Major labels, guarantees, etc. are things that have always been highly contested within the realm of hardcore. From 80s originators being courted by major labels to the legendary Sick Of It All / Born Against argument, it's a subject that will likely never go away, and it was as prevalent as ever in the 90s as well. Exposure from fests like Ozzfest had label scouts knocking on the doors of many heavier hardcore bands, but there was also a contingent that hated the likes of Victory Records and their roster of bands. The arguments usually accused them of being no different than a major label and the bands as being money hungry.
Here's a handout that printed the rider for Earth Crisis and Strife that I would place somewhere around 1995. Rife with spelling errors, it still conveyed the author's anger.
In all fairness, here's something Chad Peterson of Strife had to say in reference to tour riders of that time period -
"When we toured with Earth Crisis we had the same
agent, Tim Bohr. He sent the riders out to the clubs. Ours was kinda
funny because we would ask for things like chocolate milk and stupid
shit but it was more in the vein of we knew we would never get it. Have
you ever looked at the Smoking Gun website and seen the craziness some
of these bands ask for? It was more along those lines. We were shocked
if we ever rolled into a town and a promoter ever filled our rider (this
happened maybe twice that I can remember) and they would always be
nervous about it until we said we really don't care. Food, water, soda,
cocaine were all we really cared about (minues the cocaine). If anything
we didn't start "beefing" up our rider until after we toured with Sick
of it All and they were putting things on theirs like fresh socks and
power bars. The bottom line is none of that shit matters when you are up
there playing. That is what you are there for and when you leave the
venue after a show you talk with your band about the show.. not the
rider. I do work for a promoter down here and this rider pales in
comparrisson to what some of these touring bands that maybe just put out
a record ask for."
![Mayday - Victim [demo 1993]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNu1BD8eki-O6k8I4pN5KD6E73RK9aq7z4l4BQs8qSGNa6AB4OhbO-u9ACy-gWD_cwSmLJUqY_l8FtIzl0dYgpxhNH_55rrU5fDoHK9ggKrl4rw_j0Xk4-wMmszw-wokfmB9b1xnOqcB74A_9P2gmv1isDkT0J4jPFGnCnPnVMrVW2MpjPRsPWnMkgORk/s72-c/cover.jpg)
21 comments:
Haha everything in that flyer is true. Doesn't mean I don't like Strife and Earth Crisis. Strife's "media campaign" for the new LP was sad too, again, still like the music, don't care.
Thats such a reasonable rider when I look back on it. All it is is a room, a meal, water to drink, a garbage can, toilet paper to wipe our asses and a towel for each member to dry off with after their sweaty show. Fucking crybabies.
That rider is really entirely reasonable for two of the largest HC bands of the time, that would sell out any club:
A room, a meal, water to drink, a towel for each member to dry off with after their sweaty show, and a garbage can to throw their garbage in (unless they want it strewn all over the floor).
Can't believe crybabies flipped out over that.
"that would sell out any club"
*facepalm*
Sorry for the double comment, I thought the one I left last night didn't post so I commented again this morning. Oops.
My point is that it's not like the kid booking the show was gonna end up with 30 kids at the show.
I can see people at the time flipping out, but if they had any idea where the genre was heading in the next 7 years, this wouldn't have been an issue
You want ridiculous go look at a Hatebreed rider and than come talk to me.
I am not friends with either bands, but what the hell is wrong with those requests? Nada. Nothing.
All serious, how would Earth Crisis even know if the pasta did not contain milk products?
I knew some of these guys back in the day and at no time were any of these cats "rock stars" in attitude. I have toured and played in bands on both sides of the spectrum. I played drums for Hail Mary on a total DIY tour that included at stop at Gilman and Goleta (the heart of DIY hardcore and self-righteousness.) My point is this, a rider like this is not unreasonable and until you hit the road and wade thru all of the shit of playing awful venues and deal with clubs and kids that have no clue, you won't get it. Its not too much to ask for toilet paper, water and some food that is reasonable. Nothing unreasonable in this rider. Its all basic stuff and whether its coproate or cottage, its business when cash is transfered. You think Ebbulition gives their records away? No. The one thing I learned from the DIY scene is that its rife with hypocites and people that think their shit doesn't stink. Just like any xclique, right. This kid obviously was a scenester with no talent or ability to create anything but drama. Wonder what he does for a living today?
