For metalheads who think Jason McMaster and his boot stompin' band Dangerous Toys fell overboard during the Grunge movement of the mid-90s, well, you may want to take a deep breath.
Long before Corey Taylor was fronting Slipknot and Stone Sour -- and lending his production talents and vocals to other projects -- McMaster, who was born in Corpus Christi and moved to Austin in 1981, formed Watchtower in 1982. He made his mark with the 1987 formation of Dangerous Toys, which released four albums and a live record. None were more popular than their 1989 self-titled debut that spawned the "Dial MTV" requested videos "Teas'n Pleas'n" and "Scared," McMaster's ode to Alice Cooper.
Broken Teeth became another of McMaster's original bands in 1999. All three units are still together.
But there's more.
McMaster has been in a slew of tribute bands, including but not limited to Judas Priest (Sad Wings: watch "The Ripper" here), KISS (SSIK), Metallica (Killa Maul), and a one-night-in-Chicago tribute to Rush (Cygnus and the Sea Monsters) that also enlisted Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy and Mr. Big/Racer-X guitarist Paul Gilbert.
In 2004, McMaster sang on five songs for Spastic Ink's Ink Compatible, which featured San Antonio guitarist and Watchtower alum Ron Jarzombek, whose drummer brother Bobby I conducted a sit-down interview with recently.
Oh, and there's McMaster's 1998 induction into the Texas Music Hall of Fame, when he joined Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others.
Falling overboard? Not quite. But McMaster and Broken Teeth did get "Shiprocked" last year, when they joined Queensryche, Ratt, Skid Row and Tesla on a concert fan cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to the Bahamas. They'll be doing so again in November with Cinderella, supergroup HAIL, and more to be announced.
Closer to home, Dangerous Toys will perform April 24 at Backstage Live. On May 1, McMaster will play bass with his AC/DC tribute band Big Balls (weren't they mentioned yet?) at the Clicks Billiards on Loop 410 and Evers.
Dangerous Toys, which played last year's South Texas Rockfest at Sunken Garden Theater and hopes to be invited back on Memorial Day Weekend, released a 20th anniversary DVD/CD on Jan. 26 that featured a 2007 concert filmed at Red Eyed Fly in Austin.
McMaster, who turns 45 on March 18, sorted it all out when I phoned him over the weekend. You can exhale now.
Q: How do you keep track of all the bands you're in?
A: Fairly recently, I did four shows in one week with four different bands in three cities. The more you do it, the more you get used to it. You make due and find your center. It's like anything. You really only have to do one rehearsal with each band. I like to call it Rock N' Roll Kung-Fu.
Q: Why did you come close to changing the name Dangerous Toys in 1995, and what was it going to change to?
A: The music we were writing at the time were a mix of softer and harder songs, sort of more novel and current sounding material, and our fans weren't going to recognize them. Blindly being influenced to what was happening in the mid-90s to metal is how I can explain to why it was all over the place. When we were recording these songs, the title The R-tist 4merly known as Dangerous Toys came up. We decided to just call the record that rather than the band. The fans wouldn't recognize these songs. You know, I'm not saying 'baby' in every song. It was funny, because at the time, Prince was in a battle with his record company and became The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, then changed his name to the symbol.
Q: With so many tribute bands, which is your preference?
A: I like it all. All of those institutionalized rock bands -- it's my DNA. You have those songs, and they're filed away in your brain. They're deep embedded. That stuff's like breathing, and I've been fans of all those bands. I'm 14 all over again when I play those songs.
Q: What can San Antonians expect from both of your upcoming shows, and do you think you'll be a part of the South Texas Rockfest again this year?
A: Just pretty much a greatest hits show -- all of our favorites plus some deep cuts. The show on April 24 is through the same promoter (as the Rockfest) -- Nikita Productions. I would imagine they would ask us at some point.
Q: You got to be on the other side of the tribute ledger when Shadows Fall covered "Teas'n Pleas'n" with your help onstage. How was that for you?
A: It's on The Art of Touring DVD and took place when they came through Austin a handful of years ago. I had previously recorded that song with them recording the track. They sent it to me, and I cut the vocal, and it came out on Fallout From the War as the bonus track with me on the vocal. I think it's cool when the sort of nu-school bands come up and aren't afraid to say, "I was totally into you." Shadows Fall was definitely one of those bands that grew up on Dangerous Toys, Motley Crue, Motorhead -- whatever.
Q: You're in some pretty select company in the Texas Music Hall of Fame. Any thoughts?
A: I don't want to bad-mouth it, but it's kind of funny that the Hall of Fame is not really a building or a hall. It's probably a filing cabinet downtown at the Austin Chronicle. But it's recognition. You're suggested by a poll. People write your name every year, and once you get written enough times, they put you on the poll. I got voted in, and when I saw the roster of others that were in there, it was kind of a "Wayne's World" kind of thing -- I'm not worthy.
Q: When you spoke to the University of Texas music class in 2007, what kind of message did you share?
A: It was a class the university is having (modeled after "Inside the Actors Studio" on Bravo). I'm sure they still have a version of it. Basically it was music business do's and don'ts. It was a seminar of things in front of about 30 people. It was really cool. The questions were cool, and some of my friends heard about it and came down and asked questions, too.
Q: "Shiprocked" sounds like an incredible opportunity for going on a cruise, checking out great bands, getting a tan and taking part in some debauchery. How did it go last year, and what can you tell people about this year's trip?
A: We did it last year, and it was great, and we were pleasantly asked to do it again. It very well could save Rock N' Roll. Imagine being on a gigantic tour bus in the middle of the ocean with all these great bands, and it's your vacation. Everybody's out having fun. But I'm a vampire. I don't go in the sun. While people are out swimming with dolphins, I'm in bed.
- Who: Dangerous Toys
- When: Friday, April 24
- Where: Backstage Live; 1305 E. Houston St. (210) 688-1434
- Tickets: $10 at Etix.com or call Flip Side Records (210) 923-7811
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