Our Conversation with Kenny Dennis aka KDZ

Recently our very own Joel Frieders hit the Chicago pavement in an attempt to meet and interview local legend Kenny Dennis. You may know Kenny from his youtube hits Dennehy and Percolators. Once Joel found the elusive Kenny, bribed him with a pair of Blackhawk pre-season tickets for him and his wife Jueles and a case of O'Douls, Kenny agreed to sit with us and answer our questions. This interview is a collaborative effort between Tim Baker, Matt Tracksler and most importantly Joel Frieders.

SYFFAL: Tell us a little bit about your background Kenny, how did you get to where you are?

Kenny Dennis: Oh boy, it's been great though, what a great time. I still have my Juelies! Still got my buds. I've been in a rap group, thanks to my little brother Tanya it's going to see the light of day. I've done a song about my favorite actors that got me on the WGN morning news and on RollingStone I've repaired telephone booths, I've been laid off, seperated, reunited, ah buds, the whole thing!

SYFFAL: How did you and Julie get to know each other?

Kenny Dennis: Me and Juelies were meant for each other. She used to date this creep Eddie. She used to live in St. Louis and moved to Illinois in 85-86. We met at a stop light on Doty Road. She had an 82 Thunderbird two tone, like an idiot I was driving my mother's Celica, Jueles hates the celica, she prefers the Supra.

SYFFAL: Is Julie your first? Also is she your first love?

Kenny Dennis: Little personal but yes and yes. Unfortunately, she'll tell you straight up that Tommy Selleck is her one and only, I'm fine with that, any part of my Jueles is the best part of my Jueles.

Here is her autographed photo of Tommy she got from the 1985 auto show reads "shurely juile, best tommy" I think Tom intended on that spelling.

SYFFAL: How long have you known Curtis and Maureen?

Kenny Dennis: Let's see, Curtis was on the job until 87....I met Curtis in 84, I'll never forget, Maureen was so hyped on the Bulls second round draft pick Ben Coleman...ha, she missed that one. Maureen was convinced Coleman would be the next great, luckily, the Bulls had a first round pick

SYFFAL: Will the universe ever get closer to folding in on itself than it did when Brian Dennehy played John Wayne Gacy in the TV movie To Catch A Killer?

Kenny Dennis: What you dont understand is that he takes parts, this was just a part, like when he played Bobby Knight, that was just a part. My favorite parts by him were "Silverado" "FX" and "Legal Eagle".

Those flicks are all great, but 9 Death's of the Ninja is truly one of my all-time favorites.

SYFFAL: Is there a bigger pussy wagon than the Pontiac Fiero?

Kenny Dennis: You ask Juelies, she hates the r-o, she likes exotic things like the Peugeot 305, I think she saw Tommy in one and never let it go...

SYFFAL: According to the songs rock bottom and back on your feet we learn that you violently fell off the wagon, what caused you to fall off and what brought you back from the brink?

Kenny Dennis: Ouch...I always wanted to do better by my Jueles. after the WGN Morning News thing, I thought, this is my time, people like my song. I went ahead and took our savings and made "brats...chops....dogs....theyre done!!" shirts and Cubs color Dennehy hats to sell outside of Wrigley...opening day, theyre flying off the rack....I'm doing my song over and over again, my little brother Tanya doing the transactions...it's working...people are loving the merchandise....after about 20 minutes...I'll never forget it...a couple cops come over and buy a few shirts from us, officer Alvarez and Tioshan..."thanks officer"...they say..."by the way, you got your permit?..." I said "what".....long story short, they confiscated all of our merchandise.....my Juelies basically had enough....money was tight...Tanya and I's telephone booth thing dried up...she was tired of my stuff...I dont blame her. that's the past though, were doing great, I'd like to keep the rest personal.

Though I will tell you this is how I felt after Jueles left:

SYFFAL: How are things since you and Julie got back together?

Kenny Dennis: Better than ever

SYFFAL: Were you more exited to watch Berringer roam the screen in 'Inception' a film about psychic counter-espionage, or to See Dennehy play Coach Bobby Knight in the 2002 TV movie "Season on the Brink"?

