«With age comes wisdom and insight»

Today we would like to introduce our readers to Ron Petty and Jesse Ruggles, who are musicians from Oregon’s band Phamous Phaces. Most recently, in July we wrote about the new single «Broken Again» of Phamous Phaces. We decided to support their new single out and allow power-pop fans to know the band better, inviting guys to answer some of our questions, that Phamous Phaces graciously agreed!

Powerpop.ru – Thank you for this opportunity to commune with you! How did that summer elapse for you? What was for you last International Pop Overthrow in California, where the Phamous Phaces was playing?

Ron Petty – We are playing all over the west coast this summer. We just played in Los Angeles at the IPO and had a great time. We are playing Portland Oregon at the IPO, and also outdoor gigs and fairs as well as club gigs. We are getting more material together for some recording later in August We are looking to tour Europe once again in late spring 2010.

Jesse Ruggles – We had a cool summer, working in our new members, Lee & Brian. I have been writing a lot of new material for the new CD. The I.P.O. Fest is great for testing out the new songs on the unsuspecting pop crowd.

 

Powerpop.ru – What is the band's history? What are the main events in your history?

Ron Petty – Our history is long and varied. We started out playing covers of other peoples music. We were all in rival bands and decided to join forces instead of battle each other. We were in the best bands in the Northwest, and when we decided to join together we became Phamous Phaces. Jesse thought of the unusual spelling. We gigged seven nights a week, five hours a night for years until we had enough playing other peoples music and started writing and performing our own songs.
We started recording our early demos at winery a friend of ours owned. On the strength of our demos we found management that allowed us to record our first CD "Worlds Apart". That c.d. allowed us to tour around the west coast, and America.
One of our goals was realized in May 2005 when we traveled to Liverpool, and played the world famous Cavern Club. Of course this was the club where The Beatles got their start.

Jesse Ruggles – I think Ron, our drummer, answered this one. I think the Cavern Club gigs in Liverpool were one of the real highpoints for me. Absolutely surreal! I stood in George's spot!


Powerpop.ru – You become adult and are your new songs differ from your early songs? How are your new songs different from what you were writing in the past? Maybe is it more deeper lyrical content? What sort of new subjects do you touch upon in your new lyrics?

Jesse Ruggles – With age comes wisdom and insight. My songs have gotten deeper into my inner self and over the years it's gotten more, shall I say.., melancholy. For instance, growing up in the 80's as a red-blooded teenager here in America, love merely meant sex..and MORE sex.. Now that I'm older with children, Love means much, much more than just a "roll in th' hay"(Although a good Schtupp CAN be a groovy thing, hehe!).


Powerpop.ru – Do you frequently remember the young years? Where were your best gig and the most surprising evening with friends which now recall with pleasure?

Jesse Ruggles – When I was young, I was in a band in Alaska that opened for Nazereth. They came out to the club I was playing that night after the show and Manny (the guitar player) and I sat at a table, got wasted on Grand Marnier, and talked about guitars all night! I was in heaven! I was a big fan at the time, and all the members were very cool and down to earth. After opening for so many bigger bands with Phamous Phaces, we've found that almost ALL the bands are very cool, nice people. There are a few that were assholes. I almost got in a tussle with the singer for Quiet Riot once. He was less than nice to anyone. A real tosser.


Powerpop.ru – How you'll describe musical life in Oregon at present? Does Phamous Phaces feel at ease in today's musical space?

Jesse Ruggles – Oregon's cool because we're at the center of the West Coast. Gig-wise, to the south, we have San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and to the north, we have Seattle and Vancouver B.C.. Recreation-wise, go East and you're deep in the mountains. Go West and your at the beach! I wouldn't want to live anywhere else but the West Coast. It's so beautiful and green here.


Powerpop.ru – What do you like or don’t like in modern musical business?

Jesse Ruggles – Well, in America, the ROCK music business today is a risky, media-run, backstabbing, will-to-live sucking, toss-you-aside business now. If you're older then 25, you can just about forget a Major Label ever even looking at you. It's all the 'Flavor of the Month" club. It's sad because actual TALENT used to get you to the top.
If you're 18, good looking, have tons of money and a bad-ass Pitch Corrector, you can "BE A STAR"!! BUT, now that I think of it, on the other hand, in Country music you can be huge if you're fat and 70. Weird.


