Reb Kennedy Interview

Main Site Network Nutstore Articles Events NUTs Clubs Music Scene Style Media Contact Us Reb Kennedy Interview This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Movers and Shakers Movers and Shakers Mike Stax Interview Stan Lewis Interview Reb Kennedy Interview Owner, producer, baby momma for the Wild Records bands. Based in Hollywood, CA. 1. At what age did you first discover Rock’n’Roll music? In my mother’s womb, or around 12 years of age. 2. What artists and styles of music were you listening too as a teenager? Glam rock; T-Rex, Bowie, Roxy music… then first wave punk; Buzzcocks, Pistols, Clash, Penetration. Along with Elvis, Roy Orbison, The Animals, Mavelettes, and all of Motown/Sun records. 3. You were a well known DJ and socialite on the London Rock’n’Roll scene many years ago. What were your reasons for moving to the UK from Dublin, was it’s totally music related? I moved to the UK to work at Rough Trade Records who at the time were releasing fantastic punk and new wave. I worked there for about five years. 4. What were your favorite hangouts and clubs during your time in the Capitol? The Hope & Anchor, The Lycum, the Marquee Club, Acklam Hall, The 100 Club allnighters, Station Tavern & Dingwalls. 5. There were some truly fantastic young bands around in the 80’s and 90’s in Great Britain who were the cream of the crop in your opinion and do you think that music has progressed since then? Chords, the Clique, the Aardvarks, The Blue Rhythm Boys, Carlos & the Bandidos, The Jumping Jacks, Big Town Playboys, Electrocuting Elvis and too many more to mention. I think music has definitely progressed since then. 6. You moved to the USA, was it always your intention to start a record label and why? It wasn’t my intention to start a record label. I started the record label because I found artists that I felt were unique and were unlikely to find a record label. 7. When did you first start Wild Records and who was your first artist on the label? I first started Wild Records in 2001 and the first band was Lil Luis y los Wildteens followed by Omar & the Stringpoppers. 8. How do you compare the acts of today on Wild to say the bands from Europe during the 90s? The main difference is originality. A big difference, what I mean by this is by most bands in the 90’s were not writing original material. Currently, almost all the acts on the label write their own material. 9. There seems to be a huge following of the Wild bands worldwide why do you think this is? See previous question and also the Wild bands I believe offer a fresh approach to the rock’n’roll music they play. All our bands look to the future, not the past. The Wild bands don’t feel they need to fit into a box, that is, rockabilly, punk, garage, just be a wild band–unique, honest, passionate and a little messed up. Our audience, I believe, have the same passion as our band members about music. 10. Who is the most booked act from Wild Records since Its birth? In this order; Omar Romero, Gizzelle, Luis & the Wildfires, Dustyn Chance & the Allnighters, The Rhythm Shakers, Hi-Strung Ramblers but Omar Romero would be the #1 act booked since the beginning, someone has to be. 11. What does the future hold for California’s Wild Records and do you think that the Rock’n’Roll scene Worldwide is still a healthy one? We have the movie coming out this year which is a feature length documentary that spent nine months filming in 2012 about myself, five featured characters from the label while also filming all the wild bands and a lot of major shows. Our recording sessions are booked through 2014. Our release schedule is also full through 2014. We will continue to hold quarterly auditions for new acts and I remain astonished at the huge amount of people that have been attending these auditions. So things are looking good. 12. Who is ‘the’ most influential person in your life? My son, Hayden Kennedy, who inspires me to love and have passion for life who inspires me to appreciate my wife, Jenny and my Wild family. 13. And finally Reb, you are stranded on a desert island with just a record player and three of your most prized nuggets on 45rpm. What would they be? Warren Smith, any of his Sun 45s (I have them all), Barbara Lynn–Lonely Heartache, The Undertones–Teenage Kicks; I could give you 3,000 prized 45s but that would get boring. Links www.wildrecordsusa.com facebook.com/reb.kennedy facebook.com/Wild-Records facebook.com/Wild-Records-Documentary twitter.com/LosWildOnes youtube.com/Wild-Records Powered by Max Banner Ads Series Navigation << Stan Lewis Interview Keith Charlie Cosmic Keith - Long time collector and owner of the small independent record label ‘Boparama’ since 1992 and the ‘head honcho’ in London's Metro & Boston Arms Rockabilly clubs . More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook February 5, 2013 By : Keith Charlie Category : Articles,Bands,Front Page,Interviews,Music,News,Scene,USA Tags:Dr Robert, Reb Kennedy, Wild Records 0 Comment Print.

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