Only Crime

Mini Interview par e-mail réalisée le 05.02.2007
avec Russ Rankin Chanteur de Only Crime et Good Riddance

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Hi Russ! First things first, who came up with the idea of forming Only Crime?

initially Aaron and I talked about starting a band together during a Good Riddance/Bane tour in the summer of 2002.

You all come from different parts of the US. Do you easily get to gather and rehearse?

it takes some logistics and planning but we manage ok. we usually all end up in Colorado at Bills' studio (The Blasting Room) to rehearse for tours and to write new material.

It must be pretty hard to compose too!
So, what is the usual process of composing for Only Crime?

someone will bring in a riff or a more or less completed song and we'll just play it and jam and see where it goes. then i have to try to write lyrics and melody over it - that's the hard part.

What about the lyrical content? Do you write the lyrics on your own or do the other guys of the band also bring their ideas?

so far i have been the sole lyricist but that is by no means set in stone. Bill has helped alot with the vocals when we record them - he has probably co-written several of our songs lyrically if you were really to break it down.

Is your approach radically different with Only Crime than with Good Riddance? I mean, for instance, do you think that some of the texts you wrote for the new Only Crime full-length "Virulence" wouldn't stick to a typical Good Riddance song?

i think Good Riddance lyrics are more overt and to the point. Only Crime lyrics are hopefully a little more interpretational.

By the way, what are the Only Crime lyrics about? Are there specific subjects? To be honest, I think it's not really easy to understand the whole message, the meaning of these lyrics...

that's the point. we want the lyrics to take kind of a back seat to the music. our lyrics are more like poetry or like another instrument in the songs.

How and when did you start listening to punk rock?
And when did you realise it would become a big part of your life?

i started listening to punk rock in 1983 and i knew right away i was in trouble.

You have the opportunity to have Bill Stevenson as the drummer of the band! Knowing that he once played the drums for Black Flag, one of the most important hardcore/punk bands ever, and that you're actually a huge Black Flag fan, wasn't it a bit intimidating to share the stage with him first?
What did you feel about this when you started the band?

it was a little weird but Bill and i had already been friends for a while since he produced a few Good Riddance albums. still, once in a while i look back there and go "that's bill stevenson."

I want to know your views on the Vans Warped Tour, which seems to get bigger and closer to the mainstream standards. I even heard that the army uses this event to recruit new kids, which is quite frightening! So, have you ever played on this tour with Only Crime? And what do you think of it?

we have done a few shows on that tour. I can't stand what it's become. we thought we might be able to get a few more fans to listen to us if we did it. i don't really know if we'd do it again. it's a tough thing to consider.

Do you plan to tour in Europe this year?

we definitely want to get back over to europe this year on this new album.

What is your favorite record ever and why?

adolescents first album. it is hands down the best punk i have ever heard. they were so far ahead of their time rhythmically and melodically. i love that record.

Which book would you recommend me to read and why?

diet for a new america by john robbins. it changed my life and made me decide to go vegan.

Any last words?

thanks to everyone who's supported only crime!! we'll see you soon!!

Interview : Bastien

More Infos sur Only Crime :

Kronik : Lire la Kronik de Virulence

Genre : Punk/Hardcore

Pays : USA

Pour les Fans de : Black Flag (mais en plus mélodique), Descendents (moins "poppy"), Good Riddance

Label : Fat Wreck Chords

Webpage : www.onlycrime.com

Myspace : www.myspace.com/onlycrime

Label : www.fatwreck.com ou www.fatwreck.de