RSS
Swalla’d whole
Swalla (third from left) and The Necros pose in this final band photo from 1987. TCP contributor Andy Wendler stands second from left.
Putting the rumors to rest and confirming the legends, Todd Swalla sets the record straight
published December 6th 2006
Drummer Todd Swalla is most recently notorious for his beat contributions to space-pop band Muschi and the enigmatic Boogaloosa Prayer, a collaboration with Dooley Wilson and Jimmy Danger. Sans Danger, the band played yet another stellar, though last-minute, set at Mickey Finn’s on Nov. 22 (and woe to those who missed out). However, Swalla, a longtime Toledo resident who recently relocated to the San Francisco area, has a rich past as one of underground music’s most notorious drummers. Swalla speaks about his tenure with Maumee punk legends The Necros and his role in America’s underground music scene.
Were you on the short list for Nirvana drummers?
So I had heard.
What were the names?
Obviously, Dave Grohl. I heard Chuck Biscuits was to be snatched from Danzig, but that didn’t happen. Rat Scabies (The Damned), Bill Stevenson, Reed from C.O.C., myself. Kurt wanted someone from a classic hardcore/punk background.
What happened to the Necros?
We had a pretty good run, despite some bad luck. Everyone wanted to do their own thing after a while. It’s natural for a first band to end that way. When we broke up in ‘87 it was a totally mutual thing. It was time.
Did Corey (Rusk, Necros’ bassist) own Touch & Go? How did that come about?
Tesco started the label, Corey ended up taking it over. The name was from Tesco's fanzine.
How did you move on after him? With whom?
We didn’t have a label for a few years and continued to tour off of Conquest. We finally put out a single on Gasatanka, owned by Bill Bartell from White Flag. After that, Restless picked us up until we broke up. The two Restless albums just got reissued on Ryko Disc. The Touch & Go stuff remains only available at collector prices and online.
You guys ruled Detroit! What was the secret to your success?
All the best Detroit bands are really from Maumee; everyone knows this. Make no mistake though, Detroit kids hated us after we "went metal" and grew our hair long. They didn’t get it, the fact that punk rock was about having no rules, not being a member of the flock.
Necros toured with the Misfits and other tours? What? Where?
We played with them at Bookies in Detroit in ‘81 and developed a friendship. We became their little brother band for a while. They invited us to play in NYC for their Halloween show and then to do a tour of the U.S. We were to go to Europe as well, but Jerry (Only) got side swiped by a Pepsi truck crusing in his Vette.
You were The Misfits last drummer at the last gig ever for them at the Greystone. True or False?
True. At.the last Misfits show with Danzig in Detroit (Halloween 1983), their new drummer, Brian Damage, got way too drunk and screwed up the first song. Doyle grabbed him and threw him out in the alley behind the Greystone. Jerry yelled for me to finish the set. The Necros opened and my drum kit was being used anyway. I had already sat in for a NYC show a few years earlier, before Robo was in the band, so I knew of the set except the “Earth A.D.” material. They broke up following the gig after some talk of continuing with me on drums, but the damage had been done. Danzig quit his own band.
This past year, you sat in with the Misfits at their last show in Toledo. How did that come about?
Andy Wendler was set to interview Jerry for the City Paper and he called me to get Jerry's phone number. I told him to tell Jerry I’d cruise down to soundcheck and say ‘Hi!’ I sat in for a song at a Toledo show in 1995 as well, "Night of the Livng Dead." Its tradition. This last time, I got to do "London Dungeon.”
It’s rumored that Dave Grohl sent you fan mail when he was 14? Is that embarrassing for him?
The Necros got a fan letter from him in ‘83 or something. I still have it. I tried to sell it on the Foo Fighter's Website, but their Webmaster pulled my post. He said Dave wanted to buy it. I named my price and they tried to offer me Foo Fighter's tickets. I'm like "Dave is a big rock star, right? Can't he cough up a little cash?" I wanted to buy a used Vespa for like $1200. They got all uptight because it had his Mom's address on it and she still lives there. They felt people were going to harrass his mom. I was like "He must be a big rock star if people are going to harrass his family. Surely he can afford $1200?" The only thing big is Dave's ego.
Why did you leave T-town?
My better half got relocated. Where she goes, I will follow.
What's your impression of the art/music scene and the people in it that are still here?
The Toledo art/music scene is really happening right now. There are some great bands and good venues. Great artists. Always something going on. I miss it already.
Trends you saw over the years?
Street skating, heroin, rave-music, shoegaze, feathered hair, cocaine, ecstacy, punk rock ... the list goes on.
Kids today act like it was handed to them or the scene just materialized. What do you think, being a paver?
It seems pretty easy today to get a gig. Even if you totally suck you can probably coax a promoter into an opening slot. Of course, now we have kids doing promoting as well, which is a good thing. When we started you had to deal with clubs being run by adults who were not into punk rock at all. It was hard to get shows.
Internet links:
www.necros.net
www.myspace.com/toddswalla
www.myspace.com/boogaloosaprayer
www.myspace.com/muschimuschi
