The rebellious Deviltones, soon out with a new full-length on Scarey Records, had already deep impressed us with their EP "Cursed With Firepower". Rik Surly, the drummer, and Randy, the singer, have answered to our questions, with pure rockers' attitude. We've talked about future plans, about on the road experiences and about rock girls! Here you are one of the most energetic bands we've listened to in the last months!

Hi guyz, we're very pleased to have you here on The Rock Explosion to ask something about you. How and when did you meet and decide to form the band?
Surly: Randy and I met back in early 1992. I had just got out of prison, and I was looking for a gig, so I was the roadie for his band for a year or two. I formed a band called The Irritations, and his band & mine toured together. Then I didn't see him for 8 years, I found out where he was, and I called him. I had some songs that I wanted him to sing, and he had songs that needed to be played and then we became known as The Deviltones that you see today.

Why did you choose The Deviltones as name of the band?
Randy: It sounded good, it's kinda tongue-in-cheek, a good strong title for a rock band. Plus, Motorhead is already taken.
Surly: We had a list of titles for the band, but that one seemed to fit our style. And for the record, we hate The Deftones.

Which bands of the past did influence you deeply, since the beginning of your career?
Randy: Misfits, Motorhead, Dead Boys, all that shit.
Surly: I had a fascination with Kiss from early age, Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple, but musically speaking I think of AC/DC, Slayer, & The Police.

Where do you take the inspiration for your songs from?
Surly: We take from things that are on our mind, things we get into, or just things that happen along the way, without really trying to "think" of subjects for songs.

Is there someone of you in particular who writes down the lyrics and another one who takes care of the arrangements?
Surly: Every person has their job in the band, and sometimes we cross into other areas that we are normally not involved in.

What's the songwriting process that you use the most?
Surly: Shoot it from the hip!

"Belligerents" and "I Know I'm Dying" is my fav songs of "Cursed With Firepower". Is there any song that you particularly like?
Surly: I like some of the other material that is not on that album, the new stuff is really strong and I think it reflects the band more as a whole. A lot of those songs on "Cursed" are older than Jesus.
Randy: I like them all. Shit, you've heard 'em.

Tell us something about your musical experiences with Steve Baise, from The Devil Dogs fame. How did you meet him? How did you convince him to work with you?
Surly: We met him through the scene in Virginia Beach. He was always hanging out where we were playing, and we asked him to make our record. He saw us at a gig in VA Beach, and the rest is history…

Rik, you designed the layout and graphic of "Cursed With Firepower"! Talk us about this process... the girl on the back cover looks really cool!
Surly: This is a process that I fucking loath. Very gruelling task that takes time away from the more important things, like writing music. Greg Aigner of Ink Studios did the front & back cover artwork, he's here in Richmond. Greg was working on Randy's sleeve and said he'd hook us up. I just decided to add colour to the images, and some of my artistic ideas.

What's in the future of The Deviltones? Have you got projects or anything else? Talk us about them! Someone talk with me about a deal with the Italian kick ass label, Scarey Records and about some new stuff! Please, give us some anticipations about the new songs...
Surly: Our future plans are to keep on releasing records, playing with kick ass bands, and getting around. Carlo at Scarey Records asked us to get him songs for our next record, and we did. We're writing & recording new material right now, and the record should be out in the Fall. We have plans to go over to Europe after the release, and Japan ain't too far away. Our songs are very much like the rest, but as with any band, we get better with time.

Now is time for the question about life on the road! Can you tell us something weird or particularly memorable occurred during one of your gigs?
Surly: Life on the road is like a rollercoaster. Ups & downs, good times, bad times, good clubs, bad clubs, good drugs, bad drugs, fast times, slow times, fast women, no women. It's our duty to provide ourselves with our own "good time".

Besides could you reveal us something about the moments you think have been the greatest and the ones which instead have been the worst?
Surly: One of the greatest & worst of all time is our gig in New York City at The Continental on a rainy night. We had the mop-up slot (last), playing after The Waldos - with Walter Lure from The Heartbreakers. We didn't get paid, and by the time we hit the stage, there was no one left in the club, except for The Waldos, a few strippers, and some close friends. The club owner tried to frisk me because I had CD's in my pocket. It was all fucked up, but it still rocked.

What do you usually do before going on stage? Do you have any particular usage or kind of spell against bad luck?
Randy: Get as many complimentary drinks as I can, then try to find what we'll be doing once we get off-stage. Half of the show is after the show.
Surly: I usually get sucked off, then do a few rails, then kick the shit out of my drums.

