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After having a dialogue with Glass Harp last month, we're going in the same basic vein but now move the discussion over to Perry, where the Rick Ray Band has set up shop. According to their bio, "Night Of The Living Deadicated," is the band's 24th release, which prompted some questions from OhioOnline music correspondent Peanuts that guitarist Rick Ray was only too happy to answer.
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| OO: |
What first got you started in playing music? |
| RR: |
"The Beatles. I was 4 when I first saw them and knew from that moment on that music is what I wanted to do. My older brother Emmett taught me to play guitar. I took trumpet in high school and that taught me to read." |
| OO: |
Are you a Perry native? |
| RR: |
"I was born in Lakewood in 1959, moved to Cleveland in 1963 and Euclid in 1965 and stayed there 28 years, graduating from Euclid High in 1977. I moved to Perry in 1993 and have been here ever since." |
| OO: |
How would you describe the band's music? |
| RR: |
"Psychedelic progressive hard rock fusion with thought provoking lyrics." |
| OO: |
Based on that description, the Beatles can't be your only influence, right? |
| RR: |
"Also Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, Robin Trower, Captian Beyond, ELP. Glass Harp, bands like that." |
| OO: |
Have you played with any of your heros in concert? |
| RR: |
"We've opened for Frank Marino three times, Robin Trower once and Michael Shenker from UFO once, among others." |
| OO: |
Any bands in the state of Ohio you match up with and have you split a bill with them? |
| RR: |
"Intra, Rare Blend, KMOB and Moonlight Drive and we've played with them. On the wish list is Damnation of Adam Blessign and Glass Harp. I would love to open for Glass Harp someday, I think that would make for a great concert." |
| OO: |
Where was the disc recorded and how did the process go? |
| RR: |
"This disc was recorded, ,mixed and produced by me in my basement studio, Neurosis Recording Lab. It is my favorite studio because I can record anytime I get the inspiration." |
| OO: |
Favorite Ohio Venue? |
| RR: |
"The Odeon on the east bank of the Flats in Cleveland. Great sound system and great people running it." |
| OO: |
What bands were you in before this? |
| RR: |
"Neurotic from 1973 to 1985 and then there was the first version of the Rick Ray Band for about a year. Next was Riot Act from 1990 to 1996 and then changed it back to Rick Ray Band from there on out." |
| OO: |
Why the changes in name? |
| RR: |
"The band is again named after me because when it was Neurotic and Riot Act, people were still saying 'let's go see Rick Ray's band.'"
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| OO: |
Long term plans? |
| RR: |
"Play music with passion and intensity, music that sends chills up and down people's spines and makes their hair stand up."
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| OO: |
Anything else we need to talk about? |
| RR: |
"Lyrical content sometimes, most times, seems to be ignored in reviews or even by listeners. Sometimes the music is powerful and pushes the lyrics to the background and I understand that but, the content in my lyrics are probably just as, if nor more important that the music."
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