Петък, Февруари 08, 2008
Сряда, Декември 12, 2007
Interview with Funeral Diner
Hello. Let's start with a brief biography of Funeral Diner.Funeral Diner started in 1998 after the break up of Nexus 6 as well as a few other short-lived projects. Matthew, Dan, and Dave were all in Nexus 6 together as well as the other projects, but didn't really get something solid going until Funeral Diner started. There were a few bass players that came and went during the 9 years of the band, ending off with Ben Steidel; the others being Sean O'Shea, Rob Beckstrom, and Andy Radin. Dan Originally sang in the beginning but decided against it in order to concentrate more on just playing guitar. Phil Benson sang at first, but parted ways early on. Seth Babb replaced him later on and remained until the end.
Funeral Diner has become one of the most important screamo bands in the worldwide community. Why did you brake up and what is the most important thing you have achieved during near a decade of existence?
This is really my own personal opinion on the matter, so in order to get a more complete explanation you would have to talk to the other guys in the band. I think they would agree firstly in that it seems that the band had run its course. Living in San Francisco is not cheap, so money was an issue when it came to tour. Ben had started a new project that was taking some time as well. There were also time constraints with jobs and getting time off versus wanting to quit the job and have nothing to come back to after going on tour. No one is going to want to give you your job back if you leave for 4 or more months to go on tour. It takes a lot of dedication to do something like that, and people get older factors like that come more into play than they used to.
During the last few years you have been extensively touring United States, Europe and even Japan. What is the difference between shows in the States comparing to Europe and Japan? Also do you play in autonomous spaces like squats etc? What's the role of these places for the hardcore community?
Touring the United States is like taking a drive through your own neighborhood; it's very comfortable. Of course you do not know what to expect with every show, but you take comfort in know that when you get up in the morning you are the one in charge of where you are going, you know where the grocery stores are, and you are comfortable in the feeling that you are in your own element of sorts.
When touring around in Europe you have less of the feeling of security or being at home. The trade off is that you do not have to worry as much about how to get to the show or driving the van. You also get the benefits of getting fed dinner and breakfast at almost every show. You are also given a place to sleep after every show. In the U.S. there is not really any guarantee that you will even get a place to sleep after a show. Europe is more like a package vacation tour that elderly people go on, except you play a show every night and there are no old people. Our friends have always driven the tour van around in Europe, which makes things way better. They usually want to get to the next city early as much as we do, since then we can all go out and sight see together before having to be at the show.
Japan is intense. There is no better word to describe it. There is a lot of long drives in small vans with little space. There is a large language barrier, which makes things a lot more complex. People find it hard to tell you what is going on so they just tell you to wait. It is the kind of touring where you put all your trust into someone else's hands and believe in them to make it all come together. The big benefit there is that people are so enthusiastic about watching you play. People still stage dive, people still sing along, and people still cry when they watch you play. It is really wonderful, not to mention the heavy use of animated characters or cartoons in everything that you see.
In general we have played anywhere and everywhere; Squats, houses, clubs, sheds, bars, living rooms, basements, and back yards. Autonomous places work the best because they the people putting on the show will not lose money, which will better insure that they can put on more shows in the future. The drawback is that they seem to be more heavily targeted by local law, and tend to get shut down.
What are your feelings about the DIY scene and growing older? What is it like for you integrating hardcore/punk into your life and staying true to the DIY ethics?
The DIY scene is really what you make it. DIY in Europe is different than the United States as well as Japan. People will trash talk a band in a heartbeat if they think someone has sold out. But, who draws the line as to where the sell out point is? As I have grown older and seen bands come and along, Funeral Diner now being one of them, I can say that DIY can be as well planned or as sloppy as the people in the scene want it to be. The truth of the matter is that it is there for the people to enjoy the music rather than for one person to make money. As you get older, you come to realize that there are ways to get larger as a band, but you have to go through the right channels to get to that end. The DIY scene may or may not be one of the. It's like paying dues. If you put in enough work helping people out in your scene and doing what you can, then if you end up getting big, then there should be no complaints as long as you are not ripping people off. If you try to go to shows and charge horrendous prices for a shirt that costs little to make, then you should be ashamed of what you are doing. in the end you just have to think about the decision you make and how they will have an effect on other people or what will happen in the future.
One of the greatest things about the DIY scene is that many of the bands releasing their records on 7" with handmade artwork and packaging, which brings very personal touch when you get the final product. And you guys have a lot of great 7" splits with awesome bands. But most of these releases are in limited quantities. So what do you think of the expensive ebay prices for your records? Do you like to know your music is freely shared hand to hand, and by Internet worldwide rather than hundreds of bucks on ebay?
