Touchy interviews with musicians
- Billy Bob Thorton was touring with The Boxmasters and became elusive on a CBC radio interview where he refused to answer questions about his acting, when the band was formed, who his musical influences were, and acted offended when he thought the host inferred that his musical career was a hobby.
- John Lennon was quoted in the London Evening-Standard as saying that rock and roll was more popular than Jesus, and it may outlast Christianity. This led to massive protests and record-burnings in the Bible Belt, and Mark David Chapman occasionally referred to this quote as one of the reasons he would later kill Lennon.
- The Sex Pistols arrived on the set of The Bill Grundy Show completely intoxicated. Neither the host nor the viewing public knew what punk rock was and Grundy, seemingly disgusted by the whole thing, dared the lads to say something outrageous. Which they did, in spades. It was the beginning of the end of Grundy’s career.
- The Who, appearing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, were interviewed by Tommy Smothers ahead of their performance of “My Generation.” The lads openly mocked Tommy, especially Keith (who blew a raspberry at him), which pissed off Tommy. Following their song, as was their custom, the band smashed their instruments. Keith’s bass drum exploded, causing Pete to suffer permanent hearing loss in his right ear. A bewildered Tommy Smothers appeared on stage with a guitar, and Pete smashed that as well.
- During a Ramones interview with Howard Stern, Joey and Marky Ramone argued with each other over a tour in South America (Joey needed treatment for lymphoma but didn’t tell anyone), who said what about who on the Internet, health issues and other personal beefs. Stern egged them on but also tried to get them to apologize and make up. Both Joey and Marky agreed that they should apologize to each other but then argued over who should go first.
- “Wouldn’t it be funny if under this he was just a nice Jewish boy?” Comedian Totie Fields, co-hosting The Mike Douglas Show, inadvertently nearly outs KISS’s Gene Simmons on live television in 1974. Simmons stayed in character, as The Demon, during almost the entire interview until Fields broke him with the observation above. Taking a moment out of character save the makeup and clothes, Simmons replied after a squirm in his chair “You should only know”. Fields then sunk the comedic dagger: “I do! You can’t hide the hook!” “The Demon” tried to laugh it off, but then Douglas offered his a quick lifeline so that he could stay in character.