Rancid

by Jeff Jolley

Rancid, a punk rock band on the Epitaph Record Label, has been out there pounding the streets the last couple of years trying to let the aggression out. They recently played "Playskule" (the coolest garage club--literally), and RAD took time out of their busy schedule to talk to Rancid. Their aggression is real enough, so thank God they're touring in a band rather than walking the streets.

RAD: Epitaph seems like a great record label. The way they talk about their bands and the way they're behind them, it's just different...
Rancid: There's a lot of love at Epitaph. I think that's one of the reasons why we love it there, I mean it's not like, I've experienced like regular American type labels before, but not really. It's more like a strict business type of thing, where this is more like "family oriented." Everybody's kinda like family. It's like going to see your brother and your sister and your cousins. It's a totally comfortable atmosphere and they make you feel like somebody instead of treating you like a check. That's why I think we really like it, because they treat us like human beings.
RAD: I see it in the bands, too. They might be totally different in musical tastes, but they're friends--they all hang out.
Rancid: I think that's the whole thing...where everybody wants everybody to fight or something, if you're in different bands or different music. And that's gotta be one of the lamest things in the fucking world. I mean, when it all comes right down to it, there's a message behind music, at least music that's on Epitaph, or punk rock music all together. Whether it be, take a look at the world around us and do something about it. Using one of those types of direction in music as far as changing the world or just laughing at it or whatever is totally relevant. Bands like Pennywise, NOFX, and The Offspring, yeah we may be different musically, but I mean we're all in it for the same fucking reason--because we love to do it. The bottom line--it's all about the music--that's all it's all about. It's not about fucking signing to Warner Brothers, or fucking you know-- whatever people want to perceive music to be. It's not about music.
RAD: No politics between each other.
Rancid: Exactly. Music is just supposed to be fun. You're supposed to have a good time when you listen to it. It's supposed to educate you, or whatever. At least that's the type of music I listen to. I mean I can only speak for myself. Bottom line--it's the music that's important, it's not what the fuck you do in your business life. You know what I'm saying?
RAD: What is it that Rancid stands for?
Rancid: I don't mean.... It's kinda like a hard thing to say, because it's a broad question. All I can really say is what we're all about is we're just this street-level punk rock band, you know. We've got something to say, we've got something on our minds.
RAD: You go out and get listeners through music.
Rancid: Sure, but even if the listeners weren't there [and thank God that they are, and I appreciate it. If it wasn't for the people that listen to us, who knows. Because those are the people you owe everything to, I believe anyway.), but even if there wasn't anybody out there listening to us or liking us, we'd still be doing the same fucking music, saying the same goddamn thing. Because for me, music is my outlet, it's my therapeutic. I'm just that type of person. I'm very angry inside, more so now than I've ever really been. Because I have music, I mean, it's my way to go up for 45 minutes and kick the shit out of an inanimate object and walk off feeling pretty good. And happy that everybody else is out there fucking everything else up, too. It's great to see when people are into the music. I don't like to feel like I'm the only one at things, which makes me feel like I'm not the only one out there angry. A lot of kids, I think, really feel like they ARE the only ones that're out there pissed off at what's going on around them and shit like that. And I think that music is one of those things that is a language in itself, and breaks through every barrier in the fucking world. Every little wall that society puts up around you, music can get through. You know, hopefully, people will understand that that's what it's all about--that it's about unifying things.
RAD: I take it that you'd rather be touring than recording?
Rancid: I don't know. I mean, I love 'em both. I love writing music. The guys in the band with me, I love them to fuckin' death. They're more than just brothers to me, they're immaculate human beings in my eyes. And playing with them, whether it be in the studio writing songs with them (I mean they're fuckin' incredible song writers), being a part of their energy when they write songs it's the best feeling in the world. And playing live with those guys, it's 45 minutes of nothing but oneness with somebody else. I know that sounds hippyish, but that's kinda what I feel like.
RAD: Rancid has just the one album out so far?
Rancid: No, we have a 7" from Lookout records, 2 Epitaph records, we just released our brand new record on the fifteenth of June. We've got a 7" on Fat Records, that's got 4 songs, we got two split singles coming out in 6 months time--one on selfless records with the Voodoo Bro Skulls, and one with the Veil on Lookout records. The new record has 23 songs on it. Music just kinda pours out of us. We're always constantly writing. Like right before we came out on tour, we went into the studio and recorded 10 songs. That's just the way we are, we're just fuckin' maniacs.
RAD: Is Epitaph cool about releasing singles and stuff on other labels?
Rancid: Yeah, I think they want us to do that, they're really cool about that.
RAD: If it get's Rancid known better, then it's better for them?
Rancid: Sure, there's business behind it. When I got in the band, all I basically knew was that we're making records with Epitaph, but it's OK to make records with other people, too--7"s and stuff. I think Bad Religion, when they were still on Epitaph were doing singles with other labels, NoFX has done records with Fat Records. It's pretty much for the benefit of the band. I mean, they're more worried about us as a band, than I think that they are of selling a record. And that's getting back with the family orientation of Epitaph. When we play with other Epitaph bands, that's what we like the most. With Epitaph bands, it's like we're friends and hangin' out--we just happen to be on the same label.

You can write Rancid at: Rancid PO Box 4596 Berkeley, CA 94704 They answer everybody's letters.