Rancid guitarist-singer Lars Frederiksen is about to embark on a Spring US tour in support of his debut solo EP, To Victory. In advance of the run, the punk-rock veteran caught up with Heavy Consequence to discuss his solo music, fatherhood, life at 50 years old, and his love of KISS.
The tour kicks off Tuesday night (March 29th) in Scottsdale, Arizona, and wraps up April 30th in Brooklyn, New York. Tickets are mostly available via Frederiksen’s website, with select shows on Ticketmaster.
Frederiksen checked in with us via video Zoom, offering insight into select songs on the EP, which features new versions of tracks he recorded with his bands Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards and Old Firm Casuals, as well as covers of songs by KISS and U.K. Subs.
As far as recording and playing solo, Frederiksen told us, “You have these things on your bucket list as a musician, just unattainable dreams … I was like, OK, played Saturday Night Live — check! Played Oakland Coliseum — I’ve done that twice — check! Played Madison Square Garden — biggest punk rock show in North American history with Misfits and The Damned — check!!”
He continued, “And I was like, ‘If I don’t do this [solo project] now, I’m probably never gonna do it because I’ve got kids — they’re the most important things in my life — and I’m trying to have more kids with my partner now. … And I was like, ‘F**k it, I’ll just do it and see what happens.”
The EP features a cover of the KISS song “Coming Home,” and, as Frederiksen tells us, he grew up a huge fan of the legendary band. “I was totally fascinated by [KISS]. I loved the theatrics of it. I loved the makeup. I loved the outfits. I loved everything about it … and I thought the songs were great, too. … ‘Coming Home’ had some thing about it that really hit me in my heart, and I remember feeling that at an early age, and how romantic it would be to have someone like that in your life.”
[editors-picks id=”1177671″]
Elsewhere in the interview, Frederiksen shares some deeply personal stories about his relationships with his family members, partners, and Rancid bandmates, while also delivering a very funny anecdote about how parents lie to their kids.
Watch the full video interview above, and catch Lars Frederiksen on his spring solo tour (dates below). Pick up his To Victory EP here.
Trouble viewing the interview in the player above? Watch on YouTube.
Lars Frederiksen 2022 Tour Dates:
03/29 – Scottsdale, AZ @ Pub Rock ^
03/30 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room ^
04/01 – San Diego, CA @ Music Box ^
04/03 – Oakland, CA @ Starline ^
04/22 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s *
04/23 – Hamtramck, MI @ Small’s *
04/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Crafthouse *
04/26 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar *
04/28 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East *
04/29 – Garwood, NJ @ Crossroads *
04/30 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Market Hotel *
^ = w/ Joe Sib and DJ Cris Powerhouse
* = w/ Joe Sib and Boss Hooligan Soundsystem
