So, what’s up with your new look for the Hollyweird tour?
I think if we came out and looked like we did in ‘87, that would be pretty stupid! Right? If we came out in jeans and a t-shirt, I don’t think that’s right either. I think that’s pretty lame. We only have half the lights, half the sound system. The only way to get a reaction is coming out looking weird. The people that come to see us; I’m sure if they look in the mirror they don’t look like they did in ‘87. It wouldn’t be right!
Taime had an idea to do the uniforms. He wanted something a little shocking looking. He thought, “Let’s make ‘em look similar to a Nazi outfit.” When he came up with the idea, I wasn’t sure about it. I said, “I’m not gonna wear a swastika!” He said he wouldn’t either. We don’t hate anybody. I want to make that clear. If anybody is offended by it, then they’re really the ones being prejudice. They’re really judging us without taking a close look at the uniforms. We’re about having a good time. If someone’s that easily offended, they’re not a real fan. Some people are just bored…trying to start a fight on the internet.
If somebody says, “I don’t like they uniforms! They look dumb!” That’s fine. I might even agree with them a little bit. Our rhythm guitar player is in a skirt! Our costumes are made out of patent leather and vinyl! Hitler would have executed us! We’re actually mocking the whole Nazi thing. Hitler would be turning over in his grave if he could see us!
People have always misunderstood Faster Pussycat. We’ve always been misunderstood from the beginning. When everybody’s doing one thing, we always try to do something different.
Like “Babylon”?
Exactly. In a way, that was us mocking the Beastie Boys at the time. We’ve never took ourself too serious. We’ve got black lipstick on! We’re out there just to have fun. It’s way better that coming out in jeans and a shirt. We set ourselves up to be an easy target.
Are you ever surprised by the wide variety of people that listen to Faster Pussycat?
When we first began, we had so many influences. We always had a wide variety from the beginning. Our first album is really stripped down rock ‘n roll, no BS. I don’t try to play to technical, no tapping and stuff. That’s just not what we’re about. We’re about songs and having fun. A raw, powerful, rock band. I think that kind of music attracts a wide audience. You could put on AC/DC and everybody gets up dancing! If people go, “What the fuck?”, that’s a good thing.
Do you think people get what Faster Pussycat is about?
When we first toured with Y & T and Ace Frehley, then Alice Cooper…we got booed off the stage every night because we were wearing lipstick and makeup. People didn’t get it. They were hypocrites. Most were fans of Alice Cooper and he’s always wearing makeup! It just didn’t make sense. It was, “Oh, those faggots! They’re wearing makeup! I’ll worship Alice!”, who is wearing makeup. It took a few tours for people to get Faster Pussycat, for us to cross over. Maybe it was “House Of Pain”. We were always wearing makeup and trying to freak people out. That’s part of the show. People compare Taime now to Marilyn Manson. If people remember, Faster Pussycat was out before him and we were wearing makeup. If people really look at us from back in the day, we’re really going back to the way we were when we were playing clubs.
We want to separate ourselves from the other bands. We want to be different. We love Poison. We love the other bands that are playing. We want people to go, “There is daylight and that is black!” We wanted to polarize ourselves.
How did Faster Pussycat get hooked up with the Poison tour?
Their tour is called “Hollyweird”. If any band fits”Hollyweird”, it’s Faster Pussycat! We’re weird and we’re from Hollywood. We grew up with Poison. We were out playing clubs when they were out playing clubs. Taime goes way back with Poison. The guys from Poison wanted Faster Pussycat to go out. They knew we would be weird and probably cause some trouble; be a little controversial.
What’s in the future for Faster Pussycat?
We’re out touring to try to get people to talk about us. We do everything ourself. We don’t have a manager. We don’t have a major record label. We don’t have somebody pushing us to make a record, or paying for it, or organizing it.
Come out and see us with Poison, Cinderella and Winger. If you want to hear more songs, we’re doing a lot of shows on our own. If you go to FasterPussycat.com and go to Tourdates, you could find out where we’re playing. Come see us on our own. People can come up and meet us after the show. We always go hang out with the fans.
What do you think about the other rock tours this summer, like Rock Never Stops and Rockfest?
I’ve read about those tours and it just makes me thankful we’re on the Hollyweird Tour. Some of those tours sound like nightmares! I’m not going to mention any bands, but some of those other tours…some of the egos on there are just like, “Oh my God!” Poison, Cinderella, and Winger are all just super nice.
What kind of music is on the Faster Pussycat tour bus?
Foo Fighters, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Johnny Cash, Sly and the Family Stone, Pink…we really have a wide variety. We’re pretty open minded.
What is your idea of success?
Being happy and satisfied. To play music and make a living at it…I think that’s pretty successful. If you can have a day job and play music at night and be happy…I think that’s successful as well.
What about having a record deal?
Being signed is not like what it used to be. Back in ‘87, you needed one to do things you can do on you own today. Once you got under the label, they took so much of everything. They take such a big portion of the pie, and even moreso nowadays.
What’s one of your most memorable gigs?
A long time ago, me and Taime played in San Antonio, Texas. It was on my 21st birthday. We were getting wild on stage and the crowd was getting wild. The San Antonio Police Department ended up throwing us in jail that night for ‘inciting a riot’. So we spent my birthday in jail with velvet, suede, and makeup on. Luckily, they threw us in the drunk tank and not with the hard criminals! The next day they released us and dropped all the charges. I’ve done over 5000 shows in my life. There’s been a lot of great ones.
Did you know Robbin Crosby?
I called him a month before he passed away to let him know if he needed money or help with the hospital bills…I told him I’d help with anything he needed and my prayers were with him. I called him just to say hi and let him know I was thinking about him. I had a bad feeling he didn’t have much longer. I was glad to be able to talk to him. Also, Dee Dee Ramone…I was friends with him. I tour managed him. He was always an idol of mine. He was a big fan of Faster Pussycat. We were planning to play with him in New York. Then we got the news the same day Robbin died, Dee Dee died, too.
Any cool music gossip for Rock Confidential?
I’m coming out with a book in the winter. I’m telling a lot of secrets in there.
What’s it called?
Brent Muscat: Babblin’ On and On… It’s a bio, but reallly heavy on the Faster Pussycat stories, because Faster Pussycat has been a huge part of my life. We toured with David Lee Roth, Motley Crue, Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, Guns ‘N Roses, Poison, LA Guns…I’ve got so many stories I want to save something for the book!
Any final message to the fans?
Come out. Go to FasterPussycat.com. Come out to say hi. We like people! Come see us play our headlining shows. We’re pretty accessible and we want to meet you!
