Call in Dead is a hardcore punk band from OBT in Orlando.

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Scott - Drummer, Chris - Guitar/backup vox, Mike - Bass/backup vox, Ripley - Yelling

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Call In Dead? How long has the band been around?

Chris:

The Cynixs 77 2005
The Plagues 2005-2006
Vaginal Dischsrge 2006 - 2008
Pakalolo’d UP 2009 - 2011
Nuclear Death Squad 2012
Sacred Owles 2013

Scott:

The Slaves to Society 1993-1998
The Abducted -1995-1999
The Overprivileged - 1999-2004
The Twats - 2004-2008
Auxiliary Drummer -

The Schismatics
Died Cheerleader Die
The AKs
The Graveyard School
PCP Roadblock

Mike:

Eyes Up 1995-1996
Losing Streak 1997-1999
Pushmower 1999
Days Of Infamy 1999-2003
Sacred Ground 2002

Ripley:

Numerous bands from 1991-1998
The Products - 2007-2014
The Palest Grey - 2020-2021
Caustic Bats - 2021-current

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

Scott: In the nascent stages of the band we were still searching for a guitarist to replace Chris who had moved far enough away that he briefly quit the previous incarnation of the band. One brief potential guitarist had texted that we should all go to a Darkest Hour show, but like the aging punks we are, we all said we had work in the morning. He responded to “Call in Dead”. Since we have all spent time in jobs where we have felt like we’d rather be dead than go to work, we thought it was a perfect name.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

Scott: Chris writes most of the music with Mike bringing some whole songs or adding parts to Chris’s parts. Lyrically Jaeh wrote them, and now Ripley does. Though Mike and I have written lyrics for a few songs or parts of songs. Even if Chris does have a full song, it tends to change based on drum beat I come up with, bass lines from Mike or vocal ideas from Ripley. It’s all pretty collaborative once we start actually jamming on an idea or riff.

Most of Jaeh’s stuff tended to be related to overcoming personal adversity with a touch of political stuff from me and horror and mental health issues from Mike. Ripley seems to lean towards speaking more to the political or to making the personal political. We think this is great because it adds voice to the thoughts and conversations we share amongst ourselves but never really expressed in song.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

Ripley: Lyrically, sociopolitical problems inspires me, not really any bands. Musically, I don’t know. There are tons of bands who influenced my yelling style. Baker Acted (Miami), Strike Anywhere, Gouge Away, to name a couple.

Scott: I love so many different old school and more recent hardcore and punk bands that its hard to say who inspires me now. I’ve never tried to set out to sound like a band or even drum like anyone else other than liking thing short and fast. I get most my inspiration from my bandmates and trying to grow my style to compliment the ideas and styles they put out there. Nothing ever makes me a better drummer more than playing with people whose style is at least a little different from what I’ve done in the past.

Mike: as Scott said our tastes are all over the place and inspiration comes from many different places. I’d say it all varies on what’s happening at the time or what we are listening to. But for me bands from Bad Religion, Night Birds, All Pigs Must Die, Converge, Iron Reagan, Slayer, Sick Of It All, Black Tusk, Regional Justice Center to name a few.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

Ripley: NOFX

Scott: I’m trying to think of who and what I was listening to when I got my first drum kit in 7th grade and started jamming with kids from my school’s guitar 1 class. I’d just gotten my first CD player, and the first albums I bought were a 4 CD box set of Led Zeppelin. This was quickly followed by Alice in Chains, Anthrax, Juda Priest, Iron Maiden, etc. so I guess I started wanting to play live from the metal bands that I saw on Headbangerz Ball.

Mike: I was forced in to the extreme Evangelical life when I was young, so a lot of Tooth and Nail, Solid State bands in the 90s started that for me. Bands like MXPX, Five Iron Frenzy, Ghoti Hook, Stavesacre. seeing DC Talk and News Boys live when I was like 10 - 12 has some influences there to start as well. But eventually that moved into stuff like Bad Religion and Pennywise lots ot 90s Warped Tour bands which eventually lead me into Hardcore.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

Scott: I’ve tried to use a practice pad to warm up etc., but mostly I just pace and talk to people in five minute increments while drinking and peeing in equal amounts.

Ripley: Vocal exercises and Singer’s Grace spray

Mike: usually some Whiskey and stretching and sipping on some of my “expensive waters “ as they like to put it. Sometimes grabbing my bass at the Merch table or screaming along with something in my truck too.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

Scott: Going on our upcoming tour is going to be it. I haven’t toured since 2007, and the rest of them never have, so I’m so excited to do with with them.

Mike: yea the tour coming up is a big one, but name dropping some of the great acts we’ve gotten to share the stage with over the years: Gutter Demons, Iron Reagan, Unsane, Wrong, Black Tusk, Doyle, Koffin Kats, Casualties, The Virus, Anti Queens off the top of my head.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Scott: Two Man Advantage. They are a killer band and really nice dudes. Plus they take their playing seriously while always remembering that it’s all just punk rock, so you’ve got to have fun.

Ripley: NOFX cause Mike is a lyrical genius, Strike Anywhere because I love their energy, Avail because I love Tim’s delivery and heart.

Mike: I’ll go local FL on this one… our Friends in 430 Steps, Moat Cobra, 21 Disfunction would make for a killer time.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This current tour wouldn’t even be a tour with the help of Gary from Worser/Rat Milk Collective, David from Max Levine Ensemble/Bad Moves, Steve from RATH & The Wiseguys and Rick from Geared 4 Productions, so I want to thank them all especially Dave and Gary who were willing to help out an old friend that they’ve barely seen let alone talked to in over a decade. Punk isn’t just music, it’s community.

SPOTIFY / APPLE MUSIC / FACEBOOK / YOUTUBE / BANDCAMP