Ruffians
Well I don't think there
are many people out there who listen to metal and dig the classic 80s sound
and aren't aware of the Ruffians... Let me just give you the happy news
in case you don't already know: They are back in action with a great new
album, anticipating to conquer the contemporary metal scene in full force!
So, here we have Rich, the band's singer, answering our questions...
1.HELLO! FIRST OF ALL WELCOME BACK TO ACTION!
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?
Thank you !!! It's really amazing to be back
after so long.
2.THE GREAT THING WITH YOUR NEW ALBUM IS THAT
IT HAS THE 80’S FEELING COMBINED WITH A MODERN PRODUCTION. THAT MAKES ME
WONDER IF SOME OF THE COMPOSITIONS INCLUDED HERE COME FROM THE 80’S.
Yes, there are some songs from the old days
that we never got to record, and we felt the songs were still important
enough to make the cut.
3.WHICH WERE THE REASONS THAT MADE YOU RE-UNITE?
ARE YOU SATISFIED SO FAR WITH THE RESPONSE OF THE FANS FOR YOUR NEW ALBUM?
We first re-united for Bang Your Head 2004,
and there was such a strong positive response, we felt we had to at least
try to give our fans something in return for their loyalty all these years!!
The CD has done well, good reviews and all... we want to get it into as
many hands as possible...
4.IN U.S.A. AND GENERALLY AROUND THE WORLD NU-METAL
AND METALCORE ARE THE LATEST TRENDS THAT DOMINATE THE METAL SCENE. WHAT
DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT? DO YOU FEEL THAT THE SOUND OF RUFFIANS CAN “TOUCH”
THE NEW GENERATION OF METALHEADS?
There is a lot of new stuff I enjoy, some
others not so much. I'm sure Ruffians can reach a large portion of the
fans of these newer types of metal....We are true to the music, and that
comes through in our songs... isn't that what it's all about??
5.WHAT KIND OF THINGS INSPIRE YOU TO WRITE LYRICS
AND MUSIC ABOUT? CAN YOU TELL US IN A FEW WORDS WHICH THE MEANING OF EACH
SONG THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED IN YOUR NEW ALBUM “DESERT OF TEARS” IS?
I write all my lyrics from the heart. I think
anyone who would take an interest in the songs can read the lyrics and
find meaning for themselves. I will say this, I mean every word!!
6.WHICH ARE THE CLICHES THAT YOU LIKE AND DISLIKE
IN METAL MUSIC AND WHY?
I think the thing that bothers me the most
is the lack of originality in a lot of the heaviest types of metal, and
that it seems everyone is trying to look just like everyone else.... Be
true to yourself and you can't fail!!
7.WHICH ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 80’S AND
NOWADAYS? WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST FROM THE FIRST ERA OF RUFFIANS?
I guess the biggest difference and the thing
that I miss most is the fact that we all just can't hang out with each
other the way we used to, partying and playing gigs, going out together...
you know, all the old school bands, I mean... the Bay Area scene was so
special because we were all very close... now everyone has so much going
on.... sometimes life has to come first!!!
8.CARL ALBERT, A GREAT SINGER, WAS A MEMBER OF
RUFFIANS. DO YOU PLAN TO HONOR HIM IN A WAY?
We honor him at every show... I personally
will always do my best to sing the old songs in a way I know he would be
proud of... He once told me he was glad it was me that became the singer
for Ruffians, and that he couldn't imagine anyone else doing it.
9.IMAGINE THAT YOU MEET THE DEVIL IN A CROSSROAD
AND HE ASKS YOU TO TRADE YOUR SOUL IN ORDER TO GRAND YOU A WISH. WOULD
YOU DO IT AND IF YES, WHAT WOULD YOU ASK IN EXCHANGE?
I don't bet with more than I can afford to
lose.
10.YOUR LABEL ASKS YOU TO ADVERTISE YOUR ALBUM
IN A FEW LINES. WHAT WOULD YOU WRITE IN ORDER TO IMPRESS THE READERS?
Old school metal delivered the way it is meant
to be...
11.IS THERE ANY QUESTION THAT YOU ‘D LIKE TO BE
ASKED IN AN INTERVIEW AND THEY NEVER DID? HERE IS YOUR CHANCE…
Actually, you're doing a great job!!
12.WHICH WAS THE WEIRDEST OR FUNNIEST QUESTION
YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED?
13.YOU HAVE MANY FANS HERE IN GREECE. IS IT POSSIBLE
TO SEE YOU FOR A LIVE SHOW HERE?
Yeah, we would love to do Greece. Any ideas??
14. IF YOU TRANSLATED YOUR MUSIC INTO EMOTIONS,
WHICH WOULD THEY BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
My music is pure emotion. I would never write
or be involved in something I didn't believe in 100 %... put the CD on,
put your headphones on, turn up the volume as loud as you can stand it
and listen to every word... you will see the exact picture I was trying
to paint. If you don't, I have failed.
15.THANKS FOR YOUR TIME! HOPE MY QUESTIONS DIDN’T
TIRE YOU. THE EPILOGUE OF THIS INTERVIEW BELONGS TO YOU…
Thank you so much for your interest in Ruffians
!! Thanks to all the fans out there, and make sure you tell everyone to
visit myspace.com/ruffiansmetal
for songs, news and general info about the band ... Thanks again and Stay
Hard!!!
Nick "William_Kidd"
Parastatidis
|