RKL releasing 1989 concert for ‘Live In A Dive’ (stream a track)15 '80s Punk Albums That Shaped the '90s/'00s Pop Punk Boom

Thrashy punk vets RKL (aka Rich Kids on LSD) were a massive influence on NOFX, Lagwagon, and other skate punk bands and their '80s material left an undeniable mark on the pop punk boom of the following decade, so it's very exciting that they've unearthed a concert recording from their classic era for the tenth installment of Fat Wreck Chords' Live in a Dive series. It was recorded on May 12, 1989 in Holland and largely includes songs from 1987's Rock N Roll Nightmare and it comes out June 3 via Fat (pre-order). Here's some background info, via press release:

The tenth installment of Fat Wreck’s Live in a Dive series takes us back over 30 years to Eindhoven, Holland. The date is May 12, 1989, not too long before Montecito, CA punks RKL – aka Rich Kids On LSD – will call it quits (for the first time, anyway). In fact, at this point, the wheels are wobbly and are starting to fall off the band. Their time in Europe is surrounded by hash smoke, booze, drugs, and debauchery that is only exacerbated by their youthful, carefree abandon. Strain is also taking its toll from hard van touring, sleepless nights, heavy drinking, drug use, and tension that is beginning to form like barnacles on the RKL ship. Especially between vocalist Jason Sears & drummer Richard ‘Bomer’ Manzullo who are struggling with the direction of the band seven years into its career. Not that you can tell that from these songs. The 17-song set – a good chunk of which is culled from 1987’s album Rock ’n Roll Nightmare – was recorded at famed Eindhoven squat-turned-venue De Effenaar, and is beautifully ragged and raw. In fact, it sounds like the band members are having the time of their lives. Probably because, despite everything going on behind the scenes, when they were onstage they were having the time of their lives!

“This definitely brings back the excitement of those days,” says Joe Raposo, who joined the band as a bassist in 1987. “Even the rough times, which were harsh, were still exciting, I have to admit. Having to deal with the musical direction change that Bomer was adamant about was definitely a bummer, as we all loved the sound of Rock N Roll Nightmare and wanted to pursue that sound for new songs. Which I think is kinda ironic, because Bomer was the one that wrote most of all the music on that album! But that’s just how he was, always progressing. Dealing with the escalation of heavy drug use was not fun and taking a toll on the members not participating. But listening to this album also brings back all of the wonderful memories of the fun we had on the road, touring in a van with [Destiny Records founder] Dave Pollack. We were all really young and just living life and going for it. We were in our teens and early twenties, and we were literally having the best time of our lives together, you know? It was like live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse!”

The first single is a ripping rendition of "Scab On My Brain," and you can hear that and check out the full tracklist below.

Fat Mike, cover artist Dan Sites, and RKL's Chris Rest also just discussed RKL history on Fat Mike's Fat Mic.

Tracklist
1. Lies
2. Beautiful Feeling
3. Break the Camel's Back
4. Hangover
5. Coming Home
6. Lay Your Weapons Down
7. Scab on My Brain
8. Drink Positive
9. Tribute to the Jester
10. Blocked Out
11. Rumors
12. Life in a Bottle
13. Meltdown
14. Rock N Roll Nightmare
15. Pothead
16. Why?
17. Ded Teds

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15 '80s Punk Albums That Shaped the '90s/'00s Pop Punk Boom