Johnny tells what he wears to bed!
Paul talks about his wardrobe!
Mom tells how she scolds the kids!
Barry talks about his future wife!
Bob confides some secret emotions!
Susie squeals on her brothers!
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THERE ARE some things that families — all families — like to keep to themselves. Sometimes it's their past lives, sometimes it's their secret ambitions and dreams, and sometimes it's a personal oddity ... some things are always hidden.
But with a little snooping and a little tact, we've managed to get The Cowsills to answer some of your nosiest questions. And we've managed to bring some of their hidden thoughts out into the open—for the first time!
Q. (JOHN) What do you wear to bed at night?
Pajamas—and I especially like to wear my green ones. In fact, after I decided that those green ones were the greatest ever, I went out and bought two more pair—of the same kind. So I'm never caught with them in the wash.
Q. (BARBARA) Where do you go when you need to get away from it all?
A. It's really hard to get "away from it all"—if that means getting away from my family. First, it's hard because there are so many of us, and even an enormous mansion wouldn't have enough rooms to hold us! And second, I really don't need to get away that often. But when I do, I head for the hills—whatever hills I can find where there aren't many people. And it's usually the Santa Monica Mountains.
Q. (BOB) What's your favorite thing in the whole world?
A. Believe it or not—it's music! Writing and singing and performing and cutting records. I like every single part of making a song!
Q. (PAUL) How many shirts do you have?
A. I have lots and lots of casual shirts—I like those the best. And they're in lots of colors, 'cause I like colors. I have some blue ones, some brownish ones, some red and yellow. I don't really know how many . . . but I do know that whenever I open my closet, there are lots of colors hanging there. It's like a rainbow.
Q. (BARRY) Would you want your wife to have a career of her own?
A. I really haven't given it much thought since I don't plan to get married very soon. But I suppose it would depend on my wife. If she were very involved with her career and loved it, I wouldn't mind, provided she had enough time to spend with me. Look at my mom. She has a full-time career—and she's raised all of us! She did a good job of it, too!
Q. (SUSIE) When do you hate your brothers?
A. I used to hate them 'cause they wouldn't let me in the group! Well, I didn't really hate them but I was very hurt. They used to tease me, too, sometimes. After all, I'm the only girl in a family of all brothers! And that means a lot of teasing. But they've pretty much stopped now.
Q. (JOHN) How do you feel about growing up?
A. Well, frankly, I can't wait! Sometimes I get so sick and tired of being treated like a kid who doesn't know which end is up, I pretend I'm an "adult." Really, I do. For instance, I put on "adult" voices over the phone when I'm ordering something or inquiring about something so they don't think I'm a stupid kid they can ignore.
Q. (BARBARA) How did you feel when your kids asked you to sing with them?
A. I was scared . . . really scared! I don't consider myself a teenager, of course, and I was a little bit afraid of spoiling everything. I really had to be bribed into singing with them! They promised me a new dress for every song I did! And the bribe worked!
Q. (BOB) How do you feel now that you're "boss" of The Cowsills?
A. The thing is that I don't like titles! They call me the "director" of the group . . . but I really don't like "directing" anybody. I'd rather just be there if any problem arises.
Q. (PAUL) Have you pretty much given up sports since you're giving so much time to music? Everybody knows that you're nuts about football!
A. Sometimes I think I'd rather be out playing pro sports than singing. But other times I really would rather sing. Right now singing's first—but football sure runs a close second!
Q. (BARRY) What do you like best—girls, drums, football or acting?
A. Girls and drums—in that order!
Q. (SUSIE) Which brother is your favorite?
A. Hummm . . . that's a hard one. Usually, it's whoever's being nice to me at the moment. But seriously, I really love them all dearly—for different reasons.
Q. (JOHN) What's your most dreamed-of dream?
A. That's easy to answer—to take off for Europe and stay awhile . . . meeting lots and lots and lots of groovy and interesting people from all over the world.
Q. (BARBARA) Do you ever need to "make your kids behave?"
A. Not really. If I ever do though, I talk to them as human beings—which they are, of course. I don't believe in "talking down" to children . . . and I don't even mind if they contradict me—once in awhile.
Q. (BOB) Do you want to keep on singing? Is there another career you'd like to have?
A. Singing is quite enough for me now. But I think someday I'd like to switch to something else. A TV series appeals to me most. It's something that grows, something you can build on. And I like that idea.
Q. (PAUL) Did you like doing "Hair?" Do you like doing other people's songs generally?
A. "Hair" was an exception—I loved the song and I loved doing it. But mostly I like doing our own stuff. Our own songs come naturally, and we don't like to feel that we're imitating anyone.
Q. (BARRY) Do The Cowsills fight a lot at home? After all, you see each other all the time!
A. Sure, we fight—but not seriously. We fight about little things, like all families do. We don't pretend to be the perfect group.
Q. (SUSIE) Who is the most important person in your life now?
A. My dog, Suebar—if you can call him a "person." I want to take him everywhere I go 'cause I really dig his company.
Q. (JOHN) What's your fav group—not including The Cowsills, of course.
A. The Beatles. I got that answer out fast 'cause I really groove on them. They never stick to one thing or one sound, no matter how much they like it and no matter how big it goes over with their fans. They're always experimenting. And respect them for that.
Q. (BARBARA) What do you think about your own "rebelling teens?"
A. I think it's great that kids are changing their attitudes . . . and their values . . . and ideas about how to live!
Q. (BOB) What's your special, secret interest — aside from music, of course.
A. I guess I'd have to say psychology. I really dig knowing what makes people tick. And I love to observe them and try to figure them out. It's great fun for me!
Q. (PAUL) What do you think is the most exciting thing about, singing or writing music?
A. The whole idea of the writing and the singing is exciting to me. Imagine! You take a basic track that sounds bare and add and add ... and something complete emerges!
Q. (BARRY) How do you feel about your fans?
A. I adore them . . . every single one of them! When I sing, I'm really with them. I groove because they're grooving with me. That makes me feel just great!
Q.(SUSIE) What's the thing you want most in the world?
A. Horses—lots of horses. And a ranch to go with them. Maybe someday I'll have it ... I hope!
Q. (JOHN) What embarrasses you most of all?
A. The fact that I don't read as much as I should . . . it's not so much that I'm lazy as I'm so busy!
Q. (PAUL) Do you ever worry about getting a swelled head?
A. Not really. I'm just too busy. One of the best things about being a "star" is that you don't have much time to think about it. So you don't have much time to get a swelled head.
Q. (BARRY) What kind of girls do you like best?
A. Girls with a good sense of humor.That's most important. I also like quiet girls—not shy, just quiet.
Q. (SUSIE) What's your fav pastime?
A. Cooking. I can answer that real quick, 'cause that's what I like to do most. The kind of food I cook doesn't even matter—as long as it's goovey. I really groove on playing with the food I cook.
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