Tune In, Turn On
Through the years I’ve written many articles about bands from around the country that have performed at our Jersey Shore, when I worked for The Whoot! Newspaper in the 1980s, and currently with Shore Local Newsmagazine.
Few bands have impacted me the way The Dead Milkmen have. There’s just something about this frenetic foursome that caught my ear and won my heart that continues to this day.
The Philadelphia-based group, who have been going strong since forming in 1983, are coming to Atlantic City to perform this Saturday, July 12, with opening act the highly-regarded local rock band, Reckless Randy.
If you’re doing the math, that adds up to 42 years together as a band – no easy feat in today’s music business environment. The current lineup includes Rodney Anonymous, vocals/keyboard; Joe Jack Talcum, guitar; Dean Clean, drums and Dan Stevens, bass. Stevens, aka Dandrew, replaced bassist Dave Blood, who, sadly, took his own life in 2004. All but Stevens are original members.
Tune In Turn On recently had a chance to interview Dead Milkmen drummer Dean Clean. Here’s how it went.
DD: How have The Dead Milkmen been able to stay together and continue not only recording, but performing, after all these years? And for the record, how many years has the group officially been together?
DC: We fully formed in 1983 after I joined the band as drummer, but Joe and Dave and Rodney had been writing songs and making cassettes before that. After an initial run from 1983 to 1994, we took a break. We played two memorial shows in 2004 after the death of Dave Blood at the Trocadero in Philadelphia with Dandrew filling in on bass. In 2008 we were invited to play a festival in Austin, Texas. After that we decided to try to make music together again. It was important that we made new music and didn’t want to just tour on all the old songs. We’ve been at it ever since.
DD: Do you remember playing Red’s in Margate back in the 1980s for a show put on by the Diaz Brothers? (Editor’s Note: Doug was one of the Diaz Brothers).
DC: I remember Red’s, but not that show specifically. We shared a rehearsal space with Homo Picnic, so I’m not surprised to see they were on the bill.
DD: My personal favorite Dead Milkmen song (and I truly dig a lot of them) is “Punk Rock Girl,” with its Zipperhead and Philly Pizza Company references, both places long gone. What’s the band’s favorite song(s) to play live?
DC: We all have favorites that change from time to time. Currently I like some of the new songs like “Grandpa’s Not A Racist (He Just Voted For One).” An older song we still play almost every show that I enjoy is “Nutrition.”
DD: Talk a little bit about your 2023 album, “Quaker City Diet Pills.” How long was that in the planning stages?
DC: We had originally planned to release an album in 2020 or 2021, but as we began writing songs and rehearsing, COVID struck and we had to work via online. It took us longer than we wanted but we’re pleased with the results.
DD: Who are some of the bands The Dead Milkmen came up with in the vibrant Philly punk/indie scene, and where are they now?
DC: I think maybe Decontrol and F.O.D. are the only two bands still active since the ’80s when we were getting started. We’ve played shows with both of them in the last few years.
DD: The Dead Milkmen bio says the group reunited in 2008. Do you feel like you ever really broke up, or was it just more of an extended hiatus?
DC: I like to think it was a hiatus and not a breakup. We remained friends and worked on other musical projects during that time.
DD: How many more years do you think The Dead Milkmen can/will stay together and play out live?
DC: Anyone’s guess! We still enjoy writing new songs and recording and playing shows. Hopefully everyone’s health remains okay so that we can still do this into our seventies…and beyond.
Tickets/info: anchorrockclub.com.
Tune Ups
Love the blues? Up for some good barbecue? Head to North Wildwood this weekend for the Anglesea Blues Festival, July 11-13. The Michael Allman Band (firstborn son of Allman Brothers Band great, Gregg Allman) and NJ faves the Billy Walton Band are among the acts scheduled to perform.
See www.angleseablues.com for more info.
If bluegrass is your thing, Albert Music Hall in Waretown presents “For The Love of Bluesgrass” Saturday, July 12. Tickets/info: alberthall.org.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com
