2324: Gotta start the interview kinda slow for the benefit of the folks who are excited that there are Rancid sideprojects called Vat and Alcoholics Unanimous - Could you give a brief history of both groups?
REB: Well, neither band would have existed if it wasn't for me and my wife Marla. We married over 20 years ago..and tried to establish "normal" lives like "normal" people. That didn't work. We bought musical instruments and started making noise in our basement...our handful of "normal" friends thought we had lost our senses! We might have kept playing in our basement if it wasn't for the SEX PISTOLS. Their album changed everything. Once we had come to grips with the PISTOLS we were ready to listen to other bands playing what had been considered "negative" and "antisocial" music. The CRAMPS for instance. When we first got a band together in 1980, we were shocked to find that the music "scene" was as full of assholes as the old hippy scene. Eventually we made a decision to NOT COMPETE with other "punk" bands. We figured it would be more fun to piss people off. The band that we started to piss everybody off was RANCID VAT. Our first show was January of 1981. RANCID VAT started up at a time when there were damn few "noise" bands except in big city's like New York. We played absolute insulting fucking racket at cowboy bars, gay bars, anywhere they'd book us. Over the last 18 years we've musically evolved into a comparetively straight forward punk rock band. Our songs are still offensive enough to get us banned from club after club. Alcoholics Unanimous is a band we started 11 years ago that plays NOTHING but drinking songs. A.U. is our "happy" side you might say..whereas RANCID VAT exists to vent our rage. That wasn't very brief...was it????
2324: Since the early 90s Rancid Vat has been a major part of the Confederacy Of Scum - could you describe this organization for the readers and explain how Vat got involved?
REB: For the first several years that the VAT existed, we were singled out as troublemakers by the "scene kingpins" in our hometown of Portland Oregon. Some Clubs wouldn't book us..and if they did, they treated us like dirt. I can't really blame them in a way....I mean..if a band gets on a stage and starts insulting the club owner, booker, etc. no WONDER they didn't like us. We played whenever we could on our own terms and never compromised. In 1989 I wound up getting in touch with ANTISEEN. We eventually compared notes and learned that a lot of the "scene kingpins" in their hometown hated them for lots of the reasons that we were hated in our town. Eventually when we met COCKNOOSE to nobody's surprise we learned that they were hated in THEIR hometown by all the asskissing scenesters. Eventually the Confederacy of Scum was formed as we banded together to prove a couple of things to the music world; 1) How could our local music scenester enemies dismiss us as isolated "kooks".." troublemakers".. when it was obvious that there were bands all over the country that saw things our way for the most part??? 2) By co-operating together in ways that other so called "positive" bands are unable to...it proves in my book that we are morally superior to all those selfish little fucks in other bands; I think the only reason they sometimes pretend to get along is so that they can get booked to opening slots for big name out of town bands. The C.O.S. includes HELLSTOMPER down in Georgia, LIMECELL here in Philly....plus some side projects are considered "C.O.S."...such as A.U. and Conqueror Worm. I've never talked politics with more than a couple people in the other C.O.S. bands..so, it's not a political thing. It's just an aggregation of bands that at least at one point are considered "heels" in their own home towns. I want to add that we are in touch with aggregations of "heel" bands on two other continents. To an extent they have followed our example...and yeah...we're proud of it.
2324: I'm also curious how people who are into bands like Antiseen and Cocknoose respond to Rancid Vat - you guys are quite a bit different musically though very similiar in ohter ways.
REB: Well, you can't please everybody. There's a lot of fan's of one or both of those bands that hate us. Both are great bands...great at what they do. Likewise, we've got enthusiastic fans that hate one or both of those bands. Some people have really specific musical tastes. A tiny handful only like a few bands that have a certain sound, and that's it. You'd be amazed at how many letters I get from people that have been "won over" to liking Rancid Vat that didn't like us at first. At first they seem to be almost questioning their sanity! Eventually they realize that it's safe to like us even though we're different.
2324: One record that really stands out in your discography is the Stampeding Cattle LP - it's a lot more noisy and 'artsy' (for lack of a better word) than the stuff that followed. What caused the change of direction?
REB: When we first started the band, we busted our asses to do something nobody else had done musically. I know a lot of people who think that was our best album; it certainly was our most original. We sure as hell got sick of being lumped in with "art" bands...so, we did start trying to play in a more recognizable "rock and roll" style. I love to listen to that album to this day; it's hilarious. It sounds like we're from planet MARS. We're not the only band to start out with a weird album of course. How about the first two ALICE COOPER BAND albums??? STAMPEDING CATTLE was recorded BEFORE "hardcore" came along; which eventually sort of genericized punk rock.
