Rocket from the Crypt

Rocket from the Crypt

Rocket From the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1990 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005. Of Reis' many musical endeavors, Rocket From the Crypt were the most successful and most internationally recognized. The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope Records. They experienced a surge of popularity with the release of their mid-90s albums Scream, Dracula, Scream! and RFTC, accompanied by numerous vinyl singles and EPs released on independent labels. However, album sales were not as high as expected and Interscope soon turned their attention to higher-grossing acts. The band left the label, and shortly thereafter drummer Atom Willard departed the group. After a period of inactivity in 1999-2000, during which Reis formed Hot Snakes and Sultans and launched his Swami Records label, the band signed to Vagrant Records and recruited new drummer Ruby Mars. They experienced a brief revitalization of creative energy and released two more albums, but were not as prolific as in the past. Over the next few years the band members drifted into other projects and Rocket became less the focus. They decided to disband in 2005, playing a sold-out farewell show on Halloween in their hometown of San Diego.

Band History

Formation

After the breakup of his post-hardcore band Pitchfork in 1990, singer/guitarist John Reis formed both Rocket From the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu. Originally envisioned as a back-to-basics rock & roll band, Rocket's original lineup consisted of Reis, guitarist Andy Stamets, bassist Pete Reichert, drummer Sean and backing vocalist Elaina. The band took their name from the defunct 1970s underground punk band Rocket From the Tombs. This lineup lasted roughly six months and recorded the band's debut album Paint as a Fragrance, released in 1991 on local label Cargo Records. At this time Reis began to use the stage name "Speedo" when working with Rocket. He was also simultaneously performing in Drive Like Jehu, who recorded their debut album around the same time. When Sean and Elaina moved away from San Diego, drummer Adam Willard joined the band under the stage name "Atom." The rest of the band also assumed stage monikers, with Stamets performing as "ND" and Reichert as "Petey X."

The band soon re-invented themselves as a punk-inspired rock & roll band with a horn section, adding saxophone player Paul "Apollo 9" O'Beirne. They developed a reputation for their creative and energetic live shows, taking unusual measures to encourage audience participation such as handing out homemade lyric booklets and noisemakers. Rocket began releasing many vinyl singles around this time and began to attract a dedicated underground following. Their second album Circa: Now! was released in 1992 and intense touring followed, earning them acclaim in underground music circles. They scored the first of many minor hits with "Hippy Dippy Do" and filmed their first music videos, for the songs "Ditchdigger" and "Sturdy Wrist." The band also added a second member to its horn section, bringing in trumpeter Jason "JC 2000" Crane. Around this time Reis announced in a fanzine that all fans with Rocket From the Crypt tattoos would be allowed into the band's shows for free, for life, causing tattoos of their Rocket logo to become an international phenomenon.

Signing to Interscope

By the end of 1992 Rocket were at the center of a major-label bidding war, with many major record companies competing to sign them to a recording contract. In the end both Rocket From the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu signed to Interscope Records, with Rocket negotiating a lucrative deal that included a seemingly unlimited recording budget and the freedom to record vinyl releases for other labels. Many of the band's vinyl singles and other rarities were compiled and released as All Systems Go, while Interscope re-released Circa: Now! and pushed for the band to continue touring in support of the album. Even with market saturation high, however, the band members decided to take a six-month break in 1994 while Reis recorded a second and final album with Drive Like Jehu.

Regrouping after their hiatus, the band experienced a flurry of creative energy that resulted in several more vinyl singles and a trilogy of records in 1995, beginning with the EP The State of Art is on Fire and continuing with the critically acclaimed Hot Charity. They embarked on a six week "free tour" in support of Hot Charity, with Interscope covering the costs so that fans were not charged admission to any of the band's performances across the United States. This was followed by the recording of their first album for Interscope, the critically acclaimed Scream, Dracula, Scream! The band took advantage of their large recording budget, bringing in string sections and hiring producers to make the album sound as epic as possible, and it would later be regarded by most as their creative peak. Music videos were filmed for the singles "On a Rope," "Born in '69" and "Young Livers" and the band embarked on tours of the US, UK and Europe. They experienced a surge of popularity in the UK, where "On a Rope" entered music charts at #12 and was a hit on MTV Europe, earning them rave reviews in New Musical Express and allowing them to play Top of the Pops.

