meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Ep520: Toody Cole - The Legacy of Dead Moon

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Nate Goyer

Music, Music History, Music Interviews

4.7 • 579 Ratings

🗓️ 20 October 2025

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Toody Cole of Dead Moon discusses their vinyl rarities, the DIY ethic of the band, owning a mono cutting lathe, refusing major labels, inspiring a generation of musicians around the world.

DeadMoonUSA.com  |  Zipper LP Reissue  |  Melbourne 2025 shows

Topics Include:

  • Toody Cole rushing to airport to retrieve guitar from Spain before Australian tour
  • November 2025 Melbourne shows - jumping on Jenny Don't and the Spurs tour dates
  • First time in New Zealand described as most fun tour ever - prehistoric landscapes
  • Missed Nirvana tour opportunity due to Fred's rule: never cancel committed gigs
  • Fred restored a 1954 mono cutting lathe from pieces using xeroxed manual
  • Machine had tubes like mason jars that dimmed house lights when powered up
  • First 45 cut on the lathe was "Hey Joe" and "Parchment Farm"
  • The Weeds played Vegas Teen Beat Club in the hullabaloo/shindig TV era
  • Teen Beat Records pressing was probably only 300-500 copies maximum
  • Fred never owned original Weeds single - got it back from younger sister
  • Lollipop Shop nightmare: Fred sold publishing for $1, forced into pink sweater
  • Manager claimed Fred Cole was stage name, real name "Freddy Colletti" - totally false
  • Zipper lived in their house, practiced in basement - "70s butt rock" era
  • Captain Whizeagle store name came from Fred's children's story about Snake Troopers
  • 1970 Yukon homesteading attempt broke down outside Whitehorse, changed everything
  • Dead Moon started after splitting business partnership, opening Tombstone Music in 1986
  • Kelly Manahan drew logo through dozen iterations - Fred kept demanding "gnarlier!"
  • Fred hand-cut moon into graveyard photo for first album cover artwork
  • All early Dead Moon records were mono because lathe couldn't cut stereo
  • Major labels approached during grunge explosion - Fred refused after Lollipop Shop experience
  • Seattle grunge bands were young kids attending Dead Moon's late-80s shows
  • Fred embarrassed by "godfather of grunge" label despite obvious influence on scene
  • Everything DIY: owned stores, cut masters, designed covers, kept all control
  • Portland celebrates Dead Moon Night annually on October 5th with cover bands
  • Fred handpicked songs for Echoes compilation - now 4LP vinyl box set
  • 2017 final European tour with Fred already sick from bone cancer
  • Fred passed November 2017 leaving unfinished songs Toody can only hear mentally
  • House is unofficial Dead Moon museum: lathe, stampers, posters, worn cowboy boots
  • New documentary coming with backstage footage showing band's view of audiences
  • Toody's favorite Dead Moon song "My Escape" was never performed live

High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Welcome to the Vinyl Guide, the podcast for record collectors and music nerds.

0:10.0

Here's your host, the biggest record nerd of them all, Nate Goyer.

0:13.0

Ah, well, that's me. Hey, everyone, it's Nate.

0:15.0

Welcome to episode 520 of the Vinyl Guide, the podcast for record collectors and music nerds.

0:22.3

And dear people, this week we have on the show a very special guest.

0:25.5

I've wanted to have this guest on for many years, ever since the very beginning.

0:30.0

Today we welcome Tudy Cole, who you likely know from Dead Moon, Tombstone Records,

0:36.1

even Whizz Eagle Records.

0:39.7

Today, Tudy and I have a fascinating conversation. She shares a ton of stories of the Dead Moon and Fred Cole records, including

0:46.0

Zipper, The In the Graveyard LP. We talk about records from the weeds, the rats. We discussed

0:53.6

the band's extensive history making mono records and how Dead Moon really achieved legendary status in the DIY and grunge communities.

1:01.6

They use a 1954 cutting lave that's still in her house.

1:06.2

We talk about the band refusing major labels, the creation of the iconic skull logo, and a ton more.

1:14.0

Just a quick note, fans of Dead Moon and Tutie will know she's got an amazing laugh.

1:18.7

Here's an example of that right now.

1:22.1

Oh, it's fantastic.

1:23.8

Now, during our interview, her microphone would distort when she did that amazing laugh.

1:29.2

So I had to manage the levels on that a bit.

1:31.0

But hey, Dead Moon is about mood, not the polish.

1:34.8

It's spirit, not perfection.

1:36.3

I know many audiophiles listening can be sensitive to distortion.

1:39.7

So just calling this out early before the emails and messages start.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Nate Goyer, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Nate Goyer and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.