wedding in November of 2008. We have
been rehearsing new material written by Jimmy Perito and are going into the studio on
the weekend 11.13 -11.14.10. Upon completion of the recording project and video we
will be ready to gig.
Punk Globe: Did you play bass at the Ness Aquino benefit at 443 Broadway when The
Sheets reformed a few years back to play the weekend shows?
Billie Duffey: No, that was Chris Domino on bass and lead vocals.
Punk Globe: Now you are married to Pat Duffey who is one of the original members of
the band correct?
Billie Duffey: Yes, Pat started the Sheets with Chris Domino in 1980. Pat, Jimmy and
Greg played in various versions of the Mary Monday Band prior to the Sheets.
Punk Globe: How long have you been married and tell us how it is to work with Pat in
the band?
Billie Duffey: We have been married for 2 years. Pat was playing with a Celtic Band
at the Café Du Nord during St. Patrick’s Day weekend. He asked me to marry him on
our first date. He handed me the key to his place and said, This is it! I think we should
get married! I give you all that I have. Love and music and great sex... I love playing
music with my husband and The Sheets. Pat has learned that a bass is in no way just a
low guitar. I have immense respect for him and his guitar playing. I am learning what
love is. I have had enough of what it is not.
Punk Globe: Do you have children and are they musicians also?
Billie Duffey: I have 2 sons and 1
daughter and 6 grand kids. Pat has 2 daughters. None of our 5 children play
instruments. We tried.
Punk Globe: I understand that you are currently going into the studio to record some
new old material. Am I right?
Billie Duffey: Yes, we are in the studio recording some new Sheets material. They are
very reminiscent of the old Sheets sound. Any one of us will bring in a tune we wrote
and we all SHEET on it. Now that’s collaboration!
Punk Globe: How many tracks are you recording? What studio are you recording at
and who is producing.
Billie Duffey: We are recording 4 tracks at the Weston House in Sacramento with
Darin Stull engineer and the Sheets are producing.
Punk Globe: Do you have plans on releasing a new CD? If so do have any idea when it
will be released?
Billie Duffey: Yes, this will be the start of the CD project. We hope to complete 4 tunes
this weekend and sync 1 with a new video shot by Larry To.
Punk Globe: Who are some of the bands influences?
Billie Duffey: We love guitar based rock bands. In the past the boys loved Cheap
Trick, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols. The Clash. All The Sheets and their entourage
are looking forward to seeing Ginger Coyote and her White Trash Debutantes at the
Bottom of the Hill on the 26th in S.F. look out! At my day job I look for bombs for a
living. I ride our Harley and I need to play hard with the Sheets to unwind The Sheets
are hard and melodic. I like it that way!
Punk Globe: Lis Booth who writes for Punk Globe mentioned that Pat had mentioned to
her that he was good friends with Billie Joe Armstrong. Any chances that you will be
releasing something on Adeline Records?
Billie Duffey: Actually, Chris knows Billie Joe. Pat knows Billie Joe’s Sister Anna. They
worked together at a non-profit in Richmond CA. a few years back. I only see Billie at
the Oakland Airport where I look for the I.E.D.s. I searched his bag and found a stubbie
once. It would be nice to be on Green Days label. Who knows?
Punk Globe: I look forward to seeing a lot more of The Sheets in the future.. I
remember them from the old Mabuhay Gardens days when Marilyn Joyce McIntosh was
working the band.
Billie Duffey: Yes, the Sheets speak quite fondly of Marilyn. She was a powerhouse of
energy. She kept the Sheets busy in the very popular San Francisco club scene back in
the 80’s.
Punk Globe: Do you have any website addresses for the readers who would like to find
out more information about the band?
Punk Globe: Thanks so much for the interview. Do you have any parting words for
Punk Globe readers?
Billie Duffey: Check out our new pic taken by Pat’s brother Chris Duffey the Sheets
original photographer. WE LOOK GREAT. We sound even better. The Sheets RIZE and
ROCK AGAIN…
Punk Globe would like to thank Billie for the fun interview......
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