So, how did this all come about?

      Michael Maltese; Like all good affairs and failed romances, F&M started as 
      a weekend project. We wrote and recorded our first EP "No Dice" in 
      Kalamazoo, Michigan, took photos, the whole deal. All within 48 hours. 
      Drank a lot of Pepsi-Cola because we were, at the time ya know, sponsored 
      by the local bottler. Or maybe WE sponsored them... I don't know, one of 
      the two. We had just set up a new studio (Omega) on North Burdick Street 
      in Kalamazoo and those first 2 EPS (No Dice, Wig Wam) were probably the 
      only things recorded there before the whole operation moved across town 
      the following year.

      Fred & I were both previously in a Detroit group called The Covingtons 
      (with guitarist Johnny Chan who later went on to start Johnny Chan & The 
      New Dynasty Six). I was in a few other groups as well: The Churchkey 4 
      (with Kent Berglund on bass), The Royal Horsemen, Sir Gluttiae (With Mike 
      Hurtt of The Royal Pendletons...and part-time bassist of Tav Falco), The 
      Dazzle Heads, Vibrolux, Twister (recorded one single at that first Omega 
      studios), The Sleestacks, Greenhouse (whose drummer Tommy Oliver went on 
      to play organ for The Royal Pendletons).…. Fred was in The Visigoths, 
      Vladimir's Universe and The Polish 9.

      Why the 60s scene? The sounds & threads from that era are so much fun, and 
      way more interesting than the usual bland stuff you hear on the radio 
      today. And back then, anyone with a band, garage and tape recorder could 
      stand a chance of getting a number one hit! Can't say that anymore about 
      the music biz nowadays. Think about it: 96 TEARS was recorded in a living 
      room!

      What bands are you moving to at the moment?

      MM; Bobby Fuller, Gary Usher, Boyce & Hart, Bruce & Terry, Beach Boys, The 
      Pyramids, Question Mark & the Mysterians, The Equals, Vallee, The Byrds, 
      The Sonics, The Wailers, The Timers, Arthur Alexander, The Nightcrawlers, 
      The Turtles, Love, Them, The 13th Floor Elevators, Sinatra, The Monks, The 
      Trashmen, The Zombies, Powder, The Creation, Paul Revere & the Raiders, 
      The Standells, The Factory, Dizzy Gillespie, The Remains...

      Are you turning away from Frat into Folk-Rock, or is 'stone unturned' just 
      a one off?

      MM; Do you not like the STONE single? It got 4 and 1/2 stars in Sweden!! 
      Never thought I'd get a chance to say something like that in my whole 
      life. But wait 'til you hear our new CAD single: "Knaughty Knight" / 
      "Good-N-Plenty"! Frattsville baby! (CAD Records, 38 Visconti Street, 
      Norwalk, CT 06851 USA). We are supposed to get back into that studio to 
      crank out a new album (maybe by the time you're reading this). Freddy's 
      moving into a new house in Detroit and I'm between Los Angeles and Chicago 
      right now, but we'll get together soooon.

      So we’re not about to see Fortune and Maltese and the Psychedelic 
      Pallbearers?

      MM; So far, just that one time with Chevy Man which, I hear now, is being 
      used as the impetus to make a movie in California... That's part of the 
      reason I've been spending so much time here...talking to lawyers, trying 
      to get a piece of the action, free lunches, etc.

      You’re a good time FUN band and it is really cool to see. Do you think 
      this is missing from a lot of the current crop if garage bands?

      MM; Well, we do like to have fun at shows and recording songs. Lots of 
      stupid fun (which you might get to hear as audio files soon on our web 
      site). Let's face it, if you can't have fun with music why waste 
      everybody's time. Good dancing is great for everyone. I learned that well 
      at the Wild Weekend last year in London! Never danced more in my life. I 
      really get turned off at an overly serious group, especially if they sound 
      awful. We like to have fun. Although we DO fight a lot off-stage and in 
      cars. Next question...


      Did you enjoy the Wild Weekend? how did the London audience receive you, 
      How did you find them?

      MM; England was the most fun I've had in years! They people seemed to like 
      the show...I know I had a great time. Dancing all night, folks from all 
      over Europe, meeting all kinds of people...YEAH! And, it was the kickoff 
      point for our FORTUNE & MALTESE European tour, so it was more than a 
      hootenanny. When we flew in we had to play that night and didn't get much 
      sleep (like 4 hours in 2 days!) so the next time we go we'll get there 
      early enough. Can't wait to return.

      (I have actually found a store that sells HP sauce here in the US so I can 
      relive those days in style. God, I feel like I'm 90 years old saying that. 
      Bring on the dancing girls!)

      What did you think of the English scene?

      MM; Loved the groups we played with. Got scared at the whole 
      driving-on-the-left side thing and almost got hit by a car when I didn't 
      look right at an intersection. The English scene is happening in a big 
      way...great clothes, beautiful girls, good attitudes, beautiful girls... 
      My grandfather was from Cornwall so it was nice to see part of the scene 
      he was from, well, kinda. Didn't visit any tin mines. When we were flying 
      in, I dozed off for like 20 minutes when the lights came on (breakfast of 
      Corn Flakes & fruit) and I flipped on the TV to dig FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE! 
      That set the mood for the whole affair.

      You have a track on the new Bobby Fuller Four tribute, which track did you 
      tape, How did that come about?

      MM; We did "Pamela." We got an invitation to participate from a girl named 
      IZUMI in Japan. She was putting the whole project together and asked us 
      for a cut. Thanks Izumi! Had fun recording it. We'd been wanting to do 
      another Bobby Fuller track for a long time. In fact, back before F&M, Fred 
      & I talked of doing a one-off project where we'd record a 4-song EP of 
      Fuller songs. We actually rehearsed 'em and were going to call Randy 
      Fuller, Bobby' bassist brother, to do liner notes but were scared off. 
      NOW, here in California, I've got to hang out with Randy a few times and 
      we've had a ball! Who would have thunk it.

      You have quite a few band members, do you often get arguments about what 
      style of music your going to play, or all you all pretty much into the 
      same stuff?

      MM; Everyone's into something different. That's what makes it all a 
      challenge. There have been tense moments but heck, we've all gotten along 
      like troopers. Karl makes a great Waldorf Salad and Dusty can play chess 
      like there's no tomorrow!

      Finally, other than the Bobby Fuller track, what other releases do you 
      have planned?

      MM; There's the CAD records "Knaughty Knight"/"Good-&-Plenty" single 
      that's out now (38 Visconti Street, Norwalk, CT 06851 USA), an EP of new 
      stuff (including a Peter & Gordon cut that turned out VERY GOOD) that was 
      supposed to be on Get Hip's subsidiary KEYSTONE label 2 years ago (should 
      be out soon, VERY soon), 5 new tracks we recorded at Kearney Barton's 
      AUDIO RECORDING up in Seattle (home of the Sonics, The Wailers, The 
      Kingsmen and Don & The Good Times), and cuts on comp/tribute albums for 
      The Trashmen and The Ventures.