Editing Rich Kids on LSD (section)

==History==
===Formative years===
The initial members of RKL got together at an early age. [[Chris Rest]] and Bomer Manzullo (sometimes credited as 'Bomber') were playing together and had asked [[Joey Cape]] to join as a second guitarist. Cape told them he would only join if [[Jason Sears]] could be the singer.<ref name="thrasher" /> Rest knew Sears from elementary school and youth soccer.<ref name="oxfanzine">Hiller, Joachim (Dec 2011, Jan 2012). [http://www.ox-fanzine.de/web/itv/4196/interviews.212.html] ''[[:de:Ox-Fanzine|Ox-Fanzine]]''</ref><ref name="flipside1989">{{cite journal |author=Indiana, Gary|title=RKL Live Interview!!! |journal=Flipside |issue=59 |date=Spring 1989 }}</ref>  Cape was frequently unavailable due to being [[Grounding (discipline technique)|grounded]] much of the time, so he was eventually left out of the band.<ref>{{cite podcast |host=Turned Out A Punk|title=Episode 50 - Joey Cape (Lagwagon ) |website=Stitcher.com |publisher=Stitcher |date=21 Oct 2015 |url=https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/turned-out-a-punk/e/episode-50-joey-cape-lagwagon-40930350 |time=22:57|access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref> RKL began playing shows around the area with myriad changes at second guitar and bass positions. In the end, Allen 'Alpo' Duncan joined as second guitarist and Vincent Peppars joined as bassist.<ref name="flipside1989" />  Rest has said, "Bomer soon started writing the majority of the music."<ref name="bomermemorial">[http://chrisone.gmxhome.de/rkl/nachruf2.html Rich Kids On LSD – Bomer Memorial] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109155359/http://chrisone.gmxhome.de/rkl/nachruf2.html |date=2015-11-09 }},''Chrisone.gmxhome.de/rkl/'', retrieved on August 19, 2012</ref>

====Band name and logo origin====
The group's name came about as a mere fluke from some light hearted criticism.  According to vocalist [[Jason Sears]] in a 2002 interview with ''Thrasher'' magazine:  “it happened that some guy said, 'ha, those kids will never be anything, they're just a bunch of rich kids on LSD, man.' The first party we played we didn't have a name for the band, so we put that one on the flier and it just stuck.”<ref name="thrasher">Schmitty (November 13, 2002).  [http://www.thrashermagazine.com/articles/music-interviews/rkl/ Between that and the drugs...I mean cut through the crap, it was the drugs] ''[[Thrasher Magazine]]''</ref><ref name="flipside1989" />  The beanie boy logo was born one night while Bomer and Jason were being tattooed. Bomer was attempting to draw a dragon pattern. On seeing the drawing, Jason commented, "Yeah dude, it's [[Beany and Cecil|Cecil! Where's Beanie?]]"  Dan Sites was sitting alongside drawing a flyer for a show supporting [[Suicidal Tendencies]] in Oxnard and drew a beanie guy jumping from a building.  Beanie boy was born.<ref name="thrasher" />

