“DANGEROUS TOYS” Interview by John Curtis
If you’re like me and grew up in the Hair Metal Era , you would probably agree that some of the most fantastic music in the history of Hard Rock and Metal was emerging all around us. We were sportin big hair , shredded jeans , dangly earrings and our Heroes were Rock n Roll Gods.
“Slaughter” was keeping us up all night :” Warrant” was servin up some cherry pie , “Faster Pussycat” was over at the House of Pain and “Motley Crue” was shouting at the devil . One of the most underrated bands (in my opinion) from this era was “Dangerous Toys”.
Founded in 1987 in Austin , Texas under the name of “Onyxx” with Jason McMaster (vocals) ; Tim Trembley (guitar) ; Scott Dalhover (guitar) ; Mark Geary (Drums) and Mike Watson (bass).
By 1988 the band had changed the name to “Dangerous Toys” and signed with Columbia Records. In 1989 the band released their debut album “Dangerous Toys” . That same year Wes Craven used the track “Demon Bell( The Ballad of Horace Pinker)” on the soundtrack of his movie “Shocker”. Over the next five and a half years the band would release 3 more albums “Hellacious Acres” in 1991 ; “Pissed” in 1994 ( which had a much darker sinister tone ) and “The R*tist 4*merly Known as Dangerous Toys” in 1995. It would be another 4 years before they would release another. In 1999 they released the live album Vitamins and Crash Helmets Tour – Live Greatest Hits (Deadline/Cleopatra). The band is still active as of today with the line up consisting of original members, with the addition of Paul Lidel (rhythm guitar) who replaced Kevin Fowler in 1994.
You guys just recently hooked up with EMP Label Group to reissue “Pissed” and “The R*tist formerly known as Dangerous Toys” on vinyl LP and CD/ that said can we as fans expect some new material in the near future ?
IT’S NOT ON OUR PLATE, BUT, WE HAVE LEARNED TO NEVER SAY NEVER, SINCE WE ARE STILL MILKING THE SHIT OUT OF THE OLD STUFF. FANS WON’T LET THAT STUFF DIE, AND THERE ARE NOT ANY COMPLAINTS.
If you had to choose between the first 4 albums which one would you say you enjoyed creating the most and if different which one do you feel is your overall favorite?
ALWAYS A HAPPY ARGUMENT WITH ANYONE WHO CARES. THE” R-TIST” RECORD WAS A TRUE FREEDOM RECORD, MUCH LIKE THE DEBUT. JUST WRITE AND RELEASE WHAT COMES OUT WITH MINOR TWEAKS HERE AND THERE AS YOU WORK THE SONG IN THE STUDIO. MAKING SOMETHING DIFFERENT, MAYBE EVEN LETTING TRENDS FIND THERE WAY INTO WHAT YOU DO, WAS INTERESTING TO ME. CHALLENGING FOR FANS, AS THE “R-TIST” IS NOT THE POPULAR CHOICE.
Jason is often called the hardest working frontman in rock n roll with several band projects going on “Broken Teeth”, “Evil United”,” Ignitor” and several other projects . Are any of you also working on other projects outside of DTs and will any of these be collaborated with EMP Label Group?
ALL OF ABOVE ACTS WILL BE RELEASING MATERIAL ON EMP, AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. I THINK EMP IS NOT ONLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, IT’S KIND OF LIKE A COLLECTIVE, A COMPOUND OF RELEVANCE TO HARD ROCK AND METAL.,NEW AND SEASONED ARTISTS ALIKE.
This one is for Jason … In 1998 you were inducted into the Texas Music Hall Of Fame a huge honor in itself . Then in the summer of 2011 you received a star on the South Texas Music Walk of Fame in Corpus Christi . How cool was that and to be the only rep for the Metal Industry to boot?
AN HONOR FOR SURE, TO BE VOTED IN BY TRUE FANS AND BELIEVERS LEAVES YOU SPEECHLESS. IT’S NOT ANYTHING YOU CAN BUY. NO VOTER FRAUD HERE. I FEEL BLESSED IN EVERY WAY TO BE RESPECTED BY THE MUSIC COMMUNITY IN TEXAS FOR THOSE ACCOLADES.
We lost a legend a little over a year ago in Lemmy Kilmister. I know he gave you guys some encouragement in the early days ; any good memories or stories of him that stand out from those days you could share with us ?
HEY, TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT “LEMMY LET US IN”,IS ENOUGH. HE SUBMITTED LYRICS TO A DT SONG, HE VISITED US IN OUR DRESSING ROOM ON TOUR, HE INVITED US ALONG TO HANG OUT ON DAYS OFF,AND WAS ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET. HE WOULD LAY OUT TO TAN WEARING RED SPEEDOS,FLIP FLOPS AND COP SHADES WITH A WHISKEY BOTTLE. THAT’S LIKE SOMETHING DAVID LEE ROTH COULD PULL OFF, BUT YOU DON’T THINK THAT LEMMY WOULD, HE OWNED IT, ALL THE TIME, DIDN’T CARE WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT. ADMIRABLE.
In April you will be playing the M3 festival in Maryland ( looking forward to this one) and then a couple dates in the NY area shortly thereafter, Are there more live shows and or festivals in the works for 2017 ?
AUSTIN IN APRIL, HOUSTON IN NOVEMBER. AND THE MONSTERS OF ROCK CRUISE IN FEB. 2018 WITH RAVEN AND LOUDNESS….TAKE NOTE…DT HAS NOT PLAYED THE NY AREA SINCE 1994.
Congratulations on hooking up with Thom Hazeart and David Ellefson and EMP Group, a class A organization by the way. We here at MHF and all your fans worldwide look forward to the next chapter and the things to come from DT.. Any words for your fans both past and future before we close?
THANKS FOR SUPPORTING THE MUSIC,IT HAS HELPED GIVE US A PLACE ON THE ROCK N ROLL LANDSCAPE. BELIEVING ROCK N ROLL WILL NEVER EVER DIE, YOU HAVE PROVEN THIS TIMES OVER. THANK YOU.
John Curtis / MHF
