After tonight, The Vermin will be no more. But they leave behind an impressive 20 year legacy of making music and playing shows in Vegas on their own terms. Bassist Rob Ruckus has been there from the start, and outside his bass duties, Ruckus also hosts a radio show called Ruckus on the Radio and co-started with Vermin frontman Dirk Vermin in A&E’s Bad Ink. Before they ride off into the sunset, we asked Rob five questions.
The punk scene in Vegas (and everywhere, really) has obviously gone through a lot of changes since you first started. What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen? Do you think things are better or worse here since you started?
When I started going to shows in the early 80’s it was a much smaller town. You would go to a show back then and know everyone in the building. If you didn’t know them, you’d go up and talk to them. Make a new friend. Nowadays everyone’s on their phone. I guess the difference is people aren’t living in the moment anymore.
And I can’t say if it’s better or worse. I’m sure there are kids pounding away in a garage somewhere putting every bit of their being into playing music and really that’s all I could ever ask for!
During your time with The Vermin, the music format of choice has changed from cassette, to CD, to MP3 and now there’s the big vinyl resurgence. What is your preferred format for music and why do you think vinyl has made such a strong comeback?
Personally, I’ve always been a vinyl fiend. The sound is better, the art is bigger, just everything about the record format is better to me (except the warping in the Vegas heat part). I’ve been doing a radio show the past 4-5 years where I ONLY play vinyl (www.ruckusontheradio.com). My collection is in the thousands.
Why the comeback? People are sick of getting ripped off on CDs and downloads. I mean they have their place, but for the long haul, Vinyl will always be around.
You and Dirk had your widest and most diverse exposure recently as stars of Bad Ink on A&E. How did being on that show affect the popularity of the band? Did you find that you had new fans coming out to the shows, or interactions with people outside your usual fanbase that surprised you?
The Vermin has always been a LAS VEGAS band. Over the last 20 years I can count on both hands the out of town shows we’ve done. It was mostly San Diego/ L.A. area or New York. Our live show was based on our friends and our friends’ shitty bands we’d make fun of. That doesn’t translate as well other places.
Saying that, we did get a lot more sales of CDs and t-shirts from it. We also got fans literally around the world from it. Bad Ink plays in just about every country in the world and I wore a Vermin shirt every episode. So yeah, we got a few new fans from it.
The Vermin are getting ready to play their final show and with it, you’re teaming up with SquidHat to release a career retrospective. How did you get hooked up with SquidHat, and why is now the right time to hang up your gear? How was the tracklisting for the final release decided and were there any songs you really wanted that didn’t make the cut?
We were the band playing when Allan [Carter, SquidHat founder] first came to town. I’m pretty sure we we’re his 1st Las Vegas punk band. Plus Allan’s a great guy. It just makes sense for Squidhat to do this. And they need at least ONE good band on their roster!!!
As far as the track listing, I sent my ideas to Dirk [Vermin frontman], then he came up with his own. He did the listing not me. I would have had different stuff from all eras, but it is what it is. I’m just glad I’ll finally have some on vinyl.
Eventually I’d like to see a proper “Career Retrospective” because if I do say so myself, we did some pretty fucking great songs over the years.
As for Why Now? Its time. We’ve done this for 20 years. I was in my mid-20’s when we started. It was a lot easier to drink a bottle of whiskey, down a handful of pills, and do a bump off some chick’s ass in the toilet before strapping on a bass, screaming your head off and talking shit about a room full of people.
To be completely honest, it hurts to do The Vermin properly. That and since Bad Ink is over, Dirk has other directions and projects he wants to follow. This wasn’t my idea. I found out after reading Turbo’s [current Vermin drummer] post on Facebook. But I’m cool with it and it gave me an excuse to book the best show Ever!
You guys are so associated with the Double Down, what is it about that place that makes it the perfect fit for The Vermin? And with that in mind, what made you guys decide to do your final show at Backstage Bar rather than the Double Down?
Well, before The Vermin, me and Dirk we’re in a band called Godboy. We were the 1st band to EVER play the Double Down. I booked most of the 1st few years there. Hell, I’ve had a hand in booking most of the best shows they have ever had. As far as I’m concerned, I’m a huge part of that place being what it is today.
The reason it fit so well was the time and the people. You gotta remember most music SUCKED in the 90’s. So basically what happened was the people that were sick of everyone else’s shitty music decided to make their own. I will always thank Moss and DD for giving those people a place to hone their craft. It made for a great scene.
But with everything, time comes and goes. Last year I parted with DD over, we’ll say “Creative Differences.” I totally respect Big Daddy and Backstage Bar and Billiards. They have always been solid with me. So when we decided on a last show, Fremont Street was just the right fit. That and we figured since it’s our last show we might as well get paid for once!!!
Thank you, Rob! The Vermin will play their last show ever July 3 at Backstage Bar and Billiards. Details for that show can be found on Facebook.
If you can’t make the show but would still like to pick up the vinyl, you can do that via SquidHat Records’ online store.
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