Is Reagan Youth a socialist band?

Dave Insurgent was an anarchist so Reagan Youth is an anarchist hardcore punk band like Crass, but it was peace punk band too. Not the type of anarchist that carries around a molotov cocktail with black kerchief around our faces. I personally love that communism, gives the little guy, the worker bee, a say in running the country, but it means a little more to me when "they" were on the front lines fighting fascism with molotov cocktail in their hands. So Reagan Youth is an anarchist band that plays commie "red" metal. And digs socialism, especially their medical plan.

Long Island Punks

JANUARY, 12, 2008, THE CAFE BADA BING, PORT JEFFERSON, LONG ISLAND SHOW!

When a band says that they're going to show up and play, and people make there way out to see you, out in Long Island, a real band is expected to show up. Unfortunately, a band showed up but it wasn't a 'real' band, put some patchwork . The bassist bailed a few days earlier and then the drummer left it up until the last moment until he decided he wouldn't play. I'm sorry for they're unprofessional behavior. Yeah, sure, I know it's just punk music, but I do take it seriously.

I want to thank everyone who showed up and allowed us to do the best with what Pat and I were left with. Chuck from A.P.P.L.E. did a fine 'fill in' job on bass and Adam, from Stressbomb, was 'Johnny on the Spot' good on drums. Praise God that it was only 'Punk Rock'. So let me give Chuck and Adam their props, because they were great, as was Jae Monroe, who was magikal, beautiful and pharmaceutical throughout the entire night.






But it really sucks when anyone, but especially KayC, Natalie, Mary, who travel all the way out to Long Island to see us, and then they don't see or hear what they're supposed to. And also Jordan "Woody Allen " Romano, who all though is an Islander, still deserved to hear Reagan Youth played like it should be. And lest we forget Howie, the promoter, he's only one of the nicest and coolest out there.







I can truly say Long Island punks are as as they come, and I mean anywhere in the world. And it was great that they decided to get into it and enjoy what we had to offer instead of raggin' on us. But you all deserved better. And unfortunately, Al Pike and Javier don't share that view. I'll always enjoy playin' music, especially with a tight, cohesive group. That wasn't the case Saturday nite but I still enjoyed it because you all were in' great. Just wanted to apologize because the band was not.

As soon as this band gets it's house in order, I'll make sure to play a free gig in Long Island because the band owes you. And thank you for turning what was sure to be a ty night for me into one in which I had fun playin'. I won't forget that.

Hey Long Island Punks,
God Bless ya'll for you are the best,
-Paul

FA - Q (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Is Reagan Youth a racist band?
Fuck No!

2. Who are the original members?
-Andy Apathy played bass (R.I.P)
-Charley Tripper played drums
-I (Paul Cripple) played guitar
-Dave Insurgent sang (R.I.P)

These band members recorded New Aryans, Reagan Youth, Degenerated and U.S.A at 171 A Studios with Jay Dublee as the engineer, these recordings are lost and waiting to be found.

3. Who are the other members that played in the band?
Al Pike replaced Andy Apathy when he was fired and Steve replaced Charley Tripper when he left. When the band went across America in 1984, neither Al or Steve could do it, so Vic Venom replaced Al and Rick Royale replaced Steve. After a year, Rick left and Javier a.k.a Johnny Aztec replaced him. The band went out to California again in 1987 with Vic and Javier. Vic left the band before Reagan left office so they was no final Reagan Youth show.

4. Why did you guys get back together?
It was supposed to be a one shot deal (to play the Woodstock of hardcore) and then CBGBs was closing and we were able to play there and the day after that we were asked ot play Tompkins Square Park, and it soon took on a life of it's own.

5. What do you think of people who believes you are tarnishing Reagan Youth's legacy?
I can understand their opinion and they have every right to it, but I see it as a nice way to honor Dave Insurgent's legacy.

6. How did Degenerated get into "Airheads"?
A band name Degeneration submitted the song on a demo that they gave to 20th Century Fox. The people at Fox decided to use the song on the soundtrack and in the movie and when I was contacted I asked them if they could "Heavy Metal Shuffle" instead, but they already filmed the scene with the song and I had no real choice, but to allow them to use "Degenerated".

7. Is Reagan Youth going to put out new material?
I would love to do one last record, a concept album about Dave Insurgent, but the other band members will have to allow that to happen. So far, we have two new songs that we are playing and only one of those songs fits in with the concept.

8. Are you still going to call the band Reagan Youth with the new material?
Maybe...maybe not, we don't know.

9. Why is the second album so different from the first album?
Sure, we did get better on our instruments, so that was obviously a factor, but Dave was badly beaten and left in a coma on the same night he sang on the recordings for the record was a bigger factor. Also, Vic showed up and played the bass uninspired (to say the least) and then he up and left with only half the songs being recorded. Dave made the decision, with Nicky Garratt's (the label owner) blessing, to have me play bass on all the songs, not just the songs Victor hadn't recorded. Unfortunately, some of the songs needed an entire band to be present in order for them to be played correctly. But songs such as "Back To Garden", "One Holy Bible" and "Queen Babylon" were around since 1980, with the original lineup. I know it sounds like we were taking the band in a new direction but that was not the case. Those songs, though longer and with more complex arrangements, are definitely Reagan Youth 'type' songs. And every song we recorded was played live at one time or another between 1981-1989.

10. Why did we let Pat SpEd go?
Because it's all about the new album and Pat just didn't click with us on the new songs. After three years we came to the conclusion that it could never work with him singing our new songs.

11. What happened to the band that Dave was ready to start after Reagan Youth?
It was called House Of God. Javier was still on drums, I was still on guitar and we found a pretty amazing bassist. If you are interested to hear what it was going to sound like, just go to myspace (www.myspace.com/jojo_turk) or buzznet (http://paulcripple.buzznet.com/user/main/) or youtube and you can see us playing a song called "In The Beginning". The song was completed but we would have never recorded it under Reagan Youth because, stylistically, it wasn't punk rock.

If you want to know more about Reagan Youth log on to http://www.unitewebzine.com, they will have an interview up on that site soon.

And also, check out these two interviews

download Pando to listen to R.Y's interview W/Crapple on The Left & Right Show that was aired on KRUX RADIO 8-15-07.



Also, check out R.Y's interview with Mike that was aired on PIRATE CAT RADIO 8-13-07.