Now before we continue, let me review a bit of the show. Those of you who are regular readers of these posts know that I am talking to you the reader as a friend or fan backstage or in my home. Keep reading, hell, I got to talk to Joey Jordenson of Slipknot for crying out loud, how amazing is that? Relax, please put your feet on the furniture, and enjoy...let me tell you all what I saw from the floor of the mosh pit at The House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio. The night was July 25, 2006, and Al was in The House. Can you feel it...?

Opening the show was the band Pit bull Daycare. PB did a strong set, and while the repeated self head smacking (as in "duh", smack!) of the lead vocalist got a bit repetitive after a bit, the band was solid, the music was interesting, and the vocals themselves were very forceful. This is a good band, and they possess a very good sound as well in the live arena. An added bonus for the diehards in the crowd was to be found in the bands closing track, a cover of Moterheads "ACE OF SPADES." Lets face it, an opening band has one major job besides that of winning over fans, and that is to kick the crowds ass before the headliners get there, and they did just that - just stop with the head smacking, ok guys?

Next up - and oh the tension and joyous anticipation that was in the crowd this fine night was almost tangible in nature - THE REVOLTING COCKS! It would be safe to assume that many people who dance regularly at clubs to Revolting Cocks songs do not even know who they are dancing to. "Beers, Steers, and Queers" (which is perhaps the most popular REVCO track with boasts samples from the movie "Deliverance" and is loaded with references of Ned Beaty assuming the position), "Stainless Steel Providers", and "Do You Think I'm Sexy?" - yes, the Rod Sterwart cover got the industrial /metal/alt treatment in case one did not know - all club standards, yet how many people know the true make up of the band and it's name? Well rest assured readers...this crowd knew.

Uncle Al came sliding in on his knees to somewhat mock to the establishment of rock that The Revolting Cocks are proud NOT to be. Luc Van Acker (from another group of legends, Front 242 showed up dressed as a penis) and a slew of popular stars of the underground genre who are not usually known for humor bounded on stage to be a cock.

If any of the above descriptions convey that The Revolting Cocks as a band are all humor and no talent, then perhaps one's imagination has gone astray, for this band is and has in it's nearly 20 year existence been a band that has had a very large amount of songwriter talent involved including by not limited to Paul Barker (Ministry, 1,000 Homo Dj's, PTP, etc), most OF the band Ministry, and various members of Killing Joke, Cheap Trick (Robin Zander!), and even Pigface. REVCO was described by founder Al Jorgenson as "grown men behaving very badly." That means telling bad jokes and playing bad covers, it means being silly when every other project you are involved in is as serious as death at bed time, but that does not mean having no talent. Frank Zappa was all out, side splitting funny at some points in his career, but he too is legend a in music. While no one in The Revolting Cocks is likely to mentioned in many arena's in the same breath as Frank Zappa, the fact is that both bands produce(d) some truly humorous as well as truly infectious music.

Highlights of the set included the above mentioned songs (often times delivered through a megaphone, keep in mind we are talking about the very curators of "distorted" vocal perfection) as well as the bands semi-cover of the Oliva Newton John song, "Physical". New lead singer Josh Bradford, himself from the band Stayte, did a very impressive job as a cock. The job as singer for a band which is often associated with other singers (even Uncle Al himself) is indeed a job that puts the singer into a position that is open for very close and hard inspection from long time fans of said band. These were some big shoes to fill, and Josh Bradord filled them well. Most in attendance hoped that when the next tour happens, that tour would include Josh. Besides strong vocal inflections (even into a megaphone) , Josh has one of the best, most oddly haunting ideas of stage presence in the scene today. This night found him in a black tux, and what can only be called a creepy "chill in the air" saunter to him that is part robotic and part madman who could be imagined in some terrible horror film taunting the victim to be with whispers and hand gestures. Many people try so very hard to be scary, and Josh Bradford - whether he tries to or not - is far more ethereal than most of the goth/death scene is at it's very best. Towards the end of the show, he did change into a dress, which is again, humor. Never to stray far from the , humor, even if Josh just scared you to death.

