Thrasher Skate Rock comp series / Rick Rotsaert interview
The contributions and link between Thrasher skateboard magazine and hardcore punk don’t always get the acknowledgement they probably should. Thrasher published its first issue in January of 1981 and was covering hardcore almost from the outset. Fellow underground San Franciscan publication Maximum RockNRoll made its debut in print a short time later in August of 1982, after having been a radio show since the late ‘70s.
While skateboarding was obviously the main focus of Thrasher, the mag always covered the music that skaters were listening to and that’s where their support of hardcore comes in. Lifers like Mofo (Mörizen Föche) of Drunk Injuns and Pushead of Septic Death/Pusmort Records played an integral role in the mag throughout the ‘80s. In an interesting tie in, Pushead was writing columns for both Thrasher and MRR at the time and his often cited "Puszone Unofficial Top 100 of the 80s" list was printed in his column in Thrasher in March of 1990.
Aside from just covering raging music in their their pages, Thrasher released a series of compilations called Skate Rock, covering a variety of styles, but most often focusing on hardcore and punk. The initial run on these began with Volume 1 in 1983 and went through Volume 11 in 1993. The most popular of these tapes is "Volume 7 - Noise Forest" from 1989 which was compiled by Pushead. This tape is a document of the best international hardcore punk bands at the time and could be considered a part 2 to the "Cleanse The Bacteria" comp released in 1985 on his own Pusmort label.
Thrasher Skate Rock Volumes 1-11
One of the other people involved with the Skate Rock series was Rick Rotsaert who was the man responsible for putting together Volumes 9-11. He also provided back up vocals on several Septic Death releases and was one of those integral background figure types during that period. He is a man of taste and continues to be a fan of underground hardcore and metal today. With the recent passing of long time Thrasher head honcho Jake Phelps, it was the perfect time to highlight the Skate Rock series and print this interview with Rick. Huge thanks to him for answering these questions and providing great insight.
NI: When and how did you first become involved with Thrasher and their publishing company High Speed Productions?
RR: Started mid-Eighties approx. I would drive Pushead to the Thrasher office so he could drop off the "Puszone" and hang out. I had no aspirations of becoming a "High Speed" employee (my "job" at the time was helping Pushead’s record label "Pusmort" doing mailorder from his home). But eventually was “invited” to work at Thrasher helping with production and shipping of their merchandise because I knew how to do those things, more or less, hahaha. I used to screen shirts at Thrasher for Pusmort mail order, with authorization from the boss at Thrasher, hahaha.
NI: Who gave the OK, Eric Swenson, Kevin Thatcher [two of the three founders of Thrasher] or someone else?
RR: I guess mainly Fausto [Vitello, co-founder of Thrasher/owner of Independent Truck Co.] said it was cool to make stuff for the mail order. Pus had excellent rapport with FV, Swenson and Thatcher, but when it came to “business,” Fausto and Eric were the bill payers, etc, so you go to them for permission.
Rick in the Thrasher shipping department circa 1990
NI: When the first Skate Rock tape came out in 1983, there were so many punk and hardcore compilations coming out at the time. Do you think these influenced the original idea at all?
RR: I would say yes they did. Comps at the time gave exposure to several bands on the same release, and seemed to be a popular for obvious reasons.
NI: How about Pushead, how did you did first meet?
RR: Met Pushead in Boise, Idaho late 70’s approx. He worked at a local record store and recommended a few things to me. However, he was no "Pushead" yet (that I recall). Later around 1981 we met up again at a different record store we shopped at and conversed about hardcore and punk bands he had learned about from here and the UK mainly. And mentioned he was involved with "the scene" doing artwork and doing a band "Septic Death" etc. He actually made me some comp tapes that really "changed my life"...
NI: How did it come about for you to compile "Skate Rock Volume 9 - Pawns Of The Apocalypse"? Did you come up with the title?
