Electronic Kill Machine

The Family

Over the course of the next few months, Anthony became more and more invested—financially and emotionally—in Electronic Kill Machine, as did many of Jim Morel's childhood friends. In fact, the entire clan — Lally, Weir, Ant, and everyone around them — soon played a part in the band, be it promotions, producing, marketing, whatever. Ant was the bank, of course, because he had more money now than he truly knew what to do with. Those tenants of Marina's in the house, they made out, too.

According to Jim, Anthony wouldn't even take rent from them. They were living for free.

Then came the cars. The hot rods and sports cars. The jewelry. The clothes. The games. The rolls of hundreds in Ant's pocket.

Ant was walking around with wads of cash, flipping people money ... Here, entertain me. A direct quote Jim Morel recalled later was Anthony one day saying to someone, "Here," tossing that person a few hundred bucks, "make me smile."

Anthony Calabro. Mr. Somebody. Mr. Big.

At this point, Jim Morel explained, he was one of about five friends who, "Networking out, you must understand something: we created our own family atmosphere. Our own place. Our own ideals. Our own rules. And our own standards on everything. We became our own family. ... We trusted each other with our lives. We weren't friends—we were brothers."