Kenny Dennis: My favorite Berenger parts were "Eddie and The Cruisers" "Someone To Watch Over Me" "Snipers" "The Substitute" and "Shoot to Kill", "Season on the Brink" was ok but to be honest with you, I was never the biggest Al Thompson fan. His parts dont move me.

SYFFAL: Which team themed Zubaz would you consider to be the height of fashion?

Kenny Dennis: Oh boy, my Jueles has these Dolphins Zoobs... that really you know..they're so thin...they're so thin....

SYFFAL: were you able to get the stains out of your Craig Hodges Jersey?

Kenny Dennis: Oh yeah, that was a crazy crazy day and night. They really got me on that time. I was wondering why none of the kids were drinking the douls. It explains it now.

Editor's Note: Kenny was In fact, drinking Bud Light thinking it was O'Douls. Made him nuts like Ozzie Guillen

SYFFAL: Any words of advice for some of our readers who look to you as an inspirational figure?

Kenny Dennis: I say, once you find your lady, treat her good, treat your buds good, like some stuff, learn how to do something, treat your brother good, enjoy a meal, buckle up, keep your oil changed, remove the snow early, don't save parking spaces with cones and old stoves, who can get a spot if the streets all cluttered? Go see a movie, rent a movie, buy the Grimm Teachaz tape, enjoy some teams, you'll be okay.

SYFFAL: Are you still recording?

Kenny Dennis: Oh yeah, I did a song for a record label called Asthma Cat or something...it's coming out this halloween some guy named Caisoboard....did the backing track, it's called Kenny vs Spring. I did a few tracks with some other guys doing the backing tracks too.

SYFFAL: What are your takes on Jay Cutler? cunt or hero?

Kenny Dennis: I tell you what, all the experts picked the bears to lose to the Panthers, but Todd didn't let him. Todd Collins. Lovie has a qb controversy again, I know you're not supposed to lose your job to injury, but theres something to Todd, to be honest with you, I guess its a good problem to have.

SYFFAL: Which is a worse representation of Chicago, the broadway play/movie Chicago or the TV show Chicago Hope?

Kenny Dennis: Don't know about those, but a good representation is a film called "Code of Silence" me, Curtis and Maureen watched that again the other night, Andy Davis went on to direct "Above the Law" too, he must of fell in love with the town, like Chicago and the sister cities (Gothenburg, Lucerne, Casablanca,Mexico City and Prague are five of Chicago's 28 sister cities). Two great films.

Favorite director: Davis

Qb: Collins

Lovies.... Faced... With... Problems (more like decisions).

SYFFAL: Was Jim Belushi robbed of the Oscar that was rightfully his for his portrayal of Bernie in About Last Night?

Kenny Dennis: Don't know, I didnt vote for the awards. I will tell you this though, Jueles loved that "30 Something" show, i think the guy behind that was the guy behind that (about last night). i met jim belushi's son rob, good kid, he did a movie, i did a song for it, the movie is about the lake. i went to the premier at the robert ebert.

SYFFAL: How sexy was Demi Moore in that film? She went full bush on us.

Kenny Dennis: Holy comolly. My Jueles loves Stacy Q, to be honsest with you, not a big Demi Moore fan as I am Darryl Hannah or Kathleen Turner but she's had some good parts

SYFFAL: What's new with Tony Trimm?

Kenny Dennis: I'll tell you what! He put his foot in his mouth with our buds Als, boy oh boy, I tell him, I say "Tony, come on little buddies"

SYFFAL: If you could pin point one moment in your life that lead to all of your success which would it be and why?

Kenny Dennis: Over twenty years ago on Doty Road, in my mom's Celica I'm approaching a stopped Thunderbird, "Two of Hearts" by Stacy Q is getting louder and louder, on that day, two hearts really did become one. the day I met my Jueles.

SYFFAL: Can we make a documentary about your life?

Kenny Dennis: Sure buds.

The final question is from Joel Frieders.

SYFFAL: What brand of brat is your personal favorite? How long to you beer boil? What type of beer? How long? Are there any secret ingredients in yer brats you can share?

Kenny Dennis: I like Johnsonville, Tanya would be mad at his brother if I told you anything else. he does all the competitions up north and stuff, good luck Tanya.