NICK CLEMENTE
1. Dear Nick let us know about you, we want a short bio of you and your activities til today ..
I played bass in Sinnocence and Mystery Bloom up until 1997. I started an entertainment company called Commodity Oddity and I assembled and managed the worlds first little person rock and roll band The Little Kingz. The Little Kingz are in the Ben Stiller movie Zoolander. I released a book, “How Not To Make It In The Music Business” and a book of Poetry called “Leaving Notes” in 2004. I wrote a soon to be released song called “Elephant Man” with Bob Gilmartin from New Machine and late KISS drummer Eric Carr. I co-manage the New York City band The Kin who I feel are the U2 of the 2000s and I am currently assembling the next big thing called CRAZE. All my news past and present is kept on my website Quigs Musical Sideshow www.quigsmss.com
2. The main reason of my interview is your book How not to make it in the music business, why such a strange title?
It was a kind of a joke between the band and I. I used to say “Someday I’m going to write a book called, “How Not To Make It In The Music Business” every time something went wrong. I also was in a book store one day and I realized that there was an entire row of How To books in the music section. I thought it would be fun to go the opposite of that.
3. Now let us know how did you decide to write this book, “What made you do it” (as policemen ask the criminals! ) ?
Well, It was 1997 and Mystery Bloom had hit a wall. We were working with Skid Row drummer Rob and producer Eddie Kramer. However, it was just the beginning of the end for Mystery Bloom. After I left the band I laid low for a year. Writing this book was like therapy for me.
4. You’ve been a live proof of the hair metal days and the backstage events, so I want hot and unreleased details about the famous persons of those days.
Well, I’m not a kiss and tell type of guy. I will say, we had a very good time and most of the people I met were very cool. I always stop by the 80s shows to say hi when the bands I used to know come to town. It’s funny because some of the guys are still just the same and some have changed a lot. Some good and some bad.
5. Do you consider this period of sex drugs & rock n roll as influential?
I grew up on 1970s music. I feel that music is still more influential today then the 1980s music. I’m proud to say that bands I worked with kept the drug thing out of our camp for the most part. That left more time for Sex and Rock and Roll. I have a weekly radio show on High Octane Radio www.highoctaneradio.com called “Old Rules New School” where I play 1970s bands like Thin Lizzy, Sweet, KISS, Starz, The Baby’s, The New York Dolls and new bands that have that 1970s style like The Darkness, Jet and Silvertide. Check it out sometime. The shows start airing in February.
6. Which was the backstage role of the multinational Labels those days?
Like most rock and roll events everyone partied. You didn’t have to be in the band to have a good time.
7. Did you have any threats, tsunamis, atomic bombs or just complaints from persons that are featured in your book?
Most people thought it was really a fun read. Frank Duca, the singer of Sinnocence, thought I portrayed him too dark. Frank was a dark person. He’ll even admit to that. The one thing he felt I didn’t lean on enough was the talent of the band members. The guys I played with were all really good players, singers and writers. For the record Frank was a very good drummer who was kind of forced to take on the lead singer role due to lack of singers in our area. I think Frank took on a lot and for the most part did a great job. Frank is a hell of a song writer as well.
8. What about the role of the groupies, a few years ago as I remember an ex member of Ratt paid with his life (AIDS ) due to his choice for extreme sex life? Do groupies have a role in this situation?
You have to be responsible and I guess I can say lucky as well. I think it is safe to say none of us followed the rules all the time.
9. Are we going to have a second book with more details about the backstage events of the hair metal days?
Not at the moment. I think my next book is going to be about my days managing the worlds first little person rock and roll band The Little Kingz. It is going to be called “Altered Pants.” The Little Kingz played a ton of major events with all of today’s top bands and they were on a bunch of major TV and Radio shows. There are some amazing stories about these guys.
10. How can we order your book and find more details about you?
You can order “How Not To Make It In The Music Business” at my website Quigs Musical Sideshow at www.quigsmss.com I am hand signing and numbering everyone. There is a section on my website dedicated just to “How Not To Make It In The Music Business.” I also want to take this time to thank Joe Lynn Turner for doing the Forward for me. He’s a great guy.
