Distorted Magazine March 2007 by Steve Noble

| MARCH 2007 | ISSUE 04 |

TIME AGAIN Uncharted Waters BOUNCING SOULS

THE

Standing the test of time

THE RESTARTS

DIY or DIE

WIN A DVD

BLACK FLAG Definitive hardcore

HOT ROCKET TRIO, A TEXAS TALE OF TREASON

PLUS: LOVE & A .45,

REVIEWED:

ONLY CRIME, ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE, SMOKE OR FIRE, THE CASUALTIES, SICK CITY DAGGERS, THE LOOSE SKREWS, and MORE...

EDITOR_ Cerven Cotter

editor@distortedmagazine.com

ART_ Do you really read this? CONTRIBUTORS_ Lola, Stevo, Grillyx, Tim Drunk, Fungal Punk/OMD, Willa. PROOFING/SUBBING_ Lola Contact information_ Distorted Magazine 9 Bridle Close, Surbiton Road, Kingston Upon Thames Surrey, KT1 2JW London, UK info@distortedmagazine.com www.distortedmagazine.com Distorted Magazine is published by Distorted Ltd. All content is copyright protected © 2006 - 2007. Distorted is a trademark of Distorted Ltd. Views expressed in the magazine’s content belong to the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers. The contents are believed to be correct at the time of publishing. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors, ommissions or for changes in the details given, © 2006 - 2007 Distorted Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in a whole or in part of this magazine is strictly forbidden without prior written consent of the publishers. | page 02 | MARCH 2007 |

Bruises, bullshit & birthdays for an interview but What a month Febru- settle made sure the London fans ary was, for me it was one filled many highs and just as many lows. A catch 22 situation was my birthday - I’m one year closer to the grave but I also got to celebrate it this year with some of my closest and dearest friends. It also didn’t hurt that I got to rock out to The Casualities and got myself some long overdue tattoos (Thanks Nick). Over the last month or so I’ve also come to see the ugly side of people. Call it my own personal ignorance for always wanting to do the right thing - but hey, what goes around comes around, so fuck ‘em. It still amazes me that it is the people that hold the idea of punk rock close to their hearts who always seem to be those that stick by you. An unspoken bond. A tie that transcends age gaps and gender differences. What more can I say? Punk is something different for each of us, but we all seem to understand it. You got to love it. In this month’s issue, we speak to Time Again as they venture across Europe on their 1st tour outside of the American continent. We didn’t only

get to see them live. Along with SWLC and City Rat Records, Distorted brings you a once off show on the 6th of March that will be the highlight of any punks calendar - Time Again, The Restarts and Hot Rocket Trio all on one bill! Check out the adverts in this issue for more details on the show. Thanks to Antstuie Productions, we’ve got another competition in this issue, we take a look at the infamous Black Flag, talk to the Bouncing Souls and The Restarts, we introduce you to Love and a .45, review heaps of albums, DVDs, and a handful of shows. Yes, March sees the biggest issue of Distorted so far. Now go and read it. ~ Cerven Cotter Editor ...for more ramblings and other items of some interest: blog.deathdestroy.com

C ONTENTS INSIDE THE MARCH ISSUE

[Click on an article to jump straight to it]

Features Photo by Rachel Tejanda

TIME AGAIN ........ 16 Uncharted Waters

THE RESTARTS ........ 30 DIY or DIE

BOUNCING SOULS ........ 24 Standing the test of time TREASON ........ 38

LIGHTS, CAMERA, A Texas Tale of Treason - What happened?

BLACK FLAG ........ 52 Definitive Hardcore

REGULARS

Editor Notes...... 02 Headlines...... 04 What you had to say...... 07 Previews!...... 08

Support Slot...... 12 PunkSpace...... 14 Soundcheck..... 29 Reviews...... 42 Close Up...... 56

| MARCH 2007 | page 03 |

H EADL INES News and other things you need to know

The Latest...

For those of you wondering why AntiFlag had to abruptly cancel their tour dates in Canada, we are sorry to report that it was because Chris No 2’s sister and her boyfriend were murdered. Our condolences go out to Chris and his family. AntiFlag have since resumed their tour and plan to revisit Canada later in the year. Channel 3, one of the great American hardcore/punk bands of the 80s, are to tour Europe in May. Best known in England for their classic No Future single ‘I’ve Got A Gun’, they are shortly to have their early discography re-released on Captain Oi! Records. Post-punk outfit The Draft will be releasing an exclusive self-titled digital EP on March 13th on Epitaph Records. The EP features four tracks, and will be available for purchase through all major download services and as an exclusive packaged album through iTunes. It seems as though the EP may simply be a digital compilation of the two 7” singles No Idea Records will be releasing soon.

Vanity Fair magazine has hailed the Dropkick Murphy’s ‘I’m Shipping Up To Boston’ as this years ‘most exciting movies song’. The song features on the soundtrack of the Oscar winning Scorcese offering, ‘The Departed’. Visit www.epitaph.com for the full article. Punk stalwarts Sick Of It All are reportedly returning to the studio to record their follow up to 2006’s ‘Death to Tyrants’. The album is expected to be released in 2008. Rise Against has parted ways with yet another guitarist. Chris Chasse has left the band and has been replaced with Zach Blair formally of Only Crime. Only Crime are now on the look out for a new guitarist. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are embarking on a European summer tour with their London date scheduled for 26th June at the Forum. Pulley has set a March 01, 2007 release date for their upcoming DVD. It will be available directly through their website. The disc was first announced last April, and work on it wrapped up in late October. Alan Parker’s new Sid Vicious book has had a title change, it will be now called “Sid Vicious: No One Is Innocent”. It will be released on 18th May by Orion Books. Got some interesting news? Send it to: nikola@distortedmagazine.com

| page 04 | MARCH 2007 |

WIN 1 of 5 DVDs!

Distorted magazine and Antsuie Productions are offering 5 lucky readers a chance to win a limted edition of the ‘A Texas Tale of Treason’ DVD To win, simply complete the following movie title: “Waldo’s...”

Check out the feature on page 38 for a clue.

Send in your answers to: competitions@distortedmagazine.com subject: A Tale of Treason Please include your name and your mailing address. Competition closes 28th of March 2007.

The ‘Your punk tattoo’ competition has been extended by a further month due to the large amount of entries received. Please keep your designs coming in - details can be found in the February issue. New closing date is 28th March 2007

...AND NOW PLAYING This month we see what Robert Price, vocalist for the The Ghouls has been listening to. Dead FM - Strike Anywhere At Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash Must I paint You a Picture - Billy Bragg Faster, Louder, Uncut - Kid Dynamite Diabolus in Musica - Slayer London Calling - The Clash The Anger & The Truth - The Unseen Before the Quarrel - Cro-Mags Outlaw Anthems - Blood for Blood Master of Reality - Black Sabbath Check out his band, The Ghouls over at: http://www.myspace.com/theghouls or read issue 2 of Distorted (January 2007) | MARCH 2007 | page 05 |

H EADL INES News and other things you need to know

10 MINUTES WITH: Pete

Sometimes you have to love the information super highway known as the internet and even more so myspace. In our inbox was a message from Pete, bassist for The Vibrators and No Direction. We returned the mail and this is what he had to say. Distorted: Hey Pete, what’s the average day like for you? Pete: Well if I’m off touring, I usually wake up around 2pm. My friends call me lazy but the truth is that I usually go to bed around 5am. It’s easy to say that I’m a night person. Then it’s just me killing time. I take care of The Vibrators and my band No Direction myspaces so it keeps me occupied for couple of hours. I’ve been busy writing songs for No Direction lately so it’s not all wasted time. But the truth is that I feel at home when I’m on the road. I love touring. What’s this about another band you’re in? Well, No Direction is a band myself and couple of friends formed in Finland back in ‘98 and we moved to London and played up and down the UK until 2003 when our drummer moved back home and we split the band. We got back together in November 2005 for a one off gig and realized that it’s fun to play those songs again so me and our guitarist Hannu found a couple | page 06 | MARCH 2007 |

new guys and we are back in business. Anybody whose interested to hear our tunes, please go and log on to myspace.com/nodirectionhq. Hard liquor or beer? Why? My favorite drink is neer but I also like to drink vodka. And tequila shots a give good kick when you need it. If you were standed on a desert island and you could choose only one of the following, which album would you pick – Sex Pistols “Never Mind the Bollocks” or Ramones “Ramones”? And why would you choose that one. I would go for Ramones. Why? Because that’s how I feel right now.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS MONTH IN PUNK ROCK HISTORY 18 MARCH 1979 Ramones and the Talking Heads become the first punk bands to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

