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Rancid talks to Washington Post about "Let the Domino's Fall"

Contributed by an Anonymous Source. Posted by aubin on Monday, June 1, 2009 at 2:30 PM (EDT)

Washington Post Express spoke to Lars Frederiksen & Tim Armstrong about the band's new album, how they've written all their songs on acoustic guitar, their family-tight bond, the influence of Brett Gurewitz, how punk can still be inspiring as you get older.

The thing I loved about punk rock, it didn't have any barriers. .. The music i was listening to was all about unity.. ... It didn't matter where you came from, or who your parents were, or what color your skin was, or what your sexual preference was, if you're male or female. If you're coming to punk rock, and punk rock is choosing you, you're an outcast in the first place. ... We love a lot of new bands, too. The good thing about punk rock is that you can listen to a band from 30 years ago and they sound like yesterdays.

Check it out here.

Hellcat Records (111 comments)

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

northdakotaKILLS (June 1, 2009)

i'm posting in what sure is an epic thread, so........

I'm going to Chicago June 12th-14th to see Twins @ Cubs. What else is there fun to do in Chicago? Any suggestions? I'm excited for a fun time in Chicago

7+ Replies

baldsteve (June 1, 2009)

Hot Dougs. On weekends the fries are cooked in duck fat.

Live like kings!!!!

Hubitcherkokov (June 1, 2009)

There's an option on the fries. The duck fat fries cost more, though.

I'd argue that Kuma's Corner is even better than Hot Doug's, and it's about a 10 minute walk away too.

Spazner (June 1, 2009)

Agreed about Kuma's. I love both spots, but if you're gonna be stuck waiting two hours for a meal at either place, wouldn't you rather be at the one with a bar (and a killer beer list) than just standing around on the sidewalk?

bolucce (June 1, 2009)

mr. beef
andy's jazz club
oak park / frank lloyd wright tour
second city

MN_punkmaster-skaman (June 1, 2009)

Clubs: Reggies, Double Door, Beat Kitchen, Cobra Lounge
Pizza: Giordanos and Lou Malnatis
Sights: Sears Tower, Aquarium, Filed Museum

UNTJosh (June 1, 2009)

Giordanos is a must.

The Mile is pretty neat. If you're already going to a Cubs game you're hitting the most significant spot. Show up early and stay late. Its a big party.

OldBeard (June 1, 2009)

Fugu! (They have it there...)

Spazner (June 1, 2009)

RibFest is that weekend: http://www.ribfest-chicago.com/

You could catch this on the 14th: http://www.airsexworldchampionships.com/?page_id=93 (Despite the URL, it IS safe for work.)

CBSrocksteady (June 1, 2009)

Let the EpitaphIntern Comments Fall

2+ Replies

ChadReligion (June 1, 2009)

he probably too busy stuffing envelopes

MattRamone (June 1, 2009)

He's probably sucking off every member of Story of the Year.

qwak (June 1, 2009)

"The good thing about punk rock is that you can listen to a band from 30 years ago and they sound like yesterdays."
Urgh, if I'm interpreting this right, I find this to be one of the worst things about alot of punk rock.

4+ Replies

sfbarker (June 1, 2009)

That's the first thing I thought too...Punk, as I recall, was about progressing and not becoming standardized...

AmericanRiot (June 1, 2009)

isn't that why post-punk came to be?

deadXlast (June 1, 2009)

Yep, and then alternative, screamo, grind, noise, proggy stuff... punk kept expanding, it just didn't want to be called punk anymore.

AmericanRiot (June 1, 2009)

yeah, i liked it better when it was still punk... much like i prefer rock n roll which grew into bloated forms of prog rock and arena rock and all that noise...

deadXlast (June 1, 2009)

That's not what I'm talking about dude; I'm saying that punk rock was all about progression and innovation, and the kids who were into hardcore got sick of it and made something else up, and the kids who were into that made something else up, etc, ad infinitum. There's always been a progressive underground, it just hasn't called itself "punk" for a long time because that's become more of an established genre. Which is fine too.

