I was recently on Facebook and I saw a post within the answers, I saw that Ron Reidell of crossover thrashers Eviction from the late 80s answered a question.
I emailed him about an interview about the old days and what they are up to as well and here we go..
Where were you born and where did you grow up?
RR: Born and raised in Pittsburgh.
What sort of kid were you growing up? Did you have a lot of friends?
RR: Yes, I was lucky. We moved into a townhome community that required residents who had families. I still hang with 5 of the guys I grew up with to this day. We get together once a month and go to concerts and such.
Now what did you want to be when you were growing up?
RR: Well, policeman or a musician. One seemed easier than the other, but I was happy with our band.
What were your teenage years like when did start listening to rock or metal and what were some of the 1st bands that you heard? Are you still a fan of any of these bands these days?
RR: Still a fan of my firsts! I had an uncle who played drums in a band called Fresh Blueberry Pancake in the late 60’s. He turned me on at an early age to the Beatles, Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. His philosophy about what and why he liked bands was what I took immediately. Until seeing a Maiden record in the store, I loved Kiss, Rainbow, UFO, and enjoyed the Ramones.
Now at what point did you discover the underground? What did you think of it when you 1st heard it? Did it take a few listens until you started to enjoy it? What were some of the 1st bands you heard and are you still a fan of those bands today?
RR: I met our guitarist Robbie at the underground record store in Pittsburgh. He introduced me to all kinds of stuff. From Motörhead to NWOBHM bands, and then Anthrax and Metallica. We enjoyed learning and discovering. It led us to test the waters of other stuff that was not yet really known. RT traded tapes, so he was a little ahead of the game. We got into GBH, Excel, and Leeway. Kind of started our foundation. By the way, the rest of the band was 5-6 years older than I was, so talk about schooling lol. We still listen to everything from the era. Never gave up on our early experiences and likes.
Now what made you decide to be a drummer? Was the idea all along to either join or form a band at that time? What local bands were around that you liked and hung out with?
RR: My uncle!!! He was my major influence. I grew up with Terry Weston of Dream Death fame. We hung out with folks in our scene in its infancy. I roadied for Dream Death and Doomwatch. Befriended the guys in Half-Life and Necropolis. RT and I decided to give it a go because we shared like-minded goals for music.
What are some of your favorite drummers?
RR: I love John Bonham! Peter Criss, Bill Ward.
Now what are early shows you went to before the forming of Eviction?
RR: Saw a few at a small club in McKees Rocks and a handful at another Pittsburgh landmark called the Electric Banana. Saw Trouble, Queensryche, Megadeth, Exploited, Anthrax, GBH, Suicidal Tendencies, and Cro Mags. Other shows were at larger venues and while they were considered underground, it was easier to attend.
So now what led to the forming of Eviction? How did you end up finding each other? Robbie worked at the record store and found out I played drums. His creation was forming. I’ve known RT since I was 12 years old.
RR: Robbie and I talked about it casually at the record store. He handed me the first lp from Suicidal Tendencies and said, “Learn to play your drums like this!” We got together and wrote a few songs and the rest is history. I never totally learned that ST style ha ha.
Now how did you come up with the name and logo of the band?
RR: Our earliest rehearsals were at the family house I lived in. Neighbors complained about the noise to the commissioners who threatened to evict our family if the “racket” continued. We wanted to branch out and get more members and talked about getting a name. Sounded more established. Our friend Terry Weston joked about calling us Eviction. We laughed and laughed until Rob and I decided it wasn’t so bad after all. So it stuck. At practices, our bassist-turned-singer Todd Porter would jot down song and lyrical ideas and doodle. He drew a logo that we loved and looked so cool. Todd also created the skeletal Mickey designs we still use.
I heard over the years a lot about Eide’s Records. How cool of a record store was it and did you spend a lot of money over the years there I imagine your demo was sold there as well.
RR: It was the hit bed of our musical culture! They ALWAYS supported the local bands. Not all at once, but all of our band members worked there ha ha! Robbie was the metal/punk buyer and managed the record department. I’d go home with half paychecks! The owner let us run a tab in our purchases. The support we got from the owner, Greg, allowed any band to sell their demo, hang flyers, and even allow us (as seen in our American Way video) to play the grand reopening of the store when he moved.
