R.I.P. Don Costa

[JizzySynatra]

I think he was also in Randy Piper's Animal band for a short period.

[Playboyliquor59]

I interviewed him a few years ago, I think it was in chatsworth, he was a handy man and/or doing pool cleaning. I usually make everyone sign a release before we sit down but I didn’t with him. Of course when I followed up he decided that he didn’t want it out. I’m not worried about being sued or anything but out of respect, I’m on the fence. He had so many awesome stories, mostly pre ozzy stuff that only people on here would be interested in. I’ll probably ask his sister on Facebook what she thinks..he wasn’t in great shape.

[DemonFilth2001]

I interviewed him a few years ago, I think it was in chatsworth, he was a handy man and/or doing pool cleaning. I usually make everyone sign a release before we sit down but I didn’t with him. Of course when I followed up he decided that he didn’t want it out. I’m not worried about being sued or anything but out of respect, I’m on the fence. He had so many awesome stories, mostly pre ozzy stuff that only people on here would be interested in. I’ll probably ask his sister on Facebook what she thinks..he wasn’t in great shape.

Post it! We won’t tell!!!

[Bono Nettencourt]

Yeah really what are the odds.

[risingfarce]

According to Mark Kendall, who got him the Ozzy gig through George Lynch, Don kept going up in front of Ozzy while he was trying to sing and showboat for the audience. Apparently Sharon had a respectful discussion with Don about it, asking him not to do it while Ozzy was singing but told him he could go up to the front of the stage and perform while Ozzy wasn’t singing. But he continued to do it so they fired him. Jake claims that Ozzy head butted him in the back of the bus and about a week later humiliated him at the US Fest by firing him there with Daisley waiting in the wings. While petty and extreme, I don’t think the reason for his dismissal was out of line at all.

Fired for upstaging the star after being told not to do it anymore is warranted.

Headbutting him was assault.

Firing him in front of his family and friends was a cunt move by Sharon.

To be pedantic, it wasn't necessarily him doing it, it was him bragging about doing it to a roadie who went to Sharon with it.

It's likely he actually was, though.

I think there's literally ZERO video footage of Ozzy during the time he was in the band. I've never seen any.

From the second video his sister posted, it sounded like he was highly estranged and she doesn't have a great impression of him other than basic sisterly love.

I'd love to hear all the details.

From everything I've ever read it seems like he was quite over the top and got totally disenfranchised with life after things didn't work out and he lived a pretty grizzled life after that.

I had never heard of him until this thread.

[aznsquirt]

I interviewed him a few years ago, I think it was in chatsworth, he was a handy man and/or doing pool cleaning. I usually make everyone sign a release before we sit down but I didn’t with him. Of course when I followed up he decided that he didn’t want it out. I’m not worried about being sued or anything but out of respect, I’m on the fence. He had so many awesome stories, mostly pre ozzy stuff that only people on here would be interested in. I’ll probably ask his sister on Facebook what she thinks..he wasn’t in great shape.

Amazing if true. It might be the only interview he ever gave in the last 40 years.

What prompted you to interview him, how did you track him down?

[Z28]

did you meet him personally? How come he was not in great shape? would love to read those stories!

[aznsquirt]

full in bloom just posted a really cool interview with his sister:

https://youtu.be/RX9VsEmqIls?si=LhGCEJW2KYpxq1JS

I hope more people are interviewed, seems like a LOT of guys from that scene would have some stories.

Oh, and he managed to dig up the only video footage I've ever seen of Don, from the Dante Fox era. And a lot of rare pics.

[Z28]

full in bloom just posted a really cool interview with his sister:

https://youtu.be/RX9VsEmqIls?si=LhGCEJW2KYpxq1JS

I hope more people are interviewed, seems like a LOT of guys from that scene would have some stories.

Oh, and he managed to dig up the only video footage I've ever seen of Don, from the Dante Fox era. And a lot of rare pics.

Thanks this is so cool !!!

[Love_Industry]

Oh, and he managed to dig up the only video footage I've ever seen of Don, from the Dante Fox era. And a lot of rare pics.

There must be some from when he toured with Ozzy?

Anyway, there is a song called 1980s Ladies, that was circulated as a Kiss demo and was even pressed on some vinyl bootlegs in the 80s.
It has been variously credited to the bands Sister and Circus Circus and also labeled an early WASP demo. It is definitely Blackie singing, but does anyone know if it is Costa on bass? Or Rik Fox?
There is a 4 song Sister demo from 1977 that has 2 songs that made it to WASP albums (Sex Drive and What I Am which became Cries in the Night if I remember correctly) but not anything resembling 1980s Ladies.....

[Demon Kogure]

There must be some from when he toured with Ozzy?

The reason why there's no video and hardly any photos is because Ozzy shaved his head right before Costa joined the band. He'd go onstage in a wig and then rip it off during the show. Sharon didn't want anybody to see that shit, so Costa's tenure is poorly documented

[aznsquirt]

There must be some from when he toured with Ozzy?

The reason why there's no video and hardly any photos is because Ozzy shaved his head right before Costa joined the band. He'd go onstage in a wig and then rip it off during the show. Sharon didn't want anybody to see that shit, so Costa's tenure is poorly documented

Haha, that's probably true.

I mean, I'm sure footage exists in a vault somewhere, but nothing's ever been released that I've ever seen.

[Love_Industry]

I think he was also in Randy Piper's Animal band for a short period.

Not likely as Animal started in 1999 or so, but they have played together in Circus Circus before the band became WASP. The other members were Blackie and Tony Richards so it was more a name change than a new band.

