Vic Ruggiero
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Victor "Vic" Ruggiero | |
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Website | vicruggiero |
Victor "Vic" Ruggiero, (also known as Rugaroo, Bad Vic or Lord Sluggo) is a musician, songwriter and producer from New York City who has played in
Ruggiero is known for his deep distinct
Biography
Ruggiero started playing piano by ear as a fifth grader and sang with the
music.Starting in 1992, The Slackers started as a trio (Vic, Luis, Marcus) and extension of Sic & Mad.[1][non-primary source needed] Early incarnations of the group were sometimes billed as The Redlights.[2] Later, TJ joined the group on second guitar, Marq on vocals and after 2 years, Dave and Jeremy joined as the first official horn section on tenor sax and trumpet, respectively. Glen joined on trombone/vocals in October 1997 and Ara became the band's drummer in 2001.[3]
Vic soon became the focal point of
He has worked as the producer behind a number of releases using Special Potato Records as the distribution outlet for many of these early works. Ruggiero's production style has a distinctively raw sound quality to it: by not erasing sounds that would traditionally be unwanted in a recording, such as doors closing or musicians cuing each other, his productions capture a live-band atmosphere more closely. Ruggiero has also been responsible for the production of releases from European ska artists, including Mr T Bone and The Moon Invaders and has performed with Shane and the Ashes, The Phenomenauts and The Forthrites.
Special Potato
Special Potato Records began in New York during the early 1990s. The label (sometimes spelled "special Potatoe") began as the primary outlet for self-released albums and those featuring members or alumni of The Slackers. After the initial release of a Nods record, followed by a solo record, over time, Special Potato became the calling card for distribution of Ruggiero's early works and continues to release albums.
An innovative solo artist and collaborator, Ruggiero has written, recorded and produced dozens of albums that have introduced rocksteady, ska and reggae to younger generations of listeners. His solo albums in particular are influenced by early rock n roll, doo-wop, blues and punk rock.[4]
The Slackers
Ruggiero is best known as the front man of the Third Wave Ska and Ska band The Slackers (1992–present). Early incarnations of the band were billed under The Nods, The Redlights and Sic & Mad. Smashing stereotypes of "Ska" as happy, uptempo, and shallow music, New York City's ska revolutionaries, the Slackers, play with an aggressive edge.
In 1996, The New York Times declared the Slackers to be part of "the sound of New York". Alternative Nation stated that their music is "protest music made for dim, sweaty basements, The Slackers would sound at home supporting Rancid as well as some grizzled New Orleans electric blues trio." The LA Weekly wrote about, "their unfettered energy, unerring skankability, and playful anger."[5]
The band is known for releases featuring reggae legends like The Congos, Glen Adams of the Upsetters, Cornell Campbell and Doreen Schaeffer. In addition to these collaborative works, over the years, they have also released a dub record, collaboration with DJ Boss Harmony (who arranged and refiltered tracks), compilation of forgotten tracks, alternate versions, and remakes from the band's recording vaults. The band has also put out 3 live albums; Live at Ernestos (2000), Upsetting Ernestos (2005), Slack in Japan (2005). Since their start in 1992, the band has released two DVDs; The Slackers: A Documentary (2007) and Live at the Flamingo Cantina (2009).
Solo albums
It didn't take long for Ruggiero to get his solo career started during breaks from The Slackers. A multi-instrumentalist and pioneering producer, the New York-based singer-songwriter continues to astound audiences with his trademark vocal chops, command of keys and edgy brand of bluesy rock n roll as a one-man band. When on the road by himself, Ruggiero primarily plays guitar, harmonica and percussion.
Ruggiero has released several acoustic solo albums in the U.S., including Understanding New Jersey & Living in Sin, Alive at the Ladybug House, On the Rag Time, Something in My Blindspot and THIS Two songs on the latter ("Lonely Nites" and "Innocent Girl") were re-recorded in July 2007 for the album Something in My Blindspot. This album was recorded in Berlin and released on February 15, 2008, by German label 'Moanin'. The track "Animales" also appears on the album, Alive at the Ladybug House.
In "Something in My Blindspot", Ruggiero sings and plays guitar, bass, organ, piano and banjo. Lisa Müller from the German ska/swing band Black Cat Zoot sings on four songs. The album also features a brass band, Fanfara Kalashnikov. Drums are played by Andrei Kluge from the ska band Rolando Random & The Young Soul Rebels.
THIS (album) is a Hi-Fidelity recording of fan-favorites, released on the Unison Music label. (UM59) Recorded and Produced by Bruce Witkin and Ryan Dorn at the Unison Music studio in Los Angeles. Vic performs the keyboards, guitars, mandolin, accordion, and harmonica. Bass performed by Bruce Witkin and Drums performed by Rob Klonel. Acoustic guitar on "Oklahoma" by Mitch Goodman.
