Interviewed by Ginger Coyote

I got a chance to interview Ron the Man behind Zodiac Killer Records... ZKR have released bands like GG Allin, Electric Frankenstein, Antiseen, The Dwarfes to name a few.. And they keep crankin' out kick ass rock n roll.

Ron Marissa and a HBG Cop

Punk Globe: Thanks for the interview Ron. When did you start Zodiac Killer Records?

Ron -- I started ZKR back in 1991.

Punk Globe: Who was your first release

Ron -- It was my best pals in a band called "Sugarhed".

Punk Globe: Was it on Vinyl?

Ron -- It was. It was a 2 song 7" that came in lotza different colors. Clear ones even.

Punk Globe: Where are you located?

Ron -- I am from Harrisburg/Lancaster/Philly PA. area. I am currently living in Cheyenne, Wyoming. About an hour north of Denver, Colorado.

Punk Globe: How many releases does the label have?

Ron -- Not exactly sure...I know we did OVER 50 CD/vinyl releases combined in the last 2 years. I got to Cheyenne and had a hard time finding work. . .Tattoos, bad criminal record, no skills. So I worked at McDonald's for a few months, and then I got a gig washing cars for a Cadillac dealership. I worked there almost a year to put out Zodiac records releases. They popped me with a Urine Test one Monday morning, so I punched 'out. They knew I smoked weed.

Punk Globe: I know that you have done releases with the late GG Allin. Do they sell well?

Ron -- GG Allin will always have a place in Rock N' Roll history (the bottom) and he will always have an audience. When I say the "bottom" - I mean he was the dirtiest, nastiest, realest thing goin. GG lived it. All the time.

Punk Globe: Who are some of your favorites to work with?

Fast Boys - Trash CD

Ron -- I especially love workin' with all of my fave bands from the late 80's and early 90's! It was a pretty kool time in music. DWARVES, ZEKE, SUPERSUCKERS, ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN, ANTISEEN, ROGER MIRET, GG ALLIN, I also really love it when I find a band that is awesome, and nobody else knows it! SONIC NEGROES,HIP PRIESTS, THE FAST BOYS, DISGUSTER, THE HITCHHIKERS, HOLLEY 750, WHISKEY AND KNIVES, STILETTO BOYS...you get the idea.

Punk Globe: Do you think Vinyl is making a comeback? I prefer the sound better myself.

Ron -- Our ears hear in Analog. Vinyl is Analog, not digital. And when you take the time to master your music to Vinyl SPECIFICALLY . . . well a good lacquer cutter can make a HUGE difference in sound on an LP. And that is something you'll hear on ZKR records. We do the extra work and expense to make it sound great.
Vinyl is fer sher making a comeback! Someday, I think I will be selling custom vinyl like I do now, and downloads...ONLY. The day is coming.

Punk Globe: Do you have a Recording Studio there you use?

Ron -- I work closely with Sean Ryan at Permanent Record Studios here in Wyoming. I also work closely with Jesse Fox at The Beehive in Denver. We do mixing, mastering, and tracking. I use great studios and different engineers from all around the globe.

Punk Globe: Is it digital or analog?

Ron -- Most of what I do anymore is digital. Analog 2" tape is rare and expensive anymore.

Punk Globe: Do you do any block rates at the studio's you work with?

Ron -- I can arrange some pretty good block rates at both Permanent Record and Beehive Studios.

Punk Globe: Is Zodiac Killer Records only mail order or do you have a store?

Ron and Marissa

Ron -- I actually had a store in 1992. Was waaaay ahead of my time. We do mail order from the website, and have a sales company, COCKROACH MEDIA, which is actually a collective that me and Jimmy White started. We have 10 labels now that we distribute AS A GROUP through Burnside Dist. out of Portland, and on www.cockroachmedia.com We actually host our own downloads on there, as well as offer full distribution services to all outlets. labels include ZKR, DC-JAM, 5-CORE, JOE POGO RECS, LONGSHOT MUSIC, MEATY BEATY RECS., AND MORE. I can't recall all of em' right now. DC Jams has just signed deals with TSOL, GI, and JFA!!

Punk Globe: Do you do Distribution yourself?

Ron-- I do all orders we get on ZKR site. I pack em up and ship em out! Post office everyday man. There's somethin' Punk about scammin' the Post office every chance I get. I waste soo much of my life waiting on those lazy, inefficient, over paid, over fed, POSTAL EMPLOYEES.

I should write a book on all the ways to scam the USPS.

Punk Globe: What Companies does distribution for the label?

Ron -- COCKROACH MEDIA LABEL GROUP--BURNSIDE DIST.--SONIC RENDEZVOUS--BMG(AUSTRALIA)--FAB (CANADA)--SCRATCH(CANADA)--MANY OTHERS... we are taking an old-skool, grind it out, work the phones, send out mass emails approach to building our own custom distribution network. And it is working! We have more power as a group. And stuff is selling, we all have QUALITY products!

Punk Globe: Can you give us your Website address and My Space address?

Ron -- www.zodiackillerrecords.com www.myspace.com/zodiackillerrecords www.cockroachmedia.com

Punk Globe: Any advice to bands who would like to send a demo?

Zodiac Killer Records

Ron -- OHH YEAHHH!! DON'T SUCK! LOOK AND SEE IF THE LABEL YOU ARE SOLICITING WOULD EVEN LIKE THE MUSIC YOU ARE DOING. TAKE AN EDUCATED GUESS.

AND YOU'VE REALLY GOTTA BE SUMTHIN' SPECIAL TO GET ME TO PRESS VINYL RIGHT AWAY. NOT ALL MUSIC DESERVES TO BE PRESSED ON VINYL. AND I THINK YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF THIS TODAY...MAJOR LABEL CRAP YA WOULDN'T BUY ON CD OR DOWNLOAD IS AVAILABLE ON COLORED VINYL..."LIMITED" TO 5 OR 10 OR 15 THOUSAND...WHAT A WASTE.

Punk Globe: I like your attitude about providing bad ass music available. What is on the horizon with Zodiac Killer Records?

Ron -- Tons of KILLER releases. Lot's of vinyl. Watch out for the FAST BOYS new CD. Bad ass shit there. Doin' 3 OUTLAW COUNTRY LPs with BOB WAYNE AND THE OUTLAW CARNIES...also doing series two of the FISTFULL OF ROCK N' ROLL comps. me and Sal Canzonieri from Electric Frankenstein are doing em. ZKR exclusives there! 13 more volumes! DRINK.FIGHT.FUCK. VOLUME 3 JUST CAME OUT ON 2 X LP! 1 IS PUKE GREEN AND 1 IS PISS YELLOW. 32 BANDS THAT WILL KICK YER ASS. CD COMES WITH CUSTOM ARTWORK DFF BOTTLE OPENER/KEYCHAIN THINGY THAT RULEZ! VINYL BY:ROGER MIRET, ZEKE, HEWHOCANNOTBENAMED's NEW BAND, ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN(WE JUST FORMED E.F. RECS. AS A SUBSIDIARY OF ZODIAC), THE HIP PRIESTS, SONIC NEGROES TOUR SINGLE (FULL "WHITE TRASH US TOUR" IN JULY) TONS MORE.

Punk Globe: Any words of wisdom for Punk Globe readers?

Ron -- HUGS NOT DRUGS. A HORSE IS A PIG THAT DON'T FLY STRAIGHT. DON'T FUCK WITH THE ZODIAC.

Thanks so much for the fun interview and all you reading this interview check out Zodiac Killer Records...