2324: Most bands have a hard time surviving a few years and a few lineup changes - but Vat has actually survived a move from Portland to Philadelphia. What initiated this move?
REB: I'll be goddamned if i'm going to spend my entire frigging life in the same 3rd rate city listening to the locals crow about what a great place they live in. By the way..the band also survived earlier moves to Seattle and Hollywood...we continued to work on studio recordings at a slow pace in both cases. We even played a live show in Hollywood with band members Ace (of "Child Molestors" fame) and Anne.
2324: Any contact with Steve Wilson lately? Has he heard any of the newer Vat stuff?
REB: We never had a specific blowout with Wilson. In 1994 when we moved away from Portland he was undergoing heavy personal problems...mostly mental. When we first got to Philly 5 years ago, we attempted to stay in touch; we sent him a package of his share of copies of a couple records. We were told by a mutual friend that he didn't even open the box. So, fuck him. When we played Portland in 1998 he was aware of the fact, but didn't show up. We didn't expect him too. I assume he hates our guts for reasons of his own...imagined slights..yunno. As if we exist as a band to irritate "him". We don't even think about him very often. If he overcomes his insanity and wants to be friends again, I'd be happy to. I miss the Steve Wilson that was my best friend for years. He's not the same guy though. ..and we have simply carried on.
2324: The Cosmic Commander Of Wrestling was an interesting choice for a new singer - his style seems almost completely opposite to Steve. How did you guys get involved with him and what made you decide to have him be the new vocalist?
REB: Actually, they are more alike than most people think. Wilson was an incredible lyricist who confronted audiences pretty well. Cosmo is an incredible over the top live performer who specializes in confronting audiences..he's never claimed to be the lyricist Wison was; he's damn well good enough to get by though. It was a step up for us in many ways when we hooked up with Cosmo. We met through Jeff Clayton from ANTISEEN.
2324: Does Cosmo perform many of the old Rancid Vat songs? I know he does a few on the "Radio Rampage" live CD - is that about it?
REB: We've done a few....mostly we've concentrated on songs we've written in Philly. Every now and then we work up an old one though.
2324: There's a quite a few covers on the new CD "Darkest Souls Of Rock N Roll" - ranging from Hank Williams Sr. to country to Puke Spit & Guts. What makes you decide a song is worth getting the Vat treatment?
REB: I think most bands are really, really bad at choosing cover songs. I think we pick good ones because we listen to lots of different genre's of music. Most often one of us is usually inspired out of the blue to recommend that we cover a song. Most bands are so hung up on current trends and musical styles they are incapable of selecting interesting cover tunes. We don't allow dummies like that in the band in the first place.
2324: Did you guys get any shit over your cover of "Eat Hot Lead"? It seems bound to piss off some PC type when isn't paying attention.
REB: So far, only the guy from "Suburban voice" zine..Al...has bellyached about it. Frankly that disappoints me. He's been doing his zine for many years; he should know better than to throw around accusations of "racism" without listening to the lyrics closely. We hate EVERYBODY...including our own races; we make that plain in the song. I'm not a "racist"...I'll gladly admit to being a "speciesist" though.
2324: Another intesting song lyrically on the new disc is "The Dancin Outlaw" - about Jesco White. Can you describe Jesco? All I really know is what I read about him in Jim Goad's book.
REB: You really need to personally witness part one of the two part educational television documentary to appreciate Jesco. I suggest that anybody who is interested in Jesco write or email me to arrange to get a copy. I've shown it to a hundred people at least and they all enjoyed it..every damn one. Jesco is just a totally sincere mountain man who digs Elvis, guns, mountain cloggin and sniffing glue. Yunno, I consider myself to be damned intelligent...I.Q. of 142..for real. My buddy Jim Goad is one of the most incredibly intelligent people I've ever met in my life; even smarter than me. It should say something when we smart people become thoroughly obsessed with an unabashed hillbilly like Jesco. He's a folk hero who should be studied...like G.G. Allin and Uncle Goddamned..two other great ones. This world would be a much better place if all the dumbasses out there who waste their time collecting beany babies and Star Wars horseshit..if they could only learn to expend their leisure time scouring the nooks and crannies of the world looking for REAL HEROE'S...instead of sucking up to what the popular media crams down their throats. There's an unofficial network of elite thinkers...like my pals in the C.O.S...and Jim's circle of friends. Whenever we discover the likes of a Jesco we spread the word around amongst ourselves. The rest of you are doomed to only be exposed to boring "celebrities" like you read about in "PEOPLE" magazine. What can I say?? You all deserve it!
