Latest interview with NRSV 3/07

1 To begin, what’s the meaning of your name !?

No Redeeming Social Value is the American term for something so obscene and licivious that it is illegal.  Like pornography, for example.

2 How did you met and started NRSV ?

We have all been friends for a LONG time.  We started in 1988 in our parents basement.  We just wanted an excuse to get together and have a good time drinking 40oz.’s and playing the music we loved.

3 What were your first contacts with hardcore ? First show ? First record stolen or bought ?

My first ‘hardcore’ show was the legendary Six & Violence and another band called Tough Slut – it was at a local church/ youth center in my neighborhood in 1986.  It changed my life forever.  The first record I owned was a Dead Kennedy’s record that someone gave me in school.  I thought it sucked!  But I knew it would lead to great things in my life.

4 For me you’re on of the freshest and funniest NYHC bands ever (along with Murphy’s Law). Have you always keep this funny edge ?

Thank you for the compliment.  We have been called ‘the poor man’s Murphy’s Law’.  To us, that’s a compliment, too.  You have to keep a good sense of humor to get through life.  In our case, it translates into our band and the songs we write and our live shows.  We try to always make things as fun as possible.  If NRSV was not fun – we would quit.

5 I speak about that because sometimes, people said Hardcore bands are more tough, bad & violent in NYC but you’re the perfect example that bands in NY can also be fun and attractive. How do you see all these new tough guy bands that put blood & brassknuckles on their covers and shit on everyone on myspace (ahah) ?

If putting blood, brassknuckles on a record cover makes bands happy, then, that is just fine with me.  While I enjoy aggressive music, it does not translate into NRSV.  We are just out to have a good time and get drunk.  There is too much aggression in the world already – to me music is supposed to be fun.  Real tough guys don’t need to have a band or write songs about being tough – that is an act.  I know some REAL tough guys that would laugh at these pussy-ass, tough guy wanna bees.

6 What is the most important for you in Hardcore ? How do you see the future of this scene ?

The most important thing in Hardcore is what Raybeez from Warzone said “Hardcore music should stay out of big business and in the streets were it belongs.  All you kids out there keep the faith.”  For me, that says it all!!!  The future of the scene depends on the support from the people that want to keep it alive.  Bands need to stay true to what hardcore is all about – don’t be a fuckin’ sell out!! 

7 In the old Velebit video tape N.Y.H.C. – A documentary, did you enjoy all the bands on it ? During your part, we see a show where a punk kid break his neck on the floor and the cops are coming in the front of the scene to see the damage. Can you speak me a bit about that, was the kid dying ?

Yes, I really like the N.Y.H.C. documentary.  It will be released on DVD with extra and updated footage that is brand new.  I did enjoy all the bands on it.  In fact, I was lucky enough to become friends with some of them.  I was also lucky enough to play with them all at one time or another.  I respect all those bands a lot.  In our scene when the kid stagedives at a NRSV show and hurts himself  - the kid did not break his neck.  He was injured and had to be taken to the hospital, but he is o.k.  I think he eventually started his own hardcore band called Fat Kids Should Not Stagedive!

8 Your shows are real performance with energy, craziness and fancy dresses ! What are your best memories and you best performances (best ideas of dressing!) ?

Yes, all the NRSV shows involve some type of craziness.  As for our ‘costumes’ – we dress like that all the time.  Not just for the show.  My best memory of an NRSV performance was when we played the Akkerpop Festival in Belgium.  We had a great and crazy time at the show.  We got drunk, too drunk.   We got high, too high.   We played naked and smashed our guitars.  It was a lot of fun an we made quite an impression.

9 From where these obsessions for beer & chicken come ?

Oh, everyone loves Chicken and Beer!!!!  It’s the best!!!!  Some of the only reasons to live – chicken and beer! 

10 Why did you write the song “Skinhead’s rule” ? Did you get some bad repercussions from skinheads full of pride who didn’t like the lyrics ahah ?

The song ‘Skinheads Rule’ is a joke between the members of NRSV – that is true of most of our songs.  We wrote it as a joke to amuse ourselves.  Some people get the joke and some boneheads take it too seriously.  We don’t care either way!!  We have never had any bad repercussions from that song.  Everyone that comes to NRSV shows knows what we are about and sings along together – in unity.

