The groups name came about as a mere fluke from some light hearted criticism. According to vocalist Jason Sears in a 2002 interview with Thrasher magazine: “It happened that some guy said, 'Ha, those kids will never be anything, they're just a bunch of rich kids on LSD, man.' The first party we played we didn't have a name for the band, so we put that one on the flier and it just stuck.”
Their musical evolution can be heard on their webpage, which features "RKL Radio" with nearly all of their songs streamed including a complete discography.
RKL break-up and return
After a couple line-up changes in the late eighties and early nineties, the original vocalist Jason Sears returned to the band in 1994 to help finish their European tour. This sparked the band to record its first album, Riches to Rags, with him in a little under a decade. The band suffered an ill-fated break-up in 1996 which led most of the members of the band to go on to other projects and form new bands. However only a year later did the band return with most of its previous members minus drummer Dave Raun and guitarist Barry "D'Live" Ward who had their spots filled by Boz Rivera and Chris Flippin.
Guitarist Chris Rest and the bands original drummer Richard "Bomer" Manzullo, formed The Other with Mad Caddies drummer Boz Rivera. Boz would later go on to join RKL when they reunited in 1997.
Former guitarist Barry Ward otherwise known as "Barry D'Live" went on to play with such acts as Hotbox as well as playing under the alias "The Wooper" with the group he currently resides in, the Crosstops. He also stood in for some bands on tour such as filling in for Me First and the Gimme Gimmes guitarist Chris Shiflett (who also plays for the Foo Fighters) as well as being hired on as Balsac the Jaws of Death for the theatrical shock rock group GWAR.
Former drummer Dave Raun, Chris Rest and future member Chris Flippin joined the Goleta based punk band Lagwagon. Dave also went on to play drums for the all-star cover band, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.
Bassist Joe Raposo along with Chris Rest and Boz Rivera also compose half of the San Francisco based group King City.
Vocalist Jason Sears did a track for a Snot tribute album to their late lead singer Lynn Strait. He later did an album with the San Diego based band Mercury Legion.
RKL today
On March 30, 2005, Derrick Plourde, former drummer of RKL, who also played in Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut, Jaws, and The Ataris, committed suicide. Lagwagon paid tribute to Derrick with their 2005 release of the album Resolve.
On December 12, 2005, the original drummer Richard Anthony Manzullo (aka "Bomer") died due to heart failure at his home in Summerland, California. The cause of death was the result of a long time battle with drug addictions.
On January 31, 2006, Jason Sears died due to complications while undergoing a detox treatment involving ibogaine in Tijuana, Mexico. The cause of death was the result of a pulmonary embolism caused by thrombosis.
Currently the future for RKL remains uncertain. There are rumors of an "RKLAOKE" show sometime in the Summer of 2006 as a benefit concert to raise money for Jason's kids. The show as well as time and venue have yet to be confirmed. The show would feature the remaining members of the band playing all the past favorites with different members of the audience.
Past and present band members of R.K.L.
Current Lineup (1997-2005)
Jason Sears -- vocals
Chris Flippin -- guitar
Chris Rest -- guitar
Joe Raposo -- bass
Boz Rivera -- drums
Lineup (1994-1996)
Jason Sears -- vocals
Barry Ward -- guitar
Chris Rest -- guitar
Joe Raposo -- Bass
Dave Raun -- drums
Lineup (1992-1993)
Bomer Manzullo -- vocals
Barry Ward -- guitar
Chris Rest -- guitar
Joe Raposo -- Bass
Dave Raun -- drums
Lineup (1987-1989)
Jason Sears -- vocals
Joe Raposo -- bass
Barry Ward -- guitar
Chris Rest -- guitar
"Bomer" Manzullo -- drums
Lineup (1985-1987)
Jason Sears -- vocals
Vince Peppars -- bass
Chris Rest -- guitar
Barry Ward -- guitar
"Bomer" Manzullo -- drums
Original lineup (1983-1985)
Jason Sears -- vocals
Vince Peppars -- bass
Chris Rest -- guitar
"Alpo" -- guitar
"Bomer" Manzullo -- drums
R.K.L. Discography
Nardcore, Compilation LP (Mystic Records, 1984; "US Steel", "Lies", "No Respect")
It's a Beautiful Feeling, 7" EP (Mystic Records, 1984)
Covers, Compilation LP (Mystic Records, 1984; "Chinese Rocks")
Mystic Super Seven Sampler #1, Compilation LP (Mystic Records, 1984)
Return to Slimey Valley LP , Compilation LP (Mystic Records, 1985; "Evil In You")
Keep Laughing LP (Mystic Records, 1985)
RocK 'n Roll Nightmare LP (Alchemy Records, 1987; re-released on CD by Epitaph Records)
Double Live in Berlin LP (Destiny Records, 1989; recorded live in Germany on 1988 tour)
Reactivate LP (Epitaph Records, 1993)
Riches to Rags LP (Epitaph Records, 1994)
Revenge is a Beautiful Feeling, CD (2000?)
