An Interview with Roberto 'Bluebird' Ruggeri of OmOm Records
Chief Honcho for One of Italyıs Standout Indie Labels
By: Dick Stewart, The Lance Monthly
2003-04-10
[Lance Monthly] What's your age, marital status, number of children (if
any), and where were you born and now reside?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] [I was] born in Roma back in 1956, when Elvis
was revolutionizing the planet. [I] have an 24-year-old son named Mattia. [I] now live in Bali, Indonesia, and two
months [out of the year] in Italy.
[Lance Monthly] Were you a musician before you became a label owner?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Yes, I was and still am a musician (I did the
Johnny B. Goode slow version on the AGR), and I've been playing the blues
for many years. Then I stepped on the Cosmonauti's music and brought them
into a studio for their first full-length album. So even if the Beach Boys
and all the other surf bands of the past have always been in my ears, it's
only when I started with them that I realized that I could go on that way
and release more surf music. Of course, the surf scene is small and the
money is not that much, but itıs a good scene: pure and honest, and it seems
that everybody knows that we're NOT [just] in it for the money. So the label
grew up thanks [in part] to great people like Jamie Murray, Phil Dirt, Paul
Borelli, and Jim Dundfrund who organized (via email only) our first US tour.
It was a good success!
After that, I produced another Italian band called Bradipos Four. Then the
first tribute to Burt Bacharach [release] gave the label good credibility on
the scene, and the one after [that], "American Graffiti Revisited," doubled
it. Now with Susan and the Surftonesı new album, we [have] moved a step
further into the US market. The great cover by Wayno will shock the people
enough to [get] them talking, and I'm already working on my next projects in
which I really believe, but maybe you have more questions before this.
[Lance Monthly] What was it like growing up with your birth family? Were
there a lot of aspiring musicians?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] My parents [have] run a record store since
1955, and I grew up with the GOOD music all around. I used to listen to
Elvis, Aretha Franklin, the Stax sound, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard,
Woody Guthrie, and all of [those] who were so famous at that time (and still
are!).
[Lance Monthly] So at what age did you become a musician, what were the
names of your bands, and what genres did you specialize in?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] I started playing guitar at the age of 12, but
I had my first gig at 14. I was 18 when I formed my first band, Top Deck
Travel, playing gigs almost every night. We played mostly blues after that.
An English girl [named Janet] joined the band on vocals and guitar and we
started touring all over the country [during which] the name changed to
RUNNING WILD (before the other band from northern Europe came up with the
same name).
When Janet left to go back to England, we changed the line up to piano, two
guitars, bass drums, and violin. [We] played steady rock-blues with some
jazz influence. [We performed] at the big festivals as [an] opening [act]
for people like Dizzie Gillespie, Muddy Waters (we did the whole Italian
tour with him), and many more.
[Lance Monthly] You say that you did the Johnny B. Goode slow version on
AGR. Could you elaborate more on that?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] That was the only song left [on the compilation
that wasnıt picked up by the] surf bands and I needed to release the CD. So
I called my band [together] (guitar, bass & drum) and got into the studio. I
had this crazy idea of a slow version, so we talked about it and we recorded
[it] in two hours "live." We did the same for the song "This Guy Is in Love
with You" that you [can] find on the Bacharach tribute
[Lance Monthly] How strong is the surf instro genre in Italy, and would you
say that the fan base is growing at a rapid pace?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] It is stronger than jazz I would say, even if
the record industry does not realize it, but I would say that yes, the fans
are getting closer to this genre.
[Lance Monthly] Who are the high profile surf artists that had the greatest
influence on you?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] [The] Beach Boys, of course, then [came] Jan &
Dean and Dick Dale
[Lance Monthly] Who would you say is the hottest surf act in Italy right
now?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Cosmonauti and Bradipos Four, not because they
are on my label.
[Lance Monthly] Is OmOm your first label and did you bring in some partners
to help you launch it?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] No, I had another label for 15 years [before
OmOm in which] we reissued back catalogs for the majors in very limited
collectorsı editions. Then we released [an album by] a rock band called
Aleph, but [soon after], they split. No one helped me on the OmOm thing
[except] my wife, who does all the artwork.
