Best of 2005...looking forward to 2006

1) What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects etc)?

We only have one more live show this year (on New Years Eve), so we can concentrate on writing for the next studio release, which we plan on recording in January / February and releasing in March / April just in time to tour Europe . But even though we're taking a break from "live" action, there's a lot of "Dog" hitting the streets. Our live cd, "Foamin at the Mouth" is being released by Phoenix-Records ( www.phoenixrecords.de ) in late December. Also we have two tracks on the "Saint Valentines Day Massacre" cd, which is a Motorhead tribute disc, We did "Rock It" plus we did a duet with Crucified Barbara of "Please Don't Touch" and a video of the song as well, this will be released on December 1st through Bad Reputation ( www.badreputation.fr ) who are also re-releasing our debut cd "Last of a Dying Breed" in February as a double disc, the second cd is a live show from 2000, it also has several studio bonus tracks on it.

2) What were your main personal achievement(s) in 2005?

We released two cd's in 2005, "Scars-n-Bars" and "Foamin' at the Mouth" plus did over 100 shows, and this was done without managment!

3) Any disappointments?

We still don't have an American record deal, which is rather strange seeing how we are selling more units than soundscan is reporting that some of the "major" artists are!....hmmm, maybe it's a good thing we don't have an American deal!

4) What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2005 and why?

My favorite cd's of 2005 are Alice Cooper's "Dirty Diamonds", Nashville Pussy's "Get Some" and Deep Purple's "Rapture of the Deep"
Movie wise Rob Zombies "Devils Rejects" is Excellent!

5) What are you planning musically in 2006? (For non-musos Which releases/gigs are you looking forward to next year?)

We plan on releasing our next studio disc in early spring , followed by tours of The UK!!! Finally!! Lookin' forward to an "Old Peculiar"!!, plus France, Germany and Belgium, then it's back to the States for the summer Biker gigs, then hopefully we'll go back to Europe and mark some new territory. We'd really like to get into Spain, Italy and Sweden.

6) In an ideal world which band(s) would you like to see back and tourong next year?

As long as Motorhead and AC/DC are destroying the Ozone the world is a better place!

Cheers - Skol - Prost
Michael Hannon
American Dog


steve conte
(new york dolls, the contes, crown jewels, company of wolves)

1) What are you doing musically at the moment (current projects etc)?

i'm really excited about making the 3rd new york dolls album.
it's been over 30 years since the 2nd album "too much too soon" came out in 1973 and they were broken up by 1975. i'm writing with david johnasen and sylvain sylvain... and of course will be playing guitar on it (i am filling the lead guitar role left open by the late johnny thunders.)

i am also putting together my 1st solo project, which will be a real live band, not a collection of studio or hired musicians. i've got some great songs and a really cool bass player named lee k. (it's gonna be my 1st band without my bass playing brother john who i've played with since we were kids)

2) What were your main personal achievement(s) in 2005?

i got married!!

we had an amazing wedding party @ the cutting room in nyc with musical performances by the new york dolls, willie nile, marnie rice on accordian singing french songs, members of madjuana playing gypsy reggae, kyf brewer on bagpipes, my dutch-moroccan sister in law bellydancing, my brother and i with crown jewels and my mom singing jazz standards.

3) Any disappointments?

the death of my friend chris whitley.

4) What were your own favourite albums, films and/or books of 2005 and why?

my fave film of 2005 is "new york doll" about the life of our beloved bass player arthur "killer" kane who passed away after our 1st reunion show. it's not a typical "behind the music" rockumentary (although it has plenty of interviews w/ johansen, chrissie hynde, iggy pop, mick jones, bob geldof...and me!) it chronicles the life of a down & out musician who had it all, lost it all, found god in the book of mormon and got his groove back again just in time to leave this world in peace.

my fave cd of 2005 is the soundtrack to "motorcycle diaries" with music by gustavo santaolalla.

my fave book of 2005 was "what's going on" by ben edmonds.
it was actually published in 2001 but i just discovered it this year. it's about the making of marvin gaye's classic album and how he fought against the pressure from motown records and others to see it through with his own unique vision.

5) What are you planning musically in 2006? (For non-musos Which releases/gigs are you looking forward to next year?)

of course i'm looking forward to the recording and release of the new york dolls album (on roadrunner records) and the tour that will follow.

i also plan on recording my new band - which doesn't have a name yet - and dropping our debut cd by the end of the year.

my brother john and i are talking with a big label about doing a rock & roll children's record...that'll be big fun.

6) In an ideal world which band(s) would you like to see back and touring next year?

since this is fantasy: the clash, the (original) pretenders, small faces, xtc, faces, the kinks, the police, the (original) who, led zeppelin, jeff beck group w/ rod stewart, humble pie w/ steve marriot, jeff buckley, prince & the revolution.