by Morgan Y. Evans
pics by Helena BXL
LINKS:
Diablo is a Queens-bred underground legend who grew up living hard in NYC when hardcore wasn't just a trend of the week. He paid his dues as a roadie for bands like Biohazard and Sick Of It All, then as a founding member of the influential HC band Crown Of Thornz, best known for their infamous scenes in the mid-90s documentary NYHC. Diablo, of course, has even successfully been one of the few heavy artists to cross over into hip-hop and excel rather than suck. And whether guesting on a Transplants track or dropping his own numerous verses on wax, this heavily inked up Jewish Gangster never fails to entertain. As good as his hip-hop work is, it is his primary hardcore band Skarhead that will probably always have the most notoriety. Skarhead is one of those bands that you love or just can't take, because they never pull punches and say whatever the fuck they want.
Another Planet Records is a defunct label that managed to release some amazing shit, from Dripping Goss' unheralded masterpiece Blowtorch Consequence to Skarhead's couldn't be any more influential EP debut DRUGS, MONEY, SEX in 1996. The following full length Kings At Crime won the band even more rowdy fans and thugcore converts, but since then Skarhead has been out of commision for most of a decade. Lord Ezec himself has stayed busy, whether playing in Icepick with Hatebreed friend Jamey Jasta, modeling, acting, or releasing his numerous hip-hop tracks. He even is a family man these days, but none of it stopped Skarhead from rising back from the grave to shake up the thin-skinned and the poseurs alike.
Reunions or line-up changes can be a tricky thing. When it works, it is like an amazing reminder of great lessons from times past. I just saw East turned West Coast underground punk John The Baker reunite his 90s band Slimy Penis Breath for his nephew/musician Josh Eppard's 30th birthday and the band retained all the vitriol they ever had and more. This band's front man was arrested in the 90s for singing "obscene" songs in Woodstock, New York about a cop who was fucking underage girls. He won the trial and used the $20,000 to put out his album, which showed art of a cop sucking a fat dick! These days John even has a new split 7" out with Millions Of Dead Cops! Shit like that can never get tired!
And in the case of the DMS "hoodcore" boys? Rest assured, Drugs, Music & Sex is the record longtime fans of Skarhead were never sure but always hoped would happen. This new album is a landmark event, full of cameos by greats of hardcore's past and present and full of rugged,earth-shaking tunes that can be fun or frightening depending on the mood of the band and cohorts at the time. Recorded in about a week for I Scream Records, it is a fucking shining example of a band knowing what they want and need to do and then delivering above even their own expectations.
Skarhead is back to fuck you up!
MORGAN Y. EVANS: What was it that made this the right time to bring Skarhead back to shake things up? Times have been good for new records from old favorites, what with Merauder's God Is I and now Skarhead kickin' out new, loud, thug shit.
DANNY DIABLO (a.k.a.LORD EZEC): I wanted to do a new Skarhead for a while now but I have been mad busy for the past couple of years. I finally had some time but it wasn't a lot of time, so I told Laurens from I Scream Records that I can do this record in a week! He was then like, "Lets do this." Then we did it!
MYE: Let's talk about "Fuck The Scene". That song is no holds barred! What pisses you off the most about things right now?
LE: The scene is watered down! No more hard times. When I used to go to shows it was an adventure. Now it is cool to get dropped off by your mom and dad. We used to take the train to the Bowery and then we would have to make it home alive after the show was over. If there wasn't any beef at the show, there was definitely beef on the way home. Too safe and clean=cut nowadays. These little bastards got it good. Now kids are all done up in their new punk rock outfit from Hot Topic. WHACK!!!
MYE: I was never in a ton of fights but I certainly agree that no one has any balls these days. Fuck, my pitbull is trying to jump on my lap. There go my balls! You've got a kid these days, so how has that changed things for you, having to take care of someone? Even a dog needs a lot of attention, so I can't imagine being as busy as you are and having a human child! But I am sure fatherhood must be rewarding. Also, what would you say to anyone who thinks you should clean up your language now that you have a kid?
LE: I love my son. He means the world to me. I always watch what I say in front of my child. I wouldn't let him listen to my music right now. He is only 11 months old! When he is in his teens I will let him listen to my music. I don't want to fuck him up for life so the music will come later! My pitbull Ajax is 13 years old and he looks like hell because I let him listen to my music when he was a puppy!