11 Are you near to the skinhead scene ? Imagine. We’re in 1988, you work at Revelation records and look for the NYC Hardcore – The way it is comp. Do you choose to put Youth Defense League on it ?
 
Yes, and no.  NYHC has it’s roots in the Skinhead / Reggae scenes – so by virtue of that, I guess we’re involved in the ‘skinhead’ scene.  I mean we are all ‘skinheads’ but we don’t give a shit about politics.  We just know that women that go to shows love skinheads – so we shave our heads ‘cause we wanna get fucked by skinhead girls.  That is the most important thing.  Also, yes, if I worked for Revelation Rec. in ’88 I would put out YDL .  They are a great band.  K-Love (nrsv guitars) was the original guitarist for YDL when he was 11 years old.  People take things way too seriously!!!

12 I guess you’ve played old styles of music on your albums ! Punk, oi!, hardcore, heavy metal, rap, jazz… What’s your favourite NRSV record ?

My personal favorite NRSV record is our New full-length CD ‘STILL DRINKING’.  It will be released worldwide on May 1st.  It’s got 16 new songs and 3 videos on it. It is definitely the best NRSV CD yet.  Everyone is gonna love it, too!

13 You made a rap hit for the “Too legit for the pit” compilation. In NY, are there links between hip hop and hardcore scenes ? A friend told me, back in the days, a show took place in Brooklyn with 25 Ta Life, Crown Of Thornz, Fat Joe and Smif N Wessun !! Crazy! Is it real? Did you see some mixed shows like that ?

I’m not sure if any show like that did or did not happen….i’m am not aware of it.  Regardless, I feel that music is just music.  Whether it’s NYHC or rap music or jazz or anything…if you feel passionate about it – then it works for you.  That is what NRSV is – we enjoy all types of music and we incorporate it into our own unique style.  It was a lot of fun to do “Fresh” (3 Fresh Mc’s) for the ‘Too Legit for the Pit’.  It was a tribute to a rap group that we always admired.  We have also done some rap music on our other CD’s – THC (‘2 minute warning’) and NRSV Rocks The Party (22 oz. of Pain).  We have recorded lots of rap songs that have never been on our records.   So for us, there is a definite link between NRSV and rap music.

14 What is your 5 favourites rap records. Same question for hardcore, oi!punk and metal.
Rap=

RUN-DMC – Raising Hell

Ultramagnetic MC’s – Critical Beatdown

KRS-ONE – Edutainment

Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Nigga Please

Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill

Punk =

Xray Spex – Germ Free Adolescents

The Six and Violence – Lettuce Prey

Norman Bates & the Showheads – Here They Come

Breakdown – Blacklisted!

Madball – Legacy

Metal=

Motley Crue – Too Fast For Love

Dokken – Tooth and Nail

Iron Maiden – Piece of Mind

Slayer – Hell Awaits

Ozzy Osbourne – Speak of the Devil

15 Can you speak me a bit about NY. How is the life here ? Is it worst than the past to live there now ?

NY is a fuckin’ shithole!  It is a nice place to visit, but you don’t want to live here!!

The people are great – the city is in ruins.  It is a fuckin’ dump.  Just like the movie ‘Escape from New York’.

16 Today (09.11) there’s a tv program about the 09.11.01 attempts. 5 years after the medias are still diffusing the same programs. Do you think there’s a work of memory (like the holocaust) or you think that the medias have pushed the disaster too far ?

The media are a tool for the fascist cocksuckers of the world.  Fuck them!  Smash your T.V.!!

17 What future did you see for the world ? Do you think we’re all perish soon like in the end of a thrash metal record ?

Yes, just like the end of a Nuclear Assault record.  GAME OVER!!!

18 How it goes with the girls ? Are you married ? Do you have children ? Are you swingers ?! Are you for or against women in hardcore ?

We wanna fuck skinhead girls.  I like to fuck them with their boots on.  They love it!

19 A friend of mine (Loïc to not cite him) told me he masturbated himself a lot on the booklet of “THC”, are you happy to hear that ? Was it your goal ?!

Great – we have accomplished our mission.  We are true porno stars.!!!

