How did you feel when you have replaced Tripp in the Murderdolls?
Relived! Joey had asked me to join the Murderdolls a little while before he had asked Tripp. I said no because at the time the band I was in was recording our 2nd album, but I knew that MD's was what I wanted to do. I just didn't think that it would become such a priority to Joey. The Murderdolls are the band I always wanted to be in.

The name Murderdolls combines your tribute to two of your main influences (Murder Junkies and NY Dolls). What hides behind your new creature, the Trashlight Vision?
I always liked how Social Distortion ripped off the "White Light, White Heat", "White Trash" from Bowie. So I kinda ripped off Social Distortion and Bowie, ha, ha... (Sound and Vision for the last part). I had it written down as a song title and we decided it would be a cool name. Nobody is Trashy anymore... I'll take that tag.

Tell us something about the other members of the band: how did you know them, why did you choose them, and so on.
Roger, our bassist, and I used to work at a Porn store that sold Punk clothes and sex toys. It ruled we would just listen to Hanoi Rocks all day and sell shit to whores... ha, ha... Len our drummer was playing with Rag's when Rag's decided to looked me up after years of loosing track of each other.
Steve and I got clean off drugs together. We partied in the same circles and puked in the same junk toilets.

All of you have some new glam punk influences. How would you define the sound of Trashlight Vision?
We mostly get 'The Clash meet's GnR' or 'The Misfits meet's GnR'. That's cool by me. Basically, with the Murderdolls, we got labeled 'Nu Glam'. As far as I know we were the only ones getting called that. I didn't want to do another 'Murderdolls' but something that the Murderdolls could open... ha, ha... I see Trashlight as Gn'R to Murderdolls Motley Crue.

I should still have a tape with Vampire Love Dolls at home. What memories do you keep of that experience and what became of the the other band members?
WOW! That fuckin' rules. I'm still friends with Layne and Ian. Great guys! Memory's. I guess all the wasted energy getting wasted... ha, ha... nothing but great times. I really believe that we were very ahead of our time.

I know that Twisted Sister and Alice Cooper have played the main role in building your music style. What other bands do you have to say thanks to for becoming a musician?
Nikki Sixx, Ian MacKaye and Joe Strummer. What's great about music is that it's a gate way to other bands. From Twisted Sister, I got into Alice Cooper and NY Dolls. From the NY Dolls I got into the Clash and Sex Pistols and Ramones. From them I got into Rancid and Refused. Unlike most people who play punk, I'm not afraid to admit that I got into punk from alot of Glam and Metal.

You have named also Nikki Sixx among your influences. What is your opinion about the Motley Crue reunion and Ginger joining the Brides of Destruction?
The Motley thing... I'm mostly happy at how well the public is receiving it. I think it is about time they get the respect the deserve.
Brides... I love all the Brides guys, and Scott Sorry is on bass from Amen and I think Ginger is one of the most talented guys on the planet. Let's see!

Have you listened to the new Motley Crue song "If I Die Tomorrow"? What do you think of it?
I think it's a cool song, but I like Motley Crue when they are doing Motley Crue. The funny thing is that part of the reason why Brides toured was because they saw kids digging the Murderdolls. So why write a song with Simple Plan?

Do you really think they will arrive at the end of the tour without having arguments?
I think that is impossible. Friction is what makes bands great. It would suck if there wasn't some friction and arguments. If there weren't any, that would mean that they don't care.

The video for "My F**k U 2 U" is available for download on your site. Where did you shoot that?
Yes I edited it with Randy Perry. It's mostly footage from our 2nd UK tour. I'm most proud of our fans they realy made it awesome!

You and Murderdolls were guest stars in the Halloween episode of Dawson's Creek. What kind of experience was it? What TV series would you like to take part to with Trashlight Vision?
The funny part was they need us down there for 2 days to do make up and wardrobe... we walk in and they are
all like.."Is that what you are wearing?" and we were very definite about not looking like actors palying ourselves... ha, ha... so we were stuck in nowhere for 2 days. It was fun, but I don't watch the show so I'm
talking to all these 'big' stars and I don't know if they are extra's or what... ha, ha...

