This interview was featured in the first issue of "Pointing the Finger" zine

PTF: Hi Dean. How's things? How much old-e did you drink on new years eve?

Dean: Things are great! 2001 is great so far. New Year's eve was spent, of course, drinking OLDE-E brew. That's our favourite beer - cause it's cheap, and if you drink a lot of it, you can hallucinate. This was the first New Year that I actually watched "the countdown" to the New Year - all other years, I've been passed out drunk before the New Year even came. I think I only had about 2 40oz. bottles this year. Not too bad.

PTF: So for the readers who aren't' well up on NRSV, give them a brief history of the band.

Dean: Well, a brief history would be difficult at this point seeing that we've been around for about 12 years and the changes in our lineup have been as strange as the Rocky Horror Show. But I'll give an "abbreviated brief history". NRSV started drinking in 1988 and we haven't stopped since. We did a few CD's, lotsa touring, lotsa beer and weed, lotsa fun. That's why we keep doing it. We all love HC music and it's a big part of our lives for a long time. So as long as we're having a good time we'll carry on. Happy to say that no one has ever left the band and that we had to kill 'em. (except one, who left the band because he thought that we were trying to kill him on tour). We're good mates with everyone. We're lucky enough to have good record labels behind our releases and that helps a lot. But, I digress...basically we started drinking a long time ago and we're not drunk enough yet to know when to quit.

PTF: The last 2 times you've come to the UK with Madball and the more recent time you were with Knuckledust. You go a good reception. How did you find it?

Dean: Up until 2 years ago, we'd never played the U.K. However, we found both of the London shows to be outstanding. Really great and fun shows for us. I think that during the beginning of our set at both shows the audience was a bit taken aback by our antics and approach to the music. We warrant that reaction - no doubt. But once they were over the initial shock, everyone had a good time. Believe it or not, that U.K. show was the first one we ever played with Madball. So that was cool, of course. Also, we've been pals with Knuckledust for several years now. Pierre always came to see us when we played in Belgium and Holland, etc...so it was good to finally play a gig with them. They, of course, totally set it off. Hopefully we'll be back in the U.K this spring with a brand new CD and tour. The Underworld is a cool venue. Being in the centre of a "happening" part of town, it gives us a chance to check out the town between soundchecks. Also, I have an arrangement with the bartenders there that when I order a pint of Guinness, they throw in a extra shooter of Tia Maria in there for an extra kick. Y'all probably hate that, but the Yanks dig it.

PTF: And how did you find the traditional British Beers? Up to your standards?

Dean: This is a question for me. I am well versed in all kinds of beer from around the world. I have sampled many - perhaps too many. I knew what to expect from the British beers. Many a strong and hearty Ale, or Stout. Excellent beers. I hate weak, pussy beer and, thank the Queen, there are none in the U.K. Just quality beers in the traditional styles. Awesome!! I knew just what to expect and got just that. So I was pleased. But then again, being that the country is called England, how come there is no OLDE-ENGLISH 800 Malt Liquor in the U.K.??? That was rather disappointing. I figured of all countries in Europe, the U.K. should certainly sell a beer which bears it's name??!!?? Maybe I'll open a pub and sell it on draught in Camden. Next tour...

PTF: Where do you get your ideas for your on stage costumes. I presume you're drunk when you come up with the ideas?

Dean: Stage costumes?? What stage costumes??? We wear ladies clothing and fur coats all the time. On man, you should be in the van with us on tour. Everyone thinks that those are "costumes". We actually wear those all the time. We're trying to create a new fashion awareness in the Hardcore scene. It seems that all the kids nowadays are wearing jeans that are too big or hanging off their asses and such. NRSV is determined to put fashion back into Hardcore - we wanna see all the kids with a better dress. More bathing suits, more fur coats, more Sunday hats. Wassup Wassup WASSSSUPP????

PTF: What bands have influenced NRSV?

Dean: Oh, god save the Queen, too many to mention. Mostly OLD-School HC. The bands that caught our attention when we first started playing instruments like: Bold, Youth of Today, Warzone, Black Sabbath, the Ramones, the Kinks, Run-DMC, GG Allin. Bands like that. But we dig a lotta new stuff as well. Basically we all have varied musical tastes that run the entire gamut, and I think that it comes across in our sound, which is basically an Old School HC sound, but we really like everything from Bach to Zappa.

PTF: Do you or any other band members do other things in the hardcore scene like labels or zines?

Dean: Well, I started a label many years ago. However, there are no releases really worth mentioning at this point because that label really isn't happening anymore. However, as we don't formally do any zines or labels, we participate in helping our friends that do. A lot of our friends run labels and zines and we're always involved in helping to distro them or playing benefits for the zines, etc....Besides the goons in NRSV don't know how to scratch their names in the dirt with a stick - how are we gonna write a zine?? C'mon.

PTF: When NRSV started did you think it would last this long or did you think it would all be over once you sobered up?

Dean: Never thought it would last this long. It was just supposed to be a joke - still is really. And I guess we haven't sobered up yet either, so I can't really answer that one except to say, NRSV isn't supposed to be any more serious than we are - and anyone that's ever seen us live will tell you that. We're in it for the fun and beer and travel and good times. That's why we started and I'm proud to say that after 12 years, that's why we continue. The day it isn't fun - then that's it. It seems that the more we play, the more people want to see us and hear our records and that's a good thing.

PTF: A lot of HC bands do songs about unity and stuff but I notice NRSV tends to avoid that. How come?

It's not like we make a conscious decision to avoid certain topics. We just write what we feel. Whatever that may be. We don't sit down and say "Hey, a song about unity, that'll make us cool, or whatever." Our music generally starts as a joke in the studio between band mates and before you know it, we'll have a song. For example our drummer is a lunatic (Insane James) - he said something one day about "crack" and "teenage girls". I was humming a melody and the next thing you know we have a new hit single called "Pregnant Teenage Girls on Crack Cocaine". So there you go...we don't have a lot of discussions about unity, so I guess that's why we never wrote a song about it. Our minds are a lot closer to the gutter, if you know what I mean.

PTF: Got any new releases or tours you wanna promote?

Dean: Well, we've got lots of stuff in the works. Lots of comps that we're on that are coming out now, with brand new NRSV material on them. There's a Negative Approach Tribute comp - out on Feb. 22, 2001. Then we've got a split EP coming out on Core-Tex Records with our friends Full Speed Ahead from Germany. Then we've got a few other comps and such. In the spring, a new CD. Not sure of any titles yet, but the songs are all brand new and hard as nails - "Lights Out", "Your Opinion", "I Hate Everyone", and "Pregnant Teenage Girls on Crack Cocaine" - are a few of the songs. Other than that, our website is always up and running with the latest NRSV news at www.nrsv.com - so peep that shit. And to all our friends in the UKHC scene, fear not cause in 2001, NRSV will be back to steal your girls, drink your beer and smoke your green.