I get mixed emotions when I look on ebay. Ones of pride and remorse come to mind. I get excited to know that people want our music so much that they are willing to pay a lot more for something. It makes it seem a lot more special in some way. On the other hand I get bummed out that people do actually pay an arm and a leg to get a record that has been out of print for years. We have songs that we have for free on the website which are remixes, and we had planned on putting some other songs up for people to have, but have not had the time to get to it. It someone wants the music and cannot afford to pay for some record on ebay for $30, then they should get it from a friend burnt on a CDR. it is more about listening to the music and getting the message and feelings that come along with it rather than having some piece of plastic or vinyl wrapped in paper.
Which bands/people do you guys consider influences? In both your music and the way you think about things. Members of Funeral Diner have been involved in bands such as Nexus Six, Portraits of Past and Takaru did they influenced the music and style of Funeral Diner?
Each of us in the band has different bands that we have drawn from or have influenced us in the way we have gone about things, so I can't really go into it deeply. I can say that the bands that we are friends with play a big part in what we have done in the past. We always like to tour with bands that we are tight with. Past bands like Takaru, Nexus 6, and Portraits of Past have had an effect on how we think about things; mostly on how we would like to do something different or how we would like to take a different approach to a similar situation. As far as me personally, I always watch other drummers to see what I can pick up. Kaospilot, Gospel, Hoover, Haram, Zann, Universal Order of Armageddon, Drive Like Jehu, Her Little Sisters Motherless, and Maximillian Colby are a few bands in the hardcore scene that have shaped my drumming though that is not all. Bands like Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Bauhaus, The Chameleons UK, as well as some of the jazz greats has also added into how I play.
Actually, in our country...DIY screamo hardcore is not well known. The majority of kids here do know screamo through mainstream bands with no messages and just about fashion. What's your opinion about this? What do you think about this $creamo term reclaimed by the mass media...?
- I never really knew it to be called Screamo until after the media claimed it, so for all I know, it might be a major media term to begin with. It all used to be called Hardcore when we started the band. I don't really use the term all that often. I've told people what we have been classified as and they have no idea what that is. I just end up telling people that I play in some sort of band that is between punk rock and indie rock. I can't use the term Hardcore any more because people then think I am either talking about talking about electronic music, like Hardcore Trance or Gabber, or I am talking about some sort of Metal band. All the genre labels have been moved around in last 10 years or more so things do not mean what they used to. Emo now means Dashboard Confessional when it used to mean Anasarca. Hardcore means Hatebreed when it used to be Minor Threat. I guess the mass media can have the term Scream at this point. It doesn't really mean that much to me anyhow. I will just keep telling people I play something in the rock category.
Your lyrics seem to be very dark and bleak, you say your lyrics address the contradictions and personal conflicts that arise from living within a society in decline.? But is there a specific (political or whatever) message you want to transmit through these lyrics?
The lyrics are mostly about messed up situations that arise between people. The Underdark LP was the main one that addressed the whole "society in decline" issue. There is no real set message in the lyrics or blatant statement in the lyrics because we want each person that listens to the music or reads the insert to take away their own meaning. Of course, the lyrics that were written stem from a certain situation and hold something personal to whoever wrote them, but we try to keep them vague so that others that listen can make their own conclusions.
What about the alienation between people nowadays? We meet people everyday in the streets, in the bus etc. But it's like we don't belong to the same species. And people seem to get used to not caring about the others.
My friend Jane told me a story about this just the other day. She was out running on a holiday this last week and was running across the street before the traffic light changed. She was sprinting really fast in order to make it in time, but when she got to the other side she fell and skinned both her knees on the ground, bruised her hip, and scraped her arm. She was laying face up on the pavement bleeding and not one, but 2 separate people stepped over her like she was a piece of trash covering the sidewalk. They didn't walk around her, the stepped right over her. It was so absurd that I laughed.
I would like to think that caring about strangers is not something that is totally dead, but with the way that society is going it is hard not to blame people. Just look at the amount of people who get mugged, molested, murdered, or raped by someone that claims to be in trouble only to turn the tables and make the savior the victim. I have had this happen to me. It was hard to open my feelings back up to a person's plight that I didn't know. How many times will a person begging for money really need food rather than drugs? How many times will you give panhandler money that is "homeless and hungry" when you are thinking in the back of your mind that they are really headed straight to the liquor store for a bottle. You really have to choose where and when you help people.
I still go out of my way to help people that I can. I will ask elderly ladies if they need help with groceries, I will open doors for people, I will help someone that I know is in need and I will try to take care of those that are in trouble. I would hope that when others see my actions they would get motivated to do the same. It is something that I like to believe is contagious or inspiring for others. It is easier to become complacent or apathetic, but when you help someone there is satisfaction. You don't really get satisfaction from stepping over a bleeding person in the street.
