January 7th Paris France
Again another 6 hour ride. We had lot of fun. Singing along to Rancid,
Minor Threat, Damnation AD. I remember us Driving n' driving and the Minor
Threat some (Cars) kept playing over and over again and Shawn kept yelling
"I don't wanna hear that song no more, I don't wanna hear it no more." It
was pretty funny. Today we met up with lots of our friends. It's been
awhile since I saw everybody, about a year since 25 Ta Life toured last. So
we greeted everyone. Today we played with Spirit of Youth and Seekers of
the Truth. The show was packed about 300 kids. It was again in a youth
Center. We had to carry all our equipment/merch up about 75 steps. We had
lots of help so it wasn't too bad. The show was amazing. The place went
off for every band. Krutch set it off, kids went crazy, lots of dancing,
pile ons, sing alongs, etc. Pepe from (Livinproof) Comin Correct, and along
with Krutch- sounded really good. I was happy to see Seekers of the Truth.
(Krishna band, France) I picked up 3 sets of Krishna beads nice and tight
they way I like'em. Before Comin' Corrects set I put em on. This show was
awesome, kids just went of everyone was singing along, pile ons, and
everyone was into it. XXX kids, Krishna kids, tuff guys, skins, every time
I tour Europe I come back feeling so positive. Everyone's together-
Sometimes back home I just feel things are too divided, here kids go of for
every band. A great scene glad I have the privilege to experience it.
Every time I just come back more and more positive. At the end of the set
all my beads broke off my neck. -The show was insane, so the Krishnas came
over and gave me new beads. Great people, mad positive. I like that vibe.
1-8-98 Rennes, France
My friend David from Stormcore set up this show, so I knew it was gonna be
good. The ride was only 2 hours so it wasn't that bad. We got to sleep
late. Rancid's "Salvation" is becoming the hit along with 7 Seconds "Walk
Together Rock Together". Small place. Today we would record a live split
7" with As One. (David from Stormcore's side band). We'd record a split 7"
in memory of Raybeez. I thought it was an awesome idea, the show was
amazing lots of crowd participation, pile ons, sing alongs. This show was
hot. We did lots of cover songs with the guys from As One and Right For
Life. Great show, great time.
1-9-98
Another long, long ride. It took us seven hours. Lots of kids, we played
with a few bands. One h/c band and one punk band with female vocals. The
hard female vocals reminded me of Nausea, they were awesome. Great message
as well, about being yourself etc. Krutch were next, the place was packed
with about 300 kids. Huge hall. Pepe of Livinproof sang with Krutch
again. They had a great response, up next was Comin' Correct. Some Nazis
came to the show. The promoters were really apologetic. They weren't
causing any problems but the crowd wasn't into them being there. So the
promoters asked me to say something. Not that I wasn't planning on doing
so. So I just said, "This song is about our scene and our community. Its
for everyone, of every race and color trying to turn their dreams into
reality, trying to make the best possible life for them and their families.
This song is called Comin Correct". Yeah the place went crazy. Again,
great time, lots of positive energy.
1-10 Marseilles France
Another five hour ride with lots of sing alongs in the van. My boy Fred was
putting on the show today. I've known Fred for awhile. He does a zine and
always looks out for the newer bands. This club was pretty big kinda like
the old Limelight in NYC It looked more like a dance club, very clean walls,
freshly painted. About 150 kids came out. We played with two local bands.
One a local French oi/hc band who brought the house down. Lots of cover
songs, Cro-Mags, Warzone. For Krutch, Comin Correct the vibe kept on. The
place was dope, lots of kids going off. Thanx Fred, David, France Rules.
1-11-98 Geneva Switzerland
Again another six hour ride. We got there right before the doors opened.
Today we played with Prejudice (Switzerland) who play heavy metallic HC with
both male/female vocals. This place was small. They had a room upstairs to
chill and the show was in a basement. It reminded me of ABC No Rio when I
used to go there in the early 90's. Really positive vibe and everyone had a
great time. The response for all three bands was great. After the show we
stayed in Switzerland. We had a day of so we chilled, did laundry, mailed
post cars, did some shopping and stuff like that. We stayed with a bunch of
punk and HC kids in a Mansion. They took over this building which is worth
200,000. The place was huge, with posters all over of old punk and HC bands
like Cro-Mags, Circle Jerks, G.B.H., Madball, 7 Seconds etc. They set us up
with beds in four different rooms. This place was so huge they even had an
indoor skate ramp. Simon and Karl Krutch used that to their advantage,
while me and Shawn Krutch read tatII mags. Our show on 1-12 got cancelled
so we chilled all day.