They were also an alternative rock hit in the US, where their videos were featured on MTV and the band received many positive reviews in both mainstream and underground music presses. Then-ubiquitous MTV VJ Kennedy sported a tattoo of the band's logo on her ankle on national television, and increased radio and MTV airplay continued. A large headlining tour ensued in 1996, as well as supporting tours with Rancid and Soundgarden. The band also gained a reputation for a series of interesting and, at times, seemingly ludicrous gimmicks and stage antics which included holding raffles during live performances, spinning a large game show wheel to determine set lists, onstage fire breathing, annual Halloween and New Year's shows, and the wearing of coordinated and progressively more ornate stage costumes. In Europe the band also hosted a German variety show, played children's shows and morning shows, and did interviews with fashion magazines. While unorthodox, these antics increased the band's reputation as an energetic live act and resulted in their glorification stateside as champions of an independent alternative spirit.

Lineup change

In 1998 Rocket From the Crypt released RFTC, a more stripped-down effort that focused on more danceable, tribal rock & roll. For the accompanying tour they were joined by Chris Prescott from San Diego bands Tanner and No Knife, who performed as touring percussionist and keyboardist. Though overall reaction was positive and singles "Break it Up" and "Lipstick" received radio airplay, the album failed to sell impressive numbers to the degree that Interscope had hoped. The label turned their attention to higher-grossing acts such as Limp Bizkit and Rocket were left to their own devices. The band settled some contractual obligations and then left the label. In 1999 San Diego music magazine SLAMM named them the "best San Diego band of all time" in their coverage of local acts leading up to New Years Eve 2000. The band tried to maintain their creativity with the release of the EP Cut Carefully and Play Loud that year, but disagreements between members over the band's direction resulted in drummer Atom Willard departing the group in early 2000 (he would go on to act as Weezer's drum tech and play in The Special Goodness, later becoming permanent drummer in both The Offspring and Angels and Airwaves). Rocket took a brief hiatus, during which Reis launched his own record label Swami Records and released a second rarities collection called All Systems Go 2, as well as debut albums by his newly formed bands Hot Snakes and Sultans.

Signing to Vagrant

In 2000 the band signed to independent label Vagrant Records and began work on the album Group Sounds, with Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster filling in on drums. Partway through the recording process they recruited San Diego drummer and professional skateboarder Mario Rubalcaba as their full-time drummer, giving him the stage name "Ruby Mars." The addition of Rubalcaba gave the band renewed energy, and Group Sounds was released in 2001 to positive reviews. Some touring followed, but band members drifted into other projects and Rocket became less the focus. In 2002 Rocket released what would prove to be their final studio album, Live From Camp X-Ray, after which Reis devoted more energy to recording and touring with Hot Snakes and Sultans and to signing and producing bands for his Swami label. Rocket would perform infrequently over the next few years.

Demise

In August of 2005, after breaking up Hot Snakes, Reis announced that Rocket From the Crypt would play their final show that Halloween in San Diego. After a final east coast performance in New York, they played an emotional yet typically raucous farewell show before a capacity crowd at the Westin Horton Plaza Hotel in downtown San Diego on Halloween, which was filmed for a DVD release.

Following the band's breakup Reis focused his energy on running Swami Records and continued to play with the Sultans. Reichert founded and runs the online merchandise company Merch Lackey. O'Beirne teaches project management and marketing at a San Diego high school, while Crane left San Diego semi-permanently for Belize. Stamets continues to perform in San Diego-area bands such as Beehive and the Barracudas. Rubalcaba became part-owner of the independent record store Thirsty Moon Records in the Hillcrest area of San Diego and plays with the band Earthless. He also joined Reis in the Sultans for infrequent performances until that group's breakup in January 2007.

Swami Records released a "rough cut" of the Rocket From the Crypt farewell concert DVD in time for Halloween 2006, with a finished version including a live CD scheduled for release sometime in 2007. A fire at the offices of Fourth Project, the video company producing the DVD, pushed back this final version and it remains to be seen whether the loss of equipment and facilities will affect the eventual release. Also in the works are a DVD of the band's music videos, assorted live footage and interviews, as well as a third installment of their All Systems Go rarities series.

