Catching Up with The Count Backwurds

It was a rare treat indeed when The Count Backwurds rolled into town and played an amazing set at Cody Bryant's Viva Cantina in Burbank, California for Real Boss Hoss this Summer. It was their first show in 18 years and the kids packed the back room to see these Goof Rock greats.

With Peepin' John on vocals, Brett Stillo on guitar, Steve Cox on bass and Russell Quan on drums, it was indeed a 1995 flashback and a reunion of sorts with pals from near and far lining the room like it was a Saturday night at The Purple Onion. Here's a video I shot of them covering the fab tune "No Reason to Complain" by The Alarm Clocks for your listening pleasure.

The following interview brings no light to any of my questions but does raise quite few! As those of us who know this lot of hooligans, we wouldn't expect anything less, and that's why we love them...

It is with great pleasure that I present to you: The Count Backwurds!

Julie Pavlowski Green
October 11, 2014

JULIE GREEN:  When did the band form?

RUSSELL QUAN: Julie! Thank you! I must learn to read and then I will answer some heap good.

BRETT STILLO:  We started to get backwurds sometime around 1992.  We actually used to rehearse at the Purple Onion one afternoon a week.  In retrospect, that seems amazing that we would just head to North Beach and play at this club when no one was around.  Ready or not, we started playing in August of '93...our first gig was at the Onion of course.

STEVE COX: We first practiced in Brett’s folks garage in Novato. I learned to play Hi Healed Sneakers , Roadrunner, and a Sonic’s song. Brett showed me how to do it  - Russ played drums. I was in heaven but it went down hill from there.



JG: Tina Luchessi, Elka Zolot and Danielle Pimm from The Trashwomen used to be in the fist line up and then morphed into Steve Cox, Brett Stillo and Peepin’ John. How did that happen?

BS: I can’t remember all the details of the Gender Switch Backwurdz. Hell, I can’t remember how we spelled the band’s name: “Backwards”, Backwurds”, “Bakcwardzzz”, Buchwartsch”. I think the name of the band for the record, was supposed to be “Crash Cart and the Drag Hags” or something like that. Steve, as I recall, came up with “Count Backwards” for us, and somehow somebody stuck the name on that record. We all handeled it like adults and sued each other. In fact, somebody owes my lawyer 25 cents!

Peepin' John

PEEPIN’ JOHN: Was that Sling Shot Railjob and the Drag Hags? Steve came up with the name I think. He also named the band, The Count Backwurds, right? This was before my time, so you might wanna check with Steve.

BS:  Yup!  Slingshot Railjob and the Drag Hags!  That was the name of the band.  And yeah, I think you're right about Steve coming up with Count Namewurdz.  Steve, you have a gift for band names!

Russell Quan

SC: Here’s my 2 cents. I came up with the (name) Count Backawrds at a Star Trek Convention with Mike Kettlestump. I think Christoff (Certick) was there, maybe Russ. I was thinking of good band names. I was into The Count 5 and was looking for something Count. I was in a terrible car accident in '86 and had surgeries till '88. Before I went under the knife, they told me to count backwards from 100. The next thing I knew, I was awake, I was in a coma also but the Coma 5 didn’t sound so cool
…




RQ:

 Good thing someone remembers this stuff!

    BS: I’m making it all up. I didn’t join the band until ’96 to replace that creep who looked like me.

    What was his name? Stett Brillo, right? Whadda jerk!

JG: Is it true you guys were in a battle of the bands judged by Bob Denver & Bobby Darin?

BS: I am sworn to secrecy about the Bob Denver incident. Bobby Darin was dead by then but James Darren was alive and well… if you know what I mean! Someday the world will know the true story when the file is declassified in 2044.

Brett Stillo

JG: Tell us a Tom Guido story!

RQ: Ha ha ha!! you mean the death threats?
 I saved the last one on my phone.

Steve Cox

BS: As long as they were wacky, funny death threats like "I'm gonna kill you Mother Fucker!  Kill you with my witty comments!"











RQ: And then the resultant  “I’m sorry, I was just kidding, did I sound mean"?

PJ: Well my Frenemy Tommy G for some reason believed that I blew up the toilet at the purple onion with an M-80. I totally didn't do it but he wouldn't believe me. The toilet in the men’s room was ancient and always overflowing. Some jocks probably sabotaged it in a drunken rage! Tom was always going off on people when he would get drunk during every show, so its possible he offended someone and they jacked up the john! Anyway, he was ranting to someone when the toilet exploded for the umpteenth time, and was yelling " How did Peepin’ John get in here without me seeing him?!" I wasn't even there cause he 86'd me from the previous weekend. He is still convinced to this day that I blew up his toilet.  

Another funny line of his he'd yell out: " Neala turn on the crazy light!". The crazy light was a lamp with a shade that had multi colored cellophane on it and would send colored light on the walls and roof. A 50c light show to go with the cheezy tinsel on the stage! Of course there is the classic Q: "what time is it?"  A: " the 60's!"

    Do you remember his lyrics? “Rap is crap, rap take a nap!” Or he had one called “I Like to Spill” 

    which was about getting so drunk that he would spill his beer all over!

RQ: HA HA HA THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE AND HEAR!

PJ: 
I like the funny stories best!

BS: I'm trying to think of a Tom Guido story that won't go beyond 50,000 words!

JG: Who did your illustrations of the lovely Lil’ Count?

RQ: The cartoon mascot for The Countbacwurds is ripped directly from Clark Kolher’s “Varmints”.

BS: Who drew that little gremlin dude with the Tricorne hat?  I want to find that guy and punch his head for drawing such a horrific monstrosity.

JG: Did you watch Sesame Street when you were a kid?

BS:  I watched Sesame Street, but The Count showed up after I had moved on to The Electric Company.  I did get to see The Count in action a few times when my little sister watched Sesame Street.  Stylin' dude.  I think that's where I get my love of capes.

JG: What is your favorite number?

BS: I have many favorite numbers as long as this symbol precedes them:  $


JG: What is your favorite Count Backwurds song?

BS: My favorite Backwuardszszsz song is probably "Sadie's Ways" by...hmmmm... The Esquires?  I'm forgetting the name of the band at the moment, but as I recall it was one of those classy-sounding band names that seemed to go with matching red blazers with little crests on the chest.