Keep Laughing (w/ It's a Beautiful Feeling), Mystic Re-release, CD (2002)
Videos
Still Flailing After All These Beers, VHS (1997)
Feelings Of Hate
RKL Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To what you despise.
There is no wrong in being dead
It's where you belong.
Take a knife, cut off your head.
Feelings Of Hate.
You can't escape a troubled mind
Is what you will find.
May be alive.
But you gotta remember,
That it's in your eyes.
In your eyes the pain is strong
To what you despise.
There is no wrong in being dead
It's where you belong.
Take a knife, cut off your head.
Feelings Of Hate.
You can't escape a troubled mind
Is what you will find.
You may feel dead,
May be alive.
But you gotta remember,
That it's in your eyes.
In your eyes!
Are these Feelings of Hate!
You can't escape.
These Feelings Of Hate!
You can't escape!
They will always be in your mind.
Always see it in your eyes.
The lyrics of RKL's song "Feelings of Hate" revolve around despair, hopelessness, and suicide. The song encapsulates the inner turmoil and dark thoughts that someone may experience when they are in a place of deep emotional pain. The first verse talks about how the pain is strong in the eyes of the person who feels despised. The lyrics also imply that the person no longer sees a reason to live and that they belong in the world beyond.
The chorus emphasizes the sense of hopelessness, suggesting that the feelings of hate that the person is experiencing are ever-present, and that they are inescapable. The repetition of the lyrics "You can't escape a troubled mind" also emphasizes the confinement of mental anguish.
The second verse tries to highlight the reality of the person's situation. They may "feel dead" on the inside although they may be physically alive. The lyrics "But you gotta remember, that it's in your eyes" suggest that the emotions that they are feeling is evident when one looks at their eyes.
Overall, "Feelings of Hate" is a song that speaks to the deep emotional pain that someone may experience. It seeks to give words to the thoughts and feelings that someone may be too afraid or too ashamed to articulate.
Line by Line Meaning
In your eyes the pain is strong
The pain that you feel is evident in your eyes.
To what you despise.
It is directed towards the things that you hate and reject.
There is no wrong in being dead
Death is not necessarily a bad thing.
It's where you belong.
Death is the ultimate destiny of every person.
Take a knife, cut off your head.
A graphic and disturbing suggestion of suicide.
Feelings Of Hate.
The song's title and central theme- strong emotions of hatred.
You can't escape a troubled mind
It is impossible to escape a troubled and disturbed state of mind.
Is what you will find.
It is an inevitable conclusion.
You may feel dead,
Even if you feel emotionally or mentally dead.
May be alive.
You may seem to be alive to others.
But you gotta remember,
It is important to understand.
That it's in your eyes.
The feelings of hate are clearly visible in your eyes.
In your eyes!
Repeated emphasis on how visible the emotions are.
Are these Feelings of Hate!
A direct question directed towards the listener.
You can't escape.
It is impossible to get rid of these feelings.
They will always be in your mind.
The feelings of hate are deeply ingrained in your thoughts.
Always see it in your eyes.
They will always be visible in your eyes.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
giovanni la vigna
Nothing is more hardcore than RKL!!!!😁😁😁😍😍😍
PLEROMATIC
RIP JASON SEARS
One of a kind. Real. Down to earth person.
Unbelievably nice to me, a fan since I was 13 or 14 years old. Met him in county jail and remained friends till he died 2 years later. Life
zee k
NARDCORE MADNESS!
Hector Briones
simplemente punk..!!
Onutube
How the fuck can you have a broken arm and still accomplish something like this. I just don't understand how this can be this good with a fucked up wrist
Randall Blatchley
805 punk!
Doug Moody
thanks for Supporting the Groups and Mystic! Cheers Doug
negative image
thank you for the music
Diana Duras
mystic records was shit label who rip off all his bands.this album keep laughing,mystic record do without permissin of the band,and rkl always say dont buy on mystic.all this bands who recording for mystic records in the 80.was young in thath time rkl,no fx,dr.know,etc was 15,16 years old kids,and mystic record put out theirs albums,and bands dont get any money.all this bands was really good,and mystic know that,and abuse it.especially rkl.rkl sued the mystic record.
A C
almosta got a m r tatoo while in amsterdam 84