Since 1990, Scott Radinsky has been considered a legend. From having an 11 year career in Major League Baseball, and 21 years owning a skate park and museum, Scott has built a lifestyle rooted in passion, community, and authenticity. That energy still fuels Pulley today, decades deep. Especially with their latest release “Split Personality”, a duo record with Fire Sale. I caught up with Scott before Pulley’s show in Riverside, CA, to talk about it.
Dying Scene (Spike): I’m here with Scott Radinsky of the iconic band Pulley at their show in Riverside! I have a couple quick questions, my first one is “What does Pulley mean to you?”
Scott Radinsky: Well, it’s the band I’ve been in for over 30 years! It’s definitely the most meaningful, I’ve been in it for over half my life. The people in the band as well, I have a great deal of respect for. I consider them friends. It’s kind of like a really good relationship, you know, that’s lasted a long time. So when that can happen it’s pretty special.
Yeah! You’ve been doing this, obviously, since 1994, and you’ve had lots of difficult challenges throughout your career, so how do you navigate through those and keep that spark alive?
Challenges are a part of life so that’s really not an excuse. I mean it’s easy to always point the finger and make excuses, but challenges have to be overcome. As far as being in a band, as I mentioned earlier, it’s kind of like a relationship. We pick each other up when we need to. Everybody’s had their down-time at some point over the course of this period of what we’ve gone through, but when you enjoy doing something, challenges are easy. They’re easy to overcome, so I think that’s why the spark continues.
Awesome. After decades in the scene, has your songwriting process changed at all?
I guess. I mean we’ve matured as songwriters, lyrically it’s got a little more maturity to it compared to when we were, what, 19? Musically, we’ve gotten better as players and have a better understanding of how to write songs and play music. I think we’ve stuck to the originality of what we started out with. I think the style is kind of similar. Hopefully it’s just evolved and become a little better.
Oh yeah, I think so! You recently released a split record with Fire Sale, who’s idea was that?
Chris, the guitar player from Fire Sale, reached out to us and asked if we had any interest in doing a split EP, and of course we said yeah! Then it just kind of went from there.
Awesome, I love it. Now, this new chapter with Negative Progression, how is it different from working with Epitaph all these years?
I mean Epitaph, in my opinion, is the best record label ever. No offense to Negative Progression. Especially in the time period when we were a part of it, it was just full steam ahead, you know. They kickstarted our opportunity in being a band, put us out there, and gave us the chance to write music. They did a great job at advertising the songs, but just being on the label is huge, as far as credibility goes. The relationship with Seth from Negative Progression is awesome as well, he’s a solo guy by himself, strictly for the passion of putting out music, and it’s awesome. It’s been a great relationship so far.
What’s something you’ve learned through the process of this release? Anything new?
Yeah! I mean, working with new people. The whole process like a new label, a new producer, engineer, whatever you call it… new songs, but the recording process, it’s all the same. That really hasn’t changed. But we go into it with a little bit of knowledge now, so we can streamline things and not waste as much time as we used to.
If you could make a split record with any artist from a different genre, or sub-genre of punk, who would it be?
What’s a sub-genre?
Like ska or something.
Oh okay so I can’t pick like Minor Threat?
Yeah! Ok so Minor Threat.
Sure! Or KISS!
Ooh KISS?!
Why not?
That would be pretty cool. What’s a band that you currently really like and want more people to know about?
I’ve liked Propagandhi for a long time and I currently still like them. I wish a lot – actually you know what – I wish more people didn’t know about them… keep them under wraps.
Edit: I know I should be honoring his request and keeping them under wraps, but as a fan myself, this answer was too good. So sorry, Scott.
I don’t know. I think people that are into music, especially in today’s accessibility, you’re going to find anything you want, you know. There are no secrets anymore, and there are no bands that I wish more people know about because they already do.
Perfect response. I have one last question for you. What’s your absolute favorite thing about being in a band?
Well in about 2 hours, you’re going to see what my favorite thing about being in a band is! I mean, writing music and playing live is why most people get in a band, and thank God we still get to do it.
It was great to chat with Scott before he hit the stage. You can check out a video of it on Instagram or TikTok!