Ep520: Toody Cole - The Legacy of Dead Moon
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