===Signing with Mystic Records===
Though not actually from the Oxnard area, RKL was still considered part of the [[Nardcore]] punk movement from [[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]], [[California]] due to their close proximity to Oxnard and hardcore style. RKL recorded ''[[It's a Beautiful Feeling]]'' [[Extended play|EP]] on [[Mystic Records]], released in 1984. It is a 7-song release that included concert mainstays "Why",  "Tell Me The Truth", and "Beautiful Feeling". Outside the studio while waiting for the rest of his bandmates to arrive, Bomer had a skateboarding accident that looked to be a broken wrist.  Doug Moody, owner and operator of Mystic Records, duct taped his wrist then taped the drumstick to his hand so he could complete the session.<ref name="trustzine">{{cite journal |author=Taylor, Todd |title=Rich Kids On LSD – "Like If Jimi Hendrix Covers Slayer" |journal=Razorcake |url=http://www.trust-zine.de/rich-kids-on-lsd-%E2%80%9Clike-if-jimi-hendrix-covers-slayer%E2%80%9D/ |issue=45 |date=July–August 2008 }}</ref> All the artwork for the EP was done by Dan Sites marking the first official appearance of the popular "beanie boy" character, which would remain an icon for RKL for their entire career. RKL would play around California, and particularly enjoyed the scene in San Francisco, driving 6 hours to play shows and drive back. Eventually they decided to move there,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Yohannan|first=Tim|title=Reviews|journal=Maximum Rocknroll|year=1984|volume=20}}</ref><ref name=ocweekly>{{cite web|last=Reason|first=Rex|title=Seizure Factor: Rich kids on LSD now old men who drink beer|url=http://www.ocweekly.com/2004-07-15/music/seizure-factor/|access-date=22 March 2013|date=July 15, 2004}}</ref><ref name=losangelestimes>{{cite news|last=Locey|first=Bill|title=A Band That Makes a Lot of Noise Comes Back Home : RKL's sound is aggressive, raw, loud, tight--testosterone music, to be exact.|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 16, 1995}}</ref> minus Alpo. He did not wish to leave Santa Barbara. His position would remain empty for some time. After about five months Vince Peppars wanted to move back to Santa Barbara. Sears said:"...so we hooked up with Barry to cover for him. Then Vince came back and Barry went to guitar".<ref name="flipside1989" /> This marked the entrance of Barry 'D'live' Ward to the fold. During this time RKL contributed various songs to a number of Mystic compilations. In 1985 the band soon recorded and released their first full-length LP, ''[[Keep Laughing]]'' on Mystic Records with Dan Sites once again providing artwork. This release included classic RKL tracks "Think Positive"(often played live as "Drink Positive"), "Ded Teds", and "Pothead" and has been named as one of the best skate punk records of all time.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Reardon|first1=Tom|title=The 10 Best Skate Punk Records of All Time|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/the-10-best-skate-punk-records-of-all-time-7759704|website=Phoenix New Times|publisher=[[Phoenix New Times]]|access-date=3 December 2016|date=2015-10-21}}</ref> Ward, however, was not part of this recording. Ward said: "[RKL] moved back to Santa Barbara and I stayed in San Francisco until they came back after Keep Laughing was recorded."<ref name="flipside1989" /> Following the release RKL toured and polished their live act. Things were not good between the band and Mystic Records. The deal the band signed was that they would be a paid a percentage of sales in merchandise. There is contention whether Mystic came through on that agreement.<ref name="trustzine" /> Doug Moody has stated Mystic fulfilled their end of the agreement while Ward has stated not only did they not receive much of anything in merchandise, the band had to eventually resort to bootlegging their own tapes and screening their own shirts to sell at shows. Ward was quoted as saying, "We were fucking broke, starving, dumpster diving for food, barely making gas money, and we kept going because that’s what we did. Doug Moody can say he financed the tours and paid us in merch but that’s completely untrue."<ref name="trustzine" /> Rest has also stated the band never received any money from Mystic.<ref name="oxfanzine" /><ref name=ocweekly />