20 You made a DVD last months. Who’s got the idea to do that ? How did you make it ? (The heavy metal clip TOTALLY rules!)

An NRSV DVD is something we talked about for a long time.  We had lots of footage from us over the years and  lots of videos and interviews.  We wanted to put it all together for the fans to enjoy and get a laugh about.  We filmed, edited, and released it all ourselves.  It was a total DIY project and the first REAL DVD by a hardcore band.  It is gonna be the standard for bands to try and follow for years to come.   I think the DVD is totally hilarious – everyone that has seen it loves it.  Sick of It All, Shadows Fall, Ice-T, Insane Clown Posse, Good Charlotte, all watch it on their tour busses.  They have become NRSV fans from seeing this DVD…so I think we did a good job.

21 A split with Slumlords is out, right ? I have the 7” version and I saw the cd will have 14 tracks on it + videos, shit! Do you plan other records or goodies ? Otherwise, what do you think of the ebay colored-vynil-buying-obsession ?

The N.R.S.V.  / Slumlords split CD and 7” – Songs of Beer was a great idea.  We had a lot of fun recording those songs and the Slumlords will always be one of my most favorite bands.  They are like our brothers from another mother.  They are such a great band and a lot of fun – like us.  Our next CD release will be STILL DRINKING out in May 1st – released worldwide.  16 new songs + 3 videos.  It will be released on CD digipak and on Vinyl.  I have a lot of colored vinyl, but I would never sell it…I listen to all my records, I don’t really ‘collect’ them – I like them for the music – but I have bought some records on Ebay that I am very happy with.

 
22 To finish, what are your hobbies, jobs ? Ask yourself a question that you would like I asked you. Thanks!

Our hobbies/ jobs are drinking beer, smoking weed, fucking skinhead girls, and playing HARDCORE music!!!!!yeahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

NRSV interview04

No Redeeming Social Value has been around for a long time now. A bit low key for a few years, but their recently released DVD “HCTV” made a difference. It put them right back on the map. Although the distribution in Europe isn’t going that well the moment. So I’d suggest you contact the band through their site and order a copy. It will your day. Dean and Scott, the old school members of the band were kind enough to answer a few questions.

I’d like to start out with a bit of history starting out in 1997 (as that’s where the previous interview I did with you ended). “No Redeeming Social Value Rocks the Party” became quite successful in the underground and you even did a Euro tour. After that you’ve released “THC”, still a good NRSV record, but all got quiet after that. What happened?
Scott We got High
Dean Yeah, we got drunk too, - very drunk!! We did lots of touring for THC – 5 tours in 1 year. In the midst of that we went through a few different drummers – Pete The Meat, Rich Hoek (Brutal Truth), Richie Backfire!, Insane James. Also, we got endorsed by OLDE-English 800 Malt Liquor Company. So a lot of things happened for us…. we appeared on “Too Legit For The Pit” Hardcore/ Rap comp. We did some other recordings - NRSV EP 2000. NRSV is always working on projects as a band. Even if we don’t constantly tour, or constantly make albums we’re always doing something. Hardcore music is our life – not just a phase, so we aren’t on a time schedule. We would rather do things at our own pace. Otherwise, it would be like work instead of fun.

What ever happened to SFT Records? About a year ago the European SFT label got back in business. Have NRSV ever had talks with them about a new record or the DVD?
Dean Yes, in fact SFT Records – Kevin Gill/ Udo Meixner are good friends of NRSV – we will always remain friends. SFT USA folded a few years ago – too many big labels were taking over the scene and rockstars were leaving SFT for better deals. Kevin went on to invent some great video games and that is his main work now, but he still loves Hardcore. Check out his game BACKYARD WRESTLING 2 for Playstation/ Xbox…..As for SFT Europe, they are currently working out the details to distro. Our DVD in Europe. Udo and his wife had a baby recently, so his friend Marcus took over the label. He’s getting things going again. In my opinion, it was the best label in Hardcore history.
Scott SFT had some great stuff going on back in the day. Shit… District 9, Fahrenheit 451, 25 ta Life, VOD, The 6 & Violence, Shutdown, Neck and NRSV. I still say that it was one of, if not the best label going in the 90’s. We are really happy to have been a part of it! As far as what happened to them, well it’s hard running an independent label. It’s a shitload of work with very little reward. It’s kickass to see SFT back on the map in Europe. We’ve been speaking back and forth, and the possibility of future projects with them is always open. I really hope people support SFT, past and present, it’s a great label!