So now you have a band name and a logo and you have a line-up. How were the early practices? How soon will you start to write original songs? Was it more of a member thing writing songs or a full band effort?
RR: They were rough. It took us almost a year to get a solid dedicated lineup. The bass player was the toughest. Robbie wanted to get a lead guitarist to thicken our songs and give that addition to the songs. Robbie wrote all the music. He and I would discuss and toss around arrangements until the full band was together. Then we would share ideas. Todd was crucial to the earlier days because he wrote lyrics that fit what music we had arranged. We were experimenting with our “craft” until we got better at our instruments and writing and it showed as we progressed.
How did you find singer Todd Porter and looking back was he the perfect fit for the band?
RR: He told us he played bass. Which he was horrible at. We had a couple of rehearsals and he was crazy. Literally. One morning, (Todd and I worked across from each other at a food court) I was taking out the trash and heard him singing along to a Motörhead tape and I believe GBH. It was different and I hoped he would accept singing. His energy was endless, but he couldn’t play bass very well and we had an instant chemistry.
So now how long was the band together before you started to work on your debut demo, which was called “Struggle with Society”?
RR: Almost 2 years. The first year I got the lineup together, writing stuff, and playing some shows.
I’m assuming with Eide’s being in town, you knew all about tape trading, fanzines, indie radio, etc. How long were you in the studio for that demo if you remember and did you do the blank tape to blank tape way of doing things or did get them professionally done? How many do you think you sold?
RR: Robbie and Todd were huge tape-trading guys. We all congregated around the record store and
eventually saw each other at shows and knowledge of the guys in the early lineup built up around those meetings and hangs. We recorded and mixed our first demo in one very long 14-hour day. We ran tape to tape and killed a couple of tape decks. We never kept an accurate account, but between trading, shows, and sales; I remember seeking out a professional system for our second demo because it was a lot. I’d kindly estimate a tad over 500.
Now I’m sure you began to play out live. Who did you share the stage with and did you play any other places besides The Electric Banana? Was that place bad as I have heard horror stories from bands over the years?
RR: The funny thing about the Banana was all the horror stories may be true, but for some odd reason; our experience with them was quite smooth. The owners loved us as people. It made things seem less for the most part.
RR: A larger club that had shown was a skating rink turned club. It was called City Limits. Our first show ever as a band was with locals Half-Life and Nuclear Assault. We would play fire halls and VFW halls with other local bands. Our scene was growing quickly! Eventually, we got tighter as a live band and promoters wanted us to open shows. We had a good draw and we would work very hard promoting our gigs and handing out flyers that Todd would usually put together. We played a bad show early on in Washington DC after a Banana show with Heathen and Zoetrope. We came home, tightened the bootstraps, and practiced more frequently and harder. So when we started playing gigs with locals, it got a little rough as some didn’t want to play after us! We had opened for a ton of bands of all genres. COC, Overkill, Nuclear Assault several times, Dark Angel, Death, Exploited, GBH, Gang Green, DRI, Excel, Mucky Pup, Manowar, Violence, Pantera, Voi Vod, Goo Goo Dolls, Murphys Law, Broken Bones, Forbidden, Sacred Reich, etc. we were even blessed to get a show with underground bands from neighboring states. We played a hardcore matinee at CBGBs with the Dept of Corruption and Biohazard.
How well did this demo do? How were the fanzine reviews and stuff? Did you start to develop a good local following?
RR: The locals ate us up. Loved us!! The demo started to get played regularly on college radio in the tri-state area and we had write-ups in many fanzines and the big 2! Kerrang and Metal Forces. One fanzine in particular was harsh. It was not taken lightly and we stepped up and improved in writing songs due to a lyric remark; I wanted to write lyrics to avoid any further negativity. The same fanzine even commented on the review of our second demo as a monumental improvement in all areas, so mission accomplished. (it wasn’t metal core fanzine-Chris)
Why did you put 8 songs on the demo when most bands were putting 4 or 5 tunes at most?
