Could you give a brief history of The Defects?

In 1978 myself and a friend (Dukie) watched The Clash in the Ulster hall Belfast and decided to start a band, I bought bits of a drum kit for £5 and he borrowed his big bros guitar and we started writing songs. We met Buck one night through my sister and got on great, plus he looked good and had a practise place so we asked him if he would be interested in singing in a band, well the rest is history. We have had our fair share of Bass men starting with Greg Fenton (Manchester DJ) then big Jeff Gilmore and then replaced by Gary Smith. We played our first gig in 1979, built up a good following and played all around N.Ireland, also lots of gigs with Rudi and The Outcasts in the Harp bar and The Pound club. We released our debut single (Dance until you drop) and sold all of the 2000 copies and were able to cover all production costs and even make a few quid. A chance meeting with Melody Maker Journalist (Carol Clerk R.I.P.) in a Belfast pub helped open the door for the band and introduced us to London and WXYZ records who we signed to in 1981, we released our 2nd single (Survival/Brutality) and then our debut album (Defective Breakdown) in 1982 to coincide with the SO WHAT tour. The band decided to call it a day in 1984 due to musical differences and ironically played our last gig as guests to The Clash in the Ulster Hall Belfast. The reincarnation began in 2010 lol.

How would you describe your sound?

The Defects sound today is a much heavier sound than it was in the early days with the introduction of the new guitarist and bass player. Even though the band split in 84 we continued playing in other bands so have kept tight and on the ball. Bands that would influence the Defects would be Killing Joke,clash, NMA, Sham 69, RATM, Deadboys etc etc.

Being a punk in Belfast in the late 70’s/early 80’s must have been an entirely different experience to that of a punk in England, what were your experiences of that time?

To be honest we didn't know any different, bombs and shootings were the norm, we were always searched going into the city centre and it could be very dangerous coming home at night, if you missed the last bus at 11pm you were fucked. I remember our first time in London being stopped by the police, we all raised our hands in the air, yeah you can imagine the look on the cops faces. lol

How was it when you moved to London, did it take a long time to adjust or was it easy?

We loved London, played some great gigs there and met some smashing people. Very easy to adjust.

What do you remember about your first London show at the 100 Club supporting Chelsea?

I always thought our first London gig was in Skunx, ha ha but I think you are correct, don’t remember too much about it mate everything was happening so fast. Ask Buck, he has a better memory than me, he doesn’t drink. Lol.

How did you find recording your first album ‘Defective Breakdown’?

Recording Defective Breakdown was a blast; it was recorded in a studio in Surrey which had tennis courts and a swimming Pool but most of all free wine which belonged to boring hippie (Rik Wakeman) who was also there recording some shite for the Olympics or something. We recorded mixed and mastered the album in about 13 days. I love the songs on the album but I’m not 100% with the production and don’t think it was a true reflection of the band live.

How do you view your cover of ‘Suspicious Minds’ all these years later?

We played Suspicious minds in our live set around the end of 83 and it was a lively wee number which is more than I can say for the single, Too polished, no passion captured, in a word... rubbish, I can honestly say it was part of the reason the band split. But hey things happen for a reason.

What made you reform in 2009 and how was the response?

Buck phoned me and asked me if I would be interested in putting the fex back together again, he had been offered gigs at Rebellion festival and other venues, I was playing guitar and singing in bands from 85 and hadn’t played the drums since, so it took me a while to get the stamina back. We asked the original guitarist and bass player but they couldn’t commit due to work so Roy McAllister and Aidy Dunlop were introduced. The response has been quite incredible.

How do you think your latest album ‘Politcophoba’ compares to ‘Defective Breakdown’?

I prefer Politicophobia to Defective Breakdown only because i think the production is closer to the real sound of the band live.

What have you got lined up? Any new releases and what gigs have you got planned?

I’ve spent the last 6 months writing new material so the band are at present learning those new songs, things are coming on well and we hope to have a new studio album ready for September 2014. On the gig front all being well, we will be in Germany and France in the summer, we have just been confirmed for Rebellion 2014, there are also gigs around Ireland and we will be in England, Scotland and hopefully Wales in 2014.

Describe your perfect gig?

Perfect gig(s)... World tour with Killing Joke.

How would you say punk has changed since you first got into it?

Hard question to answer there mate. What is punk ? everyone has their own idea of what it is. For me it has never had anything to do with fashion. Just the music and searching for the truth.

How strong would you say the scene is at present?

Out of 10. 8/10

What bands should we keep out eye out for?

The Defects. lol The Lee Harveys are the best new band I’ve heard in quite a while. There is plenty of new talent out there.

Any final Comments?

Turn off your TV set and LIVE..

Could you give a brief history of your punk carer and a discography?

Got into punk in 1977, formed first band in 1978 called The Censored among other names we tried out, split up in early '79 due to falling out and sounding shit. Played first gig on guitar in 1980 with a band called Ammunition, only one gig done and then split up. Formed a band called Syndicate A in '81 but this never got beyond rehearsing. In 1982 joined Derby anarchist band The Collaborators and played about 5 gigs with them before splitting up. 1983 - 92 sang for Avoid, played all over the country, recorded 2 demos, and would have got somewhere if we weren't too lazy. Took a break from playing gigs for a few years but kept on practising guitar and started doing solo gigs from 1998 onwards. Released 4 of my own CDs and been on many compilations and played all over the UK.

How would you describe your sound?

I'd describe my sound as 'not yet as good as I'd like it to sound'.

Where do you get your ideas for songs? I mean, they’re not exactly the usual punk topics are they?

Get my ideas from things I see and hear, usually either stuff that pisses me off or things that amuse me.

