RICO17STITCHES Interview

Whom do you think of, when you hear about festivals like “Break Down The Walls”, “Maximum Destruction”, “Bringing Back The Glory” and “Filled With Hate Fest”? Who made the best shows in Germany? BULLDOZE, MERAUDER, CRAWLSPACE, ALL OUT WAR, SHATTERED REALM, DEATH THREAT, BOXCUTTER and tons of other hardcore bands? No problem! RICO17STITCHES (GER) makes it possible!

We were on “Break Down The Walls Fest VII” with DEATH TRHEAT, GUILTY, STATE OF MIND, xDIGX & CO.) and met Rico, THE booker in Germany.


We took three beers, clinked the bottles and started with the interview.

Cheers!
Cheers!


(Everyone took a mouthful of beer)


Rico, how are you? Do you enjoy your fest?

I`m fine. Thanks! The atmosphere is fantastic! Cool weather, good people, cool bands! Every band is excited to play that fest. But unfortunately it`s the penultimate show at JZE. Papestr… That changes the good mood a bit.


And which band are you looking forward most today?

Most I`m looking forward to see DEATH THREAT!! But in fact, I`m looking forward to see all the bands because all these bands I booked are amazing.


We think that everybody who is into european hardcore should know you, but nevertheless please introduce yourself with a few words.

OK. I am Rico. I am a Dutchman and I´m living in Germany for almost 11 years. Two years ago I moved to the Sauerland region together with my girlfriend. My biggest hobbies are hardcore and booking shows. Therein I try to give my best!


Is there any background in your name – “17STITCHES”?

The reason for my pseudonym – 17 STITCHES – was a really bad accident. Youthful folly. One day in the late 90s I was drunk, really drunk. I was so fuckin`drunk that I fell into a glass door. The wound had to sew with 17 Stitches. That`s it.


Oh, that sucks.

Yeah, it does.


When did you start your “career” as a show booker? Do you remember the first show you ever made?

Since I´m a kid I visit shows. It is my life. It was 2003 - if I remember right – when I wanted to book my own shows. First I organized some underground punk shows, later hardcore. My first self made hardcore show fucked up.Haha. It was in Bochum (Germany), in a club, named “Wageni” and everything went wrong. At the beginning these shows were illegal, we had to tap the wire and stuff. ;-) Therefore the publicity was very, very awkward and the activities absolutely backdoor. But that`s the way when you start a new field of action. 100% DIY! Haha.


And what was your favourite show you made? What collaboration made your dreams come true?

To all intents and purposes I enjoy every show I make! Really! Break Down The Walls, Bringing Back The Glory. Cool. Filled With Hate / Brotherhood Fest. Cool. Smaller local shows. Cool. I just arrange shows, which I like even. I give my right arm for the shows. My heart, my soul, my money. But I enjoy it to the fullest!!


And which dreams aren`t coming true, yet?

FURY OF FIVE!


Are there any bands you won`t work with in the future because of bad experiences?

TRAPPED UNDER ICE. That what happened to Marcel was pure shit! TUI have a wrong attitude. That was a silly thing…


Yeah, that´s right…


Booking bands, arranging shows and festivals – is this your main job or “just” a hobby?

It’s a hobby for sure! It`s not possible for me to do it professional. There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages, but I never ever had the intention to earn money with organizing shows. After all it`s a circular flow, u know?! If there is money left of a past show you have to put it in the next and it reiterates again, and again… You win some and you loose some.


What are the disadvantages in this business?

Negative feedback! Some people can not understand that the organisation of a show is stressful as fuck. It`s not just about writing with the bands for their payment. You have to look for a location, rent a location, taking care of food and drinks, employees for the sound, lights, acoustics, cash desk and a million other things.


Years ago you decided to break up your business. There was a longer period without any “Rico-Shows”. If we recollect right, there was a “Rico benefit” show made by some guys out from the ruhr area, too. Please tell us something about this break and what changed your mind to continue the business.

Well, at that time I lost a lot of money, many shows flopped. I work without any kind of sponsors what makes business more burdensome. On my flyers I don´t want to see any logo of a company, which don`t stand behind hardcore and its cultural environment. In any case the feeling of “making shows” is in me. It is my life so I HAD to carry on!!


And that was a good decision!


Please tell us the feeling, when someone misses you so much, that he makes a benefit show for someone.

It´s just incredible, more than words can say!!


Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Still in the midst of the hardcore scene or on a lonely island?

Im gonna do less shows for sure! But more and more with the HHF – the Hardcore Help Foundation!


OK, cool, let`s talk later about The HHF!

OK!


In March 2011 there was the “Bringing Back The Glory Fest”. Bands such as MADBALL, WISDOM IN CHAINS, CRAWLSPACE destroyed the stage. But unfortunately, a bad incident eclipsed this beautiful day. Do you want to comment the TRAPPED UNDER ICE show?

I wrote an offical statement to the band and published it in the internet, too.


