REBEL TRUTH
from Flipside #36, December 1982
REBEL TRUTH were interviewed thru the mail by Al.
FS: Where did Rebel Truth start? Who is in the current lineup?
The band started here, in Sacramento about a year ago. At this time the band has three members - Erik Fremstad (Bass), Stu Horne (Drums), and Kevin Lee (Guitar).
FS: Do you have a definition for Rebel Truth that you want people to know about?
As a banner and concept, we think Rebel Truth makes a concise statement on society in general - Truth as rebellion to the thinking and actions of the status quo. As a band we seek honest, responsible and compassionate answers and efforts because for us sincerity and humanity are very important values necessary for good ideals, actions and goals.
FS: Tell us about the lyrical content of your songs.
We're not exclusively pursuing political issues, but politics are automatically implicated when you write society-conscious music. Still, we stay pretty basic. We usually try to keep our lyrical style straightforward and earnest because we don't want to be misconstrued. We also try to take a personal stance towards dilemma in a song because even though we want to touch a universal nerve, we can literally only speak for ourselves.
It takes a special skill to attack a political issue astutely with a song, though that's not to say we wouldn't want to try and do that in the future - it's just that dissipating personal anxieties and pressures with our music challenges us quite enough right now. We're really concerned with trying to do this as best we can.
As for what we're trying to accomplish - as far as we can see and hope, cooperation is vital to the future and communication is a vital basis for cooperation. We can serve as a communicator, hopefully a good one. We always want Rebel Truth to inspire and/or cause change for the better, but musical communication is our home base.
We do want Rebel Truth to become a cooperative effort between audience and band - a concept that will lead or initiate action by its existence, one that offers positive change, support and encouragement for people both in and out of the scene. We'd definitely like to see benefit/donation gigging for honorable, compassionate causes become a much bigger part of our performing future.
FS: What do you think of Straight Edge?
A timely concept - we really like its message of responsibility. Hopefully, popularity comes from a new awareness and not a new fad. It supports a more intelligent, less indulgent scene, and we think that's great.
FS: Do you skateboard?
Sometimes.
FS: What is the "scene" like in Sacramento?
Like most places most nights, Sacramento's new music scene is very much a "scene" - a social gathering for the chic and elite. Occasionally, independent hall gigs with thought-provoking, society aware bands are thrown, promoter Stuart Katz has produced shows featuring DOA, Circle Jerks, Flipper, Black Flag, TSOL, Lewd, Social Distortion, Meat Puppets along with local bands like Square Cools, the Vacant, Dead Pledge, JIA etc. opening - Unlike cities that have a lot of shows happening, these shows are rare enough to be special events, so a wide cross-section of people attend, not just hardcores. We like the aspect of curious people, especially when they've got open minds. We feel that to zealously guard a hardcore scene is hypocritical and no different than the attitude of petty snobbery we've hated in the social elite. If newcomers stay more than a half-hour they usually try to get some message or feeling from the music, which for us, is what it's really about.
FS: How did you get involved with releasing the material you have?
Kevin Seconds of 7 Seconds form Reno, Nevada gave Bob Moore of Noise Magazine a copy of our first demo tape. Bob was kind enough to write and ask if we'd like to be on his first compilation, "Charred Remains." He eventually used four of our songs and even called back to ask us for a song to include on his latest compilation tape, Meathouse.
For "Not So Quiet on the Western Front," KPFA disc jockey Tim Yohannan of San Francisco called and detailed the preliminary information necessary to be included on the album. We don't know who chose us or how we were chosen, but we'd like to take this time and space to think whomever(s) were responsible. We really appreciate how easy it was to collaborate with the Maximum Rock and Roll people on the compilation.
Intelligent, unselfish, supportive contributors of talent, time and effort such as Bob Moore and the Max R+R people are very rare, and we feel fortunate to have worked with them.
FS: Any plans for records in the future?
So far, only that when we are able to finally make a record, we do want full artistic control with the record, sleeve and cover and we want it sold at a fixed, reasonable price, we'd love to produce and distribute it ourselves so as to skip the middleman and his cut and save money for the customer, it would also put us in closer contact with people who buy the record.
FS: Tell us about "Reagan Youth."
Reagan Youth
The president
Sends his command
The world's fate
Is at the tip of his hand
Reagan Youth
No fearless soldiers
To see you through
Just empty lines
And Reagan Youth
We're running, hiding
Night and day
No one is fighting
It's all in play
No one to shoot
No one to kill
Thank god I've got
No blood to spill
Reagan Youth
The song is sun from a 'too-late' standpoint in hopes of creating realization and inspiration to fight the situation, before it really is too late.
When armageddon finally comes the fallacy of war is exposed on a personal level - the weapons are so powerful they have destroyed the freedom long before the bomb ever hit. The victims are all Reagan's Youth - Naive and now abused by empty lines of false security, blindly trusted.
FS: What do you want to accomplish as a band?
To see our music realize concrete good.
FS: What happened to your tour plans for this summer?
Not enough money.
We think the day of the indulgent and selfish punk are numbered. These times need a new definition of hardcore and we'd like to offer you ours - compassion, honor, hope and love are at the center, the core of each individual. We want those qualities to become strong, enduring, hard.
Thanks for your time. Keep the new awareness growing!
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