Ripping a new hole in rock - Red Light Rippers

(Left to right - Steph, Staci, Bonz, Rip) To the average Joe, the Canadian music 'scene' is dominated by the aftertaste of Bryan Adams and the grungy angst plunder of Nickelback. To those that are just starting to open their eyes, they are finding out that there is a real, immensely talented rock scene thriving in Canada. The Red Light Rippers attribute well to its yet worldly underrated offerings that are also punted by the likes of glam sleaze legend, Robin Black and Crash Kelly.

Dabbling in the upper echelons (sorry for the Duff Mckaganism) of incredibly dirty sounding rock with a classic rock feel, they are lyrically raw and do not leave an awful lot to the imagination - but isn't that the best thing about sleazy rock? Despite the music style, they seem incredibly grounded and past experiences have shaped them into what they are today. Nicola caught up with two Rippers - Rip Skinner (vocalist) and Staci T Rat (guitarist) to talk about where it all began, how vices created the Rippers and how they plan on world domination with their first port of call being the UK.

N: How did you come up with the name?
Staci: Originally the band was going to be called Rat and the Rippers, but the guys wanted to change that. I really wanted to keep Rippers in the title and this is what we came up with. I like it.

N: How did you guys get together?
Staci: Rip and I were playing with another rhythm section originally, but the bass player didn’t work out and we had met Steph at a gig we did together with his previous band. We had really liked him so we called and he was into it. Our drummer left shortly after and we got Bonz to do a few shows that we still had booked so we wouldn’t have to cancel anything and we immediately knew that he was the guy for the job. Our first show together was March 5, 2005 for a CMW showcase in Toronto at The Bovine.

N: You come from a musical background, more about that?

Staci: My mother plays piano and violin and my grandmother is a music teacher who also plays piano and violin. I started getting piano lessons from my grandmother at age 6 and took them for 6 years until I was about twelve. Then I started junior high and took Tenor Sax lessons for 2 years. I decided I wanted a change and I took up classical guitar and after a few short months realized that Rock and Roll was the road I needed to take. I have been playing guitar since then. I was fourteen or fifteen.
Rip: My great grandfather Clarke played saxophone in big bands and swing bands and played with Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra when he came to tour Southern Ontario. And I also have an Uncle who sang in an infamous punk band called Slander in the early 80's.

N: In a nutshell, how would you describe the Red Light Rippers?
Staci: Kick Ass Rock and Roll!

N: What are your main influences?
Rip: My family, Amanda and my daughter Izzy, bein' broke, sex, my shitty job, the world around me, South Park and beer.

Staci: Musically, I would say Angus Young (ACDC), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) are up there. The first time I saw Faster Pussycat at the Winnipeg Arena inspired me to want to be a great live performer. I know you are probably rolling your eyes at me, but Greg Steele was so cool! I was 14 and probably pretty easy to impress but none the less they left a lasting impression. Also for inspiring better live performances I would say White Zombie and Pantera have made me want to be better.

N: Your heroes?
Rip: John Lennon, Chuck Berry, Eminem and my Grandma. Oh yeah and Batman too.

N: Introduce the band. What type of personalities do you all have?
Rip: Hi, I'm Rip and I'm a ripperholic. I'm kinda shy and quiet until about 4 beers, then I'm your best friend. I like long bus rides and car trips, reading books and rock n' roll. My turn-ons are porno, tight jeans, and rocking a crowded bar full of drunk ass people who love rock n' roll too.

N: Why should people come see you guys over any other band out there?
Staci: We are entertaining. We are fun. We realize that there are a dozen bands playing in every neighborhood of every major city out there on any given night and you can’t expect people to come to your show unless you are offering them something worthwhile. If you are content with watching a bunch of shoe-gazers play out of tune or some Screamo New age hippies play so-called alternative, then we might not be for you. If you want to go out and be entertained by a kick ass rock and roll band and have some fun and maybe even meet some other cool people, then our show is where you wanna be.

N: The debut album release 'Nobody Likes a Rat', where did the inspiration for the tracks come from?
Staci: ‘Addicted’ was inspired by my life, or should I say my previous life. I am a recovery addict. I have been clean for five years. ‘I Get the Feelin’’ was written after I got out of rehab but before I was in a band again.‘This Dog’ is about bosses that suck!.‘Trixie’ is inspired by the two-faced, drama queens which you will find in most of your finer drinking establishments the world over.Most were inspired by something that has happened in our lives, and a few are just fun. Like ‘Drag Race’

N: What would you say is a big problem for bands trying to break through in the music scene?
Rip: Rock n' roll is back on a grand scale. Everybody and his sister have a rock band these days so there are a lot of places you can go and see rock music. But as long as the songs are good and the band is tight and you give 'em a killer stage show, people will remember and come back.

