Pierce's early musical interests were towards glam and progressive rock, particularly bands such as Sparks, Genesis, and Roxy Music. During the mid-70s, after attending a concert by Bob Marley, Pierce became deeply enamoured by reggae, being equally fascinated by Marley's shamanistic presence as by his music. He later traveled to Jamaica, meeting with Winston Rodney aka Burning Spear and others, but also “got beat up there too” as Pierce recalled in an interview. He returned feeling unsure about the future role of reggae in US music. Pierce was also very taken with Debbie Harry, becoming President of the West Coast Blondie fan club and bleaching his hair like hers. His infatuation with reggae overlapped with the emergence of punk rock and Pierce became a fixture on the Hollywood scene as a contributor to "Slash" fanzine, writing not only on the obvious contemporary punk phase but also about 1930s blues, 1950s rockabilly and a reggae section under the name 'Ranking Jeffrey Lea', securing an interview with Bob Marley. By the late '70s Pierce was himself playing as a musician. He later quipped he had the idea that being in a band was a way to get free drinks bought for him by music business reps. Around this time Pierce met L.A. musician Phast Phreddie Patterson, whose vast record collection and knowledge of American roots music added to the eager Pierce's musical education. While his later interest in American blues was presaged by his devotion to reggae, his love for the more theatrical, complex sounds of glam and prog rock showed up in his support for the No Wave movement in New York City.