Roger Deering's Musical Journey: From South Florida to L.A.

Episode Overview

• Roger Deering discusses his musical journey, from forming the influential band The Drills in the early 1980s South Florida punk scene to his current project, Crimewav.
• The conversation covers the rise and fall of The Drills, including their move to Los Angeles, a multi-million dollar record deal, and how Deering's drug addiction ultimately sabotaged their success.
• Deering reflects on his path to sobriety at age 39, which sparked a creative rebirth and led to the formation of his "flamboyant rock" band, Smash Fashion.
• The episode explores themes of artistic validation, creative focus, and the legacy of the isolated but vibrant Miami punk scene, culminating in an announcement of new music from his band Crimewav.

Key Concepts

• The Drills' Origins: The band formed in the early 1980s South Florida punk scene, originally named The Upsetters, and was influenced by seeing iconic bands like The Misfits and Black Flag.
• Unique Musical Style: The Drills cultivated a sound distinct from their hardcore contemporaries, blending the energy of Motorhead with the garage rock style of The Stooges.
• Early GG Allin: Deering shares anecdotes of his early friendship with a pre-notoriety GG Allin in New England, describing him as a wild but talented performer in the vein of Iggy Pop.
• Los Angeles and the Record Deal: The band's evolution peaked after moving to L.A., where they honed their skills and landed a multi-million dollar record contract.
• Addiction and Recovery: Deering candidly discusses how his escalating drug problem led to the band's dissolution, and how getting clean years later felt like being "born again" through music.
• Smash Fashion: Following his recovery, Deering formed Smash Fashion to create colorful, vibrant, and fun "flamboyant rock," differentiating it from what he considered "cheesy" glam rock.
• Artistic Validation: The conversation explores the difference between seeking external validation (e.g., social media "likes") and finding genuine satisfaction from within one's own art.
• Current Focus with Crimewav: Deering explains his decision to pour all his creative, emotional, and financial energy into his current band, Crimewav, which is preparing to record a new album.
• South Florida Punk Scene Legacy: Deering reflects on the unique, isolated, and energetic Miami punk scene, its key figures like Charlie Pickett, and its documentation in the book Punk Under The Sun.

Quotes

• At 1:03 - "We didn't start out as The Drills, we started out as a band called The Upsetters." - Deering reveals the band's original name.
• At 2:24 - "GG was a good rock singer... he was wild, he was already wild and an Iggy-type of stage personality, but he wasn't out of control." - Deering describes GG Allin before he became notorious for his extreme on-stage behavior.
• At 4:28 - "The guy played like James Williamson of The Stooges. He shredded, he ripped, and I just went, 'Oh my God, this is the dude.'" - Deering describes the moment he met guitarist Alex Herrera and knew he was the right fit for the band.
• At 7:26 - "Our sound was more like a Motorhead." - Deering provides a direct comparison for the band's sound, explaining it was more of a garage rock/Motorhead style.
• At 24:13 - "I just felt like it was not a proper presentation of who we were." - Deering on his dissatisfaction with the final sound of The Drills' 1987 album.
• At 26:20 - "We landed a big record contract worth millions of dollars... To me, testimony that the band was real." - Describing the validation the band received after years of commitment.
• At 29:10 - "I had a bad drug problem going on back then. And so when that was going on, that was getting worse as time was going on." - Deering admitting his addiction was the primary factor that derailed his band.
• At 34:33 - "It was like being born again, without Jesus, but through music." - On how getting clean from drug addiction gave him a renewed passion for life and creating music.
• At 39:31 - "I never thought of Smash Fashion as a glam band. I always thought of us as a flamboyant rock band." - Clarifying his perception of his band's genre, distancing it from the "cheesy" glam rock label.
• At 51:22 - "That way you don't give a shit... you're not going to be tripping if you don't." - On the importance of finding personal artistic satisfaction first, which makes external validation less critical.
• At 52:12 - "I know that I only have so much energy to give to the music, which is everything." - Explaining why he has chosen to focus all his creative efforts on his current project, Crimewav.
• At 54:06 - "Starting Saturday of this week and Sunday, we're actually going in the studio... we're tracking eight new songs." - Announcing that his band Crimewav is about to begin recording a new record.
• At 56:37 - "You got to stick to your guns, man. You just got to do what you do." - On staying true to one's artistic vision, even if it's hard for others to categorize.
• At 1:04:06 - "The Drills were a drinking club... It was a drinking club and then the band thing was kind of next." - Humorously describing the priorities and social nature of his influential former band.

Takeaways

• To stand out in a crowded scene, cultivate a unique sound by blending unexpected influences, as The Drills did with garage rock and Motorhead.
• Personal demons and addiction can sabotage even the most promising opportunities, underscoring the importance of professionalism and personal health in achieving long-term success.
• Sobriety can be a catalyst for profound creative rebirth, allowing artists to rediscover their passion and explore new, more positive artistic directions.
• Prioritize internal artistic satisfaction over the chase for external validation; creating for yourself builds resilience against outside opinions.
• Focusing all your creative energy on a single project, rather than spreading it thin, can lead to a more powerful and committed artistic statement.
• An artist's early potential does not always predict their ultimate path, as seen in the drastic evolution of figures like GG Allin.
• Maintaining artistic integrity is paramount; stay true to your vision even when it defies easy categorization or market pressures.
• A passionate, geographically isolated arts scene can foster a uniquely powerful and influential creative identity.