Bored and tired, trapped in the consumerist state of mind we are imprisoned in a scheme we can't escape. But is there an existential hope that keeps us fighting? Do you still believe that we can make a difference? Whether it would be through music or any other way.
I think we can make a difference. You can't walk around thinking that you are going to change the world, but you can change little things about yourself that will help. It is all a matter of training yourself to think differently. I rarely watch television or movies. I know my time and money can go towards something else. I would rather spend money on food, on dancing, or on part of a plane ticket to somewhere awesome. You just have to think, "do I want this hoodie that looks cool, of which I don't really need, or do I want to get to Japan and travel around?" I would rather go to Japan. As far as making a difference in the world around us, all we have to do is take a little time everyday and do what we can. Volunteering at different non-profit organizations is a good way to help others, but if you don't have time for that, then find something you do have time for. Or the next time you see someone in trouble and need of help, rise above your fear and try your best to help them. If everyone did, then things would not be so bad. I am not saying I am perfect. I have my moments of selfishness or apathy, but keeping it in mind to help others is a good first step to action.
Do you think that the problem is in the society/social system itself or within us, because the problem could not be just in the "system", but also within us inside our way of thinking?
I think it is a little bit of both. Television and Movies portray violence a lot. The newscasts talk more about maladies rather than the good parts of society. The woes of the human condition are what get ratings for television networks. This in term leads to a condition called "The Mean World Syndrome", in which people become afraid of the world they live in. They are fearful to go out or to help others for the fact that they may fall victim to the calamities that they've seen on television.
Mixed with that is the fact that humans are self-serving by nature. It probably stems from Herbert Spencer's term, "survival of the fittest". Why help someone else get better when it is going to interfere with your struggle for dominance or survival. I know that sounds really archaic, but it is just a possible explanation. The fact is that people tend to be selfish, and it takes a lot of effort sometimes to help others. Either way, once you realize what it is that is going on, then you can personally take steps to do something about it.
How do you see the society after 50 years? Will we be able to save the planet and ourselves or we will self-destruct?
That's a good one. I have a lot of friends that tell me not even to bother saving for retirement because global warming is going to kill us off before I have a chance to enjoy it. There are some countries that are taking measures to help turn things around, but there are also companies that are trying to make money regardless of what happens 50 years down the road. I can't really say. I do have a hunch that we are going to have to hit rock bottom at some point before we learn our lesson, at which point it might be to late to turn it around.
Are you vegetarians/vegans? How do you deal about the animal rights issue? Is it something important for you?
Funeral Diner has 2 vegans, 2 vegetarians, and one omnivore. Animal Rights is important to each of us in a different way, but we respect that fact that other people do not want to hear you preach to them about it. We tend to help make a difference in each of our ways. In the band we each respect the other's food choices without lecture. Outside of the band we each do what we can. Most of the time it is in the choices to go to a certain place to eat or buy a certain product. Even if that place or product has a vegan piece of clothing or food item you can always put your money towards something a bit more beneficial to the cause. In some cities it is easier to do this than others, but you have to take the good with the bad.
What's your opinion about the importance of love in human life?
Everyone needs to be loved. Without that, life can seem pretty pointless. Why stack up accomplishments when there is no one to share them with? The real hard part about love is the whole game of finding and losing it. It's a tough journey going through life finding and losing love, but you have to keep in mind that it will always be there even if it changes from person to person.
What are your future plans after the brake up with Funeral Diner? Are you guys playing right now with some other bands or any upcoming projects?
Everyone is already doing something new in terms of music. Dave and I started a new band with a long name. Let's say the name is ...Who Calls So Loud for sake of having to write it all out. Seth is in a band called Sterling Says. Ben is in a psychedelic dance band called Lemonade. Dan is currently working on some solo stuff, though I will help him with drums when the time comes. We are brothers after all. I am not sure about the future plans of the other guys but I know Dave and I plan on touring for 6 and a half months this coming April if we get it all planned out properly. It would be another long world tour type thing where we try to go to some new countries and see new things. We have done US, Europe, and Japan, but this time around we wan to try and hit some Southern Asian Countries, Australia and maybe some places in South America.
Some words to end this interview.
This interview is mainly my own personal opinion, so keep that in mind after having read it. I know the band would like to say thank you to everyone and anyone that has ever taken part in helping us out with shows, records, food, merchandise, or anything along the way. From the people that we work with to get stuff put out all the way down to anyone that has given us words of encouragement at shows or through email. I would like to say thank you for wanting to interview us even though our band has fallen by the wayside. Beyond that, just do what you can to make little changes everyday to make yourself and the world around you a better place.
http://myspace.com/funeraldiner
http://funeraldiner.com
2007
STRAIGHT FROM THE INSIDE
Funeral Diner has become one of the most important screamo bands in the worldwide community. Why did you brake up and what is the most important thing you have achieved during near a decade of existence?
