Interview de Chuck Ragan

Denis : Hello Chuck. First of all I would like to present you to our readers. In May 2006, after more than 13 years of collaboration you have decided to quit punk band Hot Water Music for personal reasons.You now play music on your own and just released your solo record, �Feast or Famine Ÿ on Side One Dummy Records. My first question is asimple one : do you feel more excitement and more pride in defending a solo record than a band record ?

Thanks Denis. I do feel quite a bit of pride in what I do. I think it's crucial for anyone in music, art, or their own work to care and take pride in what they do. Otherwise it seems to me that it would be rather meaningless. Don't you think? It's an honor that people have shown so much appreciation and care since I began putting out these records. I play for myself, my friends and my family for expression and release and I feel incredibly lucky that there's interests in this music. So yes, it's very much exciting as well!

Were the songs on this record already written during the Hot Water Music era or were they crafted afterwards ? Or perhaps is it a bit of both ?

Mostly afterward our hiatus. I never quit and we never broke up just to clear that up. I have a couple of songs that have been around for years though either as a finished piece or bits and pieces. I decided to start recording these songs from the encouragement and support of my wife Jill. I would sit home some nights after work and just play around the house. One day she simply said, "you really ought to record these songs." I couldn't really think of a reason not to. From there I began. One place where alot of these songs were born and bred was a place that Jill and I go to often called June Lake. It's a tiny town in the Eastern Sierras where we go to snowboard in the winter and fish in the summer. A dear friend owns a cabin there that we rent from time to time to hold up and "write and ride!" It's a very inspiring and sacred place for us.

To be honest, I don’t know you first solo release called � Los FelizŸ. I have only heard some songs on your myspace. Can you tell me moreabout it ? Is it a live record ? Some songs on it are also on � Feast or Famine Ÿ I think ?

It is a live record. When I signed with Side One Dummy they wanted to put out something right away. I had a few live recordings but we decided to try and capture another one. I was actually in the studio tracking Feast Or Famine when I played and recorded Los Feliz. It all worked out I believe. Especially considering that we planned it, booked it, recorded it with a couple of weeks and during the studio session. There are some of the same tunes on there but they're all completely different. Los Feliz is about as stripped down and simple as it gets for me. Which in turn was another reason that it seemed like a good idea for it to come out first. It just is what it is. A great night with a room full of friends and some gear.

You are currently preparing a european tour for september/october. Are you more nervous about a solo tour than a usual band tour ? How do you deal with that ? Will you play solo with guitar/harmonica or are you going to have some kind of backing band ?

It will just be my wife and I travelling over together and meeting up with Muff Potter. When we tour we always go together. I will be playing by myself. Just my guitar and harps giving it my best.

Unfortunately for us french people, no show is scheduled in our nicecountry. Do you by any chance know any french band ? Do you remember some of your shows here in France with Hot Water Music ? Maybe some gigs in France are planned in a near future ?

I know and we're disappointed about that. Not playing France that is. Jill and I love France and have not seen enough. HWM never played many shows there but the ones that we did and the bands that we played with were always pleasant. I remember Dijon and Bordeaux I believe. Blurry days. Correct me if I'm wrong! We may stay for a few days to visit Paris at the end of the European tour. Not definate but we hope so. No shows. Just love and good food! We most definately want to return soon to travel and play France. Hopefully sooner than later.

Do you consider reforming a band in the near future ? Maybe to reform
HWM like some rumors suggested ? Or do you prefer for the moment to
center on your solo career ?

I prefer playing alone at the moment. Less stress and more personal space. We have quite a bit going on at home in our personal life and careers and it's crucial for us to keep in motion at home. So it would make it hard to commit to anything since the majority of our free time is eaten up already by work and playing shows. I would love to eventually have a back-up band for this music. I play with a friend Jon Gaunt from time to time. He's the fiddle player on all the recordings. Just as well I would love to play with the HWM outfit again one day. Nothing is set or planned at all. I think we would all love it to happen, we're just all moving fast in different directions. So it may take a bit of time to connect once again. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

You have been on the road, playing, and writing music for many yearsnow. From the 90s to nowadays, did you notice many changes in the punk scene ? In the music played as well as in the bands and fans
mentalities ?

Sure. It seems it's everchanging which can be wonderful or horrible depending on who you are or how old you are! Going to shows nowadays and feeling like the old guy there can feel rather awkward at times but it's what happens. Nothing can stay the same. If it did, no one would grow or learn. Or regress and become ignorant! It would all just stay the same and live to be boring. I'm not attracted to the majority of the music that I hear in the mainstream "punk scene" as you put it. I came from a different place and time. So now I understand how people my age in the scene felt when I was 19 and throwing myself against the walls and falling off the stage! Much respect to them for putting up with it!

Moreover, do you listen/support recent bands ? What are your latest breakthrough, your latest crush ? I suppose you’ve followed the release of the debut album from The Draft, can you tell us something about it ?

Of course. I listen to a wide wide range from Willie Nelson to Bedouin Soundclash to Gillian Welch to Leatherface to Leadbelly to the Draft! Whether recent, old, dead, or alive and thriving. I'm loving the Draft and am looking forward to hearing more! Wollard has been recording some songs for a solo record that I'm looking forward to as well. Always exciting.

Thank you Chuck for taking time to answer our questions. I hope you will play in France soon so we could do a real face-to-face interview instead of an e-mailer J. All the best for the future and thank you for � feast or famine Ÿ which is definately my personal favorite of this year.

Thank you very much my friend. It was a pleasure and we do look forward to coming back to France. After my wife and I left Paris last, she me told that she felt she was now part French. Even though she's wonderfully Italian! Can't wait to get back! Until the next, all the best Denis!

Par : Denis

le 30/08/2007