Are any of your songs based on real people?

All my songs about people are based on real people, I've met the most weird and wonderful and not so wonderful.

Following on from this, do you think that politics and music mix?

Yeah, real life and people are politics; you don't just have to sing about the government to be political.

Acoustic punk seems to be all the rage at the moment, but what makes you stand out from your peers?

I think I'm better than most the acoustic punk acts as most of them sound like hippy protest singers from the 60s to me. Although I'd prefer to listen to Captain Hotknives than me.

What have you got lined up?

Got more gigs lined up for this year, written some new songs, so just plodding on as normal. Might do something with electric guitars, don't wanna become too predictable.

You’ve been into punk for a while now and seen trends come and go, but do you think punk is still relevant in the 21st century and if so why?

The state this world's in punk should be more relevant today than it ever has been. To the people who are into it this is true, to those who aren't it’s just looked at as a 70s teenage fad unfortunately. We need new anthems and new bands all the time to keep it fresh.

What bands should we keep an eye our for?

Bands to watch out for these days are Dirt Box Disco, RSI, Cyanide Pills, Thee Spivs, Total Bloody Chaos, Maid of Ace, The Kirkz, Faintest Idea and never give up on the UK Subs.

Any final comments?

Keep punk alive, support new bands as well as the old and buy me CD by the bucket load.

Could you give a brief history of System of Hate and a discography?

System was set up as a side project to Total Confusion, the main reason being 2 members made their living playing music on a weekend, so gigs & rehearsals were getting harder to commit to. Out of sheer boredom System of Hate became the main priority and songs came thick and fast. Once Carl joined on Drums the project became a band and 7 songs were recorded in March of 2012, with the first gig taking place in January of the following year. We have recorded one 4 track E.P. "The Immortal E.P." The "Insanity E.P." will be out very soon, another 4 tracker. We start our debut Album, this year.

How would you describe your sound?

Dark Punk.

Who makes up the band and what do they do?

Suty - Vocals, Paddy - Bass, Pat - Guitar, Carl - Drums & Martin - Keyboards.

What other bands have you all played in before and do any of you play in other bands?

Total Confusion (Suty, Paddy & Pat), The X Rippers (Pat) & Carl has played all over Europe in cover bands. Martin is also a member of The Danse Society.

What’s in the pipeline for System of Hate?

We are set to release our second E.P. "Insanity E.P" imminently, just waiting on the final mix and possibly looking at someone putting it out. We will be making a start on a full length album in the next few months. We continue to look for good gigs, with great bands and run our own nights in Barnsley, under the banner of Barnsley Punk Promotions.

What gigs have you got coming up?

We have a gig at the World famous "100 Club" in London in April and a return visit to the largest Punk Festival in the World, REBELLION at Winter Gardens, Blackpool, in August, so we are extremely happy. We also have supports with 999, The Lurkers, Discharge, Angelic Upstarts and Crashed-Out, we hope to pick a few more up before the year is out. We also have stuff in Barnsley to organise.

What’s been the best and worst moment of System of Hate’s existence?

We didn't start gigging until 2013, so It's all been brilliant , what we've achieved in one year of gigging is absolutely amazing, the gigs we've picked up, the friends we've met, Rebellion was a big one, playing with the Angelic Upstarts twice and the Subs of course. No worst moments, we don't look at the negative, we do what we can and get on with it.

What is there in punk to get excited about today and how healthy do you think the scene is at present?

We joke that there's 67 genres of Punk, I don't know how many there really is? That's what really excites me, Punk these days can be any style, any sound, as long as it spits and bites and has the D.I.Y. feel of Punk, it's Punk. I think it's very healthy, you think of any other genre of music which has gigs all over the UK, almost every weekend, and the people are still so loyal to the old bands, so there are always great opportunities to play with the 'old guard', to a full room.

What’s the best thing about being in System of Hate and what’s the worse?

Playing in a band and you know it's good, you trust every member to do their thing and you know they won't let you down. I also really get a buzz from rehearsals, you can come up with a riff, start playing it, everyone in the room joins in and from time to time you have a brilliant song, it still amazes me. I know it said "thing" but got to mention playing live, it's all about playing LIVE. Worse thing is not seeing other bands play because you are busy playing yourself.

What would you say that System of Hate bring to the table that differs from any other punk band?

I think we have different ideas, a different sound, we have a keyboard player for a start, you don't see too many and the bass player is filling spaces normally filled by one of 2 guitarists. We just decided we needed to do something different or there would be no point starting a new band.

How would you sum up System of Hate in 5 words?

Hard Dark Street Goth Punk.

Where you like to be with System of Hate in 10 years?

Still playing and more importantly writing and recording something that is still relevant. And of course watching Charlie Harper jump up and down and say, "He's 80 years old you know!”

What bands should we keep an eye out for?

I'd say check out the New Band Stage at Rebellion Festival. But all the gigs we play, all the support bands are good and the members can really play, I'd say don't just go watch the big bands, turn up early and watch some of the support bands, you might get a very pleasant surprise.

If you were to explain punk to someone who had never heard the word before, what would you say?

Punk is :- attitude, free thinking, acceptance, friendship, noise, pleasure, pain, life, death.

Any final comments?

To book us - email - [email protected] you can find more information at :- www.systemofhate.com www.facebook.com/systemofhate www.twitter.com/systemofhateuk

Could you give a brief history of Pedagree Skum and a discography?

