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Band interview with SUCK LORDS(Portland/USA)

I do not really remember how I came across to their demo on Youtube, However, it was a fuckin’ blaster! Fast as fuck. It is like a scraped broken van which does not have brake rolling down Holmenkollen. I love this whatever, we play fuckin fast! Attitude. I felt what the heck going on with this crazy dudes? and try to find information and nothing I could really find about them. I really wanted to know what’s going on with this band then I fortunately could grab its tail somehow.

Check their demo first here

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfWuVJA6yqs

Interview starts from bewlo;

-So,who is in the band? are there any bands which any of you have played or been playing or currently playing beside SUCK LORDS?

J: Foot, Tam, Karl, myself. I was in Nasa Space Universe for eight years and currently in U-NIX. I've had a lot of smaller projects back home in California that maybe only ever played once or just recorded and never played shows. 

F(sam aka foot): In recent times I was in HEAVY HANDS, SWEATS, MONGOLOID, now I'm in SUCK LORDS and CHOW LINE.

-Is there anyone who is deeply involved in any DIY punk activities like running label, writing zines, taking pictures, designing, organising shows etc in SUCK LORDS?

J: I take a lot of pictures of shows and people that I like and respect. I booked shows constantly from 2009-2015 in Orange County and LA and did a lot of collages for flyers and 7”s or LP covers. I don't like to book shows in Portland. 

F:I do a mean zine called Not For Everyone that focuses on HC punk and skateboarding. Issue five coming soon! Anyone out there, I want to trade zines! Get at me Snukytate@gmail.com

I'll book ya a show if you twist my arm and do a lot of flyers and tape art for the bands I play in.

-Is there anyone who is deeply involved in any activities which is not any relation to DIY/punk thing? Art, Other type of music, publication, extreme sports or any other?

F: Me and Karl skateboard, other than that I work a lot as a bartender and spend my money on HC, punk, metal, hard rock, kraut rock records. The rest of my time is spent outside with my dog or watching movies.

J: Matt plays hockey. I read a lot. I like to ride the bus or train around the outskirts of Portland and look for weird stuff or people. I like collecting photography books. I mostly listen to death metal lately but I grew up on funk, soul, and oldies and got into hardcore punk when I was eight years old. I also really like old electric slide guitar gospel and delta blues- niche stuff like that; west African funk/rock.

-How did SUCK LORDS start in the beginning? How did all of you get together? Did you know each others before it started?

F: Karl and Tam were jamming and I invited myself to join them. We were all in SWEATS together. I've known john for years from touring and he had moved to town so we asked him to sing. Nothing exciting there!

J: I joined late. I was already in U-Nix with Karl and have been friends with Foot for a long time. I didn't meet Tam until the first Lords practice I came to.

-Why did you want to form SUCK LORDS?

F: We were just in the practice space a lot with other bands and it just kind of happened, but like with any band we're in the mission is to blow away all the weak and boring bands this town is polluted with! 

-Was there any specific idea of sound before SUCK LORDS started?

F: Not really, in the beginning they were all riffs that Tam wrote, I remember him saying he wanted it to sound "punk". Maybe like rancid or somethin ya know?

-How do you describe the sound of the band by your own words?

J: “faster than Gang Green”. “Fast as hell.”

F: It can only be described as "LORDS music". High speed retardation.

-Is there any specific bands gave influence/inspiration to SUCK LORDS?

F: JFA, Suicidal, Neos, Nikoteens, Stark Raving Mad, Nun fuckers

J: H100s

-What kind of elements/influences do individual members bring to the band to sounds like SUCK LORDS?

F: Karl can drum faster than shit but he still hits hard and is tight and writes interesting, non typical parts.Tam is kinda the same way with riffs, pretty weird sometimes but always ripping. I just want to play as fast and hard as possible and jump around like a moron making loud abrasive noises.

J: I wanted to have a Jerry’s Kids vocal style going on but when I heard my own voice it was more like a whiny little kid voice. 

-How did you decide the band name? is there any special meaning? 

F: when we were looking for a singer, Tam said "anyone could sing as long as they weren't a SUCK LORD".

J: Punk ran out of names and Suck Lords was the only one left. 

-How's the punk scene in Portland in general? Lot of things going on there?

J: Busy 3 months out of the year. The rest is of the year everyone is really complacent and lazy and spends their time in bars. The average punk doesn't care about the scene or put forth the effort but there's a solid handful of people that genuinely care and have cool shit going on. There are a lot of great bands and a few that stink. 

F: Zzzzzzzzzz, bring a fuckin book.

-How do you think about playing in a band in Portland? Are there good venues or squat for punk shows?

J: The venue makes all the difference in crowd reaction. People feel restricted at bars but house shows get wild. No squats here, all those buildings are now expensive lofts from what im told. It's hard for people to have fun here; they don't like to move around. 

F: It can be hard, "punks" here are real complacent, lazy, too old, or already know what super specific sub genre of punk they've limited themselves to, so getting a real gut reaction to music is a rare occurrence and can make playing gigs pretty disheartening. There have been some house shows happening which is sick because they're always more fun, I'm glad there's a few houses who have been providing that space for us and hope they last. Blackwater Bar is an all ages bar venue that is run and operated by great people, the know is another excellent bar venue staffed by people involved in or at least sympathetic to DIY punk.

-Which bands are you playing together a lot? any bands you feel sympathy as in a same scene?

F: we play with UNIX and IMPULSE CONTROL who we share members with. I sympathize with them cuz I'm always farting in the practice space. We definitley get offered gigs way less than any of our other bands, I think we've done like six shows in close to two years??

J: The last two shows we played we were the only local band. The people in this band are also in all the bands we play with. 

-Is there any bands you feel sympathy for the sound/attitude in abroad? 

F: YAMBAG from Cleveland are good contemporaries as far as sound goes, there's a handful of bands I like right now but I won't bore you. 

J: Nosferatu, Roobydocks, wild child (RIP), inservibles (RIP), the lowest form, good throb, Orden Mundial, Perspex flesh.

-Is there any good bands out there in Portland which we should keep our eyes on in these days? 

J: Hacksaw, Extraneous, impulse Control, decomp

F: and UNIX

-Have you played outside of US? Probably not yet, but is there any plan for tours in abroad?

J: I only make plans for the week. Next month is a mystery.

F: I really doubt this band will make it out of the country. Talks of a US tour with UNIX have been happening but we'll see...

-What are the lyrics mainly about? 

J: Cryptozoology, unexplained phenomena, black eyed children encounters, psychic vampires, the large number of disappearances of hikers and hunters from the national parks in the US; creepy stuff. Stuff or people that suck.

-How do you guys compose songs? some specific members are dedicated to it to bring completed song? or more like bring some riffs and developing it by jamming?

F: Me or Tam usually bring full songs to practice but I think we're at a point where we could make songs by jamming. John seems to come up with vocal patterns and lyrics pretty quickly after the songs materialize.

-You guys released tape from Edger records. But I couldn't find any information about the label. How did this happen? Who is behind the label?

F: EDGER is my thing. It's not really a label, I just wanted to be able to attach a name to the things our bands are doing. Most of the releases are funded equal parts by the band members and any money made goes back to the bands. Releases are:

NFE 001-CHOW LINE-six trax ripper demo

NFE 002- SWEATS DEMO

NFE 003- HEAVY HANDS/SWEATS west coast tour split cs 

NFE 004- SUCK LORDS DEMO

NFE 005- CHOW LINE DEMO 2 

-Why do you choose tape as format of release? was there any attachment for tape?

J: It's cheap and fast.

F: You can play em in a boom box, ya know like at the skatepark or walking down the street with your fuck up friends.

-Is there any specific goal/aim for SUCK LORDS to achieve?

J: To have the best worst band name in punk. We’ve succeeded.

F: To rip as hard as possible and be done playing before these dorks knew what hit em.

-What is the further plan for SUCK LORDS?

J: Record more and play more.

F: Go fuckin mental mate oi oi

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Band interview with KATASTROF(Martin/Sweden)

As usual, I was looking for good music and came across this great gems from KATASTROF. Guitar urges its beat and drums are relentless like a tidal waive, roaring the beats. Vocal is fierce as facing imminent crisis and guitar ruff/solo adds some rock infused groove on top of this brutal vortex. entire music makes it is impossible to resist to be drawn into this whirl.

I caught up with Martin the core of this project/band for an interview.

Thanks a lot for taking interview!

Listen to KATASTROF new EP on their bandcamp here,

Bandcamp:https://katta.bandcamp.com

"S/T" by KATASTROF

Interview starts from below;

-So,who is in the band? are there any bands which any of you have played or been playing or currently playing beside KATASTROF? At least I know Poffen from  TOTALITÄR and Martin from HERÄTYS. How about others?

Me and Poffen also played togheter in INSTITUTION. Oscar plays bass and he is also in DAMAGED HEAD in which I used to play drums. Right now we have stand in drummer in KATASTROF for upcoming liveshows. The EP was recorded by me and Poffen only. I played all instruments on that recording and Poffen did the vocals. Poffen also plays in MAKABERT FYND and DISSEKERAD. Im in a band called PRICE OF SILENCE too.

-How have you got into music in general? And how have you reached Punk/Hardcore?

I got into music when i was a kid. Favourite bands were GUNS N ROSES, METALLICA and SLAYER. I got into punk through skateboard movies in the early 90”s. First punkband i remember listening to was OPERATION IVY. Then i moved on to skatepunk and from there i got into hardcorepunk. I`ve been into it ever since but nowadays im into all kinds of music.

-Between KATASTROF and your last band INSTITUTION there are about 5 years hiatus. It is quite long and what have you been busy during this period?

The truth is that im a drug addict. The reason for this hiatus is my addiction. These days im clean and sober but the last couple of years has been kind of a mess. I have also been busy with work and family during this period.

-How did KATASTROF start in the beginning? How did all of you get together? Did you know each others before it started?

I started out as a soloproject. I had some songs that i wanted to record, so i did that on my own but found out that i wanted someone else to sing on them in the end so i asked Poffen and he was up to it.

-Was there any specific idea of sound before KATASTROF started?

The songs that i recorded was written for HERÄTYS but we broke up for good in 2014. I felt they were too good to not be recorded, but i had no further plans than just to record them for myself. My main inspiration in punk is TOTALITÄR, which i still think is the best punk/hc ever made.

-For guitar sound, I could feel there is some rock infused edge in its sound. Is there any rock and roll influence there other than Swedish hardcore punk?

Im still very much into classic heavy metal such as early Metallica, Motörhead and so on. Therefore the guitarsolos.

-How did you decide the band name? is there any special meaning?

KATASTROF means Catastrophe in english. My life at the time was a total mess so it seemed fitting.

-Which city in Sweden is KATASTROF based in? And how is the punk/hardcore scene there?

Uppsala/Stockholm. Im no longer that active in the punkscene as i used to be when i was younger. Nowadays i mostly spend time with my family. Still have love for the scene and the music but other things in life are more important to me right now, but i try to stay updated on new bands and releases. I think the scene in Sweden seems to be doing fine. Lots of new bands and records coming out.

-Is there anyone who is deeply involved in any DIY punk activities like running label, writing zines, taking pictures, designing, organising shows etc in KATASTROF?

Not really but we all play in several punkbands so we keep busy by doing that.

-Which bands are you playing together a lot? any bands you feel sympathy for the sound/attitude in Sweden?

The first KATASTROF gig is yet to come. I really enjoy bands like HÅRDA TIDER, STRESS SS and MEANWHILE.

-Is there any bands you feel sympathy for the sound/attitude in abroad?

AJAX, BLOOD PRESSURE, POWER TRIP, VAASKA, IMPALERS, FRAMTID amongst others. DISCHARGE we`re pretty good too hehe.

-Is there any good bands out there in Sweden which we should keep our eyes on in these days?

HÅRDA TIDER, DAMAGED HEAD, STRESS SS, ARSLE, STRUL, AXE RASH, MEANWHILE, DIAGNOSIS? BASTARD!, DISSEKERAD and lots of others.

-What are the lyrics mainly about?

Its about problems in modern society such as capitalism, racism, war, lies and death.

-Is there any specific reason for singing in Swedish other than because it is native language?

No its because its easier to write lyrics in our native language. It feels more natural.

-How do you guys compose songs? some specific members are dedicated to it to bring completed song? or more like bring some riffs and developing it by jamming?

So far ive been writing all the songs and Poffen has done all the lyrics. We`re not jamming, we just play the fucking songs!

-Is there any specific goal/aim for KATASTROF to achieve?

We just aim to have fun and play music we enjoy ourselves.

-What is the further plan for KATASTROF?

First off we`re going to start rehearsing as a band, next up is to do our first show. We have a couple of shows in the US next year and we will record for our first album.

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Band interview with Purple-X(Oslo/Norway)

Pic is taken by My Scene Sucks(https://myscenesucks.com)

I got to know Turd through Skunk at the Lubricant show at Blitz. Skunk told me that Turd got a new(?) band called Purple-X and I grabbed the chance to get an interview for Purple-X. Their sound is like intricate emotional expression of depressive Norwegian winter. The guitar sound is remarkable which incites anxiety by its relentless riffs and vocal is groaning like from hell on sometimes quirky but very tight rhythm section.

They gonna release their demo by tape on Byllepest Distro. And they are having their release show on August 26th at Barrikaden. Listen to their songs and check their show.

Bandcamp: https://byllepestdistroofficial.bandcamp.com/album/bpd031-purple-x-demo-2017

BPD031 - PURPLE X DEMO 2017 by PURPLE X

The interview starts from below;

-So,who is in the band?is there any band which any of you have played
or been playing or currently playing beside Purple-X?

Turd:

I play with mathias in another band called Terrorstat been playing for some years.
me and adi been jamming for years but never had the time to play together, also been playing with tone in our old house-collective-band Internt Oppgjør. so jee its like a big soup of incest.

Mathias:

Just to be clear: Turd plays guitar, Tone sings, Adi plays bass and I play the drums. Incest is good, because then you get to play with your friends.

-Is there anyone who is deeply involved in any DIY punk activities like running label,writing zines,taking pictures,designing,organising shows etc in Purple-X?

Turd:

hmm been working/living in barrikaden for some years now. fixing backline, making food, playing shows etc..

also been printing merch for bands ive played in.

-Is there anyone who is deeply involved in any activities which is not any relation to DIY/punk thing? Art, Other type of music, publication,extreme sports or any other?

Mathias:

I go to the swimming hall and jump from the diving board to practice stage diving.

-How did Purple-X start in the beginning?how did all of you get together?Did you know each others before it started?

Mathias:

We knew each other, yes. Can't remember how it started. I would guess it probably had something to do with alcohol.

Turd:

Known adi for maby ten years or somthing.. and we wanted to play together and mathias is a kick ass drummer soooo we started to jam. we had another vocalist for some time but did not work out.. then tone came along and it was perfect!! woooh

-Why did you want to form Purple-X?

Turd:

was abit tierd of playing shitty punky punk and wanted something that was a bit more challenging.

Mathias:

No shrink.

-Was there any specific idea of sound before Purple-X started?

Turd:

Hmm i was listening alot to nuke york stuff and wanted to make something that is not so traditional oslo..

but also been litsening to alot like post punk stuff.. dunno, hard to be so strict about how we should sound.

Mathias:

I read in a magazine that if you're a strange anti-social loser, you can just form a band and you will get attention and you will get laid. So that's what I did.

Pic is taken by My Scene Sucks(https://myscenesucks.com)

-How do you describe the sound of the band by your own words?

Mathias:

Native Americans chasing and killing cowboys. Not our own words though. Somehow I keep picturing people playing frisbee when I listen to our demo.

-Is there any specific bands gave influence/inspiration to Purple-X sound?

Turd:

too many good bands these days!

-What kind of elements/influences do individual members bring to the band to sounds like Purple-X?

Mathias:

For me, I take inspiration from different stuff. As a drummer I'm inspired a lot by jazz drumming and Zach Hill from Hella as well as US and Norwegian hardcore. I like to incorporate beats and rhythms from different genres like surf, jazz, salsa, 70's rock/pop, bossa nova and reggae etc. into punk.(not that we sound much like any of those genres though) Personally I don't believe punk or hc is limited to any type of beat. Just play it fast and hard and you're good.