MYE: [laughing] Ok, so we gotta spread the word here on the great guests and collaborators on this record. I love Leeway and you've got Eddie on here. Mr. Jasta from Hatebreed. Jorge Rosado, speaking of Merauder. Stigma from Agnostic Front. Can you talk 'bout how you rounded everyone up for this and also maybe some stories about the first time you saw or loved any of their bands back in the day?
LE: I got Civ (Gorilla Biscuits), Eddie Sutton (Leeway), Armand & Craig (Sick Of It All), Jimmy Williams (Maximum Penalty), Dr. Tom (Iron Bound NYC) and Jorge (Merauder) all on this record. All these dudes are in bands that have influenced me in life and music! I brought them to the studio and gave them some hard shit to sing over. They did an amazing job and it is an honor to be on the same record as these dudes.T hese guys are the unsung heroes of hardcore!
MYE: For those who ain’t heard it yet, how does Drugs, Music & Sex expand on the lifestyle put forth on your famous DRUGS, MONEY, SEX EP? More stories of mayhem and tail chasing?
LE: Same shit, different day, but better produced! Also these dudes that played on the record are dudes who actually live the insane hardcore lifestyle as I do. So this time I was on the same page as everyone else. Didn't have any rotten apples to spoil the recording process, which happens a lot when people aren't on the same level. We all partied and had fun. No cry babies!
MYE: The "D.F.F." video looks like it was crazy to shoot. It is so high energy. How was it making that video?
LE: Donnie D110 directed the video. He is an amazing director and also wrote a few screenplays that will be poppin' off soon. If you want to be a real musician you need a real video. I see a lot of videos which are cheap and whack. That is the difference. You wanna play weekend shows your whole life then do a cheap video that your cousin can do for 500 bucks. If you wanna play with the big boys and make a living in the field you love then pay the money! More money, better quality. Also helps that you are a dope ass band like Skarhead.
MYE: How'd you know I Scream Records was the right home for the new record? Also, who came up with the cover art of The Statue Of Liberty holding an AK?
LE: I’ve been speaking to I Scream Records for a few years now. I live in L.A. now and so did Laurens of I Scream Records for a while. We had lunch a few times and I shook his hand. I told him if Skarhead records a record it will be with him. I am a man of my word so we did it with I Scream Records. Carlo from the Vendetta sent the painting of the Statue Of Liberty holding the A.K. a year ago. I told him that I wanted to use it in the future for the Skarhead record. I think the actual artist's name is Vodka OD. My brother STAE DMS did the Skarhead logo over with the drips!
MYE: "Blood Wars" is probably my favorite cut on the new record, just really punishing. Do you prefer the faster shit or the sort of lurching,brain smashing murderous slow chuggy shit? I mean, there's a time for both.
LE: Well I love the fast shit but the chugga chugga shit is my shit! Jorge and I destroy that song. We actually murder that track. No one can touch us. Real hardcore OGs!
MYE: What do you think of the graffiti world these days and the rise of popularity and all the books and films out there about it?
LE: I am an old school graff head. There is so much shit out there. I wish that my old pics from the 80s weren't destroyed. I still have some dope flics. I am gonna do a book with I Scream Records next year about graffiti. I am also gonna do one on the NYHC scene. Two coffee table books so people can see some dope flics of my lifestyle. I think graff. is dope and people should destroy more public property. [laughing]
MYE: How was working with Dean Baltulonis on this very important record for the band?
LE: Dean is the best dude to work with. I produced this record and Dean was by my side the whole time. I think he is the dopest dude out now in the scene when it comes to studio work. He is like the new Don Fury but way better with production. Not that I am saying that Don Fury sucks, because Don Fury’s style of production definitely influenced me, but Dean is doing bigger production and his shit stands up to the big timers... Dean at Wild Artic Studios is the shit.
MYE: It must've been cool to have the Danny Diablo Hardcore 4 The Cold Hearted collection of hardcore and hip hop come out. How's it feel to look back on a retrospective like that and see so much of your life collected in one place?
LE: Damn, it makes me feel like I accomplished something. I made more then a mark in this scene, I made a dent! I brought NYHC and hip-hop together in its rawest form.Thugcore. I love that people love my music and there are bands and artists who emulate me and are influenced by my music. It also makes me feel like an old muthafucka! Been doing this music shit since 1990. I have sacrificed so much in my life for my art. It has definitely been worth it.
MYE: Lastly, anything you wanna say to the OG fans or the newbies out there?
LE: Buy the fuckin' record. Skarhead Rules!!!
MYE: Thanks.
