explains, “Fish and water references
are laced in our songs, titles and visual
imagery. It’s a theme that we feel strongly
about. Besides The Beatles, there are
bands and musicians from all genres that
influence us. There are elements of rock,
blues, country, R&B…it’s hard to sum
up,” he says.
Over a total of three decades, the band
put out nearly 20 recordings, including
compilations and hard-to-find live
recordings. Beginning with Work Done
on Premises in 1980, the band went on
to record several more albums on their
Croaker label. Later they were signed to
Epic Records. Following their time with
Epic, the Radiators released their new
album Welcome to The Monkey House on
their own label, Radz Records.
Long associated with masquerade
balls held by krewes such as the Krewe
of Mystic Orphans and Misfits (the
M.O.M.S. Ball), the band built up a
following of Tulane graduates and Mardi
Gras fans. And their fame is not limited
to New Orleans. Their following extends
to other cities such as Minneapolis,
San Francisco, New York and Chicago.
To this day, the Radiators are asked to
perform for masquerade balls in other
cities that have spinoffs
of the M.O.M.S. Ball.
Malone and his fellow
musicians will travel
north through October to
play the D.A.D.S. balls
in the Twin Cities of
Minneapolis/St. Paul.
“I am thrilled to keep the
krewe tradition strong,”
Malone says.
During the moments
he isn’t playing music,
Malone tries to spend
time at his family home
in San Miguel de Allende,
a mecca for creative
American artists in the
mountains of central
Mexico. “I go there to
relax, rejuvenate and . . .
well . . . play more music,”
he says.
As his family grows, Malone learns
that the acorns haven’t fallen far from
the tree. His daughter Darcy has her
own her band, Darcy Malone and the
Tangles, and she is a frequent guest artist
with many other New Orleans bands.
His son Johnny is also a well-known
musician and was a founding member of
The Boondoggles.
“I am so proud of them,” he says.
“They’re both very fine, very polished
musical artists.”
This past summer Malone’s family
including children and grandchildren
gathered to spend time together. It’s a
reward that he relishes.
“I really love my life. I get to do all the
things I love including collecting, buying
and selling vintage guitars. Guitars are
beautiful things and I really see them as
works of art,” says Malone.
Malone has spread his talents around,
playing with other notable bands and
musicians around New Orleans such
as Anders Osborne, Bonerama, Leo
Nocentelli and a few new incarnations of
bands comprised of friends, family, and
contemporaries. Though he is asked to
play many gigs, fundraisers, and special
events, Malone says, “I am in the envious
position of only needing to play when I
want to.”
He is, however, baffled that so many
musicians are willing to play for less
and less, or even for the “experience” or
“exposure,” as some prefer to call it.
“I want musicians to have more respect
for the occupation and think about how
playing for less affects everyone,” he
declares. “If you just want to play, do it in
someone’s garage. That doesn’t buy any
red beans and rice.”
Malone is grateful for all the
opportunities in his life thus far and for
the ones, he is planning for the future.
More writing, playing and recording is on
the agenda for the 60-something-yearold.
Circling back to his favorite water
themes, Malone is working a project
called the River Road Collective. The
project has not been fully announced so
he’s somewhat elusive with the details
but he says, “The project has been a joy.
“I’ve been recording at a friend’s place
smack in the middle of the Quarter. We
have the freedom to do whatever the hell
we want,” he says.
Sounds like quite a gift.
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