Reel Big Fishβs βTurn the Radio Off,β the unofficial soundtrack to every SoCal party in the 1990s, turns 20 this year. Lead singer and guitarist Aaron Barrett continues to play packed shows across the world β all thanks to an ironic twist of fate.
So how exactly did a 20-something Subway sandwich artist from Orange County become a fixture of the β90s ska-punk scene?
He sold out, of course.
βSell Out,β a high-octane track on βTurn the Radio Offβ that poked fun at nobodies trading in their fast food jobs for record contracts with greedy music mega-corporations, allowed Barrett to pretty much do just that. As their album title pleaded with listeners to turn the radio off, βSell Outβ ironically enjoyed major radio airplay success and unexpectedly thrust them into stardom.
Now, nearly 20 years since third-wave ska reigned supreme on MTV, Barrett sat down The Huffington Post before the bandβs show at Brooklyn Bowl this year to talk endless touring, Netflix and, well, getting old(er). Sporting white Doc Martins and his quintessential mutton chops, Barrett certainly hasnβt shed his β90s persona β not even close.
Selling Out
Like the sellout in their iconic single, Barrett worked at a local Subway and lived in his momβs house before he signed a record deal and was able to rely solely on music for income.
βYou always got that dream, but actually seeing it happen is crazy,β he recalled.
Still, the record deal Barrett eventually signed wasnβt the endless financial gold mine he had been banking on.
βI couldnβt just live off my royalties. Letβs put it that way,β the 41-year-old said, with a guarded smile. βIf we were independent, the money could have actually gone to us. But whatever... we have it pretty good.β
Endless Touring
Barrett turned 22 on the bandβs first big U.S. tour back in β96. None of the bandβs subsequent albums came close to matching the success of βTurn the Radio Off,β but they quickly developed a cult following and havenβt stopped touring for nearly 20 years.
βI still love playing shows,β Barrett said. βWeβve made it our job. Itβs great.β
βThis is my lifeβs work. These songs are my babies.β
Barrettβs life continues to revolve around six-week touring sprints, with a few weeks off in December and a month-long break in the spring. But heβs not ready to give up this lifestyle quite yet. And he doesnβt want anyone to feel bad about his demanding tour schedule.
βIβd love to still be playing music when Iβm an old man,β Barrett said. βJust maybe not touring as constantly.β
Though a few of the original bandmates drop in for surprise performances from time to time, Barrett doesnβt see a 20th anniversary show with the original βTurn the Radio Offβ lineup happening.
βI donβt know if anyone would actually want to go on tour,β he said. βI know Dan [Regan] misses it. Scott [Klopfenstein] misses it sometimes. But everyone else is like βIβm done.β ... Being on the road, itβs hard. It makes you crazy sometimes.β
The Lineup
The band has seen a rotating cast of players, with Barrett as the notable exception.
The lineup on βTurn the Radio Offβ was a hodgepodge of musicians Barrett knew from other Orange County ska bands and friends from high school, including Klopfenstein, the groupβs original trumpet player, whose surprise appearance at the Brooklyn Bowl show had veteran fans freaking out.
βFor most of the people who left the band, it wasnβt hard feelings,β Barrett said, though he added he doesnβt maintain contact with all of the original members. βThereβs been times when people in the band didnβt get along though. A lot of fighting, a lot of negativity.β
Most of the former members left the band because they were sick of touring or wanted to start families, or both, but Barrett doesnβt think the procreation ship has sailed for him yet.
βIβm not that old,β he said. βBut this is my lifeβs work. These songs are my babies.β
Barrett did admit that he can be territorial about the bandβs direction and sound, which can rock the boat at times.
βBeing on the road, itβs hard. It makes you crazy sometimes. ... Thereβs been times when people in the band didnβt get along.β
βI guess Iβm... whatβs the word when you wonβt let anyone have a say and you make all the decisions? A dictator?β he says half-jokingly. βBut Iβm a nice dictator.β
Barrett said the members of the current lineup are βall here for the right reasons.β
Albums
ββTurn the Radio Offβ is the album everyone knows. Itβs going to be really hard to top that,β he admitted.
While that album is certainly Reel Big Fishβs most recognized one, it isnβt Barrettβs favorite.
He calls βOur Live Album Is Better Than Your Live Albumβ something of βa masterpiece.β The album, a compilation of eight live shows, was the bandβs first record released without the backing of a major label.
βI wish I could be that funny in real life,β he said, referencing his onstage banter highlighted in the live album. βNow I just yell funny things.β
After Party Netflix
Though he was never much of the throw-the-TV-out-the-hotel-room-window type, Barrett described a low-key and βboringβ post-show routine compared to the first few tours.
βThe show is like the highlight of the day. Itβs the fun part,β he said. βAfter that you just kind of want to relax and hang out on the bus.β
The bandβs bus is equipped with satellite TV. Most recently, they binge-watched βThe Sopranosβ gangster television series during their Europe tour.
βWeβre the life of the party,β he said. βBut not the after party anymore.β
The Future
Barrett recognizes the irony of βSell Outβ being the harbinger of Reel Big Fishβs success.
βA lot of songs are like that β Iβd write it before it would actually happen,β he said. βSo I need to write some songs that are like βMillions of Dollars Falling From The Skyβ and βSomeone Get Me A Beach House For Free.ββ
But for now, Barrett is content with the way things are. Reel Big Fish hasnβt produced an album with as much mainstream notoriety since βTurn the Radio Off,β yet they continue to amass a growing number of dedicated followers.
βWe are so grateful [our fans still] buy or illegally download our music,β he said. βEspecially now, in my old age, I appreciate everything Iβve got β and what I have is the fans.
For a list of Reel Big Fishβs upcoming tour dates, click here.
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