Angela Foxx, Wendy Gadzuk & Queen Bee, what can you say about these musicians?
Surly: Angela no tits. Wendy better tits. Queen Bee bigger tits!
Randy: We've played with both Angela & Wendy's bands, they rocked. I love The 440's. Queen Bee? Never heard of her.

Who rocks better on today rock's scene: Swedish, Canada, U.S.A., England? Please, tell us the reasons of your choice! Is there some present band that you really like and that you really dislike? Please, be true'n' nasty...
Randy: You know, you have good shit coming from everywhere, but the truth of the matter is, they all wanna be like us.
Surly: I think the U.S.A. have a more diverse rock scene, bands from other parts all seem to get their sound & influence from American bands. I think Canada's only good for 2 things: weed & draft dodging.

What do you think about internet and exchanging of mp3 songs ? Are you pro or against them?
Randy: I really don't see the big deal, I'd like to see more people trading The Deviltones' songs, so go for it.
Surly: I think it's cool if it's not abused. I don't like the idea of some punk-ass kid trying for 3 or 4 days to get every song on one album just so he doesn't have to spend some money. But free shit is free shit.

Tell me what you think about the following rock music decades:
The 50's:
Randy: I love 50's music: Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, all those guys.
Surly: Fucking great!
The 60's:
Randy: I hate The Beatles, love The Stones, and the MC5.
Surly: I like the harder stuff, and the garage thing is legendary.
The 70's:
Randy: They had it all. Everything from Skynyrd to Molly Hatchet to Waylon Jennings to New York Dolls to Kiss.
Surly: Sabbath, Deep Purple and Alice Cooper, to Bob Seger, Marshall Tucker, and Ramones.
The 80's:
Randy: Misfits, Motley Crue, Black Flag, Guns 'N' Roses.
Surly: I grew up in Orange County, CA during the 80's so I got to see all of the shit that has made legend: Social D., Fear, Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, hell yeah.
The 90's:
Surly: The Decade that punk broke through changed my financial status.

Now think to some adjectives or whatever else you feel to add near the following sentences:
Drink for free:
Randy: Sounds good to me, that's the way it should be!
Surly: Only!
Live Fast Die Young:
Randy: "Live fast, Die Young-A Loser's Philosophy".
Surly: That's population control.
Burn In Hell:
Randy: Motherfucker!
Surly: Twisted Sister.
Saints And Sinners:
Randy: Losers & Winners, this country and everyone in her!
Surly: A movie or a bad Kiss song, or both?
Rose Tattoo:
Randy: I might just get me one on my left elbow.
Surly: Skinheads love 'em.
Running Wild:
Randy: Fucking in the streets!
Surly: Like a devil's child!
Dead Man Walking:
Randy: Dead Man Rocking!
Surly: Good movie!
Rock'n'Roll Preachers:
Randy: There's no hymns in my songbook.
Surly: Fucking fake.

Now is the time for our "cult" question: Favourite porn star, drink and top 5 album of ever!
Randy: Chick next door, Miller High Life & Jim Beam. Albums listed in no particular order: Motley Crue "Too Fast for Love", Hanoi Rocks "Self Destruction Blues", New York Dolls "Too Much, Too Soon", Dead Boys "Loud, Young & Snotty", Stooges "Raw Power" ex aequo Ramones "Rocket To Russia"!
Surly: My wife, PBR & Corn Whiskey. Albums listed in no particular order: Thin Lizzy "Jailbreak", AC/DC "High Voltage", Kiss "Rock & Roll Over", Slayer "Reign In Blood", Steely Dan "Gaucho"!

If you hadn't yet decided to become musicians what would you have done instead?
Randy: Exactly what I do, beer drinkin', hell raising, foul mouthed Libertine.
Surly: I'd be working the chowline at the State Corrections Facility.

What is the craziest thing ever done in your life?
Randy: I refuse to answer this question, who are you to call me crazy?
Surly: Well, I'm writing a book based upon my memoirs as a touring artist, so I guess you'll have to save your Euros for that one!! (Out in April 2005 along with Rik Surly's Gourmet Cookbook).

That was the last question and this is a small room to give you the chance to say whatever you want. Thank you for your kind cooperation and we hope to see you performing in Italy!
Randy: Thanks for your support, spread the word and we'll see you in Torino!
Surly: Thanks to all of the Northern Italians who have helped put The Deviltones in the hands of Europeans, but be forewarned: we've heard about your food, women, and hash, so don't bother us until we are finished with fucking your sister after she cooks dinner and smokes us out!

Intervista realizzata da Bruno Rossi
Tradotta da Kendy K. from Snakebite
Supervisione di Margherita Realmonte