Band Members

Rocket From the Crypt lineups
(only official members listed)

(1990 - 1991) Paint as a Fragrance	Speedo - guitar, vocals ND - guitar Petey X - bass Sean - drums Elaina - backing vocals
(1991 - 1992) Circa: Now!	Speedo - guitar, vocals ND - guitar Petey X - bass Apollo 9 - saxophone Atom - drums
(1992 - 2000) All Systems Go The State of Art is on Fire Hot Charity Scream, Dracula, Scream! RFTC Cut Carefully and Play Loud All Systems Go 2	Speedo - guitar, vocals ND - guitar Petey X - bass Apollo 9 - saxophone JC 2000 - trumpet Atom - drums
(2001 - 2005) Group Sounds Live From Camp X-Ray	Speedo - guitar, vocals ND - guitar Petey X - bass Apollo 9 - saxophone JC 2000 - trumpet Ruby Mars - drums

• Speedo (John Reis) - guitar, lead vocals
• ND (Andy Stamets) - guitar, backing vocals
• Petey X (Pete Reichert) - bass, backing vocals
• Apollo 9 (Paul O'Beirne) - saxophone, backing vocals
• JC 2000 (Jason Crane) - trumpet, backing vocals
• Atom (Adam Willard) - drums (1991-2000)
• Ruby Mars (Mario Rubalcaba) - drums (2001-2005)
• Sean - drums (1990-1991)
• Elaina - backing vocals (1990-1991)

Known associates

• Stormy Shepherd - longtime booking agent
• Greg Jacobs - former manager
• Dustin "Dirty" Milsap - longtime roadie and onstage dancer

Discography

Albums

Album Cover	Year	Title	Label	Format	Other information
File:Paint as a Fragrance cover.jpg	1991	Paint as a Fragrance	Cargo Records/Headhunter Records	LP / CD	First album. Only recording with original drummer Sean and backing vocalist Elaina.
File:CircaNow.jpg	1992	Circa: Now!	Cargo/Headhunter	LP / CD	First album with drummer Atom and saxophone player Apollo 9. Re-released the following year on Interscope.
File:Hot Charity.jpg	1995	Hot Charity	Perfect Sound Records	LP	Out of print. All tracks re-released in 2002 on Hot Charity/Cut Carefully and Play Loud.
File:Scream f lg.jpg	1995	Scream, Dracula, Scream!	Interscope Records	LP / CD	First major-label album recorded for Interscope. First album with trumpet player JC 2000.
File:RFTC cover.jpg	1998	RFTC	Interscope Records	CD	Last album with drummer Atom Willard and final album for Interscope.
File:Group Sounds cover.jpg	2001	Group Sounds	Vagrant Records	CD / LP	First album with drummer Ruby Mars and first album for Vagrant.
File:Live From Camp X-Ray cover.jpg	2002	Live From Camp X-Ray	Vagrant Records	CD / LP	Final album.

Compilation albums

Album Cover	Year	Title	Label	Format	Other information
File:All Systems Go cover.jpg	1993	All Systems Go	Cargo/Headhunter	CD	Compilation of b-sides, vinyl single tracks and rarities.
File:ASGII.jpg	1999	All Systems Go 2	Swami Records	CD / LP	First release on Swami Records.

EPs

Album Cover	Year	Title	Label	Format	Other information
File:The State Of Art Is On Fire.jpg	1995	The State of Art is on Fire	Sympathy for the Record Industry	EP / CD	First recording with trumpet player JC 2000. CD release includes both songs from Plays the Music Machine.
File:CutCarefullyAndPlayLoud.jpg	1999	Cut Carefully and Play Loud	Flapping Jet Records	EP	Final recording with drummer Atom Willard. Out of print. All tracks re-released in 2002 on Hot Charity/Cut Carefully and Play Loud.

Re-releases

Album Cover	Year	Title	Label	Format	Other information
File:CircaNow.jpg	1993	Circa: Now! re-release	Interscope Records	CD	Major label re-release of 1992 album.
File:All Systems Go cover.jpg	1998	All Systems Go re-release	Sympathy for the Record Industry	CD	Re-release of 1993 rarites collection.
File:Hot Charity.jpg	2002	Hot Charity/Cut Carefully and Play Loud	Swami Records	CD	Re-release of 1995 and 1999 EPs together on CD.
File:Circa Now +4 cover.jpg	2004	Circa: Now! +4	Swami Records	CD	Re-release of 1992 album with 4 bonus tracks.

Videography

Music Videos

Year	Title	Album	Other information
1992	"Ditchdigger"	Circa: Now!
1992	"Sturdy Wrist"	Circa: Now!
1995	"On a Rope"	Scream, Dracula, Scream!
1995	"Born in '69"	Scream, Dracula, Scream!
1995	"Young Livers"	Scream, Dracula, Scream!
1998	"Break it Up"	RFTC
2002	"I Can't Feel My Head"	Live From Camp X-Ray

Video Releases

Year	Title	Label	Format	Content	Other information
2006	RFTC 10/31/05	Swami Records	DVD	Live concert recording of farewell performance.	"Rough cut" version; finished version to be released in 2007.

External links

• Rocket From the Crypt official website