Bio
The RC5 started in 1997 and has had a host of members. Based in Seattle, the band started off as a creation of Robb Clarke (formerly of Zipgun) and Todd Ohashi. Soon thereafter John Mack (DSML, Crisis Party) joined on drums and Bob Ries (Idiot Humans from Cleavland) finished off the line-up on bass. Song began to come together and soon after John left the band and Erick Erickson (Poison Bone, Jesus Christ Super) took over on drums. With that personel, recording and touring followed. Several 7 inch records came out: You're Gonna Pay on Small Town Records, a 4 song ep was released. 1000 pressing with 50 on clear vinyl. Engineered by Jack Endino a second 45 was released by My Fat Ass records (owned by the legendary Brian Foss). It includes an MC5 cover: American Ruse. Brians favorite Mc5 song. All on black vinyl. Next a 10 inch ep was released on Estate records, titled Kicked Out. 1000 pressed and all engineered by Jack Endino. Finally, the last 7 inch to preceed a full length CD was released on JUNK records in Long Beach, Ca. (a sub. of Nitro records). Released on blue vinyl, the cover art was created by drummer Erickson and includes the RC5's audience favorite: . 44 Treatment. By this time the band had toured down the west coast and toured with Zeke thru the mid-west. Upon returning home, Bob Ries decided to leave the band, and Mark Wooten(Zipgun) took over on bass. With Mark on bass, the band entered into Conrad Uno's Egg Studio to start recording a full-length for the JUNK label. In middle of sessions, some personal issues developed with Robb and the band pulled out and took a short hiatus.
In the meantime Mark decided to leave the band and Jason Freeman(Hia karate, Los Hornets, and currently in Zeke) took over on bass. Once Robb got it together the band decided to to try leaving Robb to vocal duties only, but wanted two guitars. Enter Steve Ross, AKA Steve E Nix (Briefs, Green Apple Quickstep), with Steve on second guitar, it was an exciting new start. Robb was able to focus on vocals and Steve added a new dimension of sound. Unfortunately, it was short lived. Steve became very busy with The Briefs and had to leave the band. By now a full-length Cd was released on TSB records. Twenty Stone Blatt records, founded in Scotland by Brian Guthrie. Yes, Brian Guthrie happens to be related to Robin Guthrie, of the Cocteau Twins. The Cd was titled American Rock n Roll. It was well recieved and sold well in Europe. The Cd was basically a collection of former 7 inch releases and a few unreleased songs. Mostly from all the Endino recordings.Soon after they were honored to contribute to the very first FistFull of Rock compilation series, created and concieved by Sal of Electric Frankenstien. Fast-forward to 2001, the band is functioning well and writing new material with Robb back on guitar and vocals, Freeman on bass and a new drummer, Dave Brooks (Coffin Break).Erick left the band for a short time to fullfill intrest outside of the band for awhile. Dave left the band after about six months. While playing consistent shows around Seattle area, The RC5 had a good oppurtunity to record and release a mini-cd ep on Buttermilk records, and were excited about representing a new local label again. The band went in on a friday and came out on a sunday pumping out a five song cd titled: Run Baby Run. It features a Nervous eaters cover "just head". Soon, it made sense to tour Europe with a label in the UK, and word of mouth powering the bands popularity, it was booked.Upon preparing for an overseas tour, Erickson was re-recruited and a solid line-up was established again. In early 2002 The RC5 opened up for Zeke on a 6 week journey thru-out central Europe and England. Upon returning home the band started working on a second full length for TSB records. The band entered Litho studios with Endino behind the wheel and spent a week in overdrive recording Gotta Get Away! Gotta get Away featured an Angry Samoans cover" Gas Chamber", where, Endino offered up some back ground vocals and found a live track he recorded at the Crocodile Cafe off the soundboard , he insisted on including it as the outro of the record and did a smashing job of fading in and out the live banter of the audience and band interaction.
Unfortunately, some personal issues struck Guthrie at this time and the actual release of the cd was postponed several months. When it finally came out in UK and Europe, the band had fallen apart. Several problems had surfaced and the band never even recieved a lot of records from the label. Therfore the band was stuck without any second record to promote in the states as an import, and left wondering if it was even on the shelves in Europe. It remains a mystery to the band to this day what became of the second full length. Tragically, the band was eventually sent 2 copies each of the final product and eventually gave up their efforts to get their share of Cd's from the label owner. Occasionally the Cd will pop up on ebay or online sites in the UK. The RC5 decided to call it quits in 2004. Todd Ohashi went on to form Plaster, a "heavy as Fuck" metal band in Seattle. Other members include Peter Litwin (Coffin Break). As of now, the band is awaiting a release of first full length. Jason Freeman eventually joined Zeke and remains the bass player today. Erick moved to Fort Collins, Co. and has become a professional tatoo artist. Robb Clarke has played and recorded with several local musicians since the split, including Steve Turner and Stone Gossard, under the name STIV in 2005.Each trading off vocal, guitar, bass parts. Currently, he has joined up with David St. John(guitar) and Rob George(drummer of City Plums and Dust Bunny), a hard hitting rhythmic powerhouse drum machine and looks forward to completing a line-up for an official band.Robb and Rob are in the early stages of constructing songs. Some riffs have been recycled from St Johns early experience playing with Paul Solger (The Fartz, Solger, Ten Minute Warning). The idea is being considered to revamp some of that sound they created several years before as its withstood the test of time. The developments will be posted as things occour! The RC5 has played an occasional reunion show around Seattle area, and there is always a possibility for more. The band will be featured in the up coming NW Punk Music Documentary this summer. Ramma lamma Robb Clarke 5ive!!!!
