20 Questions with Mike Trash of The Erotics!

Mike Trash getting trashy with The Erotics!

This weeks 20 Questions is with Mike Trash of the New York City based group The Erotics. Now some of you might be saying, "Hey, he's not from Roxx Gang or Sea Hags?" And you're correct, he's not. He's not from Banshee, Hurricane Alice or Heavens Edge either, but he is from Lethal Lipstick! Huh? Who? Wtf? That's right Lethal Lipstick! Who are they, well if you were in the NYC scene back in the late 80s and early 90s, than you'll know who they were. Or if you saw Tuff at the Catclub in 1991, than you'll remember them as the openers.

Nuff said! Mike has a track record. He's been around, paid some dues and has now taken his group The Erotics to Europe a few tiems, toured the US a few more and recently released another disc. The Erotics are currently touring the UK.

Okay, we'll stop the babbling, enjoy Mike Trash and his 20 Questions. Congrats to you dude, rock on!

Yes, when the band first started, we wanted do a Ramones, 3 chord punk thing.  But after about 2 years of that, my heart wanted to go back to my hard/sleazy rock roots.  So I decided I wanted to play 4 chords, instead of 3. We're kind like Spinal Tap with 2nd guitar players, so it's easier as a "power trio"  Rock n Roll Killing Machine is our latest release. Each release is a progression to where we are today.

 

3. You're going to the UK and touring with TCC who we interviewed recently. What do you expect from this tour, and are you ready to eat fish n' chips 7 days a week?

Yes, TCC www.teenagecasketcompany.com  are our brothers. We toured twice with them last year, in the UK and US.  This upcoming UK tour is getting a lot buzz, we're included on the cover mount CD of the latest issue of Classic Rock Magazine, and we also have a full page feature comming out in next months issue as well.

 

4. You just played with Buckcherry a few weeks back. How did that show go and what happened with the LA Guns show recently when The Erotics cancelled? Was there drama?

The show w/Buckcherry kicked ass, really great turnout considering it was Easter Sunday.

 

Well the venue decided to screw us and make us go on at 7:30 pm before 2 unknown locals, so we cancelled to make a point.  I guess it worked, because that same venue contacted us to play with Buckcherry, and at a reasonable time slot.

New York City's trio of trash The Erotics w/ Mike Trash center.

 

5. Rate a Guitarist/Vocalist 1-10! 1 being a joke and 10 being the fucking shit!

Angus Young = 10 
CC DeVille = 7
Ace Frehley = 7
Zakk Wylde = 10
Tracii Guns = 8.5

Blackie Lawless = 7
Taime Downe = 8
Billy Idol = 10
Bret Michaels = 8
Phil Lewis = 8

 

6. What rock star deserves a big smack in the mouth and why?

The guy from Creed.

 

7. Speaking of people getting smacked, The Erotics do a cover of "I Wanna Be Somebody" from W.A.S.P. Lots of people would like to smack Blackie in the mouth. Do you think Mr. Lawless would approve of your covering his music, and if he doesn't what is your message to him?

 

For the record, I very reluctantly wanted to cover that song, we did it for an upcomming compilation, but the performance exceeded way past our expectations, so we decided to include in on our latest e.p. "Rock N Roll Killing Machine" Would he approve?  I think he would like the fact, that some band is playing a 20+ year ol song of his.

 

8. Kill, fuck, marry & bury! (Courtney Love, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston) We updated this question, kill somone, fuck someone, marry someone, and bury the other!)

Kill - We'll Courtney Love will probably end up doing that to herself at some point.

Fuck - Coutney Cox.

Marry - Jennifer Aniston, what a fool Brad Pitt is.

Bury - Well, I'd love to Bury my face in between Jennifer Love Hewitts' fucking titties!

Blurred Trash!

 

9. Of all the bands you've shared the stage with, who was the coolest and were the dicks? 

All were pretty much cool, but they usually have dickhead road managers.

 

10. Memory Lane w/ Mike Trash.

1976 = Listening Alice Coopers song "I Never Cry" on the radio.

1979 = Listening to Kiss and AC/DC

1982 = Got my first guitar.

1985 = Got my drivers license

1988 = lost my drivers license, also joined Lethal Lipstick.

1991 = Getting dropped because of grunge.

1994 = Playing with the Godfathers Of Infection.

1997 = Partied w/Marylin Manson for 3 days straight.

2000 = Recording 21st. Century S.O.B.

2004 = Became Sober.

