|
The Trash Brats are a glam punk rock
and roll band from Detroit. They had a compilation track ("Drunk on
Rock Volume One"- "Who Put the Words in Your Mouth"), a
full length CD release (rerelease of '91 debut) and a 7"
("Must Be the Cocaine") on I-94. Ricky Rat is the guitar
player. This interview was done in May of 2000.
XXX When can we expect to see the new full length?
AAA It should be out by fall for sure. Right now we are lookin' at
October, maybe a release date around Halloween.
XXX Tell us about all the other musical projects you're involved with
besides the Trash Brats.
AAA Well, I've been playin' with Bootsy X & the Lovemasters for many
years now, since like '93 or so. They tend not to gig, record etc too
much so it doesn't get in the way of the Trash Brats. I have also been
playing guitar with Kevin K in his band, done a few tours with him to
Germany, Japan etc and have recorded with him as well, some tunes that
will be on a forthcoming album we did last year in NYC. And this past
year I have been writing songs with the one and only Mr. Dimitri Monroe,
rock & roller, zinewriter & songwriter. These songs have been
coming out really great, and of course soon everyone will hear one of
them on your next up-coming Drunk On Rock comp. We plan to do a full
album together maybe later this year. So yeah, it all keeps me busy in a
real good rock & roll kinda way.
XXX Walk us through a typical day in the life of Ricky Rat.
AAA These days I tend to actually have a pretty solid routine goin on
unlike the younger crazier years.(but still not too routine..) I sleep
in late, do lots of e-mail, letters, phone calls etc "business
matters", take care of stuff around my house in and out, run
errands etc leaving the latter part of the day for drinkin, writing,
playing guitar etc. I do pretty much all the bullshit work in the band
as we have no managers, bookers etc takin' care of us-and all that gets
to be a drag but its also pretty cool to see good results from all the
work you put in though too..still we tend to be a pretty fuckin lazy
band! I try to make the days as full as I can, but still have time to
just loaf off.
XXX I know you are a very principled person in regards to big business,
diet, etc. Tell us some things you do or don't do in your daily life
that would reflect this.
AAA Well, yeah I truely believe in supporting "the little guys, mom
& pops" as much as ya can. It's not like I am not gonna go to a
chain store or buy stuff on a major label etc, but I try to support the
indie stuff as much as possible.
I miss all those little stores that were around as I was growing up-they
had so much more personality and personal service then all those silly
"mega" stores....
Diet-wise, I stopped eatting meat over 3 years ago (Although I have
fallen off the "meat" wagon a few times...!) but thats a
personal choice and I would never push that on anyone, just the same as
I wouldn't want to be judged for it- what works for one person may not
work at all for another etc. SO no, I don't freak on my buddy if he is
eating a steak in front of me or do stupid things like throw fake blood
on people in furs etc... all the sides are just as bad when ya get a few
fanatics in the mix.
XXX Tell us about the biggest fight/arguement that you've ever had with
Brian O'blivion.
AAA Hmmmmm. I guess that whould have to be over maybe song stuff and
band related junk. On our personal side we pretty much get along really
great and are like practically married at this point after all these
years together.(been buddies since like 1979...) But yeah sometimes
there can be tension in the songwriting department but its really all
for the good of the song and we just all want the best for every one.(of
the songs that is...)
XXX The band has been around longer than most bands on the scene today.
Did you think it would go this far back when you started?
AAA Yeah, no matter how cheesy it sounds-but like ever since I was like
10 years old I just knew that this was what I was gonna do for my life.
Of course when you're younger and just starting out etc you always have
dreams of being like a big rock star or whatever but the conditons,
business etc are so different nowadays that its harder and harder for a
dream like that to come true for most bands unless they totally go along
with whatever is big at any given moment etc. Seeing as we don't plan to
do that, I guess we'll never be selling out arenas or anything like that
and I am happy with that, and just want to keep playing til the day I
kick off.
XXX New Brat Song that you're most pleased with.
AAA For a all-out-rocker I would say "Rocket To Heaven" and
for just a great all around song I would have to go with "Clown
Act". I think our new album is gonna be our best one yet.(although
everybody in every band always says that! Who ever says, "oh yeah,
our new album is total shit!".....)
XXX What's cool in Detroit?
AAA Lotsa stuff, Lilis21, the Gold Dollar Bar, St. Andrews Hall, HUGE
music scene with tons of bands of ALL styles-something for everyone, the
Motown Museum, the Zoo here is pretty cool, lotsa great indie record
shops, tons of cool, cheap thrift stores, cheap cost of living in
general, the huge John K bookstore downtown, all the outdoor shopping
strips of Ferndale, Royal Oak, "party stores" on like every
block, the "Hamtramck Festival" every year..I could go on
& on..I love living in Detroit.
XXX What sort of music did your parents listen to?
AAA They weren't Huge music fans, more in the back ground, on the radio
etc but what they did have album wise etc was cool...Elvis, Johnny Cash,
old country and rock & roll- Chuck Berry, doo-wop stuff etc. My mom
used to listen to WDEE (the big "D") which was the huge
country station here in Detroit, all the time when I was a kid so I
always had all those great 70's country songs going on.
XXX What song of yours are you most proud of?
AAA I guess that always changes, usually the most newest stuff we are
doing. But I really am proud of pretty much all of them.
XXX List three current bands that you admire the most.
AAA I LOVE the Teenage Frames (excellent songs! ANd total energy
live..), Texas Terri & the Stiff Ones (I think Demonboy may be one
of the most underrated rock & roll guitar players out there right
now) Jeff Dahl ( for his TOTAL commitment to rock & roll amongst
other things) and really a lot of great bands in the underground right
now. For the "big leagues" I would say bands like Cheap Trick,
Rolling Stones etc who are still TOTALLY great after all the
years...fuck people and their "age" jokes.
XXX What song would you like to cover that you haven't yet?
AAA There is soo many...Stay WIth Me-the Dictators, Rock & Roll Love
Letter-Bay City Rollers, just about ANY Mott the Hoople song etc...
XXX Name a band/musician that you like that your fans might be surprised
to hear.
AAA I don't know...maybe like Jim Croce, John Prine, Gram Parsons....
XXX Fill in the blanks: The Trash Brats are going to -------- your
--------!!!
AAA The Trash Brats are going to BECOME your
NEW GODS!!!
|