W H AT Y O U H A D TO SAY mail us on letters@distortedmagazine.com

REVIEWERS

HARD COPY

Just wondered if you take submissions from freelance reviewers? I’m currently a reviewer with the scottish paper MUSIC NEWS Scotland and also with the London based arts & culture ezine Subba-Cultcha. Obviously I don’t expect payment for anything you accept from me, I’m just wanting to get my work out there as much as possible. Unfortunately the majority of albums, singles, gigs I get to review aren’t often from the punk genre. I’m currently trying to change that by getting as many punk bands as I can to send me their new releases etc etc. Would you be interested in any articles I send you? Hope to hear from you soon,

Any chance of a hard copy? Cheese and bacon,

~ Alan. Hey Alan, thanks for getting in touch with us. It would be best if you sent us a sample of an album review and a live show review and let’s see if we can move forward from there.

~K Mmmmm, is Distorted not good enough for you already? We hope to get into print soon, hang in there and we’ll let you know as soon as it rolls off the press. BACK ISSUES Hey, do you have any free or sample magazines from your company? even it is your old stuff. Let me know about it? If you have some time please send it to me. Thanks and more power. ~ OSE You can find all the back issues of Distorted right here on the Distorted website. Nice thing is that you won’t have to remeber where you put that one old issue, they’re always going to be in the same place, right here on the world wide web. Thanks for the support. | MARCH 2007 | page 07 |

PREVIE W ! P R E V I E W ! Tours and shows you have to know about.

CONCRETE JUNGLE FESTIVAL - IT IS GETTING CLOSER!

20-22 April 2007 will see a mass gathering of some of the UK’s finest punk rock acts, both old and new, at the Camber Sands Holiday Centre in East Sussex, UK. Confirmed bands include the likes of the Exploited, Anti Nowhere League, Cockney Rejects, and GBH. Not only will this festival celebrate 30 years of punk rock but it will also rejuvenate and revive the spirit of punk. The Concrete Jungle Festival is the most important event in the scene since the punk rock revolution of 1977. Current line up ALSO INCLUDES: RIFFS THE CRACK SECTION 5 CRASHED OUT BOOZE BOYS VAS DEFERANS THE DUEL BOOTSTROKE MISTAKES PERKELE OUTL4W NECK EAST END BADDOES STOMPER 98 BLANK GENERATION SICK ON THE BUS GUNS ON THE ROOF FOREIGN LEGION

| page 08 | MARCH 2007 |

PICTURE FRAME SEDUCTION MDM AGITATORS HAGGIS RETALIATOR HOTWIRED FAILSAFE BILLYCLUB CELLBOUND SOBERPHOBIA DUN 2 DEF GARAGELAND UNDERDOGS SKAVERS UNIT LOST 85’S CONCRETE GODS STRAWBERRY BLONDES

P REVIEW ! P R E VI E W !

| MARCH 2007 | page 09 |

PREVIE W ! P R E V I E W ! Tours and shows you have to know about.

| page 10 | MARCH 2007 |

P REVIEW ! P R E VI E W ! PUNK’S ALIVE Dagenham Football Club Punk All Dayer The gig, is to be held on the 3rd March 2007, will include the bands: Vice Squad

Drongos for Europe Red Flag 77 Sick on the Bus Guns on the Roof Airbomb The Anoraks The Vas Deferens Random Heroes Drink Fuelled Violence Entrance is £9. Doors: 1.30PM Bands finish: 11.30PM. Bar: Midnight. Last West bound District line train to London 11.50PM (Tube Station 5 min walk from D&R FC). Dagenham & Redbridge FC, Victoria Sports Ground, Victoria Road, Dagenham, Essex.

For upto minute info and more details: www.myspace.com/daggerspunk | MARCH 2007 | page 11 |

E M I T SHOLW Photo ÂŠ Vicky Mather

We introduce you to Lo

ndon based,

ove and a .45

and talk about the ba nd with their vocalist, Kate Moritz.. .

| page 12 | MARCH 2007 |

Distorted: You guys have been fairly busy with shows lately. How is that going? Kate: Yeah, we’ve always played a lot of shows, since we started this band a year ago. We played anywhere and took every gig we got offered. I think it’s just really important to be out playing, just to get your name out there, to get better, tighter. I feel like we get lazy if we’re not playing shows. So yeah, we make sure we’re always busy and I feel like we benefit from that as a band, definitely. On the subject of gigs, you seem to be sharing the stage on quite a regular basis with Vice Squad. Is there a possible tour in the works? Yeah, we were offered a show with them at the Underworld, and they were all really cool to us. I think it’s funny how you can play with bands who have only been going a few months and they‚re giving you attitude, then you play with a band like Vice Squad who have been there from the start and they’re really nice people. Their manager’s been very helpful, giving us advice. Somehow we’ve wound up with another two shows with them this year, which will

be fun. So far as touring, I know they’re doing the US and Brazil later this year… maybe we’ll stow away in their flight cases or something! Being a female fronted punk outfit, I’m sure you look up to bands like Vice Squad? What other bands do you draw influence from? For me personally, I’ve always been drawn to strong female-fronted bands, so yeah, Vice Squad is up there definitely. For early influences I’d have to say a band like the Gits or Seven Year Bitch- anger delivered in a very smart way. We’re all into different stuff, so I hope that comes across. My worst nightmare is to be a carbon copy of something else. Essentially we all like pop music with power- gnarly stuff with sugary melodies, whether that be Metallica or The Methadones. Do guys give you (Kate) a hard time being a front woman? Surely there must be some negatives to being a girl fronting the band? What are the positives? No one’s given me a hard time really. I think as a girl in a band, people have low expectations of you. No one expects you to be

good. Rock is really pretty sexist, there are still a lot of rules I feel like you’re supposed to adhere to. Things that guys get celebrated for, women get shot down for. In an ideal world, if a band is good then that should be the end of it but for better or worse, you do seem to stand out being a female-fronted band just because rock is still so male-dominated. What about other bands you think are making some good music? I’m really excited about the new Star Spangles album, just because their last album was so great and the stuff I’ve heard so far off the new one sounds even better. The Exploding Hearts rarities collection is awesome and its fucking tragic that they died when they did. I’ve also been digging out some stuff I haven’t heard in a while like the Soviettes, Tsunami Bomb and Johnny Thunders stuff. As for local bands. The Sharons, Dead Identities and Skintight Jaguars all stand out as putting on good shows and being fun to play with. For Love and a .45’s latest gig listings and more: myspace.com/lovemy45 | MARCH 2007 | page 13 |

PunkSpace

Bands you should check out on myspace.com

1 2 | page 14 | MARCH 2006 |

4 5 1. Noname 2. No Direction 3. Unit 21

4. Trashed Idols 5. Raw Poo 6. Fletch Cadillac

Why not drop us a line and recommend a band? (All photos from the bands myspace profiles.)

| MARCH 2006 | page 15 |

“...we were going make it happen, and work our asses off to do it.” | page 16 | MARCH 2007 |