This is really my own personal opinion on the matter, so in order to get a more complete explanation you would have to talk to the other guys in the band. I think they would agree firstly in that it seems that the band had run its course. Living in San Francisco is not cheap, so money was an issue when it came to tour. Ben had started a new project that was taking some time as well. There were also time constraints with jobs and getting time off versus wanting to quit the job and have nothing to come back to after going on tour. No one is going to want to give you your job back if you leave for 4 or more months to go on tour. It takes a lot of dedication to do something like that, and people get older factors like that come more into play than they used to.
During the last few years you have been extensively touring United States, Europe and even Japan. What is the difference between shows in the States comparing to Europe and Japan? Also do you play in autonomous spaces like squats etc? What's the role of these places for the hardcore community?Touring the United States is like taking a drive through your own neighborhood; it's very comfortable. Of course you do not know what to expect with every show, but you take comfort in know that when you get up in the morning you are the one in charge of where you are going, you know where the grocery stores are, and you are comfortable in the feeling that you are in your own element of sorts.
When touring around in Europe you have less of the feeling of security or being at home. The trade off is that you do not have to worry as much about how to get to the show or driving the van. You also get the benefits of getting fed dinner and breakfast at almost every show. You are also given a place to sleep after every show. In the U.S. there is not really any guarantee that you will even get a place to sleep after a show. Europe is more like a package vacation tour that elderly people go on, except you play a show every night and there are no old people. Our friends have always driven the tour van around in Europe, which makes things way better. They usually want to get to the next city early as much as we do, since then we can all go out and sight see together before having to be at the show.
Japan is intense. There is no better word to describe it. There is a lot of long drives in small vans with little space. There is a large language barrier, which makes things a lot more complex. People find it hard to tell you what is going on so they just tell you to wait. It is the kind of touring where you put all your trust into someone else's hands and believe in them to make it all come together. The big benefit there is that people are so enthusiastic about watching you play. People still stage dive, people still sing along, and people still cry when they watch you play. It is really wonderful, not to mention the heavy use of animated characters or cartoons in everything that you see.
In general we have played anywhere and everywhere; Squats, houses, clubs, sheds, bars, living rooms, basements, and back yards. Autonomous places work the best because they the people putting on the show will not lose money, which will better insure that they can put on more shows in the future. The drawback is that they seem to be more heavily targeted by local law, and tend to get shut down.
What are your feelings about the DIY scene and growing older? What is it like for you integrating hardcore/punk into your life and staying true to the DIY ethics?The DIY scene is really what you make it. DIY in Europe is different than the United States as well as Japan. People will trash talk a band in a heartbeat if they think someone has sold out. But, who draws the line as to where the sell out point is? As I have grown older and seen bands come and along, Funeral Diner now being one of them, I can say that DIY can be as well planned or as sloppy as the people in the scene want it to be. The truth of the matter is that it is there for the people to enjoy the music rather than for one person to make money. As you get older, you come to realize that there are ways to get larger as a band, but you have to go through the right channels to get to that end. The DIY scene may or may not be one of the. It's like paying dues. If you put in enough work helping people out in your scene and doing what you can, then if you end up getting big, then there should be no complaints as long as you are not ripping people off. If you try to go to shows and charge horrendous prices for a shirt that costs little to make, then you should be ashamed of what you are doing. in the end you just have to think about the decision you make and how they will have an effect on other people or what will happen in the future.
One of the greatest things about the DIY scene is that many of the bands releasing their records on 7" with handmade artwork and packaging, which brings very personal touch when you get the final product. And you guys have a lot of great 7" splits with awesome bands. But most of these releases are in limited quantities. So what do you think of the expensive ebay prices for your records? Do you like to know your music is freely shared hand to hand, and by Internet worldwide rather than hundreds of bucks on ebay?
I get mixed emotions when I look on ebay. Ones of pride and remorse come to mind. I get excited to know that people want our music so much that they are willing to pay a lot more for something. It makes it seem a lot more special in some way. On the other hand I get bummed out that people do actually pay an arm and a leg to get a record that has been out of print for years. We have songs that we have for free on the website which are remixes, and we had planned on putting some other songs up for people to have, but have not had the time to get to it. It someone wants the music and cannot afford to pay for some record on ebay for $30, then they should get it from a friend burnt on a CDR. it is more about listening to the music and getting the message and feelings that come along with it rather than having some piece of plastic or vinyl wrapped in paper.