RR: By that time Thrasher became my “life”. I got to know quite a few people in the scene, going to shows, hanging out with Pus, etc etc. So I volunteered to put a Skate Rock comp together. “Pawns of the Apocalypse” came to mind with what was happening in the world at the time, and still is. We are still all “Pawns of the Apocalypse”.
Full tracklist and insert for "Pawns of the Apocalypse" with Squeal artwork
NI: Who is Miles Orkin that also compiled "Pawns Of The Apocalypse"?
RR: Miles was a coworker/friend and helped put the mag together for a number of years (great guy). Local skater and played in a band called MCM and the Monster. We simply shared musical tastes and decided to collaborate.
NI: Who's idea was it to ask U.K. anarcho punk artist Squeal to do the cover art?
RR: The way I remember, I consulted with Pus, and he had recently complied and did the legendary Vol. 7 “Noise Forest” compilation, which inspired me too. Pushead agree to do title lettering and we both mutually thought Squeal (whom he knew personally) would be a great choice to ask to do "cover" art. Sequel agreed without hesitation, and in turn I conveyed to him my concept ideas... Worked out I think.
NI: You mentioned Volume 7 - "Noise Forest," which was the only volume compiled by Pushead himself. Were you involved in helping out with that volume at all? To me, it's kind of like a second part to his "Cleanse The Bacteria" compilation.
RR: I would agree to a point Volume 7 being "Cleanse Vol. 2," but you know doing subsequent volumes of nay comps throughout is hit and miss, but "Noise Forest" was well thought out. As for my participation, best I can remember is having the privilege of just talking and consulting ("Hey Rick, whata ya think") to Pus about its concept and progress coming together. I mean who else would of came up with the cover art and title, no one other than Pushead. "Noise Forest" was not a rush job, I assure you. Procured with Pus-vision and care, as you know.
Skate Rock Volume 7 "Noise Forest" ad from the June 1989 issue of Thrasher
NI: Some of the earlier volumes of the Skate Rock series had vinyl pressings. Was a vinyl version of "Pawns Of The Apocalypse" ever discussed?
RR: Not really, we probably we all felt it was sufficient enough for cassette format.
NI: Were there any bands you can recall that you reached out to that declined to be on any of the volumes you did?
RR: Probably a few but not many, that’s for sure. And if they did refuse, it probably made sense (for them) at the time. Never seemed like being unenthused or negative about being on a "Skate Rock" comp. I was sincere about inviting bands on the comps, and asked respectfully with no expectations.
NI: What was the reaction to the comps at the time? It seems as though they gained popularity outside of skateboarding as well? For instance, I know they were mentioned in a Rough Trade retrospective.
RR: I didn’t know that about Skate Rock comps being mentioned by Rough Trade, that’s cool. But in my mind, some people went "ape shit" over them and couldn’t wait for the next one. More or less. Can’t remember anyone saying they were "turds".
NI: Are you surprised by how much used copies of each volume sell for today?
RR: Ha, pretty stupid I think, and for most volumes there was several identical cassette pressings, word to the wise. However, it’s just "reality" when it comes to the few vinyl releases fetching high $.
NI: Any plans by Thrasher to reissue any of the compilations again in some format?
RR: No.
NI: Along with his regular contributions to Maximum Rock N Roll, Pushead's Puszone columns were hugely influential and must reads in the 1980s. Is there any chance Thrasher/High Speed Productions compiling all the Puszone for release?
RR: I doubt it, perhaps in the way you’re asking. But most Thrasher issues are digitized and available online.
NI: Any final thoughts or anything else you can share on them?
RR: These releases were meant for fun, and for the bands, plain and simple! We are all still "Pawns of the Apocalypse". And thanks for asking me to take part.
Skate Rock Volume 9 "Pawns of the Apocalypse" ad from the January 1991 issue of Thrasher
Credits:
Rick Rotsaert warehouse photo from the personal archives of Rick Rotsaert and used with permission.
All magazine excerpts from the Thrasher Magazine Archive online.
Photos with the Skate Rock tape collection from the collection of Negative Insight staff.