[Lance Monthly] You say Dick Dale and the Beach Boys were your greatest
influences. How about some other well-known '50s and '60s instro groups like
The Ventures, The Fireballs, Duane Eddy, Davie Allan and the Arrows etc.?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Honestly, I have always listened to black
music, so if I have to pick bands from those periods I'd go for Frankie
Lymon, Mills Bros., James Brown, Chuck berry, and all the Doo-Woop and R&B
ones. Maybe, only Duane Eddy was on my record player.
[Lance Monthly] Rob, give our readers the names of some of the new-wave surf
bands (not on your label) that impress you.
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Sex Bomba and Langhorns mostly, then I like a
lot [of] Petty Booka, even if we cannot place them in the surf scene.
[Lance Monthly] Who are the bands that are presently signed with your OmOm
label and give our readers some information about each group's present
activity in the music world in reference to upcoming tours, venues, and
album releases.
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Cosmonauti, Bradipos Four & Susan & Surftones.
You [can] check all the gigs on Susanıs website. I will try and take all of
them to the 2005 SXSW Fest to have a sort of OmOm festival, but [this is]
just an idea. Albums: Besides the Jesus Christ Surferstar comp [which should
be] out in a few days (where you can listen to songs by Susan), just
[released] in Croatia [is] the tribute [album] to Morricone [which contains
tracks by] both Cosmos and Bradipos.
[Lance Monthly] How did you come up with the name, OmOm? Does it have a
special meaning?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] OmOm is an Indonesia word for a man who is not
too old and not too young. [He] has enough money to do what he likes, but
[it] is [also] a funny word that means a man who enriched peace in his soul.
I decided to use this word for this last meaning.
[Lance Monthly]> I'm always stirred by those who have mastered a second
language such as yourself. I guess itıs because I'm bilingual with Spanish
being my second language. Is taking English in the Italian schools a high
priority for anyone who wants to do well in the business world?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Thanks for this even if I don't think I speak
it so well. I've studied it at school since I was ten, but I think that it
came to me this way since I was 18. I started to visit your country twice a
year and then I lived on the South Side of Chicago for a while [during] the
end of the 70s, [being] one of the few whites in a black [neighborhood].
[This was] one of my best memories. I used to play my harp with all those
incredible people like Junior Wells (he has been my tutor and taught me how
to play harmonica in the right way, but most of all, he taught me how to
relate to black people. I [have] never had a problem [in that black
community] even at five o'clock in the morning. You know, everyone is still
[telling me] that if you go back to the South Side you better beware, but it
was not like that for me. Maybe they knew I was playing every night with
Junior, but I love to go back to that period. It was great and fun. [There
were] lots of music [and the] gigs started at one o'clock in the morning
until five [A.M.]. It was kinda crazy, but great. I could tell you more &
more on this, but [it has] nothing to do with surf. Spanish: I speak that
too like I speak English.
[Lance Monthly] Are you strict in the traditional sense in the instrumental
delivery by your groups? In other words, is it all about the reverb with no
room for distortion?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] No, I try to release the albums I like,
[regardless] if [they] are instros with reverb or [with] distortion. In
fact, I'm working on a new blues album by an old singer [who was] famous
back in the O70s named Mama Lion (Lynn Carey), [as well as new albums] on
some other surf bands. But I'll let you know.
[Lance Monthly] Rob, do you have another occupation or do you devote
yourself full-time to OmOm records?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] If you check our website (www.omomworld.com,
you can see another section called WAVES. There you [will] find that we also
produce apparel--mostly surf gear. So yes, we are devoted to the world of
surf in both music and real life.
[Lance Monthly] Who distributes OmOm in Italy, and what other countries are
carry your label?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Italy? I don't know yet. I have no distribution
here, even if I had [a] few offers that I'm checking [on], but no hurry.
