Vanadium have a long history with the Perth metal scene that goes back to what many consider to be the golden age of the scene back in the 90’s, a time when local music was revered and supported in much the same way as the big international acts that come through. After their split back in 1996, the band went on to various other things before coming back and making a triumphant return at Slayfest in 2018. Fast forward to today and Vanadium B.C. celebrate 25 years of their debut album with a special vinyl release of “The Damage Done” which will be launched on March 20th at Lucy’s Love Shack in Perth. We caught up with frontman K-bone W Rokker to find out a bit more on their return.
Vanadium B.C returned after more than 20 years, at the 2018 Slayfest. What sparked the return?
Hi Andrew and The Rockpit. Well it was late 2016 a friend of mine found out that someone was selling patches in South America with our album cover from our 1995 album “The Damage Done”. We decided to make a Fb Page for retro value. It was after that in 2017 that we were in talks to have a jam for fun. So it was myself and Petar (Bass) from Vanadium who were the only ones on board. We recruited some old mates from 90’s bands Moth (Mick – Lead Guitar) and Dethlahem (Dave – Drums and Eric – Rhythm Guitar) and were in talks about a jam. In December 2017 Slayfest contacted us and asked if we would like to play in March. I spoke to the guys and we decided to throw ourselves in the deep end. At this point as well we had not even had one jam.
How was the feedback from that show?
The feedback was excellent and the big room at Capitol was packed. We were not expecting such a response and crowd as we were on very early. We were very honoured that old friends and new came to watch us.
Did that have an influence on coming back to do more shows and re-release “The Damage Done” album?
Yes, for sure. After the response and the fun that we had it was a big factor. Our next show after that one was not until Australia Day 2019 and we have done a few since then. We also decided to go as Vanadium B.C. (and not Vanadium) as it was our second time around and we felt like this was needed with the new lineup.
Take us through the process of re-releasing The Damage Done – ideas on new artwork, things you wanted to achieve with the re-release?
So our old mate Polly (ex RTRFM Critical Mass DJ) and us caught up at Slayfest 2018 and told me that someone offered him $100 for a copy of The Damage Done. I told him that someone we knew just sold his to someone in the USA for $200. So Polly then sold his for $500 and we thought, ‘What’s going on here’. Polly had just started his small label respectdarock records and he wanted his first Vinyl release to be The Damage Done. We decided to go for it. I was offered a deal from a US Record Label to re-release it on Cd but I turned it down, for now. So we decided to keep all the Original artwork but revamp it all. This was done by our good friend Clay Tonge’ from Flameworks Digital and Burn Unit. We have also, with the revamp included a collage of press clippings, flyers etc from the 90’s to give it a full retro effect.
So also before this was happening as well another copy of The Damage Done was sold on Discogs for $1100 (AUD) to someone in China. The thing we wanted to achieve from it was just for people to have it on this awesome Vinyl format and for like a collectors item. A piece of our past and of Perth music history. There are 3 different colours available. Before the launch one colour is available now to purchase from www.vanadiumbc.com
Looking back on the original recording of the album, what are some of the best memories from the writing and recording process?
It was written really quickly. Back in those days we were smashing out so many new songs. We were jamming a lot and gigging so much, at least once a week, sometimes 2 and 3 times in a week. I remember one of the recording sessions we went straight from the studio to support Allegiance in the evening. Those guys were really cool to us and they gave us loads of gigs. Recording, from what I remember, being so long ago ha ha, was a great experience and fun times.
Is there anything about The Damage Done that you would go back and change if you could?
No, nothing. I think it would lose it’s feeling and personality. The sound has actually been revamped a bit for the Vinyl format and for Spotify but nothing has been changed. I think it captured who we were at the time, just a bunch of young metal heads from the suburbs writing Pure Australian Metal.
The 90’s was certainly a golden age for the Perth metal scene, aside from the technology, what has changed the most in the scene now?
There are a few things. Drink prices is a factor I believe as in the 90s drinks were so cheap and there was always some drink promotion on. Also the amount of venues because in the 90s there were so many live music venues. There was no internet when we were playing before and only a few tv channels so people went out more. Street Press and magazines was our connection with the music world. I loved the 90s so much. My mind is still stuck there, ha ha.
What are some of the best highlights from those early days as a band?
To have had a pub residency was a highlight. We played every week at The Seaview Tavern in Fremantle every week (along with other venues) for a long time. The owner loved us and wanted us there. To have played alongside so many great bands and awesome venues in the 90s as well was a highlight. We met some great friends through the band in the 90s and we had really devoted followers and we are still good friends with some of that crew and some of them are coming to watch us again. We also now have an online extensive history and loads of flyers and pics at www.vanadiumbc.com so that is like a trip down memory lane. This was set up by our old mate Damien Crocker (DJ Bones ex Critical Mass) with myself sorting the content with him.
What do you think of today’s metal scene in Perth and even around Australia?
Man, there are some really good bands around town right now and you can tell they practice their asses off and take it seriously. Too many to name. There are also some great bands over east and I like to discover new music. Thrash Metal in particular seems to really be having a resurgence at the moment and it’s great to hear newer bands doing their spin on this classic genre.
What could be done to revitalise the music scene in Perth in your opinion?
Making sure there are no gig date clashes is very important. If the bigger Promoters around town could work with smaller guys to not clash on the same date as a smaller local gig that would be really good and respectful. That would mean more people would go to the smaller gigs and vice versa, it would benefit both.
What does the future look like for Vanadium B.C.?
Our lead guitarist Mick has recently had to relocate to Melbourne for his work so we had a short um and ah period there but now all is cool. Rob Hartley was a founding member of Thrash veterans Enforce and he hung up his guitar some years ago. Rob has now come out of live retirement and stepped in to join us. We are looking forward to smashing the stage with Rob and his first show will be on Saturday March 20 for the Vinyl Launch. We have started writing on some new songs and there are also a couple of unreleased songs from the 90s we want to revamp. We have a few shows coming up over the next few months including an All Ages Show on Easter Saturday April 3 at Vision Studios in East Vic Park from 3PM to 8PM (with The Furor, Suffer In Rot & Our Demise). We get offered quite a few shows but we choose just some so as not to play on a fully regular status now. These next shows will be some of the last until at least the end of the year.
Who are some of your main influences?
A big variety of Rock and Metal so here are some the bands that inspired us to make our own music. W.A.S.P. , AC/DC, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Rose Tattoo, Pantera, Bolt Thrower, Pungent Stench, Allegiance, Rawkus…the list could go on.
Who or what inspired you to be in a band and play music?
The whole lifestyle inspired me. Also being such a big music fan in my youth and just wanting to go out and see live music as much as I could. In the early 90s I was in a band for a while but wanted to do something different so I formed Vanadium (B.C.) when I was 20 years old. In less than a year after forming we were out there gigging. I was young, wild and free, and gigging all the time in a heavy metal band, what a life! I was quite good at poetry when I was younger so this definitely helped me as a songwriter and composer. The 90s could not have been more wild and fun. I am glad I lived that life when I was young as there is no way I could do it now. I’m now pushing the wrong side of my 40’s so those times are very toned down now ha ha!
If you could be a fly on the wall for the recording of any album in history, what album would it be?
Kill ‘Em All by Metallica.
What is the meaning of life?
Health, happiness and music. Thank you Andrew and The Rockpit for taking the time out to chat to me. Much appreciated.
VANADIUM B.C.
THE DAMAGE DONE 25TH ANNIVERSARY VINYL LAUNCH
With Enforce, Diamond Sky & Suffer In Rot
Tickets on sale now via Oztix