Looking at some of your songs titles, my curiosity has been captured by "Chemical Girl" and "Horns and Halos" above all. What are they about? More generally, what themes are your songs about?
I have been blessed with a very unusual life. I meet some very interesting and unusual people. That's what I write about. TLV allows me to write more about Human Nature. I love all the Horror Punk that we do with the Murderdolls, but I wanted to do some thing differnt from every band I have played with. "Chemical Girl" is a song about a very beautiful and very fucked up girl.

She is like 15 and has been on Meds and Hormones here whole life. It's a shame. Beautiful Disaster... 'Horns and halo's' is about how the general public perceives people like you and I. It's also about that struggle within. The Angel on one shoulder the devil on the other. I think sometimes you need to give into that devil on your shoulder. Kind of like 'If you think I'm a bad little fucker, you haven't seen anything.' to the people giving you a dirty look or passing judgement.

One of the items included in your merchandise is a funny Snow Globe. Why have you chosen such a bizarre thing instead of a common baseball cap?
I don't think that Baseball caps are rock n'roll. I don't think ADIDAS is either. Bands that sell 'ballcaps' sell ball caps because they have shitty hair cuts themselve.

Ahahah, great!
Our fans look cool. A snow globe? Because it's not a ball cap. Plus I'm a huge Tim Burton fan and collect all his toys, many are snow globes. I think my fans collect that type of crap too!

You are covered with tattoos, what was the first one and the one you are more fond of?
My family shield on my right shoulder was my first. My favorite is the one on my left arm. It's a VooDoo
Doll with a pumpkin/jackolantern head. It's torn in 2 and has a human skeleton underneath.

What about the next tattoo? Who will do that?
It will be a Nightmare Before Christmas sleeve on my left arm. Who ever designs it first can do it... ha, ha...

Your European tour is about to kick off. What crowd do you think will welcome you more warmly?
Well... I think it will be some classic punkers. We played for them before. They normally have their arms folded for the first few songs trying to make up their minds. We get 'em by the end. But to be honest with you that is the way I like it. If everyone said, "oh your such a nice band." that would suck. I dont want to be 'nice'.

The UK shows schedule Trashlight Vision playing with Buzzcocks, Johnny Panic and Plan A. Are you excited about that?
Fuck yea! It's nice to know that we are going to play with some bands I like. I hate that fuckin' rap rock shit. The thing you have to understand is that I LOVE to consume music. That's what I do. I don't listen to it. I consume it. It consumes me. The Buzzcocks are legend. Johnny Panic, will be legend.
Plan A... have palyed with legends so I'm sure they will kick ass.

The Italian shows will be performed at the Cologne (BR). Anything particular you would like to do/see/try in our country?
Well let me say, I love Italy. Italian people have more life then any other culture I can think of. I'm not saying that to kiss ass, it's just a fact. Like when the Dolls played a Jammin' festival. They thew so much shit at us and yet, the people that loved us were in tears crying because they thought it was 'beautiful' that we played our whole show. I love that. The ones that hated us, let us know and the ones that loved us showed us with tears.

I did a DJ tour of Italy about this time last year and got to see so many cool things. One of the coolest
was the Vatican and the Dario Argento museum in Rome. "Suspeiria" is one of the best movies ever.
I just love getting lost in a new town, especially in Italy. You never know what will happen. Plus the
bad ass espresso.

Do you know any Italian bands? If yes, which one would you like as opening act to your gigs?
Thee Real STP are awesome. I wanted them on our gig's but I don't know if they can do them or not. Of course the Lacuna Coil guys/girls are great!

Now talk to the SLAM! readers and try to persuade them to come and see you in April.
This is a band for the lost, lonely and desperate. This is a live on stage suicide.