Re: Eat 'Em and Smile ~~~ David Lee Roth
Ok, Cosmic Harmony... here's the first five minutes of the interview. Make of it what you will.
Tawn Mastrey (the leather nun): It's one o'clock and let's begin the David Lee Roth interview. I'd like to say a special thanks to Gary Mitchell who, here at the station, helped me to engineer the actual interview, and Paul Childs, David Lee Roth's publicist, who arranged the interview up at their office in Hollywood. So right now on KNAC I'd like to start off... David's album cover, since you haven't seen it yet, the album cover is *wild*. V-e-r-y wild. It's called Eat Em And Smile, and he looks like a... kind of a... cannibal kinda character, with paint on his face, and it's, it's just great, very colorful. Starting it off, David... what is the meaning behind the title Eat Em And Smile?
David Lee Roth: The 'eat em and smile' thing, it's like, it could mean five different things - and all of them are banned by the PMRC, ya know? [laughs] - so it's like it's a statement, ya know? It's making five different statements at once, ya know? And the, and, and the whole thing is based a little bit on that sense of humor... 'cause who else would paint himself up like that? And if you see the video, all the characters in the front, ya know - [interrupts himself] oh yeah, we've gone after everybody... we've gone after every kind of group that you can possibly imagine - but who's got the most paint on his mug? Who has the most... who has the most feathers in his... [laughs]
TM: [laughing] so it was intentional...
DLR: We'll point the finger first in the mirror, but then everybody else gonna fall in line.
TM: Ya know, that video - speaking of that, sweetheart - that is, uh, not only very wild, but... I think, you must have done some kind of research... to, uh, get the moves down in those dance steps - I mean you've always been very active, David.
DLR: Well, it's, it's not so much as learning the new moves, it's just that we're finally getting the good ones into the video! [laughs] Well, it's supposed to look like it sounds, you know? And the best thing I could serve up to you for your $8.50 is get you to feel just like I feel when that music's goin' on, ya know?
TM: It's effective, David, it... [laughs]
DLR: [laughing] But, but ya know, it, it illustrates the point. We don't know who's watchin', ya know? [laughs] I'll simplify. I'm a big-boy to simplify. [laughs]
TM: And you directed... and wrote... or co-directed...
DLR: Well, let's not get too up-town about this alright? [laughs] It's mostly just mediating, [laughing] and what it is...
TM: [laughing] Mediating?
DLR: [laughing] *you* shoot this, and *you* record that, and then *I'll* do this, and just hope everything turns out right - just trying to mediate in the editing room.
TM: It works. Boy, it works beautifully. I can't tell ya... I mean Yankee Rose... the song alone is so damn strong, and then the video just *punches* it home!
DLR: And, and, the thing is... I seen some people bein' patriotic, so what I served is a little bit of sexy patriotism, and I visualized it like I see a gal walk by the corner candy store and I'm out front being lascivious as usual... "hey baby... need a hot dog to go with that shake?" [laughs] Well you can't put that on the radio so I have to come up with a little more articulate lyric.
Yankee Rose plays...
Guitar: David?
DLR: What?!
Guitar: Wawazat? (or *who's* that?)
DLR: Well, let me roll up to the sidewalk and take a look, here. Whoa!
Guitar: Whoa!
DLR: She's beautiful!
Guitar: Cat-call whistle
DLR: I'm talkin' about a yankee rose...
Guitar: laughing
DLR: laughing... and she looks wild...
Guitar: Wild
DLR: Wild...
Guitar: Wild
DLR: Wild...
Guitar: Wild
DLR: WIIIIIIIII
Song fades out
DLR: It goes, "Are you ready for the new sensation? Well, here's the shot heard 'round the world, all you back-room boys salute when her flag unfurls. She's a vision from coast to coast, sea to shining sea. Hey, sister, you're the perfect host, so here's a toast to your bright lights, and your city lights. I love ya... yankee rose!"
DLR: So if you listen closely, you can't tell if I'm talking about a real gal, the statue of liberty... or ME! [laughs] What is that... metaphore? I dunno... personification? I'm not a big-boy for grammar. [laughs]
TM: Perfect. I know it's about all of us American women, you know what I mean?
DLR: It is. It's supposed to be, it's supposed to be. You *are* a Yankee Rose, Tawn.
TM: Hallelujah. Thank God for that! [laughs]
Yankee Rose fades back in, and the interview continues...
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RIP, Tawn. You rocked!