U W

Uncharted Waters

photos by Rachel Tejanda & Shutter Steve

Having made a large impact on the US scene, Time Again have spread their wings into the uncharted waters of Europe and the UK. Daniel Dart, Time Againâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s frontman, spoke to Tim Drunk from somewhere in Europe... | MARCH 2007 | page 17 |

DISTORTED: Hi Daniel, what were you up to before this email dropped into your inbox? DANIEL: We just arrived at the venue in Bavaria, just getting ready to soundcheck and then replying to some friends’ emails. I haven’t had a chance to call anybody since we have been in Europe so I have been relying on email. How has Europe been so far? Your first time? It’s been amazing actually. I wasn’t really sure what to expect out here because it is our first time but the shows have been great, the kids have been rad, it’s totally blown away all of my expectations by far. So the UK is also on the tour schedule, only two shows? Excited? What are you expecting? Yeah I am really excited to hit the UK, we weren’t sure if we were going be able to go because of our schedule but I am really glad we are. Our friends in Rancid have told us it’s the best place to play in the world, so we are really excited about it, I just wish we could play more than two shows, but it’s okay, we will have more chances to get over there in the future. Just browsing through your tour listing, I see you’re playing a couple of shows with The Casualties, that sounds like it will be a great fun. Who are some of your favourite bands you’ve shared stages with? I don’t know where to start. We have played with so many of my favorite bands, if I only get to choose a few I would have to say Rancid of course and then Social Distortion. Those two probably stick out in my head as some of my dream shows for sure. But we have also played with other great bands too that were amazing, The | page 18 | MARCH 2007 |

Unseen, TSOL, The Adolescents, Circle Jerks, Tiger Army, The Vandals, Joan Jett, so many, it fuckn’ blows my mind. Growing up listening to these bands and then getting the chance to play with them. Yourself and your guitarist, Elijah, have been very passionate about Time Again, so much so that you promoted the band through flyers and stickers even before you had the full line up. Tell me why you knew the band would end up coming together? It was all we wanted to do, when we started out we agreed that no matter what it took, we were going make it happen, and work our asses off to do it. I never thought it would happen the way it has and happen so fast. I think if you asked us back then where we would be at today we wouldn’t have believed we would be touring Europe. It is fuckn’ amazing and I am really grateful for all the shit we have been able to do. How did you guys end up getting signed to Hell Cat for the full length? Also, you released your EP on Rancid Records, there has to be a story behind all of that and what about your connection with the Machete punks? We had a deal in the works with Hellcat before we ever released the EP, but it was about a month before Warped Tour and we were planning to just follow Warped Tour around and try to sell our CDs to the kids in the line as they were going in, so we decided to just press the EP on our own so we would have something to sell. As we were recording, a friend of ours named Dave Sloan asked about our plan and how much money we had and we told him that we were spending everything we have to press it up, that’s when he said, “Fuck it,

I’ll will pay for it.” And that is how we got with Rancid records. Dave Sloan and Tim Armstrong are partners with Machete so essentially Rancid records is Machete. The Machete punks came from that too. Lars Frederiksen had asked me to be in skunx, Tim brought up rancid punks, and both of these are great but none of them included Dave. So, one afternoon I went to the tattoo shop and just got the tattoo “Machete punx” because since Dave and Rancid all work together in Machete it included all of them. After I did that, Dave was like, “fuck it, I am going to get the tattoo as well,” and then Tim was like, “I am gonna get it too,” and that is how it all started. Just a

bunch of friends that stick together and take care of each other. It is all about loyalty ya know. So hopefully this answers your question, if it’s kind of confusing I am sorry, I haven’t slept in about 26 hours.

| MARCH 2007 | page 19 |

Daniel Dart Elijah Reyes

Sounds like the touring is taking its toll on you. Let’s talk about music and what has been the biggest influence on your song writing? I would have to say the biggest influence on my songwriting is the things I went through growing up. I saw a lot of things I didn’t agree with and things that changed my life. Ever since we started the band (Elijah and myself) we have always worked on songs together and whenever I have an idea or a message I wanna get out, I always run it by him, make sure he fully backs it, that way it is not only me speaking for myself, but me speaking for all of us. A crew. As far as musical or lyrical influences, I have so many and so does Elijah; I think the main thing is we want to write music that we enjoy ourselves, stuff that makes us happy. And if it does that then to us, it is a good song. Let’s talk about your debut full length, how did the song with Tim (Armstrong) come about? We had actually finished the song (The Stories are True) and there was a bridge part that Tim was going sing on, but as he started doing that, things just kind of grew from there, and we just went with and I think it turned out amazing. Thanks Tim. ‘Cold Concrete’ is another great song off the album, who are you referring to when you sing about “making the call in handcuffs”? That song is actually about September 23rd 2005. I got beat up by the police and arrested. It was really fucked. They split my left shin open all the way to the bone in two places. When I got to jail and they put me in the cell, they said, “Make your phone call,” and laughed be-

| page 20 | MARCH 2007 |

cause they would not take my handcuffs off. Since my hands were behind my back it made things very difficult as you could imagine, that is where that lyric came from. I read somewhere that you used to ride a skateboard? Are you still skating? I still skate a little but not as much as I used to, mostly for transportation needs now. Being on tour for days on end with your band, surely there are small things that begin to piss everybody off. What do you think your band find as the most annoying habit about yourself? What about their habits? To be honest we all get along really well, I think the things that gets to my band mates the most about myself though would have to be me losing things. It has gotten to the point that someone else is always in charge of carrying my passport or my medicine or my keys. I have a nasty habit of losing stuff. I think that gets to them but it is at a point now where they kind of just look out for me on that stuff, which is a very good thing. What about on stage? Ever get in each other’s way? This is actually a pretty funny question because I have actually had one of my teeth busted a few times because of this, Elijah or Oren will be swinging around and smack my microphone into my mouth. I don’t really get bothered by it too much anymore, I kind have come to the conclusion that its all part of the game, I think it bothers my mother mostly when she sees my busted tooth. Who do you think is today’s most influ-

Oren Soffer Ryan Purucker

ential punk voice in terms of songwriting and music in general? Hands down… Tim Armstrong. Anything you want to say to your fans in the UK before you guys get here? See ya at the show. Catch Time Again’s debut UK show on March 6th - see advert for more details. | MARCH 2007 | page 21 |

e h t g n i Stand time test of

| page 24 | MARCH 2007 |

Just before their London show at the Meanfiddler, Distorted got to chat to two members of the Bouncing Souls.

As we waited for The Bouncing Souls to finish up what looked like torture by a TV crew and interviewer, Tat were beginning to get things together for their soundcheck for the show that night. We waited patiently as the interviewer asked more and more questions. The band looked visibly bored but hey, dealing with the press is all in a days work. After what seemed like forever, we meet up with vocalist, Greg and bass player, Bryan, near the band’s food table. We started off the interview with a few quick questions on how the tour was going and both Greg and Bryan agreed that it has been really good so far. They go onto to talk about how great Tat and The Draft are and touring with them has been good fun. They told us how Tat got stranded outside Birmingham for 8 hours because of the snow and how incredibly warm it was during December in New York. As the mood lightned up so did the interview. THE DEATH OF CBGBs When asked about the closure of CBGB’s, Bryan was the first one to admit that is was a sad day, “It felt pretty rotten.” Bryan had actually moved into the same neighbourhood as the infamous

venue. It was the club that drew him to the area and he still lives there today. Greg sees the closure of CBGB’s a big problem with the American government because it had become part of American history. “Places like that (CBGB’s) aren’t valued in America.” Right there in the city, America had a landmark, a venue, that helped shape the face of modern rock music yet they (the government) couldn’t have cared less seems the general feeling from both Bryan and Greg. “It was part of true American culture, it was what CBGBs became. People came from all over the world to see this infamous venue.” You can hear in Gregs tone that the closure of CBGBs is something that should never have happened. POLITICALLY ACTIVE? On the subject of Bouncing Souls being a political band, both Greg and Bryan jump in and say that the band have always been a political band but not a pro active one in terms of the way Anti-Flag are. They firmly believe that their constitution and their American system are good but the problems are coming from the admininstration, the people who are running the country. Greg thinks that it is not only the American | MARCH 2007 | page 25 |

