Tod Waters and Guiliana Mayo partner as one of the most creative design teams making rock/punk inspired clothing today. Their stylings have graced the shoulders of rock giants like Motley Crue, Steven Tyler and Lenny Kravitz to name just a few. We had the opportunity to ask Tod about his introduction to the world of fashion and his thoughts on a variety of silly topics. Please enjoy 9.5 Questions with Tod Waters.
1 - Your rise in the clothing industry was almost accidental (but deserved)...do you still look back on the sale to Lenny Kravitz as a 'lightning strikes' moment?
Yes it was weird for sure. I didn't own a sewing machine then even. I was working at stuff in my free time after my screen printing job. Back then I was printing tons of shirts and selling them on Melrose at Wasteland.....but I never sold a custom piece until then. It was some crazy up cycled dirty denim vest with a cobra on it
2 - You spent time in the rock/punk scene performing prior to your clothing success...craziest or most ridiculous story you could share from that time? Names are optional...ha.
Hahahah....well my friends remember way more than I do. The great stuff was meeting Stiv Bators, playing some Dead Boys songs with Cheetah Chrome and opening for Tiny Tim...recording a demo with Rick Rubin, playing tons of bloody sweaty shows. Playing with L7, White Zombie, Scrid, Dumpster Juice, The God Bullies and all the great Houston bands. There is a good doc called H Town where you can see all that.
I was in a band called Spunk....now in DieFast
3 - If I met you in the 90's and told you Motley Crue would be wearing clothes you design...what would your mindset/reaction have been at the time?
I would have laughed. It wouldn't have made much sense in the context of my life at the time.
4 - You can be the frontman and tour with any band from any era for one month...who are you?
The Dead Boys singer Stiv Bators...CBGB s days.
5 - Short list of living artists you really dig right now?
Chet Zar
https://www.facebook.com/chetzar?fref=ts
Jessie Fohrman
https://www.facebook.com/jessie.fohrman?fref=ts
Zdzislaw-beksinsk
http://coilhouse.net/2007/12/the-beautiful-nightmares-of-zdzislaw-beksinski/
great costumer
https://www.facebook.com/joe.neuvieme
http://kuksi.com/artworks/sculpture/
and so much more
7 - Three items you would take with you to a deserted island (you have clothes) and you can't take a person or mode of transportation.
food-woman-cd player
8 - Your clothing has an obvious rock n roll influence, but what else inspires the direction you take with your art?
Ridley Scott films, early heavy metal magazines, Star Wars, World War 2.
9 - If people stopped wearing clothes...what do you think you would do for a living?
Keep making art. I like to draw, paint and sculpt. So i would do that. People have to cover their wieners.
http://diefast.bigcartel.com/products
9.5 - Without hesitation you turn the dial when the band __________ comes on the radio.
That terrible terrible band that Eddie Vedder sings for. That voice - soooooooooooooo lame!
YOU CAN FIND TOD HERE....