Powerpop.ru – Tell, please to our readers a funny story which happen to the band on tour (on performance day) far from home…

Ron Petty – We toured Scandinavia in 1998 promoting our second c.d. "Suite 420. We then went on to record our third c.d."New Pop City", we did another tour of Scandinavia in late August 2001. We were in Denmark signing a record deal for Scandinavia(it was also Jesse's birthday) on SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. You know that was the date of the twin towers being destroyed. We were stuck in Denmark for almost two weeks until we could fly home. While we were in Denmark one night after a show we went to drop off a porn DVD. Our driver was somewhat drunk and parked the car out in the street. All the sudden we were surrounded by Danish police with guns drawn. They thought we might be terrorists. Once they talked with us they realized we were an American rock band touring they apologized and sent us on our way.

Jesse Ruggles – There's SO many!! Ron told you about the guns pointed at us in Denmark..
Once we we're playing a show in San Francisco, and our "agent" told us the wrong club! We drove 650 miles, set up all our gear, and the owner of the club walks up and says, "You guys aren't here till next week!!" We had to tear it all down and get to the right club 20 miles away. We set up just in time to play! That was rough, hehe!


Powerpop.ru – Every musician, playing on some musical instruments, can immediately think of how and why did they practise music and why it were drums or bass-guitar, guitar?..

Jesse Ruggles – I think it's a "connection" thing. I play a lot of different instruments, but I really "connect" with the guitar. It just comes easier. I actually started on drums when I was 5 years old! Sometime you just fool around with different instruments until you find the one that suits you, or get's your ya-ya's out!.

Ron Petty – Drums have been a salvation for me. They are my way of creating, and have taken all over the world. I am the drums. 

Powerpop.ru – Do you like musical instruments of individual design or prefer popular mass brands?

Jesse Ruggles – I like anything that plays and sounds good. I've seen people do amazing things on very inexpensive guitars and gear. I do prefer Gibson Les Pauls, because that's the guitar I grew up playing, but I really do believe that if it feels and sounds good to ya, whatever it is, play it like ya stole it!
Regardless of the brand.

 

Powerpop.ru – What are your most favorite five albums by other artists, as you think, created on one breath and never bother you?

Ron Petty – Our biggest influence has got to be The Beatles. But we love a lot of music including The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zepplin, AcDc,Cheap Trick, we really love Oasis(we have gone to see them as a band twice). I really dig any album or song by any good rock'nroll pop band.

Jesse Ruggles – My Top Five..
1) Quadrophenia....The Who (In my opinion the best piece of music EVER written)
2) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearst Club Band..... The Beatles
3) Never Mind the Bollocks............ Sex Pistols
4) Everyone Is Here........... Tim & Neil Finn
5) All The Young Dudes..... Mott The Hoople


Powerpop.ru – What do you think of power-pop music and what you see the future of this style?

Jesse Ruggles – I thinks it's going to turn back around and take cues from the old school.. It NEEDS to.. Pop, as it is today, has ran itself into the ground. The same lame-ass chords to all the radio hits! YUCK! The young popsters need to brush-up on the Bowie, Beatles, Big Star & old Todd Rundgren CD's.. Don't look to the new shit out there for ideas.. Now it's all retreads of other new stuff! Just spinning wheels..
Except JET.. The new band with old-school ideas and sounds. They ROCK!!!
The new clique of pop music has to stop, look, and LISTEN to what the masters had to say. Just my opinion, but I think it's a good start!


Powerpop.ru – What you're near future plans are? What does Phamous Phaces dream about?

Ron Petty – This past year we joined forces with our current vocalist-Brian Miller. We had been aware of Brian's incredible vocals, and we had been huge fans. When he was available he was keen on being in our band. He has brought a new vocal sound as well as a stage presence that has really put the band on a whole new level. That mixed with signing with Benchmark Entertainment has put Phamous Phaces in a great position. We hope to continue to record good music and tour the world.

Jesse Ruggles – The future for the Phaces is very bright! We've got our new single, Broken Again, featured in a Motion Picture titled "American Disciples" to be released in early 2010! I am also scoring the film. We are going to tour Europe that same year, hitting England, Denmark, Sweden, and points beyond (When those dates are booked)!
We dream of living the Rock-n-Roll lifestyle and providing for our families.. Hey.., wait a minute.We're LIVING the dream!! ALRIGHT!!


Powerpop.ru – Do you want to tell our readers something that I forget to ask you?

Ron Petty – Please accept our thanks for your interest in our group. Best of luck-Ron Petty-drummer for Phamous Phaces.

Jesse Ruggles – How about. "How many guitars do I have?"
I have 18! Never enough guitars, hehe!
Thanks for the cool interview, and BIG LOVE to You and ALL your readers and listeners!

Powerpop.ru – This is precisely, Jesse! It's always never enough! I have a little less guitars, but I think all still to come... Now I hurry at top speed into vintage guitar supermarket and buy some more - five - seven guitars for new creative inspiration! :)
Thank you very much for your answers! All the best to you guys and to all your families and friends! We wish that all your plans come true!