I think you are all missing the point here. Even if the 'rider' just had water listed...it's a rider. I'm not for or against such things, but I think the idea that a hardcore band is making a request like pop stars do...that's the issue. Hardcore is not pop music and it's not about taking the easy road. It's not about comfort and free stuff. It's about playing for the passion of the music and it's message. Much like high door costs and over priced merch...this just isn't punk or hardcore.
Did they deserve water and towels and pasta. Sure. Is it hardcore? Questionable.
Pop stars also travel in vehicles, maybe to be truly "punk" or "hardcore" bands should have just been walking from show to show. Or riding bikes across the country. After all, hardcore is not about taking the easy road. Maybe bands should always take the more difficult option and not do ANYTHING that "pop stars" do, just in order to be martyrs and prove how punk they are. Look, I know that's not what you're saying, but it's the argument you made taken to it's logical conclusion. Fact is, who decides that a rider isn't hardcore?
Touring in a band is HARD, and it's trying, emotionally, physically, and financially. Maybe if our scene wasn't so adamant that our bands should live like shit (and rough it to level far below what we ourselves live like) some of our better bands would have lasted longer than they did.
'Did they deserve water and towels and pasta. Sure. Is it hardcore? Questionable.' is the most ridiculous statement of all time.
How is that questionable to ask for a few basic items when you are schlepping across the globe and are far from home? The fact of the matter here is that punk and hardcore has cottage industry business elements to it whether you like it or not. No one is subsidized by tax dollars like bands are in Canada and Europe. And to me, that's not punk, that's cheating. I understand alot of the identity of punk is the struggle and self-determination. And that's my point. Fugazi had ticket price and other show requirements that were fan friendly. Still a rider, right? The point is that if you want bands to leave home and risk it all on the road so you can have a good time, is it not fair for them to request a few basic items so they can focus on giving YOU and your fellow hardcore pals in other towns a good show? The fact that bands can set some terms in what is a business deal (call it what it is) is a great thing. And YOU benefit from it. And the fact that we can have our own marketplace is fantastic. We control it. Now, I have played plenty of club and DIY shows where the organizers were lay and incompetent. I reached a point where I was no longer willing to bank on people to do the right thing in these cases, because without some guidelines, some of these kids either just don't know what to do or are too lazy to follow through. You want a scene and to hae bands come to your town, then don't dog them for requiring a few simple civilized things. And yes, I have played shows where there is no toilet paper. I don't think that's too much to ask even for a DIY event.
BTW. I think its silly we are giving the toolbag that created this attention almost 20 years after the release. My first response was to chuckle and roll my eyes. Reminds me of a fest I went to where I got a flyer stating that me and all the boys at the show were "potential" rapists. LOL. From there on, we were all on the lookout for the xrightousx fest rapist. Never found him. BTW... Hi Guav. Long time, eh?
These dudes just wanted to eat. When it comes down to it, in the most basic sense, they were at work. They were performing for an audience for a fee. If part of their fee included dinner and water, that's what is was. I'm sure going on tour is in a van with a bunch of other dudes is harder than my 9-5 desk job. Think of all those vegan farts you'd have to deal with.
@Guav "Pop stars also travel in vehicles, maybe to be truly "punk" or "hardcore" bands should have just been walking from show to show. Or riding bikes across the country."
hahaha
that is funny right there
on the 10 o'clock news, Earth Crisis has been seen walking through NYC getting ready to walk to their next gig @ Josh Grabelle's house.
I did shows for 10 years in the shitty city of Wilkes-Barre PA. We had a lot of bands come through that were probably too popular to even play here. All of the bands booked through agencies had riders. In 99% of the cases, the riders were written by the agents. In some cases, the bands didn't know they were sent out, and most bands didn't care if they were met or not. You did stand a better chance of booking them again if you were decent to them. Some bands had their hand out for buyouts right when they walked through the door, and some wanted this or that and then drew no one to the show. If these things happened, guess what? we didn't book them again. so bottom line is... if your band is worth it, ask for meals. otherwise, forget it.
If I would like to promote a band I would personally feel like piece of shit not to offer such a basic things you can see in that rider.
It is the least I could provide as I know touring in the van isn't such fun many people may think.
Anyone that would complain about a band having a rider like that is completely clueless. It's hard enough being on the road away from home and trying to get something healthy to eat, somewhere clean to sleep etc. People have a lot of misconceptions on what touring is like. It is not a glamorous lifestyle (unless you're in Metallica and such.)
I was on this tour.
I think we got screwed.
Actually... i think when the band did see the rider they had to laugh if anything seemed other than the basics.
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