Singer. Songwriter. Old jazz and blues enthusiast. This edition of Fistful of Questions goes out to Paul from the band Ravine.
What is your full name?
Paul Dudziak
Do you have any aliases?
Paul Salmon when I was in a band called MAMMOTH SALMON.
What bands are you actively involved with?
RAVINE
What was the first instrument that you played?
I started out learning to play the drums when I was 10 then switched to guitar when I was 12.
Tell me about one of your first musical memories?
I found an unlabeled blank cassette tape that had Ozzy Osbourne’s Blizzard of Ozz on it when I was in grade school. It blew my mind to hear an album like that at the time.
What was the name of the first band you were in?
Beyond Reality was the first band I started when I was in high school. We played 1 gig then broke up.
Tell me about the genesis of Ravine.
What inspired the name Ravine?
I’m not sure who came up with the band name before I joined but I feel that it suits the music we play rather well.
How long did it take you to write and record “Chaos and Catastrophes?”
It took about 1 year to write the 5 songs that appear on the new album. We recorded with Rob Wrong (Witch Mountain) at Wrong Way Studios in Portland, Oregon over 3 days in January 2024. Ripple Music released the album on June 20th, 2025.
If you could insert yourself into any one band what band would it be and why?
RAVINE because I saw the potential they had at their first gig with the previous singer. I’m stoked they wanted to head in a heavier direction with the music and lyrical themes.
Have you ever heard a song and immediately wished you had written it? If so… What was the song and artist?
I’ve never felt that way about someone else’s music. I’m grateful to be able to create my own songs.
Do you have any non-metal musical inspirations?
Yes, I love old jazz and blues and find it to be just as heavy as metal music.
What’s a non-metal song that you'd like to do a cover of?
I don’t have any interest in cover songs. I plan to continue focusing on writing original material. My favorite non-metal version of a metal song is Black Sabbath’s “Changes” performed by the late, great Charles Bradley.
What bands have you played with that have really impressed you with their live show?
Breath, Sorcia, Slow Goat, Gunk, Kvasir, Sun Crow, Rarefaction, & Luna Negra.
Do you have a favorite venue to play at?
The High Water Mark Lounge & Dante’s in Portland as well as Substation & the Funhouse in Seattle are fun to play at.
Do you have a pre-show ritual?
I like to have a couple of beers prior to the performance. Stretching helps too!
What is your favorite thing about touring?
I enjoy going to new & familiar places, meeting new/old friends, and seeing friend’s bands or bands that are new to me.
What is your least favorite thing about touring?
I miss sleeping in my own bed and not getting enough rest.
Is there a city that you love to hit while on tour?
I really enjoy playing in smaller cities such as Astoria, Eugene, and Bend. Seattle, Olympia, and Tacoma are always fun too.
What’s the weirdest experience you’ve had on the road?
An angry boyfriend coming home late, finding the whole band sacked out on the living room floor, and clearly displeased that his girlfriend invited us to stay for the night.
The year is 2000. Where are you at and what are you listening to?
I was living in Northern California at the time and probably listening to local bands Dragged by Horses & The Hitch.
What advice would you give young musicians that are just starting out in the music business?
The good news is that anyone can create and release music these days but there are a million artists trying to get heard in a landscape that makes touring and physical album sales increasingly challenging. I would encourage young musicians to hold onto their dream of making music even if they’re not able to make money from it.
What is an absolute band killer?
Prioritizing drugs/alcohol over the music and trading band merch for drugs/alcohol are deal breakers.
Have you ever recorded a song that you really didn’t like, but somebody else in the band really did?
Yes, in the 90s when I was in a punk band. I felt a couple of the songs were silly but I was the last to join and didn’t want to derail what the other members had planned to record on the demo tape.
If you were to start your own music festival what would be the name of that festival and who would be the three headlining bands?
I wouldn’t want the responsibility of running a music festival especially since there are so many good ones currently happening.
I would prefer to be invited to play festivals such as Ripple Fest, Sabertooth Festival, and Rain City Doom Fest with my band.
Is the Fistful of DOOM show in the top 10 of your favorite music podcasts?
I don’t listen to podcasts but I really appreciate the support that Fistful of DOOM has shown towards my bands over the years.
Do Unicorns sleep standing up?
That’s one of the great mysteries of the universe which is still unknown.
Give me three albums that I should listen to immediately, if not sooner.
Grails–Miracle Music
Pelican–Flickering Resonance
Delving–All Paths Diverge
You’re driving cross-country and you can only listen to one album the whole time. What album will it be?
Black Sabbath–Sabotage
You are writing a book about your life thus far. What is the title of that book?
It Was Fun While It Lasted…
Favorite Taylor Swift song?
All of them 😂
Rammstein or Slipknot (if you had to choose)
Rammstein
Waffles or Pancakes (if you had to pick one)
Pancakes
Star Wars or Star Trek (if you had to choose)
Star Wars
Favorite band t-shirt you own?
YOB
Favorite meal?
Burritos
Favorite book?
Brave New World
Favorite movie?
2001
Favorite album?
Raindogs by Tom Waits
Favorite video game?
Pinball
Favorite Professional Wrestler?
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper
Mucho thanks to Paul for taking the time to answer my questions. I appreciate you doing so. As for the rest of you, click on the link so generously provided below and cram Ravine’s latest release into your earholes. You will not be disappointed.
~El Pedo Caliente (aka Uncle James from the Fistful of DOOM show)
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