VIC RUGGIERO OF THE SLACKERS

Vic Ruggiero is a ska, reggae, blues musician of Italian heritage from Bronx, New York. He now lives in New Jersey. Next to being the singer, organist and songwriter of The Slackers, he is/was involved in various projects like The SKAndalous All-Stars or The Stubborn Allstars. For many years, Vic has also nurtured a dusty alt country/blues/rock solo project. He’s recorded a slew of solo albums on which he mainly plays the guitar, harmonica and percussion. Albums are: Living in Sin/Understanding New Jersey, Alive at the Ladybug House, Hamburguru (2007), Something In My Blindspot (2008), On the Rag Time (+ 7” from 2009 of piano driven rag style vic/slackers songs), Songs For Clandestine Lovers (2009), split discs with ZOOT 16 G.B. (Meatball and Sushi Party, 2009) and Kepi Ghoulie (The Dark Ages, 2009) and Don’t Feed The Cats in Iraq (2010). Over the years, various unofficial CD-Rs and bootlegs of his work have been made available through Vic and his website. Ruggiero is pretty much shaping up to be “the man” when it comes to finding someone to play keyboard instruments in the north American punk scene. His guest appearances include famous artists like Rancid, The Transplants or Roger Miret and the Disasters. He was also involved in a side project going by the name of “The Silencers” with Tim Armstrong of Rancid and others. The Silencers have oficially released one song (“Policeman”) on the Hellcat label sampler “Give ‘em The Boot I”. Ruggiero has writing credit, does backing vocals and plays the organ on this song. Other songs of the Silencer sessions are to be found on Rancid’s Life Won’t Wait Demos which have leaked to the internet.