Against forgetting: On January 3, 2013, RED TAPE PARADE will release their two studio albums "Ballads Of The Flexible Bullet" and "The Third Rail Of Life" digitally for the first time (including bonus tracks and iTunes Deluxe booklet).
It is admirable how positively some people can cope with setbacks without falling into cynicism. Wauz, the frontman of the Regensburg hardcore/punk band RED TAPE PARADE, remained true to himself and his humorous, independent outlook on life until the end, even after being diagnosed with cancer. Not allowing oneself to be determined by external influences. A principle that always defined Wauz's life. In this specific case: To offer cancer as little opportunity to attack as possible. He passed away on April 15, 2013, due to the effects of his illness. Contrary to a slavishly introverted mourning, the band and family environment chose a particularly open approach to the topic of death, which is hardly taken for granted in this form. Not least through the farewell during the final concert of the remaining band members.
A often tabooed topic entered a broad public and received massive sympathy from around the world. What remains are not only firmly anchored memories, but above all the stone-carved song material of the band. The legacy of a singer who has respectfully advanced the legacy of punk rock. On January 3, 2014, RED TAPE PARADE will release their two albums “Ballads Of The Flexible Bullet” and “The Third Rail Of Life” digitally for the first time through Cargo Digital with bonus tracks and iTunes Deluxe booklets.
Driven by fears in their late twenties and their love for melodic hardcore punk from Lagwagon, Good Riddance, and 7 Seconds, RED TAPE PARADE, founded in 2007, released their debut album “Ballads Of The Flexible Bullet” in 2008. Bassist Oise Ronsberger particularly highlights two songs from this release: “Less than a minute” represents very well how we saw RED TAPE PARADE at the founding: As a political hardcore band with a bit of melody and songs under the 1-minute mark. This short, emotional outburst was refined by the guest vocals of Nathan Gray (Boysetsfire). The song “Fingerprints” is also an anthem to the real underground. To all the people and groups who tirelessly work to not only keep real subculture alive but to keep it relevant.” The digital re-release of the album now includes two additional bonus songs that were originally on the split 7” with End Of A Year.
The second studio album “The Third Rail Of Life” (2010) preserved those influences from the early days while simultaneously exuding a mid-90s charm influenced by emocore bands like Boysetsfire, Texas Is The Reason, and Gameface. This balancing act was further strengthened by the high-profile guest appearances of Matthew Davies-Kreye (Funeral For A Friend), Scott Freeman (Shook Ones), and Patrick Kindlon (End Of A Year). But especially the collaboration with skate punk pioneer Joey Cape on the song “Anything else is progress” would become one of the most monumental moments in the band's history: “One can say without hesitation that Joey and his bands Lagwagon and Bad Astronaut were the greatest lyrical and musical influences for Wauz. The fact that he contributed guest vocals for the verse of this song was certainly one of the absolute highlights for Wauz and our band.” According to Oise, “Always stubborn, sometimes hateful” on “The Third Rail Of Life” is also a precisely written self-reflection of Wauz's personality: “At heart a melancholic, a doubter, a 'glass-half-empty' person and yet a hopeless romantic, whose love for music helped him through many difficult situations. For me, the RED TAPE PARADE song.” With the digital re-release, the original tracklist is expanded by two bonus songs from the split 7” with Ghostchant.
Currently, the remaining band members are in the studio working on the band's final release, which is set to be released in honor of Wauz and against forgetting on his birthday, April 1, 2014.
To Wauz. To Life.
It is admirable how positively some people can cope with setbacks without falling into cynicism. Wauz, the frontman of the Regensburg hardcore/punk band RED TAPE PARADE, remained true to himself and his humorous, independent outlook on life until the end, even after being diagnosed with cancer. Not allowing oneself to be determined by external influences. A principle that always defined Wauz's life. In this specific case: To offer cancer as little opportunity to attack as possible. He passed away on April 15, 2013, due to the effects of his illness. Contrary to a slavishly introverted mourning, the band and family environment chose a particularly open approach to the topic of death, which is hardly taken for granted in this form. Not least through the farewell during the final concert of the remaining band members.
A often tabooed topic entered a broad public and received massive sympathy from around the world. What remains are not only firmly anchored memories, but above all the stone-carved song material of the band. The legacy of a singer who has respectfully advanced the legacy of punk rock. On January 3, 2014, RED TAPE PARADE will release their two albums “Ballads Of The Flexible Bullet” and “The Third Rail Of Life” digitally for the first time through Cargo Digital with bonus tracks and iTunes Deluxe booklets.
Driven by fears in their late twenties and their love for melodic hardcore punk from Lagwagon, Good Riddance, and 7 Seconds, RED TAPE PARADE, founded in 2007, released their debut album “Ballads Of The Flexible Bullet” in 2008. Bassist Oise Ronsberger particularly highlights two songs from this release: “Less than a minute” represents very well how we saw RED TAPE PARADE at the founding: As a political hardcore band with a bit of melody and songs under the 1-minute mark. This short, emotional outburst was refined by the guest vocals of Nathan Gray (Boysetsfire). The song “Fingerprints” is also an anthem to the real underground. To all the people and groups who tirelessly work to not only keep real subculture alive but to keep it relevant.” The digital re-release of the album now includes two additional bonus songs that were originally on the split 7” with End Of A Year.
The second studio album “The Third Rail Of Life” (2010) preserved those influences from the early days while simultaneously exuding a mid-90s charm influenced by emocore bands like Boysetsfire, Texas Is The Reason, and Gameface. This balancing act was further strengthened by the high-profile guest appearances of Matthew Davies-Kreye (Funeral For A Friend), Scott Freeman (Shook Ones), and Patrick Kindlon (End Of A Year). But especially the collaboration with skate punk pioneer Joey Cape on the song “Anything else is progress” would become one of the most monumental moments in the band's history: “One can say without hesitation that Joey and his bands Lagwagon and Bad Astronaut were the greatest lyrical and musical influences for Wauz. The fact that he contributed guest vocals for the verse of this song was certainly one of the absolute highlights for Wauz and our band.” According to Oise, “Always stubborn, sometimes hateful” on “The Third Rail Of Life” is also a precisely written self-reflection of Wauz's personality: “At heart a melancholic, a doubter, a 'glass-half-empty' person and yet a hopeless romantic, whose love for music helped him through many difficult situations. For me, the RED TAPE PARADE song.” With the digital re-release, the original tracklist is expanded by two bonus songs from the split 7” with Ghostchant.
Currently, the remaining band members are in the studio working on the band's final release, which is set to be released in honor of Wauz and against forgetting on his birthday, April 1, 2014.
To Wauz. To Life.
