Inner Rage records from France, I'm not even sure if it rings a bell to the new kids out there, but it is legendary. My favourite releases on the label are the Fury of V Telling it Like It Is 7", the Starkweather 7" and the Five Minute Major album.
I never knew Jean Marc during the life span of the label, or during his Drowning days, but everytime he shows up on a show, I always end up talking with him, as he has this huge knowledge about NYHC, and he is a nice guy to talk to. When you know that he is involved in the movement as from the 80's on, you know he is interesting to speak with. So here it is, a talk about Inner Rage records, Drowning and hardcore.
Let's go the beginning immediately: how, when and why did you start Inner rage records?
From mid to late 80's I started to get into underground music, I was previously into Punk rock, Oi! and some metal but then I started to get into more aggressive stuff. There was a lot of tape trading at that time too, so I discovered a lot of hardcore and some death metal demos, live tapes...The French scene was a bit late at that time but some local bands started to get influenced by American punk hardcore. Everybody was also into ordering new demos, new EPs, I was giving ideas to guys that started labels in like 88-89 then I thought it would be cooler to start my own label. I contacted a few bands, I was looking for some hard stuff and choose Dare To Defy for the first EP. That was in late 1990.
How did you manage to do this back then?
Well staying in touch wih bands whthout internet was not always easy of course, you could have contact with a band for a time, then the guy left the band or just didn't answer anymore, now the easy thing with the net is that you know faster if you can trust a band or not. It was just a matter of luck to keep in touch with a band for a long time and then be able to work with them. The thing is that in the early 90's US Hardcore bands started to have more people interested in Europe than in America, Hardcore was considered dead at that time. People there were more into all the post Hardcore stuff like Quicksand or more of the Sub Pop thing. There was also lotsa problems with violence in the East Coast at Hardcore shows. So Hardcore got banned. That's when a lot of European labels started to sign US bands.
Well staying in touch wih bands whthout internet was not always easy of course, you could have contact with a band for a time, then the guy left the band or just didn't answer anymore, now the easy thing with the net is that you know faster if you can trust a band or not. It was just a matter of luck to keep in touch with a band for a long time and then be able to work with them. The thing is that in the early 90's US Hardcore bands started to have more people interested in Europe than in America, Hardcore was considered dead at that time. People there were more into all the post Hardcore stuff like Quicksand or more of the Sub Pop thing. There was also lotsa problems with violence in the East Coast at Hardcore shows. So Hardcore got banned. That's when a lot of European labels started to sign US bands.
Did you go to the Eastcoast to visit shows in the early 90's too? If so, was it really that crazy / violent as is being told?
Well I went for the first time in New York in 1991, I saw a few good shows at the time, the first one was a l'Amour in Brooklyn with Cro Mags, Leeway, Biohazard and Type O Negative, I saw Cro Mags at CBGB's a few days after that and Breakdown in a bar. All of those shows were really impressives, and crazy but I didn't see any violence. The craziest show was whithout a doubt the one at CBGB's, the crowd was mostly scenesters, friends etc... Most of the people knew each other so the atmosphere was great, it was one of the best shows I have ever seen.
Well I went for the first time in New York in 1991, I saw a few good shows at the time, the first one was a l'Amour in Brooklyn with Cro Mags, Leeway, Biohazard and Type O Negative, I saw Cro Mags at CBGB's a few days after that and Breakdown in a bar. All of those shows were really impressives, and crazy but I didn't see any violence. The craziest show was whithout a doubt the one at CBGB's, the crowd was mostly scenesters, friends etc... Most of the people knew each other so the atmosphere was great, it was one of the best shows I have ever seen.
Looking back at the releases you've done, which is your favourite one?
Whithout a doubt I would say the Starkweather 7". I honestly don't like everything I released on Inner Rage but there's a few that I'm proud of. The Fury of Five and Overcast 7"s are also pretty good I think, Stormcore/Krutch was cool, well I won't name all the stuff I like in the back catalogue but besides 2 or 3 releases I'm not ashamed of what I did. I like the CDs I released too."
Whithout a doubt I would say the Starkweather 7". I honestly don't like everything I released on Inner Rage but there's a few that I'm proud of. The Fury of Five and Overcast 7"s are also pretty good I think, Stormcore/Krutch was cool, well I won't name all the stuff I like in the back catalogue but besides 2 or 3 releases I'm not ashamed of what I did. I like the CDs I released too."
Bands like Starkweather, Fury Of Five and Kickback became pretty big bands. Did it make you pride to have them released as the first one?