Drum roll, please...up next; MINISTRY! The great creator (along with a small hand full of other bands) of all things electronic, heavy, goth, anarchistic, industrial, and even in the days of yore, poppy. The number of amazing songs to come from Ministry and gone on to be some of the most influential music of the last 20 years are too many to name in total. "So What", "Halloween", "Nature of Love", "NWO (don't miss Passing Time's cover of this one!)", "THIEVES", "No W", "Stigmata", and "Just One Fix" just to name an infinitesimal fraction. Bands such as Static X, White/Rob Zombie, The Union Underground, and Nailbomb to name a few would not exist if Ministry did not exist. Sure, Al attacks religion in ways some of us do not agree with, and yes, Al tends to have a real one sided look at the political landscape, and sure, Ministry does have a tendency to abandon the first six years of it's musical library by not playing ANYTHING released before 1989 (even though songs such as "All Day" about evil greedy bosses, "Halloween" about dressing as one pleases without care for the outside worlds take on it, and "Nature of Love" which is a really dark, quasi-bondage song) could be re-worked and relevant, but so long as there are still a handful of bands who will tell the bloodsucking establishment to take a flying leap, one has to love Ministry. Not once has this bend ever catered to the norms or put its fist down.Moreover, they have without fail released some of the most solid, well crafted, and amazing music that holds to repeated listening year after year. Quite simply, agree or disaree, Ministry is one of the best rock and roll bands of all time.

They are not always a band that is difficult to play (though timing is often strange such as in the song "Crumbs", and various songs on the CD "Dark Side of the Spoon") Highlights included "So What", "The Great Satan", and an amazing attack with "No W". If tape was running at the House of Blues this night, "No W" will be on the disk from Cleveland, it was THAT good.

For those of you who enjoy as I do the great release and venting found in the mosh pit will be pleased to know that having seen Ministry now 3 times (once in LA where Daphne and I were awarded with meeting Tim Leary), I can say without reservation that a Ministry pit is the most turbulent, mind blowing, violent mosh in the known universe. It is a pleasure to behold a strong show with a talent level so great and then feel the thrust of it in the pit. Even Canton Ohio Legend Jeff Seeman was found in it's grip. By the time "STIGMATA" came during the final encore, the crowd was exhausted and drenched in sweat, not an ounce of aggression left. Ah, the healing of the pit!

To make the night even better, Skipknot drummer Joey Jordenson (who does not like his photo taken, but is one hell of a nice guy anyway. hey, he does sometimes wear a mask mask, no? Thanks for hanging out with us!) was the new drummer for the band! Most within the scene liked long time veteran drummer William Rieflin quite a bit, and his leaving the band was often viewed as a loss to many. Such was NOT the case tonight. Joey has the ability to do two things very well. First of all, he knows when to add a nuance without writing a whole new drum line, and he keeps the feel that the original drummers had in mind when they recorded the songs. Secondly, when playing a song that he has been a part of, Joey bashes it in a style that is very much his own, and a reason that his drumming is among the best in the music world today, regardless of genre. His footwork on "THIEVES" (his favorite to play live) is absolutely stunning.

It was Joey who gave us the heads up on where to find Al and company, and it was Joey in the bar who along with Al's security who ok'd us to come close and chat. The music was too loud for an interview, but just to meet the man was a dream come true for myself and Daphne. Ok, now this is where I digress, and this is where I stop writing like Mr. Magazine Writer and just talk to you. Passing Time's singer, Daphne Elise Di Gangi, had purchased these tickets for me as a birthday present in January. Five days before the show, she finds out that her mother is facing terminal lung cancer, and the day prior we were opening for Pretty Vacant, or second national act and a show we could not turn down. Needless to say, her stress and depression was pretty high by the time we got to the Ministry show. Why do I tell you, the faithful reader? Because Al saw her, grabbed her, gave her a massive hug, and began dancing with her! Here is a man whom we have loved and adored for over 17 years who just made a total stranger (and he did not know about the cancer of course) as happy as she had been in a long while, and he did so on a day that she needed it more than ever. THANK YOU AL! GOD BLESS YOU, YOU ARE A WONDERFUL PERSON!

