By: Oliver K. Corrales

In the vibrant world of music, where trends shift as swiftly as the notes in a jazz solo, few have navigated its ever-changing landscape as deftly as Curt Sautter. With a career spanning over four decades, Sautter has made a name for himself as a musician, record producer, and the driving force behind Delirium Records. Today, he is also recognized as the foremost historian of Pioneertown, California. In this exclusive interview, we delve into Sautter’s multifaceted career and his passion for preserving the history of Pioneertown.

From the Beginning: A Passion for Music

Corrales: Curt, let’s start from the beginning. Can you tell us about your early days in the music industry and how you started?

Sautter: Absolutely. I’ve always had a passion for music. Growing up on the edge of Los Angeles County, I was lucky enough to experience things that only someone my age in that area could. My friends and I would frequent a punk rock record store called Toxic Shock in Pomona. It became the focal point for the area’s late ’70s punk scene. We saw bands like Social Distortion, Agent Orange, DI, and Christian Death starting out.

When I turned 16, a few friends convinced me to drive us all to the Whisky a Go Go to see the Dickies. The moment I walked into the club and saw the Alley Cats on stage, I knew I had found my people and my home. From that point on, I headed to Hollywood weekly to see bands, regardless of who was playing. I soon became a huge fan of a local band called The Stepmothers. They played regularly at the Troubadour and the Whisky, and I saw every show I could. My friends and I became part of the scene seeing bands like Motley Crue, Quiet Riot, and WASP.

I played in a couple of bands in school, but I was more interested in promoting and packaging bands, although at that time, I would have never called it that.

Corrales: That sounds like an exciting start. What led you to start your record label?

Sautter:  By 1992, the scene in Hollywood had gotten redundant. I wasn’t hearing music I liked, so I decided to dive into the music business. I took music business classes at UCLA to learn about contract law and publishing. Starting my label allowed me to work with bands I liked and make records that people like me wanted to hear. It was a challenging endeavor but also gratifying, not financially but artistically and personally. By 2008, the music industry had changed dramatically with digital downloads and streaming services reshaping how music was consumed and monetized.

Shifting Gears: Entering the World of Digital Marketing

Corrales: In 2008, you made a significant career shift by stepping away from the music industry to focus on digital marketing. What prompted that decision?

Sautter: The music business was one of the first to start marketing on the internet, and I saw an opportunity to leverage my skills in a growing field. Digital marketing intrigued me because it combined creativity with analytics, something I enjoyed. 

Corrales: How was the transition from music to digital marketing?

Sautter: It was a learning curve, but my background in the music industry helped a lot. Marketing music and marketing products or services are quite similar. Both require understanding the audience, a compelling story, and a strategic approach. 

A New Chapter: Historian of Pioneertown

Corrales: Alongside your career in digital marketing, you’ve become a prominent historian in Pioneertown, California. How did that come about?

Sautter: A strange set of coincidences led me there. I just decided to buy some land somewhere, and a property search led me to Pioneertown. It is such a peaceful and beautiful area that I decided to buy something there. I didn’t know anything about the area’s history. As I discovered its history as a Western movie set, I wanted to learn more. I started researching its origins, and collecting artifacts. I became obsessed with discovering the true story behind a group of Western actors and musicians building a living movie set in the Mojave Desert.

The local restaurant/bar, Pappy + Harriet’s, turned out to be a fantastic venue that had local and touring acts. This led me back to live music just because it was there. It felt like it did when I was 16. 

Corrales: What inspired you to become so deeply involved in preserving Pioneertown’s history?

Sautter: The more I learned, the more I realized how important it was to preserve this piece of American history. Pioneertown is a testament to a unique era in Hollywood and American culture. As someone who values stories and creativity, I felt compelled to document and share its history. 

Corrales: I understand that there have been some threats to the movie set portion of Pioneertown. Can you tell us about that?

Sautter: Sure, the area started becoming increasingly popular with Los Angeles hipsters in the 2010s. When COVID-19 hit in 2020, people fled congested cities for the desert, creating a massive boom in investors buying land and building Airbnbs.

Looking Back and Moving Forward

Corrales: What’s next for you, Curt? Any new projects on the horizon?

Curt Sautter: I’m always working on something new. I’m exploring the idea of a documentary series on Pioneertown. I’m also considering returning to music on the production side. 

Corrales: Thank you for sharing your incredible journey with us, Curt. It’s been a pleasure.

Sautter: Thank you. It’s been great talking with you.

Curt Sautter’s story is a testament to the power of passion and adaptability. From the sounds of the ’80s to preserving the history of a unique Californian town, Sautter continues to inspire with his creativity and dedication. He proves it’s never too late to pursue new passions and make a lasting impact.

Published by: Martin De Juan