-How did you decide the band name?is there any special meaning?

Turd:

its a wordplay on perplex

-I heard that you guys were staying in the practice studio for 2 years before you had first gig. It is very long! Why did it take so long?

Turd:

jee we all had different bands and this was kind of a side project in the start and we did not want stress it

Mathias:

We had trouble finding a singer, so we basically made the first set list without vocals. Then Tone came in and changed our lives. She of course had to go through our special band ceremony where she had to eat a live baby goat. After we told her it was just a joke, she quickly left the band, but we kidnapped her back and so now she's a slave for rock n roll for all eternity.

-How was your first show at barrikaden?any good response from crowds?

Turd:

it was super fun! got a lot of good feedback! cant wait to play our next gig the 26 of august!

Mathias:

Very good. We were pretty good. Only good feedback and everybody liked us.

Pic is taken by My Scene Sucks(https://myscenesucks.com)

  -How's the punk scene in Oslo?

Turd:

it goes up and down. now its a lot of new good bands tho!

Mathias:

We are all happy and everybody's on welfare. We don't need to riot or squat houses because govt just gives it to us for free. It's just like Cuba only we can choose what we want to eat. And also our nazis make very low quality stickers, so they're easy to take down. It's basically utopia.

-How do you think about playing in a band in Oslo? comparing to playing a show in abroad?

Turd:

Its always nice to play abroad and meeting new people of the punkrock family and old friends. Also to see the reaction of people at the gigs. we havent played abroad yet with Purple-X but planning a tour in January. looking forward to freezing our ass off in the car.

Mathias:

I think I understand your question!

I haven't played that much abroad, but we were in Ireland with Terrorstat. Met a lot of good people and got to drink a lot of Buckfast which is an awesome and rare life-enhancer for us europeans.

-Which bands are you playing together a lot?any bands you feel sympathy as in a same scene?

Turd:

Haha only had one gig so far. but we been quite active with Terrorstat (me and mathias other band) and i like Båndtvang and Negativ maby the coolest new bands we have been playing with.

-Is there any bands you feel sympathy for the sound/attitude in abroad?

Mathias:

Dawn of Humans from NY is a good one. They played an unforgettable fucking brilliant show here in 2015. Crazy and good people as well!

I'm also looking forward to us playing with Urochromes in September - one of the better bands I've heard lately.

-Is there any good bands out there in Oslo or Norway which we should keep our eyes on in these days?

Turd:

Terrostat!! haha we are releasing a split 7" with Surge from ireland in september. just some shameless selfpromotion

Mathias:

Negativ and Båndtvang are two of the best hardcore bands from Oslo that are playing at the moment. Negative have an awesome energy and innovative playing as well as keeping it somewhat primitive. All good people. Båndtvang is like a mix between VOID and Die Kreuzen. The snarling vocals and fast chaotic instrumentals is the exact type of hardcore we need more of.

-How do you guys compose songs?some specific members are dedicated to it to bring completed song?or more like bring some riffs and developing it by jamming?

Mathias:

Usually Tord(guitar) or Adi(bass) bring some riffs to the rehearsal basement and we form the structure together. Tone writes all the lyrics and vocals. Everything comes very naturally and happens in between a cluster of bad jokes.

Turd:

I think its important to bring riffs to the rehearsal for jamming and improvement and also to get all the personalities in the band to the song.. we are all doing this together!

-You guys will release tape from Byllepest Distro. How did this happen?

Turd:

been playing with daniel (byllepest distro) in other bands before and also been partners in crime for some years. he heard our rehersal and wanted to put us out!

-Why do you choose tape as format of release? was there any attachment for tape?

Turd:

I LOVE TAPE! Also i think its a good format for releasing our first demo. And also just wanted to put out the songs we been playng to much for ourself in the gloomy basement of Barrikaden..

Mathias:

Turd loves tape.

-What is the further plan for Purple-X?

Turd:

We already started making plans for a 7" with new songs, a tour in January and print some merch!

Mathias:

Play good music, develop, release albums. I want to release a 12" LP, 'cause then you don't need to flip the record all the time and I'm lazy.

-Is there any specific goal/aim for Purple-X to achieve?

Turd:

Get weird or something. want to get evil as well.

Mathias:

Tour in north korea.

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Band interview with Rotten Mind(Uppsala/Sweden)

As usual, I was wandering on internet. I came across to their first album ”I am alone even with you”. And their tight driven melancholic punk rock really stoked. The sound reminds me The vicious, Masshysteri these great Swedish melancholic punk rock, and in a way night birds, Also social circkle’s song “What's so great” in the guitar sound. yes it sounds different but it’s in a way. Solid guitar, great melody with pathos and clear carrying voice on the driving rhythm section. I asked them for an interview and Johan kindly answered for the question.

 Check their sounds and follow them

 Bandcamp:

1st: https://lovelyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rotten-mind-im-alone-even-with-you

2nd:https://lovelyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rotten-mind-rotten-mind

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rottenmindua/

The interview starts from below;

-So,who is in the band?are there any bands which any of you have played or been playing before or currently playing beside Rotten Mind? 

Victor, Rune, Jakob and Johan. We have played in Agent Attitude, Damaged Head, Real Tears, Impo & the tents to mention a few. 

-Is there anyone who is involved in any DIY punk activities like running label,writing zines,taking pictures,designing,organising shows etc in Rotten Mind?

We used to have a combined venue and rehearsal space called “Psykosen” which translates to "the psychosis". It was a great place where we organized a lot of shows but it was shut down after the police showed up during a concert. Nowadays Jakob runs a club called “Vår stad” together with our friend Magnus who is also tour manager for Rotten mind and is joining us on almost all shows. Not much besides that. Personally I don't have time to do anything else than the music right now. 

-How did Rotten Mind start in the beginning?how did all of you get together? 

Me and Jakob started to write a few of the first songs in the late fall of 2014. Soon Victor, with whom we had played together with in Agent Attitude, and another friend called Jöge joined us. We went to record a 7" and talked to Kaj at Lövely records / Gaphals about releasing it. But he thought we should do an album directly and we said why not. The plan was to write and record a second half of the album but we decided to go back to the studio to record everything once again. It was really good because the first recording could work as a demo which we could use as a reference to work on the sound. Rune joined us in 2016 when Jöge left the band.

-Was there any specific idea of sound before Rotten Mind started?

It was forged by the first few songs that we wrote. Just writing some songs, throwing some away and writing a few more and letting the songs form a context together. Resulting in a sound based on the song writing process rather than the opposite.

-How do you describe the sound of the band by your own words? 

I don’t know if it adds any value. Listen for yourself and if you feel something - that is what it is!

-Is there any specific bands gave influence/inspiration to the band sound? 

In the beginning we were maybe a bit inspired by The adverts and jay reatard for example. But it was never a goal to sound exactly like any of them or a specific style. When we talked about the band in the beginning we talked more about the concept rather than exactly what it should sound like. Now we are beginning to write songs for a third album and musical influences are not that clear at all. I think it's better when it's not.

-What kind of elements/influences does individual member bring to the band to sounds like Rotten Mind? 

It's hard to nail exactly but everybody adds their touch. To me it is definitely something special to play with Jakob, Victor and Rune.

-How did you decide the band name?is there any special meaning by Jay Reatard? 

It was suggested by Jakob and I thought it was perfect. It was more like those words matched with the feeling of the songs that we already had written.

-How did you get signed with Lövely Records?was there any connection originally? 

We knew Kaj from Lövely since before Rotten Mind so we asked him if they would be interested and they were.

-How's the punk scene in Uppsala? 

There is a great venue called "Garaget", where shows happen on a regular basis. Located in a small garage with a big yard just a bit outside of the city, it’s the perfect place for small punk shows. There are a few bands within different styles and lots of great people.

-How do you think about playing in a band in Uppsala?is there good venues to play? 

There are not many venues suitable for rock music at all here. One or two maybe but nothing that is really good.

-Which bands are you playing together a lot?any bands you feel sympathy as being in a same scene?

I don’t know really, mostly you‘ll just relate to your friends no matter the musical style.  

-Is there any bands you feel sympathy for the sound/attitude outside of Uppsala or Sweden? 

One band that I would like to mention is Sievehead. Really cool band from the UK that we have played with a few times.

-Is there any good bands out there in Uppsala which we should keep our eye on in these days?  

No future, Obnoxious youth, Ordos, Reveal, Real tears, Damaged head. Lots of different styles.

-How do you guys compose songs and lyrics? some specific members are dedicated to it?or more like bring some riffs and developing it by jamming?

Me or Jakob has written most of the songs. Then they are of course shaped by everyone during rehearsals. Lyrics are written by Jakob. 

-The first LP is out in September 2015 and March 2017 to have 2nd LP is pretty high pace to release LP. How could you guys be so productive? any secret method?

The first one was recorded and released really quickly I guess, since the band hadn’t even been around for a year when it was out. But the second one was not that fast out I think! What do you do in the meantime if you wait 2-3 years until the next album?

-You just had an Australian tour.How did it happen?

We met a guy called Matt in sweden and got to know him. He came from Australia but lived in Uppsala for a while before he moved back. When he was back over there he asked us if we would like to come over and it was not hard to say yes. Matt arranged the tour, followed us and helped out on all of the shows and invited us to his home. He also plays in two bands called Cat heaven and Collapso.

-How was the Australian tour?were there a lot of your fans in Australia?

The shows where not so big but it was really cool to see that there were a few people that already listened to us over there. Kind of crazy feeling to be on the other side of the planet and someone has heard your band. It was really sick to be able to do the tour. 

-Were there any differences between touring in Europe and touring in Australia?

It's hard to compare because it is so different. In Europe we will play bigger shows because I guess a few more people have heard the music before. In Australia it felt more exotic  in a way to us haha. Europe is so familiar while Australia is this hidden continent filled with deserts, deadly animals and weed smoking surfers.. At least stereotypic..

-What was the most impressive thing out there during the tour? 

I was actually shocked about how friendly people were in general. Not that I didn’t expect the people to be friendly but I think us Swedes might be more introvert if you know what I mean. I felt like an asshole sometimes for not being able to match the level of politeness haha. It was really impressive to see the pacific ocean. We had the time to visit a few beaches and cliffs by the sea both day and night time.

-Any funny story from the Australian tour?

We played a small show in Newcastle. Strange place where most people were there to sing karaoke or watch Australian football on the TV screens. A group of metal heads was there by coincidence to celebrate someones birthday. One of them was really drunk and spent most of his early night bending over tables and screaming into people's faces. When one of the bands started to play he ran into the venue room to start a mosh pit but only succeeding in beeing thrown out after running around on the stage and pushing people in the crowd for a few minutes.

 -What was the most impressive/unforgettable show that Rotten Mind had so far?

A few crazy shows on the last european tour. Dresden, Leipzig and Münster was all sick. To me it is also always a special feeling to play in our hometown.

-You have had two European tour and Australian tour.Where was the best to play?

There are lots of differences. It's just awesome to be able to tour in different places and see different parts of the world.

-What was the craziest things you had as Rotten Mind? 

We did a combined Greek & French tour which involved a lot of cool stuff. Playing at 3-4 in the night in the yard of a greek university area, lot's of partying. A festival we were supposed to play in France got canceled due to heavy rain and flooding of the festival site. That show was moved to a small club which absolutely did not fit all the people, so the street outside was also a big party with all the people that couldn't get into the show! Turned out awesome even though everyone was a bit disappointed in the beginning. That was a cool tour.

-What is the further plan for Rotten Mind?

We have just starting to write new songs for a new album and to plan for more touring. More info will come.

-Is there any specific goal/aim for Rotten Mind to achieve? 

Keep on touring as much as possible all over the world 

[stipulatedconflict]

Band interview with Eke Buba(Zagreb/Croatia)

As usual, wandering on internet here and there and came across to this guys Eke Buba on Doomtown records from Croatia. I knew doomtown records since they had Savageheads 7” and arranging some for Generacion Suicida, also Warsong which Maeda san arranged their tour in Japan. And even actually they have released Jaibo!’s release!Their song Socialize is a bluster wow! Anyway, Eke Buka sounds like Reaterds is back from the grave with aggression of hardcore punk! Distorted Vocal, rock infused edgy guitar riffs and driving beat. Braindead from their tape is definitely a killer tune. I have no idea how the punk scene in Zagreb and wanted to have some grasp. So I caught these guys.

  Check their sounds and follow them

 Bandcamp: https://doomtownrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rat-bite-cs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ekebubapage/

  The interview starts from below;

 -So,who is in the band?are there any bands which any of you have played or been playing before or currently playing beside EkeBuba? 

we've played with other people in the past but always together. j.t. & the moneymakers were sick. the tree of us make the band

-Is there anyone who is involved in any DIY punk activities like running label, writing zines, taking pictures, designing, organizing shows etc in EkeBuba?

štreber booking started putting on shows in Zagreb this year, it's one of us and a member of the Celetoids behind the wheel on that one. a dui waiting to happen. 

one of our members apartments get's turned in a free for all bed and no breakfast for bands booked by doomtown records, a diy label that put out our tape rat bite last year 

and is in charge of running most of the diy related events in Zagreb as well as being the main vinyl and tape providers in this area. 

also, we are all great fans of the iconic hungarian zine, kismalac.

-How did EkeBuba start in the beginning?how did all of you get together?

from highschool and playing on the street.

-Was there any specific idea of sound before EkeBuba started?

no, we went from one thing to the other like a bug without a head. we still lose it sometimes

-How do you describe the sound of the band by your own words?

speed punk

-Is there any specific bands gave influence/inspiration to the band sound?

we always think it is something of our own and later friends toss around band names that sound alike. we discovered some great bands this way

-What kind of elements/influences does individual member bring to the band to sounds like EkeBuba?

We've always listened to the same stuff around the same time so it was never individual

-How did you decide the band name? And what Ekebuka mean? Is there special meaning to have it as a band name?

actually, the name of the band is eke buba. but, if the name actually was eke buba, it would mean eke noise which sounds pretty accurate.

-How's the punk scene in Zagreb? and in general in Croatia?

small but tight. lot's of shows in a couple of different places with a still curious punk crowd and a decent amount of actively touring bands. it's also well documented by subsite.hr.

-How do you think about playing in a band in Zagreb?

good, lot's of great bands on tour from all over the planet which proved to be a dope environment for a band

-What kind of venues out there in Zagreb?

one autonomous spot, attack club and močvara. it always depends on who is doing the show for you

-Which bands are you playing together a lot? any bands you feel sympathy as being in a same scene?

we open for most touring bands booked by doomtown records. it's either us or celetoids and there is always a new band cooking that get's a spot on the bill as well 

and we all pretty much know know each other. with celetoids, we did the last European tour together and played a decent amount of weekend tours with them and Modern delusion.

-Is there any bands you feel sympathy for the sound/attitude outside of Croatia?

we feel deep sympathy for death row groupies.

-Is there any good bands out there in Zagreb which we should keep our eye on in these days? 

Celetoids. u.b.t were fun to play with. wild forms did a couple of shows and are already done, but are putting out a tape post-mortem. Rules put on a great show opening for Youth Avoiders sometime last month

-How about in other cities in Croatia? Is there any cool punk/garage/hardcore punk band/label/zine etc from Croatia we should check it out?

place in zadar called nigdjezemska is a great diy spot run by punks. if you play there during the summer you get to go swimming in the sea. also, you can't miss a poster from one of their shows. 

there's also a couple doing shows in rijeka, the place is called Podrum(Rijekadiyhcpunk).

-How do you guys compose songs and lyrics? some specific members are dedicated to it?or more like bring some riffs and developing it by jamming?

never jamming. one has a finished song that we then learn to play together. šššš

-What the lyrics mainly about?

destruction, self and global

-Have you played outside of Croatia? Where did you play and how was it?

three tours across most of Europe except the countries we haven't been to yet. no matter if it sucked or if it was awesome, later on it turns out it was the best time ever

-What was the most impressive/unforgettable show that Eke Buba had so far?

playing the day after malte's birthday party show in a squat called squat lindenein. we spent the day before the gig at an old industrial canal bank as honor guests witnessing boat wars 

which is actually drunk people on duck tape rafts drowning each other in the canal and throwing water balloons at tourist passing by in gondolas. that same drunk from noon bunch 

made up most of the audience. we also had mango ice cream in the morning

-What was the craziest things you had as Eke Buba?

this one time, in konstanz, we got locked inside the club where we played over night. all the doors were locked like someones gear was inside. one of us crawled out of a small window 

in the morning to ask someone for a phone call. when he got back after an hour with nothing, and crawled back inside we tried for one last to open the door and it was unlocked. 

later, the guy told us that he got up from bed to go check if he has left the doors unlocked but gave up mid way after a 10 minute walk and went back to bed. it was a great party.

