Vic Ruggiero

Vic Ruggiero

Vic Ruggiero is a musician from New York, United States, known for work in ska, reggae, blues, punk rock, rocksteady and acoustic settings. He is from the Bronx, New York, and lives in New Jersey. He has Italian heritage.

The Slackers and other bands

Ruggiero is the singer, organist and songwriter in The Slackers. He also performs in a range of other groups and projects, including Da Whole Thing, Sic and Mad, The Silencers, Stubborn All-Stars and David Hillyard and the Rocksteady 7. His wider band history also includes The Nods, SKAndalous All-Stars, Victor Rice Octet, tremoflex9000, Vic & Phil, Chris Murray, Reggae Workers of The World and The Witch and the Burro.

Solo work

Alongside his band activity, Ruggiero develops a solo project with alt-country, blues and rock influences. On these recordings he mainly plays guitar, harmonica and percussion. His solo albums include Living in Sin/Understanding New Jersey, Alive at the Ladybug House, Hamburguru, Something In My Blindspot, On the Rag Time, Songs For Clandestine Lovers and Don't Feed The Cats in Iraq. He also releases split discs with ZOOT 16 G.B. and Kepi Ghoulie.

Guest appearances and side projects

Ruggiero appears as a guest musician with artists including Rancid, The Transplants and Roger Miret And The Disasters. He also works with Tim Armstrong of Rancid in The Silencers, where he writes, sings backing vocals and plays organ on the track “Policeman”, released on the Hellcat label sampler Give 'em The Boot I. Other Silencers material appears on leaked Life Won't Wait demos.

Related recordings and circulation

His recorded catalogue also includes unofficial CD-Rs and bootlegs made available through his website. Ruggiero is associated with keyboard instruments in the North American punk scene, and his work spans both ska-oriented band projects and more stripped-back solo recordings.