| Chances are, if you’ve been paying attention, you’ve heard some of the following things about Rocket from the Crypt: they were formed by the son of a Portuguese fisherman who assembled his team of musical superheroes in Puerto Rico, where the locals are uncorrupted by the machinations of the industry; drummer Ruby Mars, a former team Alva member, has one arm; their real names are Hector, Salvador, Joaquin, Flaco, Juanto and Horencio; and, over the course of a storied career, they’ve shared the stage with music legends such as the late Sun Ra and James Brown.
Some of these things may be true, while others, such as the claim that they’ve rubbed shoulders with the Godfather of Soul, certainly are not. Either way, some unsuspecting journalists have been taken in by the RFTC myth machine, with its cryptic liner notes, online rumour mill and official press releases.
Over the phone from his home in San Diego, bassist Petey X has difficulty stifling a laugh: "No, no, that’s all true.…
"Well," he then drawls in regards to the band’s relationship to JB, "we’re just old friends. We didn’t actually tour together... we just jam."
Mmmm-hmmm.
Funnily enough, some people still don’t get RFTC’s liberal use of creative licence. For instance, take the title of their latest release, Live From Camp X-Ray. Petey, help us out.
"Obviously, Camp X-Ray is the terrorist camp in Cuba, but we (weren’t) trying to make any kind of statement. We just like the way Camp X-Ray sounded, truthfully. And when you add, ‘Live From’ it just makes it funnier.
"(But) then when we did press for it, people were like, ‘Live?’ C’mon, put two and two together, we’re not playing live from there. If it was really a live record we’d tell you where it was recorded….
"Well, actually, maybe we wouldn’t."
THIS MUCH IS TRUE
Rocket from the Crypt formed in San Diego, California in 1989. Founded by Petey X and vocalist Speedo (John Reis, also of Drive Like Jehu and Hot Snakes fame), the band lifted its name from Cleveland proto-punk outfit Rocket From The Tombs and proceeded to mine every ounce of musical Americana it could – from the fury of ’50s rockabilly to the horror-show punk of the Misfits to, yes, James Brown (the group even features a funky horn section manned by Atom and JC 2000).
Indeed, the manifesto-style liner notes for their latest album state their case clearly: "Long live the dead," read the notes. "RFTC play dead music from a non-historical perspective." (Brief aside: since we haven’t heard from Petey for a bit, let’s ask him, considering the continuum of cool that RFTC pilfers from – from Elvis’s swagger to the Detroit snarl of the Stooges and the MC5 to the avant-noise of New York City no-wave – what era of music captures his imagination the most? "The ’80s," he says matter-of-factly. "I like Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow.")
Anyway, this much is also true: in its 14-year history, RFTC has amassed a prolific discography on some of the hippest labels around. Their hard work and impeccable street cred has garnered them a fanatical fanbase, from modern-day greasers diggin’ their smokin’ rock ’n’ soul, to arty kids smitten by the band’s high-concept but low-brow album design, not to mention their experimental sound explorations. (On their previous effort, Group Sounds, RFTC recorded the bass and drums on a portable stereo).
And here, in the frozen north, where months – even years – can go by without the life-affirming light of a true rock extravaganza, the level of excitement surrounding the impending Rocket touchdown is palatable.
Calgary fans are go north to catch the Edmonton date, then return home to see them again the following night. Vice versa for Edmonton fans.
The RFTC phenomenon isn’t lost on Petey X.
"We’ve always had, from the very beginning, fans with that level of enthusiasm," he says. "When we tour Europe, people take their holidays to follow us around and see us as many times as possible; the same thing here in America. They come see us over and over again.
"I don’t know why that is, but, from day one, Rocket From The Crypt has always tried to be more than a band. Instead of just playing music, we try to put on a show, and we try to put a lot of effort and a lot of attention into what we do.
"We try not to do anything half-assed–when we play you can see in our faces that we love to do what we do. I think people see (that) passion and want to be part of it.
MORE TRUTH VS. FICTION
Here are a few other things you may have heard about Rocket From The Crypt, provided this time courtesy of the hyperbole-hopped music press: "RFTC are the next Nirvana," "RFTC are the hardest working men in showbusiness" and "RFTC are the greatest band on earth."
Well, how about it Petey? Are you really the best there is?
"Oh," he says, this time without so much as a trace of a smirk in his voice. "By far." |
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