Franklin Drakes: Where do you get your ideas?

Monkeyman: I try to draw my ideas from real life as much as possible, such as things I notice on the street or conversations I overhear.  The movies being cranked out of Hollywood are rubbish and have very little to do with real life.  Growing up in Elvers was my real inspiration, but the different things I have experienced while travelling, going to school, and working in various places taught me more than just going to school and experiencing life through books.  My friends and I did some pretty stupid things that we shouldn't have lived to talk about, but we did.  Yeee-Hawwwww!!!!!!!!!!!! 

FD:  When you were growing up in Elvers, what inspired you as a youngster that set your path to what it is now? 

MM:  When I was real little, say around five, I heard the Doors' "Light My Fire" on the old A.M. clock radio beside my bed and saw Elvis movies on TV.  Also I liked Herman Munster and the Monkees.  My dad took me to see Sha Na Na when I was eight and that was a hit.  Because of the exposure to Elvis and Sha Na Na, I liked to slick my hair back with whatever and put a towel around my neck wth a safety pin and sing "Hound Dog".

FD: So music inspired, what are your favorite bands and performers from then and now?

MM:  Obviously, there are so many for so many different reasons.  I have always felt that the Beatles won the prize for most revolutionary, because they threw everything way off from was happening at the time.  As the Beatles evolved into men and were influenced by other amazing songwriters and artists, they too became more influential.  There are the Stones, the Doors, the Grateful Dead, the Byrds, Bob Dylan and you have Miles Davis and Charlie Parker and then you move on to Muddy Waters, B.B. King and some of the blues greats.  Don't forget Ravi Shankar.  The sitar is far out, my little buddy. 

FD:  Who have you seen through the years and who stood out as being great and no so great?

MM:  Great people can put on a mediocre show if they're not feeling it or just are too wasted mentally or physically do the show.  I saw the Eagles in the mid-seventies and was too young to remember much; just long haired people smoking cigarettes that smelled like something different.  Then there was Sha Na Na.  I will have to say I was blown away.  Did I mention blown away? WOW!!  What can I say?  My dad took me to John Denver a few times, Neil Diamond twice, I saw James Taylor.  Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, the Cult, Metallica, the Cramps, Yellowman, Beanieman, Steel Pulse, Eek-a-Mouse, Merle Haggard, Hot Tuna, Grateful Dead (over 50 shows), Bob Dylan, Phil and Friends, the Police, Flaming Lips, Les Claypool, Primus, Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, Mazzy Star, Phish, Brazilian Girls, Government Mule, Beck, Medeski, Martin, and Wood, Bela Fleck, Allman Brothers, Bob Weir and Ratdog, Oysterhead, Tom Petty, Radiohead.  I even met Bob Weir and had breakfest with Tool and the Roots, last year.  I fell asleep during Bob Dylan a while back.

FD:  That is some experience.  Any crazier than others?

MM:  The Grateful Dead shows always had the potential for interesting happenings as did the festivals like Bonnaroo and the raves in England and Scotland in the late eighties.  Experience was what it was all about.  Sometimes it was like a big party and the band got people going and other times it was all about the music and rest fell into place.  For some reason, I would get lost at shows and the path back to reality took some serious effort.  We are growing up now, but barely.

FD: Best 10 shows?

MM: Oysterhead at Bonnaroo 2006.  Sha Na Na-1979, Medeski, Martin, & Wood-Bonnaroo 2006, Grateful Dead-Alpine Valley/1988?, Grateful Dead-Raleigh/1990?, Dread Zeppelin-?, Flaming Lips-Bonnaroo 2007, John Denver-1978(I'm serious. He put on a kick ass, foot stomping show), Hot Tuna(met Jorma and Jack....signed my album) Steel Pulse-1983/London 

FD: Worst 5?

MM: Bob Dylan(He was higher than most of the crowd....bad night for an amazing guy), Radiohead- a sleeper, The Alarm(80's crap), The Other Ones (Shortly after Jerry G. passed and 1st time seeing the Dead without him. Bummed at the show), The Police- Bonnaroo 2007(Uggggh, left after two songs)     

FD: Is there anything else you would like to share with us today?

MM: Man.... I will tell you something that we should listen to for a minute.  Just listen.  What do you hear?  Nothing, except for that silly song in the background.  That's all I have to say.  Life is good and I love where I am in this world.  I really hope the world can patch it's problems soon.  Listen to good music, your heart, and say something nice to a stranger.

FD:  Thank You, peace, and take care.