Stephen Pearcy

0:15And we're back with another episode of the Rocker Dog Cast, the only show that talks to musicians about their dogs. I'm your host Tim Dill, along with my sleeping dog Charlie. And today we are excited to welcome none other than the inventor of Rat and Roll himself, Steven Pearcy, lead singer of the Platinum Arena rockers Rat. Steven will be releasing his sixth solo album called The Dog Mob this summer and is currently on the road commemorating the 40th anniversary of Rat's third album, Dancing Undercover.

0:47And this is his 95 lbs of Fury Rocker Dog. We are Speaking of Bear. The one they call Bear as you. Are one they call Bear? Yeah, whoever they are, they call him Bear. Now what breed is bear? He is Chow Shepherd. He's got the black tongue, the toes and everything else going. And what's interesting is when we got him, we didn't know, but he had a pure white sister. The guy didn't bring it because it was like some kind of a deal. We had to meet him somewhere, get him all his cash and.

1:34So do you know his birthday? I think he's about 5 1/2. OK. We got him. It was about 5 little over five years ago. Yeah, it was a little ball of Fern. Now he's 90 pipe, 95 lbs of fury. I have, I have his birthday and I, you know, admittedly I go to your social media. So I don't know if this is true or not. It's kind of irrelevant. I have it as April 29th, 2020. So we're in the middle of the pandemic. Is that correct? That's about right. Yeah. OK. That's about right.

2:08What was the impetus for forgetting Bear at that time? Well, I'll tell you, Christy and I, the my wife, she wanted to get another cat because her other cat had passed and I wanted to get another dog. So we decided let's do an experiment. I've never gotten a Kitty and a puppy and grew them up together. It's an experience and we've been taking notes all these years. They've taken on each other's traits, they're inseparable and it's quite a relationship they have.

2:44I mean, they know each other so well. They sit together, lie together, sleep near each other sometimes. But they are tight. And it worked you. Know yeah, again, going back to social media, it's amazing to see these animals play with one another when you know the cats 1/8 of the size of bear yes, they you know yet they have a roughness and a gentleness that works for both of them. Correct. Yeah, that cat. Let me tell you that cat, we have stuff of him when he was when there were babies playing, that cat would take him down.

3:20And even now the cat gives him a run. Charles will give him a run. And Charles ain't no rut. He's he's a Belgium. Whatever the hell he is. I don't know, but he's a pretty big guy. But Bear kind of knows he I mean, all he has to do is just what? You know, yeah. He puts up a. Well, in looking at the breed also, I can't remember I got this, but it said early socialization as a puppy is recommended because I guess obviously that breed does get to be a big size so you want it to be kind of sociable. So it seemed like your experiment really benefited at all.

3:55It did. And you know, he loves people as long as he's not on defense mode. Like if we're around him, he wants to say hi to dogs, people, whatever. But the dog is scared of him because he'll come running right at him and the people don't know what to think. But he just wants to be, you know, friendly guy. But when he is out there doing his defending and protecting, he's on. I mean, it's crazy. You know, he knows his job. We've got a lot of property around here and like acres of Freeland, I think right there. There's coyotes.

4:30So it's, it's quite wild around here. We live actually Deers and you name it, they're here running around. Yeah, he's, he's got a lot, a lot going here as I look at the yard. Yeah, he's a good protector, definitely. Well, Speaking of that exactly, did you seek out a breed like that to be somewhat of a protector? Yeah, I wanted, my other dog was kind of small and I've had Australian shepherds before, purebreds, black tribe, Blue Merle and, and they're about his size, you know, 6080 lbs.

5:05And, and so I was ready, but it was time for a big dog because I knew we were, we knew we were going to go living out in a, you know, this kind of area, not money, much housing and wild animals. So we wanted a rough dog, you know, and we got it. Got got it in spades. Yeah, and we don't feed them trashy foods either. You know, I, I'll, I'll cook them a freaking steak and chop it up and give them with this health food that has carrots and all this. So we really try to keep them healthy, too. Yeah.

5:39And which I, I think most people don't don't know about pets, pet foods, You know, everybody really does research. They look at the package and they say, oh, you know, well, you know, you're pretty much killing your dog sooner. Yeah, buying this crappy ass food. I mean, look, people, the way people fed animals back in the day and their pets were table scraps. Yeah. You know, there are some cool celebrities out there that really push the animal health fitness well-being, which is cool because we're getting ready to start a pet foundation ourself.

6:21All right, we're busy doing some things that we'll announce soon, or Crucy is spearheading it. Yeah, we want to open up eventually a pet sanctuary, kind of a joint, you know, lost animals, animals that need care. There's a few of them around here. I mean, that's what we love about this place. You know, people really love their animals around here. You need them, you know? You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. Well, that sounds great. I look forward to hearing more about it when you guys are ready to announce it. Where does your love of animals come from? I've always loved animals since I was a kid. You always had a dog, whether it was my mom's. And then I started getting into like, I want my own pet, you know, later teen.