 

11. The Metal Sludge lyric game..No cheating who is the artist and what is the song?

A. Hey little sister who's your superman, Hey little sister who's the one you want. Hey little sister shot gun!
Billy Idol "White Wedding"

B. Street fighting is looking for trouble, If you open your mouth, You're bound to rumble.

I have no idea (Answer = "Big Talk" by Warrant)
C. She'll let you walk the street beside her, But when she wants she'll pass you by.
Kiss "Strutter"
D. But I won't cry no more 'cause the tears are all in vain. We can pick up the pieces and start it all again.
Haven't got a clue (Answer = "Don't Treat Me Bad" by Firehouse)

Teenage Casket Company & The Erotics on tour together 2005.
Hey guys anymore hugging and we'll be calling the fag police!

 

12. What rock band needs to pack it in, give it up, call it a day and why?

Any band that doesn't enjoy it and sees it as a chore.

 

13. You have done a column called Trash Talk @ www.glam-metal.com for a few years now. What are your qualifications and is it safe to say you're the Punk Rock Ann Landers or the Sleaze Metal Ma Nugent? 

I guess I've been around the block a few times, so that qualifies me.  Yes, I'm the "Sleaze Metal Ma Nugent"

Metal Sludge quiz for you all. Who is in the above black & white photo?
A. Nikki Sixx
B. Mathew Trippee
C. Mike Trash
D. Carrot Top

 

14. Pick your Poison:

LA Guns or Guns n' Roses = Very tough, but I gotta go w/GnR.
Green Day or Green Bay = The Steelers
Hats or Headbands = They both come in handy after a sweaty performace.
Eye Liner of Lip Gloss = Eye Liner
1976 or 1986 = 86, I had a car and I was getting laid.
KISS w/ Kulick or KISS w/ Thayer = Gotta go w/Kulick because he played on "Revenge" whick is one of my favorite Kiss records.
Punk Rock or Glam Rock = Just Rock

Big Soft Boobs or Small Firm Titties = I'm not picky.

 

15. According to http://www.metroland.net/guides/2006_readerspicks/arts.html  you were named the Best Local Punk Band for 2005 & again in 2006. Is this a slap in the face since you're really not a "local" band anymore and have crossed the globe with this project?

It's nice to be appreciated, but yeah I agree that we aren't really a "local" band anymore.  Actually local bands in our area cover our songs.

 

16. Name the 3 high-lites and the 3 low points of The Erotics career to date?

The Highs: Playing in the UK and Italy, Being Classic Rock Magazine, and last but not least, the 20 Q's on Sludge.

 

The Lows: Boozing way too much, Firing band members, playing to 3 people. Thankfully those days seem to be behind us.

Mike Trash throws down some rock n' roll!

 

17. The Erotics are a 3 piece band. Besides Rush, Triumph, Sublime, ZZ Top & Green Day what 3 piece bands are worth sighting as an inlfuence to you?

Believe it or not, we're not influenced by any 3 piece bands what at all.  Mostly 4 or 5 peice bands that have influenced us.

 

18. What was your biggest ever music related pay day for and what did you buy with it? 

We have some songs on HBO and Skinemax, the movies are "Haunting Desires" and Bikini Escort Company"  and they air quite often. Every 3 months BMI sends a check like clockwork.  So far the money has been going back into the band. I can' quite afford that BMW I want just yet.

 

19. Word Association:

Nikki Sixx = We played with BOD 2 years ago. He came up to me after our set, shook my hand and inroduced himself and told me that we fucking rocked.
Rob Wylde =  The bastard son of Steve West.
Alice Cooper = I guess he had a bigger impact on me than I realized.  Almost every review we get compares my vocals to "Alcice Coper, circa 1972"
Billy Belaire = The Evil Cable Guy
Johnny Riott = Owns stock in Starbucks
Jett Damage = Fomer bass player, that went Awol.
Eric Stathis = Former Drummer that I still talk to.
Uzi = Former gutarist, who was actually at our show last night.
John Delehanty = Produces and engineers our records.
Shawn C. Lane = Owner of Fasltlane Records, hooked us uo with getting our songs on HBO/Cinemax.

 

20. The Last of Mike Trash....

Last time you got a tattoo = Almost 2 years ago, which reminds me, I need more ink.

Last song you wrote = 3 days ago.
Last time you puked from drinking = October 7th. 2004  Almost left the planet Bon Scott style. Stayed sober for 14 months. Now, I ocassionally have a drink. I know my limits now.
Last time you signed an autograph = After a show last night.
Last rock star you shook hands with = Billy Belarie and Johnny Riott
Last time you played in a cover band = Last August in Cleveland, I filled in on guitar w/Rock N Roll Junkies, that's Neil Wharton's band, Vinces kid.
Last time you felt fucked over = Everyday

Last bowl of ceral you ate was = 2 days ago.

Last time you cried = Last week, when I found out that Vito from the Sopranos is gay.
Last time you visited Metal Sludge = This morning.

Mike Trash gets a thumbs up from Sludge!


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