I was always into music, when I was 7 or 8 I was really into Kiss, and by the time I was 9 or 10 I discovered punk rock, started buying records by the Ramones, Sex pistols, The clash, and a kid I knew who was a little older knew I liked punk (there wasn’t many of us around back then)and he turned me onto all this new crazy stuff Bad Brains,Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Germs, and the first show i saw was Bad Brains, SS Decontrol at CBGB's in 1982

- Madhu: You started so young playing guitar, just 12 year old in the Hardcore-punk scene, maybe you can tell us something about this and your experience playing in bands like Agnostic front and Warzone

Yes I was young, hence the name Todd Youth,haha..My first band was Agnostic Front .,I joined right before the United Blood 7" came out, Roger heard me playing NIB from Black Sabbath on bass, and there Wasn't many good player around back then, even though I was so young I could play, they needed a bass player and asked me to join, pretty cool first band to be in haha.I had to quit Agnostic Front.. after a few months because I hadn't been going to school and I hadn’t been living at home, it was a very crazy time, my parents were going to get in trouble for me not going to school, so i moved back home and that’s when we started Warzone

- Madhu: What are some stand out memories of Raybeez you have?

wow there are so many, Ray taught me how to survive on the street,I was just this little 12 year old runaway from a bad home, who loved and lived for the scene. He was a brother to me and I miss him so much.

- Madhu: Please, Tell us something about Murphy’s Law

I joined Murphys Law right before we went on the Beastie Boys Liscened To Ill Tour, Jimmy is one of the greatest front men in Hardcore,I spent a lot of years in that band,and thats were I really learned how to play, we were always on tour, many fun times..

- Madhu: The Chelesea Smiles, Motorhead, Cro-Mags, Circle Jerks, Danzing what is your feeling after play in some many significant bands?

I just feel very fortunate, that I have got to play with some of my favorite bands and musicians, playing guitar in Motorhead was a dream come true, playing in Danzig was a trip, and I really threw people for a loop when I started playing with Glen Campbell, also being able to tour for a few years with Ace Frehley from Kiss was surreal, he’s the reason I picked up the guitar when I was a kid, and then all these years later I am onstage with him, what a mind trip..

- Madhu: What you think about the reality of the scene in old times and now?

I was so lucky to come up in Hardcore when I did,I got to see all the greats, Bad Brains, Minor Threat, I could go on and on, it was brand new and we were making it up as we went along, there were no rules, but I am sure for some kid who is just getting into it, its the same for him, if that makes sense.. –

-Madhu: There are some musical project in which you are working now?

I have something in the works with an old friend, who is the singer for one of the best H.C. bands of all time, but it’s all top secret,haha

- Madhu: What you think about this big wave of bands inspired in the Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy in the 90s ?

I thought it was great,even though a lot of the kids who got into Krishna Conciousness through those bands might not still be following the philosophy, they at one point were, they chanted Hare Krsna, they read Prabhupada's books had prasadam, so many people came in contact with the movement through those bands,and their lives were forever changed

- Madhu: You have a connection with krishna consciousness, how started this?

It started in 1983,Jayananda(John Joseph)was living in the temple and he would distribute prasadam in the park on Saturdays,I hadn’t seen him in a few months and there he is all shaved up in saffron,it blew my 13 year old mind, he gave me some prasad and somehow I made my way out to the temple in Brooklyn Jayanta Das (john watson,O.G. Agnostic Front singer) was living there and gave me “Science of Self Realization” and “Chant And Be Happy”,I took many years but the seed had been planted. –

-Madhu: Now you have a special connection into Vashnavism because of Srila Bhaktivedanta Vana Goswami Maharaj, how you feel this?

It’s really hard to put into words, but I'll try my best. After all the years of playing in bands, having material success, I still felt a giant hole inside, it took some time to realize, the money, cars little bit of fame wasn’t going to fill that void, the only thing that could was God, Krsna.I stopped touring and just focused on my spiritual life, started reading everyday, chanting rounds, going to the temple, associating with devotees and a very dear old friend of mine who I knew from the 80's Vidura Das and me had met back up,he went to Srila Narayana Maharaja sometime in the 90's and not to bag or criticize ISCKON,because there are a lot of really nice devotees in ISCKON ,but in our sanga I felt like I had come home. The first time I saw a picture of our Gurudeva,Srila Bhaktivedanta Vana Goswami Maharaja,I felt something in my heart,and when I heard him speak, I heard Srila Prabhupada and Srila Narayana Maharaja,and he melted my heart. –

-Madhu: Which are your three favorite books? Why they are your favorite and what impact did they have on you?

I have so many,but right now I am reading "Obtaining God In This Very Lifetime" by Srila Aniruddha Prabhu, this book has inspired me so much in my chanting japa,"Jaiva Dharma" by Srila Bhativinode Thakur,Srila Narayana Maharaja says this is one of the most important books to study,he read it 108 time it explains how we got here in the material world,Jiva Tattva,for so long I was told we fell down from the spirtual worl because we were envious of Krsna but it never made sense to me,envy is maya,maya cant enter the spiritual world, and if we were in Goloka,why would we be envious,we would be so blissed out serving Radhika and Krsna,so reading this book help me reconcile these things.Bhagavad Gita As It Is,the original 1972 edition, I try to read a chapter a day.

- Madhu: Which are your three favorite bands and why?

Bad Brains because they were the greatest live band I have ever seen, Cro-Mags, second greatest band I have ever seen, and Jayananda was the first devotee I ever met, and last Black Flag.

- Madhu: Some final words to the people

If you are a devotee or interested in Krishna Conciousness, please go on youtube and look up Srila Bhaktivedanta Vana Maharaja,listen to his katha, check out his websites and facebook pages, Srila Narayana Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada, may not be physically present, but we are so fortunate to have our beloved Gurudeva carrying on this mission,Srila Bhaktivedanta Vana Maharaj ki jay!