-What is the further plan for Eke Buba?

we are playing zoro fest in leipzig and are booking a tour around that.

not sure which direction it will go yet. also, we are doing demos for tracks that will be out partially as a tour tape and eventually as a 12 inch that we plan to whore around u.k. in 2018 with the celetoids. 

-Is there any specific goal/aim for Eke Buba to achieve?

in general, not to do the same European tour we've been doing for the last three years but do something off like hit Australia or South America. play more festivals. put on a tight show

[stipulatedconflict]

Lubricant(Singapore)

LUBRICANT 2017 by LUBRICANT

Lubricant from Singapore

シンガポールのハードコアパンクバンドLubricant。今年のK-town fesに出るので、それに合わせての北欧ツアーのオスロBlizでのライブを見てきましたがこれまちゃめちゃくちゃかっこよかった。音の方はAjaxやImpalers,Warthogなんかと何かと比較されるようですがS.H.I.Tとかも近いかな。ドタドタしたドラムビートに、ディストーションが強くかかったちょっとしゃりしゃりしたベース、ギターは結構ストレートな音に、リバーブのかかったボーカル。ボーカルの革グローブがS.H.I.Tを思い起こさせます。普段はこっち系の音はあまり聞かないのですが、ライブとなるとこういう音のバンドの、怒涛のような音の波が打ち寄せるような感じは本当にかっこいいですね。その日のラインナップでダントツにかっこよかったです。去年ImpalersとAjaxも見ましたが、個人的には彼らよりもかっこよかったし、それが何よりシンガポール発っていうのが本当に驚きです。このバンドは本当にアメリカやヨーロッパ、日本のバンドと比べても全然遜色ないぐらいかっこいいバンドだし、日本ツアーしたら絶対盛り上がるだろうな〜なんて思いました。誰か呼ばないかな〜。

[stipulatedconflict]

Individual interview with Thanasis Therianos(High octane boys/Torquefite)

Photo by Mr. Frode Skjold(https://www.flickr.com/photos/frodeskjold/)

I saw his performance when Oslo surf band Torquefite was opening up for Scambugs from Bergen. His guitar sound was AMAZING. It was like everything is perfect. The sound, the riffs and solos. It was certainly one of the best garage/surf guitarist I have seen before. His guitar sounds a bit reminded me my old surf band guitarist Misuzu’s guitar and I went to talk to him right after his performance. He is from Greece and here is some story about him how he has gotten to Oslo.

 Check his sounds here;

  And check his current bands here; High Octane Boys

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/High-Octane-Boys-151236654933734/

 Torquefite

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Torqueflite-137294659706346/

  Interview starts from below;

 -How have you gotten into music in the very beginning?

My sister had classic guitar lessons for a couple of years and after quitting, she parked the guitar in a wardrobe. I found it some years later, when I was about 10 and I start experimenting trying to find out how to make sounds and melodies with one finger playing.

  -Please tell me the story that you started being interested in listening to music(it doesn’t mean garage punk/surf)

My parents liked music and singing and so it was always a sing along with the cassette player in our car when we was in a road trip. We as well had a record player and a radio home and my parents had some vinyls with Greek traditional artists and classic music as well. Later when I got my first Walkman I had the freedom to choose and listen to whatever and whenever I wanted to.

  -Then how have you reached garage punk/surf music?Please tell me the story that how you started listening to garage punk/surf music.

It was with friends in school and neighborhood, from about the age of 12, we liked to listen to different things, mostly related to rock, punk and metal. We use to listen tapes and vinyls together and borrow each other's music. As well when we was out in clubs or concerts during our teenage.

  -Please tell me your favorite bands

Current: Death by Unga Bunga, the Cheaters, the Launderettes, the Felines, Short Skirts, Aurora Plastic Monster, La Luz, The Mobsmen, the Scumbugs, the Better Men than you, Baby Woodrose, the Maggots, the Strollers, King Khan & his Shrines, the Branded, Movements, Los Plantronics.

Old: The Stooges, Sonics, Link Wray, The Music Macine, Pleasure Seakers, the 13th floor elevators, MC5, Ventures, Fuzztones, Deus X Machina (Athens punk), Villa 21 (Gr), 700 machines (Gr), Indikation (No), Peau de Peche (No), Lust’o’Rama (No), Kare and the Cavemen (No), Mudhoney, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Maiden, Motorhead, Metallica, DRI…...muuuuch more.

  -When you started playing in a band(the very first),how did you want to start a band?

Start up with some friends at the age of 16. Three of us had some crappy guitars home and we was trying to learn how to play cool songs. We joined force practicing home for some months and so we start rehearsing "I Wanna be your dog" and "Killed by death" in a cheap local studio. It was the joy of making it happen!

Photo by Mr. Frode Skjold(https://www.flickr.com/photos/frodeskjold/)

-How did you end up with settling down in Oslo? could you tell me your journey from your home city to here? why did you move to Norway?

I met a Norwegian girl in Greece, we fell in love and I followed her to Norway half year later. I was 19, my first time abroad so it was quite an impression for me in a positive sense. The fact that I was able to find a job was important for socializing with colleges and friends. Searching as well for good concerts help me to find people with the same interest for music and after a short while to start a band in Oslo.

  -Please tell me the band/musicians that especially gave you the influence/inspiration for your play style.

Ron Asheton (Stooges)

Deus X Machina (Dimitris Spiropoulos)

Sonics

Fuzztones

MC5

  -Please tell me your current band and bands that you have played before. have you played in Greece?

Torqueflite (current )

High Octane boys (current)

The Launderettes (1999-2004)

Los Plantronics (1994-98)

Surface (First band, Greece 1988-92)

  -How do you think about playing in a band in Oslo? How is the music scene in Oslo?

My opinion is that Oslo always have been and still is a great place for music with a great scene considering the size of it. Through the years some of the great rock stages and concert halls are gone but new places have found birth. For the time being it's easier and more accessible to play music and I have the feeling that I see more and more young people with an instrument on their shoulder considering both girls and boys.

  -Any differences playing in a band in Greece and Norway?

It's a long time since I left my first band in Athens but if I try to make a comparison I would have say that in Norway there is a more open-minded view of rock'n'roll, garage & punk than in Greece. I think that's because of the political and cultural differences in an overall societal perspective. On the other hand, in a musician's level, I think that the joy of creativity and expression by playing in a band is exactly the same!

  -Which countries have you played gigs or toured? where is the best and why?

Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Greece, Finland and Portugal. In my opinion the hospitality and the care you can get is depending mostly to which Club and people you will meet, as well as how friendly or demanding you can get, Than the country itself.

  -Please tell me the most impressive live show in your entire musical life as musician. and why it became your most impressive show?

Well it must be when we played one of our first gigs in An Club Athens around ‘89 with my first band Surface! I remembered the dark stage at this legendary cellar club, how tense all of us was with joy, the expectations and nerves before the concert that made us felt like we nearly shit ourselves:) It was a great gig and of course we felt like in outer space when we got a good feedback from the crowd;)

  -Whats the craziest experience by playing in a band?

Travelling for a gig I suppose and all the wild stuff that can happen before and after a concert! Like emptying a plane for alcohol or asking a bus driver to take you to Acropolis/Athens when you’re in Portugal!!! (not me, I’m not that homeseek..;)

Photo by Mr. Frode Skjold(https://www.flickr.com/photos/frodeskjold/)

  -Whats the weirdest experience by playing in a band?

It must have been in when we arrange a Garage Surf weekender in Athens with 5 Norwegian and 2 Greek bands in December 2010. After booking An Club, hotel and bought plane tickets for about 25 people we got to know that at a later point Roky Erickson and The Sonics was booked for the same weekend in a club not far from our concert in the center of Athens!!! Well, we was anyway playing for fun and just to manage to pay our plane-tickets. At that point we understood that everybody had to pay for itself...

But on the way from Frankfurt to Athens we had the honor to share flight with Roky Erickson himself followed by his son Jegar and his band. We got to know each other and told them about our weekender. Roky played in Friday and his Son and the band join all of us on a daytrip to Acropolis at Saturday, came to our venue the same evening and party all night long with Norwegian and Greek friends!

Our venue manage actually a capacity of about 70% and so we get an free holiday and an amazing experience meeting nice folks!!!  

  -What is the biggest joy for playing music?

It's the joy of creativity as well as the feeling of unity within a band. Of course I’m referring to an amateur/hobby/underground level, that’s where I am, and not professionally cause is not my kind.

  -What kind of music you are listening to except garage punk/surf?

I’m open for a lot of different genres of music. I feel that as much as I hear music so much is yet to discover! As a huge tree climb that you find more and more branches to climb to.

  -Do you compose songs and lyrics? and How?

I use to write songs with lyrics with my first band out of different matters that was in my concern. But later in Oslo I started an instrumental band so I only focused on composing music. I still do the same today. In the past days we have to hurry up coming home when an idea popped up and capture it in a tape recorder. Thanx to technology is quite easy to capture an idea by  whistling on a phone recorder! I still haven't learned music formerly, and I don't think i never will, so it's from ear to my guitar hand.

  -Is there any hobby/interests except Music/band?

I like to repair/restore things, put a new life on them! That's god for the environment as well;)

  -What is your daily job?

I’m a kindergarten teacher.

  -What does band/playing music mean for you?

It’s my meditation and anti stress medication, it's my free zone, joy and inspiration!

[stipulatedconflict]

VIOLATIONS(St.Luis/USA)

Demo by Violations

VIOLATIONS from St. Luis US.

https://violations.bandcamp.com

アメリカはセントルイス発のハードコアパンクバンドVIOLATIONS。なんか偶然見つけたこのバンド。どんなバンドなのか調べたけどあまり情報ないけど、どうやらSHAVED WOMENのギターリストがボーカルを務めているみたいです。RegulationsやSchool Jerksみたいな初期８０年代ハードコアパンク直系な楽曲で、ロッキンなギター音に吐き散らすボーカルがめっちゃかっこいい！所々入るロッキンなリフーが個人的に大好き。英語でも全然情報出てこないし、再度プロジェクトで一回録音してそれ以降はノータッチな感じなのかな？個人的に大好きな音だけど、２０１３年以来何も出してないから今後は期待できないのかもしれないですね。残念。

[stipulatedconflict]

Band interview with NEGATIV(Oslo/Norway)

NEGATIV from Oslo, Norway

 NEGATIV is a new hardcore punk from Oslo. This band makes me feel that it will bring something exiting to the Oslo punk scene which is not just about Oslo punk scene but it is more involvements from punk scene in other countries. It’s maybe also by the vocalist Skunk’s own hard works for label and bookings, and NEGATIV is deeply involved in it as well. Thus this band makes me feel something will happen! I have seen them couple of times and the latest one was at Barrikaden with SIEVEHEAD. Once they started playing, the band immediately grabbed the entire atmosphere in the moldy underground space and delivered its manic primitive energy thoroughly. Their sound is based on 80s hardcore with weird mixture of Scandinavian hardcore punk, some Japanese flavor, light distorted guitar sound which sometimes sounded even rockin and the edge of thrash hardcore. Their groove is undulated with its manic groaning vocal but still has some sharp edge of thrash hardcore here and there. Their groove completely smashed the space and whole live space was undulated by the crowds and its sweaty moist heated air. It was a great show.

This time I could get a chance to interview them.

  Check their sound Here:

 Bandcamp: https://negativ1010.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/endlessnegativityoslo/

  Interview start from below;

  -So, who is in the band? is there any band which any of you have played or been playing before or currently playing beside NEGATIV?

Skunk: I do vocals, me and Sig used to scream against each other in JENKEM WARRIORS before and I'm also part of a noisy hardcore band called INTERNT OPPGJØR. Sig used to play drums in DISCUNT and has a electro band called HYSJ.

Møkk(Kenneth) plays guitar and has been in bands since I wore diapers, MORTE CEREBRALE, 2:20 and currently KNUSTE RUTER just to name a few!

Our drummer; Erik has probably had the most musical projects than I can count! He originates from Death Metal but is very comfortable with anything rockin' and-a-rollin and grabs punk songwriting better than most; maybe it's because he's so untouched by all the genre-wanking bullshit that's been going on. I think his most noticed band was FILTHDIGGER, he also had a hardcore band called STRUKTURELL VOLD which is coming out on 7" sometime this year..

  -Is there anyone who is involved in any DIY punk activities like running label, writing zines, taking pictures, designing, organizing shows etc in NEGATIV?

Skunk: Møkk is the mastermind and fingers behind ENDLESS STUDIO which is where we record and practice, we just moved into a new space so it's still under renovation. I'm gonna do my label work from there as well.

Sig has always been super busy with Queer and LGBTQ activism in Oslo and used to be the editor of the feminist radio RadiOrakel!

Erik does sound on a regular basis in our squatted venue; Barrikaden.

I've been running a small hardcore-punk label for about six years now called BYLLEPEST DISTRO and been doing booking at Barrikaden for pretty much the same amount of years. I've done sporadic designs for covers and posters but wouldn't really consider myself a designer in any sense. Just a complete hc-punk dweeb who spends too much time on punk stuff.  

We all do shows!

  -How did NEGATIV start in the beginning? how did all of you get together?

Skunk: Me and Sigrun had some aspirations to start a japanese-style hardcore band in the veins of stuff like GAI, EEL, LEBENDEN TOTEN etc. but had really big problems finding people in Oslo who were interested in playing that primitive and distorted. Sig was supposed to play drums originally, then guitar when Erik joined in on drums. We had our first rehearsal with a complete line-up including MØKK on guitar , which resulted in Sig playing Bass.

Møkk and Erik brought their own inspirations along and it ended up like something completely different! Kenneth wanted to bring influences from Italian 80's hardcore like NEGAZIONE and IMPACT, I think.. Although we try to avoid it I think we can't remain completely untouched by roots of Norwegian hardcore like KAFKA PROSESS , SISTE DAGERS HELVETE etc...

It was a really cold winter and all our other band project were on complete Hiatus.

   -How do you describe the sound of the band by your own words? 

Skunk: I think Sorry State Records described us the best; so I'd rather not describe our sound in my own words! They wrote; "After starting with a primitive SOA-style banger based around a punishing polka beat and snare rolls as jagged as a prison shiv, Negativ settle into a pleasantly thrash-infused take on 80s hardcore." It's originally about the two first songs on our EP; Automatic Thoughts but I think it describes our entire sound pretty well.

It's primitive and banging steadily! Sometimes we jazz out completely into weird atmospheric parts, but it always remain primitive to the bone.

  -Is there any specific bands gave influence/inspiration to the band sound?

Skunk:  Anything 80's hardcore but I think we all come from a bit different directions!

All the mentioned above and so many more! I listen to too many hardcore punk records... For the past year I've been quite inspired by the vocal style in UPRIGHT CITIZENS from Germany and early DEAD ENDS from the Philipines. The foundation for me has always been japanese bands from the 80's though.  Sigrun is mostly inspired by american hardcore , anything from MINOR THREAT to SICK FIX to L.O.T.I.O.N to LIMP WRIST; I know there's also a great deal of EMBRACE and other mid-era SST influences in there... I know for sure that Erik is inspired by the roots of punk like THE GERMS, SEX PISTOLS and BLACK FLAG while Kenneth gets his groves from anything technically aggressive and JIMI HENDRIX!

  -What kind of elements/influences do individual members bring to the band to sounds like NEGATIVE? 

Skunk: Everyone in Negativ are practically professional musicians besides me, Erik brings a lot of discipline and force to the band which makes us evolve faster. He's also the father of the term "S-Beat" which is his most common beat inspired by SLAYER and old school death metal like that, it adds a great foundation for primitive hardcore punk!

