Detroit’s own Stray Cats, the Twistin’ Tarantulas are a manic combination of dirty Motor City rock ‘n’ roll and classic rockabilly covers. Formed in 1993, the trio soon developed a rabid local fan base under the guidance of front-man and sole survivor from the original line-up Pistol Pete.
On Friday, August 29, they play the Dodge Americana Stage at Chrysler’s Arts, Beats & Eats festival in downtown Pontiac. Their 10 p.m. headline slot promises to be a wild and raucous affair, and one that’s not to be missed. MMX spoke to Pistol Pete about the event, as well as exactly where these rocking arachnids crawled out of…
How and when did the Twistin’ Tarantulas form?
We formed in the spring of 1993. The original name of the band was Tilt-A-Whirl, named after the carnival ride. I found out within a couple of months that there was a trademark block on that name so I had to change the name and Twistin’ Tarantulas sounded good to me. The Tarantulas was already taken by a surf band from California. It’s a really good name to design artwork around because you have that big spider for a centrepiece.
I’m by far the only original member. The original line-up lasted for four years but when you’re travelling around, cooped up in a van together, you have to get along really good or else things are going to go south really quickly, which they did. I went through a string of drummers in an almost Spinal Tap fashion. Line-up changes started to become normal for us.
Describe the music you make…
The difficulty with that is, and I’m not saying that this band is a failure but let’s say that we haven’t set the world on fire either; the very thing that people like about us is one of the things that’s made it difficult for me to get signed to a label and have any kind of success, and that is the diversity.
We go from late ‘40s swinging blues to ‘50s R&B, like Little Richard, Bo Diddley and stuff like that. There’s a hard, swinging element to the band, like Bill Haley & The Comets. But there’s a punk edge, because I cut my teeth playing punk rock. I describe us as; imagine if Motorhead was a rockabilly band.
Would you describe yourselves as a cover band?
No. This is the unique thing about us; we’re a bar band. We’re a working band that plays three sets a night everywhere we go. We play all night, but on any given night at least half of what we’re doing is our own material. If we play more than half cover songs, people complain. We’re the only bar band I know of that plays half original material and gets away with it. I have three CDs out and on any given night I’ll play at least 15 or 20 of the 45 songs I have written.
Are you looking forward to Chrysler's Arts, Beats & Eats? Do you have anything special planned?
We always look forward to this. I think its Michigan’s number one festival. We’ve played it every year since it started, 11 or 12 years ago. We’ve become an annual favorite. We get there and the stage crew say, “It’s not Arts, Beats & Eats until the Tarantulas get here.” We’re the foundation. Like, ok, now the party’s started.
I haven’t thought much about what we’re going to do at the festival, because I’ve been busy getting married for the last couple of weeks. We’re playing in a tent so there’ll be no pyrotechnics. I can tell you this – whether we’re playing at a festival or at a bar in front of two people, I’ll give it my all. No matter how mad I am, I’ll never take it out on the music.
Is this a healthy time for rock ‘n’ roll in Detroit?
I’m not qualified to answer that because I’m not connected to the scene. I’m not a kid – I’m 48 years old. I have my own course that I’ve had mapped out for a long time now. Competing with other bands isn’t an issue for me. I’ve carved out my own niche. We do practice at a space that a lot of other bands practice at, and I hear a lot of interesting things going on.
I don’t know who they are though, unless they come out for a break at the same time we do. I think the garage scene has seen better days, but I’m not too broken up about that. That seemed to be the only thing that would get press around here for a long time. I come from a different time when being shitty couldn’t be your hook.
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
I plan on playing every weekend, trying to pay for my wedding and honeymoon. I’d like to get a record done but realistically I don’t know if that’s going to happen. I have a lot of songs written though, and a couple of beauties. I guess you never know with music.