1-13 The Ballroom in Munchen Germany
I played this club with 25 Ta Life a few years back so I was friends with
the promoters. About 100 kids came out. The response was awesome. Lots of
dancing. After we all chilled downstairs talking to our friends. A couple
of my friends came down from a few years back. WE talked about the N.Y.
scene, Raybeez death, and just general stuff and show off our new tat II's
and piercings. We stayed up talking until five in the morning. It was a
great time.
1-14
Rosswein Germany
More fun in Germany
1-15-98
Tilburg Holland.
This show was dope today. We played with 2cd to None (Holland) these guys
reminded me of ColdFront, Breakdown, and C.O.T. all in one. Great guys as
well. They set the show off. Kids went off. Holland has a great scene.
My boy Yup! Came out along with a bunch of friends of mine from Holland.
Hot, oh fuck it was hot. Krutch were next again lots of fun and crowd
participation. Comin' Correct was next and it was da bomb. Mad Slippery,
and mad hot. Since it was so hot I drenched the crowd with five pitchers of
water. Holland, you rock. H/C pride 98.
1-16-98
Kontich Belgium
1st show in Belgium. I love Belgium. All my boys came out tonight. Me and
Europe I don't know what it is. But I love touring there. Everyone's
together ya know like family. Mad props to Belgium. This show was in a big
hall. We played with Muggshot who are a Belgium band to keep an eye out
for. Brutal Belgian h/c. There were a few opening bands as well. But I
was busy so I didn't have time to catch them. Sorry fellas. Muggshot went
on and blew up the spot. I helped them out on vocals with a cover of
Breakdown's "Sickpeople". Krutch tore it up tonight. Everyone sang along
and Krutch had a really good response. Comin Correct was next and it was
chaos from start to finish. Hot as fuck, mad pile ons, sing a longs, lots
of stage dives. In fact it so hot like five people passed out. Again I
drenched the crowd with water. Chris (Comin Correct's guitarist) was almost
passing out. I turned around while playing 'cause Rich Pepe and me were
stompin' the place down and Chris was sitting down all white in the face.
Almost passed out looking. It was mad hot. Again we had lots of fun.
Thanks you Belgium, you rule. Mad shout outs to Alain (R.P.P.) Ed
(Goodlife) Pascal, Existence Of Hate, Jean Fleurry and Larry, Muggshot. You
guys rule.
1-17-98
Dilsen Belgium
This show was dope. Today we played with Distract (bel), Eyeball (ger),
Driven (Holland), Spirit of Youth, Ten Yard Fight, Hands Tied, One King
Down, Krutch, Comin Correct. It was an eight band bill. My boy Rudy put on
this show; we've been friends for a few years. He puts on the dopest shows,
about 800 kids came out to this one. The response for every band was
great. This place was huge, equipped with a balcony. Every kid had a distro
at the show with everything from demos to T-shirts, CD's 7"s. This reminded
me of a Middlesex show at Middlesex County College NJ. Great mix of bands
from the U.S. and Europe. Everyone came out from xxx to skinhead to
krishnas. Unity 98-One Scene.
1-18
Brussels, Belgium
Last show of the tour today. We played with Knuckledust (England) and
Drowning (France) my boy Alain put on this show so I knew what to expect
when Alain does a show. Great food, great time and surrounded by friends.
First was an opening band then Knuckledust. They play old style h/c ala
A.F. mixed with some punk. I was impressed; lots of kids form London came
over. Knuckledust is a great band to check out both live and recorded.
Definitely keep and eye out for them. London's finest. Up next was
Drowning- evil metal core. These guys ripped shit up with their mix of
Merauder/All Out War meets Carcass style assault. Definitely keep an eye
out for them as well. They are brutal as fuck. Krutch were next- PA's good
fellas' last assault in Europe until next time. Comin Correct was next and
we had to cut our set cause we were 8 hours from the airport and we were to
leave at 8 in the morning. It was already 10:45. Sop we had to play, say
our good-byes and be gone. But as usual like Jim and Murphy's Law says,
when thins go wrongs, they go wrong my friends. WE were doing our thing,
have a good time with lots of sing along and pile ons. The place was a
sweatbox everyone was going crazy. A kid jumps up onto the crowd, runs
behind me and jumps up over me and while he's doing that he jumps up and
smacks his head on the metal beam. So he gets knock out on the stage. I
seriously thought he was dead cause he was shaking (etc). So after about 15
minutes the paramedic came. They took the kid out. The place was packed.
It was the last show of the tour so we put the set out to the kid and his
health. We then continued on and at this time it was 11:15. We did nine
more songs including "Keepin' It Real" which David "Stormcore" and Julien
"Trapped In Life" sang. You guys rule. The show was awesome. I late found
out from some of my friends that the kid that hit his head was OK. Thanks
to everyone who helped us out on the tour with a show, food, place to stay.
All the kids that come out, you rule! New school, old school-One scene.
Unity98
RickTaLife.