Sigrun gives our songs those bass lines that makes the songs stick out, there is always a minimalistic melody or harmony that gives the songs a certain drive. I guess it's from that post-hardcore stuff I mentioned above but I dunno haha! I think Kenneth truly gives us that 80's sound with the way he plays in general and he's also a genius at making simplicity sound massive!

  -How did you decide the band name? Is there any special meaning? something negative?

Møkk: We where talking about how things seemed upside down in the world.

That the ruling class of the world is mentally ill, but they act as they are the healthy ones. That right wing racist tyrants claim the role as victims, while refugees have lost everything, that capitalists are talking about ecology and “saving the world” while they are the ones raping it. When its more hierarchy, social and sexual abuse in the punk community than in the rest of society? What the fuck is going on!?!?! Its upside down isn’t it?! We where thinking of calling us “The Negatives” Like a photo negative. Where everything is inverted. But, since we`re all quite pessimistic, and having more experience with depression and negative thinking than we would like, and the double meaning with the upside down status of things at the moment, we cut it short and went for Negativ. The meaning is the same.

Its no secret that we dig Negative Approach either. Hehe!  

  -How's the punk scene in Oslo?

Møkk: Oooh, its like a roller coaster! Haha! Its ups and downs.. But yeah, oslo is a “bi-polar” city. We usually have very cold, long and dark winters. But still we have hot and sunny summers, the sun is up almost 24/7.

So when the winter is letting go, it seems that people are becoming manic, its good! But its definitely manic. Hehe!

Everything happening at the same time, everybody is ON and its a million things to do.

And of course, people are depressed during the winter. Getting “winter depressed” is as common as getting a cough here..

All that affects the punk scene, how the spirit is, if we are fighting each other or fighting our real enemies, or fighting for keeping our spaces, fighting for a better world. We are a small scene, everybody knows everybody, we aren’t very split into fractions. At least not in the same degree as other cities in Europe where I see more fractions and more homogenic communities. And I feel that the punk scene in Oslo is gonna be a good place to be in the future. Seems like people is starting to see what we have in common, rather than what we don’t have in common with each other. I think it has been a bit of a down period lately, but it looks promising at the moment. But hey! Its the month of May right now and maybe I`m just optimistic and manic at the moment?  

   -How do you think about playing in a band in Oslo?

Skunk:  I think we only played five shows in Oslo during the year we have existed. It's a small city and even though there are always some punk gigs, the quota of local bands is always a variable. We've only done five shows here or so for the past year and we're gonna keep it at a minimum just to keep shit interesting...

The best thing about playing in a band in Oslo would have to be the access to studios, venues etc. We run our own label and studio directly in the center of Grønland and can pretty much play how much/how little we feel like and still be sustainable. I

The worst part is probably that a lot of great bands from Oslo doesn't get recognized abroad because we're so far away from everything and often drown in the shadows of bands from Sweden and Denmark!

  -Which bands are you playing together a lot? any bands you feel sympathy as in a same scene?

Skunk: We played a couple of shows with Terrorstat, they're probably my personal favorites in Oslo. All good mates and half the band played with me and Sig in Jenkem Warriors. Terrorstat is a true freak accident of a fusion between Boston hardcore and Svart Framtid. They always deliver and is just such a hard-working, no bullshit band! All the members are also involved in Punk shit in Oslo outside of the band! Båndtvang is also a sick new noisy gang that I love to bits! Can't wait to see what direction they're heading, but it kinda reminds me of if Crucifucks would play Noise Punk!

We also did a two of our gigs with BLOOD SUCKERS, which is probably the only puristic USHC band in Oslo at the moment. Håvard from that band has put up quite a few gigs for us as well with the SVART SAMTID collective!

  -Is there any bands you feel sympathy for the sound/attitude outside of Norway?

Skunk: First off, I'd have to say Arggh! Fukk! Kill!!! that we played two gigs with in Germany, they've helped us out a lot and are great guys; we are doing a UK tour with  manic D-beaters in Split-Veins in the end of June, Carlos from that band has done some artwork for us and is generally a super sweet guy! We had a good session with PMS 84 in a club in Oslo not long ago and we hope we'll get to do some US shows with them in 2018!

  -Is there any good bands out there in Oslo which we should keep our eyes on in these days?

Skunk: Besides BÅNDTVANG, BLOOD SUCKERS and TERRORSTAT; I would strongly recommend everyone to check out MODERN LOVE, URBANOIA, PURPLE X, and OUTER LIMIT LOTUS! Oslo is not really a big enough scene to segregate genres, so the bands on this list varies from post punk to hardcore to power pop! We all play together!  

  -How do you guys compose songs and lyrics? some specific members are dedicated to it? or more like bring some riffs and developing it by jamming?

Skunk: Most of the flesh on our songs is hammered out by Erik; our drummer; then the rest of us puts our flavor on it. This is not a rule though and I think all of us bring ideas to the table!

  -Have you played outside of Norway?

Skunk: We did a short European tour about 8 months into NEGATIV's existence where we toured Denmark, Germany, Holland and Belgium. We got to meet old and new friends and I think it helped us define how we want to tour in the future.

  -What was the most impressive/unforgettable show NEGATIV had so far?

Skunk: The craziest shit ever for sure was to see the kids in Die Friese, Bremen singing along to our lyrics! I never expected that on our first tour!

  -What was the craziest things you had as NEGATIV?

Skunk: For me it must be the positive receivement we've gotten from the international punk scene. I've been playing in bands for about five years now where we've practically been having to beg for shows; with NEGATIV things've just fallen into place and the record has almost distributed itself. We're getting so many requests for shows, interviews etc. it's actually becoming stressful! We're extremely thankful to the punk community in it's completeness!

  -What is the further plan for NEGATIV?

Skunk: We're just about to embark on a UK Tour with Split-Veins and if things go as planned we wanna record our side for a four way split we're doing in Sheffield! We are also working on material for an LP and would love to tour the US in 2018 if shit go as planned!

Møkk: We just played together for a year, so i have the feeling we have some crazy things happening in the future! Right now there’s just some small stories involving chocolate in Amsterdam, stalking in Copenhagen, Latin American punk sieg-heiling in Rigaerstrasse. So, can`t wait for the real crazy stuff to happen! Haha. Ugh!

  -Is there any specific goal/aim for NEGATIV to achieve?

Møkk: At first it was just a goal to create a vent for frustration. Just to let it out.

The ambition was no ambition. It still is I guess. Some kind of therapy.

Right now we want to make an Album, we have a lot of stuff we want to sing about, and musical ideas to dig into. So no.. No specific goal at the moment.

But that can change as Byllepest Records is making a compilation called “infection”.

I think the goal is to infect society with punk rock. And make punk rock a very dangerous contaminating disease.

 Skunk: Our goal is to keep up the fight and make sure it doesn't end anytime soon! Fight in Progress!!!

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Individual interview with Ryan Sabatis(Red Red Red/Mellified man)

 It has been more than a decade since I discovered this band RED RED RED which is one of my favorite bands that gave me a deep influence to my own music. It was the Myspace era(sounds so old fashion haha) and I was seeking new bands and sound through it back in 2006 or 2007. Then I came across this band somehow. Its sound was very unique to my ear. Fast and aggressive as hardcore punk, and its rhythm bounded bit weirdly but still had the groove of rocknroll but which was not the boogie woogie way. It was sharp, edgy, solid and tight. I was digging teengenerate, new bomb turks or devil dogs etc that kind of 90s-00s garage punk/ass shaken’ rocknroll punk a lot at that moment(I still love though). But Red Red Red sounded completely different compared to any of these bands. The groove of Rock’n’Roll, RED RED RED had a different vibe. It’s kinda different perspective and interpretation of Rock’n’Roll. This time I was thinking why I don't interview the guys who gave me some influence. Then I could get in touch with Ryan Sabatis who is the heart of RED RED RED.

 Check their sounds here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI-b8F0aodQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSXMxXQfpjI

  Interview starts from below:

-How have you gotten into music in the first point?Please tell me the story how you started being interested in listening to music(it doesnt mean punk/garage/rocknroll)

I was pretty into listening to music when I was very young.  I was taken to a lot of these car show events with my family.  It was nothing but 1950’s music, rock and roll, doo-wop, etc.  Growing up there was a lot of that and classic rock stuff, more 60’s-70’s staple stuff.  I was young in the 80’s so the hard rock/metal style was also happening during that period.

I started playing guitar when I was 14.  I took lessons for several years from an instructor in my hometown and learned a lot about playing music and theory.  The music I was listening to and learning to play once I started playing an instrument was a lot of more mainstream rock and metal types of music.  Music study wasn’t just that though, I was taught and played some classical and jazz also.  I liked it but those things clicked for me more so later on and I became more interested in listening and playing other genres.

  -Then how have you reached punk/garage music?Please tell me the story that you started listening to punk/garage/rocknroll music. 

It started with friends in school.  I had friends that listened to metal bands and the punk influences that went along with them.  Like the typical ones you would know Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies.  Those bands would throw out punk bands as influences, like the Misfits, Black Flag, Minor Threat, etc.

In the 90’s there was a lot of popular music that was sort of derivative/influenced by punk stuff.  Call it grunge, metal, alternative rock, whatever.  I liked the more popular stuff but once I started moving backwards to the older bands I liked those a lot better.

There are 2 albums I bought early on that stand out and flipped a switch in my mind.  One was the Stooges Raw Power.  Another one was Damaged by Black Flag.  Raw Power is a super strange record to hear for the first time.  It just SOUNDED different in all ways.  Super weird and deranged, recorded/mixed weird.  Both of those albums are bizarre sounding and very powerful.

My friend Jason and I had a mutual interest in music.  He used to read these music encyclopedia books and would always tell me about cool bands to listen to.  Primarily hardcore/punk then started getting into 60’s “garage” and more rock and roll style punk bands.  He definitely had a good ear for things.  Jason and I started playing in bands together also for years where he was the drummer.  Later on Jason was who I started RedRedRed with, he was the bassist.


  -Please tell me your favorite bands
 

That is something that evolves and changes for me.  I can list some of the favorites that are probably more relevant as influences to my music:

The Stooges, MC5, Hendrix, The Sonics, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Link Wray, Captain Beefheart

Hardcore punk stuff like Black Flag, Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Void, Scream, Articles of Faith (tons of other ones)

jazz stuff, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Sun-Ra, Ornette Coleman (tons of other ones)

A lot of various ones also through the years also, the Scientists, Brainiac, weirder stuff Silver Apples, Half Japanese, Trumans Water.  I was a big fan of the label Crypt which put out bands like The Pagans, Gaunt, New bomb turks, Billy Childish, Teengenerate, Devil Dogs, Oblivians/Compulsive Gamblers, Country Teasers, Lyres, etc,

     -Please tell me the band/musicians that especially gave you the influence/inspiration for your play style.and why. 

The ones I listed above are big influences.  Some of the playing style elements that crop up would be various things – like from hardcore punk with playing fast, aggressive, and tight.  Or from other influences  with playing free/loose, noisey.  All things pulled from some of the bands mentioned above.  As far as why, I lean towards what I like to hear and play, as well as what the music may call for.


  -You can play drum and guitar.Is there any difference of joy when you play?

I enjoy playing both instruments.  I have gotten into learning more regarding drums in the past few years so I play those regularly.  The main difference is when I pick up the guitar I will likely write a song or immediately start flowing some sort of idea.  A good idea on guitar can affect me in a different way for sure.

  -Which instrument does represent yourself well as an artist?

My writing is primarily connected to the guitar and I have been playing that the longest so I would say that.

  -Could you tell me the bands you have played in before?

I played in my first band with my friend Jason drumming for years.  The sound was punk/hardcore, kind of rock and roll more so towards the end.  We sounded like when you hold play and fast forward on a tape recorder at the same time, probably too fast.  We did not release any recordings but practiced a ton, and played shows.


I also played drums in a band with some friends (Kent, Tracy, Kevin) for 2 years when I was in college in Kalamazoo, MI.  This was in the mid-late 90’s.  That was a hugely important learning experience.  The playing we did was primarily improvisational in playing and writing.  Getting on a wavelength with people and letting the ideas flow.  The guys I played with were a few years older than me and introduced me to a lot of different music.  2 of the guys more avant garde stuff, and the other guy introduced me to a lot of more obscure punk/noise bands.  When you end up meeting a record guru person that was it for me – 3 of them at once. 

Later I re-located to east Michigan, around Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti which is near Detroit.  I answered an ad and joined the band the Piranhas as the drummer.  That is another story, but that was another hugely important period and band to me.   We played together for 5 years, made records, and toured.  After the Piranhas I was in another band drumming called Druid Perfume.  At the same time I started RedRedRed.

For lesser periods of time I’ve played drums in the bands Mhz, His Name Is Alive, Human Eye, and other short lived ones.

  -When you started playing in a band(the first),why did you want to start a band?what was the reason?

Something to do, to be creative and have an outlet.  I really had a passion for it from the start and have always retained an interest in listening and playing.  I am grateful that I was able to have some good friends to be involved with music with.

  -How was the local scene when you started playing and be involved?


Depending on the period that is night and day.  Where I grew up and playing in my early bands was pretty different than when I moved near Detroit area.  With our early band we were from a small town so we would have to travel a little to see shows or play.  I remember there were a lot of bands around and shows to go to which was cool.   Even in our hometown some of the younger kids started bands and are still active with it.  I have pretty good memories about that period of time.

Around the year 2000 I moved to Detroit and started playing in the Piranhas.  That was a weird experience because I was not as familiar with the Detroit scene prior and the music scene there exploded during that time, it was right at the peak of all that.



  -How did RED RED RED start?


I was drumming in the Piranhas and that was going well.  But I was primarily a guitarist and I wrote.  I never really stopped that and was looking to do something again.

I met the drummer Jon through his cousin who was a co-worker of mine.  I had actually seen Jon’s old band - Easy Action - before I knew him.  My old band-mate Jason had moved to the area and he joined as a bass player.  So we started the band then with that lineup.

  -How did you decide the name RED RED RED?is there any specific meaning?

I was listening to a song where it sounded like the singer was saying that but he was saying something else.  So it came from auditory hallucinating.  There is no specific meaning I just thought it was a good name to use and no band existed before with that band name.




-Was there any specific idea of sound for RED RED RED before it started?

When I first started playing with Jon we were a 2 piece and it was very different sounding.  I made up this custom tuning for my guitar and created these chord fingerings that worked and so that I could fret and get these really dissonant intervals/tones.  We did that for a while then scrapped that idea and said we are going to play rock and roll.  Then we brought Jason in on bass and started the group.

The sound was mainly an aggressive rock style but it had to have a different angle, be original, no re-hashing things.  I wanted the songs to be solid and throw wrenches in the structures.  Some of writing that stuff came to me out of body, free-flowing, it’s hard to explain how I wrote some of those things thinking back on it.

  -Could you describe the sound of RED RED RED by your own words?


Michigan rock and roll…..

-How was the music scene in Michigan when RED RED RED was active about a decade ago?

I think what the younger people were doing had started to transition into some different things when RED RED RED started.  There were still great bands doing garage rock and roll but some more different sounds coming out also.  Some of the bands I remember that we played with or were around at the time in Detroit were Human Eye, The Frustrations, Terrible Twos, Easy Action, many others.  It was still pretty thriving and a good scene to be able to play in.  Detroit has a lot of great people that know and appreciate music, there is a big music history in that city.

  -Were there any bands you RED RED RED had sympathises with for the sound or attitude?

Loosely… punk stuff as I mentioned, Black flag, mc5, stooges.  Our drummer, Jon, played prior to that in Easy Action with the singer from Laughing Hyenas.  Jon’s drumming has a lot of influence from those bands and his playing style brings that as well.  I think we were original and varying enough though and had our own sound.

  -Why did RED RED RED stop playing?

We might have stopped for the time, but to me the band is just on hiatus.  Aside from that, years ago the 2 guys that started it with me (Jason, John) were not able to do it anymore because of being too busy, normal life/family stuff.

When you wrote me you mentioned the first LP – Mind Destroyer.  REDREDRED was re-formed after that with a 2nd version of the band that played live and released the second LP called “New Action” also on Big Neck Records.

