I have known Mike Spent for quite some time. I decided to ask him a few questions to find out what he has been doing musically. I hope you enjoy...
Punk Globe: It is good to see you back active.. Tell us how long this project has been together?
Mike Spent: Thanks Ginger Just like you I don’t give up Gotta contribute to the arts Well I have been working with most involved musicians off and on since 2016 in the studio etc
Punk Globe: Are you still living in Mexico? Is it hard rehearsing and recording?
Mike Spent: Yes still based in Mexico But in LA frequently & briefly Yeah Covid has made rehearsing next to impossible Due to health concerns Etc Fortunately Richard has his studio and has been active recording etc I have been at this so long I just gotta do my part And all Involved are professional so it comes together easily when we do meet. I like to mix down at Pawnshop Recording Studio in Van Nuys and Patrick the engineer is still open by appointment and mixing down and letting us isolate drums etc for our song recordings
Punk Globe: I know that you and Richard Duguay have a history. Tell me about the others?
Mike Spent: Well Loren is a guest guitarist Loren is the frontman of Detroit’s the Dogs and Michael Debarres Guitarist and this particular song "Cause I Said So" is dedicated to him! We used Brian Irving aKa Boomer Berman on drums Boomer and Loren were in Glitter Trash together.
Well I wanted to do something creative during the lockdown This took about 5 months to arrange But came together quickly and easily .. On bass Is Dr Silver from Richards latest recording projects I felt like I stood on the shoulders of Giants doing this recording Pat Tood is guest backing vocals Pats from the Lazy Cowgirls and the RankOutsiders So some super talent involved with this old punk rocker.
Punk Globe: Tell the readers about recording "Cause I said so" By The Godfathers?
Mike Spent: I have loved The Godfather’s song "Cause I Said So" since it came out around 1988
The song really spoke to me! I bought each Godfathers record since 1986 or so
It was an honor for me to do this song. I always wanted to cover it! Thanks Peter Coyne for the encouragement to record it and I Hope I did it justice
Punk Globe: Will You be doing any Spent Idols material?
Mike Spent:Currently All my music regardless of who participates will be called Spent Idols material all the new stuff
I’m also working with Tony Fate Fom the BelleRays and Grey Spikes and Symbol Six He has sent me 12 tracks and we developing these into Spent Idols tracks the latest one being worked on I call Covid Eyes. So yes I’m staying busy during the pandemic but it’s a slower pace More focused Not rushed
Punk Globe: Describe this project?
Mike Spent: It’s a bunch of first wave punkers and all Collaborating To keep punk rock alive in 2020 All talented pedigreed originals that I like to call my friends and as an artist I am very excited and honored to work with many of my RnR heros
Punk Globe:How does Barbara and Nipper fit into the project?
Mike Spent: Well Nipper is my Merch girl and Barbara Cochran is funding this endeavor I could never afford to work with these artists without her Deep pocket book Kisses to Barb!
Punk Globe: Tell us more about about the musicians involved Mike?
Mike Spent: Richard Duguay is on guitars and is the producer known for the Winnepeg Band Personality Crisis and Rich earned a platinum record for his work with Guns and Roses and toured with Duff in his Duff MacKagen Band He's originally from Winnepeg Canada but relocated to Vancouver. Loren is from the original 1960s Detroit scene and known for his band the Dogs and Little Caesar and lately His working with Michael DeBarres and his band the Mistakes as well as Glitter Trash Drumming has been with Boomer also from Glitter Trash Boomer has drummed with Chris Spedding and many pros in other various LA projects He's a low key Heavy Hitter Go To guy and it’s a treat to play with such a talent The Bassist is a character the elusive Dr Silver
Who is quite the Bassist And works with Richard Duguay currently
Punk Globe: I understand you have something that will be released soon. Tell us all about it?
Mike Spent: Well before Covid hit a vinyl single a 7” was being pressed out of Germany with rewritten Spent Idols songs Bored Girl and Land of the Lost It has been pressed but is in limbo for release Seems I always release during the world ending Events Like the time I released a CD in Venezuela that was originally too be vinyl But the country imploded due to USA imperialism Whe did rush out a CD that is recorded & documented in the Venezuelan library of Congress and was released worldwide and played on BBC radio thanks to Angel Spent BTW Angel started a Spent Idols fan page on FB the Spent Idols So please check out his facebook page He’s my super fan And safely out of Venezuela and currently living in Chile
Punk Globe: Will Winter Rosebudd be involved at all?
Mike Spent: Sadly my muse has abandoned me I’m currently looking for a replacement
Punk Globe: Barbara is ready and available... I know this is an odd question with COVID . Any shows set up at maybe a Drive In?
Mike Spent: Well my Birthday Bash for July got tabled it was going to be at the Redwood in DTLA
Currently no live gigs are planned BUT once it’s safe and if I’m still alive YES we will Rock
Punk Globe: Any videos in the works?
Mike Spent: I’m currently putting one together for Cause I Said So with Rick Morris. Rick is a local LA underground Low brow artist And works in TV commercials known for his graphics on many many TV spots He’s originally from Detroit and drummed with the Romantics before the broke out He rehearses with me occasionally Rick is also friends with Winter and Liz McGrath
Punk Globe: Any Internet addresses you would like to give the readers?
Mike Spent: Yes on Facebook look up Spent Idols, Mike Spent SpentCity Unlimited, Spent Idols Music is available On most digital platforms such as ITunes Amazon Google Bandcamp Reverb Nation
https://www.facebook.com/thespentidols/
https://www.facebook.com/mike.spent
https://spentidols.bandcamp.com/
https://instagram.com/spentidols
https://instagram.com/thespentidols
https://www.discogs.com/artist/1604151-The-Spent-Idols
https://www.sandiegoreader.com/bands/spent-idols/
https://www.reverbnation.com/spentidols
https://www.instagram.com/spentcity_unlimited/?hl=en
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/spentidols/spent-idols-live-at-mit
Punk Globe: Any last words for the readers?
Mike Spent: Well thank You Ginger for your years of service with Punk Globe for the punk rock community. All I can say is Punk On... I Do! And keep an eye out for new Merch and songs! It’s on it’s way!