===''Rock 'n Roll Nightmare''===
Due to the increasingly acrimonious situation between the band and Mystic Records and a luckless 1986 tour (dubbed the ''Disastour'' by the band<ref name=losangelestimes/>), RKL was looking for a new home and found one with the independent Alchemy Records. They were also gearing up to take their sound to the next level. Bomer was the driving force and creative head of the band.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jazz|first=Jimmy|title=La música es como la comida, ojalá la gente estuviera más abierta a probar nuevos platos": entrevista con Joey Cape (Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut)|url=http://tanakamusic.com/2012/03/22/la-musica-es-como-la-comida-ojala-la-gente-estuviera-mas-abierta-a-probar-nuevos-platos-entrevista-con-joey-cape-lagwagon-bad-astronaut/|work=Tanaka Music|access-date=22 March 2013|language=es|date=March 22, 2013}}</ref> Rest said: "He played so fast and tight that we were all forced to do the same. He was a perfectionist and expected the same from us."<ref name="bomermemorial" /> Vince Peppars would depart around this time. According to Bomer, he didn't like the direction of the new material and preferred the earlier rawer sound.<ref name="zap">{{cite journal |author1=James |author2=Hollis, Lee |title=RKL interview with James & Lee |language=de |journal=ZAP Fanzine |issue=3 |pages=24–33 |date=August 1988 }}</ref> Their next album, ''[[Rock 'n Roll Nightmare]]'' (also known as ''Lifestyles of the Rich Kids on LSD - A Rock N Roll Nightmare'') stayed true to the fast tempo and hardcore sound the band was known for, but introduced elements of progressive rock and thrash metal to their sound as well as a technical musicianship that was very uncommon for the punk genre at the time.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dahlia|first=Blag|title=Rich Kids on LSD "Greatest Hits – Live in Berlin" review|url=http://punkworldviews.com/rich-kids-on-lsd-greatest-hits-review/|work=Punk World Views|access-date=6 May 2013}}</ref> ''[[Maximumrocknroll]]'' called it "Very strong" in their review of the album.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Reviews |journal=Maximumrocknroll |date=Dec 1987 |issue=55 |url=https://archive.org/details/mrr_055/page/n61 |access-date=7 April 2019}}</ref> About their sound, Bomer said: "People say that we have a metal influence, but really, all our licks are pretty much rhythm and blues based, but it's super fast! So instead of saying it's metal, I'd say it's just super fast rock and roll."<ref name="flipside1989" /> They still did not have a bass player for the sessions. Previously, Ricky Bowersock had succeeded Peppars, but the band had soured on him and the spot was vacated. Bowersock appeared as 'Rikkity Borrow A Sock' under a "Special No Thanks" part of the [[liner notes]] of the next album, along with Doug Moody. Subsequently, Bomer ended up playing both drums and bass on the recording.<ref name="trustzine" /> [[Mark Deutrom]], producer of the album, says "Bomer tracking all the drum parts in a row without a [[Studio recording#The process|scratch track]] is one of the more impressive things I’ve seen in a studio."<ref name="trustzine" /> Regarding the album [[Fat Mike]] of [[NOFX]] and owner/founder of [[Fat Wreck Chords]], is quoted as saying this in 2007:

{{cquote|[After Keep Laughing, RKL] was the band that we wanted to be, but couldn’t pull it off. A year goes by. Rock 'n Roll Nightmare comes out. Now we're totally fucked. Suddenly, the best hardcore band of our time just got one hundred times better. This record is a landmark. No band has ever written anything like it...we listened to it at least twice a day, everyday... Twenty years later, I pull out Rock 'n Roll Nightmare and put it on. I realize that after all these years of touring and recording my band still can’t pull off any of this. I can’t play these bass riffs, [[Eric Melvin|Melvin]] can’t touch the guitar, and [[Erik Sandin|Smelly]]—who is a great drummer—can’t even come close to what Bomer can do.<ref name="trustzine" />}}

Andrew Kiraly, writing for the ''[[Las Vegas Mercury]]'', comedically gave this album the award "Best Album of 1987 I Found While Digging in My Desk Which I'm Surprised Hasn't Been 'Rediscovered' By Critics and Hailed Anew As a Masterpiece, or Maybe I'm Just Feeling Stupid and Nostalgic".<ref>{{cite news|last=Kiraly|first=Andrew|title=Best CDs of 2003|newspaper=Las Vegas Mercury|date=December 25, 2003}}</ref>

