This band needs no introduction because we have covered them immensely on this website. They are one of our favorite unsigned acts and they should be yours too. A lot has happened with The Dirty Pearls this year and who better to talk about all that than their frontman Tommy London?

BnR: How did you get on the show for the New York Dolls?

Tommy: We love the New York Dolls. They are one of our number one influences. Sometimes a lot of people try to associate us with the 80s rock, but really our influences are more like the New York Dolls and Aerosmith. Well Aerosmith crossed into the 80s. But that whole 70's, kind of dirty rock vibe, is what we go for. Even Guns N' Roses went for more of that. Every year what the New York Dolls do, besides the normal tour, every year in New York they always play around Christmas time. Last year at this time I remember saying to Marty, "Yo man we have to find a way to get on that New York Dolls bill." We didn't know how to get on there and who to contact or anything. This year they contacted us. Someone from their organization was at the Bowery show back in October. They saw us and said, "you guys would be a perfect fit for the Dolls show. How do you feel about playing on the [December] 27th with the Dolls?" We were like "Uh YEA!" We are looking forward to that show. A lot of the people we know in bands in that whole music scene have all said it is like a passing of the torch from the Dolls to the Pearls. That is a really great way of looking at it.

BnR: You guys had the opportunity to play in front of Motley Crue for the Make Rock History contest.

Tommy: Yea that was a whole opportunity. I feel the band has gotten to a level and a degree where contests are really not something we do. But the opportunity, the PR behind it, the exposure, we kind of fell into it and ran with it. Tenth Street had been talking to us a while and we felt they were interested in us and a great way to get some showcases with them. Tenth Street being the management team that is behind Motley Crue and Buckcherry. I did get to meet Nikki and Tommy, great guys..really down to earth. The contest, as we all know, did not sway our way. But when it is all said and done, Tenth Street is still interested in the band and actually contacted us recently. I don't think that story is over yet.

BnR: How were the other bands in the contest? Did you get along with those guys?

Tommy: Yea we got along with all of them. A lot of bands stay in their own secluded area. It is kind of funny especially for guys like Marty and I who have big personalities and talk to everyone. This one band that we actually got along with the best was The Last Vegas [winners of Make Rock History]. We hung out with them; partied with them. We were talking about going to Chicago and playing with them and then them coming here [New York]. That, of course, changed when they got the tour with the Crue. When they get back, we can figure it out. They were a good bunch of guys. All the bands were cool and nice guys. We definitely hit off with them the most.

BnR: Did any of them, honestly, impress you live?

Tommy: I thought The Last Vegas was good. I was just a bit shocked at how it all went down, a week before the show The Last Vegas comes in. That is the breaks though. If I had to choose one of them, not counting us of course, I would play with those guys.

BnR: What really happened with The Last Vegas?

Tommy: All we knew was they were there because the other band, Something to Burn, got disqualified because they are already signed to Scott Weiland's record label. I don't know how big or small that label is, but they were signed to another contract so they had to drop out. The Last Vegas comes in and takes that spot and that was it. Honestly, I didn't hear anything. Because of that contest, it helped with the exposure. We sold so much music, had so many hits on the site, it really built us up with people becoming fans. It was definitely a win-win.

BnR: No doubt, but this is what it looks like to me. You have six bands, one drops off for whatever reason, then it should be between the rest of the five bands that the public has voted on. Not this outside band, no one voted on. Then all of a sudden, they WIN the contest. It almost looks fixed or rigged. Maybe it was or maybe it wasn't, but that is the way it honestly appears from some guy in Delaware.

Tommy: I agree and disagree with you. I see where you are coming from, 'how could it be six bands, one is disqualified, then why not just go with five?' On the other side of that coin, was it legally that they had to have six bands to make this a legal run? I don't know. I don't know all the legal loopholes. Maybe they had to have six bands to make this a legit thing. I really don't know. I hear what you are saying. I think everyone was blown away. And not that Last Vegas are not that good, I actually enjoyed them. How it went down was just really strange. But I am playing with the New York Dolls, so fuck everybody [laughs].

BnR: Joe Wettner and I were checking out the Make Rock History website and the other bands before the final contest. We said, "The Pearls have this. There is no other fit for Motley Crue than the Dirty Pearls." Of course, The Last Vegas jumps in there, they are an excellent fit as well with their sound.

Tommy: After hearing who is on the tour, Motley Crue, Hinder, Theory of a Madman [Editor's note: it is Theory of a Deadman], and The Last Vegas. After hearing the lineup, I think we fit with the Crue great. Do we fit with Hinder? I think we could. Do we fit with Theory of a Madman [See previous Editor's note]? I don't think so, but The Last Vegas does. That is a four band bill for a Motley Crue tour. I don't know I think that is too much. You have to fill an arena with just one band, as far as I am concerned. It is like they are doing Cruefest year round.

BnR: If you ever get the opportunity to tour with Hinder, turn that down! They are terrible. They are ruining rock n' roll.

