San Diego melodic punk rock stalwarts Unwritten Law have announced their return to Australia this December for their ‘Love Is The Law’ tour, alongside special guests, Adelaide rockers Grenadiers, and we got the chance to chat to vocalist Scott Russo who gave us his tips for up and coming musos about how to deal with the treacherous backstage life!
First thing I would not do, is listen to me! Our band was pretty bad, we did everything that was kind of wrong I guess. We would get there and the headliner’s rider would usually be there early. So for anyone that doesn’t know what a rider is, it’s what the promoter provides as part of the deal, like their food and alcohol and all that kind of shit. The headliner shit is always there, so what we would go and do is we would literally take the headliner’s vodka, ‘cos we were bad, then when ours got then we would go and replenish it, otherwise if it hadn’t we would get found out. So, don’t steal the headliner’s shit!
Watch: Unwritten Law – Lonesome
Do not destroy green rooms, it’s not fuckin’ cool, it’s not punk. We would get kicked off of so much shit for just getting crazy. I can remember getting evicted from hotels, in particular the Medina in Australia for an eternity! Well it wasn’t really the whole band, and I’m not going to name names, but it starts with a W and ends with an ADE.
So one time we were partying, it was us and Sum 41 at The Medina in Crown St in Sydney, I think… well one of the Medina’s and the motherfucker is in my room and he lights my bed on fire from the 6th floor, and at this place they had French doors that open, right? So he lights my bed on fire and throws it out of my fucking room down six stories and into the pool, so it’s floating in the pool on fire! Needless to say we were never allowed back to the Medina ever!
Granted that this band has been around for 26 years now, so this was back in our early days when we were punk, and it was punk, and we were kids and we didn’t know any better. Now we’re adults and I have children, none of this shit would ever fly. I really don’t have anyone back in the greenroom, but back in the day man, we were bad! There’s a reason why our reputation proceeds us and people don’t want to book us!
Watch: Unwritten Law – Seein’ Red
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq-T49MqRiQ
What also really irritates me and a lot of bands is when bands don’t get off stage on time. For me, I’m 42 years old, I don’t want to play a concert at midnight! So if you’re slotted to be off the stage at 9.15 and there’s a 30 minute changeover, try to be offstage. Again, you don’t wanna piss anyone off, so make sure that everyone gets their time and things move smoothly!
This is it, if you’re lucky enough to be playing with someone dope, be respectful, be thankful that you’re there because sooner or later you’ll need a favour from them, or from their camp or something like that, my parting words are be gracious!
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Unwritten Law’s Australian tour kicks off this December, grab all dates and ticket links below!
Unwritten Law Australian Tour Dates
Thursday, 3rd December
Fowlers Live, Adelaide
Tickets: Moshtix
Friday, 4th December
Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta
Tickets: Oztix
Saturday, 5th December
Max Watts, Brisbane
Tickets: Max Watts / Oztix
Sunday, 6th December
Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Tickets: Corner Hotel
Wednesday, 9th December
Small Ballroom, Newcastle
Tickets: Oztix
Thursday, 10th December
Entrance Leagues Club, Central Coast
Tickets: Oztix
Friday, 11th December
Metro Theatre, Sydney
Tickets: Ticketek
Saturday, 12th December
Capitol, Perth
Tickets: Oztix