D Generation are back, almost 12 years after they broke up so we had to ask them a few questions. Guitarist Richard Bacchus answered.
How did the idea of a D Generation reunion happen?
Promoters in Spain, Heart Of Gold have been asking us to play their Turborock festival for years.
It all came together this past year.
How has the response been during the shows?
The response has been amazing. it’s been great to go out and put faces to all the Bookfacers and Mespacers out in the world.
How did you feel after the first reunion show?
Really surprised that we pulled it off. I think we’re better now, performance wise.
What are your favourite songs to play live?
I like to play “Frankie”, that solo is really fun to play. “Too Loose” is a good one too.
Any chance to see some of these shows released on DVD?
We’ve been shooting bits and pieces. There’s some good HD stuff up on YouTube.
Are you going to record something again? Is there going to be any influence on your solo career and Jesse’s?
We’re trying to figure out the logistics of that right now. Jesse and my bands are full steam ahead. The other guys in D Generation all have serious day jobs.
Is it true that Ryan Adam’s offered to produce and release a D Generation album on his Pax Am label? If D Generation do agree to record, will there be any songwriting collaboration with Ryan Adams?
Ryan has been super supportive through all this. In the past we’ve never written with anyone else. That said, I can’t rule it out.
You had bands like The Biters and Prima Donna opening for you. Did you choose them? I don’t know about The Biters, but Prima Donna told us that D Generation were a big influence for them and they’re not the only ones ; How does it make you feel?
I met the Biters seven years ago, back when they were The Heart Attacks and The Fishnet Stalkers. I used to book them in, Raleigh, NC. They all used to crash at my house. I cook a mean Rock N’ Roll Breakfast. I’d like to think that I’d contributed, generously to their’s and Kevin Preston’s Degeneracy and delinquency.
Any other bands you really like nowadays?
The Stalkers from Brooklyn, Love City from Philadelphia, Valient Thorr from here in Raleigh.
Jeff The Brotherhood who I believe are from Nashville are really great too.
Opening for big bands is never easy. Do you have any recollection of D Generation opening for KISS in 1996?
It was fairly anti-climactic. My Mum, aunts and uncles were impressed. Great big room with a little punk band in the middle.
You opened for Guns N’ Roses recently. How was it?
The Guns N’ Roses shows were a blast. G N’ R drummer, Frank Thunderchucker Ferrer and I have been friends since our teens.
He played drums on the Luckiest Girls album, Jet Black and Beautiful. Catching up with him was great on top of catching up with other old friends, Richard Fortus and Tommy Stinson. The whole band are incredibly nice, generous guys. Axl has done a great job with that band.
I never was really a fan of that band but those two shows with them blew me away. Axl’s voice is awesome.
The show is a total spectacle.
Some members of D Gen come from a punk background. Jesse Malin was in Heart Attack and Howie Pyro was in The Blessed (with Walter Lure). Were you in any bands before D Gen?
My first band was a pub rock band called The Fugitives with another English guy named Steve Lewins. Steve was in The Count Bishops, Chelsea and Wilco Johnson’s Solid Senders. He taught me most of what I play today.
After that I played a couple of shows with a glam band called Demolition Boy.
In 1986-87 I had a band, Sprokket with Dee Dee Ramone and Brijitte West. Dee Dee left that band and it became Viva La Wattage.
The opening of the song “No Way Out” sounds very similar to the opening of the song “Better Off Dead” by La Peste, a Boston band from the late 70s. Were you familiar with this French named band?
I’m not familiar with that. I’ll have to dig it up.
You’re a big T.Rex fan, don’t you think modern rock needs more boogie?
Loads and loads of more boogie. I accept Little Lord Marc as my personal, musical and mystical saviour.
You formed Vasquez with Sam Yaffa and also played with Madjuana, D Generation and Michael Monroe would be a fantastic bill for a tour, don’t you think?
Sami and I have talked about that, we want to sail around the world on an oil tanker.
What ‘s coming next for both D Generation and Richard Bacchus & The Luckiest Girls?
I’m recording a new record with The Luckiest Girls. I am writing new D Generation Riffs.
Hoping to tour Europe with both bands soon.
Veglam 