Dr. Teeth is a songwriter, bandleader, drug addicted Muppet who got his start back in the late 50's working as a staff writer on the Ed Sullivan show. He moved to San Francisco during the early 1960's. He became friends with artist R. Crumb and musician Jerry Garcia. At one time he was considered the most influential Muppet of the 1960's, but a major LSD drug bust and accusations of Jury rigging left Dr. Teeth to pick up the pieces of his life and take a long break. It was supposed to only be one year but ended up lasting 40 years. At one point he was being compared to Brian Wilson after he gained 300 lbs, and claimed to have a direct phone line to Jesus. Dr. Teeth was institutionalized 49 times in a two year period until he was deemed incurable.
I ran into Dr. Teeth outside of a movie theater in Chicago after a screening of The Grateful Dead at Deer Creek Theater July 19th, 1990. Dr. Teeth was looking much slimmer but his glowing teeth which had given him his name were now replaced by rot and large spaces where his teeth once sat. Dr. Teeth was searching the ground for cigarette butts and loose change. He agreed to sit down with Rolling Stone for his first interview in almost 38 years.
RS
So what have you been up to the last half century?
DT
I have been suing the Muppet Show for royalties. Jim Henson really fucked us Muppets. He had a hand up our ass and one in our back pockets.
RS
Artistically how are you doing?
DT
I have been working on a new album with Daniel Johnston. I met him while inside. He is an amazing artist and has even less a clue about reality than I do. He tried to jump out of a plane. Luckily I wasn't in it.
RS
There was a documentary made about his life. When is someone going to make a documentary about you? You're story is amazing.
DT
Scorsese tried to buy my life story to make into a film, but I wasn't selling. My story is mine. I don't want to make a film where people can say, "Hey why the fuck is Adam Sandler playing Dr. Teeth." Until they agree to let me play myself there will be no film.
RS
But there has been some interest.
DT
Of course there has been interest. I was part of the counter culture. I was with the Grateful Dead when they got their start. I wrote half of Touch of Grey. I also had my own band which had no hit albums but we had albums. We were on the cover or TV Guide and Dynamite Magazine. We opened for the Flying Karamazov Brothers for over ten years. Then I took one bad hit of LSD and here we are.
RS
Were you a drug addict?
DT
Of course. I never met a drug I didn't take.
RS
Are you still a drug addict?
DT
Of course. I never met a drug I didn't take.
RS
So what plans do you have?
DT
I rented all three Paranormal Activity Movies and am gonna pop some popcorn and watch all three in a row with at least 6 of my fourteen cats.
RS
Professionally what are you planning?
DT
Well Starbucks called me back for a second interview. And then of course I am recording some new music on my tape recorder.
RS
Are you recording with the rest of your band?
DT
I had a band?
It was at this point where Dr. Teeth picked up a movie ticket stub and walked back into the theater. Before the door closed behind him he yelled after me.
DT
Men in Black 3!! It's in 3D!!!!
*John K is a staff writer for Rolling Stone Magazine and also hosts an overnight radio show called, "Psychedelic Sunrise".
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