Which bands/people do you guys consider influences? In both your music and the way you think about things. Members of Funeral Diner have been involved in bands such as Nexus Six, Portraits of Past and Takaru did they influenced the music and style of Funeral Diner?Each of us in the band has different bands that we have drawn from or have influenced us in the way we have gone about things, so I can't really go into it deeply. I can say that the bands that we are friends with play a big part in what we have done in the past. We always like to tour with bands that we are tight with. Past bands like Takaru, Nexus 6, and Portraits of Past have had an effect on how we think about things; mostly on how we would like to do something different or how we would like to take a different approach to a similar situation. As far as me personally, I always watch other drummers to see what I can pick up. Kaospilot, Gospel, Hoover, Haram, Zann, Universal Order of Armageddon, Drive Like Jehu, Her Little Sisters Motherless, and Maximillian Colby are a few bands in the hardcore scene that have shaped my drumming though that is not all. Bands like Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Bauhaus, The Chameleons UK, as well as some of the jazz greats has also added into how I play.
Actually, in our country...DIY screamo hardcore is not well known. The majority of kids here do know screamo through mainstream bands with no messages and just about fashion. What's your opinion about this? What do you think about this $creamo term reclaimed by the mass media...?
- I never really knew it to be called Screamo until after the media claimed it, so for all I know, it might be a major media term to begin with. It all used to be called Hardcore when we started the band. I don't really use the term all that often. I've told people what we have been classified as and they have no idea what that is. I just end up telling people that I play in some sort of band that is between punk rock and indie rock. I can't use the term Hardcore any more because people then think I am either talking about talking about electronic music, like Hardcore Trance or Gabber, or I am talking about some sort of Metal band. All the genre labels have been moved around in last 10 years or more so things do not mean what they used to. Emo now means Dashboard Confessional when it used to mean Anasarca. Hardcore means Hatebreed when it used to be Minor Threat. I guess the mass media can have the term Scream at this point. It doesn't really mean that much to me anyhow. I will just keep telling people I play something in the rock category.
Your lyrics seem to be very dark and bleak, you say your lyrics address the contradictions and personal conflicts that arise from living within a society in decline.? But is there a specific (political or whatever) message you want to transmit through these lyrics?
The lyrics are mostly about messed up situations that arise between people. The Underdark LP was the main one that addressed the whole "society in decline" issue. There is no real set message in the lyrics or blatant statement in the lyrics because we want each person that listens to the music or reads the insert to take away their own meaning. Of course, the lyrics that were written stem from a certain situation and hold something personal to whoever wrote them, but we try to keep them vague so that others that listen can make their own conclusions.
What about the alienation between people nowadays? We meet people everyday in the streets, in the bus etc. But it's like we don't belong to the same species. And people seem to get used to not caring about the others.
My friend Jane told me a story about this just the other day. She was out running on a holiday this last week and was running across the street before the traffic light changed. She was sprinting really fast in order to make it in time, but when she got to the other side she fell and skinned both her knees on the ground, bruised her hip, and scraped her arm. She was laying face up on the pavement bleeding and not one, but 2 separate people stepped over her like she was a piece of trash covering the sidewalk. They didn't walk around her, the stepped right over her. It was so absurd that I laughed.
I would like to think that caring about strangers is not something that is totally dead, but with the way that society is going it is hard not to blame people. Just look at the amount of people who get mugged, molested, murdered, or raped by someone that claims to be in trouble only to turn the tables and make the savior the victim. I have had this happen to me. It was hard to open my feelings back up to a person's plight that I didn't know. How many times will a person begging for money really need food rather than drugs? How many times will you give panhandler money that is "homeless and hungry" when you are thinking in the back of your mind that they are really headed straight to the liquor store for a bottle. You really have to choose where and when you help people.
I still go out of my way to help people that I can. I will ask elderly ladies if they need help with groceries, I will open doors for people, I will help someone that I know is in need and I will try to take care of those that are in trouble. I would hope that when others see my actions they would get motivated to do the same. It is something that I like to believe is contagious or inspiring for others. It is easier to become complacent or apathetic, but when you help someone there is satisfaction. You don't really get satisfaction from stepping over a bleeding person in the street.
Bored and tired, trapped in the consumerist state of mind we are imprisoned in a scheme we can't escape. But is there an existential hope that keeps us fighting? Do you still believe that we can make a difference? Whether it would be through music or any other way.
