Taime Down of Faster Pussycat - Staying sober, being active and Rockin and Rollin’

Sunset Strip, Glam/Rock legend Taime Downe has been around the block more than once.

The band Faster Pussycat was formed in Hollywood Ca. during the Glam metal boom of the mid 1980s. Having sold almost three million albums worldwide (before the internet) The name Faster Pussycat has become synonymous with fun, sleezy and downright dirty party music not unlike Guns n Roses and AC/DC. Today we catch up with the FP frontman for a quick chat just before the Rockford Il. District show on Saturday August 17th. Read on!

Todd Houston: Hey Taime what's up?

Taime Downe: I'm out on my morning walk trying to get my steps in. I usually do this earlier, but I stayed up late watching TV with my girl. 

RRI: You guys are taking off soon for another tour run in a few days.

Taime Downe: Yeah, we are going out for another two-week run. We recently got a new agent that likes to split things up so it gets kooky sometimes! We prefer to be working though.

You guys will here in Rockford Il. on the 17th of August at The District downtown. Faster was here not long ago, correct?

Yeah, we were there last Summer or last Fall I can't remember because my brain is so flippin old and I can't remember what was what. (laughs)

You lived in Chicago for a bit though huh? Not far from us.

Yeah, I did for a little over a year. I was in a band called Pigface in Chicago. It was 1994. 

That was a bit of a different direction musically huh? Grunge had just come out, yadda, yadda.

Well, It was just something to do, something different. I mean, I had to. I created Faster and did that but the whole scene just tanked you know? We were out on the road for the "Whipped" tour and Elektra Records had just fired half of their staff. We were going into places like Detroit, Chicago and we didn't even have label reps! When we started in 1987 we were a new band and we met everybody. Every Rep was there to meet us and party. Taking us to dinner, hitting the strip club and doing that and doing this. By the time "Whipped" came out everyone was just gone. 

You've had a couple health issues in recent years but are doing great and have been sober for over seven years now. No cigarettes or anything. Kudos to you brother!

Yeah, I'm basically sober from cigarettes as I was never an alcoholic. It was mainly cigarettes and cocaine! (laughs) I was a chain smoker though and I really only drank when I worked. Who ever thought we would be talking about stuff like this huh? Look, I lived a crazy life for years, I tore shit up more than most people did so.. I still don't go to bars anymore because I just don't want to be around a bunch of people drinking, you know? I don't crave it; I just don't want to be a Debbie Downer. 

You guys were in Australia not long ago. What was that like?

Australia is great man. We were there in 2008 but hadn't been back since. We were there with Wednesday 13 and some other bands. I just did a vocal on a Wednesday track last weekend. I did a background part on a song called "No apologies". It sounds killer! 

You guys were in Nashville Tn. on the last run. I was just down there a couple of weeks ago and its's so crazy what it's turned into! People running around like ants in every direction!

Ha, ha yeah, it's like a zoo, so ridiculous. It's like going to Dinseyland with all the people and everything. Too many tourists for me. It's like walking down Hollywood Blvd. or something.

You're writing a book now I hear?

Yeah, and it's taking forever. The guys I'm doing it with are great guys but they are in Sweden so it's a matter of us doing stuff back and forth over "zoom" When they are out here, we get together but it's been over a year now. I'm a bit nervous about it because who wants to read about my shit you know? But I think it will COOL.

Do you still keep in contact with Eric Stacy (former FP Bassist) or Greg Steele (former FP Guitarist) at all?

Greg was just up onstage with us at The Whiskey on July 20th. So, I talk to Greg and I talk to Brent Muscat (former FP Guitarist). I sent Eric a birthday wish and he got back to me a few days later... I don't know. Were all good but we really just don't keep in touch like we should. Me and Greg talk all the time though. 

Sometimes band members are all buddies and sometimes they aren't. Was there a particular member of the original Faster Pussycat band that you considered to be a pal more so than maybe the others?

I think it was Greg Steele. Him and I did most of the stuff together from the beginning. We were all pretty tight though. I still deal with Greg on the old FP publishing and stuff.

What's on your turn table lately? What have you been listening to?

Old shit (laughs) If it's good, it's good!

What else do you do for fun? 

Riding motorcycles. Gilby Clarke (ex Guns n Roses Guitarist) is one of my die-hard riding friends. We also use his recording studio.

I'm looking forward to The District show here in Rockford. Where can we keep track of Faster Pussycat "going Ons"?

Yeah man, stop by and say hello and as always, www.fasterpussycat.com Cheers!