http://www.myspace.com/rykershardcore
How did the band come to be named Rykers and is there any special meaning behind the band being named this?
We got this name from a comic book. Our all time hero The Punisher was imprisoned at Riker´s Island. We basically liked the name and thought it fits perfect to our kind of music.
what are your views on fighting at shows?
Shit happens. We do not promote violence at shows in any way and if a fight breaks out we´ll stop playing (like we just did recently) but since the whole nature of that kind of music is hard and aggressive there will always be a point we the fists will do the talking.
what were your thoughts when you heard that they were closing down CBGB's in New York City and how many shows did you play there?
We just played there once with Comin Correct, Son Of Skam, Strength For A Reason and Death Threat. I was really sad when I heard they will close down that legendary club. It´s a shame how people just take away a place for underground culture. (Just keep in mind all the great bands that played their first shows there. (Blondie, Patti Smith, The Ramones… and off course all the HC and Punk bands from back in the days!) It´s not like you tear down an unknown club. And this is all because of some greedy managers, politicians and yuppies. It really sucks.
who are some of the bands main musical influences?
Old school Hardcore and Metal likeThe Cro Mags, Agnostic Front, Circle Jerks, Exodus, Slayer, DRI, Black Flag, Fear, Bad Brains, Sick Of It All… just to name a few
are any members in side projects other than Rykers?
No, there is no reason for any project. Maybe at one day… but not now.
how long has the band been together?
We started the band in 92, we´ve involved in bands since the mid 80s. Ryker´s broke up in 2000 and we did just a couple of shows after that (like the With Full Force fest in 2003). Now in 2008 we finally decided to do some more shows again. Call it a reunion or whatever but we just feel fine causing chaos on and off stage.
how many cds eps 7 inches split cds and demos has the band currently released?
We did our Kickback 7 inch in 93, followed by some releases on Lost & Found (Paybacktime CD / Brother Against Brother CD / First Blood), after that we put out two full length albums and a couple of 7 inches on WEA/Warner Rec. Ground Zero CD / A Lesson In Loyalty.
And another 2 releases on Century Media / Thorp Rec. Life´s A Gamble… / From The Cradle To The Grave (LIVE). Beside that you will find a lot of samplers and Tribute Rec we did songs for…
what do you base your lyrics on when writing new material?
They are all based on personal experiences. They are about whatever happened to us (as a band or a single person), about what´s going on with our friends or people we know and what´s going on with our little scene. They are dealing with reality.
is there a large and thriving scene in the Kassel area as well as throughout Germany?
It used to be in the early 90s we Kassel was a landmark on the HC map. Almost every good band played awesome shows over here (I still remember seeing SFA or Sick of it all playing in a fucked up youth center that holds about 100 kids and about 300 were in there and went completely nuts, or bands like the mighty Warzone tearing the place down. D.I. from OC played there with Leeway… good memories). I guess it´s a bit different now. But still there are good bands around and some cool people as well. But hey, it´s not the same anymore but is it somewhere else?
is this the original lineup and if not what is the current lineup?
It´s the OG line up – no changes since 95! When we replaced our old guitar player by the tattooed freak Grobi who still with us since then.
if you could have anyone do guest vocals on your next recording who would it be and why?
Let´s see if we gonna do a new record. If so I´m pretty much sure we will have some friends doing some vocal parts. But no name dropping at this point… ha,ha
does the band have any plans to tour the USA in either 2009 or 2010?
We have in mind going to Asia in 2009 and besides that we will see whatever comes our way. We are open for everything as long as it makes sense to us.
in only one sentence describe your sound to someone who has never heard you before?
Old school Hardcore with a punk and a metallic edge (NO METAL CORE!)
when the band is on tour in the van what is usually playing in the cd player?
All kinds of good music like HANKIII, KISS, ACDC, Maiden, Cash, Social D., Cro Mags… whatever we feel like it´s good.
how were you first exposed to the scene and what made you say i want to be in an band?
I stared listening to KISS in the late 70s early 80s and that was it I got addicted. I saw Slayer in 86 and started a band the other day. Seeing bands like Bad Religion playing in a squat was also a great experience.
when on tour and driving from city to city what is some of the weirdest shit you have seen happen or pass by?
