So is it Rob or Vanilla?

Rob Van Winkle/Vanilla Ice � It�s Rob.

So in the early 90�s you were a rap icon, what led you into the hard rock scene?

Rob � Personal experiences. Music is about reflection and I�m just reflecting my life and everything it�s been and there�s no way I�m going to be able to stress what I want and mean over a break beat, you know, it�s too emotional and it�s too intense, so you have to have the intensity of the band, it�s like a symphony, you know, you have to build on the intense parts, and so it just wasn�t going to happen, to come extreme over some hip hop record, so to exercise my demons I had to have the band. Learned that from Ross Robinson.

Have you found that the hard rock fans aren�t taking you seriously because of your past?

Rob � It�s not about anybody taking me seriously, I�m catering to the ones that appreciate what I�m doing, and the ones that can�t get over the stigma, fuck em, because I�m not going to really believe on the planet man, and I didn�t change my name for a reason, (interruption from club manager yelling at opening bands to not put stickers on the wall)the reason I didn�t change my name or anything is because of that, I use it as a challenge and it kind of fuels me. Humility is my company, and it�s what drives me to get to where I am today, and when I look out and see a whole new generation diggin what I�m doing now, it�s very credible, very open, and very received by the rock crowd. Playing a show next week with Papa Roach and Saliva and I�ve played shows with Limp Bizkit, Korn, all of them, you know, so I�ve got all kinds of, you know they love me out there, I do the Juggalos, I do the ICP thing, I�m getting a good reception man for sure, everywhere I go.

How have the fans reacted so far to �Bi-Polar� as opposed to your first rock album �Hard To Swallow?�

Rob � Same thing basically, same crowd, I mean it would be more of, the question would be more of how they would react to �Hard To Swallow� as opposed to �To The Extreme,� now that�s a big difference there. I think people are hip and aware since the VH1 special as to what I am doing now pretty much, it�s not for everybody�s ears, it�s not the most mainstream, commercial, radio friendly bullshit, you know, I�m not out to make that, I�m not trying to make a come back you know, it�s not it for me, my thing for me is I�ve made enough money to be able to do whatever the fuck I want to do, and that�s exactly what I�m doing, I�m doing the type of music I want to do, that best explains and expresses everything I�m doing musically, because that is what music is all about, it�s expression, it�s what I want to express and how I want to express it, and that�s exactly what I am doing.

You kind of answered this one, you did �Bi-Polar� half rock, half hip hop, now we understand the concept, but why did you decide to do the album that way? Half and half?

Rob � One thing with this record is that it was a musical adventure, working with so many different artists, and we capture a vibe out there, so every song is different, you know we walk in the studio with Wu-Tang Clan and we�ll go in there and smoke out and we get all thinking about rhymes, and you know hip hop is more about what you�re saying, so it�s more lyrical skills, where as the rock stuff we did with Slipknot is more intense, more energy, it�s a more energy more emotional thing, you know what I�m saying? One is a story line, one is emotional, so it�s whatever you�re tapping into, everything musically is a mood, like if I am going to the motorcross track, I�m listening to System of a Down all the time or something that is going to energize me, but if I am in a romantic mood or something, I�m not going to listen to System of a Down, I�m gonna throw some Marvin Gaye and shit on, right? It�s all about a mood, and if I want to think, I might just throw some classical on so I can get into some deep thinking, so this record is very versitale, and each song is a different vibe that we caught in the studio with the different artists and stuff, from S.O.D. to Slipknot to we have, who else is on the record? Fuck we have everybody, Insane Clown Posse, we got Wu Tang Clan, Public Enemy, S.O.D. Billy Milano, so it�s a lot of different vibes on the record.

No you just touched on this, but what was it like working with so many people on the album like Wu Tang and Chuck D?

Rob � It was awesome man, I mean I�ve known Chuck since way back in the day, I used to be their opening act back in like the late 80�s, before anyone knew Vanilla Ice I was opening up for Ice Tea. You know a lot of people don�t give me credit for it, but I�ve paid more dues then 90% of hip hop artist out there, plus I�m more influenced hip hop wise then any of them, so it�s funny, but you know it�s just amazing how the industry can polish something up and take it and make something else out of it other then what it was, and make it work and sell 17 million records, and anybody that hates on Vanilla Ice is a joke because if they were given the same opportunity, everybody knows, million dollars a day, they would have done the same thing, they would have wore the pants, they would have done the hair due, you know the women, the money, the charts, you think you�re doing everything right, I was only 16 years old and it was a couple years later the thing kind of took on a life of it�s own and I kind of realized �wow, there�s a consequence to pay for all of this,� and that was kind of the cheese factor, they kind of threw me into a mouse trap with some cheese there, which kind of discredited my real talent, well now I am just about the real talent, I�m not really about an image or gimmick or anything phony or artificial that�s made up from the record companies, so that�s why I�m doing what I�m doing now, kind of an ambassador for the whole industry, �fuck the industry movement.�

Do you see yourself dipping back into the hip hop scene, or is rock really what you want to do?

