I recently got the chance to ask Michael Des Barres a few questions about his lengthy career in music and film... He was very busy prepping for a tour but took time out to answer my question. I hope you all enjoy ...
Punk Globe: First off, you grew up in England and your first commercially band was “Silverhead”. Can you tell us about the band and its music?
Michael Des Barres: Silver Head Came about By me doing a nude musical in London called the “Dirtiest Show in Town”.
Andrew Lloyd Webber came to see it. I was playing an androgynous Rockstar, called Rose and I sang a couple of tunes. Andrew Lloyd Webber, came backstage and said to me “you know, you should be in a band”. So he called Purple Records, which was Deep Purple’s record label, The band; and the management invested in me and I formed a band. I put an ad in the Melody Maker. saying wanted “erotic musicians”. And the first 4 thinnest guys who looked good to me, arrived and we turned into this band SilverHead. an Incredible band that I love to this day! and I'm touring Japan with, next year. So that was really fun. Secondly, Jimmy Page was a huge fan of Silverhead and also had this relationship with my soon-to-be wife. So it was all rather, incestuous, but he loved the band. I remember we played one club, And there were 11 people in the audience and four of them were Led Zeppelin. We spent the next 3 nights at Bonzo's
Farm, "which was very interesting”
Punk Globe: Ok, now for my personal favorite band, of yours, “Chequered Past”, and your work with Jonesy, Clem & Nigel and Tony Sales. Please tell us about this phase. BTW…. I Personally purchased this record new!
Michael Des Barres: Chequered Past was great because Jonesy is great! Jonesy and Clem Burke together were absolutely the quintessential Rock and roll rhythm Section, since Steve essentially was playing rhythm guitar, Tony Sales Incredible! and the incredible Nigel from Blondie! One incredible live band! The album... eh you know ... well We had this very straight ahead “hair”metal record producer. We were all strung out and I was newly, sober, at the time and that didn't work, but there is no finer live band!
Punk Globe: I know that you co-wrote the hit song “Obsession”, which was later recorded by the band “Animotion”. And it became Animations swan song and a Billboard Charts Hit ! It’s still being played worldwide daily! Nice One!
Michael Des Barres: Obsession fantastic, you know to this day has just done by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I wrote it about drugs when I was getting off drugs. Everybody was saying all “I'm so obsessed with this and obsessed with that” and I said Fuck this I'm going to write a romantic love song about being obsessed with a girl and boom Hollywood bought it! this great music. And that was that! It was number one and remains tremendously important to me since it's paid for three houses.
Punk Globe: As a youth, you trained as an actor. After the musical successes, you focused on your acting . Tell the readers about one of your first films?
Michael Des Barres: Yep went to drama school with Mitch Mitchell who was Jimi Hendrix's drummer. I did “To Sir With Love” with Sidney Poitier and it was beautiful, my first Hollywood film! I met Sidney Poitier when “I was 17”. We were the toast of the Town! The biggest movie of the year and it started a career that never stopped that I've been doing it for 60 years, now. Which is pretty amazing! Sydney the most noble man. I that have ever met, my first Hollywood movie! “Spectacular”!
Punk Globe: Now, too your work with Brian Ray of the Paul McCartney Band. Please tell us all about the collaboration.
Michael Des Barres: Brian Ray, I did a fun summer band with him, He is such an interesting man. by the way I am off to see Paul McCartney, tonight and I love Paul and I'm so proud of Brian!
Punk Globe: And now here in the present, and your current musical incarnation, “Michael Des Barres and the Mistakes”. Is there a story behind the band name? Describe your musical sound?
Michael Des Barres: “The Mistakes” because I found that in rock and roll, that you learn the most from and have the most fun with, when you're not “thinking”, when in fact, you're making mistakes! Mistakes can be fun! And can really make, something quite beautiful and I thought you know, this being “dunno it being my 5th band, in five decades” the Mistakes, because I've learned alot from them! my mistakes. We play, Soul punk rock music, loud, fast, Angry and beautiful! with a lot of mistakes!
Punk Globe: Ok now for the juice. You were married to Pamela Des Barres. She hosts some epic summer get togethers here in LA, I have been to a couple. Please tell our readers about your ex, Pamela and your relationship today.
Michael Des Barres: Juice? I adore, Miss Pamela to this day and we are family. We have a very close relationship. We have a son. My wife Britta is very friendly with Miss Pamela. And I think it's wonderful that people can be able to realize that you don't have to condemn, or negate your relationships, you learn from them and hopefully keep them in the fold!
Thank you so much.
Punk Globe: Thanks so much for the fun interview.