Pedagree Skum was started in 2010 by Rich and Katie, our first practices were in Katie’s kitchen.Not long after Steve joined us on drums. Andy came in a tad later, and was originally meant to be a stand in for one gig, but he must have loved us as he’s still here. Discography: we originally recorded a three track demo, two of the songs were on the U.S. compilation "punk and pissed" in fairness though, it was pretty dire. Our second release "warts an all" was a live album, purely released to raise funds for a decent studio recording, which was a tad rough and ready, hence the title. Our first studio album 'Nightmares and Scream escapes' was released may 2013. Since then we’ve released a three track e.p called 'That Which Does Not Kill’ which is available as a free download on our bandcamp page.

How would you describe your sound?

Our sound is not meant to be genre specific, although people like to attach their own labels, which is fine. We write songs that sound good to us, about issues important to us, both political and personal.

Who makes up the band?

The band consists of Phoenix Skum - vox, Steve Skeptik -drums, Andrew Punkering -bass and Rich Gulag on guitar.

What other bands have you all played in before and do any of you play in any other band?

Steve and I have both been in a few bands before, Steve (beyond hope, internal fear, and is currently bass player for Kismet HC) Rich was in (scherzo and Sick of Society) Katie also sings backing vocals for Lupine (goth band) and Andrew is currently guitarist for the system, and Total Bloody Chaos

What has the response been to the album?

Fairly positive, people seem to like it. We loved recording it, it’s come from all of our hearts, and personally I feel very proud of starting off with a cheap acoustic in Katie’s kitchen, and getting to the point where we were able to record our album. But...anyone can do it, that is the beauty of punk.

What’s in the pipeline for Pedagree Skum?

Things in the pipeline for the Skum: a new album later this year, which we already have five songs for, some more videos and plenty of gigs.

How do you think punk has changed over the years and has this been for the better or worse?

In my opinion, punk is as relevant now as it was in the 70s-80s..The messages have slightly changed, but equally as important. I get a bit sick of the whole nostalgia thing as there are so many great new bands. I love punk, the people, and the music. What other scene can you go sit n have a beer with your fave bands, get looked after, fed and given shelter by other punks? There’s no other scene like it.

You’re playing Nice and Sleazy Festival this year, is this your first time playing and what can people expect from you there?

Nice and Sleazy, it’s the third time we’ve played and will probs be the last for a while, as the organisers like to keep the line up fresh and include as many new bands as pos. it’s great, three days, free camping, hundreds of bands for less than 45 quid. The atmosphere is superb, I love it. A good mix of new and old bands playing, some of the best times I’ve had of late have been at nice and sleazy fest.

What gigs have you got coming up?

We have some good gigs coming up, Sleazy, Cheap as Chips Fest, Punk Not Profit which is organised by Graham McRae (System, Total Bloody Chaos) and quite a few others that I cant really think of until I look at my calendar.

What bands should we keep an eye out for?

So many bands keep an eye out for: Battery Humans, Happy Spastics, Brace for Impact. There’s so many it’s hard to pick a few. All I’d say is get to as many gigs as you can afford, support the scene, make friends, introduce people to the music, andlet’s keep this brilliant scene going

Stoke has a famous punk musical legacy, how is the scene there now?

The Stoke scene is a tad poor at the minute, not many gigs going on, and the ones that do play are the same ones again and again. Although saying that Vice Squad are playing soon. I think it’s just down to a lack of interest, and not many decent venues.

What would you say to anyone thinking of starting a band?

Go for it, fuck formulas and trying to fit into genres, writes songs that you think sound good, get some mates involved and go for it. That’s all Katie and I started with, and trust me my guitar skills are limited. Keep the scene alive with new stuff; stop harping on about Thatcher and the 80s! We’ve got so much wrong with this country at the minute that there is no need to keep going on about the past. I love seeing young people get into the scene and form bands, so go for it. Its either going to work or it isn’t, but you’ll have a hell of a good time trying

Any final comments?

All I’d say is keep supporting the scene, get involved, whether it’s a fanzine, writing reviews, organising gigs, yeah go see the big bands you love, but don’t forget the little bands, let’s face it even discharge started with a few mates fucking about.

Interview with Husbands n Knives

Could you give a brief history or Husband n Knives including, discography, band member and what they do?

Lou: I met Julie through my old band Rehabs 4 Quitters; she used to go out with the guitarist. Although i loved singing with Rehabs, I was a bit frustrated with the fact the other members weren't too keen on me writing feminist lyrics. They wanted songs about getting drunk and fighting, all the tired punk clichés, and that wasn't really me. So one stormy Autumn night when I was sitting in the pub with them, I took my notebook out of my bag and wrote a letter to my future Riot Grrrl bandmate, begging her to come into my life so I could feel musically fulfilled at last! The Muse of Punk Rock must have been listening, because a few weeks later, Julie turned up at one of Rehab's gigs. She could play guitar really well and, miracle, knew who L7 and Bikini Kill were. We clicked immediately, and spent the rest of the evening at my house jamming Riot Grrrl songs, totally oblivious to the post-gig party that was going on around us. It was love at first jam! When Rehabs 4 Quitters folded and Julie got dumped by her boyfriend, we knew the time had arrived to start our our Riot Grrrl act. We met McCracken through one of my old band mates and were over the moon when he agreed to join us on bass. He's a total dude and a pillar of the band! We then recruited a very handsome jazz guitarist called Chester who decided to give drums a try and had our first rehearsals in McCracken's mouldy house studio. We bought a 65 quid rusty drum kit from a charity shop, borrowed amps and a PA from friends and painstakingly starting writing out first songs. We were pretty much beginners then, it was all very DIY. All the equipment was dodgy and everything was kept in functioning order with gaffer tape and elastic bands. But gradually, we found our feet and 6 months later, we had enough songs to turn up at our local pub jam night and played our first gig. It was amazing! The fire has been raging ever since. Although the original core members remained, we went through a lot of drummers. Jamie is our sixth; he joined after our last drummer Hermit left to join the Bloody Minded. We released our first album "Raised on Synthetic Bitch Milk" in 2010 and are now in the final stages of completion of our new album "Virosa Ebriosa".

