Since 2000, Crud has been giving some of the most talked-about live performances in the city of Detroit and beyond. They've been known to wear vinyl, perform in their underwear, wear pasties, play strip joints and have even shared their stage with some scary-ass, bad-mannered puppets. Crud's 'super-charged sex rock' has been compared to White Zombie and Ministry and their latest CD, “Devil At The Wheel”, was described by one fan as, ‘'a thoroughly enjoyable romp through the kind of sleazo, nitrous oxide-injected rock'n'roll that anyone with a taste for nasty guitars and pounding rhythms is gonna dig’. Couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Crud’s label, Full Effect Records, will be sending the crew on tour in support of the international release of “Devil At The Wheel”. I caught up with frontman Vin E Dombrowski (Sponge, Orbitsuns) and bassist Dana Forrester (60 Second Crush) this week via e-mail.
Click “read more” below for a short interview and a YouTube clip of their video, “Reality”.



MB: Crud’s image is, as you put it in a recent press release, “delicious gritty decadence”. Your show has been promoted as “Intoxicating and provocative” and the record you’re re-releasing this Saturday at TNT’s is called “Devil At The Wheel”. With all the Christian music and religious themes creeping into the mainstream media in the last year, do you think ‘gritty decadace’ still in vogue?

VD:  I don't know if gritty decadance was ever in vogue as far as rock and roll is concerned.
DF: To me rock and roll is dirty and dangerous. So yes, GRITTY DECADANCE ALL THE WAY!

MB: This week has seen a lot of reflection in the media about the 1967 Detroit riots which occurred 40 years ago this week. How do you feel about being known in other countries as the “dirty and dangerous Crud from Detroit" when the city wants so badly to change it's image?

DF: I think it's okay and even necessary for rock to be dirty and dangerous. In terms of the City of Detroit, Crud was born in this asphalt jungle. Let's face it - you can spin it anyway you want but “The D” will never stand for Disneyland.

MB:  The copyright royalty board recently threatened the existence of
internet broadcasters with massive rate hikes (currently pending). Do
you think the extinction of independent internet broadcasters would
hurt your record sales?

VD:  I think great music always finds a way. So it won't hurt sales.

DF:  I love that the music gets out there, but there has to be a balance. Gas isn't free, so our music shouldn't be either.

MB: Do potential royalties outweigh the benefits of internet radio promotion? How about for less established bands?

DF: In terms of internet radio, we don't have our minds made up on that one yet. Obviously, we want people to hear our music but at the same time we deserve to get paid. 

MB: Where does Crud get most of its record sales?

DF: Most of Crud's record sales are from the internet. Are there even any brick and mortar record stores left? It's really sad. Locally, RecordTime and Noir Leather still sell our disc. But our sales are definitely driven by our live shows, MySpace, word of mouth and national reviews. iTunes is a biggy.

MB: Now that the internet has become the distributor of choice for most
music consumers, why do you even need an international release?

VD: The international release of “Devil At The Wheel” gives us the opportunity to tour over seas.

MB: Where, when and for how long will you be touring and who's picking up the tab for all those frequent trips to Amsterdam?

DF: We're doing a tour in the UK in October - headlining the Whitby Gothfest and a bunch of dates in London, Newcastle and Scotland.  We're also rocking Rue Morgue Magazine's Festival of Fear in August in Toronto. 
As far as who’s picking up the tab? Well, that's why we have a record label. But the people at our label (Full Effect Records ) are bigger partiers than we are. As long as they don't stick us with their tab we'll be all right!

MB: C’mon, do you really need to re-release “Devil At The Wheel” or is this just an excuse for us to wear latex at TNT’s this Saturday night?

DF: Yes latex, leather, vinyl, rubber...whipped cream...we want it all!

VD: If you want to wear latex, more power to you.

MB: Likely a sight that would frighten even your audience!

- Mitch

Crud will be performing at TNT's in Clinton Twp. this Saturday, July 28th. For more information, go to TNTsBar.com

Watch the video of "Reality" by Crud courtesy of YouTube