government to blame, “It’s not just our government, it is a world issue but our government is just dragging our country through the muck, so to speak.” With the world viewing American’s as all being the same, Bryan loved what Fatwreckchords did with their ‘not my president’ shirts. “I didn’t want to be associated with President Bush...” Although they don’t feel the stereotype pressures of being American too often, it is hardest when they’re on tour outside of their home country. “Everywhere you go, people still look at you as American and lump you into that category, “ says Bryan. Greg feels strongly that the stereotyping is stupid and rightfully so. “It’s stupid, we’re all individuals and I think that’s all we can really go on.” He then goes onto say that people cannot and must not judge people by the government. Greg lays the blame on the media for the stereotyping. “They’re asking me to always look at an Iraqi as a certain type of person, same as with Muslims. A person is a person. I, for myself, just throw all that shit out the window and just try look at people for who they are, an individual.” SERIOUS STUFF ASIDE With the latest album, The Gold Record, the band have | page 26 | MARCH 2007 |

shown growth in their song writing. “We’ve always tried to write the best songs possible. There has never been an official policy change when it comes to our sound. Things change, and when they happen, they happen,” explains Bryan, “We don’t control any of it, it just comes out of our butts...” As Bryan said that, there was laughter all round. With that said, it is easy to se that the Bouncing Souls are still the same people that have fun. 20 YEARS ON 2007 marks 20 years for the Bouncing Souls, however the band say 2009 will be the official 20 year mark. “We decided that 09 would be the 20 year mark as that is when we really said we are the Bouncing Souls and we’re going to do this band,” says Bryan, “87 was when the dream was born.” Both Greg and Bryan attribute the bands success largely to their constant belief in what they are doing. “We’re still dreaming today,” comments Bryan. They do admit that they have been lucky along the way. “The trick is to follow your heart and work hard and then it doesn’t really feel like work at all,” continues Bryan. THE MEANING OF PUNK It is always a question that

Live photos © Willa comes up and we put it to Greg and Bryan, “What does punk rock mean to you?” Bryan was the first to reply, “So many individuals define it, too many infact. I think it’s a spirit. It’s the spirit that makes punk punk and not emo or something else, there is something that makes punk rock, punk rock, but I don’t think I’m somebody of any authority to say that.” He then goes onto say that himself and Pete actually watched

The Filth and the Fury (Sex Pistols documentray by Julian Temple). “I’m not sure where I’m going with this one, but even though I had seen it once before, it was fuck’n mindblowing.” Bryan recommends that people who are concerned with what punk is or isn’t, should watch this and it may answers some of the questions. www.bouncingsouls.com | MARCH 2007 | page 27 |

| page 15 | FEBRUARY 2007 |

Soundcheck:

Hot Rocket Trio

In this issue, we give you the basics on South London’s psycho punks who are quickly becoming a household name in their neighbourhood, Hot Rocket Trio. Members

Wally - Vocals and guitars Ben - Upright Bass Owen - Drums

What do THEY play: Neo Psychobilly

Releases:

Split 7” with Scourge Of Rivercity

Influences:

Photo © Wally McNee

Restless, Reverend Horton Heat, Stray Cats, Legendary Shack Shakers, Django Reinhardt, Slayer, Morrissy, The Sharons

How long have THEY been together: 8 Months

When and where did THEY play your debut show: 29th July 2006, Fighting Cocks

best gig played:

Halloween at Montague Arms, New Cross, and Winchester Uni with Art school girls

Dream tour:

Rev. Horton Heat and The Legendary Shack Shakers, The Living End.

Drink of choice:

Wally - Magners Ben - Brine Owen - Jack Daniels and Coke

THEY Recommended:

Tommy Schitt and The Punishment Fuckers, Scourge of Rivercity, The Sharons, Cathouse Creepers, Dead Kids, Wonk Unit, The Pins

URL: www.myspace.com/hotrockettrio | MARCH 2007 | page 29 |

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being punk ha s a huge effect on your w h o le li you to strip awa fe - it forces and try and eva y all the rot luate stuff on a more raw le vel.â&#x20AC;?

D r o Y I r D o DIY

Hailed as legends of the London scene, T proving that the DIY ethic is very much a streets of the world. Tim Drunk cornere member Keiran and threw the following q

| page 30 | MARCH 2007 |

DIE

hotos by Diana More-Riddle, GrillyX and John Dye

The Restarts, have been alive and thriving on the ed bassist and founding questions at him.

Distorted: Where does one start with The Restarts? You’ve been hailed by many asWords “punk legends”. do by Tim How Drunk you respond to this kind of praise? Keiran: That’s the first I’ve heard of that...ha ha. I believe that the term legend can only be realised after it stands the test of time...but we are of course thankful of such a compliment. You’ve always done things your own way, being punks before musicians, what is it about punk rock that made you want to write songs and play music? Being punk has a huge effect on your whole life - it forces you to strip away all the rot and try and evaluate stuff on a more raw level. Bands like DOA in the 80’s, doing benefit concerts for local causes around Vancouver kind of planted a seed in my head... the more I see In life, the more important music seems to become. It is a communication tool, a medium that transcends language and culture. Punk reaches out to people who are lost, angry, bored or just messed up...there is an immediate identification with the anger and energy in the music. When I first heard punk music I knew it would lead me to like-minded people, and after many years of travelling around, squatting and learning about life, I decided to then join a band. The Restarts have an anti-corporate stance. What do you define as corporate? Our anti corporate stance is a reflection of the consumer society as a whole. Corporations are steadily appropriating every aspect of our lives, and then selling it back to us- at an inflated price! Ultimately punk rock is now on the corporate menu! Punk has existed throughout the 80’s and 90s using independent DIY networks and now that it has re-surfaced... the big labels are pricking up their dollar ringing ears and deciding to ‘sell it back to us? When we say “f**k corporate punk” it is a statement to support the true independence of DIY punk rock! When Bands and labels only focus on optimising profits over quality and content, they create a homogenised product equivalent to a McDonalds hamburger! When you consume that product you are left with an empty feeling. This is what the ‘corporate end” of the music industry | MARCH 2007 | page 31 |

are doing, killing independence and originality in order to saturate the world market. The statement isn’t about finger pointing or naming and shaming, it is about YOU deciding what YOU want to support! We like to see independent punk labels become successful and do good work without whoring themselves to the Majors. I think there is now a growing independent force challenging the industry, sticking to their roots... and we will always support people like that. With regards to your political stance, where does the band stand? To what extent do you get involved in the political side of things – are your actively involved ie rallies, marches etc or do you use your music as your form of protest? We as a band stand left of centre, we support most causes which protect human rights (ie: anti racist, anti sexist, pro gay rights) plus other issues like the ecology, animal rights, CND and anti war groups. We each focus on various different causes. And I fully support the right to march. We all take part in protest and rallies. This is our freedom of expression, our human right! In countries where protest is denied, freedom is denied. We tend not to address specific political issues in our lyrics but rather touch on topics and then use ‘awareness’ to support organisations i.e.: doing a benefit gig for a specific cause. Over the years we have done benefits for various political groups; Anarchist prisoners in Turkey, Rape Crisis groups, Queeruption benefits, Hunt saboteurs and other more specific individual causes. So in that sense we like to use our music and actions to support our beliefs.