Staci: I think one of the biggest problems for a lot of new bands is usually themselves. You have to be pro-active and make things happen. Don’t wait for that other guy to call you back. Call him. You aren’t being annoying. He might just be busy. Never assume anything. Follow up. Persistence pays off. You can’t take over the world from your couch, so go get involved in the scene somehow. I don’t know how many bands I have heard bitching about how nobody comes out to there shows and the scene sucks and they are never gonna get anywhere, etc. People (potential fans, friends, label reps) are not going to know about your band through osmosis. Nobody I know is psychic. You have to get in there face and tell them. Then get in there face again and remind them. Out of sight, out of mind.

N: Touring in the UK in April. How did that come about?
Staci: Myself and Bonz also play in a band called The Pariahs who are with Fading Ways UK and we have been to the UK twice in the past year. I met Neil Leyton and Ashlyn Eaton from Fading Ways on our tours and I gave them the Rippers Demo. They liked it and we immediately decided to work together. Our first CD ‘Nobody Likes a Rat’ came out earlier this year and thanks to the great efforts of Ash from Fading Ways and Stephen Stanley from Solid Entertainment we now have a UK tour planned for the end of April.

N: What would you say has been the reaction of people further afield than Canada? What do you hope is going to come out of the UK tour?
Rip: We've been to the States a couple times and got a really good reaction, American fans still mail us asking when we're coming back. I don't know what to expect in the UK except to have a hell of a good time and sell as many records as we can.

N: The UK is going through a strange Indie rock/alternative scene; do you think that there is a place for the type of music that you play?
Staci: I think we are arriving at the perfect time. We are exactly what the doctor ordered. We are coming to save the day.

N: Is it the same in the US/Canada?
Rip: I've been looking up info on bands in the UK through Myspace and people's reactions to certain bands and genres. And I'm not totally sure but it seems like the term "indie" is being thrown around like it's a specific sound of music. Like "I love (or hate) indie bands like Arctic Monkeys" or so and so or ”Don't mail me if you're an indie band this site is for rock n' roll." In Canada "Indie" is still short for independent. We're an independent band on an independent label; will we be considered an indie band when we're there? Alternative is such a broad term that I think it'll always be around. We're a rock n' roll band and we play for rock n' roll fans, if we convert people to R n'R then mission accomplished if not f*** 'em.

N: Is there anyone you guys can't stand? Musically or professionally?
Rip: A certain unnamed homophobe bartender who screams death metal in my face when I ask for a beer, writes rude comments all over the bar and doesn't pay us nearly our worth. F*** you!

N: Best gig?
Rip: Lee's Palace with Forgotten Rebels October 30th 2005 or Our Hamilton CD release party with Red Confidential and High Voltage.

Staci: April 8, 2005 in Ottawa, ON at Barrymores with Big Jeezus Truck. We were on fire and so was BJT.

N: Worst gig?
Rip: Our first one.

Staci: October 30, 2005 in Toronto, ON at the Richmond with Sex Slaves and Romeo Liquor Store. We sucked and there was no promotion.

N: These are "OR" questions! Beer or JD?
Rip: One shot o' Jack and beer for the rest of the night.

N: Groupies or partners?
Rip: We're not a groupie kind of band; the fans love us for the music. Our partners love us for all the rest.

N: Stage dive or crowd surf?
Rip: Stage dive for sure.

N: Go out or stay at home?
Rip: Depends on what's going on, I like to spend a lot of time with my daughter. But I'll go out to promote the band and we play out of town a lot too. Stay in; go out, it's all good to me.

N: To end off, plans for 2006?
Rip: Get the word out about the Red Light Rippers.

Check out the Red Light Rippers Official Website - www.redlightrippers.com and their Myspace for a free download of 'Addicted' - www.myspace.com/redlightrippers

RIPPERS UK TOUR 2006: EASTER PUNK FEAST 4 w/ GLEN MATLOCK from the SEX PISTOLS, UK SUBS, GOLDBLADE, & RLR

APR 20 RLR in TBA, APR 21 RLR in Blackburn at King Georges Hall, APR 22 RLR in Newcastle at Legends, APR 23 RLR in Nuneaton at Queens Hall, APR 24 RLR in Lincoln at Drill Hall, APR 25 RLR in Leeds at Met University

RIPPERS SHOWS - APR 26 RLR in Nottinham at Junktion 7, APR 27 RLR in TBA, APR 28 RLR in Coventry at the Jailhouse, APR 29 RLR in Aberdeen at the Moorings with Radio Lucifer, APR 30 RLR in TBA

Words by Nicola (Nix) Crichton, images courtesy of the Red Light Rippers EPK.

© Pure Rawk 2006