I am really proud of the second LP.  We were doing pretty well and played some really good shows, some of the best I have ever played.  The guys in the v2 of the band were:  Johnny on lead guitar, Matt on drums, and his brother Mark on bass.  We stopped playing mainly because we lived far away from each other and the logistics were not working at the time.

  -How about current bands?What band are you in now? 

Redredred is on “hiatus”.  I play in a band in Ypsilanti, MI where I live called Mellified Man.

  -Could you tell us about your current active band mellified man?How does it start and how is its sound?

Mellified Man is a group that started a few years ago with two friends who are on the same wavelength as me.  I primarily drum in the group but we switch instruments also.  The music starts primarily from improvisation and it is more experimental leaning.  We have an album recorded that we are planning to release.  There are some demo versions here  https://mellifiedman.bandcamp.com.

  -How is the punk/garage/rocknroll scene in Michigan now? Is there any difference when RED RED RED was active back in 2006?

I think the older more known bands kind of went away and it’s more newer bands or people coming into it.  Some of the older ones are still going and new blood, new ideas is a good thing with the younger bands.

  -Are there any good bands in Michigan which we should keep our eye on?

Mellified Man, Minus 9, Diamond Hens, The Hemingers, Easy Action, Timmy’s Organism, Wolf Eyes, His Name Is Alive

  -Have you played outside of US?


No but I would like to.

   -Please tell me the most impressive live show of your entire musical life as musician.and why it became your most impressive show?

I don’t have a #1 but some that I can look back on that were good were the Piranhas west coast tour shows because we were a honed in group for a long time at that point and dialed in.

Also the 2nd to last show RedRedRed played I think we were on fire, I dug that a lot.

  -What’s the craziest experience by playing in a band?

Also I am not sure what is the craziest but I can think of some ridiculous ones:

Trying to cue a song change while the singer blows up a bomb on himself.

Singer cutting his butt and face up

Stay in the hospital leave, go straight to show and play

Band member punched out bar owner, band chased out thinking we’re going to get killed

Someone pooping in a cup and putting it in someone’s cup holder in an unlocked car then saying “I always wanted to do that”.

Etc. etc.

 Most of this stuff was pretty shitty but I can look back and laugh at some of it at least.

  -What’s the weirdest experience by playing in a band?

For anymore weird experiences I would primarily credit to my friend Jimbo Easter.  I played in bands for years with him and he is pretty weird sometimes but I love him!

There was one weird visual that stands out also from playing in a band.  I played drums for my friend Warn’s band “His Name Is Alive” years ago.  We were opening for the band – Psychic TV in NYC at a big venue.  Prior to us playing there was a female performance artist that was on the bill.  I just remember that I was one minute not really paying attention, then I looked at the stage and it was completely ridiculous.  The woman was on this huge stage completely naked with a little tophat and face taped above her pubic hair, which was curled into a bit mustache.  She was gesturing herself around with her finger like a little hairy person was singing between her legs with this ridiculous music blasting.  I looked over and Warn and the singer of Psychic TV were sitting together on the side of the stage while this was going on and they looked like super happy like nothing out of the ordinary was occurring.  Maybe you had to be there but it was exceptionally weird.

  -What is the biggest joy for playing music?

Being able to be creative/expressive, writing songs & playing with friends, recording.  It's the most rewarding playing live for people, when someone connects to it and gets something from the music as well.

  -What kind of music you are listening to except punk/garage/rocknroll music?

Some stuff I mentioned before.  I have been working on drumming a lot the past few years, so more drum oriented stuff, jazz, samba, polyrhythmic, prog stuff.

  -Do you have any specific way to compose songs and lyrics?

It depends, for lyrics I need to have some inspiration, some feeling to get out, something to say in it.  Sometimes it may be abstract.  For composing I channel it from somewhere out of myself.  I just start playing.  I’m not sure how to convey that technique…  I record a lot of ideas and edit things together.  For playing with people improvisations are one of the best approaches to create.

  -For the lyrics,do you have any specific theme you want to express? 

Nothing specific and I write about different things.  Things I can relate to and feel.  Some of it is personal expression to myself and left for people to interpret their own way.

  -What is your daily job?

The job I currently do to take care of things is computer programming.  I do music because I love it and I play/practice all the time.

  -Is there any hobby/interests except Music/band?


My primary interest is spending time with my family, my kids.

  -What does band/playing music mean for you?

It has been a big part of me for a long time, it’s my outlet to be expressive and creative.  If someone else connects with it or gets something out of it also that is the highest compliment.

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Shitty life(Parma/Trento/Italy)

Shitty Life

https://shittylife.bandcamp.com

イタリアはパルマとトレントのメンバーからなるガレージハードコアパンクバンド。 イタリアの優良レーベルのSurfin’KやGoodbye boozyからのSick thoughtsのDD OWENとの共作７インチなどセンスの光るリリースがあったが、以前は早くアグレッシブなガレージパンクといったところだった。だが今回リリースされるセフルタイトルの７インチは、共同リリース元であるSpastic Fantastic Records, No Front Teeth Records, Crapoulet records, Surfin' KI Recordsからも分かる通り、ハードコアのレーベルも含んでおりハードコアパンク的２ビートをがっつりフューチャーしたよりハードコアパンクへぐっと踏み出した作品。ギターの音やリフ、ソロなどはガレージパンクの色が出たロッキンで乾いた音に、ショートかつタイトでアグレッシブなハードコアの２ビートがのり、同郷の Thee OopsとスペインのCitizen Kaneを掛け合わせたような楽曲にメンバーが大好きと語るボストンのSocial Circkle的なボーカルスタイルがのった、ハードコアのアグレッシブさにガレージのロッキンなグルーブがタイトに混ざった音は上記バンドが好きな人にががつんと響くはず。共同リリース元のレーベルもどれもセンスの光る優良レーベルなのも納得の作品です。

[stipulatedconflict]

RASHOMON(Washington D.C./US)

Demo 2017 by Rashōmon

Rashomon

https://rashomondc.bandcamp.com

このバンドにも完全にINTROでやられました、何このリズム？完全に臨戦態勢作る為の旋律でしょ。ギター、ベースもヤバいけどドラムのリズムも充分ヤバい。 ボーカルの絶叫。

抽象的に対象を批判する世界観強めの歌詞を吐き捨てるように歌うボーカル、癖のある面白いギター、後半の曲のギターが何かグネグネしてて不思議。三曲目の途中に入ってる歌詞に載ってない言葉が絶望的、ヤサグレた感じがとてもかっこいい。 ----------------------------------------------------------- このまま蒸発して みんな俺のことなんて忘れてしまうんだ もう○○でやる ----------------------------------------------------------- って叫んでるように聴こえる、マジでスゲー、世界観が。

日本の80'hcが好きな人、D-beat的な音が好きな人にもオススメです。

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Band interview with LYSOL(Seattle/USA)

LYSOL from Seattle USA.

In the beginning,i saw that Total Punk was going to release new 7″ of Lysol and i have no idea who Lysol were at all also i didn't know what Lysol meant since i am not American and not very familiar with those brand names.However i felt sounded bit interesting somehow and I just checked their bandcamp and boooooom. These two songs are REAL killer.How they combined the fierceness of hardcore punk and groove of garage and R’n’R,it literary brown my mind away and i couldn't stop listening to this two songs again and again for a month.

I was so keen to know what was the background of this band and there was almost nothing i could find,thus i immediately asked them for an interview.

People who loves garage punk and hardcore punk have to dig this real gems,and there is the interview.

Check their songs here,

LYSOL:

Bandcamp:https://lysolpunx.bandcamp.com

Interview starts from below:

-So,who is in the band?is there any band which any of you have played or been playing before or currently playing beside LYSOL?

The band is Gabriel Gutierrez, Xtine Lundberg, Anthony Gaviria, and Chad Ringo Bucklew. 3/4 of us were in another band before called Freak Vibe and also play in other currently active bands called Control Test, Beta Boys, Vats, Criminal Code, Mysterious Skin, American Nudism and Kid Chrome.

-Is there anyone who is involved in any DIY punk activities like running label,writing zines,taking pictures,designing,organising shows etc in LYSOL?

Xtine and Anthony live and book shows at a DIY venue called Nuthole and Gabe also lives at a DIY venue / recording studio called Office Space both of which are centrally located in Seattle. Chad runs a video zine / cassette label called Tape Appeal. All of us are pretty involved and active in the punk community of the NW.

-How did LYSOL start in the beginning?how did all of you get together?

Like I said 3/4 of us played in a band together previously and after Freak Vibe broke up we recruited Gabe and started Lysol. We've all know each other for years just through booking, playing, and running DIY bands and spaces.

-Was there any specific idea of sound before LYSOL started?

Freak Vibe was a very primitive attempt towards bands such as the Cramps or the Stooges but due to a harden playing style turned out to be more in the vein of the Birthday Party. Lysol started to incorporate similar elements but with a more straight forward punk approach.

-How do you describe the sound of the band by your own words?

Raw Power era Stooges but coming from a hardcore background.

-Is there any specific bands gave influence/inspiration to the band sound?

Brown Sugar from Buffalo, NY incorporated garage riffs but played as a hardcore band which was a huge inspiration to us for the conception of Lysol and was an easy transition due to our playing styles and previous involvements with our earlier projects.

-What kind of elements/influences do individual members bring to the band?Drum is tight as hell,Bass is groovy,guitar has great rock infused edge,organ makes it so much tastier and love the vocal that raw as fuck.

Well, you nailed it dude that's it haha.

-How did you decide the band name?is there any special meaning?It used to be L.I isn't it?What was the meaning behind the name and why it was changed?

Lysol was chosen as the name because it was the only thing we all agreed on haha. L.I. was just used for one record because the label was worried about getting sued, it means "Lysol Incognito".

-How's the punk scene in Seattle?how's playing in a garage or hardcore band there?moreover how does people regard you guys?Garage punk band?Hardcore punk band or punk band?

The Seattle scene is great and very intertwined with the Olympia scene which is also an incredible place. Seattle is changing really fast and is getting more expensive but there's still tons of all ages DIY venues and shows happening and we are still able to have a thriving scene. there's a lot of young kids keeping things a live and the people who have been involved for longer holding it down. People within our scene refer to Lysol as a punk band id say.

-Which bands are you playing together a lot?any bands you feel sympathy as in a same scene?

BETA BOYS

-How do you guys compose songs and lyrics?some specific members are dedicated to it?or more like bring some riffs and developing it by jamming?

I'd say the songs mostly come together through jamming then Gabe just write lyrics over it.

-What is the further plan for LYSOL?

We put out an LP on deranged records earlier this year and have a 7" single coming out on Total Punk. We're going to be recording for a second 7" soon as well. We are on a tour right now of Mexico and have another tour in the states planed for March. After that we are going to continue to write new material and finalize on some over seas tour plans probably happening within the next couple years. We would love to play Japan at some point!

-Have you played outside of USA?

We've played Canada and Mexico a handful of times and are planning on doing more international tours.

-What was the craziest things you had as LYSOL?

One time we played outside during a monsoon in New Orleans. We also did a tour with beta boys that was wild as hell. We almost went to jail in Tijuana Mexico once.

-Is there any goal/aim for LYSOL as a band?

To just play music and to travel as much as possible

[stipulatedconflict]

LYSOL(Seattle/USA)

"Wired" B/W "Knucklehead" by LYSOL

LYSOL

https://lysolpunx.bandcamp.com/album/wired-b-w-knucklehead

アメリカはシアトルのガレージパンク/ハードコアパンクバンドLYSOL。Total Punkのニューリリーッスってことで試しに聞いてみたらこれがめちゃくちゃやばい！バンドキャンプのタグから見るにガレージパンクを標榜しているらしく、楽器隊の音はReaterdsのような荒削りなロッキンな音。ボーカルのディストーションがかかった声もReaterds時代のJay Reaterdsを彷彿される感じだけど、何が違うっていうのが２ビートと８ビートの切り返しが一曲の中でガンガンに入っていること。２ビート部分ではドラムの怒涛のドラミングとバンド全体が一体となった押し寄せるようなビートからいきなりカッチカチにタイトでキチキチいうハイハットの音が効いたタイトな８ビートにスイッチして、そこからはギターも自由にビートの合間を漂っていて、緩急のつけ方が最高。２曲目はイントロ部分にオルガンも入っており、８ビート部分のギターのロッキンな入れ方や、地面を這いずり唸るようなベースがよりガレージのグルーヴを感じさせるもので、２ビートの時のバンド一丸となってる部分と８ビートの部分の各パートが自由にロッキンなフレーズを入れてくる部分の差がたまらないです。なんか昔やっていたバンドで後期に曲は作ってたけど結局バンドでやることができなかった曲とかのアイディアがまんま８ビートと２ビートの切り返しががっつりはいった曲とかだったので、やりたいと思っていたことをそのまんまこれでもかってぐらい理想的な形でやられた感じでした。最高！

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パーソナルインタビュー with ヤンヤン（元JOYSIDE/残光楽隊）

　今回のインタビューは北京在住のやんやん。今回は匿名希望ということで彼のあざなでの表記となりますが、北京のアングラシーンでやんやん知らない人間いないでしょ！？ってぐらいなので、正直匿名になってないですね。プッシュしまくりすいませんやんやん。

彼と一番最初に出会ったのはたしか２００８年に中国の伝説的アングラロックバンドJOYSIDEが上海にツアーで来た時？だったと思います。そのときやんやんがJOYSIDEに戻っていたのか、単純に一緒に遊びに来ていたのかは覚えてないけど、たしかLogO Barの前でいつものように道端にすわって酒を飲んでるときに、当時の彼女が「面白い日本人いるから紹介するよ！」って形で知り合った形だったと思います。あのときは自分もへべれけだったと思うし、やんやんも御多分に洩れずご機嫌になってたと思うので、正直何を話したかは全く覚えてないし、どういう形で連絡を取り合うようになったのかもよく覚えてないけど、自分が北京に行ったときや、やんやんが上海に来たときなどにあったり、本当にランダムな形で時々チャットをしたりしていて、上海を離れた後も未だに時々連絡のやり取りがある数少ない友達の一人です。

今回はそんなやんやんに今まで聞いたことがなかった彼の中国のミュージックシーンでの遍歴などいろいろ聞いてみました。

 やんやんといったらやはりJOYSIDEと彼の現行（？）バンド残光楽隊なので、気になる方は是非下記リンクで聞いてみてください。

JOYSIDE:

Douban: https://site.douban.com/joyside/

Bandcamp: https://tenzenmen.bandcamp.com/album/booze-at-neptunes-dawn

https://tenzenmen.bandcamp.com/album/maybe-tonight

 残光楽隊:

Xiami:http://xiami.com/zankou/album　(中国国内 or 要プロキシor VPN)

  以下インタビュー：

  こんにちは、北京に暮らすおっさんです。

さて、何でこんなインタービューを受けているのかと言いますと。トシちゃんとは知り合ってからそんなに頻繁に会っていたわけではないのですが、非常に真面目なお方でお話も楽しいし、インタービューしたい！と言ってくれているのでむげにも断れず・・・普段からインタビューだとかレビューだとか文章書いてくれとかよく言われるのですが、何時も断っています。他の人からすると私のような人間は非常に珍しいというか？面白いらしいのですが私はただ音楽系の友だちが多いだけのおっさんであります。

今回は匿名希望を条件にトシちゃんのインタビューに真面目に？答えてみました。

  ・どのようにして一番最初に音楽に興味を持ちましたか？音楽全般を聞くようになったきっかけを教えてください（アンダーグランドミュージックではない全般的な音楽）。

親の影響が大きいですね、ちびっ子の頃からRCサクセションとかシナロケをよく聞いていましたね。子供の頃はテレビの歌番組なんかも多かったし最初に楽器に興味を持ったのはシナロケの鮎川誠がかっこよかったのとすかんちのローリーがなんかキラキラしててカッコ良かったのが最初かな・・・あぁギターやりたいなと。何故���おかんがクラッシュが好きでよく聞いていた記憶。その後ピストルズのほうが好きになるんだけどね、あの人を小馬鹿にした感じが好きで。

音楽自体は3歳から12歳までバイオリンをやってました。ロックが好きになるとクラシックが嫌で嫌で・・・間違えると殴られるし。学校から帰ると練習で友達とも遊べないし。反抗的な意味でもロックに走ったという。