There are too many things we´ve seen so far to list them all. It goes from “funny” via “things that makes you wanna puke” to “really horrible”. And sometimes we were right in the middle.
do you prefer to play small club shows or arenas where the crowd is held back by barricades ?
I really like to play festivals were you play to 10.000 kids or even more as long as they are going nuts and are treated fine by the bouncers. But yes, I prefer the cool clubs we you really feel the energy (like hardcore was meant to be)
where do you see the band in 3 years from now?
Honestly, I really don´t think about that. Whatever the future will bring it should be fine with us. We have reached a lot more than we ever expected and there is no Rykers masterplan that we have to follow.
who are some of the up and coming bands from the Kassel area as well as throughout Germany that we should be on the lookout for ?
Today Forever, Still Screaming, Final Prayer from Germany, Grandkapo and Overcome from Portugal are mad cool… look out for these bands. They are really cool!
the term hardcore has become so overused that any band putting a breakdown into a song is considered hardcore but explain to the readers what hardcore means to you?
I guess you heard that before. It´s a way a life. Do take everything for granted. The way you think, the way you see things… It´s hard to explain but it is more than a few metal songs with a breakdown and a fancy shirt.
what are your views on kids who talk shit on the internet about getting hit at a hardcore show?
Fuck them, I couldn´t care less …. In a way the internet is pretty cool and helpful if you gonna use it the right way. But it also became a shitty instrument to spread rumours, shittalk and even fear to other people (besides that stupid kids – take a look at the government how they gonna use the new media to spread their messages… that´s even worse than a bunch of narrow minded nerds).
How can the readers from around the world contact you about ordering merchandise?
http://www.ragewear.de you will find our stuff and a lot more from cool bands!
What is your most memorable show and why?
There were some many great shows so I will just pick up a few. Basically every show meant a lot to us… from squats to bigger clubs and the huge festivals. Playing at the Wetlands in NYC in 96 was a great experience as well as the show at CBGBs. The last two shows (the farewell ones) in Leipzig and Kassel were outstanding - the perfect example for pure chaos. And the festival shows at the With Full Force festival in Germany were always great…. like I said. Too many shows….
what is your favorite city and country to play shows in and also your least favorite and why?
I guess every city and every country has the great spots as well as places you don´t wanna see. But there is way too many nice places I have been to. Talking about big cities I like Kassel City ;-), NYC, LA… and I don´t like Dortmund – but that has something to do with german soccer, ha,ha.
Who are some of the bands that you enjoy touring with?
We have toured with a lot of cool bands just let me name a few of them like Breakdown, Turmoil, Madball, Sick Of It All, SFA, Brothers Keeper, Damnation AD, Pitbull, Sub Zero, Punishable Act, …
What advice can you give to some of the newer bands starting out that maybe having a tough time and thinking about giving up?
Do think about how your band can be the next big thing just do your own shit. As long as you enjoy what you are doing it´s all good.
where else besides myspace can the readers go to find out about upcoming shows and other band related information?
You can also check our booking agencys page www.mad.tourbooking.de
where do you think you would be right now had you not been exposed to the hxc metal scene?
I don´t know. Maybe I would have something to do either with sports (soccer – what else) or with travelling….
what is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to the band when playing a set?
We just heard that a kid died a few days after our show. He did some stagedives and landed on his head. A few days later that was that. That sucked so bad.
what is the worst injury that any of the band has had happen when playing show?
I cut our old guitar players head open while hitting him with the bass. Besides a few bruises here and there… not to bad.
why do you think that people always associate violence with hardcore shows and it always gives hxc scenes and shows a bad reputation?
I guess because the whole nature of the music and the style of dancing looks and sounds aggressive. And in a way it is. A Hardcore or Punkpit is always rough. But I still think a good pit is a good way to let your aggressions out in a positive way.
Do you have any upcoming shows that you would like to tell the readers about?
We have some festivals and clubshows coming up soon. Just check out www.mad-tourbooking.de for updates
Is there anything else that you would like to add that i may have forgotten to ask that the readers should know about?
I really would like to say thanks for all the kids out there for supporting us and for supporting the hardcore movement. If you what to know something more feel free to check out our www.myspace.com/rykershardcore page or get in touch with us.
And yeah, if you wanna know something about HARDCORE I recommend the book “The evolution of a cromagnon” written by John Joseph – it´s amazing – and I´m pretty much sure it will open some eyes.
Thanks for the interview Sean!
