suicidal for life... again Suicidal Tendencies

Rip It Up, Issue 241, 1 September 1997, Page 7

suicidal for life... again Suicidal Tendencies

Suicidal Tendencies played their last ever SHOW AT THE AUCKLAND TOWN HALL IN 1994. Well, the last before the resurrection, anyway.

■ j_ last year, Mike Muir solved the problems that had led LU LvZ to the band’s demise, and secretly reformed Suicidals — with original guitarist Mike Clark, Infectious Grooves drummer Brooks Wackerman, and guitarist Dean Pleasants, and new bass player Josh Paul. Over 50 shows later, according to Muir, “...this is far better than we’ve ever been before.” Some of the troubles leading to the split had come from outside influences trying to shape the band’s destiny, so now the band manages themselves — the road crew are all people they grevy up with (including Muir’s brother), and they’re even reopening their infamous shop in Venice Beach. “We know what is good for the band, and other people don’t ’cause they look at it in different terms. For us, there’s no better way than doing it yourself... we have a different definition of success than they do.” A new Suicidals album will be released next February, and will appear in the States on their own label (elsewhere it will be licensed to different labels). Muir was not particularly thrilled that Epic, their previous record company, chose to put out a new compilation, Prime Cuts, to cash in on their new bout of touring — though he’s keen to stress that any current or past problems . with the label didn’t involve [Epic/Sony] “in New Zealand or France, two places we get along great with the label.” The compilation features two new tracks, and a new recording of ‘Possessed To Skate’, but Muir says this is not what the tour is about. “We want to prove that we’re not out to support a record, but to promote the actual band, and the very important changes.” However, he insists the band’s large New Zealand following need not worry about things being too different. “For us, the power of Suicidal is definitely based on people who are into it. If they don’t feel part of the band, we’re not gonna be successful on our terms.”

TROY FERGUSON