Making Up Music 3: Bryan Bruden
by Your Diva, Robin Pastorio-Newman

Lately, Your Diva has devoted her Wednesdays to cornering people and asking silly questions. And then, there are those she interviews. This week's unstuffy interrogation finds Bryan Bruden, band manager, radio personality and Dude About Town, making light of his co-conspirators, Santa suits and the logistics of living the music life when you're not a musician.

ALTROK: Bryan, you manage the Mad Daddys. What exactly does that entail? Got any gum?

BB: Taking orders from Stinky Sono Buoni (singer of the Mad Daddys) and yes, one piece of Dentine Ice in my truck.

ALTROK: Are you a musician yourself? Hiding high school marching band stories? Terrible scars from secret flute lesson nishaps?

BB: I have no talent. I tried learning bass but could play only We Got The Beat.

ALTROK: Tell us about your radio show (Overnight Sensations, WRSU 88.7 FM, Sunday 9-10 P.M.) and your evil twin, Adam Edelstein. Besides fame, fortune and all the Sunday night WRSU air time a boy could want, what keeps you perky and well-informed?

BB: Adam's not evil, he's just drawn that way. Oh yeah, the show's one hour dedicated to nothing.

ALTROK: Seinfeldian! How do you subsidize your shiny bowling shirt habit? Any chance of your retiring to a life of swimmin' pools and movie stars?

BB: With a real job and bartending. And NO! I've already done that. Plus, they think I'm too fat to hang out with them anymore.

ALTROK: Plenty of folks get tired of working a couple of jobs and trying to maintain a groovy rock life. You've been at this for ages. Why haven't you hung up your blue suede shoes?

BB: What else am I gonna do?

ALTROK: It's a good bet you're planning that as we speak. Want to reveal your next wild idea or wacky musical travel plan? C'mon, you know you want to...

BB: Yes! I want to stop Adam from making me do another Braineater Rock n Roll Christmas Show [Diva's note: New Brunswick tradition. Giant party, a dozen bands playing seasonal songs, tasty beverages, presents and hilarious appearances by local celebrities and a suspiciously semitic Father Christmas.] with him. But he loves putting on that Santa suit, so I'm torn.

ALTROK: If we dust you for prints, whose will we find? Care to gossip about famous folks you hang out with? No one's taking notes, we prooooooooooomise...

BB: You have to listen to the show. I save my name-dropping for the air. It's the only way to get ratings and annoy Adam.

ALTROK: Regular or menthol?

BB: Both, depends on what my friends have on them at the time.

ALTROK: Say something funny, Bryan.

BB: "Something funny, Bryan."

©2001 Robin Pastorio-Newman