キラキラしたのが好きだったのでグラム・ロックが好きで今でもDavid Bowieが一番好きです。

ギターリストで好きなのはJohnny Thundersです。

  ・そしてガレージやハードコアパンクなどのアンダーグランドミュージックにはどのように至ったのですか?ガレージパンク/ハードコア/パンクを聞く事になったきっかけを教えてください。

非常にありきたりなんだけどもピストルズからパンクに入って、ルーツをたどるとNYドールズとかIGGYとかに行き着くわけで、その周りで色々聞いていくとベルベット・アンダーグラウンドとか聞き出してああいう音が好きでやっぱり周辺のバンドとか影響受けたバンドを聴きだして、中学生の時にMAD3を知って最高にカッコイイ！と、それからガレージ関連好きになって行った感じかな？丁度私が中学高校くらいの時ってハイスタとか全盛期で言う成ればエアジャム世代？でもああいう短パンにTシャツみたいなのに馴染めなくてその正反対の暗くて怪しいジメジメした感じが好きでジャパコアとかガレージ系とかに走ったと。鉄アレイとか見に行ってちびっ子的には凄く怖かったけどカッコイイ！と。

  ・好きなバンドを現行及び昔のバンドで教えてください。

バンドで言うとね・・・困りますね。最近全然聴いてないからね。特に現行のバンドよくわかんないね。

 現行：

Jetboys現在進行形ですね。この間もチャイナツアーしました。おのちんは永遠のヒーローです。

Tragedyネオクラストですね。カッコイイですね。

Darkthrone最近はクラストになってしまいましたがTransilvanian Hungerはブラック・メタルの最高傑作ですね。 

Bathory　初期が好きです。

KATHARSIS　ドイツのブラックメタル。詳細不明。

Midnight　USメタルパンク。めちゃくちゃです。

Turobonegro　ボーカル変わっちゃったけど相変わらずかっこええです。

Zyanose　大阪発ノイズクラスト。ワールドワイドに活躍中ですね。

Bring me the horizonピコリーモ？割と好きです。

Baby Metal　何度か生で観ましたが最高に可愛いです。大好きです。

昔：

RCサクセション　最高にカッコイイですね。おかんが私の名前を清志郎にしようと企んでいたそうです。

SHEENA & THE ROKKETS　鮎川誠みたいになりたいですね。

MAD3　初期が最高ですね。ジャパニーズガレージの最高峰。

S.D.S　ビデオとかCDとか全部北京パンクスにパクられてしまいました。

STOOGES　IGGYですね。基本ですね。

The Heart Breakers　サンダース先生はカッコイイですね。最高ですね。大好きです。

P.I.L　ピストルズよりもこっちのほうが好きです・・・・

Hellacopters　解散が惜しまれますね。

Velvet Underground　ビートルズより先にこっち聴いてしまったので・・・・

AMEBIX　寝るときによく聴いています。

ATARI TEENAGE RIOT　デジタルハードコアも好きでした。

 最近あまり音楽に対して好き嫌いとか感じなくなりましたね。

  ・初めてのバンドを始める時なぜバンドを始めようと思ったのですか？そのきっかけは？

初めては高校生だったかな・・・ノイズとヒップホップ混ぜたようなのやりたかったのよね。

メンバー含め誰も理解してくれなかったから数回練習してポシャった記憶。

あの当時ノイズ系にはまってて頭おかしかったから・・・・

山塚EYEがユンボでライブハウス破壊とか時限爆弾作ったとか真に受けて何か似たようなことしたかった青春の思い出。

  ・自分のプレイスタイルで特に影響/インスピレーションを受けたバンド/ミュージシャンは誰ですか? 

やはりJohnny Thunders一択ですね。BowieとかもMick Ronsonと言う素晴らしいギターリストが居て大好きなんだけどもいかんせんコピーとか大嫌いで今まで一曲丸々練習したのはThunders先生の曲しか有りません。

鮎川誠先生も決してテクニカルではないけどあの佇まいがカッコイイという・・・

JetboysもそうだしMad3もそうだしHongkongKnifeとかプレイの端々にJohnny Thundersの影響が見て取れるバンドが好きでよく聴いてたからやはりギター弾くとあんな感じになるんじゃないかなとは自分では思っております。

JAZZをちょこっとかじったからかコードはテンションの入った広がりのある音が好きです。コードの押さえ方は少し変だと思います。面倒だから結構音抜いて開放弦多く使ったりするかな。面倒だから本当はギター弾きたくないです。

  ・今中国に住んでいますよね。いつ頃中国に来たんですか？また元々の出身はどちらですか？

北京は始めてきたのは確か2000年年末だったような・・・出身は東京なのですが身の回りに華僑の方がいて小学生の時上海に遊びに行っていたりしましたね。あの当時外国人はまだ人民元使えなかった時代です。いまからは考えられないような景色の上海でした。懐かしいなぁ・・・・

  ・なぜその時中国に来たのですか？そのきっかけは？

中国のパンク特集とかTBSのNEWS23で見てたんですね。无聊军队の面々が出てて。脳濁、69、反光鏡、A‐BOYSとか初期北京パンクの。そこで中国にパンクが有るんだと知りまして。その後某北京のガールズパンクバンドが東京に来ると知り見に行って仲良くなったのでよしいっちょ北京遊びに行ってみるかと。気がついたら15年たってました・・・・

  ・２０００年に突然北京のパンクシーン見にちょっくら北京いってくるって言ったとき、親や周りの人間はどんな反応でした?

東京から飛行機で3時間位の距離だし特に何も・・・面白そうやんけ！とは友だちに言われ何人か遊びに来た思い出。

思っているより近いからそんなに抵抗も無かったようです。

おかんも親父も遊びに来たし。

  ・来たばかりの時の中国はどんな感じでしたか？その時特にびっくりしたことなどありますか？

何もかもがカオスでしたね。とにかく全てが日本と違うのが新鮮でした。食べ物も珍しくて何でも食べましたけど何時もお腹こわしててうんこ漏らしてばっかりでしたね。トラウマです。まぁ今でも漏らすんですけど。未だに食品の衛生はダメですね。

一瞬こっちの大学に行っていた時期もあったのですがあの当時日本からの留学生とにかくクズが多くてびっくりしましたね。

もちろん真面目な人もいたと思うんですけど。馴染めなかったのですぐに言葉も憶えたし辞めて仕事始めたりしてました。

  ・すぐに言葉も覚えたしやめて仕事を始めたということですが、中国に来て一年ほどでどんな仕事を始めたんですか？

IT関係だったかな・・・日本向けSNSのサイトを作る仕事とか、その仕事の後は翻訳、通訳、モデル、俳優、営業、何でもやりましたね。

生きていくのに必死でしたね。本当にゼロからのスタートだったので。

  ・ゼロからのスタートだったという事ですが、そのとき日本にかえろうと思う事はなかったのですか？なにかここでやっていこう！と思わせる惹きつけるものがあったんですか？

何ででしょうかね～。ただ意地張ってただけだったのと頭が他に回らなかったという・・・

今思えばさくっと日本に帰って悠々自適に暮らしてるのが良かったかな～とも思うんだけども。毎日楽しかったしね、友達も沢山出来たし。

今も別に不満は無いのでこれでも良いかなと思います。

  ・来たばかりの時の北京の音楽シーンはどうでしたか？どんなバンドがいて、どんなライブ会場があったんですか？

来たばかりの時は无聊军队はすでに結束なくなっていたけど新しいバンドOuch!とか第２世代のパンクバンドが出始めていた時期でJOYSIDEもそうかな？蜜三刀というSKINSバンドがいてびっくりしたな。ボーカルがこの間亡くなって凄く悲しい。

会場はヤクザ経営のGet Luckey　Barというのがメインだったかな。刀持ったヤクザがバンドと喧嘩してたり売春婦いたり。。とにかくカオス。あとはちっこいBarでみんなで手持ちの機材持ち込んでコソコソライブやったりしてましたね。

凄くDIYでした。あの当時何も無かったから全部自分たちでやってましたね。

  ・どのようにして最初北京の音楽シーンに入って行ったのですか？

とにかく運が良かったのか色々な人に巡り会えましてあの当時沢山の人に非常に御世話になりました。元々あまり人見知りもしないのでバンドとかとも良く話したりお酒を飲んだりしていくうちに交流の輪が広がった感じかな。今でもそうだけどシーンに日本人がそんなにいないので珍しかったかもしれないけど。日本人は某双子の有名人がいましたね。本当に御世話になりました。反日的ないじめとかも経験したこと無かったし。

  ・某双子の有名人？どんな人だったんですか？

某双子の有名人は日本人何だけどもあの当時ですでに中国歴が10年以上あったんじゃないかな？本当に不思議な人達でライブの企画とか日本からバンド呼んできたりとかレーベル作ったりとかCD日本に流通させたりとか・・・色々と初期のパンクシーンに貢献していたすごい人達だったんだけども。

私も色々御世話になりまして非常に感謝しております。

ただ北京パンクスからすると与えられることに慣れてしまって感謝の気持ちとか感じていたバンドは少ないんじゃないかな？本当にすごい人達だったんだけどね。お兄さんのほうはまだ色々と動いていらっしゃるご様子。

最近全然連絡もしないしよくわからないのだけど。

  ・今やっているバンド、及び今までやった自身のバンド遍歴を教えてください。それぞれのバンドはどのようなバンドだったのかも教えてください。

北京でコソコソバンド参加してましたね。

JOYSIDEというバンドにちょこっといましたね。あとCasino Demonというのもちょこっと。Heart Stealersというのもやってたかな。Scoffというのに一瞬いたか。。その他諸々有りましたが憶えてないな・・・

それぞれやっぱりガレージ系というかロックンロール系というか似たような感じです。

最近はZANKÖUというバンドやってましたがメンバー間の音楽性の違いや意識の違いで全くやる気が起きません。

ブラックメタルとかメタルクラスト、ネオクラストというかBlackended　Crustな感じがやりたいんだけど難しいですね。

  ・実はかなり色々なバンドに参加していたんですね。自分主体で組んだバンドはありますか？

自分からバンドやりたいとは思わないので・・・・・

たまーになんかやろうかなと思うんだけどすぐや～めた！となります。

誘われて入るパターンが多いです。

  ・やんやんというとやはり伝説的な中国アングラロックバンドJOYSIDEでギターを弾いていたっていう印象が強いですが、もともとJOYSIDEに加入するきっかけはなんだったんですか？

最初に北京に来た時に一番最初に知り合って仲良くなったのがこの人達で、最初ボーカルがギター弾いててギターが居なかった。んでもってじゃぁ弾かせてよと。一番最初に見た時はどうしようもないバンドだなと思ったけれどなんだか輝いて見えたので是非一緒にやりたいと！

  ・JOYSIDEに参加していたとき、どんなバンドと一緒にライブをすることが多かったですか？またどんな場所でよく演奏していましたか？一番活発に活動していたとき、JOYSIDEの周りにはどのようなシーンが形成されていましたか？

やはりパンク系のバンドが多かったかな？あの当時パンクはハードコアっぽいのでも77でもメロコアでも皆パンクの括りであまり細分化されてなかったから。スカパンクとか流行っていた時期。こ汚いライブ出来るバーでチケット5元とか10元とかでやっていたような・・・・今チケット普通180元とかだからね。

活発だった時期はなんとなく影響を受けたと思われるガレージっぽいバンドが周りに多かったかな？77ぽいというか？

D22というライブハウスというかバーがあって、そこで私は店長もしてたんですけど色々おもしろいバンドが出てましたね。Queen Sea Big shark、Carsick Cars,Snapline, アングラな感じでとんがった感じのバンドが多かったかな。海外のメディアとかよく取材に来てましたね。

  ・D２２で店長をしていたんですね。それはいつ頃ですか？D２２は北京のアンダーグランドミュージックシーンのベースともいえる場所でしたし、海外のメディアもよく取材に来ていたということですが、そのときのシーンはどのようなものだったのですか？Queen Sea Big Shark、Carsick cars、Snaplineなどポストパンク、ニューウェーブバンドが多かったのですか？

あれいつ頃だったかな・・・3~4年位やっていたと思うんだけど。2005年から2008年か？2006年‐2009年か・・・・

オーナーが面白い人でレーベルやりながらライブの出来る場所を開いてバンドを見つけて育てるという。独特のシーンが出来てましたね。あの当時面白いバンドが多くてポスト・パンクとかノーウェーブ系？ノイズとかジザメリみたいなのとかアート志向かつロックなバンドというか・・・そういうバンドがよく出てましたね。

海外からのツアーバンドもよく出ていたし、パンクからノイズ、ジャズ何でも出てました。

日本人客はあまり見たこと無いけれども大学街にあったので世界各国の留学生が来ていて無国籍な感じが楽しかったです。バンドは皆タダ酒飲ませてたなー。店長の俺が一番飲みまくってたけど。よく副店長に怒られてました。飲み過ぎだと。在庫俺が飲んでばっかだと。結果肝臓ぶっ壊しました。

  ・JOYSIDEでも加入したり脱退したり何度もしていたようですが、なにかあったんですか？

よくメンバーとケンカしてましたね。仲はずっと良いんですけど。

私は最初期にちょびっとと最後期解散前にちょびっと居ただけですけど何故か皆さんJOYSIDEといえば私のことを良く憶えているそうです。他のギターのメンバーの方が上手いしかっこいいと思うんですけどね。

時期によってギターのスタイルが皆それぞれ違うのでパンクっぽかった私が目立ったのかと。

  ・中国のギターリストでステージ上での立ち振る舞いでこれはきわだっている！と思う人、もしくはやんやん的に一目置いているミュージシャンはいますか？

重塑雕像的权利（Re-tros）とPK14位かしら・・・独特の世界観とステージング、完成度の高い楽曲は憧れますね。

自分たちのやりたい音楽だけを積極的に追求しているところも好感が持てます。

真面目な人達で非常にストイックです。

真似できないですね～。

  ・JOYSIDEが活動していたとき、何か明確なバンドの目標みたいなものはあったのでしょうか？

後期私が居る時もフェス出たりワンマンやったり地方行ったりあの当時でそれなりにギャラ貰えててそれで食えていたのよね。んでもってグダグダやっててもしょうがないからボーカルに「これからどうする？お金を儲けて喰って行きたいならそれなりにバンドとして考えなければならない」みたいな話をしたらボーカルが「そういうので音楽やっているんじゃない、俺は100年後も俺達の曲を聞いてくれる人間がいるようなバンドをやりたいんだ」と言うわけですよ。かっこいいなと思ってね。この人と一緒にやっててよかったなと思えたんですね。

ロックンロールやっててああいう一言が言えるような人間になりたいですね。

  ・現在進行形（？）のバンドとして残光楽隊がありますが、このバンドはどのように結成されたのですか？またメンバーは？

 このバンドは珍しく私主導で結成したバンドなんですね。

最初ブラックメタルやりたいなと思いまして、んで初期BathoryとかDarkthroneとかああいうのに影響を受けつつD-beatも入ったようなクラストっぽいバンドがやりたくて。

メンバー募集してたら今のギターが応募してきて一緒にやりたいと。元々10年来の友達なんだけど。んでこういうのやりたいんだとブラックメタルとか聞かせても「理解できません」と・・・・・ドラムいないと始まらないので某日本人ドラマーを誘ってみました。

んでまぁ飲みながらたまに音出せたら良いねくらいのノリで初めて見たんですけどライブしたら思った以上の反響がありまして。皆さん非常に真剣にやりたいとのことなんですけど私別に真剣にやりたくないので・・・・

最近は練習にも参加しておりません。メンバーにも会ってないし。

面白く無いです。

  ・残光楽隊の音はどんなジャンルの音ですか？またバンドの音で具体的に影響を受けているバンドなどはいますか？

私はBlackmetal＆Crustが出来ないとわかった時点からもう興味が薄れてしまったので・・・・

もうほかのメンバーに全部任せて。他メンバーはBBQ CHIKENSが好きだそうでなんかああいうスラッシュぽいような感じがやりたいと言っているみたいですが私はもう何でも良いですよ状態。この間CD作ったんですけどミックスとマスタリングをBBQ CHIKENSのドラマーのアンドリューさんにお願いしたんですね。メンバーが知り合いだと言うので。