I think we can make a difference. You can't walk around thinking that you are going to change the world, but you can change little things about yourself that will help. It is all a matter of training yourself to think differently. I rarely watch television or movies. I know my time and money can go towards something else. I would rather spend money on food, on dancing, or on part of a plane ticket to somewhere awesome. You just have to think, "do I want this hoodie that looks cool, of which I don't really need, or do I want to get to Japan and travel around?" I would rather go to Japan. As far as making a difference in the world around us, all we have to do is take a little time everyday and do what we can. Volunteering at different non-profit organizations is a good way to help others, but if you don't have time for that, then find something you do have time for. Or the next time you see someone in trouble and need of help, rise above your fear and try your best to help them. If everyone did, then things would not be so bad. I am not saying I am perfect. I have my moments of selfishness or apathy, but keeping it in mind to help others is a good first step to action.
Do you think that the problem is in the society/social system itself or within us, because the problem could not be just in the "system", but also within us inside our way of thinking?
I think it is a little bit of both. Television and Movies portray violence a lot. The newscasts talk more about maladies rather than the good parts of society. The woes of the human condition are what get ratings for television networks. This in term leads to a condition called "The Mean World Syndrome", in which people become afraid of the world they live in. They are fearful to go out or to help others for the fact that they may fall victim to the calamities that they've seen on television.
Mixed with that is the fact that humans are self-serving by nature. It probably stems from Herbert Spencer's term, "survival of the fittest". Why help someone else get better when it is going to interfere with your struggle for dominance or survival. I know that sounds really archaic, but it is just a possible explanation. The fact is that people tend to be selfish, and it takes a lot of effort sometimes to help others. Either way, once you realize what it is that is going on, then you can personally take steps to do something about it.
How do you see the society after 50 years? Will we be able to save the planet and ourselves or we will self-destruct?
That's a good one. I have a lot of friends that tell me not even to bother saving for retirement because global warming is going to kill us off before I have a chance to enjoy it. There are some countries that are taking measures to help turn things around, but there are also companies that are trying to make money regardless of what happens 50 years down the road. I can't really say. I do have a hunch that we are going to have to hit rock bottom at some point before we learn our lesson, at which point it might be to late to turn it around.
Are you vegetarians/vegans? How do you deal about the animal rights issue? Is it something important for you?
Funeral Diner has 2 vegans, 2 vegetarians, and one omnivore. Animal Rights is important to each of us in a different way, but we respect that fact that other people do not want to hear you preach to them about it. We tend to help make a difference in each of our ways. In the band we each respect the other's food choices without lecture. Outside of the band we each do what we can. Most of the time it is in the choices to go to a certain place to eat or buy a certain product. Even if that place or product has a vegan piece of clothing or food item you can always put your money towards something a bit more beneficial to the cause. In some cities it is easier to do this than others, but you have to take the good with the bad.
What's your opinion about the importance of love in human life?Everyone needs to be loved. Without that, life can seem pretty pointless. Why stack up accomplishments when there is no one to share them with? The real hard part about love is the whole game of finding and losing it. It's a tough journey going through life finding and losing love, but you have to keep in mind that it will always be there even if it changes from person to person.
What are your future plans after the brake up with Funeral Diner? Are you guys playing right now with some other bands or any upcoming projects?
Everyone is already doing something new in terms of music. Dave and I started a new band with a long name. Let's say the name is ...Who Calls So Loud for sake of having to write it all out. Seth is in a band called Sterling Says. Ben is in a psychedelic dance band called Lemonade. Dan is currently working on some solo stuff, though I will help him with drums when the time comes. We are brothers after all. I am not sure about the future plans of the other guys but I know Dave and I plan on touring for 6 and a half months this coming April if we get it all planned out properly. It would be another long world tour type thing where we try to go to some new countries and see new things. We have done US, Europe, and Japan, but this time around we wan to try and hit some Southern Asian Countries, Australia and maybe some places in South America.
Some words to end this interview.
This interview is mainly my own personal opinion, so keep that in mind after having read it. I know the band would like to say thank you to everyone and anyone that has ever taken part in helping us out with shows, records, food, merchandise, or anything along the way. From the people that we work with to get stuff put out all the way down to anyone that has given us words of encouragement at shows or through email. I would like to say thank you for wanting to interview us even though our band has fallen by the wayside. Beyond that, just do what you can to make little changes everyday to make yourself and the world around you a better place.
http://myspace.com/funeraldiner
http://funeraldiner.com
2007
STRAIGHT FROM THE INSIDE
Interview with Bulgarian band SPOT
Hello. Let’s start with a few common questions. Who are you? Where are you from? When did you form the band?We’re the band SPOT. We’re a punk rock band from Rousse, Bulgaria. We formed the band 12 years ago and its name was COUNTERFIT at first but somewhere among the years we’ve changed that name.
So you have a new bassist - Emo, would you say something about yourself? How did you join Spot?