RR: We wanted folks to see us as a serious band. We gave them an album-length release rather than shortening the demo. Kind of standing out apart from what others were doing. We were writing so much material due to all the practices. We even had special moments along the way. The headliner canceled a show at the Banana last minute, so we asked the local opener (our one-time bassist from the first demo, Bill was in the other band, Travesty) if they had enough material to keep the show going. They said they could wrangle 30-40 minutes. We figured out a set list with our originals and 3 or 4 covers we knew and played for almost 90 minutes. Without that extra material we had, this would never have happened.
So now the following year (1988) you put out a 2nd demo called “Who Will Win”. Why that title?
RR: We had a song with that title. An artist friend of ours asked if he could draw some stuff for us. He liked Who Will Win? His drawing was spot on to the message conveyed in the song and way too cool to not name the demo. We later released the demos on vinyl and that drawing blown up on a 12” just looks amazing.
Wow CBGB’s. How did you manage to get that show and how was it playing that place as you were a band with just a debut demo out?
RR: We got shows for bands here, namely the Dept. of Corruption and Caligula. Ray Fornicola of Dept. C asked us to come up and play there. We played 3 shows that weekend. A fire hall in Jersey and a deli! CBS was just awesome!
You also did a cover of The Who song “My Generation” on the 2nd demo. What made you pick that particular song? Looking back how do you think it turned out?
RR: We often covered songs people thought were ours. We jokingly warmed up with the song at practice and decided after playing it through our way that we added it to our set. It went over very well!! The demo recording was fun and it showed we had a humorous side to what we did. Some of the other songs on the demo were intense and quite serious compared to this.
You also said you re-released both demos on 12″. Are they still for sale or not?
RR: There are a few around. Not many! We signed a deal with a small label called Heaven and Hell Records that reissued our LP and put both demos on CD with exceptionally great packaging. We self-released Who Will Win and now a defunct local label called Mind Cure released Struggle. We ran through 2 vinyl pressings for both which was exciting.
Now with demo # 2, did you have them professionally done, or was it another tape-to-tape job? How did you come up with the cover for it?
RR: After the difficulty with time and expense, we decided and found a local company to press them for us. It was very nicely packaged and extremely professional. I believe we got more positive compliments on the packaging than the music recorded on them lol. We had an artist friend who helped us with a t-shirt caricature design and some stickers. He asked if he could draw something regarding a song or 2. We decided after seeing the work that it was the perfect cover and title! Our joy was indescribable.
Now with this demo, were you looking to possibly get a record deal? With the buzz from the 1st demo and the release of this 2nd one, plus the crossover scene being so big, did you feel the time was right?
RR: We never paid much attention to trends or what was popular. Pittsburgh’s scene was booming! The best part was not any 2 bands sounded alike. We met some bands in other states and began trading shows. A lot of growth afforded us to test the waters and attempt to get signed. We designed a packet with zine reviews and interviews and a glossy 8 X 10 photo with a demo tape. We sent it to anyone we could imagine. We got very positive responses to the demo and eventually landed a deal with Metal Blades Death imprint. We were more excited at the import deal because distribution was on Zorro/Music for Nations. They treated us very well from a distance while things here at home were not so good.
So if you did, what I said above, did you send the demo to many record companies at the time? I know you ended up signing with Metal Blade, did any other labels have any interest, and did it matter to you at the time whether you were on Death Records like DRI, COC, or Metal Blade Records? Looking back which of the 2 do you think you belonged on?
RR: We were just happy to get signed. It didn’t matter. We were promised a lot which makes the deal sound sweeter, but the Death imprint fell apart on us literally. Everyone who supported us left and shows and those other promises began to be deleted. It was heartbreaking. We had a few local folks who made offers, but local vs Metal Blade? What would you do? ? We did get a very generous offer from Roadrunner, but Monte Connor demanded we part with our vocalist and that was never an option. We stayed far away from that option.
Now around this time were you playing out more, were the crowds growing, was the mail pouring in? Speaking of mail, who ended up doing it? Shows got bigger and better.