At one point, the Dj played "Do You Think I'm Sexy", the Revolting Cocks version, and AL leans over and asks "What do you think of that? You like that?" in reference to the song, to which I answered, "I hear that band is made up of a bunch of fucking freaks!" and we both laughed.

Well readers, that is how it all went down. Below is our interview with Josh Bradford who was kind enough to not only talk to us after the show, but gave us his personal e-mail to contact him for this interview. (THANKS as well to Josh) Thanks for coming to my bands page, and please stay and check out the free music we offer on this page. Good night, and God Bless... NEVER CONFORM!

Passing Time -The new Revolting Cocks set was really strong, and
featured a lot of guests. How hard is something like that to put
together with so many artists that are not known for sharing the
stage, much less "being silly" for lack of better words?

JOSH BRADFORD - ...it's more work than you will ever know.....and it took many trips
to various strip clubs.
Passing Time - Your stage presence is real forbidding in a dark,
almost robotic sort of way at times. How did some of that come to
be?

JOSH BRADFORD - I am actually a satanic robot under my skin, sent from hell to turn
people gay. Plus, I eat way too much sugar.....that usually brings out
my bad side!

Passing Time - Were there any Revolting Cocks songs that you or
another member decided upon that were not originally in the set?
Also, were there any songs that you choose, or any songs that simply
did not work with out certain members still being in the band as
they were when some of those songs were recorded?

JOSH BRADFORD - That's a good question, I was drinking with Clay in Al's garage when
all of that stuff would go down. We would jam a song in rehearsal and
if it didn't sound right we would move on.....I did think Crackin Up
was sounding good....I forget why we didn't play it....Hmmmm

Passing Time - You must be sick of this question, but everyone will
want to know, myself included
.What is touring with AL like? Second
part
what is touring with Joey Jordinson like?

JOSH BRADFORD - Al is one of the last true pirates, nothing compares to be on his
ship. The stories I heard were worth more than any gold though, I hope
Al writes a book, it would be a best seller! Joey...was one of the
nicest guys I have ever toured with.....I hope to see him again soon.

Passing Time - What might we find you doing after the tour?

JOSH BRADFORD - Detox, then more touring with my other projects Stayte and Simple
Shelter. Maybe doing some work on the side as a male escort.

Passing Time - Al is on guitar only these days for the most part in
Revco, and that means that EVERYONE is more upfront for most of the
set than he is, which lets everyone really shine in their own right.
In your case, what has that meant on this tour?

JOSH BRADFORD - Well, I think you answered it for me....I had a chance to show
everyone what I was made of (and looked like in a dress) I had BIG
shoes to fill so I did not have the chance to get lazy for a second on
this tour.
Passing Time - You sing obviously, but what other talents do you
have and which of those talents are used in Revolting Cocks that
many may not be familiar with?

JOSH BRADFORD - Well, sexually I am very attentive to my partners needs......though
that never came up in the band (that I can remember) also, I play a
bit of every instrument very poorly...I guess that's why I sang only
on this tour.

Passing Time - Lastly, thank you to no end for doing this interview
for our site, it really means the world to us. I want to give you a
chance to say ANYTHING to the masses who read this about you, your
music, or just some random Josh Bradford logic. What would you like
to say to the world?

JOSH BRADFORD - Josh Bradford Logic, well, that's a whole other world. If you want the
real me, pick up something from Stayte or Simple Shelter
( www.edmpresents.com) ....... or hit me up on tour. I should be through
most parts of the US this november/december with Simple Shelter, look
for dates online.
P.S. It's all fun and games till someone loses an eye
P.P.S. You look sexy right now