Emo: Hey! I’m Emo, a secret and a huge fan of SPOT. I’m from Rousse too! Honestly among all the Bulgarian bands SPOT has always been my favourite one for its genre, their sound and live performances. Actually I knew Radney , Dennis and Stilian from some time, but I don’t know how they decided to ask me if I wanted to play in the band. So I agreed and that’s how I started playing in SPOT. They are really cool, aren’t they?
What do inspire you for the music and the lyrics you make?
Our main influences are our favorite punk bands. They are the best teachers the new musician can have. We also think that the easiest way to start playing an instrument is to learn to play the songs of your favorite bands. When we started, for example, one of our main goals was to learn how to play as fast as we can. That’s why we tried to play songs of GOOD RIDDANCE’s BALLADS FROM THE REVOLUTION. At that same time we played our own songs as well as one or two covers a week.
Radney- As to the lyrics that I wrote, I’m influenced by Chris Hannah and Cedric Zavalla, writers that I really delight. The both have really different opinions and style of writing and expressing but I’ve never met better songwriters. Chris writes mainly political lyrics, while Cedric’s are very abstract. I read the lyrics of every album I listen. Although I think that this is very important for every vocalist/songwriter, because it’ll improve your lexica and make you more expressing. So learn by heart the songs of all your favorite bands!
Do you think punk is narrowly connected to anarchism and the social themes of life or it’s just an aimless rebellious music? Radney- First I want to say that as a child I didn’t have any idea what anarchy, social themes, Straight Edge and vegetarianism was. The thing that attracted me to punk was the genuine youthful enthusiasm and energy that comes out from this music. That’s the thing I cannot find in any other genres. But among the years I got interested in the lyrics of my favorite songs. I was stunned that the lyrics were even better than the songs. But let’s get back to the question. I think punk is not related to anarchism and the social themes of life generally. There are thousands of punk bands in the world. They all differ in their sound and lyrics but I prefer bands exactly with those kinds of message. As to the second part of the question even in the rise of punk it has stood up for political and social rights. So I can say that only to people who are not introduced to the scene and the movement.
What is missing in the Bulgarian punk and hardcore scene today and how in your opinion things would become better?
The lack of places for performing, the lack of bands and the few albums released or said in one word the problem is that the scene is little and underdeveloped. I guess along with the raise of the life standard of the population the situation here will get better. But actually it’s not always about money.
What do you want to achieve? We wanna leave behind us a better world. We want less violence, hatred and misery. Music is a powerful instrument in our favor. Music can make people hear the message it brings. Music can change people’s consciousness. If we are not able to change the world we still can change ourselves.
Radney- I believed Chris Hannah and Russ Rankin’s words that we can live in a world where no gender, race or stratum dominates over the others and that murder and exploitation of animals is not a natural law neither a privilege to the ‘civilized’ human and also that the social system we’ve made is full of crap. We hope that the children who come after us will also believe that because their consciousness is unencumbered. Well we realize that this is one long and difficult process which won’t end in the next 300 or 500 years but have to begin with us, here and now.
You say, that you are influenced by skateboarding. How long have you been skateboarding and how has it influenced you?(Radney) – I’ve been skateboarding for more than 17 years. The thing that skateboarding has given me is that it made me use my mind, and not only my legs. It gave me the feeling for adventure, which every growing kid needs, and the feeling that I can achieve something in my life. The skateboarding has also gotten me to the punk rock, which is my other big love. The two scenes were tight connected during the years when I was starting to skate. I won’t forget that the soundtracks of the old skateboard videos of H-Street and New Deal were only punk. I hope that the returning of punk in the skateboard scene now won’t be only a fashion.
Do you see progress in the Bulgarian skateboard scene?
(Radney) – Of course there is a progress. The elder skaters like me remember the times when we rode with “Perla” and “Lesko” (old Bulgarian skateboards). There was no skate shop in the whole country at that time. They remember a guy called Smolata, who made the first big import of skateboard stuff in Varna in 1990 and how all the decks were sold for a summer in spite of the prize of 250 euro for a board. Now there is everything and there is even a Bulgarian skateboard magazine. But for me those old years were magical. Skateboarding gave me wonderful childhood. Now everything is different and I hope it’s for good.
What else do you like to do except the music and the skateboarding?
(Radney) – Except playing music and skateboarding I also like reading books and watching skate videos. I love to be with my wife and my son, nothing unusual. I’d even say, that I am a boring person.
Thank you very much for the interview. You could say something for final if you want.
