Interviews: Russ Rankin (Only Crime/Good Riddance)
Mike Molnar sent us an interview he did with Russ Rankin of Good Riddance and Only Crime. Russ talks a bit about the state of Good Riddance and the future for Only Crime, which includes Aaron Dalbec (Bane/Converge), Zach and Doni Blair (Hagfish/Gwar), and Bill Stevenson (Black Flag/Descendents.)
The band released their debut To The Nines [review], this summer through Fat Wreck Chords.
You can click Read More to read the interview.
Only Crime is a
five-piece band that formed following a Good Riddance/Bane tour
in 2002. The band has a sound that seems kind of reminiscent of
vintage Good Riddance, with some darker elements. The guitar work
is excellent and the vocals are very strong. The band consists of
members of Good Riddance, Bane, Converge, the Descendents, Black
Flag and others. Only Crime was signed to "http://www.fatwreck.com/">Fat Wreck Chords earlier this
year, and since then have released their debut album, To the
Nines.
Recently I contacted Russ Rankin, singer of Only Crime and
Good Riddanceand he was more than willing to talk and responded
to my questions.
My first couple questions are about Good Riddance.
You’re still in the band, right?
It seems that Good Riddance has been pretty quiet in the
past couple years in terms of touring. What were the reasons for
this?
For April and May we went to Europe and then, in June we
toured Australia and New Zealand, so we haven't exactly been
quiet. But we have slowed down considerably from our pace over
the last decade or so. Chuck is a father, Luke is back in school
full-time and David is playing in two other bands. All the others
are married and real, real busy.
When did you decide that you wanted to start another band
apart from Good Riddance?
I’d been thinking about it for a while but the catalyst
was when I started hanging out with Aaron during a Good
Riddance/Bane tour in the summer of 2002.
What were your reasons for doing so?
I wanted to keep touring - it was clear that, with everything
going on in the Good Riddance camp, we weren't going to be
touring much. Plus I wanted to see what it would be like to play
with some different people.
How did the members of Only Crime get together and decide
to start the band?
Me and Aaron hatched it that summer - I called Zach and he was
on board then, after searching for a drummer for months, Bill
found out what I was up to and signed on.
For someone who isn’t familiar with you, could you
describe Only Crime’s sound?
Heavy, and dark with strong melodies but no pop songs; heavy but
no metal. Kind of like Black Flag, or maybe [Black]
Sabbath. Destruction.
How do you feel your experiences with Good Riddance have
helped with Only Crime?
Well I just hope I am able to apply what I’ve learned
over the years in Good Riddance to this band. I’ve made a
lot of mistakes which I’d rather not repeat.
When you played your first show with Only Crime did it seem
kinda weird/different to not be with Chuck, Luke and the guys
from Good Riddance?
Yeah it was definitely a trip. We clicked real fast though -
it wasn’t as odd as I thought it would be.
How long did you spend writing the songs and then recording
To The Nines?
Overall about 8 months of meeting up periodically - we all
live in different states- and writing, rehearsing and recording
demos.
How do you feel about the album?
I think it's a pretty good start. We are already resigned to
blowing it away with our next one.
How would you compare it to your work with Good
Riddance?
approach and then there's the players - I mean, it's not fair to
compare the two.
You guys just finished a tour with Bane. How did that go
for you?
Good - we are getting more and more comfortable with each
other on stage. The shows have been a lot of fun.
You are also playing a bunch of dates with the Warped Tour
in August. Are you excited to get back there?
Totally… we hope it will give us the chance to play in front
of all kinds of different people.
What is the best/worst things about playing with the Warped
Tour?
How corporate and lame and safe it is… I don't really like
that part of it. The cool thing is catching up with old friends
in bands you don’t get to see very much and to meet/see new
bands that are cool.
How do you feel about touring after doing it for so many
years?
It’s my life. I feel at home out here - it's kinda scary
actually!
How do you feel about the current state of the punk
scene?
Oh god - you really don't want to get me started… I like The
Break; they’re a good band.
How do you feel about the current state of America and
George Bush and the election and everything?
I am not a fan of the current administration. I will be voting
for someone else in November. We need to get out of Iraq, we need
to make health care a right instead of a privilege and we need to
get rid of NAFTA.
a vegan?
Still vegan. It’s actually not that hard - especially
now… times are changing and it's becoming more and more common
to live this way.
What are your plans for the future? With Only Crime? With
Good Riddance?
Only Crime is looking to line up a North American tour in the
fall supporting a bigger band. Good Riddance has no plans as of
right now.
Any final thoughts or comments?
Check out the Green Party of the
United States…