Ep520: Toody Cole - The Legacy of Dead Moon

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

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15d ago 46:50

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Toody Cole of Dead Moon discusses their vinyl rarities, the DIY ethic of the band, owning a mono cutting lathe, refusing major labels, inspiring a generation of musicians around the world.

DeadMoonUSA.com | Zipper LP Reissue | Melbourne 2025 shows

Topics Include:

Toody Cole rushing to airport to retrieve guitar from Spain before Australian tour
November 2025 Melbourne shows - jumping on Jenny Don't and the Spurs tour dates
First time in New Zealand described as most fun tour ever - prehistoric landscapes
Missed Nirvana tour opportunity due to Fred's rule: never cancel committed gigs
Fred restored a 1954 mono cutting lathe from pieces using xeroxed manual
Machine had tubes like mason jars that dimmed house lights when powered up
First 45 cut on the lathe was "Hey Joe" and "Parchment Farm"
The Weeds played Vegas Teen Beat Club in the hullabaloo/shindig TV era
Teen Beat Records pressing was probably only 300-500 copies maximum
Fred never owned original Weeds single - got it back from younger sister
Lollipop Shop nightmare: Fred sold publishing for $1, forced into pink sweater
Manager claimed Fred Cole was stage name, real name "Freddy Colletti" - totally false
Zipper lived in their house, practiced in basement - "70s butt rock" era
Captain Whizeagle store name came from Fred's children's story about Snake Troopers
1970 Yukon homesteading attempt broke down outside Whitehorse, changed everything
Dead Moon started after splitting business partnership, opening Tombstone Music in 1986
Kelly Manahan drew logo through dozen iterations - Fred kept demanding "gnarlier!"
Fred hand-cut moon into graveyard photo for first album cover artwork
All early Dead Moon records were mono because lathe couldn't cut stereo
Major labels approached during grunge explosion - Fred refused after Lollipop Shop experience
Seattle grunge bands were young kids attending Dead Moon's late-80s shows
Fred embarrassed by "godfather of grunge" label despite obvious influence on scene
Everything DIY: owned stores, cut masters, designed covers, kept all control
Portland celebrates Dead Moon Night annually on October 5th with cover bands
Fred handpicked songs for Echoes compilation - now 4LP vinyl box set
2017 final European tour with Fred already sick from bone cancer
Fred passed November 2017 leaving unfinished songs Toody can only hear mentally
House is unofficial Dead Moon museum: lathe, stampers, posters, worn cowboy boots
New documentary coming with backstage footage showing band's view of audiences
Toody's favorite Dead Moon song "My Escape" was never performed live

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