Though they’re often lumped in with emo, Las Vegas band Escape the Fate has always identified primarily as a rock ‘n’ roll band. Fresh off a reconciliatory tour with former vocalist Ronnie Radke’s band Falling in Reverse, the band will perform at the WOW Hall this Tuesday with Eve to Adam and New Years Day. Prior to the show, I was able to talk to drummer Robert Ortiz about the band’s long journey leading up to their WOW show.
To what extent has being from Las Vegas influenced your music?
“Our sound isn’t exactly influenced by it, but where the influence comes in is that we were always trying to be bigger and larger than life because we’ve always seen those shows, the bright lights and all that stuff. We wanted a spectacle.”
What makes something “rock n’ roll” as opposed to just rock?
“It’s all about the attitude. It’s all about guitar and drums and vocals and playing raw shit and experimenting. We’re not like a pop packaged formula.”
You’ve worked with a couple outside songwriting collaborators (Mick Mars, Patrick Stump). Who would you like to work with in the future?
“Well first off, Patrick Stump is just a musical genius. We’ve learned so much from him. That guy really focuses on the heart of the song, even if it’s a party song or whatever it is. So I would like to work with him again. As for a dream collaboration, I don’t know, there are so many great artists out there. Metallica is one of my favorite bands, but I’m such a fan that I don’t want to actually work with them or make them my peers.”
You recently toured with former vocalist Ronnie Radke’s band Falling in Reverse to “bury the hatchet.” What was the lead-up to the tour like? Was it awkward at all?
“He had a lot of things to say when he first got out from prison (Radke was charged with battery in 2008.) We had said some things that we didn’t mean that were hurtful for him, and he didn’t have a way of channeling that anger back because he was locked up. And after all that Ronnie just said ‘I’m not mad anymore, I’m sorry for everything and I just want to carry on.’ And it went on like that for several months and then he sent Craig (Mabbitt, the band’s current vocalist) an e-mail and said ‘What do you think of us playing together?’”
“It wasn’t an easy choice. Finally I just said, ‘Fuck it, this is important’ — we talked to each other and shared some laughs and talked about old times. And as soon as I saw him it was all over. No animosity. Frankly, I miss him — I miss having him in my life. I’m sad at the fact that (the tour’s) gonna be so short-lived. But as of now we’re friends. We have a child together called ‘Dying Is Your Latest Fashion’ (the band’s debut and only record with Radke), and I think we’re finally being good parents.”