Well, after Rob made crab cakes and before he 'threw the kids in the tub', he answered some questions for der Webmeister.

AM: What are some of your other credits (commercials, studio musician, producer)?

RF: I produced a band in Dayton called 33 people back in 1994. And rumor has it, but I don't really remember it, that a guitar solo got put on an Ohio Players album, 'Graduation'. And they're great guys and I love 'em to death, but I haven't seen a dime from it. I've done a ton of commercials and things. I have no problem ripping myself off. If given the chance to make a lot of money for some song that I haven't seen a penny from, I have no problem. I haven't used a whole song, something with a soul, but just a little piece of the melody here and there. But if Budweiser calls...Some trivia: a "La Rosa's Pizza" commercial had part of the bass line from a song called 'Dirt'. And 'Dirt' was originally the second song I ever wrote, something called 'Lost in the Sauce'.

AM: Now that's obscure.

RF: Really obscure.

AM: What is your favorite song off _Awkwardsville_; what was the last song written to make the album, and what songs were rejected and why, and how was "Mattress" picked as the album opening track?

RF: I'll start with the last one and work back. It was just nailing people when we played it live (on the Adrian tour last summer). It just got a great response live.

Its an 'atypical' song, and kind of sounds to me like a cross between 'Rabbit Manor' and 'Aches and Pains'. Of the songs I wrote, I really like 'Praire Dog Town'. I think 'Joy and Madness' is probably my best piece of songwriting on the album. A fan of ours named 'Billy' threatened to punch me if 'Playing Dead' didn't appear on the album. The only song that didn't make it that we tried to record was 'Mess I Made'. Chris didn't like the drums and Bob didn't like the bass, and...

AM: And that was about that

RF: Yeah.

AM: Someone wants to know if you'll add an acoustic set to the live shows.

RF: Ok.

AM: Someone else wanted to know if Chris had a fixation with death, and I already told them 'Yes'.

RF: That's a pretty safe assumption.

AM: Quote, "Why don't you mingle before the shows?"

RF: I used to do that a lot, and I feel bad that I don't do it much anymore, but my throat can barely handle the smoke filled bars I have to sing in, let alone screaming over a band.

AM: Which Media Play store next Saturday?

RF: I dunno. Norwood, I think.

AM: How did the balloon solo get started?

RF: The Raisins used to decorate the stage with balloons, and after the Bears broke up, and we were the Raisins again, we started using some black balloons on stage. I picked up one of the black balloons and started talking through it and so on, and it went from there.

AM: Have you heard of anyone ripping that off yet?

RF: An acoustic guitarist from San Francisco, Chad something, uses a balloon on an acoustic, but it's a different kind of thing.

AM: I'm confident someone will rip it off soon. And you won't get a dime for it.

RF: Won't be the first time.

AM: So what's up with the "Mattress" video? Was it submitted to MTV (I've been checking 120 Minutes to no avail)?

RF: It won't get played on MTV unless it the album is distributed nationwide.

AM: Is the CD-ROM release of _Awkwardsville_ going to happen? Any details of what it might be like?

RF: Yes, but right now there are some compatibility problems with getting a single CD-ROM available for both Macs and PCs.

AM: As a treat for the really rabid fans (i.e., we Psycho Depot-ers), would the band consider making available any old live recordings? I've heard that a video exists of the Raisins final show at Bogarts in '85.

RF: There's a video for that show? All I remember about that final show is that we played about every song we knew, and mayb 2 or 3 we didn't, and after the 3rd or 4th encore, whatever the final one was, I went backstage, and after the curtain closed, I threw up. You know how sometimes marathon runners will throw up right after they cross the finish line when they give it that last burst of energy? Well, I threw up after that.

AM: What did you think you were going to do when the Bears split up?

RF: The first thing I thought was, "I've gotta clean up my act". I did, and I've been clean ever since. I found out about the band not touring or making any more records by reading about it in a story by Cincinnati writer Cliff Readall. Then I called up our manager and Adrian, and they confirmed it. (Being in the Bears) was toughest on Adrian, because he had 3 kids. Bob had 2, and Chris and I just had cats.

AM: Has the band ever considered moving to LA or NY to try to get a record contract?

RF: Not at all, unless I had a job before I left. Every musician I know that lives in LA has to work a day job. But there's nothing wrong with day jobs, some great artists throughout the years have had them.

AM: Everyone in the band seems to enjoy poking fun at bands and artists that take themselves too seriously. Has anyone you've ragged ever questioned you about it?

RF: Not that I know of. Not to my face, anyway. A local band, Birdhouse, has a song about us, but I haven't heard it.

AM: Any big tours planned?

RF: Possibly a 'Mid South' thing in the near future. I'll keep you posted.

He told me to call again whenever, so There you go...