RR: Touring major bands requested us to play their shows if available. It was awesome receiving compliments from these bands. Plus promoters loved the draw we had and the work we put in to advertise and do the flyer thing. We got tons of mail to Robbie’s house. Sometimes it got so large that we would spend a Saturday or Sunday picking through and answering the mail. Some of those we mailed to are still fans/friends of ours to this day. We loved our fans and supporters.
So exactly did the deal with Metal Blade go down? Did they send you a letter saying were interested in working with you and then you reached out back to them and then a contract was drawn up?
RR: Yes. A gentleman named Steve Ricardo reached out to us and spoke highly of our approach and music. He worked with Slagel in finding bands and gauging interest from MB to help grow these bands and provide a solid foundation for young bands. We spoke by telephone until an offer sheet was sent by mail and a contract drawn shortly thereafter. We waited a week or so and had a lawyer friend of ours review the terms and sign with them.
How soon after you reached a deal with Metal Blade did you begin to work in your debut for them called “The World Is Hours Away”? Did they give you a budget? Where did you record it and how long were you in the studio for?
RR: We rehearsed very intensely for about 3-4 months. The person who owned the studio where we did our demos teamed up with a local Art Institute School and opened a new state-of-the-art studio a couple of blocks from where we were living. The relationship was great and being so close to home was a huge comfort. The studio was called Audiomation. We recorded about 6 months after signing the deal. We recorded and mixed in 5-6 days. We were very tight and had a lot of extra time to relax throughout the process. We had a producer that wanted some of the extra stuff in there which was strange, but we had a blast! We stayed under budget and we bought some new equipment with some of the money left over. Nothing grandiose! Just a little stuff we needed.
So you mentioned earlier that a lot of the promises you were promised began to fall apart. What were some of the promises?
RR: Tours, management support, ads. They also guaranteed monetary royalties and then denied sales numbers which Metal Blade was unaware that our guitarist Robbie knew they shipped twice as many pieces to Canada then they admitted to selling. It just went sideways. In those days, playing the CMJ concert exposed a band to college radio. We were promised a slot in 1989 that MB canceled last minute. It was deflating to a young band that worked very hard to be better.
Now how were sales for your debut? Or actually, what did Metal Blade tell you the sales were ha ha? How were a lot of the reviews in the various magazines and fanzines?
RR: Reviews were all positive! A couple of the underground fanzines thought the production was too clean which in hindsight, we agreed to a point. But we evolved so much at that point and we’re proud of our work. Kind of answered the question a bit before lol, they stated a tad shy of 10,000 records, BUT the distributor people we knew (remember now, Robbie was a metal buyer at the store and knew a lot of important people) found they shipped almost 30,000 units ONLY to Canada. That’s not counting America or anything overseas.
Did you manage to do any type of touring behind the release besides local shows?
RR: We had to scurry because they never gave us the tour support as promised. We became great friends with a band called Solitude from Wilmington, Delaware. We would do gigs around the tri-state area with each other trading off the headline spot. The local shows were all great as well.
When did things begin to unravel with Metal Blade? Was it a good parting or a nasty one?
RR: It started to unravel almost from the very beginning. The record was delayed for almost a year after we turned it over to them. I was on vacation and 2 young kids approached me to sign their cassette copies. I had no idea it came out! Another example of their high jinks was when we agreed to do the reunion shows. They refused to repress. We had to pay them for the rights to have the record remastered and released on Heaven and Hell Records. They made money off us they didn’t need. For what? It just made no sense. I will email you the Metal Blade ad they ran about 7 months before the actual release. Take in the others in that ad and I’m sure you’ll see my point. They ignored us.
Were there any thoughts of breaking the band up or did you just say “ok” where are just gonna find a new label and start work on new material?
RR: Well, our singer, Todd couldn’t take the letdown any longer and quit to pursue other interests. He’s since then opened 2 tattoo parlors and successfully still performs with his band The Cheats. We got a new vocalist and wrote new music, but things just weren’t the same. We played 2 successful gigs with our new vocalist and things were so different. Times were changing and the world around us seemed to lack a positive direction. I left shortly after the live shows. The lineup to find a permanent drummer was always changing. Our guitarist moved to New Orleans to pursue a blues career. It fell apart. The band did reform around 93, and 94 with Todd back in the fold, Robbie, Ted, and 2 new guys. They recorded a demo called Think Tank. Our scene was changing and the band just didn’t have that same charm anymore. Side projects became full-time bands and we finally called it a day. Sadly.