Rob � I love hip hop, it�s my roots, you know? I�m just so grateful I can do the rock thing because you know, I was doing it before the Limp Bizkits, and everything, I�m not following any trend or anything stupid or gay like that. If I wanted to sell a lot of records I�d make another pop record, I�d go polish my image up, and I�d you know, cater myself to that whole fucking dumbass thing, and that�s not what I want to do, so I�m doing what I want to do, and you know, I�m just grateful for the people who do appreciate it, and that�s the ones I�m catering to.

Right on. So what do you think of the whole �rap rock� movement with bands like Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park leading the way?

Rob � I think it�s great man, I mean music has different influences and it�s obvious with the new generation that�s coming around, they�ve been influenced by the hip hop as well as the rock, and that�s why you have the fusion music, and a lot of people don�t even know what to call it, some people call it skaterock, adidasrock, or hardcore, or whatever you want to call it, it really has no label, I mean if label it something, it�s just labeled fusion music, you know, which is a bunch of different forms of music that influenced some individual that tied them all in together and made it work, that�s it, I mean there is no boundaries or rules or laws in what you can and can�t do in music, you can do whatever the fuck you want, and just because it hasn�t been done and you�re doing it, doesn�t mean it can�t be done.

You�re a big boxing fan, who�s going to win the Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson fight?

Rob � Oh Lewis is, third round knock out.

OK, who would win a fight between Beavis and Butthead and the South Park kids?

Rob � (laughs) I gotta ask my drummer, he�s got a big ol tattoo of Beavis and Butthead on his chest looking at each other, that�s a good question. Beavis and Butthead and who?

The South Park kids.

Rob- Oh man, that is funny, Beavis and Butthead get their ass kicked everywhere, I�d have to say the South Park kids.

Eric pulls out bottle of the new Vanilla Coke.

Ok, so what is up with this?

Rob � Yeah what is up with that? Where�s my royalties? Where did you get that? (everyone laughs)

It�s Coke�s new thing, it�s at all the stores, you can have it.

Rob � I�ve never even heard of it. (more laughing)

You getting any endorsements?

Rob � (smiles) Shit, I might now. (everyone laughs)

Alright, where were we?

Rob � That�s fucking cool man, I gotta find out what�s up with that.

So we�ve heard there is some situation with you and Eminem, what�s up with that?

Rob � Eh, it�s just people creating a situation that really doesn�t exist, I don�t know the guy, he doesn�t know me. I think it�s flattering, and I think it�s awesome that if you look at the whole thing in reality sense, I know that he�s inferior to me because his whole life as a rapper, I mean following me, any white rapper is going to have to hear �oh, you think you�re Vanilla Ice,� you know what I mean? (Everyone laughs) So I am sure he�s heard that, which is funny because he mentions me in every record that he�s ever made, every album, somewhere in there�s a mention, not so much a diss, kind of just a mention, I guess, I don�t know, he feels inferior to me, and he feels like, cause I�ve never met the guy on a personal level, and it�s obvious that I�ve left a huge impact on his life where he�s got to mention me, you know? But I think it�s great, I give him credit, I think he�s talented, I think you know he�s a killer rapper, you know I don�t compare myself to him because he�s another white rapper, I compare myself to any other rapper period, I don�t colorize hip hop, it�s stupid, but for people are doing that are just looking through the eyes of a racial standpoint, and it really shouldn�t be looked at that way, you�re looking at two musicians that are in a broad brand of hip hop, so you don�t need to compare us two, compare every hip hop artist if you�re going to do that, because that�s just stupid, it�s not about a color, it�s about hip hop, music.

Absolutely. So how did you get into the whole Florida motorcross scene?

Rob � Not just Florida man, just motorcross in general, period, nationwide, I�m good friends with Jeremy McGrath, Jeff (editors note: sorry for my ignorance, but I can�t make out the name, so insert a good biker named Jeff�s last name here), I grew up with those guys, I�ve raced for like over 18 years man, they come down and hang out. I�m real big in the motorcross community, I mean aside from the Vanilla Ice thing, I�ve got, like all the motorcrossers are my friends, I go to a lot of the races, and I do the freestyle exhibitions and stuff with the ramps. I almost made the X-Games man, I just missed it by two spots.

That�s killer!

Rob � Yeah, yeah, I�ve been practicing on some good moves.

So who would you say some of your hard rock influences are?