====New bass player====
After auditioning at least a dozen potential bass players, they finally found [[Joe Raposo (bassist)|Joe Raposo]] through an advertisement in ''Maximumrocknroll''.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[Maximumrocknroll]] |title=Scene Reports: Northern California |date=May 1987 |issue=48 |url=https://archive.org/details/mrr_48/page/n21 |access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref> An audition was set up for Raposo by a friend.<ref name="ox">{{cite journal|last1=Lampert|first1=Christoph|title=Interviews & Artikel Joe Raposo|journal=Ox Fanzine|date=October–November 2008|issue=80|url=http://www.ox-fanzine.de/web/print/pdf/s/212/itv/3211/interviews.212.html|access-date=26 September 2015}}</ref> Raposo became the bass player for RKL in time for touring support of RocK 'n Roll Nightmare.<ref name="flipside1989" /> In 1988, RKL toured Europe in support of the new album where it was particularly well received. A live album was recorded in West Berlin at Quartier Latin (now [[:de:Wintergarten (Varieté)|Wintergarten Varieté]]) on July 9, 1988. It was entitled ''Greatest Hits [[double album|Double]] Live''  and released on Destiny Records. It was the first RKL album on [[CD]] in addition to the common [[Vinyl records|vinyl]] and [[Compact Cassette|cassette]] formats. The artwork of the album is a collection of blotter acid paper of varying size, image, and age contributed by Mark McCloud,<ref name="flipside1989" /> famous for his extensive collection which he calls the ''Institute of Illegal Images''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://missionlocal.org/2010/11/lsd-museum-or-institute-of-illegal-images/|title=LSD Museum or Institute of Illegal Images?|website=Missionlocal.org|date=12 November 2010|access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref> Due to Raposo's status as a minor (he was only seventeen), his parents, though less than enthusiastic, gave permission for him to leave the country. Ward was named temporary guardian for the European tour.<ref name="ox" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EZJcHjb02M&t=1m17s  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/_EZJcHjb02M |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=4 October 2018|title=L'Anecdote #014 : Joe Raposo of Lagwagon|date=23 August 2017 |publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The signed guardianship papers are included in the ''Greatest Hits Double Live'' artwork.<ref name="kreiszeitung.de">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kreiszeitung.de/kultur/jeder-generation-ihre-klassiker-10149067.html|title=Jeder Generation ihre Klassiker|date=23 August 2018|website=Kreiszeitung.de|access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref>

RKL also sold their Mystic-era material to Destiny without Mystic Records' permission. Destiny proceeded to release a compilation album of Mystic recordings and called it ''Revenge is a Beautiful Feeling'' in reference to their perceived mistreatment by Mystic Records. The cover also featured a caricature of Doug Moody with his neck being twisted up by the same monster character that appeared on the cover of RKL's previous release, ''It's a Beautiful Feeling''.

Through it all, RKL mainly played in Europe and California. There was no official US tour to back the ''Rock 'n Roll Nightmare'' album.<ref name="flipside1989" /> [[The Mascara Snake|Victor Hayden]] was in charge of the business side of Alchemy records. About Alchemy's promotion of ''Rock 'n Roll Nightmare'', Sears said: "[Advertisements in] ''Maximumrocknroll'' and [[Flipside (fanzine)|''Flipside'']] was about as far as it got. And we didn't have our own ad, it was sort of a Mystic deal where you had every band on the label listed as new albums... And in our payment they took out some for promotion, saying that [Victor Hayden] sent posters to all the stores, and put ads in all kinds of magazines. There was those two ads, and no one's ever seen a poster."<ref name="flipside1989" />

===First break-up===
In 1989 RKL called it quits for the first time. Commenting about this break-up, Fat Mike said, "the wheels started falling off the RKL train. The drug abuse and constant partying was taking its toll."<ref name="trustzine" /> Regarding the break, Ward had this to say: "Ultimately, it was the frustration with deals like [the Mystic records situation] and Alchemy later that broke up the band the first time. Had our business sense been there in the beginning and things gone right, I think Bomer wouldn’t have wanted to bag it.<ref name="trustzine" /> He broke up the band ... 'cause he thought punk rock was going nowhere".<ref name="flipside1994">{{cite journal |author=Indiana, Gary|title=Bad Trips With RKL (Stay away from the stinky brown acid) |journal=Flipside |issue=92 |date=Oct–Nov 1994}}</ref> Raposo said: "If I could change one thing, I would have never let RKL break up the first time in 1989. I would have fought that to the death and would have never let it happen."<ref name="trustzine" /> Rest agreed, stating: "We broke up at the worst time we could have."<ref name=ocweekly />