The past few years a lot has changed around the world, and being from NY you’re right in the middle of it. Did that change the attitude you have towards the party mood you try to keep with the band?
Scott ***** NO!!!!! Laughter always helps people, no matter what the situation is. It’s a way to cope with the fucked up shit that’s going on around you. NRSV has always been about fun. The day the band is more work than fun, is the day we break up. NRSV started as an excuse to hang out on Friday nights, drinks some beers, play some music and laugh. We hope that when people come to the shows or listen to the cds or watch the DVD, they forget about all the bullshit that’s going on around them and enjoy life for a little while. Life is short.
Dean That’s an important message. I agree!! Word up!!!

The new DVD “HCTV” seems to have added a lot to what NRSV can do. Do you like bringing this visual side of the band to the audience?
Scott I think we’ve always been a better live band than what come across on the cd’s. The DVD was a way to try and capture that feeling. I always felt that music and visuals go hand in hand. They make each other so much better. If you think of your top 5 favourite movies of all time… I bet you that you can hum some of the music from 4 of them. Like the Star Wars theme, everybody knows that shit. Try and think of watching Star Wars with some of the music to Jaws on, it don’t work. The music and visuals have to enhance each other. I don’t think making sense anymore, so I’ll shut the ***** up!
Dean Good idea! I agree, however, NRSV has always been about the live show and the energy that that we bring to a Hardcore show. The DVD definitely represents that – I feel NRSV comes across better on the DVD than ANY of our previous albums. It’s the best representation of the band to date.

How did you come up with the DVD? Usually band DVD’s are a bunch of video’s or a live concert. You have tried to mix it with funny home vid’s. What can’t you tell about the ideas? Did you have some sort of “scripts” written? Are there also leftovers from these sketches that didn’t make the DVD?
Scott We always wanted to do a home video of some sorts, but never had any money. But now with PC’s and digital cameras we could do everything ourselves. So the entire DVD was made by the band, all the editing, shooting, music, we did everything DYI style. BUT it took about 1 ½ years to put together because we had to learn how to do everything!!!! It really started out because a certain record label (I will not mention who) asked us if we wanted to release a DVD. So we said, ***** it why not? The label who wanted to release it said he had a friend who could put it together, But we didn’t want some asshole who doesn’t know shit about hardcore or the band to just take a bunch of live stuff, spend 15 mins. Editing it together and release it. That’s some boring ass shit. So like they say, “if you want something done right, do it yourself” and that’s what we did.
Dean Everything we do is very spontaneous – very little thought goes into our projects, except that we know we’re gonna get drunk. Most of the DVD is unscripted craziness that happens to us everyday – it captures us at our truest. Also, it’s true that if you want something done right – DO IT YOURSELF!!
Scott Yah, that’s it man!! Also, everything just kind of snowballed though. We started getting all sorts of stupid ideas for videos, skits and stuff. Some of the stuff was filmed and made it onto the DVD, some is still in our heads. We never really scripted most of the stuff out, just had a general idea of what we wanted to do and improvised the rest. We’re pretty much idiots and I think we proved that with the DVD. But watch out, cause NRSV-HCTV part 2 will be out soon!!!!

NRSV interview ‘97
When an American tells you “you have got no redeeming social value”, it’s just a polite way of saying “you’re a scumbag and I don’t want to have you near my house, beer or daughter”. In ’88 the band NRSV was formed by the Miller brothers (Dean, singer and Kent, guitar), and their only aim was rockin’ out, drinkin’ beer and eatin’ chicken. Later on Mike Dixon (vocals), Vinny Value (drums) and Scott Combo (bass) joined the band. After recording three ep’s they thought is was time to make an album. A short while after they released “Rocks the Party”, and this world has never been the same ever since. Our continent will be left in piles of rubble and ruins after NRSV’s … European tour in 1997. All questions have been answered by Dean.