JayTee (June 1, 2009)

Remember Back To The Future 2? The Evil-1985? That's what most of the shit you just mentioned is.

Real Punk Rock still remained through all of it on one normal linear path.

deadXlast (June 1, 2009)

"Real" punk rock is fine. I just lol when I see people talking about how punk is about progression and being different. It's not, it's a distinct sound that we all love and it's fine if it stays that way.

JayTee (June 1, 2009)

Fuck off. He's right, and I love that it's this way.

You can listen to Adolescents and Autistic Youth back to back and it's nowhere near as embarrassing, dated or obvious as listening to Twisted Sister then Buck Cherry back to back.

bernie-boy (June 10, 2009)

...2003's Indestructible album that you didn't like?
Tim Armstrong: Well, I guess it's time to fess up. I guess the fact that it was on a major label, and...uh...I know we said back in '94 that real punk rock belonged on an independent label, and...uh...well...in '94 Offspring got HUGE on Epitaph and...well, we thought we would too. But when that didn't happen, we decided to sign to Warner Brothers but put it in our contract that they couldn't put their logo on the cd...that way we could fool the fans. Cause, I mean...during that time I was into the money, ya know? That's why I wrote songs on Pink's album and...uh...we were in a video with Good Charlotte. But when that album tanked, I guess the only thing left to do was...uh...go back on Epitaph to try and get some credibility back. So here we are in '09. Punk RAWK man!

ChadReligion (June 1, 2009)

Sometimes, I really enjoy hearing certain bands talk about what punk rock means to them, as a way of life, and not just about music. Rancid, despite their flack from what people have said here and there, is one of those bands.
I remember when Life Won't Wait was released, and talking to Lars and Matt about going to Jamaica and learning how people go about music there; playing in the streets and using steel drums and roasting pigs just because it's the thing to do.
I've also heard Tim say, "Punk Rock means doing what You wanna do, regardless of anything or anyone"
When I went to Jamaica, I was looking for that , but just ended up find cheap pot and alot of Bob Marley statues

3+ Replies

muckymuck (June 1, 2009)

that's fuckin lame. fuck jamaica. they have dub and that's all i'm really into from there.

Cos (June 1, 2009)

you gotta have a rock star personal security detail to see the "real" Jamaica.

ChadReligion (June 1, 2009)

i would think so.... i never want to go back, really

MattRamone (June 1, 2009)

Anyone who has participated in pretty much any punk scene in the country knows just how fucking naive this sentiment is. It's an ideal yes, but one I think we as a culture routinely fall short of.

Sounds like someone's getting fucking old and viewing the world through rose-colored lenses.

6+ Replies

Dante3000 (rich) (June 1, 2009)

Well, maybe if you weren't such a dick...
-Dante

MattRamone (June 1, 2009)

I killed punk by hating Madball.

Wentz_Equals_Death (June 1, 2009)

spoken like someone who is getting old and seeing the world through poo-colored lenses!

alas, to quote the might LORDS of louisville:

"it all looks like shit... because it really is"

lostandclowned (June 1, 2009)

Realist punx rule.

JayTee (June 1, 2009)

Realism = cynicism and contrarianism?

Rue (June 2, 2009)

Whats wrong with getting old? You'll be old too, soon. 14th birthday is coming up in July, ain't it?

JustLikeDelilah (June 1, 2009)

The only entertaining thing this band has ever done were the yeah's lars said after black cadillac. yeah.

1+ Reply

deadXlast (June 1, 2009)

Or any time that Tim says anything.

Hey_ska (June 1, 2009)

I'm not too sure how I feel about the Breaking Bad finale.

3+ Replies

ffwoodycooks (June 1, 2009)

i really liked it.

im a little nervous about how they are paralleling the baby and Jane's death. i dont know what they are forshadowing but, its not good.

i like how walt is basically responsible for a lot of deaths instead of just one.

baldsteve (June 1, 2009)

Don't talk! Haven't seen yet!!!

ffwoodycooks (June 1, 2009)

dont read my post

lostandclowned (June 1, 2009)

I love how Tim says that they write songs for specific records and then says that they write songs and "where they land, they land."

