I love music and I read lots of books. I like to write, take naps, and go for walks with Laura and Dolly. I spend at least two or three afternoons a week at the LA County Zoo watching the chimpanzees. I enjoy the sport of golf. As a kid I wore a top hat and overalls. These days I'm partial to hooded sweatshirts and oversized boots. I'm intersted in old world craftsmanship, the concept of waiting, making mistakes, and saying I'm sorry. I very much like things that are flawed. In my world slow and steady wins the race.
Music
Lots of albums that used to belong to Greg Shaw, Don Snowden and Cary Baker. 50's rock and roll/rockabilly.
Movies
Easy Rider, The Grapes Of Wrath, and On Any Sunday.
Television
I prefer programs about animals, nature, history or science, and I still watch the Simpsons and King of the Hill religiously.
Books
Anything by John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, Jack Kerouac, Richard Brautigan or Alan Watts, Chronicles by Bob Dylan, and the Federalist Papers. Anything about chimpanzees.
Heroes
My parents and sisters, my wife Laura, Grandpa Elmer and Grandma Jessie, Geoff Merritt, Fred Anderson, Paul Chastain, Joe Pernice, Darren Rademaker, John Steinbeck, Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Paul Rand, Virginia Lee Burton, Walt Kelly, Baby Dodds, Chick Webb, Gene Krupa, Jo Jones, Ray McKinnley, Sid Catlett, Dave Tough, Buddy Rich, Cozy Cole, Earl Palmer, Charlie Watts, Richard Starkey, Levon Helm, Roger Hawkins, Buddy Harman (RIP), Viv Prince, Al Jackson Jr, Jim Gordon, Hal Blaine, Joe Morello, Brad Carlson, Mick Rain, Stan Lynch, Larry Knetchel, the God-like Clarence White, Cliff Gallup, Grady Martin, Mike Campbell, Greg Leisz, Mitch Easter, James Burton, James Walbourne, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Billy Miller, Miriam Linna, Mike Stax, Roger Fouts, Jane Goodall, Frans De Waal, Charles Schultz, Sergio Aragones, Peter Cook, Cary Baker, Greg Shaw, Ken Barnes, Paul Nelson, Bob, Tom and Seth at Freakbeat Records (Sherman Oaks, Ca.), Sampson (the gorilla), Jungle Pam, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, John Force, and all the lonely truck drivers of this great nation (best sweet rolls in the world found at Johnson's Corner outside Fort Collins, Colorado).
About me: I'm tall and skinny. I mostly prefer animals to people. I've been playing drums since I was just a sprig. Over the years I've provided the teenage beat for artists as divergent as Matthew Sweet, Susanna Hoffs, the Del Reys, the Tyde, the Pernice Brothers, Aimee Mann, Stephen Duffy, Mia Doi Todd, Frausdots, the Gigilo Aunts, Andrew, Bitter Bitter Weeks, the Novenas, the Quarter After, Marianne Faithfull, Liz Phair, Shoes, Bobby Sutliff, the Windbreakers, Parthenon Huxley, Darren Cooper, the Flatmates, Choo Choo Train, the Springfields, the Blinkies, Get Smart, the Reverbs, and of course, the little band that couldn't, Velvet Crush. If you'd like, I'll play drums on your record too! Just released is my new 7-inch 45 RPM vinyl single available via Parasol Records (www.parasol.com). The top deck features a version of "Hey War Pigs" by Kimberley Rew (Soft Boys, Waves), and on the flip there's a cover of "Teenage Head" by the Flamin' Groovies. If you're into unhinged rock & roll instrumentals, investigate the debut album by the Del Reys, on which I play the traps. It's called "Savage Instrumental", and copies are available out of the trunk of my car at the next Del Reys show. Finally on the racks (although I've never seen it) is my book about the Byrds' incredible Notorious Byrd Brothers album. It's part of the much lauded 33 1/3 series printed exclusively by Continuum Publishing of New York and London, and should be available in hipper bookstores around the globe (or try amazon). I am partial operator (with my best buddy Geoff Merritt) of a label called REACTION RECORDINGS that specializes in reissuing classic albums from decades past. We're extremely excited about the release of Field Of Fire, the second solo album by legendary Televsion guitarist RICHARD LLOYD, which has now been expanded to include a remastered version of the original album as well as a completely disassembled and re-worked version of same. The new Field Of Fire package also includes extensive liner notes by Richard and venerable rock journalist Bill Flanagan, as well as unseen photos from the original album sessions. Besides Richard's album, Reaction has also released compact disc recordings by THE ACTION (60's mod/psych legends from Great Britain), THE CRIPPLED PILGRIMS (underapprecaited 80's post-punk jangle from Washington D.C.), THE VERTEBRATS (equally underappreciated late 70's garage grit from Champaign, Illinois), and the one and only musical album by WALT KELLY (creator of "Pogo", the most beloved cartoon possum in all of history). All of these fine discs can be obtained directly from www.parasol.com.
Who I'd like to meet: Clarence White, or maybe Eddie Cochran.
Better get your mentoring boots on - or are you and Laura going on another cross country trip? Or are you touring in early November? he he - watch for the email. :)
Good news! The brand new powerpopcompilation "Souvenirs" is being released this week! It contains 21 great North American powerpop tracks from 1975-95. You can hear three of the songs that just have been uploaded on our Myspage page. The CD includes great tracks by Ric..s former bands Choo Choo Train and The Reverbs. The CD also contains a previously unreleased song by the great Canadian band Pointed Sticks recorded in the late 70..s. It is availabe from Not Lame Records and Kool Kat Musik, and it will very soon be available from CD Baby.
STEVE WYNN & the MIRACLE 3 perform MEDICINE SHOW! 25th Anniversary of the seminal Dream Syndicate album “Medicine Show”. New York and Los Angeles shows only!
SAT. JUNE 27 - NEW YORK @ The Bell House (Park Slope, Brooklyn) STEVE WYNN & the Miracle 3 @ 9:30 Paramount Styles (feat. Scott McCloud of Girls Against Boys) @ 8:30 Doug Gillard (of Guided by Voices and Death of Samantha) @ 7:30 http://www.thebellhouseny.com
SAT. JULY 9 - LOS ANGELES @ The Echo (Echo Park) STEVE WYNN & the Miracle 3 @ 9:30pm The Urinals @ 8:30pm http://www.attheecho.com
gave me great Pleasure to play Velvet Crush on the air tonight. I play it often..and in addition to all the cd's that live in that brown box all covered with stars, address weathered off. And let me tell you, you have some fans. sincerely
Thank you for accepting my friend-request. I enjoy the book you've written about "The Notorious Byrd Brothers": one of my all time favourite-records... All the best from Norway.- H.
Hey Ric...I want to wish you and all you love a wonderful and peaceful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year....Treat Yourself Well....Lotsa Loud!!!
Thanks, Ric. You are -- in the world of melodic rock and pop -- hands down (or feets up, take your pick) the best drummer EVER! Please, produce me! LOL.
Hey Ric, It was great chatting with you again in Nashville. The Atlanta show was even better. Made the drive before I knew about the Nashville show. Paul forgot his Nord on this tour, but the three guitar assault was a nice twist. Pete and Tony killed it as always too. Tell Matthew to play songs from the Japanese album next time- it's an overlooked classic.
Hope you dig our demo tunes. We hope get a full length record together early next year. Thanks for the inspiration since 1991. Superdeformed! Eric Stephen Belin and The Minor Keys
