As Good As Dead Vinyl Reissue Revives Local H’s 1996 Classic After 30 Years

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of As Good As Dead, Local H revamps their iconic album with a fresh vinyl release that embraces nostalgia and surprises fans.

A Rock Classic Almost Overshadowed by Reissue Drama

If you grew up in the ’90s and rocked out to gritty alt-rock, you know Local H’s As Good As Dead as the album that gave us anthems like “Bound for the Floor” and “Eddie Vedder.” But the road to its 30th-anniversary vinyl reissue was anything but smooth. Scott Lucas, Local H’s frontman, recently shared the bizarre saga of how a small New York label, Enjoy the Ride Records, tried to jump the gun and release the album without the band’s knowledge.

Lucas was on vacation when he was bombarded with Instagram posts from fans about the unauthorized reissue. “We’d been planning our own re-release since last year,” he explains from his Chicago home. Despite filing licensing paperwork with Universal, the label pushed ahead without proper communication, reaching out to the band only through social media messages Lucas never saw. "That's how adults do business, huh?" he jokes, frustrated but amused.

The unauthorized vinyl came riddled with errors that Lucas couldn’t overlook—contradictory press speeds (45 vs. 33 RPM), fabricated credits, and oddly listing him as a “performer,” which he found laughable given his lengthy music career. “It’s disrespectful to the record and to the people that want to buy it,” he says, vowing to do better with their official edition.

Local H in a candid shot capturing the duo’s enduring spirit.

Local H Takes Control: The Official As Good As Dead Reissue

Fueled by the unauthorized mess, Local H decided to release their own vinyl edition through G&P Records, their in-house merch operation run by longtime friend Gabe Rodriguez. Orders are shipping now, and fans can snag copies at upcoming shows starting July 17.

“We put a lot of effort and care into it. It’s no toss off,” Lucas insists about the deluxe package, which features:

• Bonus demo tracks
• Limited-edition outer slipcover
• Lyric sheets
• Hidden Easter eggs for fans to discover

The band also remastered all 13 tracks specifically for vinyl, aiming to revive the warm, mid-focused sound characteristic of ’90s alt-rock records. Lucas’s personal favorite is the reworked “I Saw What You Did And I Know Who You Are,” which he feels really “jumps out” with the refreshed guitar tones.

Nostalgia With a Side of Honest Reflection

Don’t expect Lucas to dwell too long on the past. While As Good As Dead remains Local H’s most commercially successful record, he’s more interested in where the band is headed. He admits to a bit of resistance, “I’m like anybody else, where if I feel like something’s getting shoved down my throat, I’ll rebel against it.”

But the album’s legacy is undeniable. The single “Bound for the Floor” defined a generation’s angst, though Lucas reveals he never saw it as the defining song. “It was just a tune... I didn’t think it was going to be the biggest hit,” he says. Yet, it became the band’s ace up their sleeve during live shows when a crowd needed waking up.

“If somebody plays it in a bar I’m at, I always feel like I’m being punked... But I like Cheap Trick.” — Scott Lucas

Painting a Portrait of Small-Town Life Through Rock

At its core, As Good As Dead is a concept album rooted deeply in Scott Lucas’s hometown of Zion, Illinois — a nondescript, beige little town perched on the Wisconsin border. The album captures the ennui of small-town existence, with its mix of a state park on one side and a power plant on the other (the latter shut down shortly after the album’s release).

Lucas vividly recalls the apartment where the album was written: “This little third-floor apartment that had a door that looked like it belonged to a hobbit.” The days were filled with writing songs against a backdrop of background TV noise, a perfect setting for crafting the record’s themes of self-loathing and feeling trapped.

Songs like “Fritz’s Corner” and “Nothing Special” channel small-town bar culture and mundane struggles, while “Eddie Vedder” takes a jab at the homogeneity dominating ’90s radio. Lucas describes working at Subway back then, hearing bands all trying to sound like Vedder, and choosing to poke fun at the trend instead of conforming.

From Hometown Roots to Chicago Grit

Although Zion was the muse for As Good As Dead, Lucas’s ties to his hometown have faded, especially after the local Dunes movie theater shuttered in 2011. Now, he proudly identifies as a Chicagoan. The band originally wanted to distance themselves from Chicago’s burgeoning ’90s music scene—seen as the next Seattle with scouts everywhere—choosing instead to lean into their Zion identity, much like Bruce Springsteen’s connection to New Jersey.

The Unique Duo and Their Sound Journey

Over time, Local H evolved into a distinctive two-man powerhouse: Lucas wielding a guitar modified with a bass pickup and drummer Joe Daniels. Gabe Rodriguez, originally just a friend and soundboard for the band, became their “unofficial third member,” adding tambourine and moral support.

Though Lucas and Daniels eventually parted ways, their collaboration defined the band's early sound. By the time As Good As Dead came around, they were signed to Island Records, releasing their debut Ham Fisted in 1995 — a cult favorite despite its commercial struggles.

Behind the Scenes of As Good As Dead’s Creation

Lucas shares a hilarious studio anecdote about the album’s production. Midway through recording, producer Steve Haigler noticed Lucas’s Japanese Stratocaster was badly out of tune—the neck bowed and all! This discovery led the label to buy Lucas a new guitar—the very one he still plays today.

This imperfect tuning added a unique charm to the record, giving it a thick, layered sound akin to My Bloody Valentine’s signature detuned guitars. “Come in with a shitty guitar and get results,” Lucas jokes, highlighting the serendipity behind some of the album’s magic.

Inspiring a New Generation of Fans and Bands

Touring now with bands like the Toadies and Everclear, Local H has noticed a fresh wave of young fans at their shows. These new listeners bring a different energy, sparking pits and enthusiasm that remind Lucas why he keeps going. His hope? That As Good As Dead continues to inspire budding musicians to form bands and chase their dreams.

“I want the record just to inspire kids to start bands,” Lucas says earnestly. “I’d be totally proud to be the person who inspired a great band. That’s really all I need at this point or all I want.”

FAQ

• What bonus content is included in the new As Good As Dead vinyl?
  The deluxe vinyl includes bonus demo tracks, a limited-edition outer slipcover, lyric sheets, and various Easter eggs hidden for fans.
• How did Local H handle the unauthorized reissue of the album?
  They released their own official vinyl edition through G&P Records, ensuring quality control and proper crediting.
• What themes does As Good As Dead explore?
  The album portrays small-town life struggles, self-loathing, and frustration with mainstream music trends of the ’90s.
• Why is “Bound for the Floor” so significant?
  Although not Lucas’s favorite, it became an unexpected anthem that energizes crowds during live performances.
• What’s unique about Local H’s sound on this album?
  The slightly out-of-tune guitars and mid-heavy mixing create a warm, ’90s alt-rock vibe that was carefully remastered for the reissue.

Celebrate your favorite albums in style! Shop exclusive As Good As Dead album cover posters and more at our store—perfect for any die-hard Local H fan.