Indecay (June 1, 2009)

Is there a good online punk record store based in Europe? I'm getting sick of the expensive shipping when ordering vinyl from Interpunk etc.

5+ Replies

MacbethMystery (June 1, 2009)

amazon?!

MacbethMystery (June 1, 2009)

Oh wait you said vinyl... might be a little more difficult then. Can't think of any, to be honest, but you can certainly buy vinyl records on the internet in Europe. I ordered AWS's Career Suicide from a German website and accidentally selected the LP instead of the CD. Sent it back, as I didn't have a record player. There'd be website of that kind in your country as well, but you may want to check out amazon at first.

muckymuck (June 1, 2009)

http://www.soundflat.de

http://www.bear-family.de/

http://www.boomkat.com

android (June 1, 2009)

www.flight13.de
www.greenhell.de

Indecay (June 1, 2009)

Good stuff guys, thanks a lot. Will check those out!

Wentz_Equals_Death (June 1, 2009)

on a second listen i say this record is pretty alright and i might actually buy it

android (June 1, 2009)

"...or what your sexual preference was..."

so why did you colaborate with that homophobic asshole buju banton???

6+ Replies

Wentz_Equals_Death (June 1, 2009)

they didn't say shit about reggae

loreng (June 1, 2009)

The Buju thing was in, what, 1988?

android (June 1, 2009)

WWII was like what 60 years ago...

loreng (June 1, 2009)

I haven't followed it, but maybe his opinion changed since then.

loreng (June 1, 2009)

To elaborate, I know Banton was like 16 when he wrote that song and that he's since changed his viewpoint on a lot of other social issues.

Cos (June 1, 2009)

which means that all Germans are still Nazis?

android (June 1, 2009)

haha...no...that was not how I meant it.

android (June 1, 2009)

thanks, buddy, I actually thought they were talking to the reggea post about their new reggea record.duh.

it´s still pretty dumb to promote the tolerance of the punk scene and the same time colaborate with homophobic artists.

deadXlast (June 1, 2009)

Tolerate homophobia! Punk is about being and doing whatever you want despite what everyone else does or thinks!

android (June 1, 2009)

are you fucking serious???

baldsteve (June 1, 2009)

No way he's serious Wauz.

AmericanRiot (June 1, 2009)

so you are saying the best way to combat intolerance is through intolerance? people are entitled to opinions, and understanding is only reached through interaction with people of differing views as human beings, not ostracizing them because they believe something you think is socially unacceptable. your attitude hurts the hippie dream world you're pretending to live in.

android (June 1, 2009)

homophobes and nazis are socially unacceptable for me.that´s intolerant?good.

deadXlast (June 1, 2009)

No, silly.

CBSrocksteady (June 1, 2009)

because he is sucking him off

Cos (June 1, 2009)

he apologized for that, and he doesn't play "Boom Boom Bye Bye" anymore.

People change. Rancid collaborated with him maybe 10 years after that song happened.

android (June 1, 2009)

he still played it 2006...

Cos (June 1, 2009)

seeing as he doesn't even do dancehall anymore, I find that hard to believe. Source?

android (June 1, 2009)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Eg4Dd9NY4

Cos (June 1, 2009)

well, fuck him then.

Cos (June 1, 2009)

Well there is this:
http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/07/July/2302.htm

bu t unfortunately, this isn't the first time Buju has renounced homophobia, and if I remember correctly, there was a big campaign against dancehall artists by gay-rights organizations. Lots of American festivals were canceling their appearances. If anything, Buju probably signed this out of his own self-interest.

I've always been torn with Buju. On the one hand, he's an incredibly talented musician. "Til Shiloh" is an amazing record. On the other, he might be the most opportunistic musician in Jamaica. He changes styles repeatedly. When slack was big, he was slack. When consciousness came back in vogue, there was Buju saying he would be the next Bob Marley. Then grimey dancehall comes back, and all of a sudden

show rest of comment

android (June 1, 2009)

do you remember that one Stza interview on here where he talked about meeting Buju´s manager in Tim Armstrongs house? it said something about him never changing his views or never really apologizing for his lyrics too.