Well sure I'm proud of what these bands did and still do. That's the main reason of why I started the label, first release records I would have liked to buy, and secondly discover bands. so the fact they became big after they had something out on Inner Rage is a reason to be proud for me
Well sure I'm proud of what these bands did and still do. That's the main reason of why I started the label, first release records I would have liked to buy, and secondly discover bands. so the fact they became big after they had something out on Inner Rage is a reason to be proud for me
What's the reason that Inner Rage didn't continue with these bands? Like grow together with these bands, release their LP's or something?
When I first started the label I did it alone so it was really impossible for me to see it become a lot bigger so I guess I wasn't really able to release albums, promote and sell them properly. In 1998-1999 I was joined by two friends who did more than help, but before that it wasn't the time to do it.
When I first started the label I did it alone so it was really impossible for me to see it become a lot bigger so I guess I wasn't really able to release albums, promote and sell them properly. In 1998-1999 I was joined by two friends who did more than help, but before that it wasn't the time to do it.
Some of the IRR bands are still active, like Kickback and Starkweather. Do you still follow up on them and check their new releases?
To be honest I never listened to the whole last Kickback album. Just heard a couple of songs here and there. About Starkweather I love everything they did since the demo. I went to see thm when they played in Belgium on the last tour. They were amazing. They are my favorite band released on Inner Rage records ever
To be honest I never listened to the whole last Kickback album. Just heard a couple of songs here and there. About Starkweather I love everything they did since the demo. I went to see thm when they played in Belgium on the last tour. They were amazing. They are my favorite band released on Inner Rage records ever
If there was one band known not to be fucked with it had to be FURY OF V. How was it to work with these guys?
Fury of Five was some of the coolest guys to work with. They exactly knew what they wanted so when there was something they didn't like they were straight to the point and the problems were solved fast. I worked on the 7" mostly with Jay and it was really easy and cool. It was so cool to meet them when they finally came on tour in Europe. I can only say great stuff about Fury Of Five.
Fury of Five was some of the coolest guys to work with. They exactly knew what they wanted so when there was something they didn't like they were straight to the point and the problems were solved fast. I worked on the 7" mostly with Jay and it was really easy and cool. It was so cool to meet them when they finally came on tour in Europe. I can only say great stuff about Fury Of Five.
Did you also join them on the tour?
I went to see them a few times durings their European tours, went to see them during the first one with Integrity. The first time I saw them in person was in Rennes. I saw several other shows during that tour in Belgium. Then I saw them during the next tour in Paris and in Belgium. It was fun anytime. Plus they were a tight and powerful on stage. I met them in the US too but never saw them live there.
I went to see them a few times durings their European tours, went to see them during the first one with Integrity. The first time I saw them in person was in Rennes. I saw several other shows during that tour in Belgium. Then I saw them during the next tour in Paris and in Belgium. It was fun anytime. Plus they were a tight and powerful on stage. I met them in the US too but never saw them live there.
What is your favourite FO5 record? I'm always in doubt whether it's the 7" or their latest This Time It's Personal. The 7" definitely got some of the hardest songs ever made on it.
I will not be too original but I have to say that my favorite release is the 7".
I will not be too original but I have to say that my favorite release is the 7".
There were also European bands, like you did the Kickback 7". How was it to work with these guys back then?
Sure some European bands started at that time, I guess all the Dutch, Belgian and German bands started at that time, of course this is talking about the more NY influenced hardcore bands, there was hardcore bands way before that of course. I guess first generation of bands influenced by american hardcore came from Italy, the Holland, UK and Belgium.Well, working with Kickback was kinda natural at that time, we were going at shows together etc... It was pretty easy to work with them at that time"
A lot of people will know Kickback, but not too many know that 7". If you listen to it know, how do you like it?
Well, honestly I didn't listen to that 7" recently, but I did enough time. I think it sounds typically like what was around in the New York hardcore scene at that time, not bad for a French band I guess. It was really influenced by stuff like Confusion, early Merauder, Cro Mags, Biohazard and Sheer Terror. About how I have been attracted ? Well that was just natural thing, we knew each other, shared the same musical tastes and there was not so many labels around, they had the choice between Inner Rage and a German label which I can't remember.
Well, honestly I didn't listen to that 7" recently, but I did enough time. I think it sounds typically like what was around in the New York hardcore scene at that time, not bad for a French band I guess. It was really influenced by stuff like Confusion, early Merauder, Cro Mags, Biohazard and Sheer Terror. About how I have been attracted ? Well that was just natural thing, we knew each other, shared the same musical tastes and there was not so many labels around, they had the choice between Inner Rage and a German label which I can't remember.
Stephan from Kickback also had a label, Hardway records. It's like France had all the top NY bands! Was there ever any competition between the two labels?
There wasn't any competition really !!! We started around the same time and at the beginning we were even discussing on who we planned to contact for upcoming releases. There's a few bands that I contacted that I was close to have a deal with and unfortunately it didn't work out. I guess those bands would have made Inner Rage even more recognized than how it is now.
