interviewbob

Heavy Changes interviews Bob Salerno of Bobsled Records
Heavy Changes: How did you get to know Ric and Paul? Were you a fan first or did you know them before they formed the Velvet Crush?
Bob: I met Ric and Paul when I was doing radio promotion for Zoo while working Matthew Sweet's record Blue Sky on Mars. As you know Ric and Paul have been touring with Matthew for years. I was a fan of the Velvet Crush long before we met on that tour. One of the advantages of working a tour around the midwest is that you get to go to all these really small towns that have really great used vinyl shops. Paul and I got along great pretty much immediately, cause if you know Paul, he's one of the openly nicest guys on the planet. Ric on the other hand wasn't quite so immediate, and for good reason. The music industry is over filled with jive ass turkeys, and hey, maybe I could have been one of them. But as soon as Ric saw that the first one or two cities we went to I'd go record shopping and come back with stacks of great records, he opened up. It was really great when he did too man 'cause I can't imagine there's very many people that know more about rock and roll than Ric. He wrote me this list of classic rock records to pick up. From then on we'd go record shopping in all the small towns. I'd just stand next to Ric as he'd flip through the bins. He'd pick up record after record asking me if I had it. If I didn't, he'd give me a brief history about 'em and then he'd put the record in my stack. I got an extra big kick out of his reaction when he'd find Mono copies.

Awe man, Gina just told me Joey Ramone died. That's a real drag. What a loss. Here I am talkin' about all these greats and man the Ramones are right there at the top of that list. Really sad man.
[later]
So Ric taught me a ton about rock and roll over the years. Still love record shopping with him. As a matter of fact, those guys Matthew included were the ones that made my radio gig fun. Keepin' in mind that at a very accelerated rate my passion for music was detieriorating due to my realization of how records REALLY became popular. So it was so great man, hangin' out with these guys. Man, I remember considering doing A&R for Zoo and talking to Ric about it. In the end I knew that I couldn't sleep at night if I signed any band to that shitty label. Although I probably would have started working with Matthew closer, which would have been great. Man, any extended conversation with Ric or Paul is fabulous. Aside from talkin' to guys like George, Paul, Ringo, Petty, Dylan, Neil Young, etc . . . Man, that's one of the greatest things about my label. Conversations with Ric, Paul, Jim Beattie, Kevin Junior, Brezel and Francoise, all of The Waxwings are really enlightening. I love all these guys man.

HC: What did you think the first time you heard Free Expression?
Bob: I thought it was and still think it is, in my opinion, their greatest record to date.

HC: What is your favorite Velvet Crush song ever?
Bob: Wow, that's always a rough question with any band you dig. [On 4/16] I'd say Ballad of Yesteryear 'cause I listened to Free Expression last night and really dug that song again. Today [4/19] I'd say Drive Me Down.

HC: The production on the Waxwings great debut album, Low To The Ground just oozes classic pop atmosphere. Was there a particular classic album's sound you had in mind when you were co-producing that you wanted Low To The Ground to sound like?
Bob: Well, there wasn't just one album in particular that I was trying to emulate. There were many. I was listening to all the later Beatles records and other various classic songs. I'm really blown away by the reverbs used in the 70's. But if I were to pick one record I listened to most during those sessions, I would say Band on the Run. I just started diggin' into their first and second batches of demos for what will become their next record. Wow man, let me just say that I can't fuckin' wait to start workin' on that record!

HC: Which band would you like to release an album of on the Bobsled label?
Bob: Man, other than all future records of our bands, there are only 2 others right now that I would sign tomorrow if I could, Matthew Sweet and Neutral Milk Hotel.

HC: What are your all-time top 5 albums?
Bob: Once again, the answer to this question will vary depending on when you ask me.
[On 4/16/01] the list is:                            [Today](4/19/01)
1. Ramones                                             1. R.E.M. Reckoning
2. R.E.M. Murmur                                     2. Dylan Highway 61 Revisited
3. Dylan Blonde on Blonde                     3. Neil Young Comes A Time
4. Bowie Hunky Dory                               4. The Cars
5. Beatles Revolver                                 5. Tom Petty You're Gonna Get It!
                                                                     ...and the Ramones still rule

HC: What was the hardest part of starting Bobsled Records?
Bob: Starting the label wasn't hard at all. It was all fun man.

HC: Do you have any news on the new album that the Velvet Crush are working on?
Bob: No news sorry.

HC: Have you heard any of the new songs?
Bob: I've heard a bunch of demos for the next record. The songs I heard are great. Could top Free Expression. I know whatever they put out next will be great.