Ron Wasserman

[Fury Diamond]

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Q = Fan’s question
A = Ron's Answer

Last Updated: July 6, 2012

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Fun Facts:
Fav food(s)? Trader Joe's cheese puffs (the small ones) - A perfectly cooked Filet Mignon.)
Fav drink(s)? Diet Pepsi and the occasional Fat Tire
Fav song(s)? This changes all the time. Currently it's nearly everything on the latest RadioHead and Killers releases.
Fav movie(s)? What Dreams May Come and Letters From Iwo Jima
Fav book(s)? Anything from Bill Bryson
Fav show(s)? Oz, The Sopranos and The Family Guy
Fav place in the world? Germany. Especially Koln

Q: Out of all of the songs that you've made for PR, which one is your favorite?
A: We Need A Hero.

Q: What is the inspiration for your music?
A: Real Life period. Even with the most obscure stuff I've been asked to write, somehow it always relates to something going on with or around me. I just translate that into a song.

Q: What are your favourite hobbies?
A: Hanging out with my 5 year old and doing stuff. It's like being a child again and I forgot how fun it is to build a car with Tinker Toys. LOL!!!

Q: Was there ever a PR Season that you wish you had a chance to be in?
A: Nope. I grew up in a family of actors and the last thing I ever wanted was a camera pointed at me.

Q: Is there a full version of the Turbo theme "Piranhatrons" that was used only once?
A: Probably not. I think that song was done after I left Saban but regardless of that, everything ever done has been locked up in a music vault for nearly a decade so finding anything now would be impossible. (Plus Saban no longer exists.)

Q: What do you consider the best work you have done for PR?
A: The MMPR Theme. Written, recorded and mixed in 2 1/2 hours. One of my better nights. I was also so happy to have had the chance to get a rock score going. Never really had been done up to that point as
pretty much all kids shows had really lite, happy, terribly lame music. IMHO.

Q: If asked to score a season of PR again for Disney would you?
A: Oh yeah. I'd love that. Just as long as I could do a rock meets orchestra meets 2009.

Q: Do you feel nostalgic when you listen to any of your older PR music you created?
A: That just recently happened. Remember (and it hurts to say this) but I wrote that first MMPR theme in 1992....17 YEARS ago. So it's more of a picture into my past I experience when I listen to any PR stuff now. I don't get sad, and I'm not longing to go back to those days because my life truly is very sweet these days. But the "feeling" I had back then when I was doing all the score and songs was just amazing.

Q: Do you feel that you could have composed more PR music for the later seasons(PRLG / PRLR)?
A: Absolutely. But I was part of the Saban team and Disney wanted to use their composers. Happens all the time

Q: If you could compose music for an upcoming season, would you?
A: Oh yeah. I'd love that. Just as long as I could do a rock meets orchestra meets 2009. (But unfortunately the show has been cancelled so that won't happen)

Q: Is there any song you made that at the time you liked, but now looking back you don't?
A: The production on a few of them kind of bothers me because I really have evolved as a producer and mixer but all in all I like all the songs.

Q: Which PR theme is your most favorite? least favorite?
A: SPD is my favorite and Mystic Force is my least favorite.

[Fury Diamond]

Q: Since it is the 20th anniversary season, do you plan on doing anything for Power Rangers (either for Saban Brands or not) such as compose an album where you re-do or remaster the songs you did for the show?
A: I've heard nothing about what Saban in doing. Remember, I haven't worked directly with them since 1997 or so. When the bought the rights for PR back from Disney, we did have a few emails up and back, but that was it. Nothing came of it.

Q: Since you do music for another show (Hot in Cleveland), if Saban Brands asked you to be the composer for Power Rangers Megaforce, would you do so? Why or why not?
A: I don't think I would and here is why, Saban is not interested in working with me and to be honest, I'm not interested in working with them. The producers, actors and singers I've worked with since leaving Saban have been, for the most part, "A List" people. It would be very hard for me to take a step backwards into the Saban mindset of creativity. I'm not dissing them, I just wouldn't want to go back to that crowd.