Artwork by Keiran | page 32 | MARCH 2007 |

What are your views on the current po-

litical climate of the world today? Very negative! World Politics are still polluted by the institutions of religion. Western and Eastern theology are both used to influence and legitimise War and genocide. All wars are created in the names of god(s), so religion, on an institutional level needs to be either regulated or dismantled. Societies need to be made Secular and religion should only be practiced on a personal level and having no bearing on governmental law. Religion has become a tool of evil to turn man against man, and in addition we are now being sold this East Vs West mindset, from both sides! The upcoming saga over Iran’s Nuclear enrichment program will bring all this to a head, as this will become the pinnacle of the East vs West confrontation! It will be paramount that people take to the streets and voice their opinion that ‘violence and force’ are not the ONLY solutions to world problems!

i.e. tour support, networking, promotion etc. I think it is important for a label to have come out of the punk scene itself so that they would know the ‘ins and outs’ of the scene and how people think etc. I look at all the more independent, cool labels out there and try to picture ourselves on them.... and it never seems to feel right. We are destined to be perpetual outsiders! We haven’t been doing this to become famous or rich...we do it because when we look around we see so much hate and ignorance.. .this is our way of venting our anger and in-turn giving something back. Many people claim punk is dead. But everywhere you look, you can see some great bands jamming in pubs and doing things the way they want to do them. What do you think of the current state of

You aren’t very fond of records labels. Has this been something you’ve always held onto as a belief or was it caused by an incident with the industry? Under what circumstances would you consider signing to a label? No there was no incident... the established record labels always felt totally alien to us.. .in a self defeatist kind of way we have never had the slightest bit of interest in approaching any of them. DIY has taught us how to manage our own operation independently, and it has served us well. If there was an ideal label I guess it would be comprised of people that run business ethically and put the interests of the artists and message before profit. I think a label should help out with the running of a band, | MARCH 2007 | page 33 |

punk rock both in London and across the world? Yes you will always get people saying punk is dead...but the more people want something to go away the more it will haunt them! ha ha. I think it is pretty apparent that ‘punk rock’ is having its renaissance period. It has passed through several generations and has resurfaced. The kids are totally young and full of energy again...as it was starting to fade a bit in the early 90’s. To me it kind of validates what all these bands have been doing for the last 30 years… it has stood the test of time and wasn’t just some passing phase that was chewed up and spat out after a few years! The DIY ethic combined with the ease of communication has created a powerful underground force to be reckoned with! Punk rock in London and around the world is ready to explode again...bring it on!! You’ve been renowned for your DIY ethics and still keep true to it today. You even do your own artwork! How do you guys fund your tours, CDs, merch, gear etc? Do you work day jobs? If so, what do each of you do? Keeping it DIY is very hard… especially in the early years. It just ends up being like a labour of love. We initially hooked up with Blind Destruction records out of Bristol and got the usual percentage of EPs pressed and then in addition started doing T-shirts to sell at gigs. In 1997 we flew ourselves over to America and did a shoestring tour in the back of a pick up, which was totally chaotic but legendary at the same time. The merchandise sales are really what keeps you afloat on tour. It is your lifeline - if you have a really poor turnout at a gig, the T-shirt sales can cover the much needed petrol money etc! | page 34 | MARCH 2007 |

A lot of people are blind to the fact that it costs money to be in a band, and that it isn’t all about just ‘covering the petrol money’. Active Distribution helped us out a lot with pressing our CDs at very low cost giving us an opportunity to sell them very cheaply...this helped us to get our name about. So for the most part our existence has been self financed, outside of the band I do freelance illustration/animation, Robin is a bicycle messenger, and Darragh is a student. Lets talk about touring, you’ve been to Europe and the states, how were these shows compared to playing in London? Do you have a loyal underground following worldwide? Most people I know have heard about the Restarts and some of them live on the tip of Africa! The shows over in Europe are great, this is why you see so many bands worldwide going there to play! The gigs we play are mostly held in youth centres or squats (many being legalised now) but this gives total self-control of the event; the door, the bar, the sound system are all part of one collective (run by punks). The same kind of ethos can happen in London using pubs. There is so many pubs in the UK it is usually quite easy to find one that will let you do live gigs, we control the door and they get the bar takings. The gigs in the USA are a totally different ballpark, first you have the legal drinking age at 21 (fucking ridiculous!) so it is important to always play all ages shows. Sometimes the all ages shows are ten times better then the bar shows, as the kids go totally mental...they then come up and thank you for playing an all ages gig, otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to see you! I think we have built up a bit of an international following largely due to the internet and

the fact that people travel alot these days, flying has become so cheap that people will jump on a plane to go see a band in another country! Great for punk but crap for the environment! So you guys are playing a show now in March with Time Again from the US along with Hot Rocket Trio in South London. Have you heard Time Again before? Are you looking forward to the show? Which bands would you love to share a stage with? I have heard of Time Again through myspace and also Hot Rocket Trio, both sound great, so we are of course looking forward to the show! Every gig has the potential to be a fantastic night... plus we have never played Kingston so will be a new experience for us! And who would we like to share a stage with? Well first off we love to play with old friends and any good bands! We have yet to share a stage with The King Blues, The Briefs, Killing Joke (...sorry starting to dream there!) but of course always love to play with bands like Subhumans, Antidote, Inner Terrestrials, the Shocks and all the local London bands! Since the band has been together, there must have been some tough times. Care to tell us about the darkest hours of The Restarts? Was there ever a point where the band would die? Darkest hours hmmm, well yeah I guess like with most bands you always hit lows... and it really is like watching your life crumble before your eyes (when you think the band is over) When you have fall outs, it is like a double whammy, as not only is the band on the rocks but the relationship with that band member is in jeopardy. So over the years we have had

people leave the band but now are secured with me and Darragh (original members) and Robin as the permanent guitarist. We have made it through all the ups and downs unscathed... and all involved (past and present) are still best of friends. So sorry for the lack of dirty laundry here! I’m sure this question comes up very often but as you’re a living breathing punk band, what does the word ‘punk’ mean to you? To me personally it is a movement that encompasses alot more that just a musical trend. It incorporates lifestyle, politics, communication, networking and the ultimate expression of freedom! Music is power and punk is freedom. What is the best advice you can give to the kids who are just discovering punk? Cut that silly haircut off and get a proper job! Just kidding, um... Don’t pay attention to anyone who gives you shit for your taste in music... if you like it – that’s all you need to know. Punk is for everyone, so don’t feel you have to ‘look punk’ to fit in... just be yourself. If your local scene sucks - get involved and make it better! Put on a gig, do a ‘zine... DIY or DIE! Anybody you wish to thank and mention? Thanks to Distorted Magazine for the interview and to all the people that have helped us in the past and hopefully in the future. Hope to play your town soon. Be sure to see The Restarts with Time Again and Hot Rocket Trio on the 6th of March at the Fighting Cocks in Kingston. www.restarts.co.uk www.myspace.com/restarts | MARCH 2007 | page 35 |

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

ORDER TICKETS ONLINE TODAY

Lights, Camera,

Treason...

Words by Tim Drunk. Photos © Peter Marince

Antonio

Matt

STU

way is harder “ Our than the kissing

| page 38 | MARCH 2007 |

“

ass path but we keep our integrity.

Making a film is never easy, let alone trying to create one with a very small, almost non-existant budget. But that didn’t stand in the way of Antstuie Productions crew. They took on the project of Waldo’s Hawaiian Holiday, the sequel to the cult classic Repo Man. It wouldn’t be the lack of budget that would see their blood sweat and tears end up filed away, never to be screened. For every every action there is a reaction - A Texas Tale of Treason was their reaction. We caught up with Stu of Antsuie to discuss what happened... Distorted: Let’s get straight into this. Waldo’s Hawaiian Holiday- the Repo Man sequel. You guys really got screwed on this project and the film A Texas Tale of Treason being a way of voicing your frustration and anger. Stu: Oh fuck... Yeah I think we got screwed. A few people think I probably helped our screwing along, which there may be some truth to. From the time I was 16 or so, I dug Cox’s flick, Repo Man. It was just about the only scripted flick that I saw with any kind of “real” punk attitude. Mostly, from Estevez character Otto. The soundtrack kicked ass too. One night in ‘04, while hammering down several brews and browsing the net, I found out Cox had written a sequel to it, which he failed to produce 8 years earlier. I don’t know why he failed. Who cares? He was giving the script away on his site so, I popped him an email and asked him if we could try and make it. He said “Sure!” We finished up the flick we were making at the time and started on his script, Waldo’s Hawaiian Holiday. Cox and I didn’t get along and subsequently he screwed us there at the end. Actually, he screwed Matthew Walker last, telling us he may continue to work with us if we sent him a rough edit of the hour of finished movie we had. Matt spent two months editing Cox’s rough-cut and, in the end, Cox said see ya amigos.

