Ep520: Toody Cole - The Legacy of Dead Moon

The Vinyl Guide Interview - For Record Collectors & Music Nerds

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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