The Bands of Gonerfest 13, Meet- Fire Retarded

Today we are featuring “Fire Retarded” in our ongoing The Bands of Gonerfest series. Started in the summer of 2012, featuring members of Giant People, The New Years Gang and The Hussy. Fire Retarded plays loud garage-punk, a cool loud stripped down to the bone in your face with screaming guitars gargepunk from the heartland. It’s bands like Fire Retarded that remind us that rock n roll in 2016 is kicking ass.



Meet – Fire Retarded



for those unfamiliar with your bands history, can you tell us all how you all met up and decided to start a band ?

-A couple of us youngins here in Madison, WI were all in different bands (some broke up, some got a viking funeral) and then we started playing fast and shitty stupid songs that some folks liked. Then we got more members and became less shitty (maybe more stupid) and started to take this freak show on the road. Ross is the wildcard big mouth. Rick is the quiet pretty boy. Bobby is the glue and the whip. Tyler is the whiny frontman. Karl delivers the mail. Just some trash people doing trash things.



who would you list as your musical influence?.

-Honestly most things loud and obnoxious. Dead Moon, Stooges, Coachwhips, CCR, Fiona Apple, Motorhead, ya know, the usual suspects.

whats the coolest thing that’s happened to you as a band since you started up?

-It’s pretty cool that someone paid money to put us on wax and other someones paid money to own it. We also have met and played with some VERY cool people in some amazing bands who would never know we existed without this band.

How excited where you when you found out you

Are going to play at Gonerfest?

-VERY. Ross suplexed me through a wall. Rick drove us to the hospital. Bob bought 40s. Karl delivered the mail. We all celebrated.



Who or what are you looking forward to while you’re in Memphis for Gonerfest.

-Looking forward to seeing all the crazy bands, all our besties, eating Gus’s and enjoying the general mayhem that the beautiful people at Goner always put together every year.



what are some of your favorite albums from the past few years?

-hooo boy here we go, gotta lotta goner alums here, but I swear we ain’t suck-ups

Bobby: Digital Leather “All Faded,” NOTS “Dust Red,” Damaged Bug “Hubba Bubba.”

Ross: Digital Leather “All Faded,” the Hussy “Galore,” Thee Oh Sees “Mutilator Defeated at Last,” Pig Destroyer “Book Burner.”

Rick: Vacation “Non-Person,” Nervosas “S/T II,” Digital Leather “All Faded,” Ausmuteants “Order of Operation.”

Tyler: Hank Wood & the Hammerheads “Stay Home,” Spray Paint “Punters on a Barge,” Total Control “Typical System,” A Giant Dog “Pile.”



Do you see any real use for social media , or is it all just a pain in the ass to keep with?

-Huge pain in the ass, but its better than giving out my phone number. Also how else are we supposed to see all those dang cute animal pics?



Do you pay attention to reviews or comments from people about your music or do you just turn that noise off.

-I mean, our fragile egos and low self-esteem cause us to shit on others, so I can only expect the same in return.



If you could tour anywhere in the world , where would you want to go.

-We ain’t stoppin till we see it all.



Can music save the mortal soul or is just a good backbeat to your life.

-If these souls had any chance of salvation, it sure wouldn’t be the music we play.

Any last thoughts for your fans?

-A big thank you to anyone listening, and an even bigger thank you if yall still like us after Goner.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Wednesday 9.21 – Milwaukee, WI @ Bremen Cafe

Thursday 9.22 – Chicago, IL @ Reeds w/ City Slang, Lil Tits

Friday 9.23 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Brass Rail w/ Meatflowers

Saturday 9.24 – Detroit, MI @ UFO Factory w/ Growwing Pains, Sauna Youth, Protomartyr DJs

Sunday 9.25 – Cleveland, OH @ Maple Lanes w/ Tonawandas

Monday 9.26 – Buffalo, NY @ Deep Space Eight w/ Radiation Risks

Tuesday 9.27 – Cincinnati, OH @ Northside Yacht Club w/ Black Planet

Wednesday 9.28 – Nashville, TN @ Queen Ave w/ Mumzees, Negra

Thursday 9.29 to Friday 9.30 – HANGING IN MEMPHIS FOR GONERFEST 13!

Saturday 9.31 – Memphis, TN @ Murphy’s – Gonerfest 13 w/ Spray Paint, Bloody Show, Archie and the Bunkers, ETC.

Gonerfest – Tickets and Info

Scroggz Manor by Fire Retarded

Fire Retarded – Facebook