So even with 2 new members, did you think your sound was any different from the debut release, and was the morale of the band strong?
RR: The morale was strong, the band was solid live and still had a huge following. The music though had changed to a bluesier almost rock approach versus the thrasher punk crossover. On the reissued CDs of the World is Ours Away the Think Tank demo is in there. At the reunion shows we did last year, we played Nine if Your Business from it with a mix from the demos and full length and it fit in perfectly. CF: I am gonna jump back a bit with these few questions. So what was it like holding in your hands the finished album when it came out? Did you have a record release party? I imagine the response locally was off the charts. I was on vacation so the excitement was under control lol. When I got home my package with the records, cassettes, and CDs was there and it was surreal. The craziest reality portion of the accomplishment was on the vinyl. I wrote a lot of our lyrics and under each song on the record label, it showed music: and lyrics so seeing my name where you’d see like Lennon and McCartney was cool. We did a record release show a couple of weeks later opening for Overkill. It was an amazing night!
Whose idea was it for the album cover and the title of it? Looking back how do you think it turned out?
RR: We were throwing around titles and I believe Robbie and Todd came up with the title. We had another artist friend of ours who asked if we would like to see his artwork ideas for the album. His drawing was awesome! One and done. Couldn’t ask for a better depiction of the title and some of our lyrical content. Todd suggested the “Ours” portion rather than hours which was icing on the cake.
Now after that experience with Metal Blade do you think it made you a stronger and wiser band of sorts for that short time you were around?
RR: It left us a little jaded. We didn’t trust anybody anymore. We traveled gingerly and were nervous as to where the next kick in the nuts was coming from. When Todd walked away we were very lost for a while.
Even though you play on the 1993 demo, what are your thoughts on it? Did you ever see the band live with you, not in it?
RR: Oh yeah! I went to probably every show they played. I supported them fully and even joined them for American Way at several shows. I was their biggest fan! I was 50/50 on the new music. I wasn’t ready for the slower tempo and pace. It was different from the new stuff we were working on when I left. We had some great tunes in the can.
Now what did you do after you left Eviction? Did you get any offers to join any other bands? Did you continue to follow the scene much or did you just get away from music for a while?
RR: I supported our scene and remained a fan. I played drums later on with friends but never more than a garage recording until we talked about the reunion. Robbie, Ted, and I formed a band called Volcano Dogs. We recorded one LP self-released and played local gigs. We dissolved after a few years and I didn’t play drums again until 2020 when we started to rehearse for the reunion shows we played last year.
Now in 2019, a compilation came out from Heaven and Hell Records called “Struggle with Society… Who Will Win”. Did they contact you about maybe wanting to put your demos out on CD? If it was you they contacted, what was you feeling like on that? Did you get in touch with the other members?
RR: Robbie was approached by the label guys and he and Todd ironed out the details including purchasing the rights from Metal Blade. We had total creative control of the reissues. The label spoke highly of us claiming we were the first band that lived beyond their expectations. We were treated well for a change. They did a fantastic job with everything from layout design to availability.
(Heaven and hell is a fantastic label-Chris)
Did you have all the master tapes of the demos you played on? How much input did you have on this release?
RR: Robbie has all of that stuff. We had total input and they worked with us completely. We were satisfied.
Whose idea was it for the cover and the title of the release? How exciting was it for you and the other band members to see your old demos on CD after all this time?
RR: We just kept everything the same and very simple. Changing names or adding art was never an option. We did not want to confuse people by having them think we were releasing brand-new music. Being creative and playing together again with the reissue selling like it was free was extremely exciting for all of us. We are flattered by the support of our fans. It’s overwhelming but awesome. Then there are folks like yourself who keep us alive and in the minds of others and THAT is huge with us and very very appreciated!!! We have been subjects of YouTube vinyl collectors celebrating the finding of our stuff and the fact people do have the opportunity to easily acquire the music again is so so special.