Tommy: I don't know much about Hinder to even make a comment. It would have been great to be on that Motley Crue tour. It would have been a lot of fun. I am curious to see where it leads after that for The Last Vegas, if we could have gone down the same route. We will see. We have so much in the works for the new year, it is insane. Looks like we are going on tour in Europe, we got a lot of other headliner bands that everyone knows that we have been asked to open up for. I just can't say yet because I don't want to put my foot in my mouth. We are looking at going back to the Bowery Ballroom and headlining it again. We are actually talking to some well known producers who have done the likes of the Aerosmith's of the world. They are interested in working with the band and doing an album. So stay tuned.

BnR: You took away two of my questions. The fans really want a full length Dirty Pearls album. When can we expect it?

Tommy: These two EPs we have out are self produced and recorded on a very limited budget. That is why we want to work with a producer and really make those songs as big as they should sound. Some of those songs are going to be redone and rehashed on a full record. Then again some of them might not. We have so much new material too. It is going to be a hard choice for that record when we record it to what makes the cut. I'd like to get the producers perspective on it. We called our second EP, Volume 2, for lack of a better title. Someone wrote to me today and asked "When is Volume 3 coming out?" The demand is there. We wanted to get that Volume 3 out for the Bowery show [back in October]. It was just timing and we couldn't get it done. Then we got offered these really big shows. Then the whole Make Rock History - go to L.A. thing. It wasn't really the time to record. Now January/February, we were hoping to pull back a little bit and record a full album. But we will see.

BnR: Would your touring plans include the West Coast?

Tommy: Yea we will probably go back to the West Coast. I get a lot of emails and music from the U.K. They love us over there. We have been asked to come over there and tour. So we are looking at spring early summer. This is all tentative. We have to work it out. We have a meeting next week to see if we can make that happen. Bring the Dirty Pearls to Europe. Probably do the West Coast too, but I want seal down Europe and the recording. Then we can fill the holes with anything else. To me, those are my main concerns: recording an album with the right producer and working out the Europe tour. Then releasing the album in Europe and supporting it and then coming back and see what is going on here.

BnR: What are your pre-gig rituals?

Tommy: I am a mile a minute guy, I will talk your ear off, but before a show I just like that alone time. Just being by myself. I do my vocal warmups and get ready to roll. A lot of times there is a huge party going on backstage before we start, and I love that and it's great. But I just need that little time alone to get my head straight, get my vocals set, and go out there and do my thing. Maybe a couple beers too.

BnR: So you live in New York City. If Tommy London didn't live in New York City, or he had to buy his own car, what car would he buy?

Tommy: My dream car is a '68 convertible Mustang, preferably red. Some day I will have that car. I actually had a '67 hard top Mustang when I was a teenager. I fucking wrecked it. I was devastated. I had it for a couple of months and wrecked it. To this day, I hate that. Some day I hope to have one again.

BnR: How old was the oldest woman who tried to have sex with you? Was she 78 or older?

Tommy: I don't think we have had a 78 year old woman at a show. The oldest woman who tried to have sex with me after show had to be at the Twisted Sister show. There were a couple cougars there. One had to be at least late 40's. She was hitting on me, but I was a little more interested in her daughter. [laughs]

BnR: So when can we hear about the Tommy London mother-daughter escapade?

Tommy: I would love for that to happy as long as the mother and daughter look like Pam Anderson. I am not going to go for Roseanne Barr and her daughter. When that happens, you guys will have the exclusive. You will be the first to know and if we make a video we will work out a deal where you guys can distribute it.

BnR: Well I don't know about that. I don't think I want to see your junk or a 78 year old woman.

Tommy: We can blue dot it.

BnR: The holidays are coming up. What does Tommy London want for Christmas, and if you don't celebrate Christmas, your favorite non-denominational holiday?

Tommy: I will speak on behalf of the band, we want a fucking record deal and a world tour. I don't think that is a lot to ask for and I don't think a lot of people are asking for that this year and the economy we are living it. If I can't get that, I'll settle for a Sirius radio. I have to get the new Sirius Stelletto. If I am on your Secret Santa list, you can just pick that up for me.

BnR: Let me cut the tension for you, you're not.

Tommy: Thanks for ruining the anticipation.

BnR: What character from the Godfather are you?

Tommy: I am going to go with Marlon Brando's character, Vito Corleone. Because I just feel like he had control. He gave and had that respect, and I don't mean that in a mafiato way, but in the way I give that out and I like to receive it.

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We want to thank Tommy for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk with us. Make sure you check out the Dirty Pearls and help them gather Toys for Tots. The show is December 18, 2008 and admission is only $5.00 when you bring an unwrapped toy. ($12.00 if you don't) They are only interested in paying the venue. Any additional money will be taken and put on a Toys R US Gift card for the Toys for Tots campaign. Every child needs a toy to make their Christmas special and you should do this, plus you get to see an awesome lineup.

Buy your tickets now to see The Dirty Pearls open for the New York Dolls on December 27, 2008. Tickets are going fast and will sell out.