Rustee Casanova 1965-2009

[GAR]

Rustee Casanova 1965-2009

http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/images/stories/1_RIP_MY_FRIENDS/255317912_l.jpg
Details are not clear, but the word is spreading that another brother has left us.
Not everyone will know him, unless you lived in Hollywood. But Rustee Casanova, much like Tracii Michaelz did - made an impression on everyone he met. Rustee has been around for years and played in a ton of bands, and knew everyone. He was in Decline of Western Civilazation - Part 2 The Metal Years and once worked with Axl Rose at a Tower video.

http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/images/stories/1_RIP_MY_FRIENDS/l_fa31923571c54c8mbfdf17721cdba8c04.jpg

[GAR]

I was up all nite, looking up his myspace and other videos of him on youtube.

What's odd is, my first bass player AND the last bass player I had, knew and admired this guy.

I don't think I "met" the guy but most of the fellow faculty passing out band flyers on the Sunset Strip at the time, knew him.

Also, I went to this funeral for a drummer friend who croaked, and he was there too. But since we're not acquainted, I didn't say nuthin' to him and now they're both deceased.

But one thing Rustee had in common with the drummer, they both looked really bloated like they were suffering from health issues. I heard the drummer was an alcoholic that suffered from a life of drinking, and everytime you'd see Rustee at the Rainbow.. sure enough, drink in hand, made up like Taime Downe of Faster Pussycat just like the pic you see above.

Both died a year apart, basically, and this weekend there was a memorial show for the drummer.

It's got me really thinking about my health and taking my weight problem seriously, I've talked about my 45 belt size going up and down before.. I guess I better get it way way down before I get like that!

[Douglas T.]

I remember him in the DWC video! He was one of the stand out interviews as far as being almost a parody of hair metal! That is one of the greatest rock n' roll documentaries out there!

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[Douglas T.]

Another departed rocker from the DWC video! Chris Holmes! this is the saddest interview I have ever seen. part of the documentary that stick in the ol' memory!
"I'd wish I were a smaller star!" ~ Chris Holmes

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[lesfunk]

When Did holmes die? I thought he was still around!
http://www.myspace.com/chris_meanman_holmes

[lesfunk]

That rustee cassanova looks like he takes it up the crudder

[Douglas T.]

When Did holmes die? I thought he was still around!
MySpace.com - Chris Holmes - 50 - Male - Los Angeles, California - www.myspace.com/chris_meanman_holmes (http://www.myspace.com/chris_meanman_holmes)

Well there's a brainfart!! I thought he died! WTF! Sorry Chris! Hope you got over them issues! 40 lashes for DT! Maybe I was thinking of Robin Crosby!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Holmes_(musician)

<snippit>
Since Chris' return home in late 2003, he has worked with a number of bands producing and laying some guitar work. Currently 2008 has been a good year for keeping the MeanMan onstage while playing gigs with L.A.'s Big Ball Stars and having friend/webmaster Tim Meredyk create the Official Chris Holmes Myspace for Chris while still keeping up with the other Holmes sites. Chris was involved in the Randy Rhoads Documentary directed by Peter M. Margolis and expected to be released in the fall of 2009 on Dakota Films. Last month, March 2009, VH1 Classic had aired the Roc Docs. episode, "Do It For The Band: The Women Of The Sunset Strip" in which Chris was also involved in.

[GAR]

Chris is indestructible, he's got the gene for ethanol or something in his liver.

I have seen Chris Holmes walk past a fresh coat of semigloss on the wall and watched it peel off in sheets from the sheer impact of his breath.

My chick and I talked about this today, she says "no more of that Taco Bell for you" and I'm semi-committed to a new diet but it's hard to change eating habits. Especially when you've gotten to be a fuckin' FATASS like the one who looks back at me in the mirror.

[GAR]

Okay, here's one of his bands' examples: Hollywood 77, a punk covers band.

HOLLYWOOD 77 on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads (http://www.myspace.com/theseventysevens)

They have some Mp3 tunes up about half a dozen. Enjoy! I don't but that doesn't mean someone else won't.

[Sarge]

Another departed rocker from the DWC video! Chris Holmes! this is the saddest interview I have ever seen. part of the documentary that stick in the ol' memory!
"I'd wish I were a smaller star!" ~ Chris Holmes

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I think the video is funny.. not sad. The guy is in the pool, pouring vodka all over himself.

