KRIS NEEDS INTERVIEWS DESTROY ALL MONSTERS FOR ZIG ZAG #83, 1978

Even if the band isn't out to conquer or vanquish all the monsters in the music world, it's going to destroy them in it's own way - with style. And once the monsters are gone, music will be liberated, right?

Already Destroy All Monsters has invaded New York, Minneapolis, Toronto, Chicago, Cleveland and Colombus, growing and claiming territory with abandon. DAM's origins in Ann Arbor, Michigan (renowned for the quality of it's university and it's dope), have strengthened and hardened their rock and roll by their proximity to Detroit.

Ron Asheton is the musical leader of the group, providing much of the power drive and direction.
Niagara, the leather temptress, offers a unique stage presence and voice, while Rob King whips
the skins and Michael Davis hammers on bass.

The name, "Destroy All Monsters," comes from a cheap Japanese Godzilla flick, but it has taken on appropriate meaning to the band, as Niagara says, 'its got affection."

Asheton kicks them out quite amply, more refined than in his Stooges days, but with the same feeling and crunch. His uniforms and trinkets, if not complementing his image or self-image, certainly make his appearance striking onstage and off. The clothes seem suited to his stage manner and action - brisk and domineering.

"I like the flashy uniforms and costume, but I started dressing like this when I was eight years old. I'm not out for punk shock or to promote anything," say Asheton.

Niagara, who says her only serious vice is Tab, got her name in honor of Niagara Falls as a child, when she used to cry until she got what she wanted. Now she uses rock and roll. Niagara's very thin, skin pure white from an aversion to sunlight, her long dark hair held tossled by barrettes; she dresses and expresses a slightly ravaged appeal. When performing lead vocals she can look tortured, weak with libido, or lost in space.

Niagra says she especially likes theopportunity to ad lib and play off what the
crowd or band is into at the moment: "Nothing's planned. I'm always curious what will happen, or what people will say." Her cat calls and throat scratchings usually arouse some inner emotion in most men, and her voice even becomes melodic during 'November 22", a song about President Kennedy's assassination, when she cringes and wails demonstratively, "Jackie! Hold onto his brains!"

Mike Davis, in the seven years since the MC5 broke up, did a short stint at Lexington in Kentucky for possession, had some of his paintings tour the country in a prison art exhibition, and went through a lot of "psychic experimentation that hopefully is all adding to this", 'Davis is getting more vocal on stage than has ever been — powerfully belting out lyrics with a definite purpose and style.

Rob King's excellent song, "Goin' to Lou's, "gives him room to showcase his talents as a musician and hard rock and roll screamer, as well as a lyricist, with one of the choruses to shout along to in a long time: "Motherfucker! It's out of your pay!" (in reference to something one of his former bosses, Lance Long - the Crown Prince of rock and roll, used to say). King is superlight and superfast, and he keeps the band on time through all the changes and beats.

Destroy All Monsters has an independently realeased single that has sold 7,000 copies in the States since February 9th 1978. The chunking opening chords of "Bored" lead into Asheton's famous single note guitar lead, Niagara rasps and gurgles, then all the sounds come together in a pounding rhythm. The other side, "You're Gonna Die," has Niagara holding the same half-singing half-talking voice but with more feeling than on "Bored". Both tunes are simple, different, and attention grabbing.

Recorded on October 30th 1977, the 45 has become a bit dated as the band evolved, but Cherry Red Records has released it on red vinyl in Europe with a new jacket design by Niagara - since February 1978 it's sold another 5,000 copies.

Asheton and Niagara co-authored both songs, and "Die" also shares credit with Gary Loren, a founding member of the group that's gone the way of many an art student.

Loren maintains little sensibility and a fair sized grudge - he bootlegged some poor quality tapes, added his own overdubs, and released an EP under the Monsters name. He claims only a thousand were pressed and that he won't do it again.

A second single is due in June featuring a number by Davis, "Meet the Creeper," a dancer with booming rhythm, backed by "November 22." These were recorded in early September of 78 when fraternal twins Ben and Larry Miller were still in the band, playing sax and guitar respectively.

DAM also went into the studio in December last year, taping "Going to Lou's" and "Jesus Is A Shotgun" — these songs should reflect the group's present sound more accurately and are anxiously awaited.

In June or July they will do a week's tour of England , primarily   London. For live shows (they've played with the Ramones, Pere Ubu, DEVO, and the Stranglers) Destroy All Monsters often has several screens set up with light shows, old newsreels and odd bits and pieces of film flashing on them. They all have stage charisma that fits together; Asheton giving signals, Niagara laying/roaming around the stage as others sing their songs - everyone adds a personal touch.

They sincerely get into what they're doing, and the most satisfying part of it all for them is performing live. Asheton thinks gigs are the most worthwhile part of being in a band: "Getting in front of people and expressing myself. Off stage I'm kind of shy, and when I'm playing I do things I didn't know I could. The money aspect is just to survive. The spontaneity is great - the lines that come out."

Destroit is a world renowned mecca for musical direction, and musicians will be the first to tell you that. Destroy All Monsters want to live right where they are. Asheton and Davis, who have both toured
extensively before, have strong feelings on the subject. Asheton says "This is a great place to live. I don't have to put up with all the New York bullshit and crime, I can stay here and be national -
the airport is close and east of the Mississippi is where the money is anyway."

Davis quickly points out "there's an abundance of musical talent and inspiration generated here, Don't forget Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Savage Grace, The Frost, Ted Nugent. This area started punk."
Destroy All Monsters plays over-charged hard rock foremost, but they definitely have over-tones of "new wave" in some of their song topics, the bands they appear with, and their audience.

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