So what was the reaction or response to the re-issue? What was going through your mind when you got an actual copy in your hand? Any idea about actual sales?
RR: I was floored both that Metal Blade was still passive about any reissues and that we were doing it. I was glad fans could get the product again. I often joke that we have no expiration date on this and it’s wonderful to know people still care and support. I’m not sure if the CD numbers, but I believe we pressed approximately 1000 units on the vinyl and it’s almost gone. We were applauded by the label because they say other bands talked up their popularity and numbers. We never said a word and the numbers spoke for themselves.
Now that release, is that directly what led to doing a reunion show? How many shows did you do and where were they? What was the name and the club and did a lot of old raging underground maniacs show up and show support to the band?
RR: The reunion was first. We planned one show that was canceled due to the pandemic. The reissues were just a bonus to help grease the wheel a little more. About a year prior, our good friend Ed Farshtey asked us to play his Armageddon Fest in Brooklyn at the Monarch Club. It was a weekend fest (2 days) and included Blood Feast, Deceased, Bat, Overdrive, Impaler, Caligula, and about 8 more! It was a blast! We got to see some old friends and made some new ones. The only other show was the rescheduled Pittsburgh Fest Metal Immortal 2. We headlined a sold-out pre-show event. We were nervous because early interest caused the promoter to find a bigger venue which added pressure on us. After all, we felt more responsible for whether or not this goes well lol. But it did!! We have not scheduled any other shows or events. We talk about it, but everyone is busy. In October, I suffered a massive heart failure and I’ve yet to be cleared to drum again (get well soon my man-cf)
How long did you practice for and how hard was it to get behind the kit and start to learn those old songs after not playing them for years? How long did it take until you guys as a band felt comfortable playing this show?
RR: We practiced once a week for about 4 months leading up to the shows. We ran into some rust issues in Brooklyn because of the live setting and monitors, but a few days later, worked out the cues and tightened the errors we made. Both were in me though lol! I got anxious and jumped the gun on 2 songs lol. We felt very comfortable right away. Believe it or not, relearning the songs was not as hard as it seemed. Our friends Mark (2nd guitar) and Dan (bass) helped tremendously! I may have said this before, but had paths crossed 30 years ago, this would easily have been our lineup! No disrespect to the guys we played with by no means, but we just had total chemistry from Jump Street. We all shared the goal of doing this right and representing what fans expect from us and I confidently believe we nailed those expectations and then some.
I know you sent me some video of the show and the band sounded great, was there ever any talk of doing a live album or the band getting back together at all, even if for a few more show shows?
RR: We discussed possibly writing some stuff or moving forward, but Todd and Mark run businesses. Dan is very busy at his job and has 2 kids going to college this year. Both Dan had other projects he committed to and Todd, who somehow has 40 hours in a day lol plays in his band The Cheats. They just celebrated 22 years together and released a new album and tour. A live release was never approached, but never say never, the recording of the show sounds amazing.
So after this live show you did, what have you been doing with yourself? Do people still remember the band and talk to you in your hometown at all?
RR: All the time! We see fans at shows and events. They are very cool and always welcome! The best part is when a fan will talk about the band, not knowing who I am because I’m old now lol; they get so excited when you introduce yourself and honor the conversation and time. The FANS are the only reason we did the reunion shows. We felt as a band, we owed them after all of their support. We kind of faded into one last night and nobody saw it ending properly.
I see you are active on Facebook. What do you think of the underground scene today?
RR: I’m still trying to understand the new kids. It sounds so old and contrived lol. Due to the internet and Bandcamp, the lines of what’s underground are often blurred. Robbie and I went to Youngstown, Ohio to see one of our favorite bands, Early Moods! They were fantastic!! But there were about 30 people there!! It was a reminder of how we gauge what is true. What is truly underground? Early Moods played like they were in a 20,000-seater!! Just great guys! Robbie is good friends with Athenar from Midnight. I assume their band is underground, but Christ, they’re touring the world on their 20th Anniversary and doing very well. Aside from fest dates and anniversary shows, I think they’ll be opening for Danzig on their next tour. They finished a tour last year with Kreator and Mercyful Fate! They kill it every time I see them!! So it’s hard to call. Deceased comes to mind! King and company are touring again and it appears they’re doing well, but do the kids understand the honor it is to see them? Their music is quite timeless and the band crushes!!!! live, every night! (I think sometimes kids don’t go back and try to listen to older stuff from the ’80s and I’m talking about the smaller bands like Iron Angel’s Hellish Crossfire for example – Chris)
Is the Heaven and Hell CD still for sale?
