Sons of the most virulent and raw rock'n'roll, the Runarounds are on the road since far '96. The Rock Explosion reviewed their full-lenght dated 2001 'Easy Action' and then got in contact with them from Virginia Beach. The pretty bass player Angela and the singer Johnny Sonic, are glad to introduce you their work.

Hi Guys, can you tell us when and how did you decide to create The Runarounds?
Johnny Sonic: The Runarounds formed in 1996. Basically we decided to put together a band that was everything that we liked in music such as 60's garage rock, 70's rock n' roll, punk and heavy metal without being some cheesy second rate throw-back.

Let's talk about the last work "Easy Action". Would you like to explain us the songwriting process you use to follow? Who writes down the lyrics and the music of your songs?
Johnny Sonic: Basically I sat in our rehearsal space and wrote all the songs for "Easy Action". In the old days I did all the song writing myself. But now Angela has her hands in writing lyrics and helping with the song arrangments.

Is there any song of yours you feel more linked to?
Johnny Sonic: I feel linked to all my songs because I wrote them but I am alot more excited about the new material for our next record.
Angela Foxx: I feel much more linked to our newer songs because I have had much more involvement in them.

Which are your favourite albums and bands of ever?
Johnny Sonic: AC/DC "Powerage", Motorhead "Ace of Spades", Thin Lizzy "JailBreak", Kiss "Alive I and II", Rolling Stones "Exile on Main Street". I could go on forever!
Angela Foxx: Old Deep Purple, Guns n' Roses "Appetite For Destruction", Kiss "Destroyer", Sonic's Rendezvous Band "Sweet Nothing"... just to name a few.

Do you think that to be a pure rocker one should live according the stereotyped rule: "Sex, Drugs and Rock'n' Roll"?
Johnny Sonic: I am more sex, drinking and rock n' roll these days but no there are no rules.
Angela Foxx: There are no rules in rock n' roll... Thats when shit gets boring!

Do you have any further plans after the release of the new album? Have you programmed some tour?
Johnny Sonic: Yeah, tour like we usually do and we have a Scandanavian tour in the works.
Angela Foxx: We will be touring with a band from Norway called the Tennessee Beats in May of 2004. We will be playing some shows in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and maybe Germany. It will be our first tour outside of the United States. We are excited to get the hell out of here!

Has it been easy for you to find a label interested in your music?
Johnny Sonic: Record labels are hit or miss. Generally one label thinks we are too much of a rock n' roll band and the other thinks we are too much of a punk rock or heavy metal band. So sometimes its hard. But in the end they all rip you off anyway!
Angela Foxx: Fuck them all! No really... We have some prospects for a new European label but nothing is set in stone yet.

How is it to work for the Divebomb Records?
Johnny Sonic: They are nice guys, they have good distribution, but zero promotion.
Angela Foxx: They are not the label we need. We are the only rock n' roll band on that label with about 100 metal bands.

I read that you've shared the stage with many bands, from Alabama Thunder Pussy to Monster Magnet, from Nashville Pussy to The Woggles and many others. Now I'd like to know what a kind of experience it has been and if there is still someone you would be very honoured to play with.
Johnny Sonic: As far as the bands weve played with in the past some of the experiences were alot of fun and some were a big pain in the ass. I would really like to play with The Darkness or The Hellacopters.
Angela Foxx: I would also like to play with The Darkness... Hell... I want to play with AC/DC or open up for Motorhead!

Is there any of your shows you're most proud of?
Angela Foxx: This is a hard question. I guess I am most proud of the show where two of my bass strings broke and I forgot my back-up bass and I had to play the rest of the show with two strings. It was great fun.
Johnny Sonic: No... I have a great time playing all of them.

What is the best concert you've seen in your whole life?
Johnny Sonic: AC/DC...those guys are fucking amazing!
Angela Foxx: Motorhead. They are so loud!

As I can see your musical influences are various, but which band or artist do you think has shown you the way to Rock'n'Roll?
Johnny Sonic: I would have to say Kiss because they had a big impact on me when I was a kid.
Angela Foxx: I remember listening to my mothers records when I was a kid...Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" had a big impact on me. I thought it was so heavy and cool.

Is there any particular "ritual" you like to do before going on stage?
Angela Foxx: Sacrificing small animals... Snortin' a few rails... No really, drinkin' lots of beer.
Johnny Sonic: Drinking!

Angela, your surname reminds me Vikky Foxx, Britny Foxx, or maybe...
Angela Foxx: I really like the song "Girl School" by Britny Foxx but thats not where I got the name. I actually stole the name from Samantha Foxx...

Samantha Foxx... Yes, i remember Samantha, tell me what she means for ya? Why do you admire Samantha?
Angela Foxx: I was a really young girl when I saw her on MTV. I thought she was really beautiful and that she had a really cool jean jacket on! All the guys thought she was so hot! Thinking back on it now though... Her music really sucked!!! I stold her name because i figured everybody in their right mind had forgotten about her by now.

Johnny, in my opinion your surname is taken by a great garage band, The Sonics...
Johnny Sonic: I didn't actually get my name from The Sonic's, but they are one of my favorite bands. I think they had one of the best rock n' roll singers of all time! I actually got my name from a friend of mine. After he saw me play a show he said that my amp was so fucking loud that it was a sonic attack on his ears. He started calling me Johnny Sonic as a joke. It just stuck!

Angela, is it true that before becoming a musician you were a porn star? If so, what made you decide to change your job? What do you think that rock'n'roll world and porn world have in common?
Angela Foxx: No... That was just a rumor but I did buy my first electric guitar with the crusty tips I saved from dancing at the strip bar when I was 16. As far as what is in common between rock and porn..."The Clap".

Do you think it could be possible for you to come on tour in Italy? Have you ever been here even as tourists?
Johnny Sonic: Sure it would be great to tour in Italy. I have never been to Italy but I would love to see that part of the world!
Angela Foxx: I would love to tour in Italy!

Intervista realizzata e tradotta da Margherita Realmonte.
Traduzioni addizionali realizzate da Laura Delnevo.