7:08But I really thought one time I didn't know I was gonna be the singer guy in this band, let alone have success with this thing for so long. But I wanted to actually be a veterinarian, you know? Yeah, a race car driver or a veterinarian. I really didn't have a choice because I was involved with race cars, a pit crew member as a kid for years. And I loved my pets, you know, But I didn't know the music thing was an accident. I really thought I was going to be like a veterinarian or.

7:43Piercing. I don't think there was much of an option, you know? Yeah. So any of your childhood pets that you can think back and they're the kind of your soul animal. No, I became close with my stepdad's dog. Kind of look like him. His name was Brutus. It was big in the chest, almost like him. A matter of fact, he was a Belgium shepherd. OK. Yeah, he was like, just like him. Big 80 something pound dog. But one time he had bit me and I probably still have the scars.

8:18He bit me in the shin and it dropped me and I was like, holy shit. And I didn't like that dog much after that. And then, you know, I got into a hold of the things. You're not my friend. Yeah. But yeah, I like, I like the big dogs. A buddy of mine had a Saint Bernard. Another guy had a couple of German. Oh, no pinchers. Why Dobermans? Oh yeah, yeah, those things are fan in the ass. You can always stick those things on us. And we were young man. Well, I had Fred Corey on the show and in his Instagram it seems like on his periphery there's a lot of dog loving musicians. So I asked him, I said who in your sphere is a dog person? And he, he said you.

9:03Yeah, right on my little brother Freddie. Yeah. And he said when you guys were roommates, I think both when you were roommates and when you guys had your own places, you had the Australian Shepherds, Yeah. The two shepherds. Yeah, and you bred them? Yeah, and, and my mom was actually got me into the Australian Shepherds. She had one and it had babies and I actually helped it have babies in her closet. Oh my gosh. You decided to have him in my room, but she was scared so she didn't want to do and I was all hands on, you know? How old are we talking?

9:39Odds. I was like 1314. OK, But yeah, you know, I've always loved and cats. Who would have thought? I never thought I would be in love with or like cats. Yep, they love me. They're coming to me. And now Skinny's my best friend. Lays all over me. I mean, who would have thought? You know, the dog, he he just puts up with it. Oh, you know, let the cat lie on him right now. But I really love cats. I never thought, you know, And it's because they're a strange animal in themselves.

10:12Yeah. Now, with all your experience with dogs, what do they teach you to that? Do you learn anything from dogs? But yeah, I learned a lot from him. I learned patience, defense. Listen a lot, you know, I like to listen to what he's trying to figure out out there because he'll hear like, baby coyotes, like way out there. We know what they're doing. They're eating. They're getting ready to eat. Mama's all right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah, he's a, he's a pretty smart guy.

10:42There's pretty smart guy, very loving, you know, he just, I'll tell you, he just loves Christie. Like forget about me. He knows I'm just the the guy that'll control him. But he really cares for her. Like to where it's almost bothersome. You just want to be near a protector and you know, you're OK and you know, she's back, you know, and what people don't understand is when your dogs and pets really don't want much of you. Yeah, just maybe be food, of course. But they want affection, you know, they give it to you with unquestionably.

11:21They don't ask for anything in return. You know, that's what I dig about it. You know, especially dogs because and, and cats, you know, I I'm a firm believer any animal you can have a relationship with. Yeah. Seriously now like I insinuated, I see Bear you know a lot on your social media which your thousands of fans do as well, so I assume he's become a topic of conversation during your meet and greets is. That always people give me pictures and this and that's where I say I'm going to give him his own page soon enough. But I don't want that to take up all my time. So I got my own thing going.

12:00But he he kind of knows and you know when we go out tour and I've always wanted him to go on the road, but it's got to be right. He can't be out there for weeks and weeks, you know. So grab a bus, keep him out for a few days. I want to bring them on stage, maybe do a couple local gigs. It's time, you know? Yeah. You all want a bear, you know? My gosh. People freak. Out. I'm gonna, yeah, I'm gonna do that soon enough. But traveling, Yeah, it's gonna be interesting if I have to go out soon enough for maybe over.

12:38Yeah, three weeks. I'll most probably we'll. We'll take him and the cats. Come on in. You know, I'll tell you what, we. I did a show with the Ted Nugent and the guys from. Night Ranger. Yeah, yeah. And he had his dogs backstage and he goes, I don't go anywhere without my dogs. And he had like 4 of them. We took a picture and it was bitching. And, you know, he's like me people. The animals are more important than fucking humans. You know, you don't have to put a football.

13:16But he's like me and my pets 1st. And thank you very much. Yeah, doesn't go anywhere without. He really loves his pets. I'll tell you, Ted loves those animals. His dogs. I'm glad you mentioned that. That's I've got that note. I saw that picture and I pulled that quote. Yeah, you see that? Isn't that bitching? Yeah. Backstage. Yeah. And he kept pulling in his truck backstage, like, yeah, fucking nowhere without my dogs. I'm like, yes, what fucking guy, man, you know? You know, But I got to tell you what your animals need attention too.