Has any member played in any other band and if so whom?

Julie: I occasionally play lead for The Bus Station Loonies (bringing the average age of the band down to 41 – ha ha). I got the opportunity to play on their Scotland tour last August, which was both hilarious and completely surreal. I can't fault them; they're all genuinely lovely blokes who are a pleasure to gig with. Lou: I wrote my first songs back in 2006 with an amazing Torquay punk band called Shrapnel Suntan, and then I joined Rehabs 4 Quitters as lead singer, then HNK. I'm also a member of a sporadic yet brilliant all female folk-group called Seize the Night, an offshoot of the anarchist folk band Seize the Day, whom my partner is a member of. We play once every two years on average but it's always a great experience. Mc Cracken: I played in quite a few South Devon bands before but my favourite has to be Rattus Rattus… Lou: Named after the Horrible Histories' rat mascot? …

How would you describe your sound and who are your influences?

McCracken: I think for me my main musical influences have for to be Butthole Surfers for their obscure and sinister sound and frank black for being damned awesome! Lou: To me, our band sounds like the IVF baby of L7 and Bikini Kill. I love the DIY aspect of Riot Grrrl. We've been compared to X-Ray Spex and Siouxie and the Banshees too, but on steroids! Personally my musical journey owes a lot to Courtney Love… a musician whom many people tend to find controversial! No other artist, for me, embodies so well the sheer extreme diversity of the female experience. In her lyrics she comes across as sublime, desperate, beautiful, ugly, defiant, grotesque, brave, outrageous, and hilarious. Her lyrical imagery is stunning. Later, bands like Bikini Kill led me to take the plunge and learn rudiments of guitar. As an actual performer, I am really in debt to Chris "Wheelie" Wilsher from the Bus Station Loonies. I like to be a bit of a jester on stage, and he's your perfect huggable yet kick-arse comedy punk bard. He's always supported us and we are very grateful to him.

What do you have in the pipeline at present?

Lou: "Virosa Ebriosa”’‘s been two years in the making… Compared to "Raised on Synthetic Bitch Milk" when we were just beginning to find our sound, the new record is more accomplished, musically and lyrically. We have potentially 15 songs which could end up on it. Some are funny, tongue in cheek, upbeat comedy numbers; some are angsty, heavy songs. The songs "You're One" and "Rage" feature some of my favourite lyrics ever. In "Rage" the second verse goes "And from apple to snake/ from the gallows to the stake/ I am the Gaping Hole/ The Terror of Church and State". The song is about how the female principle's been demonised by religious, cultural and political institutions all through History. I'm so proud of these new songs. I can't wait for you to hear them! We also hoping to get a video released at some stage. We have the synopsis written already, but finding time to shoot has proved difficult so far.

What is the highlight for the band so far?

Julie: I love it when we are invited to play not-for-profit DIY feminist events. It was very exciting playing at Brighton's Clitrock this year, for the second time running. I also really enjoyed playing at the second Revolt event in Coventry back in July. Both of these events are run by bona fide feminist activists and organisers Nat Dzerins and Ruth Pearce (from the superb DIY punk band Not Right)… Lou: For me it was coming back from work one night and discovering, as I was absent-mindedly browsing "The F-Word", the Uk's leading feminist website, that they'd featured us in one of their articles, and had given us a very positive review with that ! And playing Brighton for the first time in 2012. We found ourselves in front of a packed audience who danced all night and seemed to know all the lyrics to our songs! It was fantastic.

You put on a good live performance, do you take rehearsing seriously?

Lou: We try to rehearse as often as we can, but when it comes to shows, the atmosphere in the audience and the adrenaline are what really unleash the Beast for us, and that's a spontaneous process, you can't really rehearse it. Sometimes we plan little tricks to liven up our shows. In Brighton, we turned up onstage with "Free Pussy Riot" signs, and in 2011 at Beltane, we distributed raffle tickets in the audience. The winner got a free CD and a voucher for a night of passion with our drummer (Beltane is the pagan festival of Love and Fertility). Fortunately, the winning lady never made use of her voucher. I'm not sure our drummer was actually prepared to give so much of himself for the great cause of punk rock!

Where do the ideas for your songs come from? I’m assuming some are autobiographical?

Lou: Some songs are inspired by personal experience; others are observations on small town life and society in general. "Nazi Bull Dyke" is about a former friend who ended up stalking me. "Song for Aurelie" is about a friend who died from a heart transplant when I was 25. "Domestic" was inspired by the time when several of our friends were struggling in violent relationships. and "Bunny Boiler" by the fashion of Playboy stationary amongst young girls. We also write to lampoon people, from our local pub's former sound engineer to love rivals to Katie Price fans. "Babalon" is about the Thelemic Goddess of Love and War. She's a bit of a tutelary goddess for our band. The lyrics come from a poem by rocket scientist and occultist Jack Parsons who unleashed Babalon through a series of rituals in 1946. On "Virosa Ebriosa" songs like "Rage", "You're One" and "Isobel" were inspired by the figure of the witch in History as a kind of proto-feminist, misunderstood anarchist.

Do you have any favourite places to play?

Julie: There was this one pub in Falmouth where the landlord left little folded up face towels next to all of our mic stands. I don't think he'd realised we were a punk band. Nevertheless, it was delightful.

You obviously have strong feminist views, is there any particular event that brought these about and how big a problem to you think sexism is in today’s society?