There wasn't any competition really !!! We started around the same time and at the beginning we were even discussing on who we planned to contact for upcoming releases. There's a few bands that I contacted that I was close to have a deal with and unfortunately it didn't work out. I guess those bands would have made Inner Rage even more recognized than how it is now.
Tell us, which bands are we talking about here. What went wrong?
One of the first bands I asked for the label was Fit Of Anger from New York, The label didn't even have a name at that time. Inner Rage was a Fit Of anger song. They split up around the time I was in contact with them, they started Cold front just after that. Some other bands I was close to release on Inner Rage were Darkside and Enrage. Nothing went really wrong but I guess it was easier for them to sign on a label from their area at that time.
One of the first bands I asked for the label was Fit Of Anger from New York, The label didn't even have a name at that time. Inner Rage was a Fit Of anger song. They split up around the time I was in contact with them, they started Cold front just after that. Some other bands I was close to release on Inner Rage were Darkside and Enrage. Nothing went really wrong but I guess it was easier for them to sign on a label from their area at that time.
So what is the current status of the label now? Its been a long while since something came out?
Even if you can never say never, I really doubt there's gonna be another release on Inner Rage Records. But who knows. I guess I'm tired of all the boring work of the label, being in contact with bands and all that part was cool, but the promotion and all that work was boring.
Even if you can never say never, I really doubt there's gonna be another release on Inner Rage Records. But who knows. I guess I'm tired of all the boring work of the label, being in contact with bands and all that part was cool, but the promotion and all that work was boring.
You were also the singer for Drowning. Tell us, how and when did Drowning start?
We started Drowning around mid 1996. That was when a lot of american hardcore, Metalcore bands started to tour Europe. We were into the harder, heavier stuff and that was what we wanted to do. The main thing we wanted to accomplish with Drowning was simply to play as many shows as possible and have fun. We wanted the crowd to feel that we were having as much fun as them. I guess it worked a bit and as far as I'm concerned, I'm proud of what Drowning did when I was in the band. Sure we did some bad shows, some recordings that were not perfect but I still like anything we did.
We started Drowning around mid 1996. That was when a lot of american hardcore, Metalcore bands started to tour Europe. We were into the harder, heavier stuff and that was what we wanted to do. The main thing we wanted to accomplish with Drowning was simply to play as many shows as possible and have fun. We wanted the crowd to feel that we were having as much fun as them. I guess it worked a bit and as far as I'm concerned, I'm proud of what Drowning did when I was in the band. Sure we did some bad shows, some recordings that were not perfect but I still like anything we did.
So what did you actually record with Drowning?
I did a first demo with Drowning that consist of one studio song and a few live songs recorded from the soundboard at one show in Beauvais in the North of Paris. Then I also recorded 2 songs for a split 7" with Queens, NY band Restrain for Back Ta Basics records and 2 other songs a french hardcore compilation with bands like Stormcore, Kickback, Primal Age, Right For Life and a few others.
I did a first demo with Drowning that consist of one studio song and a few live songs recorded from the soundboard at one show in Beauvais in the North of Paris. Then I also recorded 2 songs for a split 7" with Queens, NY band Restrain for Back Ta Basics records and 2 other songs a french hardcore compilation with bands like Stormcore, Kickback, Primal Age, Right For Life and a few others.
When and why did you quit the band?
I played my last show with them in May 1998 in As, Belgium. There was a lot of bands on the bill but as far as I can remember Bloodlet, Better than a Thousand, All Out War, Sportswear and Liar also played that show. Well it was a mutual decision, I wanted to quit and they also wanted me out because I wasn't good enough for the new direction they wanted to take and I also didn't like that direction so it was inevitable. Drowning is only good memories, I met a lot of people that I'm still friends with from that time.
I played my last show with them in May 1998 in As, Belgium. There was a lot of bands on the bill but as far as I can remember Bloodlet, Better than a Thousand, All Out War, Sportswear and Liar also played that show. Well it was a mutual decision, I wanted to quit and they also wanted me out because I wasn't good enough for the new direction they wanted to take and I also didn't like that direction so it was inevitable. Drowning is only good memories, I met a lot of people that I'm still friends with from that time.
Drowning was a band which had the crowd totally in hard dancing. How did it feel to see all these people dancing crazy on your shows?
That was always great thing to see, but as hard as i gets it was never in a bad way. We were always having fun on stage, even laughing and smiling at times. Even if we were playing hard music, we were not acting hard or pretend to be. We though that there was enough people pretending to be asocial and hating the world while they're actually nice guys, we were nice guys and didn't want to look differently.
