RHYTHM DOCTORS.
This interview was done by Janne Lepisto with Organ player Mark Quan
for Banana Fanzine.
Some of you may think that who the hell are Rhythm Doctors. Let me tell you. They are one of the best reggae bands around. Their music is so close to the original late sixties and early seventies Jamaican UK reggae that it's amazing! I had a pleasure to interview organist Mark Quan. This was made through a friend at TKO records headquarter (thanks Mr. Jim Martinez), Mark answered in September '99 but due to some confusion somewhere I got it in January 2000. Well, here we go....
1. TELL US A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BAND, LINEUP ETC.
The band started with four core members. Paul Majetsevic, Mark Perine, Charles Cleveland and myself. Paul plays percussion, Mark P. played bass, Charles played drums and I play the organ. We rehearsed for a few months and Charles had to go. A year later we find Jesse, who is our lead guitarist. We continued to rehearse in the bass players basement in Whittier. Looking for a drummer and riddim guitarist; when seespot ended Brian Dixon joined the band and there lead horn player Aaron Jones switched to drums. Now, neither the bass player and drummer are with us. We have our new drummer Korey Horn and new bass player Earl Miles. This all started in fall of '96.
2. HAVE YOU DONE MANY GIGS?
We really gig equally in Los Angeles (were we are all from) and in San
Francisco. We have been gigging for about a year and a half
3. WHO'S GOT THE IDEA TO PLAY ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL REGGAE, AND HOW DO YOU CREATE SONGS? ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO SOME VOCAL CUTS ALSO?
The idea to do instrumental reggae would have been a collective idea from the four members when the band started. I have written most of the original material but Brian and Jesse also have written some riddims. When I write material I first have an idea of what type of reggae it is going to be, but when I have the ideas of arrangement, bass line, melody; you must be open to changes, changing the song for the better. Because when you present the song to good musicians they have their own ideas as well. As far as any vocal cuts... we are all willing to do some in the studio... but we have to find the right singer or deejay for our style. We also would like to back up OW school reggae singers or deejays.
4. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE COVER SONGS?
We currently play: Roll On, Nevada Joe, Ram Jam, Freak Out, Fireball Rock, X-ray Vision, Night Doctor and our version of Sitting In the Park.
5. WHAT ABOUT THE FAVORITE ARTISTS? DO YOIU LIKE OR LISTEN TO ANY NEWER BANDS, OR ANY OTHER MUSIC STYLES? DO YOU LISTEN TO INSTRUMENTAL SOUL LIKE BOOKER T AND THE MG'S?
I can not speak for everyone, exactly, but collectively we all like soul music in general, Jamaican soul and American soul (respectively). My personal favorite artists are the musicians behind the music. Jackie Mittoo, Leroy Wallace, Lloyd Parks, Eric Frater, Hux Brown etc. These musicians and many more collaborated on so many Jamaican riddims making some great music.
6. WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON SKACORE OR ANY OTHER STYLES THAT MOVE UNDER THE SKA BANNER?
Again, I can flat speak for everyone1 but, the way ska music in general has changing since Its birth to now has me disinterested in the ska" of today. The form of music has no limitations, you can fuse what you want with and when you want, and skacore is no exception. I personally prefer not to listen to it.
7. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SKINHEADS? I AM SURE THAT YOUR AUDIENCE I FULL OF US. HAVE YOUR CONCERTS HAD ANY TROUBLE, I MEAN STUPID FIGHTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
I know skinheads, and I have many skinhead friends. Skinheads are the
ones who really know what's going on with the old school Jamaican music.
No sub-culture can stand by such a claim. We have quite a skinhead following
in LA as well as in San Francisco. The skinheads in both cities collect
and collect reggae and more reggae! Haha... but I think we have had only
one fight at a show... but it wasn't a show stopper.
I think we were playing Fireball Rock and some people started to fight,
we stopped the riddim until it was settled... but I think the vibe we promote
with our music keeps the quarrels outside, you know?
8. WHAT YOU'RE DOING AS A LIVING? ARE YOU ALL MARRIED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?
Haha, only Korey is married, but we joke sometimes that Paul is married!
But really he has a girlfriend. Brian works at a studio called Signet Sound
Delux, the old Motown studios when Gordy left Detroit for LA, and the same
studio where we recorded and mixed our seven inch and album. Paul works
at a pharmaceutical place where he handles some of the field work and billing,
Korey is married and works in construction, Jesse is a student learning
to be a sound engineer like Brian, Earl and I work at Larry Flynt Publishing,
I work in the archives and Earl works in the mail room.
9. WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THE BANDS'NAME? IF THERE'S SOME, OR IT IS JUST A NICE BLEND OF RHYTHM RULERS AND MUSIC DOCTORS?
No story, you're exactly right, that is how I came up with the name.
10. ANY PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? WHEN WILL WE GET A FULL LENGTH RHYTHM DOCTORS RECORD? GOT SOMETHING TO SAY FOR YOUR FINNISHIEUROPEAN FANS (THERE ARE SOME, BELIEVE OR NOT)?
The future of the Rhythm Doctors are uncertain but we are in some capable hands, I mean we go in so many directions... as a backing band, as a studio band or to just tour with our instruments? Who knows, the possibilities are endless!! We are working with Hellcat records and the album which is already recorded will be out soon! Maybe at the beginning of next year (read this year as this is a bit late-ed). I can speak for the entire boys and when I say that we never thought that people would actually know about our music in Europe! We are glad that you like our music. We hope to be out there on a tour! It will be fun.
THANKS FOR THE INTERVIEW.