I remember being 7 and believing that as an adult woman I'd be free to do whatever I aspired to do and be the person I wanted to be. Then at teenage I realised girls' bodies were suddenly public property. Boys at school leered at them, rated them, and commented on them to our faces. Magazines were full of incitements to diet, beautify, cut open and modify what Nature had given us. It seemed we could never be good enough, slim enough. At that time I also became aware that most Holy Books, written by males for a male audience, were justifying and enforcing the ownership and subjugation of women, arguing we were born sinners and that our thirst for knowledge has caused Humanity to Fall. The sense of betrayal was immense. The female body is still a battleground. Women battle to accept themselves in the cultural framework in which they evolve. Some societies are prepared to spill blood to ensure that female's sexuality, education and reproductive choices are controlled and curtailed. Some religious groups petition the State to impose their prejudiced values upon the population, with very real consequences for us. Remember the debate over female bishops or the outcry in Christian groups when HPV vaccination became available to schoolgirls? Some people would rather have had young women dying of cervical cancer than give them access to a vaccine that would protect them against VD. They claimed the vaccine would make young girls "promiscuous". This is truly outrageous! Feminism, for me, is about redressing that imbalance by empowering women and fighting for social justice. Our feminism is inclusive; it doesn't exclude men, nor transgender people. If we all stand together and fight because we love our mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters and friends and value their freedom and talents, we can create a shift in society that would truly transform humanity, and make us all better people.

Where would you like the band to be in 5 years time?

Lou : Still writing, still gigging and hopefully making a good, lasting contribution to the Riot Grrrl scene. I hope we can, in our own little way, inspire more women to live their artistic dreams and find liberation… In truth, I hope Husbands N Knives carries on forever. And when I look at bands like Shonen Knife, who've been rocking for 25 years, I know it can be done.

How do you juggle being a teacher and the singer of a band? Do your students think you’re cool?

Lou: Since the word got around i was in a band, some of my students have come to me asking for advice on writing and performing, or just to share their worries. I ve seen some of them really flourish as performers during the past two years, and it's been really heart-warming to see how song writing and gigging can really help heal and empower young people. In my dreams, I’d like to start a little Rock School for Girls, and go to secondary schools to give Riot Grrrl- inspired workshops on how to start a band, write songs and get organised. We had an offer about a project of that kind last year, but our contact never got in touch again so it hasn't come to anything. I do hope we'll eventually be able to get involved though, and if anyone reading this knows anyone who'd like to help us, please get in touch!

If you could banish 3 things into Room 101, what would they be?

Lou: My, that's a hard question! Vladimir Putin. Homophobia. Oh, and drunken idiots who pick fights with innocent bystanders. The "What'ye looking at?!" types.

Any final comments?

Lou: I'll leave you with a quote from feminist writer Monique Wittig, which in my eyes sums up well what our band's about: "“There was a time when you were not a slave, remember that. You walked alone, full of laughter, you bathed bare-bellied. You say you have lost all recollection of it, remember . . . You say there are no words to describe this time, you say it does not exist. But remember. Make an effort to remember. Or, failing that, invent.”

Could you give a brief history of Certified and a discography?

We formed in 2004 playing our first set in December at our mate Iggy's birthday gig alongside Chaos UK. We released a 4 song EP `War Cunt` shortly after in 2005, then in 2006 we recorded and released `Piss in your Face` a 14 song studio album. In 2009 we released another 4 song EP called `I Hate`, so I suppose we're long overdue another release!

How would you describe your sound?

UK82 and more...We have some diverse musical influences within the band and I guess that shows with our sound, we like to think we're a bit different from the rest?

Who makes up the band and what do they do?

Sean Innocent on vocals, Sean Duggan on Guitars and Tim Knight on bass. And after a 5 year break we've got Dean our original drummer back.

What other bands have you all played in before and do any of you play in other bands?

Sean Innocent played bass for Braindance back in the 90's, and Income Support in late 80's and nowadays also plays bass for The Vile (along with Rat from The Varukers and Discharge). Sean Duggan played with the Vile for a bit and The Varukers for many years. Tim played bass for the London band `Gutrot` back in the 80's alongside AOA's Stevie, Axegrinder's Darren and Argy Bargy's Dalb....Now back to drummers! Dean hadn't drummed before Certified, Thanks to Pommy from Riot Squad did a cracking job and served the longest, and also to Scott from FUK has also helped us out for many a gig. We've been up and down with drummers but we're back on it now. And not forgetting Steve Knight from The Losers who played guitar from the beginning but left shortly after we did Piss in your Face.

Does it make it difficult with members being in other bands?

Sometimes, if the other bands are busy it can be difficult to focus. But Certified will fit gigs in wherever; if they are few and far between we're sound with that. Were happy whether we're watching or playing, either way we'll always join you at the bar for a beer.

What gigs have you got coming up and are there any plans for a new album or EP?

We're playing a Sunday matinee gig downstairs at The Old Angel on November 24th, then a few weeks after we're supporting The Business at The Doghouse, Carlton on 6th December. Watch this space for more gigs and another release in 2014

What’s been the best and worst moment of Certified’s existence?

Supporting The Exploited in Glasgow was a blast and up there with our best ever gigs. The most surreal was supporting Pete Docherty on the main stage at Rock City, he popped into the Angel earlier on the day of the gig and he asked us to support him, the faces of the sell out crowd was priceless when we first blasted out fight to fight! The best was probably when we were support for the Discharge Tour in 2006. As for bad...when band members leave but apart from that, no regrets...ever!

After playing with most of punks bigger bands, is there anyone left you’d like to play with?

