- Deal With It

- Anchor

- Bitter End

- Awaken Demons

- Restraint

- Self Torture

- The Guilt Show

- Countdown Records

- Concrete Block

- The Secret

- At Half Mast

- Angelica Mariner

- Justice

- Run With The Hunted

- Ritual

- Killing The Dream

- L.e.a.r.n.

- Linha De Frente

- Outbreak

- Panic

- Death Is Not Glamorous VS Stolen Bikes Ride Faster

- Underdog

- Betrayed

- Doomriders

- Black Friday '29

- No Innocent Victim

- Dead Stop

- To Kill VS Slowmotion Apocalypse

- Justice

- Trial

- Another Breath

- Gonna Fall Hard VS Ed

- The Secret VS The Setup

- Good Clean Fun

- Converge

- Bones Brigade

- Donny Brook

- Strength Approach

- Purification

- The Difference VS The Miracle

- Terror

- Cataract

- Over My Dead Body

- Internal Affairs

- Inked In Blood

- Some Kind Of Hate

- New Found Glory

- Die!

- Agnostic Front

- Coalesce

- No Warning

- Shai Hulud

- Death Threat

- Champion

- Hatebreed

- Subzero

- The Promise

- The Beautiful Mistake

- Beloved

- Nodes Of Ranvier

- Comeback Kid

- Bleeding Through

- Sick Of It All

- Every Time I Die

- Give Up The Ghost

- The Dillinger Escape Plan

- Strike Anywhere

- The Hope Conspiracy

- Coheed & Cambria

- Thursday

- Stretch Arm Strong

- Himsa

Leo: Hello Richie…how’s life going for you? Things are going ok? I read on your website that during the last months you’ve had lots of problems to face. Wanna talk us about a that a little? P.S.: If you prefere keeping it private, it’s ok.

Richie: Yes, I really do like to keep my private life private. I will say that the crises ranged from death to legal problems.

Leo: To these days, Underdog has almost acquired the status of a cult band. Nevertheless, it’s not easy (especially for younger kids) to get know something on your bio..Partly because Underdog formed a long time ago and partly because it’s not easy to collect info on you on the net:
Could you give us a brief, yet fairly exhaustive Underdog history? (When and why you got together, what you wanted to play, your most memorable moments, what led you to quit the band back then…you know, something like a bio…).

Richie: "Brief, yet fairly exhaustive"? Is that possible? Do you really want me to write a bio right now? Unfortunately, because I'm working seven-days-a-week, time does not permit. Between the bio on our My Space Page and the one in the Revelation "Demos" release, you'll have it all. :)

Leo As predictable as this one may sounds, I can’t avoid asking you the following: Why have you decided to put Underdog back on track?

Richie: It started this time around because we were asked to play what we thought (and were told) would be the last all-ages hardcore show at CBGB. That was on July 3rd. The show was phenomenal, and we decided not to stop.

Leo: I would also be interested to know why, in your opinion, so many bands get reunited lately, no matter how big or small they were at the times they used to be around? Do you think any of them do it because they see the chance to get some easy money? (obviously, this is not your case)

Richie: I can't speak for other bands, but if that is the reason, I don't fault them or judge them any more than I would judge you for wanting a promotion at work, a better job or a better opportunity.

Leo: By the way, which is Underdog’s current lineup?

Richie - vox, Russ - bass, Dean - drums, Matt - guitar

Leo: Since you've put Underdog back on track you’re ve been playing constantly throughout the U.S. ; I’m sure pretty much all shows have been good so far, but is there any of those who’s been completely off the hook?

Richie: CBGB was, by far, the best. Miami was great...The Jersey Shore shows were great, too.

Leo: Back in the days, I know skateboarding was a big part of your roots and lifestyle. Do you still skate to these days?

Richie: Russ and Dean still skate and surf all the time (and they rip!). I tore apart one of my knees years ago and hardly skate anymore. While I was living in California for six years ('96-'02), I did surf quite a bit.

Leo: Talking about your music: Your sound is a mix of different sonorities ranging from old school hc to punk rock, and it also incorporates some raggae part. How did this last one happen to be part of your sound? Is any of you a habitual raggae listener?

Richie: We all listen to a very, very broad range of music, including old-school, roots reggae.

Leo: As you write on you’re my Space page the "fuck with our friends and you fuck with us" attitude was (and I guess it still is) something important to you. That somehow gives me the chance to enter the Crews related talk. There’s lots of talk about them, especially in the U.S. because of some sad events happened lately. What’s your view on that? Was the situation different back in 85?

Richie: Actually, we didn't write that. It was written about us. If by "crews" you mean gangs, we're not in favor of gangs, or in favor of violence for that matter. However, we are not pacifists and we know it is not always possible, or even correct to "turn the other cheek".

Leo: I know you’re looking for a label, ain’t that true? How’s the talk on that, did many labels show interest in you? Do you already have many new songs done? Are you gonna release some new stuff before the Euro tour?

Richie: It's going well. We haven't made a decision yet, and no release before the Euro tour.

Leo: How’s the big Vegan tattoo you got on your lower arm doing these days? (just a different way to ask you if you’re still vegan…)

Richie: For some reason, that question always annoys me. Sorry. I guess it's because other people are not constantly asked if they're still carnivores or omnivores...Yes, I am still vegan. The tattoo is a little faded, however. :)

Leo: By surfing on richiebirkenhead.com I also noticed you have another new project coming up, “The Formula”. Can you tell us what is that all about? Is it gonna be something in the vein of Into Another?

Richie: It's a somewhat dark and moody, predominantly acoustic sound. Right now, the "band" consists of just two people: myself and my friend, Frankie Inglese (who plays electric guitar on the recordings). A couple of the songs I wrote while I was still doing Into Another, but never performed or recorded them.

Leo: Underdog never made to Europe in the past, yet you came over here with Into Another. What is the general impression and souvenir on our scene that experience left you?

Richie: Well, I can't sum up the entire continent as one "scene". I found that it varied greatly from country to country. I have been traveling to and around Europe fairly regularly since the age of three, so it was not new for me. I truly love Europe. I am especially fond of The U.K., France and Italy. I must say, I am sometimes perplexed at the way some Europeans try to "sum up" America or Americans with sweeping generalizations...Not all 300 million of us are alike.

Leo: I know you’re big friends with the guys in Justice, but I also wanted to ask you if you know and appreciate any other european hardcore bands. You in particular Richie, should know more about it, always because you toured over here already…

Richie: Well, obviously, I like Justice. I've listened to Negazione for a long time...Of course, tons of UK punk, hardcore and oi!...I also own stuff by Indigesti, BGK...

Leo: By the way, what us europeans should expect for April, when we’ll see the Underdog live in our lands in full effect?

Richie: Lots of pyrotechnics, acrobats, synchronized swimmers, gladiators...
Sorry...You can expect to see a band that hasn't lost a single step or an iota of intensity since we started.

Leo: Any last things you wanna say?

Richie: Grazie mille! Ciao!

Leonardo