Richard Francis "Rikk" Agnew Jr. (born December 9, 1958) is an American musician with a career spanning more than 40 years. A
multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays two or more musical instruments, often but not exclusively at a professional level of proficiency.
Also known as woodwind doubler, doubling, the practice allows greater ensemble flexibility and mor ...
, he has previously been a member of some of the most influential bands of the
Orange County hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...
genre, as well as the influential
deathrock
Deathrock (or death rock) is a rock music subgenre that merges punk rock and post-punk with Gothic fiction, gothic and glam rock visuals and elements of horror film scores. Often overlapping with, and sometimes considered a subgenre of, gothic ...
band
Christian Death
Christian Death is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles County, California, in 1979 by Rozz Williams. With major line-up changes over the years, Christian Death has retained "a relentlessly confrontational stand against organized religion ...
.
During his years with the
Adolescents
Adolescence () is a transitional stage of human physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority). Adolescence is usually associated with ...
, Agnew became known as one of the best guitarists in the Southern California hardcore punk scene.
Agnew has also pursued a solo career and released his debut studio album, ''
All by Myself
"All by Myself" is a song by American singer-songwriter Eric Carmen, released by Arista Records in December 1975 as the first single from Carmen's self-titled debut album. The verse is based on the second movement (''Adagio sostenuto'') of Russ ...
'', in 1982. He has since released two more solo albums, ''Emotional Vomit'' in 1990 and ''Turtle'' in 1992.
Early life and education
Richard Francis Agnew, Jr. was born on December 9, 1958, in
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach is a coastal city of about 85,000 in southern Orange County, California, United States. Located about southeast of downtown Los Angeles, Newport Beach is known for its sandy beaches. The city's harbor once supported maritime indu ...
. He is half Irish and half Mexican-American and was raised in a
blue-collar
A blue-collar worker is a person who performs manual labor or skilled trades. Blue-collar work may involve skilled or unskilled labor. The type of work may involve manufacturing, retail, warehousing, mining, carpentry, electrical work, custodia ...
neighborhood in
Fullerton, California
Fullerton ( ) is a city located in northern Orange County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 143,617.
Fullerton was founded in 1887. It secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and S ...
. He attended
Fullerton High School.
Despite graduating with a 4.2
GPA
Grading in education is the application of standardized measurements to evaluate different levels of student achievement in a course. Grades can be expressed as letters (usually A to F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), percentages, or as num ...
, he loathed high school, saying it "destroyed more than it taught socially" and describing it as a place where people going through the changes of puberty and angst are being taught together to learn stuff for their lives.
Because he was shy, Agnew gravitated toward music, and played various instruments that he and his younger brothers
Frank and
Alfie found around the house.
Career
With
Casey Royer, Agnew played bass in
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. It consists of Mike Ness (vocals, guitar), Jonny Wickersham (guitar), Brent Harding (bass), David Hidalgo Jr. (drums), and David Kalish (keyboards).
Emerg ...
from late 1978 to late 1979
and guitar in the Detours in 1979. He later played drums in the Social Distortion splinter group following his departure from Social Distortion.
[ He joined the Adolescents in 1980, initially as a substitute drummer before becoming a guitarist.][ His guitar style and writing dominated the Adolescents' '' Blue Album'', released in May 1981 on ]Frontier Records
Frontier Records is an independent record label, started in 1980 in Sun Valley, Los Angeles by Lisa Fancher, a former employee of BOMP! Records and writer of the liner notes for the first album by The Runaways.
History
Frontier Records first ...
. Agnew left the band soon after the album's release due to personal and creative differences.
In 1981, Agnew attended a performance by Christian Death in Pomona, California
Pomona ( ) is a city in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States. Pomona is located in the Pomona Valley, between the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city's population was ...
. Attracted by their style and sound, he approached them after the show and asked if they needed another guitarist. Agnew joined Christian Death soon after leaving the Adolescents, writing and playing guitar on the seminal '' Only Theatre of Pain'' album, issued by Frontier in March 1982. He also performed on the band's '' Deathwish'' EP, recorded before the album during the sessions for the compilation '' Hell Comes to Your House'' but not released until 1984.
He joined D.I. in 1983, playing on their 1983 debut EP '' Team Goon'' (originally known simply as ''D.I.'') as well as their first two albums (1985's ''Ancient Artifacts
''Ancient Artifacts'' is D.I.'s first full-length studio album, which was released in 1985. "Hang Ten in East Berlin" and "Spiritual Law" were later re-recorded on the band's second album, '' Horse Bites Dog Cries'', which was released in 1986. ...