Other countries: Japan (King Int'l), Belgium & Holland (Sonic Rendevouz),
New Zealand (Migraine). Also all the catalog will be soon available in Asia
(Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, China & more)
Few titles already came out in Philippinies.
[Lance Monthly] Do you have plans on releasing an album that will focus on
your musical expressions?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] I'm working on it and will probably have [a]
few special guests on it like Mama Lyon & Marc Ribot. The title will
probably be "Hungry Streets."
[Lance Monthly] Being a label owner is a tough undertaking. Have you had any
discouraging moments and just want to give it up?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Yes, every time I talk to a so-called musical
expert, to a journalist, or anyone working for a major [label], but as
Alexis Korner once said, "That's the Blues, man!"
[Lance Monthly] So is OmOm a label that releases only surf-instrumental
music? Are there any vocal artists, and does your label have plans for
groups in other genres?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] You know, it all started with surf music, so
this genre will [continue on my label], but as I said before, I'm working on
some different music too, like the new Lynn Carey album. She is a great
blues-rock vocalist, and I'm sure it'll turn out well. I have many ideas,
and I think you can see that [in reference to compilations], I always
include musicians from different music fields (petty booka, mummy etc.) [in
order] to expand the horizon of the surf genre. [It ties in somewhat] to
instro-music, which is good but . . . itıs not the only good music.
[Lance Monthly] Rob, I'm sure you're always on the hunt for new talent. What
qualifications do you look for in a band for your label?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Something like 25 years ago, a great producer
here in Italy told me that because he was receiving so many tapes (no cds at
that time), he should of charged the musicians. Checking and listening to
all the tapes was just too much and [he added that] maybe a natural
selection (in this case, the obvious selection would be any band that sends
money with the tape) was the need. He was joking, of course, but when you
get so many tapes or CDs like [I do] now, you have to listen well. Most of
the time the quality is not [good] enough.
So what I'm looking [for] is a good artist, not a good "virtuoso" [who is]
stuck up and nervous . . . just a simple, good person to work with. [There
are] some incredible soloists, but then [most] have too many problems in
handling the situation. I just want to deal with simple individuals and
release a good album. If it sells, then I'm happy and so is the musician. If
it doesnıt sell, [at least, we can say] we tried and weıll both be happy we
[put together] a good product. I don't want to be stressed by individuals
who [expect] videos, big promotions, and all that stuff [from] such a small
market like surf music. So what I [like to do is have] a good talk in the
beginning and see what the expectations of each artist are.
[Lance Monthly] What, in your opinion, is the main difference in the
surf-instro rock efforts by the U.S. and Canadian-based bands and that of
the European groups?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] If you compare US bands [with that of the]
Italian or European bands (but mostly Italians), the big difference is in
the melody. US Bands don't have that heritage, so even if they are better
musicians, their music misses melody.
[Lance Monthly] Would you like to sign more U.S. and Canadian surf groups?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Yes, and if you want the names, I'd like to
sign Voodoo Court, Drifting Sand, Urban Surf Kings, Capacitors, and the
Fabulous Planktones for the surf scene. But my dream is to produce albums by
Brian Auger, Lynn Carey, Marc Ribot and Larry Taylor.
[Lance Monthly] Is OmOm interested in releasing reissues by first-wave
instrumental bands?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Not at all. Too many labels are doing it, but
even if they werenıt, I [still would] have no interest in that. It's a
completely different way of working. I did it for RCA for many years with no
joy, and I would never do it again.
[Lance Monthly] What, in your opinion, is the future of surf instrumentals?
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] If we all stop calling it "surf music" and
begin referring to it as just "instro music," I think that the potential [of
this genre] will increase. But if we [continue to] call it "surf music," we
give it a too sharp definition that [will decrease] the chances of making
[this music] bigger.
[Lance Monthly] Rob, thank you for your participation in this interview. You
have provided some great insight into the challenges of an indie-label
owner. I wish you continued success and certainly, a high-profile hit!
[Roberto "Bluebird" Ruggeri] Thanks to you Dick. I really wish you greater
success!
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