Krakdown are often overlooked when it comes to their place in NYHC history. But if you ever met them or saw them live you knew they were the real deal.  They played straight forward Hardcore in a time when most bands were starting to experiment with Metal. They appeared on numerous compilations including the classic “The Way It Is” on Revelation Records. In 1989 they released a self titled 7 inch on Common Cause records.  For those who were there during their existence. They left an indelible mark on the Hardcore landscape. I interviewed their drummer John outside the Right Track Inn in Long Island after one of their shows. JD


James: What’s holding up the record?


Joe: It’s just taking a long time to get pressed, get our shit together, the inside art work, and the cover. It’s all together now and it should be out in five days.


James: You’ve been around for so long. Why not an album?


Joe: A lot of bands start that way. You put out a 7 inch. It’s a good way too start. We had a couple of songs on compilations and this is our first project of our own. We just wanted to get a few songs on our own that everyone’s familiar with. We are going to do an LP next and have a lot of new material on it. We’ve been having a lot of differences between band members and getting together because we live so far apart.


James: How did Jaybird come into the picture?


Joe: I was in the band for about a year  and a half. There were musical differences between band members. They just decided that Damon would be leaving the band. Jaybird replaced him and that is about it.



James: What label is the record going to be on?


Common Cause. It’s the same label In Your Face is on. Was it hard finding a label that suites your needs?


Joe: No, we knew right off. We’re friends with them and In Your Face and we knew what we wanted to do.


James: What about labels like Caroline and In Effect?


Joe: They’ve been working with a lot of Hardcore bands.

We’d rather do it the independent way and not deal with Record companies.


James: You were supposed to do a split album with the NY Hoods. What happened to that project?


Joe: It just died out. We didn’t like the recording on it. We didn’t like the way it came out. We really did want to do it but unfortunately the recording session was lousy. The NY Hoods had some troubles too. It just didn’t work out.


James: Since the bands gotten back together have you written any new material?


Joe: We’ve been sticking to our old stuff but we have a new instrumental that we opened the show with. We’ve got two new songs we’ve been playing and three others we’re working on. When we do the album it will have all the new songs on it.


James: What went on during the period when the band was spit up?


Joe: I left the band. They were trying out new drummers. Ernie from Token Entry. Jimmy from Maximum Penalty and a few others tried out. Nothing worked out though because of traveling and where people lived. Eventually it came down to the fact that the only thing that was going to get the band together was me coming back and Jay replacing Damon.


James: Krakdown played the Superbowl of Hardcore at the Ritz. What’s your view on the club and given the chance would you play there again?


Joe: We had a lousy time that night. Although everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. A lot of our friends were there.  The problem is that we played with rented equipment and it was too big for us.

We’re a garage band and we had a lot of trouble with our sound. We couldn’t get it together. It just didn’t sound good.


James: How do you feel about the way they control the shows with their barricades and bouncers?


Joe: I avoid going to shows there. I’ve only been there twice. I don’t like the security. I don’t like the club or anything about it. I’m more into doing shows with “Squat or Rot” and the new club ABC NO RIO is cool. CBGB’s, the Pyramid club. Personally, I’d like to stay away from the Sundance.


James: How long did Chris Notaro of the Crumbsuckers sing with the band?


Joe: For almost the entire year of 1985. After that he left for the Crumbsuckers.


James: How
do you feel about the direction he’s taken with his music and the band?


Joe: Chris is a very talented person who can write really good lyrics. He’s also a great singer and a very nice guy. I guess he just grew out of the scene and the band. I’m not really sure what happened with him but he is a friend. He still comes down to shows and gets on stage with us.


James: You’ve been involved with Hardcore for a long time. I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of changes both good and bad. Can you give me a little insight into what you’ve absorbed?


Joe: The scene is always changing. It always has. From 1977 to 1978 and even now. There have always been people coming in and out. Just like everything else in this world. There are good and bad things about it. As long as the scene is still going, the bands are still playing and people are still going to shows I love the Hardcore scene and I will always enjoy being a part of it.


James: You guys just came from another show didn’t you?


Joe: Last night we played a show in Carlisle Pennsylvania with a bunch of bands. We just made it here on time.


James: What are some of the bands you’re listening to right now?


Joe: I like this band Slaughter and I really like Public Nuisance. They’ve got a great sound.


James: I do a lot of tape trading and I see a lot of Krakdown tapes out there. How many demos did you guys put out?


Joe: Just one.


James: When you first got into this kind of music What were some of the bands that might have had an influence on you being in a band today?


Joe: Bad Brains, Dead Kennedy’s,  X Ray Specs, the Ramones to name a few.


James: Krakdown has kept a pretty low profile. Do you plan on sticking to that plan and playing the smaller venues?


Joe: Yes, definitely, we’d never go big time. Not that many people like us anyway. It’s not like anyone is going to have a heart attack over us or anything.


James: I don’t know. I saw a few heart attacks out there today.


Joe: Well, I hope people keep coming to shows and supporting the new clubs and bands. Get out  there!


(Interview and pictures James Damion. Interview appeared in the third issue of Unite.)