Unwritten Law need no introduction. But here’s one anyway. The Californian crew received mainstream recognition with the release of their fourth album Elva in 2002. This was more than a decade after they began peddling their infectious pop-punk at blistering live shows in the prolific San Diego music scene alongside Blink-182 and Rocket From The Crypt.
The band in 2008 has weathered numerous member and label changes, but has lost none of its drive to create and perform. This year sees them touring Australia and the US in support of their recently filmed Live And Lawless CD/DVD release and hitting the studio for an album of new work which is slated for release in 2009.
When I am connected through to frontman Scott Russo in Californian peak-hour traffic, he politely declines to break the law by talking and driving, and volunteers bassist Pat ‘PK’ Kim for their “hundredth” interview of the day.
“How many more of these do I have?” laments Kim, before the internet cheers him up. “You know what’s so funny? I’m on MySpace and I’ve got this thing saying, ‘One Night Only: Dinner with Chopper Read’. I’m writing back now going, ‘Oh shit! When? Where?!’ For a hundred bucks a head I’m definitely interested in something like that. Geez, that’d be crazy!
“From the first time I’ve been out to Australia I’ve had this weird kind of obsession with Chopper and it’s one of my favourite movies ever too. I’ve got shit-loads of his books. Oh, and I just got his children’s book, Hookie The Cripple! Oh my god, I mean it’s not something I’d show my two-year-old daughter [but] it’s the funniest thing ever. I’m like, ‘You gotta be joking.’ You know what’s on the cover? It’s Hookie The Cripple and he’s holding a dagger, a bloody dagger.”
We continue on the path of murderous children’s books and their authors for a while longer, then the pros and cons of touring. “I would like to bring my wife and child but we’re going to be buck-wild when we’re out there anyhow, so they don’t need to see that shit!”
So, what of the new album and line-up? “Right now we might be changing studios. We did drums in this one studio but we weren’t really super happy with the drum sound so we’re thinking about taking it into Danny Way’s studio. It’s a whole ‘nother mix in this can of worms. We’ve got a little time though, because it’s going to be released beginning of the year, so we’re just easing into it.”
In February this year it was announced Tony Palermo – the band’s drummer since 2005’s Here’s To The Mourning- was now a permanent fixture of Papa Roach. Unwritten Law has yet to acknowledge an official replacement for Palermo and now appears as a trio for all publicity shoots. For the Australian tour they have recruited young gun Dylan Howard. “He’s a great drummer, [a] hard hitter. Scott found him when he was doing his project Scott & Aimee with his girlfriend back then. He’s a hesher like me so that’s always a plus!”
The band’s label jumping has been well documented, and after leap-frogging through five labels in as many albums they have landed in the unlikely lap of independent Californian hip-hop label Suburban Noize Records. As absurd as it may seem both band and label are happy with the set up.
“After all our experiences, I think it’s really not a good time to be on a major label right now unless you’re someone like Coldplay or Beyonce. We have a history with them [SubNoize] – we’re friends with the Kottonmouth Kings. It seems like a bizarre label because the roster to us, we’re like oil and water. Most importantly I’ve know Kevin Zinger [SubNoize boss and Kottonmouth Kings’ manager] for quite a long time. He was booking bands even back when I was in Sprung Monkey, before Offspring blew up. He’s a stand-up guy and when he heard we needed a label he stepped in and offered. I don’t care who’s on the label as long as we can get our music out there.”
Labelmates that aren’t strictly hip hop include little-known but highly influential punk band D.I. (featuring ex-Social Distortion drummer Casey Royer on vocals), Hed PE and Jada Pinkett Smith’s hard rock band Wicked Wisdom. “I remember when that [Wicked Wisdom signing to SubNoize] was going down. There’s a reason why someone with that kind of status and power would go to a label like Suburban Noize and Kevin Zinger because he is a smart business man. He runs his label like a tight ship and asks nothing from us except to make a great record. We’re happy to have this chance to do something on that label.”
Live And Lawless was filmed at a sold out show in March at the legendary Key Club in Hollywood. The two-disc package contains 13 live tracks as well as behind the scenes footage and an interview of fan questions submitted through the Unwritten Law website. “Our fans are crazy so I was expecting a few more juicy, nutty questions. [There was] nothing too off the wall, although one kid asked what I would look like bald.”
Music photographer Devin DeHaven (Papa Roach, Method Man) gets production credits for Live And Lawless, which features favourites Seein’ Red, Rest Of My Life and Up All Night for the band’s first live release of their career.
Besides hunting down Chopper when they are here, the boys will be catching up with their good friends Bodyjar and Grinspoon and checking out the Picasso exhibition at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art – if they find the time.
“We have tons of great friends out there, [we’ll be] eating a couple of meat pies, hopefully getting some tattoos. Just hanging out, playing for the fans. It’s actually all about mingling with the fans and playing.”
Unwritten Law tour Australia with special guests Sprung Monkey next month.
Saturday 9 August – The Venue, Canberra (All Ages)
Monday 11 August – Swindlers Tavern, Hotham (18+)
Wednesday 13 August – Station Resort, Jindabyne (18+)
Thursday 14 August – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast (18+)
Friday 15 August – The Arena, Brisbane (18+)
Saturday 16 August – UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney (18+)
Thursday 21 August – Palace Theatre (Formerly The Metro), Melbourne (18+)
Friday 22 August – HQ Complex, Adelaide (18+)
Sunday 24 August – Capital, Perth (18+)
