the KrAyS~

This interview with Jon Rosado was done in September 2000, the photos are from January 2004...

The Krays are a 4-piece street punk band from New Jersey. They released their second LP a few months back and went out on a wild summer tour with Blanks 77. Now they are back home with plans on crossing the ocean for a European tour this winter. If you know the Krays music you know they are 100% real, no bullshit, no acts or hidden agendas. Well, we were able to hook up with one of the Krays founding members, guitarist and lead vocalist Jon Rosado. He pulled no punches answering our questions, his responses were as honest and candid as they come. Read on for a little insight into the band and their message.

SHZ-At one point or another, I think that you have played every instrument in the band. are you a musical prodigy, how did you learn so many different instruments? are there any more that you can play(accordion, oboe, tuba, ha ha)? do you have a favorite to play? ever thought of being a one man band?

JON-I don't think I'm a prodigy but I have been playing music since I was around 7. I started with drums , and when I was a teenager I taught myself to play guitar, then bass which is easy if you can play guitar. I don't know how to play anything else but I plan on learning to play the piano soon. Right now guitar is my favorite because I'm not as good a guitar player as I am a drummer, and I like being able to learn new things and get better. I wouldn't want to be a one man band but I have recorded a few songs for the Krays all by myself . The Who cover we recorded was me on every instrument ( I recorded the drums first, I just hummed the music to myself in my head ) and Jah War, a Ruts cover, we are releasing soon on an E.P. is all me besides the lead guitar track.

SHZ-What was your first punk show or record?

JON-The first show I went to was the Denied in N.Y. I'm not sure what was my first album. When I was younger a friend of mine left some records in my house that really got me into punk. Singalongabusiness was one of 'em. Also Slaughter and the Dogs, a few Addicts records, the Clash. I started off hearing alot of great music, and thats what turned me on to punk and into playing the music I do now.

SHZ-How many different people have been in the band over the years?

JON-Around 9 or so over a 6 year period.

SHZ-What is the current line-up?

JON-Kenny on bass, Scot on drums, B.J. on guitar , and me ( Jon ) lead vocals / lead guitar

SHZ-Do you still talk to Albee(co-founder of the Krays)?

JON-Definitely. I've known Albee for over 10 years and we started the band together. We are still good friends. There was a time when we might have hated each other, but that happens when 2 people in a band want to do different things all the time. There was alot of shitty times between us, but after time we realized that the friendship is more important and we shouldn't let the band come between that, so we left any bad vibes that happened in the past stay in the past and now we hang out alot and are good friends.

SHZ-The Krays and you have been together for 5 or 6 years-what keeps you going, and what is the future for y'all?

JON-What keeps us going is a strong faith in who we are and in what we are about. We put alot into our music and in what we sing about. I love writing music so I'm not stopping. We know we're good, and no fashion police punk or any other bullshitters are ever gonna stop us. What we plan for the future is to tour the world and continue to write new songs and put out good records.

SHZ-Since your not touring right now, have you seen any good shows lately? What active bands are you into now?

JON-I like the Stand. They are a young band from N.Y. They do things their own way and don't pay attention to the growing faction of jealous idiots that are infesting OUR city. There are too many people too concerned about themselves and talk so much shit about everyone. These people aren't even into music, only how far their band can get, it's really pathetic, especially when they suck anyway and have nothing to offer people except a bad attitude.

SHZ-What happened to the last week of the Blanks 77 Tour(& the Florida dates)?

JON-The booking agent was obviously a moron and booked a horrible tour, so bad so that the Blanks decided it wouldn't be worth it to play the last week with so many long outrageous drives and so many days off. So we all split. I hate having to cancel shows but we had to head home or we would have starved to death.

SHZ-Whats the worst city you have ever played?

JON-Thats easy, Buffalo N.Y. It sucks. The city sucks, the scene sucks, the whole place is like a steaming maggot infested pile of shit.

