About Me
Here is the brief, a tale of these undead go-nowheres from South Bay who never really had equipment, tact, or punctuality. Riddled with in-fighting, drug addiction, abusive alchoholism, criminal activity, homelessness and separation, the punks of RFYFL have made a force of themselves for never wavering on their spirit of un-art and un-rock, apoliticism and above all staying true to one another. Always a dicotomy of style and attitude, always a contradiction of terms and ethics. The only plan was to fuck shit up. You can count on them for a good time and a let-down, a confrontation or a union. In 1995, Jorge Romero (then drummer of The Rabbits, now bassist of Bumbklaat) started writing songs on bass in his room in Chula Vista accompanied by Daniel Calderon on guitar and brother Martin on drums. But Martin had a job, so that wouldn't work. Jeff Shadoan (The Kids, WithIntent) was self-unemployed, so he got behind Jorges drums to fill in. They were listening to a lot of Rorschach, Negative Approach, Dead & Gone, Econochrist etc. The idea of Jason Weedon (Chicken Farm, The Kids) taking the front position came up with some resistance, but took hold because he had a name for the band, which was what he wrote on walls everywhere: RUN FOR YOUR FUCKING LIFE... His lyrics were hateful and condescending, completely opposite from those used during the Kids era of scene unity and love for life. So they played shows, mostly South Bay and Tijuana parties, dive bars and cafes. They got to play with bands they liked, but no one locally really took them too seriously (perhaps because they didn't either). The first signs of self-destruction started to surface almost immediately as members became restless, fucked up, marginalized and worthless. Every show seemed to end abruptly with some sort of fight, either between band members, with the audience, with the establishment or with the cops. Jorge quit and Danny took over on bass. Danny Moreno (The Rabbits, Los Kagados) took over guitar, and fellow careless wonder Shanna Bogaty briefly added on vocals. This incarnation wrote a slew of new songs, practiced nowhere, got strung out and recorded a 7", which was the only positive accomplishment to date besides a small dedication of fans who weren't afraid to get some limbs broken at the show and go party afterwards. Jeff left for Texas again in '97 and didn't return for two and a half years. During this time an unlikely fan-base developed from all walks of the anti-culture underground, from metalheads to cholos to taggers to crusties...mostly folks who didn't give a fuck - but also some straight-edgers from Chula Vista and interested parties booking at well-known underground establishments, though they were banned from nearly every club they made it to. They played some shows in Jeff's absence with Fernando Cruz on drums, and the battle started to become a real, possibly organized band. Drug abuse is widely known to have been an institution among these friends, and a coveted factor in membership, performance and direction. In '99, Jeff Shadoan returned to San Diego and once again took his place behind the drums, Danny Moreno was outted and Fernando took over on guitar. They played like mad locally and even made a trip or two. The shows got bigger, egos swelled, they bought some equipment and routine set in. The next year they cut an LP... a seemingly impossible feat indeed, but definitely a representation of their growing popularity. The sound changed only in slight songwriting tricks, but the beat remained the same. All the spiteful lyrics were dedicated to a friend, family or band member, spewing checks and face slaps left and right. Blood spilled on a good night during their typical 20 minute set. In late '01 they stopped playing as Jeff left town again, certain to never return. They recently played a couple of shows with the latest line-up for endearing audiences who welcomed their return. Why did RFYFL do these shows? What did they think of them? How did people react? Who the fuck cares. Band members have gone on to other things music related or not, but the tattoos and scars are never hidden, the nest is warm no matter how old or aloof any of these fools may become.
