Thomas Adams aka Vosco of Ruin
Joseph A. Gervasi interviews Thomas "Vosco" Adams of the band Ruin. In this interview we go deep into Vosco's past. From growing up in a volatile and often violent family situation and foster homes, through juvenile deliquency, Vosco was headed down a self-destructive path before he discovered punk rock in the form of (at first) the Sex Pistols and Buddhism. While issues with various substances at times sent Vosco down some dark cul-de-sacs, he also brought his angst and spiritual yearning into the band in the form of highly kinetic live performances. We talk about the early punk scene and later hardcore punk scenes in Philly, the wild world of drugs in the late '70s and early '80s, the formation of Ruin, the eventual demise of Ruin, and the surprising and welcome recent resurrection of the band in a the form of two inspired live events. We also talk about remaining vital and open to new music and life experiences (rather than living in the distant past) and using those experiences to put something positive into the world. This is one of the most candid and personal interviews in the series and should not be missed.