Sean's dream gig is Motorhead with Certified, The Exploited and The Partisans supporting, that would be a good un! Tim would be happy with The Bad Brains, Dead Boys and fuck it, Black Sabbath!

What is there in punk to get excited about today and how healthy do you think the scene is at present?

The scene is healthy; some of those within it need a kick up the arse though. In this digital age communication seems to be a bit lacking, one example is the number of gigs going on with another one happening a stone's throw away, as we seem to be getting fewer in numbers as the years go on it would be nice not to divide the crowd between gigs.

What bands should we keep an eye out for?

FUK, The Vile, X-Rays, Refusal

Any final comments?

Thanks for inviting us to do this interview, see you all next year and Happy Fucking Christmas!

Who makes up the band, what do they do and what other bands have they played/play in?

(Karl) Karl Egghead (Guitar) 1st came on the scene with Xtract way back in 79, The Exploited - April 83 to may 85, back to Xtract, Broken Bones 86, UK Subs 90, 91 – 93, Johnny Bravo 93-95 Billyclub 95 –present, Phantom Rockers 98 and an off till 2010, GBH 2006-07 and Xtract on and off
(Andy) Andy (Drums), mostly local bands with varied successes with brief stints in Phantom Rockers, Xtract and the latest line up of Broken Bones.
(Chris – the new boy)...Brilliant band, pleasure to be on board.

How would you describe your sound and who are your influences?
(Karl) I guess we are loud aggressive tight fast. We have many influences mine is mostly punk with a bit of metal thrown in for good measure
(Andy) The Billyclub sound to me is hard, aggressive and in your face and if you don't like it move the fuck aside cause were coming through whether you like it or not. I grew up with Thrash mainly: Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer. To me there are only two types of music: music you understand and stuff that you just can’t get into.
(Mok) Billyclub's sound is hardcore but also melodic. I listen to a lot of influences, right across the board from the Stranglers to Metallica even very early Bowie and slade.

What is the most mental gig you’ve played and why?
(Karl) Mental gigs to me are when the crowd goes off...Paris was off the scale Subotica (Serbia) was the same also Novi Sad. We have played lots of crazy shows all over the place but is the crowd that make it happen and it’s the reason we still wanna get out and play
(Andy) Why did we play a mental gig? Because we were asked to play and people decided that standing still wasn't an option.
(Mox) Best gig was Subotica in Serbia last year, it was mad! I was picked up on top of the crowd lol and still managed to sing the song,
What made you resurrect Billyclub after the split in 2001?
(Karl)I was not finished I love doing this it’s a major part of my life, I love playing my version of punk and see no reason to stop, plus its having our kid in the band that spurs me on I love it even more with him in the band! Andy has been there from the start of the UK line up and its great having him back there pounding the skins and now Chris joining us has stabilized the band its great having him on board!
(Mox) I used to listen to Billyclub when Karl lived in the States, he would send me the new CDs as they came out, so when he decided to come back I was buzzing to get Billyclub up and running. All this time and me and our kid had never jammed together, even though I sing in Billyclub I've played bass for over 30 years now and until 2002 never in a band with him lol

How would you say punk and punks have changed over the years?
(Karl) things change as you get older to me it’s all about the gigs now some things are still great other things like all the right wing and left wing bullshit just gets in the way, I also have no respect whatsoever for the so called punk rock police we won’t conform for anyone regardless, all the infighting is pathetic, punk is about freedom! That’s our mantra, if it makes you happy then do it!

How was playing in the Subs? Any interesting stories?
(Karl) I love the Subs and Charlie was, still is a major influence on me it was a fantastic time playing with him, I have loads of stories but usually it takes a few beers to get em flowing I can’t rattle em off to suit cos they are buried in my shaky memory.lol

Punk has been going a long time now, do you think it’s still relevant and what gives it its longevity?
(Karl)Yes it has and it still shocks people that it’s still very relevant, I look at lyrics from 30yrs ago and they are still relevant today, so nothing has changed really. Punk still gives us an out and that’s what is refreshing you can’t pigeon hole it, the umbrella is massive with so much talent that comes under it! The punk scene truly is ageless and timeless I reckon it’s here for many years to come.
(Andy) Punk is as old as time, it’s not a genre, it's an attitude. As long as people are pissed off with the situation they find themselves in it'll be relevant.

You recently undertook a tour of the UK, how’d that go?
(Karl) We did about 4 shows with our good friends Vox Populi from Serbia, also the Vile and wasted life. I was a blast going out with old friends and I can think of nothing better than touring with friends, its allot of fun.
(Mox) The mini Uk tour was great, just like one big family on a four day party lol
(Andy) It was fucking tiring. I ended up playing 2 sets each night. The drummer from Vox Populi had his visa declined at the eleventh hour so I stepped in, keeps you on your toes.
What have you got planned for the near future? Any releases, gigs or further tours?
(Karl) We are booking shows, writing songs and getting ready to release a new album on CD, downloads and Vinyl. We are going to Ireland for the release party, then over to France, back to Serbia and hopefully some German dates. We are on at Rebellion; got plenty of UK dates basically any where we can play we will go!
What excites you about punk today?
(Karl) I still love the camaraderie, I enjoy playing shows and seeing old friends, making new friends, talking and having a good laugh with people, and it’s what it’s all about, long live punk!
(Andy) Andy) it’s one big fucked up dysfunctional family and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Any final comments?
Hope we can continue to play, write new songs, go on tour, keep meeting me fans and having a great time...punk till death!

Can you please give a brief history of the band along with a discography?

(Jacko): Formed in 2001 by myself and kimbo, stable line up since 2006, we added long time friend Bri in 2010. 7 songs for the dead and as wolves among sheep.