Please tell us your hardcore plans for the future. Which project(s) exist besides “BBQ-Party 2011” (21.05.2011; with LIFELESS, NO REDEEMING SOCIAL VALUE) and “Filled With Hate Fest / Brotherhood Fest 2011” in the new JZE (06. + 07.08.2011 with SHATTERED REALM, CROMAGS, CROWD DETERRENT, STRIFE…)?

From time to time some HHF benefit shows!! But now it`s time to cut down…
My wonderful girlfriend supports me in any way indeed, but she wants to spend time with me, too! This time-consuming hobby isn`t good for my private life and health, so it`s time to back out (of it) a little bit!!



Catchword: JZE. Another issue alongside booking shows is the closure of the JZE in Essen, Germany, one of the best locations in the ruhr area. Now the JZE is going to move to another location this year. Previously you had a hard “fight” with the government. You invested much time and energy in several activities like E-Mail-actions, campaigns, benefit shows and stuff like this. Please tell us something about this big action. And what is the current status?

Well, the current status says: We tried our best. We made the impossible possible, but in the end it didn`t help. The City of Essen tries to save money to the poorer citizens costs. Sad, but true. Most of the kids in this youth center have not enough money, have a foreign background, have not any contact point for problems, no “place to go”. That`s simply not done. I`m sure, if these kids were rich and would have a conformable social status, the government of the city wouldn`t have close the JZE! For real!
And the answer to the problem with the new JZE isn`t the “non-plus-ultra”, but it`s quiet better than a complete close-down. The new location is awesome, but it`s not the same, u know?! This is something you can´t change at all. In no way.


In what way changed your opinion, related to the city council and their false promises?

Not at all. These people don`t give a fuck about the kids. They absolutely don´t care. It always had and always will.


How did you conceive the help of the scene? Was the german scene a big help for you or could there be a bit more?

The feedback of the scene was consistently positive. All that reposting in facebook or myspace, the whole online feedback was pretty enthusiastic. People helped out with stuff like the E-Mail-actions, but there were just a handful of people in the front of the city hall to demonstrate. This was a little bit disappointing to me. With such a crowd like this, politicians won`t take you serious.


What do you expect from the new JZE location?

For big shows and festivals it`s just awesome, but: It´s an official location. No place for DIY. No place for individuality, but that`s just the point! That´s hardcore! Cause of this I`m looking forward to find a new location…


Up-to-date you created the HHF – The Hardcore Help Foundation: “It's about Friendship, Loyality & helping each other out, when you're in a bad situation.“ You are collecting merchandise and donations for helping out people in the worldwide hardcore scene who need serious help. One of your current projects is about the tsunami/earthquake-disaster that happened in Japan. You collected more than 1.000,00 EUR and send all that money to your Japanese hardcore friends for their families and friends. Please tell us something about the HHF.

First: UNITY! Very strong unity! Exemplary! If everyone donates a little bit, we could make a great issue out of this!! We could reach something really big!! It´s fantastic what we established in this short period of time, by keeping together! The feedback is indescribably! The HHF will be a big deal!
Just today we`ve collect more than 900,00 EUR!
THANK YOU FOR THAT!
How you mentioned above, we want to help people out in the worldwide hardcore scene, when they are in serious trouble.
Until now, we`re stunned, because of the legwork! So many people got on board and donate merchandise, which we`ll sell for a good reason. So everybody who is in hardcore should feel addressed! It`s an easy way to say „Fuck The World“, but it´s hard to act real effective.


What do you think, is it right, that the whole german hardcore scene (especially the part of the ruhr area) stands together as a unity (to help JZE, HHF and stuff like this)?

Yes!


In the internet you can find some rumors about a DVD which provides an insight into your shows and festivals. Please tell us about something this stuff.

Puh, I´ve got reams of footage. I could publish millions of DVDs, but I`m missing the adequate help, time and money. A further problem are the Gema fees. A friend of mine showed me the prices and fees… fuck, man!


Please describe the feeling, when you arrange a big show and you see the people going crazy, doing sing a longs, stage dives and so on.

GEIL!


So, Rico, what does hardcore means for you?

Unity, fun, going crazy, respect!


Any last words?

Help and support the scene, the HHF. And thank you guys for the interview!


Rico, cause you`re a regular reader of our blog, you know what comes right now… BRAINSTORMING!!!!!

DIY?
Most important thing!

Batman or Superman?
Batman

All-time favourite band?
It´s hard… WARZONE!

Beer?
Excellent!

Soccer: Germany vs. The Netherlands?
Emotional, but quite clearly the Netherlands! I´m happy for the next liaison!

MySpace or Facebook?
Facebook! MySpace is dead!

Barbie or Ken?
Barbie! From behind. Ha Ha!


Rico, thank you very much for this interesting interview. And further thank you VERY, VERY much for all the shows you made and will make. BIG UP TO YOU!!!

(We drank out our beer and enjoyed the show)


Support you scene, support the HHF and for more information check (amongst others):
rico@17stitches.com
http://www.myspace.com/rico17stitches
http://www.brotherhoodfest.com/

JZE:
http://www.rettet-das-jze.de.tf/

HHF:
http://hardcore-help.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-HHF/146242898774495
http://hardcorehelpfoundation.limitedpressing.com/