Interview VIA myspace w/ RUINER...

May 25, 2006, 01:45 AM

Every once in a blue moon a band comes along and for whatever reason turns you head over heels. There have been several for me over tha past 14 years or so, and one band RECENTLY has done it. They are called RUINER, hailing fom Baltimiore MD. Not since American Nightmare has a band brought such a sound and fury, and before AN for me, it was a lil DC band called BATTERY. Aside from my personal preferences, RUINER is a stellar example of what hardcore was, and even in the changing scene (complete with more sub-genre's than any other form of music), RUINER have kept their honesty, integrity, and other things of this nature one thing, and that is TRUE. The following questions were sent via myspace.com and were answered after a quick jaunt to Canada over the weekend.

www.1917records.com
www.yourruiner.com

1.) who is who, who does what?
My name is Rob Sullivan and I sing everyone else goes like this Steve Smeal on Bass, Danny Porter on Guitar, Mitch Roemer on Guitar and Joey Edwards on Drums

2.) baltimore eh??? thats a scary place...tell us of it...
Well I have spent my entire life here so its not that scary to me. However I could see how someone who has only been here a few times would find it to be kinda sketchy. We have a lot of problems with vacant housing and homelessness. Crime obviously is a huge issue but really you just have to be smart. Every city has those places you just dont go. Baltimore happens to have a lot more of them I guess.

On a plus side our scene is rather strong for the size of our city. Most kids who live in the burbs aren't affraid to travel into the city to see a show and that really helps. We have a lot of venues to work with when it comes to shows; skate parks, Charm City Art Space, and even the larger clubs (mostly the Ottobar) help out as well.

3.) how did ya get hooked up w/ 1917?
We had released our 7"EP out on Firestarter Records/Grave Mistake Records and it was getting pretty good reviews for our first real release. Eventually while we we're planning our first US tour for the summer of 2005 I got an email from Riley at 1917. We talked back and forth, at the time we were still unsure what we wanted to do next. We wanted to wait to get out to CA so he could see us live and we could meet in person. We all met and hit it off great so that was that.

4.) what can we expect w/ the new record?
Well musically its a little bit heavier not in a bad cheap way but just in the tone of the music. Its a little bit more straight forward as well being we have a different drummer this time around. Lyrically its much more straight forward and probably a little bit more angry... more of an urgency over all.

5.) summer tour looks intense for you guys, how did all of that fall into place?
We love to tour and decided to go out for about a month and half. Than Killing the Dream asked if we wanted to head out with them and it just so happened that was right when we were going to stop. So I rerouted everything to make it work. Sense than I have sat on the internet and my phone putting this whole thing together.

6.) dogs, cats, or something else?
Dogs, Cats, Fish, Dinosaurs, Penguins, and Moose

7.) how has hardcore changed over the years in your eyes?
This is a really hard question to answer I don’t really think hardcore has changed that much. Styles change, faces change but over all its the same ideas just polished up. In regards to crews, religion, clothing and etc. People always have issues with those things in general... that will never change

8.) porn names...what would they be?
Joey would call himself Joe Red (that is our old drummers name), Steve would be Short Stroke, Mitch would be Harry Pot Head (or any reference to harry potter), Danny would be Big Gulp Porter, and mine would be Fire Bush

9.) books...name some of your favorite?
The **** up, Percs of being a wallflower, Chicken Soup for the teenage soul, Karate is a killing method, The Lorax, 8 simple rules to Raising My Teenage Daughter, The day my butt went crazy and Henry Rollin's Get in the Van

10.) have things like myspace, etc made life for smaller bands easier, and if so/or not, how?
A lot of people hate on myspace and for good reason between the commercialization of it (involving Murdoch and such) but it is a very useful tool to allow others from all over the world to hear your band. I know there are a lot of other sites doing the same thing but Myspace is the only one not demanding money for it and recieves the most acknowledgement. So my opinion is it has its benefits for sure.

11.) america, **** yeah...
Umm im much on the **** no side of that. Im appauled by how everyone just gave up when Kerry lost and how everyone is just starting to realize that Bush was ****ing us from the beginning. The convienent ****ing patriotism of this country is disgusting. By the time he leaves office he will have ****ed up this countries’ relationship with the rest of the world so bad it will take an entire life time to even put a dent in the damage he did. Not even mentioning what he has done to us as a people and a nation.


12.) what movies, cds, games, etc are you guys looking forward to this year?
God of War 2, Xmen 3, Da vinci code, New Bouncing Souls, The Break up, Snakes on a plain, The New Brand New record ok i think thats it


13.) should basketball jerseys make a comeback for band merch?
Ummm I mean I guess we wont be apart of that haha but I guess.

14.) comics...what do you guys read, if any?
Calvin and Hobbs, Teenage age mutant ninja turtles, Punisher and Superman.


15.) plans for a european tour?
FALL 2006... we are working on that now. Most likely Mid-October to Mid November. Avocado Booking is working on it with us so it should be a solid European tour.

16.) dream tour?
Family Values Tour


17.) pancakes, waffles, or other favorite breakfast food?
All of the above.. or whatever is free. Also Vegan Pancakes made by Jon 25


18.) what and where do ya eat on tour?
Whatever is close


19.) favorite tour activities when not playing?
Malls, the movie game and sleeping


20.) what do ya do when not playing in ruiner?
Each of us have our jobs and other bands we have going on as well. Normal life nothing special really. I would like to say we have amazing hobbies and such but really we are incredibly boring dudes

21.) edge? vegan? other?
We got 4 Edge... 1 not. 3 Meat Eaters... 1 Vedge 1 Vegan.

22.) what issssssssss barely legal???
All of Mitch's Girlfriends

23.) I need some advice...about anything...go...
Never join a band and never let your merch guy drink beer in Canada.

24.) things that irk you?
Rob Sullivan (this applies to every member of the band)

25.) SHOUT OUT TIME. GOOOOOOOOOOOOO...
Check out Counting the Days, Quills, Hollywood (Nashville), Final Fight, NickXfury, The Spark (before they break up this summer), Pressure, Killing The Dream, anything on Firestarter, Burn Bridges, Grave Mistake, Lifeline, thirdXparty and 1917 Records.

Thanks so much for the interview guys - Adam

Be on the look out for the new full length sometime soon on 1917 records, and while you wait, check out their debut EP "What Could Possibly Go Right?" also on 1917.