Dean Pleasants - Suicidal Tendencies / Infectious Grooves

March 19th 2010 (EMB Sannois)

It's the day after their furious show in Paris (but as SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, as they're playing tonight in Sannois as INFECTIOUS GROOVES) that I had the real pleasure to interview the lead guitarist of both bands. He talks about the long time overdue release of the first S.T. dvd, the next full-length ST & IG albums, his admiration for Rocky George, his career since the day he met a guy named Mike Muir, or his friendship relation with a bass player (for a very, very small metal band^^) who once played with ST & is the co-founder of IG.

Fab: Dean, welcome back in France…
Dean Pleasants (Lead Guitar) : Oh, Merci!

Fab: Whoah, you want to make the interview in French?
Dean Pleasants: Yeah, yeah (laughter)

Fab: Happy with your performance yesterday in Paris with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES (S.T.) ?
Dean Pleasants: Yes, yes. Yesterday, euh…always, the Elysée-Montmartre is like, for us, coming home in the sense (that) we love playing in Paris, we love playing here, we've been playing here for years...always a great reception, a great crowd you know, always a lot of energy from that place, very powerful, always.

Fab: Speaking about that, since several years now, you're touring a lot in France. Do you consider it like a second home? How do you explain that special bond between France and S.T. & INFECTIOUS GROOVES (I.G.)?
Dean Pleasants: For me, my first experience with touring was extensively in France, although I opened for OZZY in the States, my first tour was with I.G.. Afterwards, we came here with CYCO MIKO, and I.G., so we always had a special connection with the French audience, and I think, the French embraced us first, so it's like we're their band first, you know what I mean? So, we always come here first…

Fab: And we're really happy about that (laughter). You just released your first DVD " Live at the Olympic Auditorium (L.A.)" which is really great, and I found that the set-list digs really back into the L.A. skate punk roots. This " back to basic " attitude was a real choice from you, or you simply prefer these songs compared to the " The Art of Rebellion " era ? Simply put, do you prefer the old stuff?
Dean Pleasants: Well I think with Mike (Muir) and everybody in the band, since the band had kind of started over, you know, with Robert (Trujillo, now in METALLICA) and Rocky (George, now in FISHBONE) leaving, we, as a "new" band kind of prefer the punk-rock stuff. It's very powerful to do these songs, and I think it's very important for the younger generations too, to hear these songs, the beginning of S.T.. And also for me, I love playing the older stuff cos', you know, everything from the first record, for me, I love it: "Institutionalized", "Still Cyco", etc… All those songs for me, you know, just…"Subliminal", "Won't fall in love today", etc…(it) goes for a true classic punk-rock songs, you know.

Fab: Yeah, in spite the fact that, what I will call the SUICIDAL TENDENCIES "triptych" albums (which are "How will I laugh tomorrow…", "Lights, camera…revolution" and "The art of rebellion") are for a lot of people the most famous albums from S.T….
Dean Pleasants: Right, right. And we love, you know, we also play "You can't bring me down", "how will I laugh", etc…those were very important songs for S.T., and I think that each one of the albums you've mentioned grabbed a different audience, that each person like.

Fab: Exactly.
Dean Pleasants: So, we try to play a bit of all those and then also, bring in a couple of new songs too, so… But I think for us, the most fun is, you know, doing all the old punk-rock (stuff) and then have the heavy S.T. stuff too as well.

Fab: Yeah, and you also played on that night in L.A. some NO MERCY stuff…
Dean Pleasants: Yeah.

Fab: Any news for a new full-length album from S.T.?
Dean Pleasants: Yes, you know, hopefully, we can get it out, we have lots of material, and I can't wait for everybody to hear it. Right now, I know that Mike wants to start with the DVD first, and some other things… He likes to, as people know in the history of Mike Muir, he likes to put out the teasers, get people back…and right now, what's more important for us is to kind of, since we've been gone off the scene, really to tour in all the places for all the people that had supported us, and then, they know we're back, and then put the record out. Because we don't wanna put the record out and then, "what's this?" you know? So people bring everybody back into the whole thing, (to) "re-baptize" the people who knew us before, trying to bring in new younger crowd… you know, put the record out the right way, and get the people interested in that way, and then, we hit it hard on that one.

Fab: I guess it's why you released "Year of the Cycos", sort of compilation of old and new stuff from all the bands (S.T., I.G., Cyco Miko).
Dean Pleasants: Yeah, exactly.

Fab : A way to of saying "we're still here".
Dean Pleasants: Yes, we're still here, and this is what we do, and there's more to come.