[Douglas T.]

I think the video is funny.. not sad. The guy is in the pool, pouring vodka all over himself.

Just seems a little depressing!

[GAR]

Not depressing - that's just the way Chris is and he still drinks alot at least last I seen him 4 years ago.

[GAR]

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

<!-- Begin .post --> Hate Junkies interview


The Hate Junkies hail from Hollywood and have actually been around for over a decade. I recently got to interview guitarist Rustee Cassanova and bass player Eric Becica and find out more about their band and what they are up to.



MM-Tell us a little about your band and how you formed?
Rustee-Well the Hate junkies Originally Formed in 1996 me and a High School buddy Tristan Davis formed the band out of the ashes of our former bands Shotgun Wedding and SexSick. We were tired of all the Grunge shit out there. We wanted to go back to our Rock n Roll roots. Well we played for a while. Things went great but after a year we parted ways. So I formed the band with several line changes until I hooked up with a friend Marky DeSade from the band Revl'on Red. We got a stable line up and now are ready to make history.
Eric-I have known Captain Anarchy for 10+ years and have been in competing bands. I had always thought this guy is one of the best front man I had ever witnessed! When I saw the ad for the Hate Junkies looking for a bass player I replied (look no further I am your guy). Luckily for me, they took the Captains word that I can do the job.

MM-Who are your influences?
Rustee-I am totally into Johnny Thunders and Stiv Bators.
Eric-My influences as a bass player are King John Entwhistle of THE WHO, John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, Terry Butler of Black Sabbath, Chris Squire of Yes, John Glasscock of Jethro Tull, Bill Wymann of the Stones and Dee Dee Ramone, and I play most like Entwhistle.

MM-What are you currently up to?
Rustee-We are playing tons of shows in So. Cal getting ready to branch off to the rest of the states

MM-Any plans to record soon?
Rustee-We will be finishing up our new CD "We are So Abused" in January to February
Eric-We had just recorded a song called Beauty for a movie called The Beauty of Marilyn's Mole. As soon as we can afford to record again we have 4-6 new songs just about ready to go.

MM-This band has gone through a lot of line-up changes. Why is that and are you fairly stable now?
Rustee-Well I gotta put it like this you have to drive a lot of cars before you buy the right one.

MM-What bands have you opened for?
Rustee-We just opened for the Bullet Boys last week.

MM-So what advice would you give to bands just starting out?
Rustee-Get Management and play shows.
Eric- The best advice I can give to any new band is Do Not let your guitar players ego to get in the way of the whole bands creativity. Write all you can, try new parts until it sounds great, and most of all do not play the same songs for more than 1 year unless they are recorded and your fans want to keep hearing them.

MM-What's the LA club scene currently like? Do you think it has picked in recent years?Rustee-It is alright but not as good as it was in the 80's.
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q23/metalmark1/hj2.jpg (http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q23/metalmark1/?action=view&current=hj2.jpg)

MM-Who do you think are the best bands in the LA scene today?
Rustee-There are a lot of great bands out there two that come to mind as great up and comers are "The Hitz" and "The Prostitute Mary's"
MM-What are you doing that sets your band apart?
Rustee-The energy and we are a whole package not just 5 guys in jeans and t shirts

MM-Pick the band from the following pair that you prefer and briefly tell why you picked them

Alice Cooper or New York Dolls

Motley Crue or Hanoi Rocks

Ratt or Poison

Slade or Sweet

Rustee-WOW Thats a Hard question cuz I love em all But the Dolls, The Sweet and Hanoi would top my list.
Eric- Alice Cooper & New York Dolls, Alice has the most under rated band ever! Every record is great in evory way. The Dolls were genious with their song writing as well, arrangements 10 years ahead of their time, meanwhile back in the states besides Screaming J Hawkins and Little Richard, Alice Cooper band was the original Glam and Metal band!

MM-Is there anything else that you want to say about your band or your music?
Eric-I am very happy to be a Hate Junkie because they let me be myself and do not restrain me in any way.After all its just about being in the moment having a great time and the brother hood of rock'n'roll.
Rustee-Just Help Spread the HATE, Tell a friend about the Hate Junkies. Cuz you’rE gonna have to face it "YOUR ADDICTED TO HATE".

Thanks to Rustee and Eric for doing the interview.

The HATE JUNKIES on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads (http://www.myspace.com/thehatejunkies)