That was always great thing to see, but as hard as i gets it was never in a bad way. We were always having fun on stage, even laughing and smiling at times. Even if we were playing hard music, we were not acting hard or pretend to be. We though that there was enough people pretending to be asocial and hating the world while they're actually nice guys, we were nice guys and didn't want to look differently.
And what about you moshing? Which were your favorite bands to slam on? What was your style?
Well for the violent aspect of ot, i loved All Out War, Fury Of Five, Next Step Up and above all these, the Cro Mags. But I would say the best band ever to dance to, whithout a doubt, Leeway. Well about style, it depends on the music, you don't dance the same way to Underdog, Leeway or All Out War. But my favorite is the floorpunch. I used to like the windmill etc... I don't dance much these days but sometimes, when I feel it...
Well for the violent aspect of ot, i loved All Out War, Fury Of Five, Next Step Up and above all these, the Cro Mags. But I would say the best band ever to dance to, whithout a doubt, Leeway. Well about style, it depends on the music, you don't dance the same way to Underdog, Leeway or All Out War. But my favorite is the floorpunch. I used to like the windmill etc... I don't dance much these days but sometimes, when I feel it...
Which is your top 5 hardcore records?
I guess it's almost impossible to only name 5 records. Anyway there's Leeway Born To Expire, Cro Mags Age of Quarrel, Outburst Miles to go and then I can give an hundred more like Negative Approach, Sheer Terror, Crown Of Thornz, Merauder, Jerry's Kids etc... It just depends on the mood. I like almost all styles of hardcore from early really fast stuff, to some tough guy metalcore, oi or punk rock.
I guess it's almost impossible to only name 5 records. Anyway there's Leeway Born To Expire, Cro Mags Age of Quarrel, Outburst Miles to go and then I can give an hundred more like Negative Approach, Sheer Terror, Crown Of Thornz, Merauder, Jerry's Kids etc... It just depends on the mood. I like almost all styles of hardcore from early really fast stuff, to some tough guy metalcore, oi or punk rock.
Talking about NYHC, what is that attracts you in this specific genre?
NYHC always had it's difference, I guess in the early 80's when everybody was into DC or Boston, New York was trying to have their own sound. I'm also into DC, Boston, California hardcore etc... but there's something I like about New York hardcore. Probably the groove, the beat, the mosh part. Plus there was a lot of bands from early to late 80's and then a few others in the 90's. Urban Waste, Cro Mags, Underdog, Leeway, Breakdown are some of my favorite bands from New York.
NYHC always had it's difference, I guess in the early 80's when everybody was into DC or Boston, New York was trying to have their own sound. I'm also into DC, Boston, California hardcore etc... but there's something I like about New York hardcore. Probably the groove, the beat, the mosh part. Plus there was a lot of bands from early to late 80's and then a few others in the 90's. Urban Waste, Cro Mags, Underdog, Leeway, Breakdown are some of my favorite bands from New York.
What do you still expect in hardcore? Any band you still would like to see? Or any genre of band that schould come back?
I just expect from hardcore to be like hardcore. It's just fun, aggressive and powerful and the most important thing, honest. Doesn't really matter how it sounds like. Sure I do have my preferences but that's not important.
There's always a lot of bands I'd like to see like Cold World, Government Warning to name a couple of current bands and tons that I never had the chance to see. About a specific genre of band I'd like to see back ? My favorite style is mid 80's NYHC but there's a lot of other I'd like to see.
I just expect from hardcore to be like hardcore. It's just fun, aggressive and powerful and the most important thing, honest. Doesn't really matter how it sounds like. Sure I do have my preferences but that's not important.
There's always a lot of bands I'd like to see like Cold World, Government Warning to name a couple of current bands and tons that I never had the chance to see. About a specific genre of band I'd like to see back ? My favorite style is mid 80's NYHC but there's a lot of other I'd like to see.
Thanks for the interview!
Inner Rage discography, from old to new
Dare To Defy - st
Test Of Time - Refugee
Kickback - No One Gets Out Alive
Subjugator - st
Garden Of Silence - st
Judgement Day NYC - Mind Over Matter Of Fact
Starkweather - The Divine Art
Overcast - Stirring The Killer
V/A - Harder They Come Harder They Fall
Fury Of Five - Telling It Like It Is !!!!!!
Krutch / Stormcore - S/T
One Last Sin - The Fall Of Darkness
Beneath The Remains / Underground Society / Face Down NJ / Knockoutz - A 4-way split CD
Five Minute Major - When It Ends
Fury Of Five - Telling It Like It Is !!!!!!
Wake Up Cold - Deliver Me From Evil
Visit Inner Rage's website: http://districtproductions.online.fr/
1 opmerking:
Great label! Good guy.
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