Ruggiero maintains a solo touring schedule, he collaborated with The Forthrights and The Ashes as well as acoustic musicians and singers, including Chris Murray, Kepi Ghoulie, Lisa Müller and Maddie Ruthless on live and studio recordings. Ruggiero's music is primarily distributed by Asian Man Records, Hellcat Records, Ska in the World, Moanin' Music and Whatevski and he continues to tour and release new material.
Ruggiero is best known for his working-class roots, political radicalism, fiery personality and unique style of ska,
Discography
Solo albums
- Understanding New Jersey & Living in Sin – 2001 (Moanin' Music)
- This is Special Potatoe, Vol. 1 – 2002 (Damaged Goods)
- Alive at the Ladybug House – 2004 (Thought•Squad)
- Mean & Nasty / Yes It's True (7-inch Single) (2005) (Ska in the World)
- Top Secret Bountry and Clues – 2006 (Also known as "Blues and Clues," and "Bounty and Clues".)
- Hamburguru– 2007 (Ska in the World)
- Something in My Blindspot – 2008 (Moanin' Music)
- On The Ragtime (7-inch EP Version) (2009) – (Silver Sprocket / Thought•Squad)
- Meatball And Sushi Party (2009) (split EP with The Zoot16 G・B Version) (Ska in the World)
- On The Ragtime (LP Version) (2009) – (Silver Sprocket / Thought•Squad)
- Songs For Clandestine Lovers (2009) (Ska in the World)
- The New Dark Ages – 2009 (split EP with Kepi Ghoulie) (Asian Man Records)
- Don't Feed The Cats in Iraq (collaboration with Phil Nerges) (2010) (Asian Man Records)
- Vic & Friends, Volume 1 – 2010 (Whatevski Records digital release)
- Policeman (7-inch Single) (split EP with Maddie Ruthless/The Forthrights) (2011) (Asbestos Records/Underground Communique)
- This (2014) (Unison Music Group)
- Stuff in My Pockets (2022) (Ring Of Fire Records)
With The Slackers
- The Slackers — 1993
- Better Late Than Never — 1996
- Redlight — 1997
- The Question — 1998
- Before There Were Slackers There Were... (The Nods) – 1999
- Live at Ernesto's (Live) — 2000
- Wasted Days — 2001
- The Slackers and Friends — 2002
- Close My Eyes — 2003
- International War Criminal (EP) — 2004
- Upsettin' Ernesto's (Live) — 2004
- The Slackers/Pulley Split — 2004
- An Afternoon in Dub— 2005
- Slack in Japan (Live) — 2005
- Peculiar — 2006
- The Boss Harmony Sessions — 2007
- Self Medication — 2008
- Lost and Found — 2009
- The Great Rocksteady Swindle — 2010
- The Slackers — 2016
- Don't Let The Sunshine Fool Ya' — 2022
With Da Whole Thing
- Tooth – 1998
- At Version City – 1998
With Chris Murray and The Slackers
- Slackness – 2005
With the SKAndalous All-Stars
- Hit Me – 1997
- Punk Steady – 1998
- Age of Insects – 1999
With the Stubborn All-Stars
- Open Season– 1995
- Back With a New Batch – 1997
- Nex Music – 1999
- At Version City – 1999
With Tremoflex9000
- Tremoflex9000 EP (Black Rhombus)
- America For Sale
With The Barstool Preachers
Vocals and Organ on Track 3 – Looking Lost – 2016
Appears on
With Rancid
- Life Won't Wait – 1998
- Writing credits for tracks 5, 8 and 18
- Hammond B3 Organ on tracks 5, 8, 9, 11, 13, 18 and 21
- Piano on tracks 5, 9, 12, 14, 18 and 21
- Percussion on tracks 5 and 18
- Guitar on track 12
- Indestructible – 2003
- Keyboards
- Let the Dominoes Fall −2009
- Keyboards
With The Transplants
- Transplants – 2002
- Hammond B3 Organ on tracks 2, 6, and 7
- Hammond B3 Organ/Piano on tracks 9, 10, and 12
- Haunted Cities – 2005
- Wurlitzer, Farfisa on track 6
With Pink
- Try This – 2003
- keyboards
With P.O. Box
- InBetweenTheLines – 2009
- Keyboards and Additional Guitars on track 7:Skinocracy
With Maddie Ruthless
- Policeman – 2011
With Faintest Idea
- Increasing The Minimum Rage – 2016
- Hammond B3 Organ on track 1: Circling The Drain
References
- ^ "Sic & Mad Myspace".
- ^ "Interview With Dunia Best: Original Member Of The Slackers Founds Third Wave NYC Ska Band Agent 99".
- ^ "Ska n Soul: Interview With The Slackers trumpet player Jeremy Mushlin".
- ^ "In Music We Trust: Interview with Vic Ruggiero".
- ^ "The Slackers (Official Website)". Retrieved March 22, 2012.
- ^ "Vic playing a Roland VK-09 (The Slackers – Sarah @ The Casbah, San Diego, CA 4/29/10)". Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.