Brent Muscat: The Bring Back Glam! Interview
Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 10:09AM 
If you like Faster Pussycat, then you know the name Brent Muscat. Guitarist Muscat helped form the classic glam band with singer Taime Downe in the mid 1980s. A semi-public feud lead to massive changes in the Faster Pussycat lineup and sound, and Muscat struck out on his own with various music projects. These days, Muscat plays in a Las Vegas band called the Sin City Sinners. Muscat recently spoke to Bring Back Glam! about his health, Faster Pussycat and his autobiography. Transcription follows.
Bring Back Glam!: People are most concerned with your health. How are you feeling these days?
Brent Muscat: I feel good. I have to go back to the doctor every three months for a check up. As of right now the doctors believe I am cancer free.
BBG!: Tell me about your new band, the Sin City Sinners. How did that band form?
BM: I was looking for a project I can do locally here in Vegas. After I did my 20th anniversary tour of Faster Pussycat, I still wanted to work with the other guitarist Todd Kerns and we put the Sinners together. It’s really a fun jam band and we play every Tuesday at a place called the Dive Bar. We have been bringing a cool special guest each week. So far we’ve had guys like Phil Lewis, Jizzy Pearl, Donnie Vie, Sami Yaffa, Ron Keel, and Paul Shortino among others. It’s really the only place to see and hear my era of music in town. We play a bunch of hard rock covers including songs from my old band.
BBG!: Do you plan on recording an album with the Sin City Sinners?
BM: It’s possible; we have all been working on songs.
BBG!: Are you still working on your book project?
BM: It‘s still in the works, but on the back burner right now. My writing partner and I both have so many other things going on, that it’s hard to find the time to sit down and work on it. We have a 100 page draft and eventually it will get done.
BBG!: Tell me about the early days of Faster Pussycat. How did you and Taime Downe initially meet?
BM: All these stories will be in my book in more detail, but basically two girls who knew our original drummer Mark Michals put me on the phone with Taime (Downe, vocals) when he was looking to start a band.
BBG!: How long did it take for you to realize you had a special chemistry?
BM: Right away. Back then Taime was really focused and believe it or not was against drugs.
BBG!: When was the last time you spoke with Taime Downe?
BM: I spoke to his answering machine about eight or nine months ago to try and resolve things, but he never responded. I would have given him the name, without him having to waste money on an attorney.
BBG!: Are you still actively involved in real estate, or do you want to move back into making music full time?
BM: I am still involved in real estate and own a few homes here in town. Music is more of a hobby for me at this point. I am not unrealistic; I know I will never be able to recapture what I’ve already accomplished. My priority now is just being a good husband to my wife and dad to my daughter Kat.
BBG!: The music industry has changed so much over the last 20 years. Do you think it's possible that Metal can ever be as popular today as it was in the mid 80s?
BM: No, but more power to all the guys who are out there sticking to their guns and playing the music the way it was meant to sound on the records. Music would really suck if all the old metal/hard rock guys tried to sound like Marilyn Manson.
BBG!: Do you think Faster Pussycat is a glam band?
BM: We used to be, but in my opinion since Taime put it together with a bunch of clowns, it's become a bad Marilyn Manson, NIN rip off.
BBG!: What are your musical aspirations for 2008?
BM: I’ll continue playing every week here in Las Vegas with The Sin City Sinners and maybe do some weekend shows here and there with the band and see where it goes from there.
Photo credit: Brent Muscat via the Sin City Sinners
Reader Comments (11)
I just think it's an honest answer. I'm not sure our music scene these days is set up for any musician to be really viable like our 80s favorites. I mean, labels don't cultivate artists anymore...and commercial radio only plays pop...so I get where Brent is coming from.
Allyson
I loved the following response:
BBG!: Do you think Faster Pussycat is a glam band?
BM: We used to be, but in my opinion since Taime put it together with a bunch of clowns, it's become a bad Marilyn Manson, NIN rip off.
www.mamasfallenangels.com
WHAT?!!!???
Allyson
i love brent muscat!!♥♥