SHZ-As far as I know "Battle For The Truth" is your first full length LP. Tell me about the blood, sweat and tears behind it, and what it took to make, and what it means to you? (yeah, I know now I was wrong)

JON-Well , "BATTLE..." is our 2nd LP. "INSIDE WARFARE" is our first. "BATTLE" was basically my baby. I was the studio engineer, and I mixed the entire LP by myself. It was alot of work and alot of hours in the studio. It was my first time engineering and mixing all by myself so I am proud of the work I put into it. There was also a lot of changes in the band then and right after so I wrote almost the entire record by myself too. I should be proud of that, because the songs are good, but I like it if everyone in the band contributes to writing the music, so it was kind of a lonely feeling and I am much happier now with a line up where we all contribute. I can't wait to record our next LP because the songs we've already written are great and it's good to feel you are part of a team that's doing good things.

SHZ-How did you hook up with Temperance Records and are you sticking with them?

JON-We were referred to him by our friend Vinny from Eyeball Records who told us he was interested n releasing our new record. Since then Temperance has been nothing but a HUGE disappointment. We've been lied to so many times by them it's ridiculous. Our CD was released and the Vinyl was gonna come out 2 weeks later. Its been over 3 months and it still hasn't arrived. There hasn't been any ads for the thing that I've seen, have you? We were promised alot of work would be put into us and have barely seen any of it. We really like T.KO. and would really love to work with them in the future.

SHZ-I heard that you might have something going on with Gutterpunk/40 0z. Records(Florida Label Woo-hoo!), do you and what are the details?

JON-Its supposed to be like a demo, available on Cassette and CD. We've been really delayed with it though, but its mostly new versions of old songs and a few new ones.

SHZ-Do you have any other projects(records, comps, tours) in the works?

JON-We have a few E.P.'s in the works and are starting to put alot of new songs together, to play live and to put on our 3rd record. We don't plan on recording a new LP till next year but are already writing it now.

SHZ-Tell me about the Sex Pistols comp-I know I grew up singing all their songs with my friends. how cool was it to record them for real?

JON-Actually no, we hated recording that song and we will never play it now. I love the song but we had alot of bad luck happen trying to record it, and it ended up taking 3 times longer than it should have. Sometimes shit happens.

SHZ-Whats the deal with you and Maximum Rock and Roll? I read your rant about the punk press...personally I cant afford to read a $3. zine, so I have no idea what was said. Whats up with you, MRR and the punk press?

JON-Press has nothing to do with our success, we make our own by hard work and determination. All they are worth is to wipe asses with. These zines write sometimes with the attitude that their opinion is worth so much, when really it's worth nothing at all. They aren't the ones that work hard , they are just parasites. It's the bands who make the whole scene happen , and the audience. The zine is just something to read while taking a shit! And I don't buy MRR. either , and honestly I never have and never will. I'd rather buy a 7 inch than read that paper when it's mostly just full of ads anyway.

SHZ-What is the message behind the Krays?

JON-The message IS, do what you want. Especially musically. If you think what you are doing is right and good, do it. Don't listen to critics. Most times punk bands sound so much the same. Who wants their band to sound like everything else. Is it because their afraid no one will like it? Thats why bands that do have their own sound have balls , because they create their own territory, and if people want to follow, thats the point and thats good, but if they don't get it, Fuck all them close minded dicks.

SHZ-Is anyone in the band in any other bands?

JON-I played with the Relix as their drummer, but I 'm gonna be touring alot more with the Krays so they've found someone who can play full time. B.J. and Scot were actually both came from a band called Polyabuse from Jersey. They still play in the band but they lost a member and now just play in the band once in a while as a local thing. They have a CD out actually which can also be ordered from us that I think rules.

SHZ-What is your own personal definition of punk?

JON-I can't answer that. It's too big of an argument to make. I can say this, in it's simplest form, I think this is all about doing what you want, and doing it your own way, and fuck everyone who doesn't get it!

SHZ-What is the best way for people to buy your stuff?

JON-At our shows or they can order from us. The info is on our web site.

The Krays website is: members.tripod.com/jonnykray/kraypage.html - you can link to it off of our site, www.SinkholeZine.com. You can purchase either of the Krays LPs direct from them. Their first, Inside Warfare, and their latest Battle For the Truth. They are $10. each, and please include $2. each for shipping. You can also obtain a Krays T-shirt for 10 bucks, their split 7" with the Infiltrators for $3., or pins and patches which are a buck each. Send money orders or well concealed cash to:

the Krays

420 Conant Avenue

Union, NJ 07083