Since this Internet became the only real place left on the planet where a music junkie can browse the virtual stores, I've managed over the years to find many of the Kevin K albums that were missing from my collection. I've still got a few gaps but not many. I loved the Road Vultures (just one of Kevin K's previous bands) and the Kool Kats were great, as was his acoustic work and his noisy German experimental one, 'Deutschland'. It's all been straight down the line honest rock 'n' roll with plenty of attitude. Having decided to take a much deserved break, will this in fact bring the curtain down on an incredible recording catalogue and end his recording days? Who knows, but his incredible output will always remain.

After his recent 'Joey And Me' release I decided to track down Mr K and fire some questions to him because, whilst he'll tell you his career in music is one of a successful loser, incidentally also the name of his very enjoyable autobiography, I'd refute that and rather paint him as a musical troubadour, fighting the good fight in the rock 'n' roll trenches, one who rolled with the punches and would have more stamps in his rock 'n' roll passport than most other musicians, writers, singer songwriters. For me his last few albums were right on the money as far as creating a worthy dynasty and confirming him as torch bearer for simply the best form of music ever made, from the likes of the Heartbreakers or Ramones. Kevin K has been there, seen it, done it and got the scars to prove it. Read on for a bit of an insight into the wonderful world of Kevin K, a true rock 'n' roll troubadour. Ladies and germs I give you Kevin K.......

Was 'Joey And Me' really the end of your recordings or have I read that wrong somewhere? If it is, why now?

Probably.....Well, twenty solo CDs is a lot. Many people don't even have the first ten!! I'm gonna start to reissue them. Starting with '13th Street' and 'Kiss Of Death'. I feel a little burned out from writing. And another new CD won't help me much. This all could change though, I'm writing a few new songs for 'OLDMAN CRACK', that's my 85 year old father who sings and plays harmonic; it's VERY original sounding...

Any regrets?

No regrets, never.

What about not taking that Waterboys gig? Could you have changed your style to be a Waterboy?

Never...It would have helped me for sure. But at the time I wasn't into it. I liked my girl and my band.

What have you learnt over the years about recording? Have you ever thought about getting into producing other bands?

I learned that you don't change things. I try and keep my songs in the moment. I have a tape of Keith Richards singing some songs (demos) for the 'Voodoo Lounge' record and they sound better than the versions on the record. I would love to produce other bands, but not for free!

I think the Texas Terri split and 'Joey And Me' are the best sounding records you've made and the songs are really strong, would you agree? 

I agree. It is really good.

What's the most fun you've had recording, solo or with the Road Vultures or other projects you've been in? And who's the best musician you've recorded with and what did you learn from the experience?

All my records have been fun to make. The Cheetah Chrome session with Road Vultures was amazing. I still remember being in the room with Cheetah. He puts the Marshall amp on full and plays the intro of 'Chatterbox' - my ears hurt for three days. Patrick Klein is always on the ball. He is for sure the most consistent musician that works with me.. He REALLY knows my music..

Of all the gigs you've played there must be a book full of stories to tell that you didn't put in the book......

Oh shit, there are so many...In 1981 we played a club in Pittsburgh. We were guaranteed $300 dollars. Of course the sound man gives us $200. We complain and go to talk with the owner. He invites us in his office. I say, "Look, we drove from Buffalo (7 hours drive) we need the other $100 dollars." He says, "Look, if you have a problem, too bad" and points to a shotgun leaning against the wall. We said, "Well thank you very much" and left. So many gigs at clubs with overflowing toilets...ugh..

Do you think Johnny Thunders would have come through for you if you'd have given him the $100. You'd have had a suit from when he toured Asia or would he have tucked you up and it would have been the last you'd seen of that money? Do you think he got enough respect from his peers for his music and what would you say was his best work?

Yes, I think I would have that suit right now. I would be wearing it while doing this interview... I have a pair of Johnny Thunders' leather pants. Freddy Lynxx gave them to me about 15 years ago. When I got them I actually slept in my bed with them. I was afraid someone would steal them!! There are even dried blood stains on the front. No, John didn't get respect until he died. 'So Alone' is amazing, just real songs from the heart. Broken for sure....

You must be pleased with the book and how it came out because it's not a really heavy read and there are lots of light hearted pieces in it. Is it how you intended it to be? Would you change any of it now looking back? Personally I'd have loved to see more pictures from your career with the likes of Johnny and Jerry or the Ramones....

Love it. I'm real proud of it. I wanted an easy book for people to read, short. It's a good read for someone that doesn't even know me. It is like Dee Dee Ramone's book, 'Legend Of A Rock Star'. I read Keith Richards' book, good but WAY too many pages. Too many stories of his kid life (boring) and no stories of him snorting a pile of blow with Ronnie Wood...why wasn't that in there? In Hollywood at my friend Johnny Witmer's apartment I read Cheetah's book.....again, too many pages of his kid life, but I got REAL tired of drug story after drug story. I recognized so many of the names in his book. When I was done I kind of felt sick.. bad memories...

