Cruzados | Interview | Tony Marsico
Tony Marsico is a bassist, singer, songwriter, from the Los Angeles punk band the Plugz and rock band Cruzados. He has been a session bassist and backup bassist for artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Roger Daltrey, Marianne Faithfull, and many others.
Active still today, he recently released a new single called ‘Sleepwalker’ and is currently on tour with Cruzados that are recording new albums.
“It’s not about flash, it’s about holding down the rhythm”
Where and when did you grow up? Was music a big part of your family life? Did the local music scene influence you or inspire you to play music?
Tony Marsico: I grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My brother Frank and my uncle Pete were jazz and bebop drummers so I think I was destined to be a bassist and hold down the rhythm section. Growing up we lived atop our families pizza parlour which featured a seeburg jukebox stacked with the top 40 hits of the day. This was the music I woke up to and went to sleep to every day which inspired me to be a musician. In my late teens I discovered a whole new music scene that was booming in Philly consisting mostly of punk rock and new wave bands and I knew I had to be part of it one way or another.
When did you begin playing music? What was your first instrument? Who were your major influences?
I was about ten years old when I got my first acoustic Framus guitar. The neck was about the size of a baseball bat! It would be a few more years before my brother brought home an old beat up 60’s epiphone bass and insisted I learn to play it, and I did. As a kid I grew up on the hits of the day, mostly stuff like The Troggs, The Standells, The Animals, instrumental hits of the day, The Stones and kid friendly fun pop from The Monkees, Archies and whatever else I soaked in from am radio.
What bands were you a member of prior to the formation of The Plugz?
My first real original band in Philly were The Impossible Years, a power pop trio led by my friend Todd Shuster who is still recording with the band today, some 40 years later.
Would love to hear how The Plugz got together?
The Plugz were formed in Los Angeles in the late 1970s by El Paso, Texas born musicians Tito Larriva and Charlie Quintana but I wouldn’t join the band until 1980. In 1983 The Plugz moved to New York with a pocket full of new songs and played the usual clubs like CBGB’s where young bands tried out their stuff. We never really had a big plan to change our name to The Cruzados but our musical direction was slowly morphing into something else so we thought a name change was in order. At that time we added guitarist Stephen Huffsteter to the band who was a major part of creating our new sound.
What about the Cruzados?
Cruzados were signed by Clive Davis to Arista Records in 1985 and released two albums.
How did you get involved with Neil Young and what was that experience like for you?
Neil Young was working on his album ‘Freedom’ around 1989 and I got a call to go up to his ranch just below San Francisco for a few days. We hung around the infamous barn. Played basketball, barbecued and even managed to do some playing. Watching Neil Young recording was so inspiring. Just watching him bash it out as if he was a 16 year old kid. You can hear me on the second single from that album on a track called ‘No More’.
There’s a fantastic album you did with a group called Thunderbox.
In the 90s I became friends with vocalist Darran Falcone who lived in Joshua Tree and we really got submerged into the whole desert sound. Thunderbox was a great experience, the whole project was home spun and my first real experience with at home recording.
And you also worked with Bob Dylan and Roger Daltrey?
In 1983 our band The Plugz got a call to join Bob Dylan up at his house in Malibu, California. Apparently Bob Dylan was looking for some young guys to do some jamming with. These sessions would continue throughout 1983 and 1984 and eventually would lead to a television performance on a new tv show at the time called Late Night with David Letterman. It was a wild ride for us bunch of young punks at the time.
Another musician I really respected was Roger Daltrey from The Who. I had the pleasure of playing acoustic and electric bass for him for a brief publicity tour to support his solo release ‘Rocks in the Head’.
Looking back, what was the highlight of your time in the bands? Which songs are you most proud of? Where and when was your most memorable gig?
One of my longest stints as a bassist in a band ran for 14 years with singer songwriter Matthew Sweet. We were like family with guitarists Ivan Julian and Richard Lloyd, and to say we put a lot of miles on the road would be an understatement! One of the first songs I co wrote called ‘Motorcycle Girl’ on The Cruzados first album still brings back great memories when we play it live to this day. It was my first song on the radio and MTV. You never forget your first. I’ve certainly played a ton of gigs over the years and it’s hard to pinpoint a favourite. Of course the early gigs stick out in my mind, from CBGB’s to Al’s bar in Los Angeles to Madison Square Garden, the Royal Albert Hall and beyond. Farm Aid was a really special gig with a good cause for The Cruzados in 1987. Probably my favorite gig was performing at the Spectrum in Philadelphia where I’d seen my rock hero’s perform when I was growing up. It’s always great to go home.
What are some of the most important players that influenced your own style and what in particular did they employ in their playing that you liked?
My brother taught me at a young age that it’s not about flash, it’s about holding down the rhythm when you are playing your instrument. I tend to like the obvious great bassists; James Jamerson and Duck Dunn who do just that. I’m also a fan of Willie Dixon who did it all, a session man, a songwriter, a performer. I try to emulate that in my life. Keep busy, stay out of trouble.
What currently occupies your life?
Recently I teamed up with producer and friend Carla Olson, guitarist Jonathan Lea and drummer Rob Klonel to record a new solo single ‘Sleepwalker’ which reminds me of my early power pop days in Philadelphia.
Thank you for taking your time. Last word is yours.
These days I enjoy hanging out in California with my kids and girlfriend playing music together and writing songs. In 2022 I reformed my band The Cruzados with old LA pals – vocalist Ron Young, guitarists Loren Molinare, Mark Tremalgia, and drummer Rob Klonel. We have since released three new albums and are gearing up to do another extensive European tour. I look forward to hitting the open road and to keep playing as long as these two legs can hold me up. Great chatting with you!
Klemen Breznikar
Tony Marsico Facebook / Twitter / Bandcamp / YouTube
Cruzados Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp / YouTube
Tony Marsico has had an interesting career and his music sure looks worth checking out.