13:52Yeah, you still get a pet and say, oh, he's cute. There's my dog or even my cat or whatever. They need affection. So what kind of bugs me sometimes is people get pets and they really don't do anything with their pet but say here's my pet, we'll walk and thing, take it on a car ride, let it experience, you know, it's what they want. They just want to give you 100% unconditional love. Get that a little bit, get that life's good. Return the favor. You know, we want talk so much, and not only is it good for me, you know it's good for him, you know, because we talk and you know, the guy listens to me. If I got a problem, he'll look me in the eyes and we'll get a connection there.

14:37People can say whatever, but no, if my dog hears, there's something going on between the two of us, even if we're raising our voices over a neighbor or something, or this is that that dog, Go, go. What's the matter? You do, you know, they're smart. You know, people can give their pets enough credit that they, they're, they're tape machines too. They're taking things in, you know, they're picking it up. I can wrap things up with what I call the zoomies, and that's just five fast, frivolous questions. Zoomies.

15:11First question, do you allow bear to lick your face? Yeah, totally. But sometimes you'll give me a kiss and it'll be like, you know, really a spit on you. But you know, then again, it's not as bad as the same Bernard, so. Oh my gosh, I can imagine. You know. All right, Question 2, does Bear have a theme song, whether it's a his own song or a popular song that kind of embodies him? You know when I when he rides with me and I, I post stuff of him in the car stuff.

15:44He loves priests. And so funny. You said on scooters, priests, man. So it's either breaking the law or hot rocking or something and he sits in the car. He's like, you know, years back, just you can tell he's smiling. That's what I love about, you know, when we, me and him are together, it's a whole nother world without her, the cats and this. We have our moment. I believe me. I talked to that dog. I got a problem. I don't want to talk to a human about it.

16:15I'll talk to him, you know. I'm I'm, I'm a dog talker myself. Yeah. And then sometimes then I know they understand. He'll look at me and I'll just go, wow, look, it was on, you know, And they, yeah, people put it this way, hate and people hurt animals. Oh my gosh. Nothing. I'll say go back to the zoomies. Yeah, don't get me started on that. All right. Question 3 Has you just got into it, but has Bear been to any gigs? Has he been to a local gig or any modular gigs?

16:49Actually, no. OK, so hypothetically. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And there's no really reason for it. It just has to be the right timing. OK, so the timing is right. You take him out on the road. What do you put on the rider for Bear? Oh, that's a good one. I would. Yeah, I get them. These, these bones chopped up at the market, you know, they're perfect one. They look not the fake ones. It's the real deal. They eat the marrow, the bone marrow, you know, You know a pack of those for him.

17:26And he doesn't ask much. I'll tell you what, you know what he loves? Beef jerky. Human grade beef jerky, Yeah. OK. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll see those on the rider when when he goes out on tour with you. He'll be out soon enough. OK, question 4. Do you have a dog voice? No. OK. Dog voice like wow, wow I don't. Do you go like a like a head voice? Do you go falsetto with your dog ever? Oh my God damn it. No, I go. No. I'm usually having to give him orders because he, he's direct drive.

18:05He's like me. He's gone. He's gone. Not stopping him. So that's what I got to go, you know? Yeah, yeah. OK. He's got some nuts up, boy. He doesn't have him physically anymore, but unfortunately, because I would love it. A little baby bear. Yeah. All right. And the last question is, would you like to give a shout out to anyone, an individual, an organization, a service that does good for dogs? Yeah, well, I give kudos to the real animal animal sanctuaries and I give sometimes to them. That's why you decided let's maybe do our own thing to know really where things are going.

18:50But I I love these independent guys and people who go out and actually try to help animals and you see them online and stop, you know, helping an animal, helping a cat, dog, whatever that I admire anybody who does good for animals. I like. Yeah. You know, anybody who does bad for animals deserve the death penalty, Right. And because, you know, I got to tell you, in the early days, it was man and dog, and that was your guy. And that was the way it was.

19:23And you know, it's like, wow, soul mates, it's hard. It's hard. You know, you find an animal and then I mean a pet, especially a dog. That's the difference between dogs and cats. People kind of don't understand. Cat people don't understand it, dog people don't understand. But that's why you wanted to do the experiment with with Charles. And there I wanted to see what the hell right between both of them. And they're both unique. I'll tell you because I've always been a dog guy, right?

19:53Well, now I'm hoping to like I love the cats too, but I'm a pretty much a dog man. Matter of fact, I'll tell you right now, the name of my new solo album coming out this summer is called the Dog Mob. Awesome. And the reason I'm calling it that is for the first time I'm having all these special guests on my record playing different solos, drums, bass. So I'm like, wow, we're like a dog, you know, dog mob here, man. So I went, hey Dogg, you know, and I'll probably put bear on the cover. You know that not going to be in no passive smile mode. He's going to.

20:36I'm going to get him at his most vicious, you know. I love it. Well, I, I tell you I we have so much to look forward to. We got the new the new disc, we got the animal sanctuary. So a lot coming up. Well, Steven, this has been a pleasure. Your music been a big part of my formative year. So I I appreciate your time and it was great discovering you're such a dog guy. Thank you so much brother and. Be in touch soon. Thank you brother. OK, take care, yes. Carl, you're a damn good dog.