An Interview with REOG: Heavy Metal from Los Angeles

I got to sit down with Reog last week, and had a great interview with them. Riding high from a recent successful show at the legendary Whisky A Go Go, REOG stopped by to give us some time for an interview. With their recent music video and single “Island Of The Gods“, the band is getting ready to release a new album this year. The self-titled new album also features “Daily Grind” which also has an accompanying music video. Both music videos were filmed in Indonesia during their highly anticipated “homecoming” tour. It’s not quite a real homecoming though, since REOG is a Los Angeles band, but their name is a name that they took from an Indonesian folk dance. Here is the interview with Sammy T, lead singer/Rhythm guitarist and Ralph Beam, bassist:

How did the band come together?
Sammy T (ST): I started the band way back in 2005. It was just a project that I wanted to do while I was a singer in a funk band. Haha.. The main reason I started it was because I missed doing heavy metal stuff. I played in a local metal band in Oklahoma, but when I moved to LA, my cousin and I started this funk band. It was cool for a while to play this rock/funk music, but I need my metal. So, I started writing new songs and put REOG as the name for this “project”. A name I liked from Indonesia, where I grew up. There was this Javanese traditional dance or culture if you will, it involves this humanoid figure with a Tiger and Peacock amalgamation head. I like the combination. Tiger and Peacock like Heavy Metal with Melodic singing. This whole thing started with those early demos.

Was it friendship, a shared vision, or something else that brought you all together?
ST: It was a common goal and our love of music that brought us together. Ralph (Ralph Beam – Bass) has been in the band since around 2014/2015. Jon (Jon Asher – drums) has been with us since 2020. We’ve known our current lead guitarist, Billy Sablan, forever from the LA metal scene. We always thought if there was a time that we needed a lead guitarist, we’d call him! He is the latest addition to the band.

Ralph B (RB): We all met through the band, but have become close over the years. I think we are and remain driven by a belief in the strength of the band and music, and on shared views on live music – that both music and performance matter and that the best live music is loud and bombastic but singable and fun all at the same time. We stay committed to a full live experience, to give everyone something that only people out there on a given night will experience and keeping alive the style of music that we play.

Are there any artists or bands that inspire your sound or stage presence?
ST: I love the usual suspects, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax. Those legacy thrash metal bands are the bands I look up to in terms of riffs and song writing. I also love Ozzy, Dio, Whitesnake and the mighty Mötley Crüe.  While I love those rock/metal bands, I do listen to all kinds of music. So, my influence came from different kinds of music too. Indonesian Rock bands were also an important influence for me growing up.

RB: I have always loved how much bands like Manowar and Iron Maiden look and sound big on stage. I also grew up watching Cliff Burton in the Cliff Em All video and wanting to capture his being a performer and musician at the same time while being completely absorbed in the music. I also have a wide variety of music I listen to, but one non rock influence I want to mention is the musical Les Miserables, the way it brings drama into musical performance.

Do you have any pre-show rituals that you do to get in the zone?
ST: Nothing really. I do like to come to the venue early, especially to venues that we haven’t played in. Get familiar with the stage, the green room etc. That calmed my nerves more than anything. Gotta know the battlefield before the war, sort of speak.

Can you share a funny or heartwarming interaction you’ve had with a fan?
ST: I have a better story. Our very first show, we opened for Joey Belladona of Anthrax‘ solo band. As a huge fan of his and as an opening band, we wanted to come early to hopefully meet him and as I said, familiarize ourselves with the venue. When we arrive, Joey’s band is already doing soundcheck on stage. So, I was just watching Joey and his band tear it up. Joey sang and played drums in this band, really amazing to see him pulling double duties like that. When he was done, he got off the drum riser and talking to the sound monitor guy, but then he looked at me. He is looking straight at me and said, “Hey Sam!!“. I was in disbelief. Joey knows me and know my name?? I have never met him in person before. But I said “Hey Joey!” lol.. He then came down the stage and walked toward me. The venue was rather dark so as he is walking closer and closer to me, I can see the look on his face that I am not the person he thought I was!! So, when he finally near me he give his hand out to shake my hand and said, “I am sorry man, I thought you’re some else named Sam“. Then I said “Joey, I thought you knew my name, coz I am Sam too!!” LOL.

Where do you see the band in the next five years?
ST: Hopefully we will be playing on a bigger stage to a bigger audience, writing and playing our newest album or something. I just love doing this.

RB: I think I failed this question on my last job interview… But yeah right now we are just focused on growing our outreach and opportunity. I hope we can do this for a long time.

What message do you hope your music conveys to your listeners?
ST: Well, at the end of the day, I hope our music entertains people. Either from just listening to our music or seeing our shows. I want people to forget their daily routine and have fun, at least in their heads. That’s our ultimate goal with our live shows too. we want you to have fun when you come and see us!! Feel free to go to www.REOGmusic.com or @reogmusic anywhere on the usual social media or streaming services. Or go to www.linktr.ee/REOGmusic for all kinds of links.

(Interview and Photos by Denise Johnson)