He just dropped the project? Yep. I think he may have thought we were going to hire his buddies (some of the original cast from Repo Man). There was no way we could have afforded that expense and it would have been cheesy to have 1/2 of the Repo cast w/no Estevez so, it made sense to me to film it as a movie with no ties to Repo. It might have just been personal since we didn’t care for | MARCH 2007 | page 39 |

“

clad guys in 40.6c heat in front of a building on a Sunday afternoon when I knew they were closed because, when I nicely asked if we could film there, they turned us down. We filmed there anyway.

“

I have a middle finger for anyone who whines about production values. Production values didn’t seem to hurt Black Flag much if you put it in that perspective right?

each other. His little way of showing me love, but in the end he never gave us a reason. We just assume it was personal. We reciprocate the love with Texas Tale. Working with pretty much zero budget, you had to do some fairly risky and life changing things. For one you converted your house into a set for the film. What else did you do? My wife and I went without food or ate really cheap shitty food and spent what we had to film. It’s funny that in Texas Tale I think Antonio said we didn’t think about bringing food for the cast. The truth is we didn’t have any food or any money to buy food. It was hard with some of the cast who were used to being provided with the basics. In the beginning, they gave us more shit about it than after they saw what we had to work with. I remember one day all three of us (Matt, Antonio & myself) had to search coins to get gas to get to where we were filming. Another thing is we had to “Commando” shoot. We obviously couldn’t afford permits to shoot, asking permission was risky and time consuming if we got turned down so, we generally waited until a place was closed at night or on a Sunday and just invaded a place. We filmed a scene with three suit | page 40 | MARCH 2007 |

The film can never be released, legally anyway, any plans to get it out there aside from the documentary about your struggle? Technically not by Antstuie Productions (our “poor mans” production company). We can’t make anything off of it and, honestly, wouldn’t want to. Cox is that last person I care to have financially benefit from our blood & sweat but, we were obligated to give out the Cox “rough cut” to everyone who helped us as everyone worked for no pay... so, it may get out there someday but, not by Antonio Brazil, Matt Walker or myself. How do you define ‘punk film’ making? It’s taking the same “do it yourself ” ethics that most punk bands have done throughout the ages and making a movie. No one will book you as a band? You find a place to play and play anyway. Most US punk shows 20 years ago were in abandoned warehouses. If no one will invest in our projects and make it easier, we don’t really care. We modify the budget to zero and do it anyway... however we can. We don’t hear the people who don’t like our production values or that we lack that “play by the rules” Hollywood ass kissing bullshit. Our way is harder than kissing ass path but we keep our integrity. When The Pistols took the stage here in Dallas in ‘78 to a house full of rowdy cowboys in a cowboy club, those ballsy fuckers played their show and took whatever the audience threw at them. Balls. I have a middle finger for anyone who whines about pro-

duction values. Production values didn’t seem to hurt Black Flag much if you put it in that perspective right? What have been some of the greatest ‘punk’ films ever made? I will always favour ‘Repo Man’ just because it was a great film of my youth. Another of my favourites is ‘Suburbia’ (1984) in which the acting/dialog and production value were all “ass bad” yet I love that movie. ‘Decline of Western Civilization’ was a great documentary. I also feel Mike Judge’s ‘Office Space’ was punk without a lick of actual punk in it as it bags on everything that’s not punk. It’s punk by default.

For more information: http://www.myspace.com/texastale http://www.antstuie.com Distorted along with Antsuie Productions have 5 limited edition “A Texas Tale of Treason” DVD’s to giveaway. Be sure to check out the competition on page 5 for more details.

lE EL

Finally, what does punk rock mean to you as an individual? In the beginning it was the look & music that defined my interpretation of “punk rock”. Now, the attitude is pri-

Film and punk have never really been used together, it (punk) is normally associated with music. You had assembled an impressive line up of bands to work as the soundtrack of the film. What are some of your favourite punk bands and which punk bands have inspired you to do punk filming? My favourite question! I really dig Angry Samoans, Rhythm Pigs, Ramones, Th’Inbred, Hardslug, Hickoids, The Damned, The Tombstones and Adam Ant (Dirk Wears White Sox). The list goes on... Basically all of them inspired me to film in our “fuck you style” as being a punk rocker never was easy. As Billy Bones from The Skulls says “Can punk rock pay the bills? I don’t think so... But you can have a good time trying.”

mary with music and a bit visual peacock. I am pushing 40 and can’t really get away with some of the visual shit I used to get away with so, that creative “punk” energy is channelled through these movies we make. Tough and raw... Balls...

| MARCH 2007 | page 41 |

REVIEWS

Don’t take our word for it, make up your own mind!

Virulence Only Crime (Fatwreck)

When I first heard that Good Riddance split I was bummed, but then Only Crime was born and they put out a great debut album which made me smile. Only Crime return with Virulence and deliver yet another great album. With the unmistakeable voice of Russ and the charging, sometimes off tempo guitars, Virulence is a great listen. It teases you with it’s hardcore edge but keeps you running in circles with it’s brutally honest straight up punk rock. This sound is probably as odd as the title of the album, a combination of things. None of it matters really, as this is a just a great album all round. | page 42 | MARCH 2007 |

SECRET RADIO RECORDINGS

LIVE FAST... DIE PSYCHO

(Secret)

(Hairball 8)

Anti-nowhere League Be honest, most of us aren’t fans of live albums, for one, I’m not. I really do prefer to hear live bands at a gig - live recordings always fail to capture the atmosphere, the smell of sweat in the air - but please that is just my take on it. If you’re a fan of the Anti-Nowhere League, you’ll probably have this in your collection already. If you’re on the fence about whether to pick this one up or not, dammit just fall over and get it, what’s the worst that can happen? Right, you may just turn your living room into one big pit, then again, there is nothing wrong with that!

Sick City Daggers Surprise of the month! Sick City Daggers reminds me of Slayer on vacation with The Cramps while The Misfits are fighting over food on the backseat. The song titles alone will probably entice many a psychobilly or horror punk fan to give this a listen, ‘Zombies’, ‘Dead for Dinner’ (this track opens with a classic b-grade horror movie clip) As for the actual songs, I can picture some rather large pits breaking out at a Sick City Daggers show coupled with many a great sing - or should that be shout - along. As they say, “Go out, go Psycho!”

> ALBUMS > EPs > BOOKS > GIGS

THIS SINKING SHIP Smoke or Fire (Fatwreck)

Follow up albums are always a tricky affair. For one a band has to ensure it is at least as good as their debut. Too many times fans expect something exactly the same. Fear not, Smoke or Fire have managed to not only surpass their debut, they have created a new album that is superb new school gutter’ish punk. It is quick, with loads of guitar hooks and vocal melodies to bring a smile to your face. A must for fans of Lawrence Arms, None More Black and similar bands. If you’re a Fatwreck fan, I’m pretty sure you were waiting in the queue for this one to hit the stores.