2324: Let's talk about AU for a bit - how many different vocalists has that group had over the years? Is it just various drinking buddies who get involved with the band?
REB: Hhmmm. You know, you just summed it up better than I ever have! We've gone through a half dozen vocalists. It never really mattered who was singing though; all of the songs are always about BOOZE...and that's the most important thing. Since day one we set out to continue the tradition of drinking songs. Hell, the fucking Egyptians probably sang drinking songs.
2324: While Vat's style seems to be moving toward more of a 'rock' type sound - AU seems to have been moving away from 'punk' to a more country style sound. Any particular reason for that? I guess country has always been associated with some kickass drinking songs.
REB: Well, I'm the dictator of A.U...and the band more or less has to follow my whims unless they want to form their own damn band. 10 years ago I still listened to a lot of new punk rock. Nowdays, decent punk rock releases are few and far between. I'm the exact opposite of those dopes that have been listening to the same MISFITS albums over and over for years. I listen to all kinds of music; a lot of it you wouldn't even suspect from listening to RV or AU records. I'm into ancient R&B drinking music for instance..I have been for 20 years. I'm into everything that the CRAMPS are into..oddball, tacky rock 'n roll..rockabilly. My favorite artist of all time is SONNY BURGESS who recorded for SUN label....but, my favorite group of all time is the SEX PISTOLS. I have no problem listening to it all at once. My favorite "current" singer is Wayne Hancock who is influenced by all the old country guys. I wish like hell that I could play in a band like his; I'm just not quite technically cut out for it though. Maybe someday I can graduate to playing fullblown honkytonk country music. For the present, I have to be satisfied with playing loud obnoxius rock 'n roll..with country "influence".
2324: Speaking of good country songs to drink to - AU has certainly covered a lot of them. Can you give a partial list of groups/individuals you've covered with AU? I'm especially curious as to who originally did "Hangover In Phoenix" on the new CD.
REB: We've covered drinking songs by everybody from G.G. to Hank Sr., Hank Thompson, Wynonie Harris, Carl Perkins, Gene Simmons (the rockabilly one who recorded for SUN), Porter Wagoner, Amos Milburn, the Sonics, even the fucking Irish Rovers. "HANGOVER IN PHOENIX" was a song we used to play in a band I played with in Portland called HOGWILD. The song was written by somebody from the Hickoids I've been told.
2324: I remember reading about a possible upcoming Alcoholics Unanimous CD featuring Mad Dog Clayton (aka Jeff Clayton) on vocals. Is that still going to happen sometime? The "Dixie Fried" 7" was pretty damn cool.
REB: Yeah...the DIXIE FRIED 7" will be combined with a wild live show we did with Clayton as lead A.U. singer. We're gonna do a lot more with him in the future too. It should be out by Fall of'99.
2324: The new AU CD "It Pays To Drink" was your first appearance on lead vocals after being in bands for 20 years. What took so long??
REB: I realized that I had taught some of the singers what to do over the years. It seemed simpler for me to sing than to have to deal with yet another drunken idiot that Marla and I would eventually learn to hate probably. You don't have to croon like Sinatra to sing drinking songs. I think its more fun for people to hear some drunken big mouth like me sing anyway than a "serious" singer. If you want fun drinking songs, A.U. is for you. If you want to hear great singing go to Atlantic city and check out Tom Jones.
2324: In addition to playing in both of these bands, you and Marla also run your own label Brilliancy Prize Records - what made you decide to release your own stuff?
REB: It's more fun to release stuff ourselves...we get ALL the mail..and have a chance to actually make a buck by selling back catalog stuff that has become collectable. I've known dozens of people in bands over the years who were signed to labels. Damned few of them ever made any money...and once its all over they don't even have copies of their own albums. I've been on almost 60 different records and CD's..and I have a vault stuffed with multiple copies of most of them. Slowly, gradually, every fucking thing I've played on has become collectable. We couldn't GIVE AWAY some of them when we originally released them. Now people write me from all over the fucking world to order them. I'm sure the CD's we release now will be rare as hen's teeth in 10 years. So, we'll keep releasing most of our stuff ourselves.
2324: Has BP ever released any projects you're not involved in? If not, would you ever? REB: We never have. There is a plan in the works for Marla and I along with Jeff Clayton and Alan King (from Hellstomper) to release a series of recordings that would include not only our stuff, but music by bands that are influenced by our bands. We'd also want to include stuff by likeminded bands we've never met. Our goal is to eventually windup with a "Pebbles" or "Nuggets" sort of collection of the sickest, most offensive, most hated bands on earth. This project should be in full swing by the first days of the millenium.
