The Designer Drugs
Story/photos by Kim Stock

On July 2nd, The Designer Drugs (TDD) wrapped up their ten day, west coast Warped Tour and jumped back in the van to return to Upstate NY, where they then played a show with fellow Warped Tour artists, In This Moment. I caught up with them while the engine was still warm to find out what’s in store for this high energy, eccentric band. As a photographer, I can tell you that lead vocalist, Emily Dee is one of the most difficult performers to shoot. She does not pause, at all, on that stage. The last time I shot them, about three weeks ago, they opened for 100 Monkeys. For those of you that aren’t familiar with 100 Monkeys, a member of their band (Jackson Rathbone) is also one of the vampires in the movie Twilight. The musical styles are not exactly similar between TDD and 100 Monkeys, but I later found out that the two were booked on the same bill simply because TDD drummer, Barry looks similar to Robert Pattinson, also a vampire in the movie Twilight. Now, while you and I may think that’s a ridiculous reason to share a bill, TDD know that in this business, you do whatever it takes to gain exposure and perform in front of any audience, just to perform.

Even if means traveling across the country from 6/28-7/2 just to play in front of a brand new, west coast audience, in a hot smelly van with no AC, because you just never know what good may come of the sacrifices you make. While there, they shared the stage with Chivet, Dommin, Peachcake, Superman is Dead, Alana Grace, After Midnight Project, and Emmure.

What was your best Warped Tour experience?
At the only after party we attended on our last Warped date, Jefferee Star telling Nate, our merch guy, that he's a cutie. We're all big fans of Jefferee Star's stage show, so that was a big deal. And on the subject of Jefferee Star, it seems like every single time we went to band catering he was there, which is kinda weird, cuz he's so skinny it looks like he never eats!

The worst?
Sleeping for 3 hours in a parking lot in Phoenix. In, like, 110°. Barry and Emily formed a suicide pact, because it was so miserable. Oh, and lets not forget the sunburns... despite buckets of sun block.

So then, would you consider doing it again?
In a heartbeat!

I hear you picked up another passenger on your way back to NY...
Aw, we call her Pickles, we found her by the side of the road after our San Antonio show.  She was just wandering around and after taking one look, we decided we MUST take her home with us. And she's a Dachshund Chihuahua mix, we believe, so she's travel sized, she's the Designer Doggy.

You have one CD released already titled, “By Rx Only”. Any future plans?
A new album in the hopefully foreseeable future!  We've got a lotta songs in the works kicking around, I think our number goal now that we're home is to see them finished, and we just got word that hopefully Warped Tour 2010 will be in our future, and for  a longer stint, hopefully, no promises yet.

You’re signed to Altercation? How did that come about?
Yes. We signed with then in late 2007 after Blasé Debris showed them our demo, and we completed a DIY, seven week, cross country tour. They liked the demo, and I think they really liked the dedication it takes to put together a tour that size all on your own.

Who are your biggest influences?
New York Dolls, David Bowie, The Clash, Dead Boys, The Rocky Horry Picture Show, good music past or present (and I, Emily, am personally still in love with Gwen Stefani and Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs).

So, who in TDD writes most of your songs/lyrics and how would you describe your sound?
Mascara, sex, and a complete lack of shame. The lyrics are mostly written by me, Miss Emily Dee, also Juston Speed (bass) has a few songs he writes top to bottom. All the boys who play strings write the songs: Rodney, Dain, Juston. Basically Rodney or Dain will bring a guitar hook to practice and everybody else will build the rest of the song around it.