  ・残光楽隊の名前の由来はなんですか？

漢字の名前のBlackmetalかCrustがやりたかったので・・・・

残光、微妙に詩的な感じがしませんか？でZANKÖUと日本語で読ませて無国籍感を出すと。

Öはウムラウトを使ってみました。モーターヘッド的な。渋いよね。

  ・残光楽隊はどんなバンドと一緒にライブをすることが多いですか？また残光楽隊にとって、このバンドはシンパシーを感じるというバンドはいますか？

おっさんバンドなのでメンバーの顔も広くいろいろな人がサポートしてくれまして、新しいバンドながら色んな大きなライブに誘ってもらえたり大きなバントとやらせてもらえる機会が多く・・・・新しいバンドでは考えられないですね。地方にライブに行ってもその場所で一番のパンクバンドとやらせてもらえるという。不思議な状態です。

非常にありがたいんですけど、私的にはあまり大きな活動はしたくないのですが・・・

シンパシーを感じるバンド・・・特に居ないかな。

気になるバンドは深センの地三鮮というパンクバンドが気になりますね。

  ・日本人として中国でバンドをすることをどう思いますか？

そこらへんあんまり意識したこと無くて・・・

ちょっと聴いてきた音楽が違うとかくらいで音楽の本質はセンスだと思うのでその点では少し有利かなとは思うくらいで。

最近は皆さん私を日本人として見てくれないので損した気分です。

日本人として日本のロックを広めたいとか日本人としてなんとかかんとか・・・とか全く無いです。

人の土俵で相撲とらしてもらってる以上郷に入��ば郷に従えと思うし、上目線でから日本の音楽を広めたいとかなんとか別に必要とされてないしね

かっこ良ければ全て良し。ダサいことはしたくない。

  ・中国でバンドをするのと日本でバンドをするのに何か違いはありますか？

中国はノルマがないのでライブでギャラ貰えるのがいいですね・・・・バンド同士の競争が激しくないのが良いのか悪いのかわからないけどあまりギスギスしてないのが良いんでないかと。

最近日本ほどオリジナリティの有るバンドは少なく感じます。昔は情報が少なかったので物凄く突飛なことをしているバンドが多かったように思うけれど最近はネットも発達していろんな音楽が聴けるせいかモノマネというか似たり寄ったりのバンドが多い印象です。

  ・今の中国のアンダーグランドミュージックシーンはどうですか？はじめに来た時の音楽シーンと今とでは何か違いはありますか？

先にも言ったようにオリジナリティの欠如が残念です。でもそれはそれで通過儀礼としてどこも同じなのではないかな？

最近は音楽産業も昔と違って成熟してきてライブハウス、レーベル、フェス、何でも有るようになってきてバンドもマネージャーがとかギャラがとかごちゃごちゃ言うようになってきてますね。楽器も良い物使ってるしGIBSON、Fenderは当たり前になってきたし。中国は豊かになりました。環境は良くなっていると思うしバンドのテクニックも向上していると思います。

ただ面白くないな・・・商業的になるのは悪いことではないけど面白みに欠けるので最近はどんどん興味が薄れています。

  ・中国国内のレーベルや海外のバンドのツアーオーガナイザーなどはどうですか？どのようなレーベルやオーガナイザー/プロモーターがいますか？

今は結構な数の呼び屋と主催がいますね。海外からパンクバンド専門で連れてくる人、ポストロック専門、メタル専門、テクノ系、それぞれジャンルごとに個人や組織でやっている人がいますね。

金払わないとか、バンドが中国ついたらプロモーターがドロンしてたとか、会場行ったらブッキング出来てなかったとか、適当な白人のバンド連れて来て「これはSham69だ」とか嘘こいてお金騙したりとか昔はよく悪いうわさ聞きましたけど最近はシーンも成熟してきてそういう話はきかなくなりましたね。

定期的に海外から色んなバンドやアーティストが来るようになって環境としてはとても良いと思います。

プロモーターの皆さんお疲れ様です！

  ・最近北京の老舗のライブハウス、MAOLIVEHOUSEが行政命令にて閉店することになり、かなりアンダーグラウンドミュージックシーンの締め付けが厳しくなっているとききます（ソース元）。 メディアでは北京のミュージックシーンは死んだというような悲観的な論調もみうけられますが、実際のところはどうなんでしょうか？住んでいる実感として何か変化を感じますか？

このまえお店の前とおったらまだ営業してましたけどね。よくわかりません。

北京はライブ出来る場所も着実に増えているし、バンドの絶対数、リハスタの絶対数も確実に増加しています。

インディーシーンは逆に活性化していると思いますね。SCHOOLというライブバーがありますが毎日のようにライブがあるしシーンの活性化にも一役買っていると思います。JOYSIDEのベースがやっているバーです。

  ・最初にちょっと北京のパンクシーンをみにいってくるって出て行ったときから１６年近く経っていますが、中国はなにか惹きつけられるものがあるんですか？

最初来た時に何から何までがカオスだったので・・・楽しくて楽しくて

都市の変化も大きいし何でも目まぐるしく変わっていく様子が日本以上に速度が速いので楽しいです。

経済しかり文化しかり、若者の生活の変化も見ていて楽しいですね。逆に日本よりも世界と同期するスピードが速いかもしれない。Iphoneの普及率も日本より高いんじゃないかな？人口比で考えても。最新の科学技術にも敏感に反応するし、日本より進んでいる部分も有るのではないかな？と思うこともあります。

衛生面は相変わらず改善されませんね・・・

毎日お腹がいたいです。困っています。こればっかりはこの十数年治りません。

  ・おすすめの面白い中国のバンドはいますか？

最近だとThe Diders位でしょうか。Hi Energy Low IQを地で行くバンドで、Jetboysの影響受け過ぎです。

ただ本当に若いエネルギーを感じる火山みたいなバンド。サマソニにも出たしJetobys中国ツアーのサポート。

次は北京に来るGuitarWolfのサポートをしますよ。

  ・中国と日本のアンダーグランドミュージックシーンの間になにかつながりはありますか？

最近はどうでしょうね。昔SOBUTが北京に来たりして脳濁日本に呼んだりしてましたね。

ノイズ系とかテクノ系は日本とも交流有るみたいだし、メタル系もアングラで交流しているみたいですね。

最近はパンクはそうでも無いご様子。今年はSMZBが日本ツアーしてましたね。

Hanggaiというバンドが日本のTURTLE ISLANDと仲良しで日本で橋の下音楽祭とかに出てました。

良いことです。私はあまり繋ごうとかそういうこと意識しないので・・・・

  ・今まで海外ツアーでどこに行ったことがありますか？一番印象に残っているツアーはどんなツアーでしたか？

海外はJOYSIDEでヨーロッパ数国まわったな。ドイツとオーストリアとあとどこだっけ・・・・

お酒ばっかり飲んでてあまり覚えていないのです・・・・

印象に残っているのはJOYSIDEで中国大陸回ったツアーですね。2004年かな？あの当時新幹線も無いから28時間列車移動とか死ぬかと思いましたね。でもあれでいまでも付き合いのある友達も増えたし良い経験になりましたね。

ツアーやってわかったけどバンドやってても女の子にはモテナイね。残念ですね。

  ・JOYSIDEの中国大陸ツアー2004ではどの都市でライブをしたのですか？ 

どこだったかな・・・結構ぐるぐる回った記憶。そのツアーでドキュメンタリー撮るとか言ってアメリカン人の監督が同行してビデオ撮ってたのよね。https://www.amazon.com/Wasted-Orient-Joyside/dp/B000UDZNS6

売れたら印税くれると入ってたけど10年たっても何もくれないよ！

Youtubeでタダで見れるはずです。

  ・そのツアーで特に印象に残っている３つのことをあげるとしたら、どんなことがありましたか？

全く女の子にモテなかったので絶望したのが一つ。

大陸横断電車移動がつらすぎたのが一つ。

各地の食べ物が美味しかったな・・というのが一つでしょうか。

忘れっぽいからあんまり覚えていないのよね・・・・

  ・そのツアーで一番ひどい思い出はなにかありますか？

どこだったかな？現地の主催の対応が物凄く適当で・・・

駅についても迎えにも来てくれず、ご飯も食べさせてくれず、でも会場はお客さんで満杯。

公演終了後ホテルも無くその主催の家の玄関口に寝ろという。

毛布が渡され1月か2月だったので極寒。メンバー皆寒くて眠れず頭にきたので部屋の中とバスタブの中でうんこして、シャンプーの瓶に小便して朝の５時次の都市に行くために挨拶もせず出発したことぐらいでしょうか。

  ・ヨーロッパでライブをすることと中国でライブをすることで何か違いはありましたか？ 

中国ではある程度知名度があるのでお客さん・・というのがいますがヨーロッパではまったくもってだれも知らないわけで・・・２回目のツアーだったので１回目に見に来てくれた人がまた来てくれたりというのは凄く嬉しかったですね。歌詞が英語なので受け入れられやすいのかもしれなかったですけど。

それなりに入っていたので良かったですね。現地のブッキングの方にも感謝です。

  ・今まで演奏した中で一番印象に残っているライブはどのライブですか？またなぜ一番印象に残っているのですか？

JOYSIDEの解散ライブかな。ええライブでしたね。やっぱ解散だからね。アレ終わってからまったくギター弾く気が起きないです。

この間ギターケース開けたらカビ生えてたからね。2010年だったかな？あれ以降開けたことなかったから・・・

   ・やはりJOYSIDEはとても大きな部分を占めていたようですが、JOYSIDEの解散前と後で何か変わったことはありましたか？

前と後・・・解散後は全くこういうバンド関係の事に興味無くなりましたね。

私はミュージシャンでも表現者でも無いので、一役終わったという感じでしょうか。

  ・バンドをしていて一番クレイジーだった経験とはなんですか？

何かな？ライブしてたら漏電してて220Vだから死にそうになったくらいでしょうか。

そこら辺はあまりおもしろい話無いです・���・ご期待に添えずすみません。

  ・バンドをしていて一番奇妙・びっくりした事はなんですか？ 

バンドしてるとぶっさいくで馬鹿な奴でもモテるというのに非常にびっくりしましたね。

なんで俺はモテないのかと。問い詰めたい。小一時間問い詰めたい。

世界共通なのかしら？

  ・ガレージ／ハードコア/パンク以外でどのような音楽を聞きますか？また好きなアーティストは？ 

ギターを始めたばかりの頃は元もとサーフが好きだったのでベンチャーズとかlink wrayとかDick Daleとかインスト系。。。

でサーフの原曲がJAZZだったりするのでJAZZもよく聴きましたね、そこからフリージャズ系行ってそのままノイズ系。ブルース以外は色々聴いてます。ヒップホップも聴きますよ。最近日本のヒップホップでカッコイイラッパーはDOGMAですね。

  ・作曲/作詞はどのようにしてますか？

適当に・・・・詞は書かないです。表現したいことが特に無いので。

作曲というほどでは有りませんが同じリフが最初から最後まで繰り返しとかコード進行がAメロBメロ全部一緒とか単調な曲が好きなので私が曲を書くとみんなそうなります。作曲の才能は無いようです。

  ・日本のガレージ/ハードコアパンクシーンをどう思いますか？

日本が誇る素晴らしい文化ですね。メリケンとかブリテンとかヨーロッパでもブラジルとか南米でも日本のバンドは影響を与え続けていますね。ドンドン海外にツアーとかで出て行って欲しいです。中国にももっと来て欲しいですね。（自分で呼ぶ気はない）

  ・海外のバンドと中国のバンドとでなにか違いはありますか？

海外のバンドのほうが楽しませようとか魅せるライブをしようと頑張っているように思います。中国のバンドはSHOWとしてのライブをまだ意識できていないかな。

少し予算の有るバンドは衣装とか映像とか大きな会場だと力を入れているみたいですが、ライブハウスで出来ることも沢山あるので残念。

突っ立って演奏してるだけのバンドが多いかな。もっとコンセプトを煮詰めたら面白くなると思うバンドも沢山います。

  ・バンドをやっている上での楽しみとはなんですか？

ストレス発散でしょうか。最近やっていたZANKÖUというバンドは今のシーンに対するアンチテーゼというか・・・・

まず仲間内で楽しく音を出す、楽しく酒飲む、ストレス発散！というのがメインテーマで組んだバンドで。マネジメントとかギャラとかライブとかフェス出演だとか今のバンドが重視することをとことん無視してDIYな活動がしたかった。Tシャツとかステッカーとかバッジとか最近中国で廃れてきてた他のバンドが作らない物を作ったりとか。

自分の思う面白いことが出来るというのが一番の楽しみかな。

今メンバーとの意識の違いで面白くなくてまったくバンドとして意味をなしてないんだけども・・・

  ・逆にバンドをすることによる一番面倒臭いこと、嫌なことはなんですか？

練習が嫌い。ライブが嫌い。ツアーが嫌い。メンバーにセンスが合わない奴がいると最高に面倒。

職業ミュージシャンではないので演奏したくない曲は演奏したくないとハッキリ言います。

気に食わない曲演奏させられるのが一番の苦痛です。

真面目にやってる時は一生懸命やってましたけどね。なんとなくギャラで喰えてたし。

JOYSIDEで弾いてた時はあのボーカルの横でギター弾きたいと言うのが一番大きくて。

決してバンドやりたいとかじゃなくて本当に純粋に「ああこの人のためにギター弾きたいな」と思ったのよね。

後にも先にもこういう人はいないのであの人意外とは真面目にバンドやろうとは思わないですね。

  ・JOYSIDEの元ボーカルは今なにか音楽活動はしているんですか？一緒にバンドをやろうとは思わないんですか？

今はソロ活動をしているご様子です。一緒には・・・やらないですね。

あの当時のメンバーの化学反応もありますし、それが今元ボーカルとあるとも思えないので・・・

なので再結成もしないし。そんな話があったりもしたけれど解散から数えて10年後まだ皆がやりたかったらやってみようか？くらいの話です。

私もちびっ子が出来てまじめにお仕事をする三十過ぎのおっさんになったので今更バンドを真面目にやろうとは・・・・思わないです。向こうからも誘われないし、彼のソロの音楽を聴いて是非やりたい！とも思わないし。

  ・あなたの普段の仕事はなんですか？

これは・・・秘密です。音楽関係ではあります。この仕事始めてから家で音楽聴きたくなくなりました。静寂が一番です。

  ・バンド以外で興味のあること、趣味はありますか？

服を作りたいですね。自分が着たいなと思える服を。ミシン買いたいです。

趣味は革ジャンを集めることでしょうか・・・・今15着くらいかな。すぐ人にあげちゃうんだけど。

ルイスとかショットとかじゃなくてマイナーな感じのが好き。スカンジ系の人が着てるような革ジャンとか。

革ジャンで一番好きなのはウルフレザーです。

  ・あなたにとってバンドをすることとはどのような意味が有りますか？

青春の一瞬の輝きかな、楽しいこともあれば悲しいこともあったし。

バンドで海外も行ったし、フェスも沢山出たし、ツアーもしたし、さんざんライブもやったし。

バンド辞めた今でも誰かが私のことを憶えてくれていて、「あなたのライブを見てギター始めました」とか「あなた達をみてバンド組みました」とか今バンドやってる新しい世代の子に言われるようになって、ああ俺みたいなのでも人に夢与えられたんだな・・と。

それで十分です。

[stipulatedconflict]

Dragons(China/Guangdong?)

Dragongs

中国80年代初期に広東省？で活動していたPUNKバンド。 こんなバンドがいたなんて知りませんでした。 下手くそなギター、カッコいい二胡、なめ腐ったボーカル、俺でも叩けそうなドラム、でも何か生々しいものを感じます。ライブでは燃えるでしょうね、モッシュピット出来ますよ。 中国の歌謡曲をPUNK化させたような感じで強烈な印象を与えるバンドです。 BASS＝二胡になってるのが渋い。

中盤スピードダウンから終盤速くなっていくというアイデアとかどっから持ってきたんでしょうか？ 俺が大好きな構成ですよ。 ジャケット含めてふざけまくってます、が、ふざけが一周してカッコいいという感が有ります。

形だけのトサカPUNKが多い中国のバンドにも見習って貰いたい位ダサいバンドです。 アンダーグラウンドとレトロの塊のようなバンドです。

[stipulatedconflict]

Individual interview with Pelle(For the love of Ivy)

So, this is the first interview with musicians in Oslo since I have moved to here. The interview with Mighty Pelle a.k.a Rip Rhodes.