2324: How has the response to the new Vat and AU CDs been? Both of em are among the best CDs I've heard released this year, yet I haven't heard too much about either of them.
REB: We don't bother to send out review copies any more. We sell a lot by word of mouth. People either are totally disgusted by our music, or they want to buy it all. We also sell a lot when we play live. We have TOTALLY eliminated distributors from our marketing scheme. Hey..if I only sold 200 copies of a CD for $12 each, I'd be making a little money. If a label pays us $1 per copy sold, how many thousands of copies would we have to sell for me to earn $2400? That's a fucking TRICK QUESTION!! The true answer is that the label wouldn't fucking pay us. We'd have to spend hundreds of dollars on the phone trying to collect from them probably. Distributors...with rare exceptions...would TRY to stiff us for fucking SURE. I swear on my Mothers life, almost WITHOUT EXCEPTION..distributors NEVER INTEND to pay you in the first place. They even burn much bigger indie labels for thousands of dollars..all the time! The only way they will fucking pay you is 1) If you have a new release they want..or, 2) If you convince them you WILL drive all the way to their office across country and kick their asses. Don't take my word for it; ask any label thats been around a few years.
2324: I know Rancid Vat did a west coast tour last year , any other tour plans in the future?
REB: Nothing big. We're gonna play at a big tattoo convention in Amsterdam next year...our first ever European appearance.
2324: More generally, any future plans you wish to reveal about either group?
REB: I want to tour the whole fucking world in 2001...it'll be the 20th anniversary of the band.
2324: You guys are setting up this year's Supershow for the COS - any comments on that?
REB: Everybody's greatest fear is that too many people will show up. If you're going, better get to the club when the doors open. People are coming literally from all over the world.
2324: The lineup this is year is pretty much COS exclusive with the exception of a couple groups that played the Supershow last year. Are there any bands playing around these days that you'd like to have play as special guests?
REB: I'd really love to book a supershow on the west coast and have the JACK SAINTS and HAMMERLOCK play. There's some deserving bands in Texas too. It's possible in the future that the C.O.S. might hire an older legendary mega-superstar hero or two to headline future Supershows. We'll see.
2324: More generally , are there any newer bands (with the exception of the COS bands) around that you feel are worthy of support? It seems to me that nearly every type of scene associated with 'punk' is kinda slow the past year or two.
REB: The bands are definitely out there. Unfortunately, they all face the sort of "local scene" obstacles that we had to all overcome. A lot of very worthy bands write to me or Jeff or Justin or Alan. We get a lot of letters from misguided crusties too. I got a review copy of a CD by an Oklahoma city band named "PULPIT RED". they claim to play '77 style punk; I've heard hundreds of bands claim that over the years...guess what?? They do! It's a great fucking CD.
2324: One question about Conqueror Worm - I think I remember reading somewhere that new CW recordings were a possibility - possibly even with Simon Stokes involved. Any word on that? An introduction to Simon would probably be nice for some of the readers as well.
REB: Because of our conflicting schedules, we haven't been able to get to L.A. and get into the studio with Simon as proposed. I believe he's working with some musicians from Epitaph bands. He's recorded with Wayne Kramer recently. For your readers that don't know, Simon Stokes has been recording music in Hollywood since the mid 60's. Listening to one of his albums for me is a lot like reading a Bukowski book; his songs are so realistic and honest..in a gritty way. His 70's albums are loaded with songs about alienation, bikers, offbeat women, demons.His songs have a wicked streak that have lead to us considering him a forefather of the C.O.S.
2324: Before I wrap this up, I'd also like to ask a couple question about your literary ventures. So far Brilliancy Prize has released two zines - one about mostly music, the other drinking stories. What made you decide to do a zine right now?
REB: We own the computers neccesarry to get the job done I guess. It's just another form of expression. I've been getting in deeper and deeper into writing over the last few years. It's gone from writing an annual catalog to regular columns in a couple big zines...and guest columns in some small just as worthy ones. Zines are a great way of venting your opinions.
2324: Any other zines you plan on doing?
REB: I suppose eventually we'll do another drinking stories zine..a lot of people have sent in some great stories.
2324: I also read in Drink Around the Clock that you are in the process of writing a book called "Job Jumper". How is that coming?