Is the record store you worked in in Manhattan still there or has it gone the way of 99% of the world's music stores and died a death.

Yes, Sounds Records is still on St. Marks Place in NYC, and now with a book out I have moved out of the "music cd only" guy categories....I'M A WRITER !!! Hahahaha that's big in France.

What other musicians currently making music do you admire?

I don't like anyone.

You mentioned Freddy Lynxx; do you know what Freddy is up to these days? He's another guy who wrote some great songs yet there is so little information available on him even today with this internet, at least people can get hold of his album 'Larger Than Life'.

Oh no, not heard from Freddy in about 10 years. When I was in France last month someone told me they heard his health was bad.

What music are you currently listening to?

Sorrows reissue from 1981. A great power pop band from New York. Arthur Alexander the guitar player came out to see my show in Los Angeles last week and gave me a CD, it's really good.

Put on an mp3 player and give us the first five songs on random - no cheating!!

'Tumbling Dice', 'One Track Mind', 'Sell Your Love' (Iggy Kill City reissue), 'Still Alive' (Social D), 'I'm Insane' (T-Model Ford)

If someone came up to you and asked you to play a few songs that could turn them on to your music what would be the first three songs you'd play?

'Jennifer Love Song', 'Do You Wanna Kiss', 'She's Got The Look'

How would you describe the music business now compared to when you first started? I've heard it described as the same shit just a different smell from the 80s to the 90s and on through the noughties; what's your take on it.

LAZY...So many musicians rely on technology. Gimmick guitar pedals. Over-produced drum sounds. In the modern-day studio everything sounds perfect and mass produced. I hate it. I'd like to be a hockey player again.....or work at WalMart!!!

On to recording; do you have a home set up with a computer, cubase or protools or is that something that doesn't interest you?

No, I have a simple 50 watt Marshall amp, Shure 57 microphone and an 8 track Tascam machine - All my songs and ideas start and end here.

Having had Johnny Thunders play your guitar in your room, any regrets that you never got to record anything with the guy and, if given the choice, what would be your dream band line-up be?

Absolutely. Dream line-up would have to be Me, my brother Alan, Johnny and Jerry Nolan.

Were there ever opportunities for you to come and play in the UK? You've done plenty of gigs on mainland Europe but not the UK, why not?

I have had a few small offers. But it's like playing in New York. No money, no drinks, no food, no hotel....and overflowing toilets. If I could get three good shows I'd be there next week!!

You played in CBGB's many times. Some of the great bands who played in there like the Dead Boys, Ramones and all the guys like Johnny Thunders, D Generation, Blondie etc remind me of over here in the UK during the 80s when the Marquee club would have Lords Of The New Church, Hanoi Rocks, The Quireboys etc. These venues, much like the record stores, have closed over the last few years -  do you think it's harder now for a band to play and grow as a proper band than back in the day?

It seems nowadays a band gets a Myspace page and Facebook and they think they've made it but they have never gone on the road or even played a dozen real gigs.

Do you think this will ever change? Will there come a time when bands will create a community again and you'll have venues that put on good gigs or has that scene been resigned to the history books?

I think if anything things might get worse for bands. There really is no community between bands. Everybody has a bigger and better Facebook page. No-one gets paid, everything is for free.. I still hope it's about having good songs, good influences. Is Kid Rock really someone's hero??

Being a New Yorker and playing the States many times and also playing mainland Europe, what are the differences between the audiences in your opinion? People in the UK are aware that rock music is big in countries like Germany yet wouldn't associate France as having good clubs and touring bands yet people like yourself and Jeff Dahl, as well as many other North American bands, always play loads of shows in France - what's the deal, is there a good underground indie scene there?

I find in France, Germany and Spain, people like to go to clubs and smoke and see a band. They leave the internet behind. They like meeting friends and talking in person. In USA it has to be a special show for people to come out....but I had a packed show in Los Angeles last month. I think LA has a good music scene, The Redwood Bar is great.....I don't know about anything anymore!!!!

Regarding the 'Firestorm' record with Texas Terri, were there anymore songs written and recorded that didn't make the album?

No, those were the only songs we recorded with TXT. I have two songs that were demos, but never recorded.

Finally you mentioned you're going to re-issue your back catalogue; will they be remastered or re-recorded and will they have bonus tracks with them? What about the Road Vultures stuff or Lone Cowboys, will any of that get a release? Most importantly how can people get hold of the CDs? Will they be available on places like Amazon UK or just through the Kevin K website?

I have many Kevin K CDs available on CD Baby. I'm going to remaster the old Kevin CDs. I'd like to remix the songs with Cheetah Chrome from 'Fire It Up'. Yeah I still like those Road Vulture songs. Strong.....

KevK - very warm - Florida - 2011

www.myspace.com/kevinkrock