===Epitaph years===
====Slang, ''Reactivate''====
Bomer formed a new band called Slang after the dissolution of RKL. Slang eventually included his old RKL bandmates with the notable exception of Jason Sears. Their sound was much different than the previous incarnation, dropping the fast hardcore style for a distinct rock/funk fusion.<ref name="a&a">{{cite journal |author=Worley, Jon|title=RKL - Reactivate - Review |journal=Aiding & Abetting |issue=33 |date=April 1993|url=http://www.aidabet.com/archives/archR.html#RKL}}</ref> Slang had Bomer on lead vocals<ref name=losangelestimes /> while newcomer [[Dave Raun]] played drums, Joe Raposo played bass, with Chris Rest and Joel Monte Mahan on guitars. Though Fat Mike had stated during an interview in ''Maximumrocknroll'' that he was going to put out a Slang record on his then new record label Fat Wreck Chords,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Interview |journal=[[Maximumrocknroll]] |date=June 1991 |issue=97 |url=https://archive.org/details/mrr_97/page/n67 |access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref> Slang ended up signing with [[Epitaph Records]]<ref>{{cite book|author=Maeda, Martha|year=2010|title=How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Independent Record Label|publisher=Atlantic Publishing Company|isbn=978-1601381422}}</ref> in 1992 and an album was recorded soon after. At some point during this time Ward replaced Mahan. Just prior to its release in 1993, it was decided by Bomer and Epitaph owner/operator [[Brett Gurewitz]] it would be released as an RKL album under the title ''Reactivate''<ref>{{cite web|last1=Locey|first1=Bill|title=Punk rock show to benefit shelter dogs|url=http://www.vcstar.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/09/07/punk-rock-show-benefit-shelter-dogs/89907514/|website=vcstar.com|access-date=16 April 2017}}</ref> to capitalize on the RKL name and built-in fanbase. Dan Sites again provided artwork. Before the album's release Slang, now RKL, headed on tour to Europe. The fans in Europe were not aware of the drastic sound change as the album had not yet been released. Many were disillusioned.<ref name="barry">{{Cite web|url=http://chrisone.gmxhome.de/rkl/nachruf.html|title=rkl|website=Chrisone.gmxhome.de|access-date=8 September 2020}}</ref> Bomer wanted to quit early in the tour due to fan reaction. During the tour long-time friend and band [[Road crew|roadie]] Will Knutilla died of a drug overdose in [[Zürich]].<ref name=losangelestimes /> Following this tragedy, Bomer quit in [[Italy]]. Jason Sears was flown into [[Barcelona]] to re-join RKL and to attempt to complete the tour playing their pre-''Reactivate'' songs.<ref name=losangelestimes /> Regarding this period, Ward said, "That ''Reactivate'' record hurt RKL more than anything, more than Mystic Records."<ref name="flipside1994" /> Epitaph also re-released RKL's previous full-length album ''RocK 'n Roll Nightmare'' in 1993.

====''Riches to Rags'' and break-up====
RKL pressed on without original member Bomer. They recorded a new album at the Music Annex in 1994 with completely new material. The resultant album ''Riches to Rags'' would be released in early 1995 and dedicated to Will Knutilla. The name was a sarcastic self-deprecating spoof on their previous 'Lifestyles' persona.<ref name="barry" /> For perhaps the first time in their history, RKL finally had a large amount of support from an experienced and highly successful independent label, Epitaph Records.<ref>{{cite news|last=Prince|first=Henrico|title=RKL: Riches to rags. Epitaph 86445-2.|newspaper=de Volkskrant|date=January 13, 1995|language=de}}</ref> The band had the song "We're Back We're Pissed" appear on Epitaph's first of a long running compilation series called ''[[Punk-O-Rama]]''.<ref name=losangelestimes /> The song "Betrayed" also appeared on the February 1995 sample CD of the magazine ''CMJ New Music Monthly''.<ref name=cmj /> RKL's first music video was created featuring the song "Betrayed" and directed by Isaac Camner. Around this time they were also featured on the national [[tabloid television|tabloid news television]] show [[Hard Copy]] in a piece about [[LSD]].<ref name="RKLDVD">{{cite video | people=Ward, Barry (Director) | date=2002 | title=''RKL Still Flailing After All These Beers: The DVD Director's Cut'' | medium=DVD | time=12.32 | location=USA | publisher=Malt Soda}}</ref> RKL toured the world supporting ''Riches to Rags'', including most parts of Europe and Japan. However, tensions within the band caused RKL to once again go their separate ways. Ward put together the entire "Still Flailing After All These Beers RKL" video which released on [[VHS]] through Epitaph Records. The video contained rare live footage and home videos from RKL's time on the road, an exclusive ''Take Me Home'' music video directed by Ward, and a cover of [[Devo]]'s "Timing X".