THE RIFFS
Interview december 2000
Skanews : "Story so far of the band".
The Riffs : "The Riff
started off early 1989 as a group of friends playing Ska. they advertised in
Melody Maker for a singer and Aidan got the job to complete the line-up. The
album, "Who Wants It?" released by Skank/Link in 89.
Played with all the Ska bands of the time; Manners, Potatoes, Judge Dread,
Desmond, Rico, Deltones, then went on tour of the UK with the Hotknives and the
Loafers. After that The Riffs went to Ireland for St Patrick's day in
1990. Shortly after they went to France and then back in the UK we released the
single "Funny Little Fella" on our own label, OTFH. Only 1000 were
made and they are now hard to find. Next trip was Barcelona, then finished the
year at Ska Fest in Germany. Has "How We Laughed" released on a
Skanking Around The World compilation about then too.
After a temporary split, in 1993 various members met by chance at a hippie
festival in Brighton, UK and The Riffs were reborn.
Since then we've been back to Germany on numerous occasions, Ireland, Belgium,
Holland, Italy. In 1997 released 'Muderation' on a comp sampler of Greased Pig
Records, followed by the Spin Out CDEP in 1998".
Skanews : "Actual line up".
The Riffs : "Current line up is (in alphabetical order):- Aidan, Andy, Dave, Duane Mac, Mark and Spencer. Our ages range from 15 to 25 and we are considered to be the next heart throb teen boy band. Take That, 5ive, and now The Riffs!"
Skanews : "Talk me about your first album, who wants it ? released in 1989."
The Riffs : "It became a good seller for Link and promoted the band well. It was repressed at least once on vinyl, and then a few years ago re-released on CD with the Hotknives "Live n Skankin' album. That's a good album to have in your collection to. Not as good as our obviously, but nearly!"
Skanews : "What do you think about this record 11 year after recorded it ?"
The Riffs : "Well it must
be good because to this day the record company are still licensing tracks from
it! If you look at a Ska Compilation section in a record shop, there is usually
a track from that album on it!
Although our style has changed and not all of us were there when it was recorded,
it still has very good memories. We still play some of the songs on it when
asked - or even without any requests!
-have you released this record on CD ?
We have no control over it, that's down to Link/Skank who did through Step-1
records (now sold out again!). Some of the lads still get royalties, but we are
never asked if they want to use it. We have asked for it to be re-released
because people still want it. We were working on some unreleased bonus tracks to
go on it a few years ago, but the deal fell through. Ask MoonSka Europe if
they'll re-release it and we shall dig out those rare old tracks for it."
Skanews : "I remember saw you in the crowd in the first international ska fest at sir g. robey in 88, what are your memories about this good time..."
The Riffs : "You didn't see me in the crowd, I wasn't there. That was 12 years ago and I was only 7! You might have seen Aidan our singer. He's the oldest in the band. He would have been nearly 14 back then."
Skanews : "What are your memories about the Ska movement of the end of eighties with Skank Records, unicorn and bands like Loafers, Potato 5 etc...?"
The Riffs : "Personally I wasn't playing
in the band then. I met The Riffs and we became friends. I went abroad with them
to gigs, then progressed (or went down hill from there!) to merchandise, to
manager and promoter. I think I earned more money then selling records than I do
now making them!
The Ska scene in the UK then was brilliant. Bad Manners had kept the 2-Tone flag
flying, and then everyone really got into it. The great thing was it was very
friendly (apart from the idiots that started fights). 12 years later and The
Riffs still have many friends that started as fans. We still see and have a
drink with the other bands too; Hotknives, Loafers, Potato 5, Bad Manners,
Unicorn Records no longer exists but Mark & Lol from Link are still about.
Sure we've all had our disagreements over the years, but there are not many
scenes out there that you can make life-long friends and acquaintances in.
That's how Duane joined. He popped around one day to borrow a cup of sugar, and
we kidnapped him!"
Skanews : "late 80's you played some gigs in france (Rennes) in a big ska fest called "Dance Ska Là" with Les Frelons, The Busters and Mr Review, do you remember ? Good memories for you ?"
The Riffs : "That was excellent. I was
helping a guy called Alan sell t-shirts and CDs that night. Arfur Daley eat your
heart out! The Riffs took a coach of British fans over that included many of the
Loafers who had just split up. Arfur had them autographing albums on the spot
for French fans.
The whole trip was excellent, and I think the French really like The Riffs. We
video'd it all and still laugh watching it now. It was Dave (The Fish) first
ever gig with The Riffs. He was the new Keyboard man. The first song was
Elizabethan Reggae and he got the first notes wrong and so the band had to start
again!!!
Sadly there were 2 great friends who were there who are no longer around. Greg
from London who sang a very drunken and hilarious version of Night Boat to Cairo
the night before, and Skant of Ver Ska Vie who looked after us."
Skanews : "What happen for the Riffs in the 90 's ? Have you split up ? Why have you not released a second album ?
The Riffs : "Split in 1991 because they
could not agree on what flavour ice cream to have backstage. Then some of us met
by accident at a free festival in 1993 and decided we all like vanilla flavour
and The Riffs started again.
At that time Ska was not very big and there was no body interested in the UK in
making an album. We did a lot of touring and shows in Germany but never quite
got it together to organise an album with Moskito promotions. We are really shit
at organisation.
But after after our last CD we have decided to record a new album."
Skanews : "have you some news about you ex bass player. he play since a long with Nutty Boys / Crunch... Why he left The Riffs ?"
