Biography:
The "almost legendary band" Rich Kids on LSD (or
RKL) was founded in
1983 in
Santa Barbara. RKL has always been
notorious for their use of various
drugs and
alcohol, but all the while they are widely regarded and respected as one of the most
talented punk/
hardcore bands out there.
The band and its original line-up,
Chris Rest (
guitar),
Jason Sears (
vocals),
Bomber (
drums) and
Vince Peppars (
bass), released a couple of
EP's before coming out with their first
album entitled
"Keep Laughing" (
1985). The album which featured a mixture of straight forward
punk and
hard rock songs became one of many albums released in the
punk revival outburst in
California during the
80s. After adding
Barry Dalive (
guitar) and replacing
Vince Peppars with
Joe Raposo (
bass) they released their next album
"Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare" (
1987), which like its predecessor featured punk revival songs. "Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare" has since gone down in
history as one of the classic 80's punk revival albums from California (with songs like "
Sargasm", "
Tribute to the Jester" and "
Scab on my Brain").
6 years after RKL resurfaced with
"Reactivate" (
1993) which featured songs previously released on "Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare", but this time sung by
Bomber - Jason Sears having left the band sometime prior - who also had taken over vocal duties on several new songs; which prompted the
recruitment of
Dave Ruan (
drums). In the middle of their
European tour, Bomber decided to leave RKL, but fortunately Jason Sears decided to reunite with the band and complete the
tour. Unlike other
punk revilalists who had broken into the
mainstream in the early
90s, RKL still remained in the more
local/
underground scene as they released their most recent (and perhaps best)
album so far,
"Riches to Rags" (1995). Whereas bands such as
Green Day and
The Offspring were hitting it big with their catchy
pop-punk sound, RKL favoured a much more agressive and
hardcore style that is present throughout the album. Although punk is normally classified as simple "Riches to Rags" demonstrates the talents of the band, both as individual
musicians and as a
unit. The two guitar combo is in musical terms simply "
tight", and the occasional shred solo's by
Chris Rest are tasteful without going overboard. The drumming style of
Dave Ruan definitely deserves an honourable mention too. However, the highlight is probably
bassist Joe Raposo who's boarding to the
virtuosos with his impressive and blistering fast
picking style that can be heard on such songs as "
Betrayed" and "
In Your Mind".
In
1996 RKL formally decided to call it quits. After the split Chris Rest and Dave Raun joined
Lagwagon. Dave Ruan is also a member of the
60s,
70s cover band
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Joe Raposo started working as a
software analyst at
Sony. Barry Dalive joined a
punk-pop band called
Hotbox. Jason Sears recorded vocals for a song "
Until Next Time" featured on "
Straight Up" (
2000), a tribute album to the late lead singer of
Snot,
Lynn Strait.
In recent times
RKL seem to have come back together again, featuring Jason Sears (vocal), Joe Raposo (bass), Chris Rest (guitar) as well as newcomers
Derrick Plourde (drums) and
Chris Flippin (guitar). However, although a record has been planned its progress is
unknown.
Discography:
Keep Laughing
Release date: 1985
Mystic
Producer: Doug Moody and Rich Kids on LSD
- Think Positive
- Ded Teds
- Life in a Bottle
- Feelings of Hate
- Life's a Gamble
- Political Destruction
- Not Guilty
- Adolescent Death
- Beautiful Feeling
- Feelings of Hate
- Chinese Rocks
- Beutiful Feeling II
- Pothead
- Senseless Violence
- Unborn Child
- Love to Hate
- Passing Time
- Why?
- Tell Me the Truth
- I'm Locked Up
- U.S. Steel
- Lies
- No Respect
Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare
Release date: 1987
Epitaph
Producer: Mark Deutrom and Rich Kids on LSD
- Scab on My Brain
- Hangover
- Meltdown
- Catch Your Breath
- Seein' You
- Lay Your Weapons Down
- Coming Home
- Sargasm
- Break the Camels Back
- Blocked Out
- Tribute to the Jester
- Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare
- Alone Inside
- One Light, One Mind
- Find a Way
Reactivate
Release date: 1993
Epitaph
Producer: Brett Gurevitz and Rich Kids on LSD
- Insane
- Come to Pass
- Loneliness
- Aftermath
- Tribute to the Jester
- The Big If
- Motherfucker
- Catch Your Breath
- Piece of Shit List
- Balls
- Scab on My Brain
Riches to Rags
Release date: 1995
Epitaph
Producer: Pat Coughlin and Rich Kids on LSD
- We're Back We're Pissed
- Beautiful Feeling, Pt. 3
- In Your Mind
- House Guest
- Will to Survive
- Rancho Burger
- Give It Up
- Betrayed
- Heavily Sedated
- H.P.C.
- Take Me Home
Sources:
1) The Official Rich Kids on LSD Homepage - http://www.rkl.com (Check out the flash player which has songs from "Keep Laughing" and "Riches to Rags").
2) Mark's Unofficial RKL Page - http://members.tripod.com/richkidsonlsd (A great fanpage, which is one of few RKL sites on the internet).
3) Allmusic - http://www.allmusic.com