recorded It’s a Beautiful Feeling EP

Though not actually from the Oxnard area, RKL was still considered part of the Nardcore punk movement from Oxnard , California due to their close proximity to Oxnard and hardcore style. RKL recorded It’s a Beautiful Feeling EP on Mystic Records , released in 1984. It is a 7-song release that included concert mainstays “Why”, “Tell Me The Truth”, and “Beautiful Feeling”. Outside the studio while waiting for the rest of his bandmates to arrive, Bomer had a skateboarding accident that looked to be a broken wrist. Doug Moody, owner and operator of Mystic Records, duct taped his wrist then taped the drumstick to his hand so he could complete the session. All the artwork for the EP was done by Dan Sites marking the first official appearance of the popular “beanie boy” character, which would remain an icon for RKL for their entire career. RKL would play around California, and particularly enjoyed the scene in San Francisco, driving 6 hours to play shows and drive back. Eventually they decided to move there, minus Alpo. He did not wish to leave Santa Barbara. His position would remain empty for some time. After about five months Vince Peppars wanted to move back to Santa Barbara. Sears said:”…so we hooked up with Barry to cover for him. Then Vince came back and Barry went to guitar”. This marked the entrance of Barry ‘D’live’ Ward to the fold. During this time RKL contributed various songs to a number of Mystic compilations. In 1985 the band soon recorded and released their first full-length LP, Keep Laughing on Mystic Records with Dan Sites once again providing artwork. This release included classic RKL tracks “Think Positive”(often played live as “Drink Positive”), “Ded Teds”, and “Pothead” and has been named as one of the best skate punk records of all time. Ward, however, was not part of this recording. Ward said: “[RKL] moved back to Santa Barbara and I stayed in San Francisco until they came back after Keep Laughing was recorded.” Following the release RKL toured and polished their live act. Things were not good between the band and Mystic Records. The deal the band signed was that they would be a paid a percentage of sales in merchandise. There is contention whether Mystic came through on that agreement. Doug Moody has stated Mystic fulfilled their end of the agreement while Ward has stated not only did they not receive much of anything in merchandise, the band had to eventually resort to bootlegging their own tapes and screening their own shirts to sell at shows. Ward was quoted as saying, “We were fucking broke, starving, dumpster diving for food, barely making gas money, and we kept going because that’s what we did. Doug Moody can say he financed the tours and paid us in merch but that’s completely untrue.” Rest has also stated the band never received any money from Mystic.