Not sure about the timeline but was Rik Fox in after Costa, and then they got Chris Holmes and Blackie switched temporarily to bass?

[SeniorGrande]

Oh, and he managed to dig up the only video footage I've ever seen of Don, from the Dante Fox era. And a lot of rare pics.

There must be some from when he toured with Ozzy?

Anyway, there is a song called 1980s Ladies, that was circulated as a Kiss demo and was even pressed on some vinyl bootlegs in the 80s.
It has been variously credited to the bands Sister and Circus Circus and also labeled an early WASP demo. It is definitely Blackie singing, but does anyone know if it is Costa on bass? Or Rik Fox?
There is a 4 song Sister demo from 1977 that has 2 songs that made it to WASP albums (Sex Drive and What I Am which became Cries in the Night if I remember correctly) but not anything resembling 1980s Ladies.....

Here is a live version. Comments say it's Joey Palermo on bass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7moz0xUQsBg

[aznsquirt]

Some more Don Costa info:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXahXQ6k1Z4

https://youtu.be/8jV9onCbhnk?si=lcFHnR6Z95x__BbU

One thing (from George Patience, a friend of Don's) from this is that he claims that the whole "Ozzy broke Don's nose for stepping in front of him on stage" thing isn't true, and that Sharon basically sabotaged their relationship because Don and Ozzy were out tag-teaming women together and filming it. So Don tried to quit because of Sharon and Ozzy broke his nose over that.

[aznsquirt]

Oh, and he managed to dig up the only video footage I've ever seen of Don, from the Dante Fox era. And a lot of rare pics.

There must be some from when he toured with Ozzy?

Anyway, there is a song called 1980s Ladies, that was circulated as a Kiss demo and was even pressed on some vinyl bootlegs in the 80s.
It has been variously credited to the bands Sister and Circus Circus and also labeled an early WASP demo. It is definitely Blackie singing, but does anyone know if it is Costa on bass? Or Rik Fox?
There is a 4 song Sister demo from 1977 that has 2 songs that made it to WASP albums (Sex Drive and What I Am which became Cries in the Night if I remember correctly) but not anything resembling 1980s Ladies.....

Here is a live version. Comments say it's Joey Palermo on bass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7moz0xUQsBg

I wouldn't recognize Joey, but that's not Don for sure.

There is one early early pre-WASP demo that has Don on it. The Pre-W.A.S.P. demo lineup is a clusterfuck. AFAIK there are 5 demo tracks as "Circus Circus" featuring Don: https://www.discogs.com/release/8223665 ... Demos-7782

But picking them out on YouTube is a bitch, most/all of them we were recorded multiple times with different lineups.

[aznsquirt]

A new interview with Niki Buzz about his time in M-80 with Don.

Holy shit you guys need to listen to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5hUOV3OhBg

His Troubadour gig story is one of the most bonkers things I've ever heard.

Edit: Every single story is totally bonkers. WTF

[skinni]

A new interview with Niki Buzz about his time in M-80 with Don.

Holy shit you guys need to listen to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5hUOV3OhBg

His Troubadour gig story is one of the most bonkers things I've ever heard.

Edit: Every single story is totally bonkers. WTF

Amazing stories, totally nuts!

Thank you for the link!

[DangerZone]

I listened to that Niki Buzz video last night.
So apparently Don was in Dante Fox (pre-Great White) and Blackie convinced him to leave & join early Wasp.
But Chris Holmes got into it with him because he played out of tune & Don left.
Then he got the Ozzy gig, fired from that and then joined M-80 with Niki.
And that’s where the trail ends

Niki said he was the best bassist he ever played with

[Einstein Lawless]

That Niki Buzz video magically popped up in my YouTube algo last night. It was censored but I’m pretty sure he told a story about Costa getting pegged?

Oh and apparently Buzz cawkpunched Blackie for calling him The Adjective(TM)

[sirthx2]

Ok, that Niki Buzz interview/link above is pure gold.

[Bono Nettencourt]

Pics?

[sirthx2]

Pics?

Based on the pic that's the backdrop for the interview posted above. Also, especially in the 80s, the Body Shop didn't hire less than 'top tier' talent.

[Bono Nettencourt]

Why did you redact your comment?

[sirthx2]

Why did you redact your comment?

Ahh, because she mentioned dancing early in the interview, then a passing mention of the Body Shop and I assumed that would be it and easy to miss and not put the two together. I paused and chimed in here. Then later in the interview they did 10 minutes on the topic of her being a stripper so my comment became lame.

[Bono Nettencourt]

Oh rly I missed that... interview was entertaining but that guy was totally FoS

[HoldenSSV]

A new interview with Niki Buzz about his time in M-80 with Don.

Holy shit you guys need to listen to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5hUOV3OhBg

Good shit, but maybe some embellishment and shaky memory on the Godfather stuff. Part 3 came out in 1990, and just watching 1 and 2 would take 6 1/2 hours. Maybe Costa never slept.

[aznsquirt]

A new interview with Niki Buzz about his time in M-80 with Don.

Holy shit you guys need to listen to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5hUOV3OhBg

Good shit, but maybe some embellishment and shaky memory on the Godfather stuff. Part 3 came out in 1990, and just watching 1 and 2 would take 6 1/2 hours. Maybe Costa never slept.

Yeah, that was a bit weird.

[HueyRamone]

Oh rly I missed that... interview was entertaining but that guy was totally FoS

Totally full of shit. blasting shotguns in the Troubadour while covered in cat shit with a pick axe and a jail cell on stage after arriving in 2 limos? Fuck off.

I believe that the guy who flew Trump flags from the stage recently was racist tho. That checks out.