Cos (June 1, 2009)

yeah, i'm sure he did it just to save his own skin. Fucking idiot. I guarantee you the "Rasta" look is just another costume too.

MN_punkmaster-skaman (June 1, 2009)

Love hearing old punk rockers not being able to get with the times.

3+ Replies

JayTee (June 1, 2009)

Yeah, I love punknews.org too.

MN_punkmaster-skaman (June 2, 2009)

That's pretty much baldsteve right there then.

Rue (June 2, 2009)

Get with the times? Why the fuck do you listen to punk anyway, yambag?

HooverStreet (June 1, 2009)

"The thing I loved about punk rock, it didn't have any barriers. .. The music i was listening to was all about unity.. ... It didn't matter where you came from, or who your parents were, or what color your skin was"

Says the guy that covered a Skrewdriver song on his solo album?

6+ Replies

muckymuck (June 1, 2009)

early skrewdriver is classic and ain't racist so fuck off

android (June 1, 2009)

defend your favorite nazi band somewhere else, buddy. I don´t give a shit when exactly they turned racist.they are one of the best known nazi bands and they shouldn´t be covered by "punk" bands. no matter if said song is racist or not. that´s like using non-racist hitler quotes.it still is a quote by hitler.

AmericanRiot (June 1, 2009)

and here come the thought police...*oi oi oi oi oi oi oi oi*

android (June 1, 2009)

do you actually wanna whine about people giving someone shit for listening to/covering a fucking nazi band like skrewdriver???how pathetic.thought police my ass.

AmericanRiot (June 1, 2009)

i'd protect one's personal freedom of belief over wider social issues anyday, if that is your question. you can love or hate anyone you want to. watch what you want to watch, listen to what you want to listen to.

android (June 1, 2009)

what´s your point? I understand the concept of freedom of speech and I also support it. but I´m not the government.I´m not trying to censor nazis. I want them to get the fuck out of the punk scene. do you have a problem with that or what?

AmericanRiot (June 2, 2009)

it doesn't even go as far as freedom of speech, it is freedom of belief. to say people who do not believe a certain thing or think a certain way are not part of the punk scene makes it an us vs. them issue. i don't care if the person next to me at a show is a nazi or not, it does make a difference if they are a nazi and are beating up everyone. just as it makes a difference if they are not a nazi and are beating up everyone. if you found out your best friend in the world was racist or a nazi, would you take the "racist friend" mentality and just 86 them from your life? there are reasons and experiences that relate to why we believe things, and it is better to take the time to talk to people over differing beliefs, than to say you're a nazi, you're shit. you may not change their mind, but atleast it give perspective and will be one less stupid subdivision among

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ExtraCheesePizza (June 1, 2009)

When you cover a song in a recording you have to get permission/pay royalties for use of that song. So even if their early material is not racist, the now-racist band or label gets the money. Don't tolerate nazis.

HooverStreet (June 1, 2009)

I believe Hitler's early material was also non-racist. That came later. Good logic.

anticoast (June 1, 2009)

What Skrewdriver song are you referring to? The only cover songs that appear on those albums are To Have and Have Not by Billy Bragg and Marie, Marie by the blasters.

anticoast (June 1, 2009)

I forgot about Anti Nowhere League's For You and Motorhead's Leavin' Here. Still, no Skrewdriver!

anticoast (June 2, 2009)

What Skrewdriver?

muckymuck (June 1, 2009)

fuck this band

1+ Reply

Rue (June 2, 2009)

Na, fuck you.

aggropaul (June 1, 2009)

A more interesting recent article about Rancid: http://newyork.metromix.com/music/article/something-rancid-this-w ay/1211009/content

... a Rancid and Dropkick Murphys cover split????

4+ Replies

FelixT (June 1, 2009)

"the back-to-punk-basics “Let the Dominoes Roll”"

Right...