REB: It's totally done. The ISBN number is on the way to the publishers (the CARBON14 people) and it may be in print by the '99 Supershow. The book is all about my real life experiences in the workplace. People that have contentedly held the same successfull, high paying job for a long period of time will hate the book and consider me a loser. People that have been repeatedly fucked over by bosses and co-workers and prospective employers will read it and identify with it..and wonder why they haven't read the TRUTH'S that I write about elsewhere.
2324: Another zine you're involved with is Jeff Bale's new zine Hit List. How did you get involved with that?
REB: I understand my old buddy Jello Biafra recommended that Bale get in touch with us...since we're diehard scene malcontents here.
2324: Any final thoughts you wanna share? I asked so many questions I didn't even get to touch on drinking or wrestling! Here's your chance to throw in whatever!
REB: HHhmm. Avoid micro-spew...stick to cheap corporate beer. Always have a bottle of chaser when you're drinking straight whiskey. You'll limit your hangover that way. No matter how bad your life gets, there's plenty of old wrestling video tapes to acquire to distract you from your problems. Write to me at: Brilliancy prize records P.O.B. 31686 Phila,Pa. 19147 Or Email: whskyreb@inet.net
A note on the following discography - I compiled this from the first Brilliancy Prize publication, this isn't even complete! It's just intended to show how much stuff these groups have released over the years. For more in-depth information on limited pressings, etc and other side projects, I recommend picking up the aforementioned zine.
Rancid Vat Discograpy
1 track on "Flies Like Holidays" LP - 1982 - Pigface
Stampeding Cattle LP - 1982 - Pigface
Profiles In Pain 7" - 1984 - Pigface
Rulebreakers Rule 7" - 1985 - Brilliancy Prize
1 track on "City Of Thorns" LP - 1986 - Mysic
Burger Belsen LP - 1986 - Brilliancy Prize
No Royalties No Loyalties (live) 7" - 1988 - ?
Justice: This Is What We Do To Traitors 12"EP - 1988 - Horton/Reflex
split 7" with Antiseen - "H.H.H.H." - 1990 - Rave
It's My Fate 7" - 1991 - Tim/Kerr
1 track on "Puget Power III" 7" - 1992 - Regal Select
Portland Bloodbath 7" - 1992 - Sympathy
split 7" with Antiseen - "Hatred Is Sacred" - 1992 - Pure Hate Digest/Horton/Reflex
1 track on "Tribute to Johnny Thunders" double 7" - 1992 - Tim/Kerr
split 7" with Antiseen - "Face Full Of Teeth" - 1994 - Jettison
Bowiecide 7" - 1994 - Jettison
Hitler And Stalin: The Dream Team 7" - 1994 - Tear It Up
Iconoclastic Icons: The West Coast Years 1981-1993 CD - 1994 - Baloney Shrapnel
Hostile City USA 7" - 1995 - Brilliancy Prize
31 Flavors Of Hostility CD - 1996 - Baloney Shrapnel/Brilliancy Prize
split 7" with Designer - "Old People" - 1996 - Black Forest Breed
split 7" with Antiseen - "Bruiser Brody" - 1996 - Ruff Nite
1 track on "Sons And Daughters Of The Savage Land" CD/LP - 1996 - Baloney Shrapnel/Hardline
Radio Rampage 96 (live) CD - 1997 - Brilliancy Prize
Blobs Have More Fun 7" - 1997 - Brilliancy Prize
5 tracks on "Confederacy Of Scum Supershow live 1997" CD - 1998 - Baloney Shrapnel
1 track on "Confederacy Of Scum - Loathe It To Death" 7" - 1998 - Carbon 13
split 7" with Born Bavarian - 1998 - Our Area
Darkest Souls Of Rock N Roll CD - 1999 - Brilliancy Prize
1 track on "Destructo Rock - Tribute To Antiseen" CD - 1999 - Baloney Shrapnel
Ugly Ducklings CD - 1999 - Brilliancy Prize
Alcoholics Unanimous Discography
At War With The OLCC 7" -- 1988 - Brilliancy Prize
Santa DWI 7" - 1989 - Brilliancy Prize
The Ten Commandments Of Drinking 7" - 1990 - Brilliancy Prize
Alcotopia 7" - 1990 - Brilliancy Prize
1 tracks on "Puget Power II" 7" - 1990 - Regal Select
The Mold 7" - 1991 - Brilliancy Prize
Dixie Fried 7" - 1993 - Tear It Up
1 track on "Refugees From Romper Room" 7" - 1993(?) - Baloney Shrapnel
Dr. Kegger MD LP/CD - 1994 - Tear It Up
Work Is The Curse Of The Drinking Class 7" - 1994 - Tear It Up
It Pays To Drink CD - 1999 - Brilliancy Prize
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