MY RIOT

Roger Miret & the Disasters

HAVE ANOTHER BREW The Loose Skrews

(People Like You)

(King Fing’r)

I really enjoyed Agnostic Front for all it’s intensity and power. It seems like Roger Miret has let go his anger and frustration and calmed down into more of rock ‘n roll punk rock New York style. I feel Roger’s voice works so well with this more rock n roll orientated style. You should take a listen to this because My Riot is a great collection of well crafted punk rock songs. Stand out tracks include the title song, My Riot and the homage paying Ramones and don’t forget the anthemic Ones Were Warriors. A must have for your collection.

Let me just crack this cider open. Right. Now before you listen to this album, do yourself a favour and go look up Blood for Blood. Once you’ve done that, get yourself a six pack, place Have Another Brew in the CD player, crank the volume, take a swig of your beer or cider, and now press play. As your drink slides down your throat the punk sounds of The Loose Skrews will be penetrating your brain. What will follow is 16 songs of rocking dirty drunk’n punk rock ‘n roll! Every bar and pub should have this CD. A brilliant release from The Loose Skrews. | MARCH 2007 | page 43 |

REVIEWS

Don’t take our word for it, make up your own mind!

LOVE SONGS FOR THE RETARDED

DIAMOND AMONG THE COAL

FROM THE HEART TO THE CROWD

(Asian Man)

(Rebellion)

(Punishable Style)

The Queers

If you’re a fan of the Descendants and other fast melodic bands, The Queers will sure as hell appeal to you. The songs are quick, catchy as fuck and general Love Songs for the Retarded is a great feel good album. Perhaps nobody is going to put this on as a drinking album (maybe if you’re partial to alki-pops) but it is CD worth playing while you’re just hanging at. I guess the danger of this type of punk is that each song begins to blur into the other. Why don’t you pick it up and take a listen for yourself, it may just be the right thing for you. | page 44 | MARCH 2007 |

Hateful

Band names kind of give you a preconception of what they will sound like. Why am I talking about this? Well, with a name like Raw Poo, one thinks (I do) that they probably going to be terrible. However, in the case of Raw Poo, I’ve been proved wrong - no, this is the review for Hateful and not Raw Poo. Remember Screeching Weasel? Hateful remind me a lot of them, not sure why but they do. It maybe his voice but again I’m not 100% sure. Hateful don’t sound anything like Raw Poo (both the band and literally). Diamond Among the Coal is a very fitting title for the album.

Punishable Act

Nothing like a retrospective album that gives you the best from a band that you should already own all the records for. So you don’t have everything Punishable Act have put out? Well then, take a listen to From the Heart to the Crowd. If New York hardcore is what makes you get up in the morning, Punishable Act will make sure you don’t sleep. At times they drift into more of a metal sound but their hardcore roots are very easy to spot. Want to smash something? Listen to this and let yourself go.

> ALBUMS > EPs > BOOKS > GIGS

EPs, DEMO’s and others... BACKSTREETS OF AMERICAN OI! & STREETPUNK - VOL. 2 10 YEARS LATER Various Artists (Street Anthem)

Street Anthem records have done a spectacular job of compiling this delightful double collection of punk rock with over 53 songs from 53 bands, this album is the perfect springboard to a world of different bands waiting to be discovered.

DEAD MOVES NOT THE PUZZLE PLMB

(Siamese Dogs)

Like a three children in dire need of retalin, PLMB tears through 5 songs that reek of creativity without sounding like they’re trying to hard. If they can work this into a full length, we can only expect more exciting things from PLMB.

BROKEN GUITARS & TRASHY BARS

The Crackdown vs Hiroshima Mon Amour (Longshot)

I have never been a fan of spit albums, I do prefer my bands to be on their own CD’s but The Crackdown and Hiroshima Mon Amour certainly don’t care about what I like. This split release is literally like old meets new. The Crackdown bring a 50’s orientated style while Hiroshima Mon Amour follow the new school rules. I would consider picking up full lengths from each band, thats for sure.

TOMMY SCHITT & THE PUNISHMENT FUCKERS String ‘em up (N/A)

With a name like theirs, what would you expect other than some good old lude punk. I hear they’re great live and just for that reason, they should hurry

up and record a full length. Oh yeah, don’t miss their take on the classic, Walk like an Egyptian. All round a good fun listen.

S/T

Hotwired (N/A)

I really got to realise that a badly printed demo cover doesn’t mean the band on the CD is going to suck balls. Hotwired are awesome! Really nothing much more to say than that. You’ll probably only be able to get this release from them, so track ‘em down and if you have to, steal a copy for yourself. They are on the line up for the Concrete Jungle festival which a really good thing if this CD is anything to go by. Hotwired will surely turn some heads, made me sit up and listen, and listen over and over again.

| MARCH 2007 | page 45 |

RE V I E W S Don’t take our word for it, make up your own mind!

CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE MONTH

NEVER MIND THE Bullocks The Sex Pistols

Loads and loads of modern bands would be major shakers if only they would have had some lucky timing on their side. Add to this I feel there are quite a few bands who got this

luck and achieved a piece of the glory pie through no other reason. The Sex Pistols, on the evidence of this album’ would have survived in any era. This is a real classic moment from musical history when punk was a real force to be reckoned with. From first to last the power chords and snarling lyrics assault the listener with untamed aggression and disruption. Individualistic, challenging and unrestricted this album oozes quality. The anthemic ‘God Save The Queen’, the opening guitar sequence of ‘Pretty Vacant’, the punk outpourings of ‘Anarchy In The

UK’, the opening march of ‘Holidays In The Sun’, and the foul mouthed attack during ‘Bodies’ are all tattooed into the punk psyche – never to be removed. It is hard to disagree as each and every track has its own unique charm and appeal that captures the attention. True the Pistols may have become a parody and the bands split was, I feel, well timed but for this one genuine album that they produced everyone involved in music must be eternally grateful.. - Fungal Punk / OMD

No More Heroes By Alex Ogg

If you have ever wondered about the original UK punk scene and just how many bands there really were during the short time period, then wonder no more. Alex Ogg provides a veritable dictionary of over 200 punk bands that were around during the era, from the ones we all know right down to bands that may have only existed for a few gigs. Although not encompassing every single band that was around, it is nonetheless a satisfying read and will open your eyes to a lot of bands that were previously unheard of by the masses. - Lola

| page 46 | MARCH 2007 |

RE V I E W S Don’t take our word for it, make up your own mind!

Send us your gig reviews! info@distortedmagazine.com

THE CASUALTIES / BURNSUBVERTDESTROY / Underworld, Camden, London (9 February 2007)

Arriving at the Underworld-conjoined underbelly twin of the Worlds End Pub in the infamous Camden Town, with no more knowledge about a band than one album worth’s listen, and a history of badges, pins and Mohawks laid out before me in the finest arrangement of the punk rock fraternity-is pretty daunting. What’s a man to do, but go inside and start drinking. The crowd is the perfect blend of this genres fashion history , which covers the broad spectrum of the worlds most ironic music scene, blackness and skinny pants with a full rainbow assortment and sized Mohican crowd, eager to drink and be pleased- fills the rooms quickly, and as

| page 48 | MARCH 2007 |

drink flows, so does the anticipation, At the bar, 3 minutes and a song and a half too late to catch the start, The casualties already have the frenzied crowd, circling the temple of stone that sits sadly and stubbornly in the middle of the mosh circle at of the Underworld, and the sound travelling at a 1000 km/h hits you in waves of beautiful sound. The band is tighter than a nun, but the attitude and performance is perfect, with aggression, powerful sound and clichés flying through my head- ‘punk as fuck’ has never seemed more appropriate. I’m half sitting in awe and half wanting to join the diving, circling, grabbing, screaming, and falling punks. This isn’t a band it’s the symbol of what punk should be, fast, gritty, message ridden and united. Covers of blitzkrieg pop, etc only further unite the masses, and break my resilience to sit and watch, but join the circle of bodies. The Casualties have stepped up to the plate, unfazed by the punks waiting to join them randomly on stage, for a scream in the mic, and a launching into the crowd, they –for medo take it back to the basics but so fucking well and fast and attitude ridden its inspiring, and their longevity and popularity are the testament to that. …..if you don’t feel this atmosphere and this band, your as dead as punk.. Stevo

RE V I E W S Don’t take our word for it, make up your own mind!