When I first heard your album, I thought songs were like silly party songs, but lyrics like “Planet of the Dead” and “Microwave” are rather serious. Do you want people to thinks about the lyrics?
Some songs are supposed to be funny, like “Your Boyfriend is a Guido” or “Fabio”, but then some are supposed to be a little more serious, like the ones you mention and “Sanity” and “ASPCA”. All in all how people interpret the lyrics is their own business. Sometimes we are in a more serious mood when we write, sometimes we are just drunk. People can think whatever they like, everyone has their own opinion. We just like to have fun and be drunk. However, if the song / message comes out… then whatever!!! It’s totally up to each individual how they interpret our lyrics. For example, if you think “Skinheads Rule” is pro-skin than good, if you think it’s anti-skin then good.

There are a lot of hardcore bands that take themselves (too) serious. Is that also a reason why you want to make party music? Do you want to show people that hardcore can also mean making crazy songs?
Yes, there are a lot of hardcore songs that are too “serious”. In general there are not too many people in the world today that have the attitude like the old saying goes; “if you can’t laugh at yourself, what can you laugh at?” I think this is a very valid thing to think about. As far as NRSV, we don’t really set out to purposely make “funny” songs, it’s just the personalities of the members of the band that comes through in the music. If people think it’s funny than good for them.We just get together, get drunk and whatever comes to mind. I don’t really know if it’s a concious thing or now, besides LIFE IS A PARTY ( and we’re here to rock it.) And if you can’t laugh or have fun or if you have to take everything so seriously, then you lead a sad life. Music is the one thing in life, I feel, should be fun, more so than anything else. I guess that comes through in what we do with NRSV.

The live songs on your album are recorded at Wembley stadium in London? Did you really play a surprise gig at an Iron Maiden concert?
Playing at the Wembley stadium was a dream of a lifetime. It was like having a wet dream, it was almost a surreal experience. The crowd, the chicks, the energy. I think the album captured the experience pretty accuratly. We love heavy metal and always wanted to do a metal-type show…

How did you get to know the M-Town rebels? You are on their compilation.
Until recently, I didn’t even know that we were included on the compilation. It’s cool though. Vinny Value in our band is an M-Town rebel. When he was in Europe last time, he stayed with the members of the group Right Direction, cool guys from what he tells me. They made him an official member of the M-Town rebels and they put us on the compilation, it is cool that they put us on. Vinny is still in contact with them and even has an M-Town Rebels tattoo on his leg. Hello to Maastricht! Hello to the M-Town Rebels!

You’re coming to tour Europe in 1997. Any expectations?
Well as far as the Euro tour goes… We’re still trying to work things out with the promoter. We do not have any definite dates yet, but we’ll get to Europe eventually. It will be the first “European tour” together as a band. We definitely think it is important to come and play to the people who support us. It would be great to finally meet the folks that have been writing to us, buying our record etc. We want to come, but like I said we’re still trying to work things out. What we want out of it (what we expect) is like in anything we do; FUN. We basically want to come over and party with all of the European NRSV crew and just say “thanks” for all the support.

What do you think about the differences between Europe and America?
The European hardcore community seems to be a lot more receptive to new bands and to different style bands and the American audience is, but then again, in general I think Europeans are more open-minded than Americans. I’m looking forward to coming to Europe for that reason alone. The American public is very ignorant, close-minded and lazy. They are very reluctant to try anything new or different. They’d rather have the same old shit than try anything new, but really don’t blame the American public for their own stupidity, it’s how we are bred overhere. Also Europe is the land of great beer and for that reason alone we are anxious to come over.

Are you going to record another album after the tour?
It’s not something that we’ve made a conscious decision to do, however, we do have a lot of songs that we’ve been kicking around and working on, so that will probably be the plan, perhaps an ep or something. SFT (Striving for Togetherness records – ed.) want’s us to do another single to support the album. We’ll probably do that, and then get to work on the new stuff. The funny thing about us is, that everything we do is always “up in the air”, we never know for sure until the situation arises. That’s why NRSV is such a miracle, but now that you mention it, recording a new record does sounds like a good idea. The only other thing I would like to add is to say thanks to all the NRSV supporters in Europe. We can’t thank you all enough. We will see you soon on tour. Keep the faith (and of course don’t forget to drink the brew)
(Written by Martijn Welzen