Who makes up the band and what do they do?

(Jacko): kimbo lead vocals & guitar, Bri - guitar & backing vox, Fez – drums, Jacko - bass & backing vox.

How would you describe your sound?

(Jacko): Obnoxious

(Kimbo): Our sound is Obnoxious UK, we’re not generic.

Who initially influenced you to from a band and do they still influence you now?

(Jacko): Just something I always wanted to do me and my mate Fez started a bedroom band when we were 11, we haven't looked back since.

(Kimbo): too many influences to repeat.

Have any of the members been in any other bands and if so whom?

(Jacko): Myself nothing worth mentioning, Kimbo & Bri, The Norma Jeans but you have to ask em.

(Kimbo): Yes they do, still in bands The Norma Jeans you youth of today has loads left for it cause they will make there own path,sound and genre the undergroung is on its way up

With punk being raped and left for dead by the mainstream, do you think it has any left to offer the youth of today?

(Jacko): Punk will always be an attitude, people said punk was 77 to 79 BUT then you have 82 and now we’re still talking about the same demise in 2013. It will survive but people will say: “Oh it’s not like it should be, it’s not like when we grew up, and every generation will have a different point of view.

What’s in the pipeline for The Obnoxious UK? Any releases or gigs planned?

(Jacko): We’re rerecording the second CD as we weren’t happy with it, we may put it all together and say there you go. What we got till now and a possible live CD. As for gigs, as many as possible.

(Kimbo): CD in December as we ain’t discussed live CD yet.

Where would you like to be with The Obnoxious UK in 5 years time?

(Jacko): Still gigging, still staying true to ourselves, still having fun and people wanting to come see the shows.

(Kimbo): In 5 years time, we’ll still doing the same with loads more material.

How did you first get into punk?

(Jacko): When i was about 7, I had to visit family on a Sunday and my cousin who was 10 years older would sit us down and play us all the punk records he was into and started there.

(Kimbo): When I was 9 my brother bought me God Save the Queen and going to the Oasis with my sister when I was about the same age and seeing punks for the first time.

What has been the best gig you’ve played and what has been the best gig you’ve attended?

(Jacko): Best gig I’ve played, I don’t know, I enjoy them all, enjoyed supporting the Subs and Anti Nowhere League. The best gig attended would be Suicidal Tendencies as it pisses Kimbo off every time I mention it.

(Kimbo): I’d say Anti Nowhere Leauge gig was the best so far and Metallica in 88 at the NEC.

What bands should we keep an eye out for?

(Jacko): The Shots from Lemington Spa as cool people and deserve exposure as in it for the right reason. The name on everyone lips at the minute: Dirtbox Disco but looking forward to the Spunk Volcano solo outing, I predict big things for that one if its good you will hear of it Any final comments? I hope one day the scene can pull together and stop booking over each other and people start coming out to see shows instead of saying there’s nothing to do and when someone puts a show on they don’t show up.
(Kimbo): The Shots, The Bench Dogz blah blah blah.

Final Comments?

Lol if the punks made an effort to go see new bands and relied less on nostalgia, things would be even better lol.

Sylvain Sylvain is best known as one of the original members of the New York Dolls. With a long solo career under his belt, and after the reformation of the New York Dolls, he is gigging relentlessly – most recently on an acoustic tour with former Sex Pistol Geln Matlock. We caught up with Sylvain as he lines some dates up on this side of the Atlantic to hear about his latest venture…. and to get back to his roots and the music that inspired him to pick up a guitar in the first place. Interview by Richard Cubesville.

RC: When was the last time you were over here?

SS: I think 2011 – we had three shows playing with Alice Cooper.. We played three gigs and I think one was up in Manchester… but you know, I can’t be sure.

RC: I know it – it becomes a bit of a blur.

SS: I’m coming over and I’m bringing my power trio I’ve got together – both my bandmates are English – first of all Gary Powell is going to be joining me which I’m really happy about because I haven’t played with him since 2004, and I think that he should have been the New York Dolls drummer. And I’ve got Jerome Alexandre who’s going to be playing the bass – he’s been doing some gigs with Pete Doherty. And we’re going to have a blast. I’m going to be doing songs from the original New York Dolls – Personality Crisis, Pills, Showdown and Trash. And I do other songs like by the Velvet Underground and Johnny Thunders, and it’s going to be cool man, I really can’t wait to get there. Who knows what’s going to happen when I do? I’m bringing in special guest stars, depending on who’s in town that evening and who comes to see Sylvain. That’s how I do my special guest spots.

RC: I must say I’m quietly disappointed that you’re only performing as a trio because I was greatly impressed with your solo work which dragged in influences from everywhere – bits of honky tonk or a healthy helping of rock n roll and do-wop.

SS: Well, we still can. The way I see it is that recording is one thing and performing is another. When you go in the studio, depending on what budget you have and how much good stuff you’ve been smoking… and sometimes I like to give the song what it calls for, whatever that is. That’s the way to go with recording, because you’re trying to make magic. You’re not trying to be better than magic, because it won’t go and it won’t be remembered at all. But with performance, it’s between me and the audience, because the audience are going to take you where you’re going to go. For me I like a 1-2 punch and keeping it happy and sexy and stuff. Give me a good drummer – I could do the whole show with just the drummer. It’s going to be a little bit striptease, but it’s going to be a fucking good show.

RC: Something I wanted to ask you – I’ve got this theory that our musical makeup is dictated by something I call Big Brother’s Record Collection. You know when you’re about 14 or 15 and there’s an older sibling or friend and you look at their record collection and go: “Wow, that’s cool!” And you carry that throughout your life – it’s always just a little bit before you appeared and made your mark. What were the influences you carried with you?