Fab: And now, same question for I.G.?
Dean Pleasants: Yes, with I.G., we have so much stuff, material, and right now, you know, we're doing both shows and in the summer, we're coming back and doing some festivals with I.G. (ndlr : ils seront présents au HELLFEST), and S.T. so, …I.G. have been lying dormant for a long time, but now, with Eric (Moore, Drums) , Tim (Stewart, Guitar) and Steve (Brunner, bass), and everybody we can do I.G. again, and it sounds wonderful. There's no question about, nor Robert, or Brooks (Waterman - former Drummer), or….When people hear this line-up, they go "ok, this is why they're doing it". This is a great line-up of musicians. So I think for us, it feels good to do it, and that's the most important thing. You just don't play because "Oh, I got to pay the light bills"…it's really important for us, as musicians and artists, to put out something that's gonna make a difference, something that is different from every song on the radio, I.G. is different than that. And the same thing with S.T. . To be passionate about what we're doing, I think that everybody in the band, as you can see by the way they're playing their instruments, are very passionate about what they're doing.

Fab: As you're playing tonight as I.G., is there gonna be a release of the show you recorded for a DVD in Paris in April 26th, 2008 with the presence of Rocky George ? Because I heard there was an audio recording problem…
Dean Pleasants: (seeming very pissed off) Yeah, the people (in charge) came here and they set up a whole lot of mikes, and we play our thing, and "oh, we don't have the right tape, etc…" and we paid them a lot of euros to do this…and they messed it up.

Fab: So, there's no hope for a release…
Dean Pleasants: No. I mean, it was a wonderful show, with Rocky George coming on stage…(sighing)..how can you recreate this??

Fab: It pisses me off, I was there, it was really a historical night to remember…Anyway (laughter) do you personally prefer playing for S.T. or I.G.? as you're the lead guitarist of both bands.
Dean Pleasants: You know, I prefer playing for both.

Fab: Come on, take some chances (general laughter).
Dean Pleasants: It's hard you know, sometimes, I get so much into the S.T. mode that I don't wanna do any other thing, but now, I've been playing both shows, I'm looking forward to do both, you know, it's very different. As for last night, it was like "full Suicidal", back to the feeling "oh yeah!" (ndlr: c'était l'une des deux seules dates en tant que Suicidal Tendencies de la tournée commune en France), it felt like a show that is like in the middle of the tour, we were really tight, the crowd was crazy, but then, with I.G., it's more fun and loose, it's more of an open show, more free. So, I like doing both.

Fab: Any surprises about the set-list tonight ?
Dean Pleasants: Hum…(with an intriguing smile), there might be a few surprises, I won't give it away…might have a guest-star on guitar…pay attention (laughter).

Indeed, Mike Clark (Guitars - Suicidal Tendencies) came on stage to play Led Zeppelin cover "Immigrant Song", which was total fun & chaos, with as usual, the presence of fans invited on stage by Mike Muir…Awesome.

Fab: Almost fifteen years ago, you joined the Suicidal Tendencies & Infectious Grooves world. What do you feel looking back at this, at your career?
Dean Pleasants: Yeah, good question. You know, I met Mike (Muir) in 1990 and I knew Robert (Trujillo) as a friend five years before, and I was with a band with him. And he got into Suicidal Tendencies, and him and Mike were putting together Infectious Grooves, and they were just doing demo tapes and they called me and say " do you want to come and play guitar?".."Ok!". I came down and I never met Mike before, but I knew who he was of course. I started playing a couple of songs, Mike has his bandana, you know, and he's looking at me…I was thinking "this guy does not like me at all" (burst of laughter). Then he walks over to me and says "hey Dean, come here, I got to talk to you?", I go, "what does he want… I'm scared…" (laughter). "Can you come in tomorrow and play some more?", and I'm just like "ok, sure!"(laughter). And so, that was it you know. We got an offer, with a small budget, to do a record for I.G., and Mike just walked in the room with Ozzy (Osbourne) and ask him to sing on "Therapy?", and "boum!", we were touring with Ozzy! (1)

It was a good start for me and I was more than happy, you know, and then S.T. broke up in 1995, I was touring with Mike and Robert with CYCO MIKO, and, Mike's brother Jim actually suggested that we put S.T. back together, with me, and I knew it was big shoes to fill because Rocky (George) was playing the solos, and then we had to find a bass player for Robert, etc…So it was for me, right from the beginning, you know, it's hard to be compared to Rocky. A lot of people don't know this but, Rocky was a person that I looked at, as well, like the fans do. Because he was a black guitarist playing heavy…so he was an inspiration to me. So, to be able to come in and play in a band that he was in, was very important to me, and I took it very seriously, trying to play my best. I'm not Rocky, and I couldn't play like him, but I tried to be a strong guitar player for S.T.. So now, even now, I take that honor when I play onstage every night, to give my best.

