Mr Vegas Interview – Mr Vegas’ Movies
Sept 2001

Let’s catch everyone up. I’m with the artist formerly known as Kid Vegas. He has recently become the newest member of the Extreme Associates team.

How did this happen?

I approached Extreme about a month ago with the idea of changing my image. I told them I was willing to handle other projects as well as directing. They have me doing PR for the Armageddon line and I’ll be taking that over soon.

Taking over the line?

That’s right, I’ve already got plans to force Tom Byron out and take over Armageddon.

What movies are you going to shoot?

I’m going to start out with some of the Extreme Teen series and some big titty stuff. I might be taking over the Fossil Fuckers as well, but we’re still talking about that. I start shooting my first movie, as Mr. Vegas next week sometime.

Did you quit Legend or you were fired?

I quit Legend Video.

Why?

The pay was too low, they wouldn’t let me be involved in my own projects. I wasn’t allowed to sit in on any of the editing. All of the notes I ever wrote were trashed. I would take abuse from one of the upper management guys, Jack in front of women I brought in for interviews. They didn’t offer me a position like I have here. That company isn’t going anywhere. They got rid of Max Hardcore, they got rid of Bill Whitrock and I figured I was probably next. They were putting me off on projects and dropping my budget with each title. I was expected to do all the advertising and promotion for my titles, so I decided to look for something better.

Did you go to other companies?

I approached a few companies, but Extreme was the best of the lot. I really enjoy working with Tom Byron and Rob Black. This is like a family. Legend was run like a business. All the money went to the top guys and the staff all got left out. They underpaid their staff. Jack used to yell at people in front of clients. This is a better environment, with people closer to my age. Besides, this company is growing rapidly and Legend is shrinking.

How long did you make movies for Legend?

Two and a half years.

Did you work for anyone before Legend?

I performed in a lot of movies. That’s how I got started. Jim Powers got me started in this business.

How?

I grew up with Jim. He’s an old punk rock buddy of mine.

How many movies have you made?

I have short around sixteen. I did a couple of Private features that were never completed, I did one gonzo for Cream, but they lost the video. There were a number of individual projects as well.

Most people know you from the Kid Vegas movies.

Yeah, most people know that image.

You won an XRCO award for Worst Video of the Year. Was that the only time you won that award?

No, I have two previous awards for the same thing.

Do you think you deserved those awards?

I think I deserved them because the videos were bad. I think they were funnier and better than some of the others in the same category. If you put my videos up against the nineties and over videos, mine has more value. I still think that because of the editing, it fit into the category just fine.

How much of Kid Vegas was you and how much was a goof?

In the beginning, 98% of it was a good and 2% was me. At some point, that switched over. After about six months, I started losing the idea that I was playing the character.

What caused that?

The drug use mostly. Hanging out with Johnny Toxic didn’t help either. I became a full time Kid Vegas instead of my normal self. Depending on what I was doing, I might be fifty-fifty. I blew a lot of money at first because I just saw it coming in. I was out passing out videos to help promote them and was passing them out at clubs.

Handing out videos?

Legend wouldn’t do any promotion, but they gave me videos, so I went around and passed them out at clubs I have a strong advertising background so I went out to promote.

Could that have been a successful campaign?

Not with that company. It helped sales, so I guess it helped them. It put money in their pockets.

How many Kid Vegas movies did you make for them?

Somewhere between nine and twelve.

Of those, are there any that you thought were really good?

I thought that Spring Break 2000 was very good, but it needed to be edited differently. Fear and Loathing with Kid Vegas should have edited differently as well. That was supposed to be like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. We filmed a lot of stuff that they could have put in there to make it more interesting. Hooked on X came out pretty well, but again, the editing could have been better.

Which ones won for worst video of the year?

Whoremiester and Watch me Camp, Bitch.

Now that you’re with Extreme will you have enough money in the budget for lights?

Yes.

You said you’re going to change this Kid Vegas image What are you going to focus on now.

There is still going to be funny stuff, but the camera and lighting will be a hundred times better. I will have an extra camera man and money in the budget to light things correctly. At Legend I had to do everything, pre-production, post-production and pay for it all out of one lump sum. Now I have a company backing me and taking care of all that.

Now that you can be more focused, what are you going to hone in on.

Are you still doing a lot of drugs?

No. I don’t do drugs now. I rarely smoke cigarettes. I do drink, but maybe once a week and I don’t get drunk.

Has that changed you personally and professionally.

Yes it has, for the better.

Are you still going to be performing?

No, I don’t do that any more.

Did you like performing?

It was fun at first, but then it became a nuisance as far as STDs and what not.

Any girls stand out in your mind?

I really liked that girl April because she’s really cute.

Do you have a web site?

The Armageddon web site will be up soon and I’ll be working on that.

Anything else you want to add?

Look out for my new movies.

Thanks and we look forward to the new, Mr. Vegas.