Dee Generate - Year In PunkEater's original drummer

Dee Generate - A Year In Punk

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		In November 1976 London Weekend Television broadcast a documentary by Janet Street Porter on a new youth cult called punk rock that was sweeping the nation. A year later Janet returned to the theme with another documentary entitled A Year In Punk where she reviewed what had happened since. One feature was this interview with Dee Generate, sacked drummer of Eater, which manages to be both touching and a little sad as a bandless and already world weary 14 year old answers questions with some observations from his family. Meet the cast... Dee Generate aka Roger Bullen Helen Bullen - Mum & Manager Home - Caterham Robbie - Grandfather

Janet Street Porter - We talked to him and his mother in the Roxy Bar. JSP: What happened to them? Why did you leave? DG: I didn't leave. They threw me out. JSP: Why did they throw you out? DG: Burp Mum: They said he wasn't good enough DG: They said I wasn't good enough but the reason was they were a bunch of wankers. .Bunch of wimps JSP: Does he still live at home with you Mum: Yes...occasionally DS: I don't live at home Caterham is a shit hole Mum: Yes you do live at home sometimes... when you get hungry. Home for Dee is Caterham in South London. Any parents might have worries introducing a 14 year old to the life of a punk rock star but not so Helen Bullen. JSP: Are you acting as his manager? DG: No she's acting as my mother (laughs all round) JSP: Well when he joined the band Rat introduced him to the band got him an audition coz he was teaching him to drum. He said we gotta choose you a good name. You can't be ordinary Roger Bullen - you gotta be something outrageous just like me Rat Scabies. So they sat there and looked through the dictionary and he said "Dee Generate". Yeah, that's good and it just caught on. In the front room of the Bullen's home lives Robbie, grandfather of Roger, sister Caroline and little brother Lee. JSP: What does Robbie think of Roger being a punk star? R: I thought first of all he was ever so young and very young to be exposed to a lot of stress. I have pointed out to him that his mother has been his guide and mentor. I told his mother several years ago...when Roger grows up he's going to be something good or bad because he goes all out for anything and up to now I think he's been exceedingly good. JSP: How long do you practise every day? DG: I don't practise every day. When I do its usually for an hour....mmm. But most days I just stay in bed coz I get very tired. JSP: But what about going to school DG: Yeah I do that sometimes. JSP: How much school have you missed? DG: Mmm. It said on my report I had 72 absences. that was just one term. JSP: What did it say on the rest of the report DG: Nothing much. 'Roger's interest is in drumming.' JSP: What does your mum say about it? DG: At least they know what they are talking about. While Dee Generate is trying to form another band he is learning the hard facts about the music industry..