SS: Oh, the girl groups. My first big one with the girl groups was Be My Baby by the Ronnettes. Phil Spector put out that shit at the peak of girl groups if you want to put it that way. That and the mixing of Eddie Cochraine is rock n roll – the way he would write his songs on the guitar with three chords was sexy. It wasn’t like an opera, it wasn’t like a science where you’ve got to write this great piece. I’ve always kept his songs with me in the bars we used to play, you know, C’mon Everybody, and it came out in the last show the New York Dolls were properly together in 1975 with Malcolm MacLaren – my good friend from the clothing business who I had brought back to help us out after we had been abandoned by our manager. Actually me and him, we went down to New Orleans in 1975. We broke up in Florida so I took him to New Orleans. I don’t know if the shops are still there, but there was a street called Magazine Street and it was full of vinyl records and these went back to the 1940s. I found Easy Rider Blues by Meade Lux Lewis and it was on a 78.

RC: On Shellac?

SS: Yeah, and it weighed about a couple of pounds. The B-side Malcolm noticed right away was Huey “Piano” Smith with Don’t You Just Know it. These were the days when record companies would put two artists on a record – the better-known would go on the A-side. These were the songs, the blues. I think that’s what made the New York Dolls different from a lot of other bands – we had the blues in us. At least I hope we did. It was based on three chord progression and solos that were improvised and somewhat of a melody like on the solo for Jet Boy, which I never got credited for. You have something of a map, but you’re fucking flying – you achieve levitation if you can when you’re playing together and jamming and making a band. If everyone sings too and the audience sings – my show by the way is a singalong with people getting drunk and going nuts.

RC: I was trying to think of two bands who had influenced the UK punk scene and there was yourselves and Doctor Feelgood – two R&B bands who really shook things up.

SS: Doctor Feelgood were one of my favourite bands to go and see. Malcolm actually introduced me to Wilko Johnson. I think they were starting to come out when we broke up in 1975. But what an incredible guitar player. I do a song in their fashion, which is Cell Block Number 9. Now that song, you don’t need anything more than a guitar, bass and drums.

RC: They were like a machine – guitar, bass and drums going at it like clockwork.

SS: Yeah, when you get a thing like that you can’t fucking beat it man. And that’s live. I’ve never really had the opportunity to bring in an orchestra – well, RCA did on my first album, which was a sad session, as Johnny Thunders would have called it. And anyway, made my song sound Egyptian which was where I was born and was trying to get the fuck away from.

RC: For me what the New York Dolls did was to take rock n roll, do-wop and blues influences and subvert them. It wasn’t these clean-cut kids – it was whatever the other side was. For me that was very influential and opened up possibilities for people.

SS: Well that was never a conscious thing. If the New York Dolls had sat at a round table and had a meeting, we might still be together today. We were just flying by the seat of our pants and we were basically Ground Zero for that revolution in sound if you want to call it that. It was more than just music – it became a liftstyle and places to hang out and places to go and shop for how you want to look.

RC: You came to music through fashion really…

SS: That was it – me and the original New York Dolls drummer Billy Murcia used to have a shop in the Woodstock township, a year before the festival by the way in 1968. It became Truth and Soul and came back to the city. Between that time we were doing the fieldwork as musicians and learning how to play the blues.

One of the best shows I’ve seen in my life, and it was solely by mistake, was in 1967 during the summer in New York in Central Park. They would have concerts, and the beers in New York would sponsor them – like schaefer and Valentine. The shows would only be a dollar and they would have two acts a night – jazz, rock, soul, country, everything. One night I paid my dollar and I went to see the Young Rascals – they had the big hit of the summer, I forget what the song was. We went early to catch the opening band, who weren’t listed on the ticket.

So this guy comes on with an English accent and he’s going: “Get it on for the first time in the United States, ladies and gentlemen Jimi Hendrix and the Experience.” First of all they each have one stack of Marshall amps – we had never seen Marshall amps before. I went to see the Who a couple of weeks before and they used to use customs and Sunn amps – they were pretty big, but they weren’t like a full stack of Marshalls. And they come out and the way they dress is really cool in these flowered shirts and red trousers and all this shit you know. And then of course they fucking start and they play and they play and they play. And the whole audience we were going fucking nuts.

We were all standing on our seats and going fucking bezerk. And by the way, they were playing songs that were common to us. Like Hey Joe was a staple – if you wanted to get a gig down in Greenwich Village you had to play Hey Joe and Wild Thing – they were Top 40 hits. Later we knew who Jimi Hendrix was but we were going fucking nuts. He got a standing ovation and he broke the guitar… and then they go and the Young Rascals come on. And we had changed about 300 years you know.

RC: Not an act you want to follow…

SS: We had changed so much. And they were so boring. They looked shocked themselves you know. And their guitar player, Gene Cornish, he’s got a Fender amplifier. Now he’s trying to get feedback – when you get feedback from a Fender it’s a whistler it’s a whole different ball game. And then he’s hitting his guitar neck on his amplifier. That was it man. We stood up and we started booing him. We walked out, honest to god man. It was the greatest show – a life-changing moment.

RC: So the Young Rascals went from flavour of the month with the summer hit, to last year’s thing in about half an hour or so.

SS: Exactly, and that’s the way it should be. I love those moments in life and I think I caused a few of them with the New York Dolls. And on that note, do you think that’s a good place to leave this interview or what?

RC: I think it’s a good place and leaves some hope for the future; that whatever we believe in will be upturned by someone at some point in the future.

SS: Well there you go. There you go my friend.

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