2:59

I’m really try to avoid being as unempathically reactionary as the people who post comments on Punknews. However I can’t deny that the sudden announcement that Rancid, a case study in indie-label success, signed to Warner Records got under my skin. All the arguments that were in the comment sections passed through my head at some point: Everything from silly denial to angry shouting but for the most part confusion.

You see, I’ve always really liked Rancid. I think their music is a great deal of fun and respectfully channels classic bands like The Clash, Ramones, Specials etc. They’re the perfect example of a group of people who live and breathe punk music. …so how do I deal with the apparent contradiction of all their prior statements of independence and loyalty to Epitaph? The answer is I grow up and stop thinking so dogmatically.

Two of my good friends gave me pieces of advice that lead to this revelation.

The first said to me, even in the early stages of the rumours, “they’re grown ups with many years in the scene and they should probably know what’ll happen on a major. I’m not going to wag my finger at them like some punk rock school marm.” Very true. The band has been around for a while and it’s founders getting close to 40. They know enough not to put themselves in a bad situation.

The second friend doesn’t read Punknews at all. I described the anger of the posters and the confusion of everyone involved, to which he calmly replied, “yeah that’ll be interesting, but people getting pissed about it is sad.” This friend has always been a fan of the band, but he never became immersed in the punk scene at all. His measured, almost disinterested, response is of a person who hasn’t bought into all the bullshit we hold as indie-law.

So that being said, I’ll wait and let the music speak for itself. Warner has a good group working at it who I have no reason to hate. I also don’t expect a band (made up of human beings likely as volatile as the rest of us) to completely adhere to everything they’ve ever said publicly in the past 15 years. The only real questionable factor to me is “on what terms did they left Epitaph?” Mr. Brett DID produce and fund their new record, the very one which they’ve chosen not to release on his label. I only hope that they make their peace with the man and company that have done so much for them. So at the moment I’m listening to “Journey To The End Of East Bay” and trying to come to terms with all this.

Spinning:
Rancid - …And Out Come The Wolves
The Specials - Too Much, Too Young
Hot Water Music - No Division