Page 93 - ION Indie Magazine MarchApril 2018 Issue

Veteran Tennessee rockers EVERY MOTHER’S NIGHTMARE are still grinding. Having had commercial success,
with hits like “Walls Come Down,” “Long-Haired Country Boy,” and “Love Can Make You Blind,” does not
necessarily define the band. There is so much great music outside of the commercial success, they are very
much alive and kicking. Their new full-length album “Grind” and a busy tour season should land them back on
mainstream radio with their current music. It is well worth a listen, a purchase, and ticket to the show in your
town. I was fortunate to have an opportunity to speak with front man RICK RUHL and get some insight on what
they’ve done, what they are doing, and what they will be doing going forward. Enjoy!

JP: It’s great seeing you guys back…I guess you never really went away though.

Rick Ruhl: We’ve been kickin’ around all this time. We’ve just kinda been in the dark.

JP: It’s been a while since you guys released your last studio album.

RR: Yeah. We just kinda stayed under the light for a minute and figured where we were. It was just not our time,
ya know?

JP: What makes now the right time?

RR: I think music now, with the internet, everything is not pigeonholed to one type of music from radio. There’s
just so much good music out there. That’s what I’m diggin’ so much now. You’re not stuck in one vein of music.
I like everything from bluegrass to heavy rock.

JP: You had several guest star performers on the new release “Grind”
-- with Zach Myers from Shinedown and Uncle Wayne (Wayne
Swinny) from Saliva.

RR: Uncle Wayne, yes sir.

JP: I assume this is from the Tennessee connection. Am I right?

RR: Yeah. Both of those guys are from right here in Memphis. I’ve
known those guys since when I first moved down here. They were kind
enough to play on the record and help a band. Most of the guys now
wouldn’t give a band considered an 80’s band a shot, but I’ve known
those guys forever. They obliged me by coming and doing it.

JP: That brings up a point…something I wanted to ask about. When I listen to Every Mother’s Nightmare, I
don’t necessarily get the feel -- I can’t classify your music as 80’s. When I listen to it, it just has a much more
bluesy feel to it. What would you classify your music as?

RR: Man, I just grew up listening to rock and roll. Back in the day, we used to say you needed a ballad to be valid.
You kinda had to be a part of that to get a deal. You just kinda had to go with what was gave to you.

JP: You really do have a solid discography. Is there any album, EP, or even a single that sticks out like “Man,
we really nailed it. That’s the one.”

RR: We are getting ready to re-release “Smokin’ Delta Voodoo.” All of the songs on there…that’s when we
started writing really good. I think that is really the high point. I think it’s my favorite record because I was going