Burnin' Rubber Again
Retreaded punk band rolls into town
Akron, Ohio, is known for producing tires and a quirky '70s music scene. The Rubber City Rebels were widely heralded as one of the best punk bands of the now-legendary "Class of '77." Liberal doses of humor and unhinged, chaotic live shows peppered the band's aggressive rock. Reunited after a long retirement and currently touring to promote a new album (Pierce My Brain), the band still includes drummer Mike Hammer, an Atlanta resident since '91. Local fans may know Hammer for his work with Joseph Arthur in Ten Zen Men and with Amy Pike in the Lost Continentals (1994-1999) and the Last Cold Beer (2000-2002). CL caught up with Hammer and Chapel Hill-based guitarist/singer Rod Firestone of the band as they prepared for a mini tour that brings them to the Star Bar theme evening, "Cock Night." Hmm, Rubber City Rebels on Cock Night? Insert your own jokes here, folks.
Creative Loafing: What was the Ohio music scene like when you guys formed RCR in '75?
Rod Firestone: Disco and arena rock ruled the world but by '77 the explosion of great bands that had rejected mainstream pop emerged from the slime. We opened a club in Akron called the Crypt. There were only, like, five bands that did originals back then: Devo, Dead Boys, Pere Ubu, Bizarros and the Rubber City Rebels. Every one of those bands signed to a major label within a few years.
What were the highlights and lowlights of dealing with Sire and Capitol?
Firestone: Thanks to the Dead Boys, Sire had been on our tail for a while. When we got to L.A., we hijacked this huge billboard on Sunset Strip and hand-painted our shit all over it. Then we called the press and climbed up on it and did a press conference. It was this big publicity stunt. [Sire Records co-founder] Seymour Stein was in L.A., heard about it, came to our gig at the Whiskey, liked the show and gave us the nod. That deal fell apart, though, mostly because our manager wanted to produce it in L.A. and eventually pissed off Seymour. And that was that. The Capitol deal came about in 1979. At that time, we were one of the most popular bands on the Sunset Strip. It was us and the Plimsouls. Doug Feiger of the Knack offered to produce our next record and Capitol gave us a great deal, put us on tour with the Knack. Anyway, radio was not ready and a big backlash emerged over all the L.A. bands getting signed and that was that. One album, then we got dumped.
How long was the band apart?
Firestone: We didn't play from 1984 till 2001. We all went to different prisons and we couldn't practice.
What led to the re-formation?
Firestone: Well, I had sort of given up, not hearing any really exciting music during the '90s. Then Buzz's brother Bob told us about how the old-school punk bands of the late '70s are now considered these great inspirations and collectors are all about it. We noticed four or five bands were covering old Rebels songs and our old vinyl was going for a pretty good sum on eBay. I put up a website and got a pretty good response. In 2001, we played this reunion in Akron and we sounded as a good as ever - if not better.
How does it feel to revisit songs you wrote and performed two decades ago?
Firestone: We just play 'em, man. The audiences appreciate what we do because it's a little different than some emo-boy in his striped shirt, jumping up and down and screaming about his adrenal dosage being fucked up or something. OK, here's the deal: I am wearing Chucks, I am singing to kids who skateboard, I play a 65 SG and use a Marshall amp. I play songs that remind you of the Ramones or the MC5. So am I a punk in the '70s or 2005? If you like rock and roll, things ain't that different.
Mike, you've played the Star Bar many times. How will it feel to play there with the Rebels?
Mike Hammer: That will be strange. I've made some good friends here over the years and they know about my trips to Europe and Japan [with RCR]. They ask me, "When will you play here?" I say, "Sorry, that's not going to happen." So now I'm pretty revved up. I've played the Star Bar a hundred times, but I've never looked forward to playing there as much as this time.
lee.smith@creativeloafing.com
Creative Loafing: What was the Ohio music scene like when you guys formed RCR in '75?
Rod Firestone: Disco and arena rock ruled the world but by '77 the explosion of great bands that had rejected mainstream pop emerged from the slime. We opened a club in Akron called the Crypt. There were only, like, five bands that did originals back then: Devo, Dead Boys, Pere Ubu, Bizarros and the Rubber City Rebels. Every one of those bands signed to a major label within a few years.
What were the highlights and lowlights of dealing with Sire and Capitol?
Firestone: Thanks to the Dead Boys, Sire had been on our tail for a while. When we got to L.A., we hijacked this huge billboard on Sunset Strip and hand-painted our shit all over it. Then we called the press and climbed up on it and did a press conference. It was this big publicity stunt. [Sire Records co-founder] Seymour Stein was in L.A., heard about it, came to our gig at the Whiskey, liked the show and gave us the nod. That deal fell apart, though, mostly because our manager wanted to produce it in L.A. and eventually pissed off Seymour. And that was that. The Capitol deal came about in 1979. At that time, we were one of the most popular bands on the Sunset Strip. It was us and the Plimsouls. Doug Feiger of the Knack offered to produce our next record and Capitol gave us a great deal, put us on tour with the Knack. Anyway, radio was not ready and a big backlash emerged over all the L.A. bands getting signed and that was that. One album, then we got dumped.
How long was the band apart?
Firestone: We didn't play from 1984 till 2001. We all went to different prisons and we couldn't practice.
What led to the re-formation?
Firestone: Well, I had sort of given up, not hearing any really exciting music during the '90s. Then Buzz's brother Bob told us about how the old-school punk bands of the late '70s are now considered these great inspirations and collectors are all about it. We noticed four or five bands were covering old Rebels songs and our old vinyl was going for a pretty good sum on eBay. I put up a website and got a pretty good response. In 2001, we played this reunion in Akron and we sounded as a good as ever - if not better.
How does it feel to revisit songs you wrote and performed two decades ago?
Firestone: We just play 'em, man. The audiences appreciate what we do because it's a little different than some emo-boy in his striped shirt, jumping up and down and screaming about his adrenal dosage being fucked up or something. OK, here's the deal: I am wearing Chucks, I am singing to kids who skateboard, I play a 65 SG and use a Marshall amp. I play songs that remind you of the Ramones or the MC5. So am I a punk in the '70s or 2005? If you like rock and roll, things ain't that different.
Mike, you've played the Star Bar many times. How will it feel to play there with the Rebels?
Mike Hammer: That will be strange. I've made some good friends here over the years and they know about my trips to Europe and Japan [with RCR]. They ask me, "When will you play here?" I say, "Sorry, that's not going to happen." So now I'm pretty revved up. I've played the Star Bar a hundred times, but I've never looked forward to playing there as much as this time.
lee.smith@creativeloafing.com