So, after years and years and years and years and years and years of playing the drums, you finally got to go into a studio to create a full-length, honest to goodness, fuckin' "A" cd. And it was going to have major distribution (not just beggin' your friends to buy one - which doesn't hurt in any case).
Battershell always laid down demos of songs before going in to record "the real thing". But you joined Battershell after the demos for Sunshine in Popopia had been recorded. Tammy Lynn and Jamie went up to Freudian Slip Records in Nanuet, NY with good bud Kevin Lacey and recorded demos of many of the songs that would become the bulk of Sunshine in Popopia.
Actually, Battershell had recorded an ep with Kevin a year or so before - a 4 song, low-fi gem called The Beautiful Princess of Spit.
Ya see, after Tammy Lynn took a bus from California to NYC in 1994 with only a couple of bucks in her pocket (she could have had "Welcome to the Jungle" blaring out of boom box following her around because it was exactly the same scenario), she befriended some people that would become quite influential on her song writing and would become part of Battershellian lore. They were (in no particular order):
1. Virg - Funky-fresh guitarist of the band Yummy, oftentime road manager for Battershell, drinking and drooling buddy par excellence, and, sadly, a member of the dead rocker's society that includes all the greats in Rock and Roll (love you, Virg).
2. Matt - Dread-locked drummer for the Nirvana of the east coast, Johnny Bravo, best friend of Virg's and early recording drummer for Battershell.
3. Ansley and Bran - Twin musical prodigies of Johnny Bravo and early influences on Tammy Lynn's song writing.
4. Tina - KICK ASS MUTHA GUITARIST, early Battershellian, one of Tammy Lynn's roommates, future guitarist for Helldorado (Tammy's hubby's band) and the best damn haircutter that Charlie ever had.
5. Kevin Lacey - Talented engineer and producer of Freudian Slip Recording Studios and one of the calmest individuals on the planet (in the face of what was at times, CERTAIN LUNACY).
Don't want this blog to be too long, so keep your lips moist for some more in a day or so...