In the meantime Mark decided to leave the band and Jason Freeman(Hia karate, Los Hornets, and currently in Zeke) took over on bass. Once Robb got it together the band decided to to try leaving Robb to vocal duties only, but wanted two guitars. Enter Steve Ross, AKA Steve E Nix (Briefs, Green Apple Quickstep), with Steve on second guitar, it was an exciting new start. Robb was able to focus on vocals and Steve added a new dimension of sound. Unfortunately, it was short lived. Steve became very busy with The Briefs and had to leave the band. By now a full-length Cd was released on TSB records. Twenty Stone Blatt records, founded in Scotland by Brian Guthrie. Yes, Brian Guthrie happens to be related to Robin Guthrie, of the Cocteau Twins. The Cd was titled American Rock n Roll. It was well recieved and sold well in Europe. The Cd was basically a collection of former 7 inch releases and a few unreleased songs. Mostly from all the Endino recordings.Soon after they were honored to contribute to the very first FistFull of Rock compilation series, created and concieved by Sal of Electric Frankenstien. Fast-forward to 2001, the band is functioning well and writing new material with Robb back on guitar and vocals, Freeman on bass and a new drummer, Dave Brooks (Coffin Break).Erick left the band for a short time to fullfill intrest outside of the band for awhile. Dave left the band after about six months. While playing consistent shows around Seattle area, The RC5 had a good oppurtunity to record and release a mini-cd ep on Buttermilk records, and were excited about representing a new local label again. The band went in on a friday and came out on a sunday pumping out a five song cd titled: Run Baby Run. It features a Nervous eaters cover "just head". Soon, it made sense to tour Europe with a label in the UK, and word of mouth powering the bands popularity, it was booked.Upon preparing for an overseas tour, Erickson was re-recruited and a solid line-up was established again. In early 2002 The RC5 opened up for Zeke on a 6 week journey thru-out central Europe and England. Upon returning home the band started working on a second full length for TSB records. The band entered Litho studios with Endino behind the wheel and spent a week in overdrive recording Gotta Get Away! Gotta get Away featured an Angry Samoans cover" Gas Chamber", where, Endino offered up some back ground vocals and found a live track he recorded at the Crocodile Cafe off the soundboard , he insisted on including it as the outro of the record and did a smashing job of fading in and out the live banter of the audience and band interaction.
Unfortunately, some personal issues struck Guthrie at this time and the actual release of the cd was postponed several months. When it finally came out in UK and Europe, the band had fallen apart. Several problems had surfaced and the band never even recieved a lot of records from the label. Therfore the band was stuck without any second record to promote in the states as an import, and left wondering if it was even on the shelves in Europe. It remains a mystery to the band to this day what became of the second full length. Tragically, the band was eventually sent 2 copies each of the final product and eventually gave up their efforts to get their share of Cd's from the label owner. Occasionally the Cd will pop up on ebay or online sites in the UK. The RC5 decided to call it quits in 2004. Todd Ohashi went on to form Plaster, a "heavy as Fuck" metal band in Seattle. Other members include Peter Litwin (Coffin Break). As of now, the band is awaiting a release of first full length. Jason Freeman eventually joined Zeke and remains the bass player today. Erick moved to Fort Collins, Co. and has become a professional tatoo artist. Robb Clarke has played and recorded with several local musicians since the split, including Steve Turner and Stone Gossard, under the name STIV in 2005.Each trading off vocal, guitar, bass parts. Currently, he has joined up with David St. John(guitar) and Rob George(drummer of City Plums and Dust Bunny), a hard hitting rhythmic powerhouse drum machine and looks forward to completing a line-up for an official band.Robb and Rob are in the early stages of constructing songs. Some riffs have been recycled from St Johns early experience playing with Paul Solger (The Fartz, Solger, Ten Minute Warning). The idea is being considered to revamp some of that sound they created several years before as its withstood the test of time. The developments will be posted as things occour! The RC5 has played an occasional reunion show around Seattle area, and there is always a possibility for more. The band will be featured in the up coming NW Punk Music Documentary this summer. Ramma lamma Robb Clarke 5ive!!!!
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Alix Azoff
when you get back together, keep us posted if you want to come crush the sf bay area.