MN_punkmaster-skaman (June 1, 2009)

Cool idea about a Rancid and DKM split. Is there any band that Tim doesn't like?

shrapnel (June 1, 2009)

awesome

Xbat-miteX (June 1, 2009)

Rancid/Dropkick split is single handedly the worst idea ever. Dropkick are just a frat boy band &Rancid should not do another cover record ever again, and I wish someone would shoot ken casey in the face.

Both bands are really the worst in their respective towns.
5 better East Bay bands than Rancid 5 better Boston Bands than dropkick
1. One in the Chamber/El Dopa 1. Toxic Narcotic/Mouth Sewn Shut
2. Acts of Sedition 2. 26 Beers
3. Born/Dead 3. Refuse/Resist
4. Deadfall 4. Dropdead (their from RI but still

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Cos (June 1, 2009)

Tim has become rap's Jay-Z: a once gifted lyricist who now only talks about how awesome he is. Whereas Jay-Z reps his money, Tim just reps his stupid friends and how he's "not worried about a goddamn thing".

We get it Tim, Brody fucked you up. You ARE worried about everything. Your band isn't going up, its going down. Fuck, almost all of us are having some hard times. If you wrote more honestly--and isn't that what this folk music you keeping mentioning is all about?--you'd probably make better music.

1+ Reply

Rue (June 2, 2009)

Shutup. You don't know Tim. Thanks.

Tim_Armstrong (June 1, 2009)

Mumble mumble mumble.

Cos (June 1, 2009)

Also, if Rancid is all about family, is he going to tell us why they kicked a family member out?

5+ Replies

MN_punkmaster-skaman (June 1, 2009)

Was it Tim or was it Lars that said if one person left the band Rancid is done with? I can never remember. Hypocrites.

Cos (June 1, 2009)

dunno.

I just really miss Brett's drumming. He had way more early rock n' roll influence in his style than 95% of all the other punk drummers out there.

FelixT (June 1, 2009)

It's not being a hypocrite if he really thought that when he said it. If you ask most people involved in a relationship, they'll say that the girl/guy they're with is the person they want to spend their whole life with. Is that being a hypocrite if they break up 5 years later? People change.

MN_punkmaster-skaman (June 1, 2009)

It's more of a family relationship than that with a couple when it comes to bands. When a band has a member leave and this member is a crucial part of the mix, it's pretty much either a broken home family (Black Sabbath) or it's going to be a split up family (CCR - John Fogerty hasn't been in the band since the 70's but two members are still in it). I don't know... talking out of my ass.

FelixT (June 1, 2009)

Well, did they kick him out or did he leave? Maybe he was just sick of being in a band? I doubt they would kick out their drummer of 15 years just like that.

Cos (June 1, 2009)

The thing is, they don't mention it. Zero explanation. If you think the reason was that Brett just wanted to hang out at home and work on hot rods, why wouldn't they just say that?

No, he's been erased in a Stalin-like move. Its just weird.

shrapnel (June 1, 2009)

Just got the expanded edition in the mail, fuckin awesome

JayTee (June 1, 2009)

"or what your sexual preference was,"

Maybe Leftover Crack, all their Imitators, and their legions (yeah right) of scumbag shitstain fans can shut up about their fake-war against the gosh darn tyranny and homophobia of Rancid.

1+ Reply

Xbat-miteX (June 1, 2009)

The same band that screams "Fuck World Trade" and then is all addicted to heroin. Yeah cause that makes a whole lot of sense!

StormShadow (June 1, 2009)

I just listened to the album all the way through for the first time and I like what I hear. It's a little poppier than the last one, but it seems to be more cohesive. Anyway, I've been listening to Rancid's catalog lately, and I think I've determined "GGF" is their best song. Any takers? "I saw Big L come rolling up the street/On his little sister's pink 10-speed." Gotta love that.

2+ Replies

Rue (June 2, 2009)

I might have to go with GGF too. Love that song.

anticoast (June 2, 2009)

Still can't beat Roots n' Radicals.

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