Bobby Joe Friday (Drummer, Deceiving Ralph)
US>> Who are you and what are you doing on my lawn?
BJF>> Dude, you're the one who paid me to cut your grass and bang your wife...
US>> Haha, true. So, since Deceiving Ralph is a punk band, who were the biggest punk influence on you and the rest of the guys?
BJF>> Well, all of us listen to different genres and brands of punk... It's got to be bands like Black Flag, The Dwarves, Screeching Weasel, Mr. T Experience, The Vandals, The Queers, Fugazi, Dead Milkmen, The Ramones.
US>> That's cool. What was it like working with Denny Brown on "Slow Blind Hump"?
BJF>> He was great, he's really laid back and easy going... We were totally in control of everything that went into the CD. A very flexible guy and one of the easiest going people I have ever known in the music biz. And very talented behind the board and with what he does.
US>> Let's talk about the record, shall we? Where in the hell did Scott [Lead singer] make up these lyrics? Is it that whole punk humor thing or what?
BJF>> Hahaha. 95% of Deceiving Ralph songs are all from band member's personal experiences.
US>> Cool. Is "Kevin's Song" really based on the old show "The Wonder Years"?
BJF>> Hahahaha. It's amazing what you can write when you bored, lonely, drunk, And watching a Nick At Nite marathon.
US>> Hehe, God that show was awesome. On the secret track, what Playstation game is that?
BJF>> It was me and our old bass player E playing Fifa 99... It was Denny's Playstation that he had in the studio and we would kill time playing it. The better question is what song is Scott playing on the piano... A good Deceiving Ralph fan can figure that out.
US>> Are there any new faces coming up on the record label? Like any new bands confirmed for the upcoming compilation?
BJF>> I don't handle anything with the record label. It's all Scott's baby. But I do know he has plans to sign a local hardcore band called "Dead Inside" and a Cincinnati punk band called "Chapter 11". I honestly didn't know anything about the compilation until someone else mentioned it to me... but I'm sure we will have some great bands on there like East Arcadia and UNX... just to name a few.
US>> Awesome. What about a new D.R. CD? I know you said something about a new song, would that and "Buy Me" be on it?
BJF>> We are talking about going into the studio again in the fall... Since E departed, the band we have written about 10 songs with the new lineup. That's been about a year's time. We actually talked the other night about re-recording "buy me" and releasing it on the next CD. Because naturally the sound and the way we play changed when we got 2 new members... but everything's up in the air right now. All the new stuff will most definitely be on it, and if we do it this fall. The release date would be sometime in the spring of 2002
US>> Sweet. Where did the name Deceiving Ralph come up? Was it just pulled out of someone's ass or does it have any meaning?
BJF>> Haha... Everyone asks that. And everyone asks who Ralph is. The name was given to us by one of my ex roommates named Ed. When we were coming up with the name we asked people for submissions. And he just kind of came up with it out of nowhere. Someone once tried to link it to a line in the book "Lord of the Flies", but Ed denies knowing of it. We were originally going to call ourselves "Naked Stepsister", but decided on Deceiving Ralph in the end.
US>> That's good. How about any news on you? Anything like a boy band project for BJF anytime soon?
BJF>> Haha... I'm thinking about putting together a Hanson cover band. I love them. But they are getting a little old now... No seriously, there has always been talk of putting together a Dead Milkmen cover band... We have wanted to do it for a long time, but haven't found the right people yet.
US>> cool. Well good luck with the Hanson side project, hehe. Thanks for the interview, dude.
BJF>> Rock on.