Send us your gig reviews! info@distortedmagazine.com The BOUNCING SOULS/ THE DRAFT / TAT MeanFiddler, London

(10 February 2007)

I’m sure you’ve seen that long line that wraps it’s self around the Meanfiddler on gig nights, if you haven’t, I’m sure your day will come. Tonight’s bill is a great line up with local Lon-

> ALBUMS > EPs > BOOKS > GIGS don band, Tat opening up the evening with their rather infectious power pop punk sound. Granted many of their friends and family were present to welcome them back to London but which ever way you look at it, they sure as hell got the crowd warmed up. Tonight I’m sobers ears all round, which isn’t always a good thing but watching the frontman of the Draft, I really missed stocking up on my drinks. The Draft were excellent, from the off beats to the drunken babble between songs, they in my opinion were the band of the evening. Finishing it up for the evening were punk stalwarts The Bouncing Souls. Their set

consisted of mostly songs from their latest album, The Gold Record, but didn’t disappoint the London crowd as they threw some classics into the mix. I really think it was the lack of alcohol in my system that made me feel indifferent about the bands on this evening because everywhere I looked, there were punters singing along, hurling themselves into the pit and having an awesome time. I’m sure if you were at the gig you had a great night out, so don’t take my account of this evening too seriously. Somebody by me a drink. - Tim Drunk.

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DEFINITIVE HARDCORE

Black Flag is one of the most influential bands of all time. We tell you why. Words by Lola.

From 1981 to 1986 one band dominated the punk scene in the USA, leaving a trail of brutal honest punk rock in its wake. With the combination of traditional punk chords infused with heavier bass lines and ferocious political and social lyrics, Black Flag carved a niche for themselves in the annals of punk history without ever seemingly trying to. Their influence on the punk scene was not only through music but also through the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strict DIY work ethic, convincing bands and fans alike that no major label support was needed to ensure record sales or sold out shows. | page 52 | MARCH 2007 |

riginally formed in 1976 by guitarist Greg Ginn and going by the name Panic, the bands incredible work ethic was shown early on by Ginn’s insistance that the band rehearse for seven hours a day. Recruiting Keith Morris on vocals, Chuck Dukowski on bass and Bryan Migdol on drums, the bands first performance took place in December 1977. 1978 saw the release of the band’s first studio EP ‘Nervous Breakdown under the new name Black Flag with the EP being put out on Ginn and Dukowski’s DIY label SST. Morris’ frenzied stage performance helped the band to form a reputation in the Los Angeles scene but by mid 1979 the first of the bands many line up changes would take place with Keith Morris leaving the band citing creative differences with Ginn combined with Morris’ own drug demons (Morris would go on to form the Circle Jerks) and Brian Migdol being replaced by Roberto Valverde aka ROBO. Chavo Pederast (real name Ron Reyes) was recruited as the new vocalist but he would only last a few months, famously quitting the band mid-performance. Fan Dez Cadena joined the band and proved to the most reliable vocalist yet and the more settled line up began touring in earnest and expanding on their fan base. By this time Black Flag’s reputation as a troublesome band had been compounded by their frenetic shows which often resulted in violent outbursts by the fans and the continual spray painting of their iconic logo ( four black bars forming a flag which was designed by Ginn’s brother Raymond Pettinbon who also designed all the album artwork) all over

LA. The police had become a common presence in the vicinity of venues which allowed them to play, often hindering the performances themselves. By the summer of 1981, Black Flag were in need of another new vocalist due to Cadena severely straining his voice due to his having no previous experience as a singer. Cadena decided that he would prefer to play guitar than sing. During a performance the band invited 20 year old fan, Henry Rollins, to guest vocal for ‘Clocked In’ and were so impressed by the intensity of his performance that they invited him to be there permanent vocalist. After initial doubts, Rollins joined the band and became their longest lasting singer. Rollins brought a different attitude and perspective to the band and as a result their initial brutal sound became increasingly more intense and ferocious. Often performing only in a pair of shorts, the heavily tattooed front man would often get so caught up in the ferocity of the shows that he would engage in fistfights with members of the audience, a feat that he soon became well known for. With Rollins finally cementing the line up, the band embarked on a tour of Europe, impressing many a concert-goer and delivering the new ‘hardcore’ sound to the UK. However, another line up change would take place after ROBO was detained in the UK due to visa problems and was replaced by Bill Stevenson. ROBO would never again play for Black Flag. 1981 also saw the band sign to Unicorn Records and record their first full | MARCH 2007 | page 53 |

DEFINITIVE HARDCORE: BLACK FLAG this time both Cardena and Dukowski left the band, although Dukowski would remain involved as the tour manager. Kira Roessler joined the band and became arguably Black Flag’s greatest bass player since the bands inception.

length album. However, the label refuse to release the album claiming it was too violent and vulgar. Undeterred, Ginn released it on his own label where it received critical acclaim. Soon after it appeared on the shelves, Unicorn sued Black Flag over breach of copyright and for the next two years Black Flag was prevented from recording and releasing any material under their band name, and from using the band logo. The band responded by continuing to sell the album with the band name and logo blacked out on all copies. During the two year period the band continued to tour and released a second album ‘Everything Went Black’ which was credited to the musicians and not the band. During | page 54 | MARCH 2007 |

When Unicorn records were declared bankrupt, the band, free from the previous injunctions, proceeded to record with a vengeance, releasing four albums during 1984, whilst touring almost non-stop. With the new albums, Black Flag found themselves increasingly experimenting with their sound much to the disdain of their fans. Live shows began to no longer feature old favourites such as ‘Nervous Breakdown’ and rather concentrated on the new, slower sounds. The relentless recording and touring pace didn’t waiver during 1995 with the band releasing three albums. However fans were increasingly becoming alienated by the continuing dissimilarity of the bands albums, wondering where the original hardcore angst had gone. By the end of the year, both Roesler and Stevenson would leave the band and the demise of Black Flag had begun. The infighting over creative direction and the relentless touring schedule had finally begun to take its toll. Black Flag’s final perfomance took place on 27th June 1986 and the band officially broke up less than two months later after Ginn decided that he no longer wanted to be a member. During the ten years of their existence, the band released six studio, two live and

three compilation albums alongside seven studio and one live EP. Post Black Flag, most members continued to be active in the music industry with Henry Rollins being the most prolific with his Rollins Band. Black Flag briefly reunited in 2003 for three show but featured Dez Cardena on vocals and not Rollins. With their predated infusion of punk and metal Black Flag created a sound that was previously unheard. Combined with their intense lyrics and stage shows, their existence can be cited as influencing nearly every modern day band in both the punk and nu-metal genre’s, with even the grunge movement of the early nineties claiming to have been heavily influenced by the album ‘My War’. In addition to musically influencing future generations, the bands strict DIY policy and the release of their albums on an independent label sparked the huge wave of independently produced and released albums in the late eighties that is a trend carried through into today.

BLACK FLAG DISCOGRAPHY Studio albums • Damaged (December 1981) • My War (March 1984) • Family Man (September 1984) • Slip It In (December 1984) • Loose Nut (May 1985) • In My Head (October 1985) Live albums • Live ‘84 (December 1984) • Who’s Got the 10½? (March 1986) Compilation albums • Everything Went Black (1982) • The First Four Years (1983) • Wasted...Again (1987) Singles • Louie Louie (1981) Studio EP’s • Nervous Breakdown (October 1978) • Jealous Again (August 1980) • Six Pack (June 1981) • TV Party (July 1982) • The Process of Weeding Out (September 1985) • Minuteflag (1986) • I Can See You (1989) Live EPs • Annihilate This Week (1987)

| MARCH 2007 | page 55 |

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