The Riffs : "We've had 9 or 10 bass players but I remember the one. That was Tad. After one gig, Mark, Mac and Aidan went backstage to find that he'd got there first and eaten all the pies. We refused to buy him any more and so he left to play with the Nutty Boys because they paid him loads more money than we did. We still sort of keep in touch, and Tad occasionally comes along to make sure we're still playing the same old songs!"
Skanews : "I heard about you agins around 95 / 96 in Scootering magazine. can you talk me about th scooter scene. This scene is important for you ?"
The Riffs : "Everyone in the band has
been on a scooter or a motorbike in their life. Currently Andy and Duane have
got a few between them. Dave and Aidan used to, but gave up financially,
although Dave still borrows my Vespa Rally 200 to attend some rallies. Spen has crashed on the back of mine before! And
Mark has ridden scooters, but used to own bikes - until he bought a house!
The Scooter Scene is another that's as
friendly as the Ska scene. Good atmosphere's, good parties, and a lot of Riffs
fans.
I think all sorts of people like The Riffs because we don't pretend to be big
pop stars. Sure we have loads of screaming girls at all our gigs, and we all own
a helicopter and a Roll Royce, but you will still find us at the bar at a gig.
And then later, maybe falling over drunk outside too!"
Skanews : "Your singer is one of the "oldest" london skinhead (i remember drunk some beer with him 11 or 10 years ago !). can he talk us about the skinhead scne in London. Is it a big movement now ? Lot of originals skinheads now ? or lot of racists ?"
The Riffs : "No body really knows how old
Aidan is. 25 is a popular guess, but we're sure he is younger than 180 because
otherwise, he'd be in the Guinness book of records. He's just become a father by
the way.
There are still a lot of Skinheads in London - old and new, listening to all
kinds of music. Luckily there's not a lot if violence now. I think people have
grown up and realised there's no point in fighting each other."
Skanews : "Talk me about the Riffs of today. can you talk me about your music style and your new record.Have you try to find some label for this new record ?"
The Riffs : "Our music style has slowly
evolved over the years. If you came to every gig you would hardly notice a
change. If you've missed us for the last 10 years it will make you stop and
listen closely. Take Madness, no one really noticed their change from Ska into
pop and then more mellow because they release regular albums. We are about as
regular as Haley's bloody Comet.
But our new album will be fantastic so send us your money now to reserve
yourself a copy! Dave Andy, Spen & Duane did some tracks for a
national TV documentary earlier this year, and really enjoyed doing it.
Aidan has been off having babies and things so we were not gigging. That
gave the rest of us the chance to go into the studio and start writing again. I think Riffs fans will like it because we've never been a band that has
followed rules.
At the moment we are still in the planning stages. A few demos have been
made for the companies that have shown an interest in releasing it. All I
will say is UK, USA and Germany (no surprises amongst those 3), but we are
still very interested to hear from any other labels as we have yet to sign
with anyone. We are also looking at various producers, some well-known, some
not, although Mickey Mouse may be involved. We're still waiting for a reply from
Jon Bon Jovi.
The tracks will included some unrecorded songs from our current set, and some
brand new stuff we are still writing. A few titles to think about are Wendy's
Bits, Hammond Laboratory, and Spin Out, and a cover or 2. We might do a Britney
Spears song if she agrees to come and record it with us."
Skanews : "is it hard for a band like you to find a label in England now ?"
The Riffs : "Oui et non. There are plenty
of people who would release it, but we have to find the right deal. We just
don't know where it has been hidden.
We want this to be the best possible and for that, it takes a while. Has anyone
got £10,000 they want to give us? We promise to send you a copy when it's
finished!"
Skanews : "what are your plan for the end of 2000 and early 2001 ? A second album ?"
The Riffs : "Hopefully. As ;long as you mean, "who Wants It?" was the first, and we are still working on the second (stoned again!). We want to have it recorded by next summer. Knowing us it will probably take longer, but such is life with The Riffs."
Skanews : "talk me about you plans with channel 4"
The Riffs : "Nothing else yet. We did a one hour soundtrack and that was it. We've done a few Video soundtracks including the 1999 Isle Of Wight Scooter Rally. "
Skanews : "Have you some plan to play in Europe soon ?"
The Riffs : "Hopefully. Again! We are talking to Moskito in Germany, and we'd love to come back to France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium. Any promoters reading this can email our manager at GrPig@aol.com Dance Ska La 2001 would be nice."
Skanews : "What do you think about the ska scene of today ?"
The Riffs : At the moment a lot of young kids are going to see American and Brit Skacore, which is good as it means new blood is coming into the scene to keep it alive. We went to see "Less Than Jake" the other week and they were fucking great. Not as good as us obviously, but still wicked. Bad Manners are still about, as are the Hotknives and we love playing with each of them. We've done it all from Judge Dread, Des Dekker, Laurel, Rico, Derrick Morgan, Prince Buster, Nutty Boys, The Specials, Edwin Starr, we just love playing. Loads of original stars are playing more shows which is excellent."
Skanews : "have you something to say to your fans who love you since 11 years ?"
The Riffs : "Thank you very much. Hope to see you again soon and we will do our best to get you a new album as soon as possible. Keep an eye on our internet site as we are kind of learning modern technology. You may soon be able to listen to stuff online. Keep the Faith, brush your teeth, and don't drink and drive."
Skanews : "have you others things to say ?"
The Riffs : "We have plenty to say, but always forget what it is. Spenny lives in Brixton. What you see is what you get. A Rolling Stone gathers no moss. Ronnie Wood's Vespa is up for sale. We never went away. We were just resting. Now we've learned how to party harder. But we are still late for work in the morning. Ciao."
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Interview released by Jean-Pierre Boutellier, december 2000
Copyright One Drop / Skanews
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