 I met him pretty early in the beginning. He is one of the nicest guy I have met here. Kind and laidback, but crazy on the stage. When I saw his performance with Fort the love of ivy first time, When they appeared, they immediately brought odd vibe and shape tension into pizza shop. And his beat was so primitive and hard.Their show immediately reminded me of The baitones and I just thought if they both play together? It’s gonna be insane for sure. He is Swedish and end up with living in Oslo. Check the interview to discover his long journey personally and musically.

 You can check and follow his band below,

 For the love of Ivy:

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortheloveofivyband/

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortheloveofivyband/

The interview starts from here;

-How have you gotten into music in the very beginning?Please tell me the story that you started being interested in listening to music(it doesnt mean punk).

I early got turned on to music and sounds in general. I had this portable record player and my mother generously let me handle her Elvis, Beatles and Abba-albums. I had an uncle with a painter’s studio and he used to play Mozart and Vivaldi for me as we were drawing. My sister recorded all the top list music on cassettes and I always borrowed those. My cousins fed me hard rock and heavy metal and my neighbors played me hip hop, which I guess had just reached Sweden at that time. In my bed I had a radio which I used to turn to the AM band and tune in between stations so you could hear those Theremin like, white noise sounds and I’d drift into sleep listening to that sort of stuff.

-Then how have you reached punk/Hardcore or garage punk music?Please tell me the story that how you started listening to punk music.

In 1990 when I was in 7th grade there was a kind of punk revival at my school and I was distantly curious. I had been bitten by the Guns N Roses bug when Appetite came out and I knew they liked a lot of punk rock bands so I took notes. I thought the Sex Pistols was an OK rock ‘n’ roll band, but then I found a cassette with the Misfits and I was blown away and it kind of went from there. But I wasn’t a part of any punk rock scene at all back then. I was more into the Seattle hype at the time. There was a couple of real good record stores in my hometown where you could hang out and ask around and brick by brick you laid the foundation of who was who and what was what in the punk rock scene and all kinds of other music.

In the mid 90’s there was this whole Scandi-rock/Action rock thing happening and that’s when I discovered a lot of the 60’s garage stuff since that had a big influence on many bands. I guess that’s when I got into rockabilly and a bit of psychobilly too.

-Please tell me your favorite bands

Current: La Luz.

Old: The Stooges.

-When you started playing in a band (the very first), why did you want to start a band? What was the cause of it?

It was that part of early puberty when one really struggles with where to belong. I just knew I wasn’t interested in what most other kids at my school were doing. A friend of mine was in a band and they needed a singer. I was the only one they knew who they thought would dare to take up the microphone and so I did.

-How did you end up with settling down in Oslo? Could you tell me your journey from your home city to here?

I was playing drums in a band called the Sailormen that was on the verge of breaking up. Me, Carl and Calle (who were also in that band) were drinking and listening to The Pagans and The Weaklings all night and in the end we promised each other we would start a band in that style (later on we became more inspired by American 80’s hardcore and Swedish d-beat), but first we moved away from each other. I went to Stockholm. Carl moved to London and Calle went to Oslo. After a year we decided to get together and the only guy who was happy where he was, was Calle, so we moved in with him and started what was to become Speedergarben.

-Wow,it’s very interesting story.so all of your friends are still here in Oslo?How has Oslo been treating you since you moved to here?

I instantly felt like Oslo was my kind of city. It is not very big but still has a little bit metropolitan feel to it. Perfect for a small town boy like myself who’s yearning to be a part of the big world. It is small enough to feel intimate but still big enough so that you can feel a bit anonymous.

 Photo by John Ivar Knudsen

 -How’s Speedergarben going on these days?

It’s not going at all hahaha. We actually never officially broke up. We just stopped to go to rehearsal one day in 2011 I think, and never got back to it. Everyone is involved in other stuff now. I doubt we’ll ever get back together but you never know. We have a lot of unreleased material lying around and we always said it would be cool to make a full length release, but we never really got the sound we wanted. I actually listened to a recording the other day and the songs are really good but the sound is just super crappy and not in that good crappy way that I want.

-Please tell me the band/musicians that especially gave you the influence/inspiration for your play style.

Everyone I’ve ever liked I guess. When I first picked up the sticks I was playing garage rock so then Bob Bennet from the Sonics was a major influence. Then there have been many depending on what style I’ve been playing. I would say that Scott Asheton is my absolute drum hero. And Peg from The Gories, because it’s just so raw and primitive and yet it grooves you know.

When it comes to d-beat drumming I just love the rawness and speed of Charlie from Anti Cimex.

-Please tell me the bands that you have played before.

Besides all sorts of bands in school and projects that never left the rehearsal I’ve been in…

The Sailormen

A*TEEM

Speedergarben

Identity Crisises

Shitheel

True Confessions

Shiner

For The Love Of Ivy

-You have been playing for so many bands! Could you tell me each band’s short descriptions? 

Oh my. Oh well.

The Sailormen, were a garage rock outfit. In the beginning we only played covers of 50’s and 60’s rockers like Little Richard and The Sonics. Then we started to write our own stuff in the same style. Eventually we started to get some more modern garage influences from the likes of the Makers and the Weaklings and started to write songs in that style. There are a few recordings but I’d have to dig deep in my storage to find them hahaha.

A*TEEM is a metal band heavily influenced by Entombed’s mid 90’s sound and early Danzig. I do the vocals. We actually still exist (I think) but we haven’t played together for years. There’s a lot of humor involved but we take the music very seriously. There are some really good musicians in that band. Dominator from Dark Funeral, play the drums and super multi talent Johan from Grande Roses and Totalt Jävla Mörker play guitar among others.

Speedergarben is the trash punk band that made me move to Oslo and made me learn how to play fast… and hard.

Identity Crisises is a punky project that Calle and I put together for just one recording in 2003 and we’ve been talking about maybe perhaps possibly putting together a full band ever since.

Shitheel was a band put together for just one show a few years back with people from Summon The Crows, HEVN, Dishonorable Discharge, The Assassinators, Knuste Ruter etc etc. That was a really fun show to play.

True Confessions was a poppy little thing. It was the brain child of Jens who was the singer. He’d written all these fantastic power pop/garage pop tunes and we were all in awe of his arrangements and lyrics. The band was based in Sweden and it was difficult for me to travel back and forth to rehearse so I had to quit after a while. We did a couple of gigs and made one recording and released an EP with three songs. He had written a bunch more songs but sadly he passed away before there were any more recordings done. Some of the other guys in True Confessions have formed a new band called Jangle Town and from what I hear it’s pretty good.

Shiner (who recently changed name to Last Call) is a punk band with members from Dishonorable Discharge, Knuste Ruter, HEVN and Freedumb. I had to give that band up too because of how much Ivy was starting to play and since I wanted to spend some time with my kid. It’s straight forward, fist in the air, beer soaked, fast, noisy punk. I really look forward to see them live once they dare to leave the rehearsal room ;-)

For The Love Of Ivy is what I put my energy in now.

-Is there any band which you feel strongly attached? and why you feel so?

Do you mean of the bands we just mentioned? Well I’ve been strongly attached to all of them when I’ve been involved with them. But I guess Sailormen and Speedergarben are the old ones closest to my heart since I’ve written so much of the music and lyrics.

  Photo by J.Hansen

 -How did For the love of ivy start?

A friend of mine was getting married and I wanted to do something special for his bachelor party. He’s a huge fan of the Cramps so I wanted to play him some of that. Ulrik and I had been talking about playing together for a while and he took on board Marius, who also came up with the name. We only had one rehearsal before the gig but it went really well. Out of practicality we went for just one guitar and one drum but we also wanted it to sound a bit like The Gories and The Oblivians.

-How did you decide the name?just Marius mention in the discussion to decide the band name?Is there any special meaning on the name “For the love of ivy”?

Well we just needed to call ourselves something for that bachelor party. We were playing Cramps songs but didn’t have a female guitarist so we wanted to pay tribute to Poison Ivy and so Marius suggested we’d take the name from the Gun Club song called For the love of Ivy. I like the name and we are all fans of Ivy from the Cramps so there you have it.

Band names are always a tricky business to come up with hahaha.

  -Could you describe the sound of For the love of ivy?

Twangy and thumpy. We’re actually surprised ourselves how much of a band it sounds like with so little equipment. I guess our sound is kind of primitive and unpolished. Marius has had to develop his own Ivy-technique to play guitar and so have I with the drumming. I think Ulrik can play around more with his voice with Ivy compared to his other bands. It will be really interesting to see what we make of this once we get into a studio some time soon.

  -Is there anything you want to express by For the love of ivy?

We just want to be a band that we ourselves would like to watch and hear. We basically pay homage to music we love and hopefully we’ve come up with something that’s our own in the process. We haven’t been able to record any of our own songs yet but they work really well with the crowd so I look forward to do that as soon as possible.

  -How do you guys compose original songs and lyrics in For the love of Ivy?someone bring completed song or more like bringing some riffs and develop collaboratively by a band?

So far it’s usually been Marius playing around with some riff and then we build something around that together. The lyrics have been a bit from improvisation by Ulrik and some home writing from me. We also try to make the cover songs we play sound like they are our own songs. We don’t try to copy anyone.

  -How is the music scene in Oslo?

I’ve become such an old couch potato so I don’t keep up much with what’s going on these days. There’s always stuff happening and bands popping up here and there though.

I really like what Rock & Spesialreiser is doing, arranging garage based gigs and DJ-sets all over the place.

It’s been a while since I’ve been to Blitz or Barrikaden but they have a lot of great punk rock shows there. Svart Samtid has done some really good bookings in the last couple of years too.

Photo by Christopher Zibell

  -Which countries have you toured before? Which country or city was the best and why?

I haven’t been around that much. It’s been Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. I would say Germany generally is a really great place to play. Mostly you get very decent food and lodging there and I’ve played some very cool scenes there with great people arranging and setting things up. The best food I ever had on the road was at ACU in Utrecht, NL. For a bunch of scruffy punk rockers we felt a bit like we got rock star treatment there hahaha.

My favorite scene to play must be Barrikaden here in Oslo. I like when both band and audience are forced together in a small space and get intense. 1000fryd in Aalborg, DK was also really cool to play.

-Please tell me the most impressive live show in your entire musical life as musician. and why it became your most impressive show?

There are quite a few to choose from, but one that pops to mind is watching Silverbullit (or Silverbullet as they were called then) at the Hultsfred Festival in 1997 (I think). Their debut album is kick ass from front to back and that was the album they were touring with. The energy on stage quickly spread throughout the audience and the moves by Simon the vocalist; will forever be etched in my mind as stuff legends are made of. I don’t think they had enough songs to fill the contract bound stage time so for the last ten minutes or so they had this complete noise improvisation playing louder and louder in what felt like an attempt to make everyone leave. I loved it. It’s difficult to explain what was so great about that particular show. It was just an all over amazing experience.

-What is the most memorable live show which you have played as a band for? and why it became the most memorable show for you?

Wheeew! Let’s see. There are some shows I remember just because of the energy between my band mates. When everything just falls into place.

But one of the more memorable things that happened to me lately was when we played with Ivy at Garage in Bergen (shoutout to Bønny and Kjartan of Mojo Workout for that booking!). It was a really good evening but some of the people in the crowd were very skeptical of us, coming from Oslo n’ all. You know. They thought that we thought we were big shots or something. So there is this one guy standing up front and from the first song he’s spitting beer at us and throwing shit. Beer glasses and wet towels and whatever he gets a hold of. We’re playing and stuff gets caught on Marius’ guitar and beer mugs hit both me and Ulrik. So I’m pretty pissed at this guy but we try to ignore him and just carry on. But when the set is finished I’ve had it with him and I’ve decided to punch him in the face, which is not something I ever do. And so I jump down pumping with adrenaline and I realize, I can’t punch this guy. He’s just a drunk fool and I’m not really into hitting people. So instead I grab him and start to kiss him, with my gimp mask on. Everybody’s laughing including him but I keep going until I feel he’s really embarrassed. Then I lift him up and turn him around and start to dry hump him through the crowd and then I let him go as we were called to make an encore. I just hope that drunken bastard remembers a tiny portion of it.

 -What’s the craziest experience by playing in a band?

Also a bit to pick from, but once we were on tour with Speedergarben and played 1000fryd in Aalborg, Denmark together with D.S.B. from Tokyo. They had experienced some rough times the night before when there was a mass fight at their gig in Copenhagen so they were a bit shaky. But we had a really good evening and both bands did great shows when suddenly the place was attacked by hooligans and there were bottles and rocks flying everywhere. The guys from D.S.B. wondered if this was going to happen on every show, poor fellas hahaha.

-What is the biggest joy for playing music?

When you’re totally tuned in with the people you play with and you don’t need to speak to communicate, and that feeling of invincibility that occur on stage when a show is going really well. It’s all a huge rush for me. 

-What kind of music you are listening to except punk?

Anything that moves me.

-Do you compose songs and lyrics?and How?

Yes but I used to be more active. I always make up little riffs and lines in my head but I’ve become very bad at writing it down or recording it so I keep forgetting. I’m trying to become better now though since we’re in a period of writing with For The Love Of Ivy. But it’s very frustrating because due to different matters we hardly ever have time to practice except maybe once before each gig and then we rarely have time to work on our own songs. That will hopefully change soon and we can invest more time into it.

-Is there any hobby/interests except Music/band/label?

Right now I have a newborn baby so most of my focus goes to trying to be a good father. Other than that I like to read books and comics and watch movies. And when I have surplus energy I draw a bit. My favorite “me time” is in front of the record player with a fridge full of cold beer though.

Rip Rhodes Artworks

 -Your artworks are very cool!how do you draw and how did you learn it?i'm very very bad at drawing and i only can cut and glue.i always envy the people who has talent in drawing!haha

I prefer just ink on paper. It's direct and I have to be in the moment and the fuck ups that happen become a part of the picture. But when I haven't been drawing for a while (like right now) I have to pre sketch with pencil to warm up. With Ivy I mainly use the computer. I use Gnu Image Manipulation Program (GIMP). I like it better than Photoshop.

-Was there any mentor who introduce you art and joy of drawing/designing?

I think I mainly just loved picture books and comic books and that was the start, but I also have it in the family I guess. My grandmother was an artist. My aunts husband (he who played Mozart for me) was an artist and my big brother has always been really good at drawing.

-Which artists do you like the most and why?

My favorite painters are Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. I love Raymond Pettibon and of course Brian Pushead Schroeder. And then there are a ton of comic book artists out there that I've forgotten the names of right now. A lot of the artists who drew the Phantom when I was a kid have meant a lot to me. I wish I could say I had more female influences but I didn't discover much of that until I was a grownup.

-What do you want to express by drawing?any consistent theme for your artworks?

When I think back at my childhood I just remember drawing things all the time. When I got older I got into expressionism and wanted to put all my teenage angst on a canvas hahaha. Then I got into pop art. Lichtenstein and Warhol you know. Mainly because of the esthetic side of it. I didn't really understand the criticism of our society and the layers of it at the time. Then I went to art school. That made me not want to be a part of the art scene anymore. Now I just droodle when I feel like it or when bands I know need some help sometimes. I don't think it is as fun as it used to be so I don't do it that often.

-Is there any of your artwork which you are really proud of or really attached?

The Back To Attack cover was an honor and a fun piece to do. To sort of recreate the classic MOB 47 logo. The only thing I regret about it is that I made several versions of it. I like the one they chose for the cd cover. Simple black background and the classic diamond shape around the skull creature. I thought the double LP version became a bit messy with that forrest in the background. Otherwise I don't look back much on what I've done because I always see stuff I should have done differently.

-What is your daily job

I’m a props master at a theatre. I love my job. 

-Is there any specific goal/aim you want to achieve by music?

Nah. Just to play and enjoy myself.

-What does band/playing music mean for you?

It’s a form of escapism. A little bit like a drug that I depend on. I leave everything else behind and become another being for a little while. It’s good meditation or ventilation for any kind of frustration to bang away at the drums or whatever you’re playing.