Brandon Cruz

You could not even pay anyone to say something bad about Bill.

[on auditioning for The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969)]: The crew knew because they had heard from other people, and when I showed up on the set the next day, they were all looking at me kind of weird. I told them that Bill always taught me that whenever something bad like that happens, the best thing to do is work. Show less «

[on his band]: We knew we were on to something, it was a reaction to everything being generically labeled hardcore. We knew we were separating ourselves. We learned to be different because we didn't want to be lumped in. As a scene we were quite unique, but a lot of the first Nardcore bands weren't groundbreaking musically. I'm 45 now, and I can look back on it. Nobody from the early nardcore scene really did anything that amazing, but the fact that all of us came out of such a small scene is unique and incredible. Nardcore was family and friends, not a sound. Show less «

I feel that it's the music, not anything else, that matters.

[on reconciling with Biafra despite numerous differences]: Biafra and I started talking again right after I quit Dead Kennedys. We had known each other since way back in the day from gigs and when we opened for them a few times. I can understand his being upset about what I did to a certain degree, but it was all way over the top most of the time and it took away the real message of Dead Kennedys. We all make mistakes, you know? Show less «

[About Dr. Know, who are traveling the road in distancing themselves from the past and expanding a legacy better than what his group did when they're all in their 20s]: We're probably even angrier than we were back then. We see no reason to stop. Stop? Because we're a certain age? That's never had anything to do with punk rock. This version of Dr. Know is very serious about doing something not connected with the past. We have more to us than that. Show less «

[When asked if he had a wonderful on- and off-screen chemistry with Bill Bixby, who played Tom Corbett]: Not to be the most difficult person to work with. Well, when you're around the guy known as 'the nicest guy' in showbusiness. You learn a lot and you're in awe, an awful lot of the time. Bill was such a professional, such a giving actor, and caring person that it didn't even seem like work. It seemed like I was hanging out with my best friend. It was corny, but he was so wonderful to work with, you could not pay anybody to say a bad word about Bill. He was giving to a fault, basically. Show less «

[Of Bill Bixby]: When I found out they were putting this out, I thought, "It's about time". Bill Bixby had an amazing body of work, not only The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969), but My Favorite Martian (1963), The Magician (1973), The Incredible Hulk (1978) and so many other things, as an actor, as a director - and he never got an Emmy. He's never been recognized posthumously by the Academy. And he doesn't have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That is criminal. There are people who have stars that, not to be blunt, but I wouldn't bother spitting on their stars. Bill's talent would take a couple of blocks of stars compared to them. It really demeans the whole thing that Bill is not included. Show less «

[About Bill Bixby doing a scene with a guest]: Yeah, I stayed at his house in Malibu, on weekends. I was already into surfing and playing in the ocean, and lived in Malibu, so I would go out and bodysurf out there and he said, 'Get out, get out! It was real, because Bill stood by the 'no acting claim.' If I started to, like Sammy Davis Jr. came in and did a part, he flew in from Vegas, he walks in with his cigarette and his martini and his hips stickin' cool. He's got rings and gold and everything and diamonds and this is Sammy Davis Jr. and he goes into makeup/wardrobe and he comes out and Bill already shot the rehearsals; and James, Bill & I were all in an elevator; where we're supposed to get stuck in an elevator, 'And we're going to rehearse, 'Roll It'! Sammy, 1st line and he's this nebbish-looking accountant and I'm just staring at him like 'What Happened to Sammy?' This guy ate Sammy! And I have the next line; and Bill's like, 'Whoa, cut!' And I think Brandon saw eating for the 1st time. So, in my mind, I'm going to act. So, the next take I'd come up with some weird voice and mannerism and they're like, 'Stop, no acting.' So, Bill wanted me to be a 6-7 yr. old kid, which it exactly what it was Show less «