Hard Talk

Interview with Cliff Ragano of Dry Kill Logic

(Dec 04)

by John Haseltine

With the release of their latest disk, The Dead And Dreaming, as well as some twists and turns with line-up and record label changes, Dry Kill Logic embark unto us their music, their way. That's the only way. Dry Kill Logic are currently on tour through the end of the year before heading off to Europe in early 2005. Here's a few spoken words with vocalist/founder of the band, Cliff Ragano.

Ball-Buster: You there?

CR: Yea man. I'm here.

BB: Okay. Well thanks for taking the time to chat for a few.

CR: No problem, no problem. Just my reception's shitty.

BB: You guys on the road?

CR: No, just pulled into town.

BB: Tell us about your departure from Roadrunner Records.

CR: We weren't on the same page. And instead of continuing on, we just felt it was best that we parted ways. …Well not really, but…

BB: So you feel a record company should not be able to say what the band is going to play or what not to play?

CR: It's a business man. The business play that Roadrunner wanted did not match what the band wanted. So we had to part ways. It's a business and bands have to understand that going into it. So if you're partnering up with a label that doesn't share the same vision as you, then you're on the wrong label.

BB: So how much time went into the making of the new record?

CR: Well it's been three years since the last one, so between the writing and recording, it was probably an 8 or 9 month deal.

BB: Now that's with Repossession Records here in the states?

CR: Yea it's out on Repossession Records here in the states, SPV in Europe via my own record label Psychodrama.

BB: How Would you compare this record from that of your last?

CR: Musically?

BB: Yea, musically

CR: It's an evolution of the band. You know it's one of those things where you can't ever write the same record twice because your never the same person twice. So for us , this record is exactly what we wanted it to be, it's an evolution of the band yet it's still the same band, so you here the same kind of elements in the song writing, but the song writing is different. So you know there's two new guys in the band, but the same mentality is still there.

BB: So you've been at it since '93, are you pleased with the progress you've made with the up to now?

CR: Well sure man. I mean it is what it is. I don't sit around and think what could be or what could it be, I just work real hard and I don't get caught up in that shit.

BB: Who are some of you personal influences?

CR: Wow, uh, you know I listen to a lot of shit. We all grew up with the staples, Anthrax, Metallica, Slayer and stuff like that. We really listen to a lot of stuff, Billy Joel, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ray Charles. To be a musician you have to listen to everything.

BB: In your own words, describe DKL's overall sound.

CR: It's aggressive. I try not to put labels on things. Everyone needs some things to be labeled, neatly packaged. For us, we're an aggressive band. People can take it from there.

BB: Yea, there are way too many genres. Seems like every other band has a different one.

CR: We're an aggressive band and that's all you need to know.

BB: You've just come off a European tour, how did that go?

CR: Well it wasn't a tour, per say, it was a promo trip. We did a date with Motorhead, and a date headlining in London. You know all the shows all around the world, the responses have been really positive. It's real humbling to know the people still care about the band. It's been three years and musical styles have changed. it's nice to know people are still interested in what the band is still doing.

BB: The shows here in the states been just as great?

CR: Everything's been great.

BB: Any on the road horror stories?

CR: No. I've gotta be honest with you man , it's really not too miserable out here. I gotta tell you, if I were miserable out here, I'd become an accountant. Other bands have these horror stories, and shit to tell you, it's like sure, you pop a tire or someone breaks into your trailer or whatever. But at the end of the days, it's really not all that miserable. I feel lucky to be out here. Anyone who feels miserable out on the road should just go the fuck home.

BB: So can you pick out a most memorable?

CR: You know every step of the way, of being a musician has been a blessing. But you know, being able to share the stage with bands like Slayer and Fear Factory and the bands we listen to and seeing the reactions of the kids, that's the greatest reward.

BB: What sorts of things inspire the lyrical aspects of your songs?

CR: Well there's no one song that is a literal interpretation of any particular incident. You know it's not like track one is about a guy who cut me off in the car , or track two is about my girlfriend, or track three is about my boss. It's not like that. It's more of a stream of consciousness. Kind of my frustrations of the apathy of today's society.

BB: I here a lot of people piss you off.

CR: Apathetic people piss me off. Loser fuckers piss me off. And a lot of people fall into these categories.

BB: You feel like telling us about the new disk?

CR: I can't necessarily tell you what each track represents, it's more like a stream of consciousness really. You know just about certain situations and apathetic people.

BB: Very good cd. I've been listening to it for a few days now.

CR: I appreciate that.

BB: Anything you like to add?

CR: Thanks to all the kids that come out. Those who've bought the records and supported the band all this time. That's the reason we do it.

BB: How's the future looking for you guys?

CR: Good. We're on the road now through the end of the year. We're gonna be heading back to Europe in January. Spend a little time in Australia and Japan for awhile, you know we should be busy.