'' and 1986's '' Horse Bites Dog Cries'') before deciding to leave the band in 1987.
When the Adolescents reunited in 1986, Agnew rejoined the band until its hiatus in 1989. He rejoined Casey Royer and Tony Adolescent to record ''Where Were You?'' with ADZ in 1992.
1982–1992: Solo career
In 1982, Agnew released his first solo album, ''All by Myself'' (Frontier), on which he played all the instruments. Agnew went on to release two more solo albums, ''Emotional Vomit'' (under the name ''Rikk Agnew's Yard Sale'') in 1990 and 1992's ''Turtle'', both on Triple X Records
Triple X Records was a Los Angeles-based record company started by three former employees of the bankrupt Greenworld Distribution: Dean Naleway, Peter Heur and Charley Brown.
The label was known for "a fearlessly eclectic catalogue that broke awa ...
. About the album ''Emotional Vomit'', Agnew said, "A lot of (the songs) I wrote while I was in a very bad state, a very lonely and self-abusing state. It was a way of letting it out".
Recent work
In 2000, Agnew again regrouped with the Adolescents and continued to play with them until 2003.
Agnew toured with the reunited 45 Grave
45 Grave is an American rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1979. The original group broke up in 1985, but vocalist Dinah Cancer subsequently revived the band.
History
The band was founded during the punk rock movement by Paul B. Cutler ...
, in place of original guitarist Paul B. Cutler, in 2004 and 2005. He also played guitar in Poop (with Scott Hoogland, former frontman of the influential Orange County band The Mechanics) and the reunited Detours.
After playing in Christian Death 1334 with James McGearty and Eva O
Eva Ortiz (born January 11, 1961), better known as Eva O, is a music artist most notable for her previous works in Christian Death and a band she formed with her then-husband Rozz Williams called Shadow Project. Regarded as a veteran and "on ...
, Agnew joined the new lineup of Voodoo Church as second guitarist and performed on their 2009 album ''Eminence of Demons''.
In 2013, Agnew was active playing in Wrong Beach, producing bands and recording solo work and various projects. He also rotated between guitar, drums and bass for Chaotic Stature. In 2015, Agnew was listed as active with the Detours and also had a touring band of his own, the Rikk Agnew Band. In Los Angeles he occasionally works on film soundtracks. He is also currently active in the Gitane Demone Quartet and Only Theatre of Pain (a band that performs the entire Christian Death album of the same name).
Influences
Agnew has cited influences such as the Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...
, the Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, comprising vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most influential and controversial rock acts ...
, Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...
's Jimmy Page
James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician and producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the Rock music, rock band Led Zeppelin.
Page began his career as a studio session musician in Lo ...
, Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band formed in Rockford, Illinois in 1970 by guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, lead vocalist Robin Zander and drummer Bun E. Carlos. Their work bridged elements of '60s pop rock, guitar pop, '70s har ...
's Rick Nielsen
Richard Alan Nielsen (born December 22, 1948) is an American musician who is the lead guitarist, primary songwriter, and leader of the rock band Cheap Trick. He is well-known for his numerous custom-made guitars from Hamer Guitars, including hi ...
, Black Flag's Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn ( , born June 8, 1954) is an American musician and songwriter, best known for being the leader, primary songwriter, and the only continuous member of the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to ...
and Flipper's Ted Falconi.
Personal life
Agnew struggled with alcohol and drug use over much of his career, but in 2010, had a health crisis and started an effort to stay sober. Besides being a musician, Agnew is also a visual artist, working in painting and sculpture.
In 1990, Agnew was engaged to Karen Mountain, with whom he had a daughter named Polina (Polli). He became engaged to fellow former Christian Death member Gitane DeMone on May 3, 2013. Each has a daughter from a previous relationship.
Solo discography
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Agnew, Rikk
1958 births
20th-century American drummers
20th-century American guitarists
20th-century American singers
21st-century American guitarists
21st-century American singers
Adolescents (band) members
American male singers
American male bass guitarists
American male drummers
American male guitarists
American multi-instrumentalists
American musicians of Mexican descent
American people of Irish descent
American post-punk musicians
American punk rock guitarists
American punk rock singers
Christian Death members
Guitarists from California
American lead guitarists
Living people
Record producers from California
Singers from California
Social Distortion members
Songwriters from California
Triple X Records artists
Drummers from California
Musicians from Newport Beach, California
Rock musicians from California