Rob � I would say more of Slayer, Pantera and the heavy, heavy, heavy stuff that people can�t understand why a hip hop artist would be into it, and it�s purely for what I get out of it, the energy man, it�s unbelievable, I mean if I go down to the motorcross track I throw on that new System of a Down (starts singing) �Pull the tapeworm out of your ass!� and I�m just sitting there and I get out of my truck and I�m just like AHHHH! And get on the track and I still got that and it holds with me, and it�s fucking killer man, the energy that you can get out of that shit, but if I play it for, it�s not chick music, you put it on for a chick and they hear Slayer (insert random Slayer-like growls) you know it�s like �what the fuck is this shit, turn this shit down,� it�s horrible to them (Everyone laughs), they can�t understand it, but I guess it�s just a full on emotional energy thing that you get out of it. If you don�t get it, like the full thing, then you ain�t going to like the music, it�s going to be very obnoxious, loud, overkill to you �I can�t hear a word their saying,� you know?

Yeah, all the ex-girlfriends say that! (Editors note: Jay never seems to have this problem)

Rob � Yeah, go put on some R Kelly for them, they�ll be like (in girly voice) �oh I love this!� Throw on some Brittany Spears, �oh this is great!�

He just got arrested today I guess.

Rob � Yeah man, he�s fucked. He�s fucked in a big way. Poor guy.

What would your dream tour be? For where you are right now with your music.

Rob � Dream tour, I don�t know, I mean I�m happy doing what I�m doing, I mean, I�ve been offered Ozzfest, I�ve been offered stuff like, it�s kind of a joke, like the Family Values tour and stuff, and that was actually going to happen, but they offered us like $2,500 a show, and I couldn�t even pay for my band and stuff like that, so and instead of using tour support to fill in that void and go out and do that, we decided to go out and do our own and use the tour support for something else like a video or you know, other things that are better, it�s all about how you want to structure it all, it�s all a chess game man. But my dream tour would be obviously playing with the bands I love, you know I�d love to play with System of a Down, and I�m not so sure it might happen, I mean I�ve played with half the people out there anyway, you know, I�ve had half the musicians, I had two bass players and two guitar players at the same time on stage with me on my last tour, �Hard To Swallow,� two of my bass players, one of them is the bass player for Puddle of Mudd, the other one is the bass player for Weezer, my other guy is in Danzig now, I mean everybody that�s played for me like go on to other things, you know I it�s amazing, it�s great, and they�re all in these huge bands, very talented people, you know I�ve got a very talented drummer and guys here you know, they�re really good guys. My dream tour is just to play for as many people who appreciate what I am doing man.

What do you do to keep busy on the road?

Rob � Just fucking, man, we�re always busy, because we travel, you know we�re on the bus, we travel in between, and we don�t have much time to do anything else to be honest with you man, we do the sound check, which usually takes a couple hours, we have to load in, takes an hour, then we go back and rest and come back and do the show which is another hour and a half and then hang out afterwards and then go out and do it again the next day. I wish I had some time man, I�m really athletic, I like to do shit, I�d bring my motorcross bike out here but there just ain�t no time man, no time.

What keeps you motivated on the days you�re sick and just don�t feel like playing?

Rob � Oh shit, that�s rare, but fuck, I just know that the shows got to go on man, I mean I�ve been up there and vomited, I�ve had like a stomach flu or something, I�ve been sick as fuck man, just get up there and after every song, I�d walk over to the side behind the drums and just throw up, yeah, it was pretty bad, and I did the whole show man, it was unbelievable, that was the worst one ever, but I did it. Yeah, show goes on man, so most of the time we feel good man, it�s not like Ozzy where three shows a week is too much man, (in best Ozzy impression) �Sharon!! You�re killing me darling, three shows, I can�t handle it.� You know, we like to play every night man, we don�t care, we�re into it for the music, that�s what we�re out here for, and we enjoy playing every day, it�s great.

How would you sell your recent album �Bi-Polar� to someone who hasn�t really heard your newer stuff?

Rob � You know basically you have to lend it an ear to appreciate it, and like I said it�s so versatile that one song might not do it for you, you�re not going to understand the whole album based on the first couple of songs, that�s for sure, you�re going to have to listen to it through, and a lot of people won�t give it the time of day for that, so once they do give it the time of day, they�ll get over the stigma, if they come to the show, the skeptics will come and they will leave and they will say, and they will not be a skeptic anymore, and they will tell ten people that they know, and it happens man, we build an army out here and the best way to do it is to show people, you know word of mouth is cool, but there�s no better experience then to show people what you�re made of and let them see that and let them judge for themselves from there instead of what people say and whatever.

And last comments?

Rob � I don�t know man, I�m just a survivor dude. You know if anything you can learn off of my career is that not only am I a survivor and humility is my company, but you know, face your adversities, and don�t run from them, and you can overcome anything, any obstacles, as long as you believe in yourself, that�s it.

I never thought I�d see the day where I interviewed Vanilla Ice. Rob is a killer dude, and he is right. Go see a show and your opinion will be changed. We ALL know back in the day we were all about the �Ice Ice Baby� and shit, so like he said, get over the stigma, open your mind, and give him another chance. I have nothing but respect for Rob after this interview. Thanks for reading.


-UNDERGROUND SCENE