PAUL:  ONE OF THE FIRST SHOWS WAS PROBABLY THE STOOGES AT THE ELECTRIC CIRCUS, ON ST. MARKS PLACE, IN THE EAST VILLAGE OF MANHATTAN, AROUND ’69 OR ’70.  AROUND THAT SAME TIME WE SAW THE WHO AT THE FILLMORE, ON THE INFAMOUS NIGHT IT CAUGHT FIRE, AND PETE TOWNSHEND KICKED THE COP OFF THE STAGE.   IT WAS A WEEK’S WORTH OF SHOWS, PLAYING TOMMY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE U.S.  I ALSO SAW TOMMY IN ITS’ ENTIRETY AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE AT LINCOLN CENTER, NYC.  THE FIRST TIME WE SAW THE ALICE COOPER GROUP WAS AT THE FILLMORE IN THE EAST VILLAGE, WHEN LOVE IT TO DEATH CAME OUT (A TURNING POINT FOR US).  THEY WERE SO OUT THERE, OPENING FOR A GROUP CALLED BLOODROCK, WHO WE DIDN’T EVEN STAY FOR.  I THINK WE WERE THE ONLY ONES THERE FOR ALICE COOPER, SPIDER EYES, PILLOW FIGHTS, STRAIGHT JACKET, AND BLACK JUJU.

CHUCK:  I was listening to Cooper’s Schools Out the other day, and Alice’s vocal delivery reminded me of yours.  I could see the influence.  How did you get into the clubs to see all the shows? How old were you?

PAUL:  I THINK I WAS ABOUT 13 OR 15.  THE ONLY REASON THAT I COULD GO TO THE SHOWS AT MY AGE WAS THAT I WAS WITH MY OLDER BROTHERS, WHO WERE IN THEIR MID TO LATE TEENS.

CHUCK:  You got into the business young.  Describe the incident when your older brothers made you aware that you were destined for rock and roll heaven!

PAUL:  WELL, BY ’74 OR ’75, WE ALREADY HAD VERY EARLY STAGES OF BLONDIE, AND THE RAMONES.  I’D CUT DEE DEE RAMONE’S HAIR, CUT ALL OF BLONDIE’S HAIR, AND WOULD DO A LOT OF THEIR STYLING.  I’D GO SHOPPING WITH DEB AND CHRIS ALL OVER BROOKLYN AND NJ, TO THE THRIFT SHOPS.  GOT TO BE VERY CLOSE WITH A LOT OF THE NEW GROUPS ON THE SCENE.  THE FAST WERE KIND OF LEFTOVER FROM THE GLAM ERA OF THE EARLY 70’S (N.Y. DOLLS, KISS, HARLETS, QUEEN ELIZABETH WITH WAYNE COUNTY, BRATS.)  THE FAST NEEDED A CHANGE, TO KEEP UP WITH THE NEW CHANGES IN LOOK AND SOUND.  IT WAS DEBBIE HARRY AND LANCE LOUD, ALONG MIKI AND MYSELF, THAT HAD THE BRAINSTORM TO GIVE THE FAST A MAKEOVER, WITH ME AS THE LEAD SINGER.  ARMAND WAS SINGING, BUT ALSO PLAYING KEYS BY THIS TIME, SO THE SPOT WAS HANDMADE FOR ME.

CHUCK:  How did your parents react to the fact that the kids were headed for the rock and roll crossroads?
 

PAUL:  IT WAS ALWAYS THERE, FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, SO IT WAS ALL THEY KNEW.

CHUCK:  Since drugs and alcohol played a role in the unfortunate fate of your brothers, I’m wondering when intoxicants entered the lives of the Zone brothers.

PAUL:  I SMOKED POT BEFORE MY BROTHERS, IN HIGH SCHOOL.  THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A HIPPIE THING.  THEY WERE NOT SMOKERS OF POT OR CIGS.  WE DRANK A LOT WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.  BY THE MID ‘70’S WE WERE INTO PILLS, LOTS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF UPPERS.  IT WAS VERY MOD ‘60’S FOR US.  IT WASN’T UNTIL THE LATE 70’S, THAT SPEED AND COKE STARTED TO PLAY A ROLE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.

CHUCK:  The earliest Fast stuff I’ve heard is from ’75.  Were you present on those recordings?  Was Armand on ‘em vocally?

PAUL:  EVERYTHING FROM ’75 ON HAS ME ON VOCALS.

CHUCK:  Describe the frequency of gigs from ’75 till ’77.

PAUL:  OH GOD, WE PLAYED ONCE A MONTH, OR ONCE EVERY TWO MONTHS.

CHUCK:  The intensity of the Ramones is obvious in your music, yet you preceded them.  Describe your early encounters with the Ramones.

PAUL:  THE FIRST OR SECOND GIG THAT THEY EVER PLAYED, THE RAMONES WERE OUR OPENING ACT.  DEE DEE AND JOHNNY MET MIKI AT A MUSIC STORE IN N.Y., KNEW HE HAD A GROUP, AND SAID THEY WANTED TO START A BAND TOO.  THEN WE STARTED TO SEE THEM AT CLUBS, AND WE BECAME FRIENDS.