Troy Greggory has left the Dirtbombs to spend more time on his 100 other projects (like the Witches and the Stepsisters).  Motorcityblog has his final interview with the band.

For our third podcast I wanted to showcase an extended or unused interview that was entertaining and worthwhile, but just didn’t fit into the movie. The thing that came to my mind was my horrific first interview with The Dirtbombs. Let me put it in a little context for you.

It was September of 2002 and the scene was arguably at its highest point. I had been filming the movie since and January and had made some pretty good connections around town. I was invited by Pat Pantano to come to a Dirtbombs practice at Jim Diamond’s studio, Ghetto Recorders. For me, this was my first big interview. They also happened to be my favorite band, so I was extra geeked when I stepped foot into the already legendary studio.

I was alone at the time. Sarah hadn’t started helping me with the film (we’d only just met in late May of that year) and my friend Matt Hyland must have been busy. I had no lights, and only a boom mic for audio, which I mounted to the top of the camera. The band was just getting to the studio while I was setting up. They were going to practice first, which I was aloud to tape, and then I would do the interview. As I prepared the camera I soon realized that all my batteries were dead and that I had left my charger at my dad’s house in Troy (about 25 minutes away). Embarrassed, humiliated, and frustrated with myself, I apologized and ran as fast as I could to my car and then back home. By the time I returned the band was putting their instruments away and were ready to leave. I could tell they felt bad for me, and decided to stay a little longer for my interview. They huddled around on a couch in the middle of the rehearsal space and just chatted with themselves for about ten minutes. Letting them settle down a little, I attempted to ask my first question from a list I had prepared earlier.

The band lineup at the time is what I like to refer to as “Dirtbombs Classic”, which consisted of Mick Collins, Pat Pantano, Ben Blackwell, Jim Diamond, and Tom Potter. Any one of these men alone had a very opinionated and colorful personality, and when they were sitting altogether, it was exactly like what makes a Dirtbombs show so exciting: uncontrolled chaos. To be honest, I didn’t stand a chance. I tried asking my textbook questions such as, “why have two drummers and two bass players” and was answered with an analogy to pedophilia. Of course, it was hilarious, but I couldn’t use it in the documentary, especially with everyone talking over them selves the entire time. You can see in the clips, that Ben is visibly upset about the way the interview is going. Mick and Jim both mention it as well. But I think while it may not be the most honest and informative interview I’ve ever done, it’s a great example of the character and dynamic of this amazing group of guys.

The only part of the interview that made it into the final cut, is actually the opening line: “There are more good bands in Detroit than any other major mother-fucking city in the United States of America” by Tom Potter. Even though Jim is talking over him when he says it, I still couldn’t find one other statement that summed up the attitude and theme of the entire movie so perfectly.

Enjoy!
-James