RR: Yes. Robbie has an eBay store that he sells there as well.
Are there any Eviction sites up on the web or through Bandcamp, Facebook, etc? Are there many videos floating around on YouTube?
RR: We have a FB page that Todd runs. Heaven and Hell have us on Bandcamp. I think we are on the Spotify platform too. YouTube has our official, independently made American Way video. We put I think 3 songs from the reunion in Pittsburgh on there. Someone put a couple from the Brooklyn show. Another few videos on YouTube were released by fans who had recorded shows or songs. There was recently a show from 1989 put on there. It’s quite a good viewing of how we were evolving into a good live band.
Does the band have any merchandise for sale, whether it be LP’S, CD’s, or t-shirts? It is nice to have one Rob if you could spare one.
RR: Todd would be the merch God. He had stuff on the FB page. Robbie has some stuff too, but I’m not sure about merch. That is of course, if we didn’t sell it all. Like I said, fans just won’t let this go! It’s awesome, but we hope people are happy and taken care of
What would you like the band to be remembered by and what was the craziest show you ever saw or played or both?
RR: I just hope people realize we were true and cared about them! We wrote music we were fans of and having thousands of followers who became fans of that too is just amazing. We are so lucky and appreciate every fan! We recently revisited a situation online which was quite funny. We opened for Pantera about 2-3 weeks before Cowboys from Hell came out. Our steady crowd came out as expected and we were at the height of our popularity and live show, so we were crushing it! Pantera’s road manager didn’t like what he saw and cut our power off halfway through our last or second-to-last song. No explanation, no reason. Half of our fans left the show immediately! Those fans angrily spray painted and sharpie marketed their disgust all over Pantera’s bus. It’s even seen in their home video where they are at a gas station scrubbing off their bus. We didn’t condone this nor ask, but our fans are quite the bunch and very loyal lol. Pantera plays here in Pittsburgh in Friday night, so the story came up again. The only other thing we can share is the brutality of the pits we had. Broken noses, busted ribs, and a broken arm or two. It was crazy! Kids loved us!
You also mentioned you played with Manowar before. What was that like as they have been around a long time?
RR: Kings of Metal tour 1989. We were added because we had a great fan base and draw. It was in Monroeville Pa a borough outside of Pittsburgh. I can’t remember the name of the venue because there weren’t too many shows there. It was the only time we played there.
We were sound-checking and heard these brutal grunts and groans. Backstage, they set up weights and a bench! They were lifting for 45 minutes to an hour before the show started. Then the singer and guitarists were doing curls 15 minutes more before they went onstage! We shared a room with them and they had all their stage clothes hung up. Todd and I decided to check it out and found regular shorts and muscle t-shirts with fur and shit glued to them. They ferried up their Chuck Taylor tennis shoes! It was hysterical! The kicker was the 6 pack of baby oil. Applied to each other and they were posing in the dressing room mirrors. It was equal parts funny and disturbing.
They’re strange dudes. We were a bit intimidated by them until we found their stage clothes. Then the weightlifting and grunting and macho shit made them funny.
Most of our tour/show antics are funny. But this one was “special” for sure. And it never made sense to me or what a fan saw in this silly band.
Ron, omg, thanks for traveling down the underground train with me as I was around back then as well and I hope the interview brought as great memories as it did of me asking the questions. Horns up for doing this any last words, the floor is yours?
RR: Thank you!!!! And your supporters for allowing me the time. We are just so very thankful that we have the following we do and the coolest fans you can ask for. We appreciate the support and are always glad to share a moment or 3! You’d be amazed at where and when we encounter folks! I also hope you keep up the effort in spreading some knowledge old and new to metal fans that follow you! It’s been an absolute pleasure going down this journey with you! Thank you !! (I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon-Chris)