(1) In addition to that, before doing "Therapy?" tonight, Mike makes the audience call for Ozzy (to come to sing onstage) on a ghostly way, it was very funny.

Fab: Do you still keep in touch with Robert Trujillo ?
Dean Pleasants: Yeah, I'm very happy for him. Robert was working very hard to do what he was doing, with us, from S.T., I.G. to OZZY, and now METALLICA… when I saw him on TV, and he's got a chance to play with them, he was given the money, etc…I was sitting there and smiling, I was so happy, it's good for Robert. He's still the same, he's still a cool guy, he still snowboards, you know, he does his thing. Nothing but thumbs up for this guy.

Fab: Now a question that a lot of fans are asking. Because of this connection between these two bands, is there a chance to see you opening for Metallica ? (again)
Dean Pleasants: You know, we thought about it too, I don't know, maybe it'd happen. It would be a good thing. If they (Metallica) want it to happen, I guess they'll make it happen. They have the power to say "ok, we want them", and for us, "ok, we'll do it" (laughter).

Fab: You've played with a lot of musicians. Do you still have someone with whom you'd love to play? A dream?
Dean Pleasants: (thinking) Euh, I've played with a lot of people, and at this point in my life, my aspiration has to be a better guitar player always, and of course, to play with as many people as I can, but I think now, I like to concentrate on writing songs for the group and, since we're moving, and we're moving forward in our playing, I'd like to see both bands really get a chance to do what they're doing. And then in the middle of that, if some people come in and wanna guest appear on I.G., or whatever that will be very cool. But if I have to say one person, hum, maybe PRINCE or somebody like that. I enjoy all kinds of music you know? I listen to everything. I love hearing talented people play, I have no ego in that. The guy who plays with us, Tim, he plays for a lot of people. I have fun to play with him every night, so…

Fab: Can we say that S.T. and I.G. are Mike's bands? What is your part on the decision making level?
Dean Pleasants: Oh, we write songs altogether. Mike is very open, I think with I.G. it's more like... I mean, with both bands, I'm very close with Mike, and with Mike Clark and myself, we are kind of the main three…as far as main decisions. We've been together for a long time, we have a partnership together. With I.G., it's me and Mike who kind of always talked about ideas and what to do… Mike has a lot of ideas, and say "what do you think of this? What do you think of that?".

He's very open-minded, he shares everything with everybody. Of course, he has a lot of marketing ideas, things that are sometimes for the better of the band, he has experience so you know, I think that the most important thing for both bands is that everybody does their job well, and it will move forward. Business is business, creativity is creativity. Mike realizes that too, so when we're writing songs, he gave us freedom and he'll take it into songs, write the lyrics too, etc…but everybody contribute.

Fab: As you're playing in both bands, is it not too hard to switch overnight from S.T. to I.G., and vice-versa?
Dean Pleasants: It's not really hard to switch, but for me, I don't get a day off (laughter). I'm tired but you know what, life's short so when you have a chance to do something fun, you do it, always. I will sleep when I get home (laughter). But I'm here to play and I accept it, I'm very happy and I'm very fortunate that I get to play guitar in front of an audience.

Fab: As an American, what's your point of view about Obama's election?
Dean Pleasants: You know, I'm not very into the political thing. But I think that for some, Obama (election) has made a lot of people happy, and other people, I think, judge very hard. You have to remember, he came into a situation where Bush was president for eight years, and you can't fix an open wound in two seconds, you need more than two years to fix eight years of damage. So people have to understand that. If someone has spent ten years digging a hole, and then you have two days to fill it, you can't do it. And I think he has a lot of relationship with other countries, and it's more important to communicate than to just assume, you know. The world has gotten into a place where we don't talk to each other enough, everybody wants to take without giving. Two people can sit down together, and they may have different skin color or whatever, but they can talk and understand each other. And then you don't step on anybody's feet. Some people live in fear, and the only way they can justify their fear, is to have the feeling like we're at war you know, they always find someone to blame because their lives didn't work out. It's what I stay away from politics (laughter).

Fab: A last word for your French fans?
Dean Pleasants: Oh man, once again, we're glad to be here in France, "Vive la France!" from Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves. We always love to come here, we'll always come back.