TAIME DOWNE: 'FASTER PUSSYCAT Is My Band And It's Just The Way It Is'

Tracey L of Glam-Metal.com recently conducted an interview with FASTER PUSSYCAT frontman Taime Downe. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Glam-Metal.com: Is there anything you miss from the early days when everything was at the peak of the game?

Taime Downe: I don't really miss it, 'cause I did it, ya know what I mean? It was a lot of fun, but I still have fun, so it's like, I don't know. Kinda like not really having to worry about stuff, just worrying about showing up at rehearsal and playin' our stuff and a bunch of other people had to take care of all of our crap.(laughs)

Glam-Metal.com: So there was no pressure on you?

Taime Downe: Yeah, we just had to get on a plane, or get on a tour bus and go play shows. Go on tour, go to the rehearsal room and write shit, we didn't have to worry about anything else. That was just basically our job. Now, you know you deal with a lot more stuff and take on a lot more responsibility.

Glam-Metal.com: Like now, with the two FASTER PUSSYCATs that exist.

Taime Downe: Yeah, that's as of January, which is a sneaky move on Brent's part. I'm not gonna sling mud, but we've been re-doing this Faster Pussycat since 2001. The new FASTER PUSSYCAT thing just came up as of January, so we've been dealing with that for the last couple of months. So it's like, that's the deal with that so…

Glam-Metal.com: Given what you hear from fans, what are you looking to give them?

Taime Downe: Give 'em the same stuff I've been givin' 'em! I still wanna play rock 'n' roll. I started FASTER PUSSYCAT. I put the band together. Me and Greg brought Brent in. Eric was put in after we already got our record deal. I know you did an interview Eric. But he was kicked out of the band for reasons I'm not going into in the first place, so when we decided in 2001 to do it again, it was me, Greg, Brent, Danny on bass, from the THROBS (who is still in the band, PUSSYCAT, with me) and Chad on drums, and we went out. Eric was kicked out of the band for a reason. I wasn't gonna bring him back in just because we're reformin' it. I put together the band I thought was the best band. Danny's a way better bass player.

Glam-Metal.com: As far as any royalties from any past FASTER PUSSYCAT stuff, is that divided up equally or how is that split up?

Taime Downe: Well, what's divided is what people wrote. I don't divide that stuff up. That comes from ASCAP or whatever. I wrote most of the songs. Me and Greg did. Brent co-wrote a couple of the songs. Eric, I think, co-wrote one, "Poison Ivy". That's it out of all three albums.

Glam-Metal.com: Going from this point into the future, do you think you guys can co-exist, each doing what your doing without any hassles? Is there any chance for a kiss and make-up?

Taime Downe: I doubt it. He's being sneaky behind everybody's back, so it's like…no. I doubt it.

Glam-Metal.com: What are your immediate plans, say in the next few months with FP?

Taime Downe: Our immediate plans right now are finishing this live record and dealing with attorneys on this, uh, other PUSSYCAT tribute band situation, and then going out at the end of June.

Glam-Metal.com: As far as questions go, I really want to stay away from touchy subjects but…

Taime Downe: I know and I understand too. I don't wanna sling any mud either. I'm not… the situation is… we've been doin' this…I put FASTER PUSSYCAT together in 1986. We decided to do it again in 2001, I've been doin' it ever since. We didn't kick Brent out of the band. We didn't replace him while he was sick. He didn't want to go on the road for some reason, whether, I think, it was real estate school, so we needed to find a replacement to fill in for him. I tried to call Brent three times when he was sick. Me and Danny were gonna actually drive out to see him. I, to this day, have still not gotten one phone call from him. So, when it comes to that… that's the truth. He was never kicked out because he got sick and whatever, that's just…

Glam-Metal.com: And he's played with other bands over the years too?

Taime Downe: Oh yeah, and that's the whole point! He wasn't replaced, he went and put together his own version of PUSSYCAT while we're in the middle of doin' it still. When we've not stopped since 2001. So, it's…UGH! Right now we're dealing with attorneys. 100% Brent owns the name. He trademarked the name, but he trademarked it under false pretenses and that's what we're dealing with in court, and he's gonna have fun with that. But, ya know, I don't hate Brent. I just think he's sneaky, and like [he] did it behind me and Greg's back. I talk to Greg like once a week. Greg works a regular job, editing, and makes decent money. Sometimes he would go out and be on the road with us and stuff too, but sometimes he can make more money doin' what's he's doin'.

Glam-Metal.com: I was gonna ask you what he's been up to.

Taime Downe: Yeah, he's workin' a job… payin' the bills. I do clubs and other stuff to, to pay the rent and all that stuff so, it's hard to take someone away for a few month tour when they got a job that makes ‘em money all year long.

Glam-Metal.com: Yeah, as you get older you get more responsibilities, etc.

Taime Downe: Not me!

Glam-Metal.com: Well, except for you, haha.

Taime Downe: (laughter) I've just been doin' this! That's the whole point too! Same with Brent, he just wants to go out and do it for the tour and then go back to his life and whatever, while I'm still doin' this stuff, this is what I do everyday. I have not gone on slinging any mud, and I don't intend to. I'm just stating the facts, the way it is. FASTER PUSSYCAT is my fuckin' band and it's just the way it is.

Read the entire interview at Glam-Metal.com.