Our buddy Bobby has a record store called Inherent Records in Cleveland, TN. In addition to that, he puts out a 'zine for his store called Corporate Design. In the second issue of this, he did an interview with Rough Rope (aka us). Below you can read the shit out of it. If you want to see the entire issue, go to Inherent and get one, or just click here for a. .pdf.
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Q: Give the unfamiliar readers a description of who and what Rough Rope is and sounds like.
Ben: Rough Rope is a sweaty, beer drinking three piece that is hell bent on fun. We play sludgy, down tuned noise rock. Maybe if Pissed Jeans had to figure out how to play their set on Floor's equipment...or something.
Brent:: Rough Rope is a band that is simultaneously jealous and contemptuous of young people.
Jerry: Loud shit for drunk assholes.
Q: are the band members in any other side projects or past projects that need to be mentioned?
Ben: Before I moved down here a little over two years ago, I was in the Detroit bands The Nain Rouge (noisy, downtuned hardcore) and Mean Mother (good time, beer drinkin' rock n' roll). Both have releases available on the Detroit based label Saw Her Ghost Records.
Brent: Jerry and I are in Gravebound together.
Jerry: Before RR, I was in the band Hoth for quite a while. I'm also in a "grinding d-violence" band called Gravebound with Brent. I also do a noise band with Chris from Gravebound called, "Neon Viking Funeral".
Q: are there any recorded releases available, something in the works or do you have plans to record new material for a future release?
Ben: We currently have a 4 song demo called "Demos and Wizards" available for free download at our Bandcamp site. We should have a cassette version of that in the next couple of weeks. We plan on recording some more songs this month for what we hope will be a couple of split 7" releases. They should see the light of day this year...at some point.
Q: how long has the band actually been performing live?
Ben: 8 or 9 months now I guess. Our first show was in August of last year. We've been pretty fortunate to play some pretty great shows in that short amount of time.
Q: Aside from the Unsane cover (which I have witnessed in person) are there any other tunes you have thought about performing live?
Ben: We've played a Floor cover and our take on Black Flag's "Nothing Left Inside" out as well. There are more covers in the works. I'm really pushing for a PJ Harvey cover personally.
Brent:: I want this band to be open and not rigidly focused on playing one style. The covers we choose will reflect this. We are an equal opportunity ruiner of other people's songs as well as our own.
Q: who are a few of the groups that you would say influenced you to become a musician?
Ben: Definetely Nirvana. They made me want to pick up a guitar in the first place. A lot of stuff from that era though really. Melvins, Helmet, Unsane, the Jesus Lizard... The list goes on for me anyway. I think you can hear that stuff coming though in what we do. Also, I had this dubbed tape that strangely had the first Korn album on one side and Deadguy's "Fixation on a Coworker" on the other. I wore that tape out! haha I think it kinda influneced playing as well.
Brent: Metallica, Black Sabbath, and ZZ Top. Headbanger's Ball and my Dad's record collection made me want to be a musician.
Jerry: I wounldn't say a band inspired me as much as the group of people I grew up with did. Instead of being an observer, you participated. Plus, I really enjoy wasting money or replacing cybals that I beat the shit out of like a big dummy.
Q: who are a few current albums and artists you are listening to?
Ben: I've been listening to this band called Hawks out of Atlanta a lot lately. Their new album "Rub" is great! The new KEN mode album "Verenable" too! The new Graveyard album "Hisingen Blues" has been getting a lot of play as well. That new Northless album kills! The new Young Widows is growing on me...slowly... haha
Brent: KEN mode - Venerable, Ludicra - The Tenant, Cathedral - The Guessing Game, Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today, Asunder - A Clarion Call
JErry: Mercyful Fate/Venetian Snares/Absu/Scientist/Thin Lizzy/Despise You
Q: are you vinyl record collectors? If so, what is your prized piece in your collection and how did you acquire it?
Ben: Oh, hell yeah I am! haha Two of my prized albums are original presses of Black Flag "Damaged" and Dead Kennedys "Fresh fruit for..." w/ the poster. I was given those and a bag of fireworks as a graduation present from my stepdad's friend! haha That ruled! I also aquired a copy of Cactus "One Way...Or Another" with the original poster in tact that I was pretty fired up about. Jerry gave me Cherubs "Icing" on vinyl which definetely made my day. haha
Brent: I don't collect vinyl but I do have a pretty sweet Bolt Thrower picture disc.
Jerry: I wouldn't say I "collect", cuz that just makes me think of color varient chasing jags who keep me from being able to get a record I just want to listen to. Records are my music medium of choice though.I've also been into buying cassettes again, just due to the price. As far as the pride and joy of my records, I gotta go with my Slowdive and Neurosis collections (which I do listen to dammit).
Q: are there any plans for a tour in the works?
Ben: Who knows? I know we'd like to. We are older dudes though and have responsibilities to our selves and our families. We can't just pick up and take off like we used to when we were younger. Maybe next year after we have a release or two under our belts and Jerry's daughters are older. We'll see.
Brent: There will be an extensive tour of all Cracker Barrels in the tri-state area if my bypass surgery goes as planned.
Jerry: A tour may happen eventually, but we are for sure going to be hitting up regional areas very soon.
Q: this is the section where suture this over to you. Tell us whatever you want to talk about here. What have I not mentioned that you want the readers to know? Birthdays, favorite food, shows, albums you are looking for, contact info, etc... The floor is yours!
Thanks!
Ben: I like beer and pizza.
Brent: : If anyone knows of a decent place to get a Chicago-style pizza around here let me know.
Jerry: Thai food is nature's Black Flag
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In other news, we are about to go back in the studio to record our half of a split release of some size with our bros in Lost Coves that will be coming out on Saw Her Ghost Records. We won't have any shows coming up 'til August, but IImmahollatcha when those come up.
