Words with Russ Rankin

Hi Russ, how did you end up in Good Riddance ?

I agreed to "sing" in a group a few of my friends were starting. We had no idea what we were doing. Years went by and we managed to play a few local shows. In 1990 Luke joined the band (he had played in a thrash band called "Rude Awakening" who we had played some shows with) and that's when I would say that we started to get really serious. After Luke joined we actually tried to be a band.

What are your greatest memories with them ?

Being able to travel all over the world and meet so many awesome people and great bands.

What is your favorite GR album ?

I really like "Symptoms of A Leveling Spirit" and also "My Republic" which ended up being our last studio album.

Did you feel at home on Fat Wreck Chords, like a family ?

We were very fortunate to land on FAT and we enjoyed everything about being on that label. We were treated well and afforded every opportunity to grow.

What is the goal now with Only Crime ?

To continue to push musical boundaries and perform live as much as our schedules will allow.

What about this solo career you seem to start ?

I am slowly assembling some of my own songs and I'd like to se what happens with them.

Why did you choose "Walk the line" on the Cash compilation tribute ?

I liked the song and honestly I first thought that "When The Man Comes Around" was taken. "I Walk The Line" was alot of fun to record though and I think it turned out really well.

What attracted you first in hardcore/punk ?

The political aspect of it; that it was visceral, honest, aggressive music which seemed to want to go beyond simple entertainment.

What is the meaning of hardcore for you ?

The purest form of musical expression. An outlet for people who aren't given a voice by straight society.

What about straight-edge ?

It's my lifestyle and it has helped shape my values and provided the lens through which I view the world and my involvement with music.

Do you still listen to hardcore music ? Do you think hardcore is still alive today ?

I listen to mostly punk/hardcore music from the late 1970's and early 1980's. I think that aggressive music is still alive today but alot has changed and I wouldn't call what's going on today "punk" or "hardcore."

Do you really believe in politic as a way of change ?

I think it can be. More than that I think that politics is our avenue of understanding the world and I believe we can't change things unless we first understand them.

What are the bands and people who had the greatest impact in your life ?

Sick Of It All, Youth of Today, Cro Mags, Insted, Dave Smalley, Bill Stevenson, Mike Burkett, Greg Graffin, Richard Butler, Noam Chomsky.

Why did you choose to sing and not playing an instrument ?

I didn't know how to play an instrument when I joined my first "band".

Do you still feel "out of step" today ?

Yes. I am often in situations where I am the only person who doesn't drink or eat meat.

Did you read the book of Noah Levine "Dharma Punx" ? It seems you know each other...

Yes I did read it and yes I have known Noah a long time.

 

Did you write a journal during all these years on the road like Henry Rollins ?

I started writing a tour journal in 1998 when my previous band was on tour in Europe with AFI and kept going until the end of that band.

Do you appreciate any music coming from France ?

I honestly don't know very much about French music - punk or otherwise.

What do you feel about Europe in general and France in particular ?

I like Europe and I wish the United States had health care and no death penalty like you guys. I also wish we had a free press like many European countries. We just elected a President in an election where our media only reported on 2 of our several political parties.

Do you remember this show in a little club of Clermont-Ferrand with Buckwild (1997) ?

Yes - it was a weird night. The people in the club hated us and couldn't wait for us to leave. A very awkward night.

Do you still surf ?

Yes!