Q: If you were to pick one of your songs for the anniversary season, which would it be and why?
A: We Need A Hero. My favorite PR song. It was a statement about where I saw things going, corruption everywhere, separation of the classes, etc. I think the song is more pertinent now that is was then. (Just my 2 cents.)

Q: Was there a song (or songs) that you wished Saban Brands would have let you use back on Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers? If there are, would you allow for the general public to hear them?
A: None. Every single thing I wrote (to the best of my memory) was used. Some more than others, but I can not think of a single song or music cue that didn't get used.

Q: Did you ever get input while composing your songs?
Ron Kenan would occasionally have notes. Usually about my mixes. They were always helpful.

Q: What are your thoughts of the usage of your songs in the show?
A: You mean back then right? If so, I though they were great! Added a lot of excitement to the fight scenes.

Q: Was there a particular episode or season where you felt your music was at its peak?
A: Not really. Since I was scoring about 1/2 the episode and the music editor was 'dropping in' my music cues for the rest, things stayed pretty consistent.

Q: Would you consider coming back to Power Rangers doing the music?
A: Only if they could convince me they really wanted me to it which, will never happen sadly.

Q: If you could offer any advice to the people working on the music for Power Rangers now, what would it be?
A: PLEASE, do your research and see that Rock works and that rap, pop and orchestral are weak.

Q: What was your inspiration for the "Fight" song?
That was the first song I wrote for the series. Since they were always fighting, it seemed the obvious thing to write about the get the ball rolling. I love that song. If I ever was to do a new version of any PR song, that would be the one I'd do first.

Q: Out of all the MMPR songs you've written, which one is your favorite?
We Need A Hero

Q: What do you think has kept Power Rangers going for the pat 20 years? And do you see it lasting longer?
A: There is just something about PR that keeps people interested, even in the bad seasons. It's remarkable how long it's lasted. As for it's future, It could easily go another 20 years. Why not…as long as people are watching it!

Q: Have you heard any of the songs from Power Rangers Samurai? If so, what are your thoughts?
A: I caught one song (don't know the title) when my son was watching the show. It was okay…kind of more pop rock that metal. Didn't add much to the scene.

[Fury Diamond]

Q: Are you currently working on songs for other companies?
A: I'm working on a show with Cedric The Entertainer (TV Land) called "The Soul Man". We do a different song for each episode for the closing credits which sadly will not be heard in the United States, but will in Europe, iTunes and when the show goes to syndication in a few years.

The songs are short, about 25-30 seconds and all have a comical twist at the end. We start with a song being true to it's genre (usually R&B) and throw a curveball at the very end. Very funny and I think the writers for the show will start incorporating some of these songs into the show itself for season 2.


Q:What was the first song that you composed?
A: "Ronnies Song" which I wrote when I was 5 1/2. It was kind of a finger exercise piano piece. It ended up being published into a few music books….my first official
'song release'.


Q: What is the most recent song that you worked on?
A: Again with Cedric, called "Moustache". He sings about how beautiful he thinks his girlfriend/wife it, how he loves her beautiful face, her hair etc. but at the end he says "but I don't know what to say about your………moustache".

Q: What was your favorite song that you composed in your life?
"I Will Love You" with my band Fisher. That song, like the PR theme has been used in thousands of projects. It's very emotional and crosses a line where the song can be interpreted as very sad, or very happy so, it gets used in as many tragic/sad scenes as it does in love stories.

Q: You mentioned that your kid watches Power Rangers Samurai. Have you shown any of the older series to him?
A: Oh yeah. I did this a few years back. He couldn't quite get his head around what I did exactly…because he was 5 when I introduced the series to him. But now at 8 years old, he understands my involvement. To be honest thought he prefers "Adventure Time" and "The Regular Show". Oh well…..

[Mr. CD]

To be honest thought he prefers "Adventure Time" and "The Regular Show"

Smart kid.