Don’t take the things said in this interview too seriously. Think and live for yourself. Question everything, but believe in people.
skatebg.com
2007
KATARZIS
Interview with Gather
Take us through a few milestones of Gather's band history. Dustin: Cool. Gather started in early 2004 after everyone in the band attended the Total Liberation Fest in Erie, PA. Allan and I were living together, and felt compelled to create the type of music we liked best. Genie, my sister, began singing and writing her awesome lyrics soon thereafter. Randy moved up to NorCal from SoCal and started playing bass. Gather was set on its line-up and we soon became like family.
We recorded our demo/e.p. with Scott from Earth Crisis, made a 'zine to accompany our self-released demo, and went out on the Total Liberation Tour in the summer of 2004. It was on that tour that we decided to work with Eric Vanguard and New Eden Records – he released the demo as our e.p., and went on to release our split 7" with Seven Generations. Our songs for the split were also recorded with Scott Crouse.
We were able, then, to do a west coast tour, play in Mexico City, Mexico, and start writing songs for the full length.
At this time, Allan went back to grad school to get his master's degree in education and a teaching credential. We decided that when he graduated, we'd release a full length and tour a lot.
So, we recorded our full length, Beyond the Ruins, with Vic DiCara of the band 108. We released it on xCatalystx Records, toured the US over the summer 2006 with Seven Generations and Kingdom, then toured Europe in winter of '06 with To Kill. Our last little tour was with xBishopx. We then played our infamous show at the Earth Crisis reunion, and played our amazing last shows before calling it quits.
I'd say that those are our biggest milestones.
What made you want to start playing music? Was it something you always wanted to do or was it just for shouting political lyrics and preaching vegan straight edge lifestyle?
We all started playing music years ago. We all played music before we were very political, but we all were involved in playing some form of 'punk'. We all happened to get political and into Veganism and Straight Edge, and even Anarchism before the band started. We decided to play the music in Gather because we wanted to capture the sound of some of our favorite bands from the 90's, like Chokehold, Another Victim, and Culture. We were also really influenced by current bands we were playing with, namely Purified in Blood, Make Move and Seven Generations.
We also decided that as of late 2003, early 2004, in California, there was a huge drought of political messages in hardcore. We wanted to espouse the message of, primarily, Animal Liberation, but soon came to realize that all liberation struggles are linked, and really sang about Total Liberation.
What was the main goals that Gather has achieved during these years? In terms of the hardcore scene what major changes have you seen, positive and negative?
When we started as a band, we didn't know many people from our local hardcore scene, or the VSXE scene at large. We were just huge hardcore fans, committed to the scene and the ethics. We made up some 'fantasy goals' that we never expected to achieve, such as: Put out a record, tour the US, play with Purification, sign to xCatalystx Records, and go to Europe. J Those are the goals we achieved that we never thought we would. Some of our goals that we never achieved were playing with xMaroonx, going to Japan, playing with Point of No Return, and touring South America.
The hardcore scene in the past few years has gotten better in some ways, in my opinion. There are a lot more political, VSXE kids now than there were seven or eight years ago. There are a lot of bigger bands who don't mind showing their pride in their convictions. So those things are cool. I don't even want to talk about any of the negative things that have come into being recently, we all know what they are: fashionable kids snaking their way into an underground scene and asshole jocks moshing to look cool rather than to have fun.
At the moment there is a lot of state violence and police opression towards green anarchist, radical ecologist and animal liberation activists in the United States. Can you tell us a bit more about that as I think a lot of people here in Eastern Europe know not so much about it. How does Gather take part in supporting SHAC7 and other Green Scare and AETA's victims? Only benefit shows, benefit CDs? What are some of the things you can do to support these political prisoners?
The US, in the past year, has really cracked down on environmental and animal rights groups. Most notably, the SHAC 7 were found guilty and sentenced to years in prison for being a part of an effective campaign against a corporation, Huntingdon Life Sciences. I urge any readers to check out www.shac7.com. There have also been FBI infiltrators and snitches involved in busting activists in California. The ALF and the ELF are considered the number one domestic "terrorist" threat in the US.
Gather has tried to educate people about the Green Scare through our lyrics and our speeches. We have donated a little bit of money, after breaking up, to political prisoners. We try to keep in touch with some prisoners through mail. Keeping in touch with prisoners, and supporting them, is the most important aspect of the struggle, because if those who have been caught are forgotten, then no one will persevere.
All of those things are ways that people can support prisoners: letters, donations, and support, ideologically. We must be willing to support radicals when it comes down to times of action – through allegiance and through direct assistance.
Finally, I've heard political prisoners say that the best thing someone can do to support them is by carrying out actions on their own! News will get to them in prison that the action was carried out! What better way to show your support ideologically than by covertly following in their footsteps?
What's your view on PETA and the mainstream activism? It seems that for some of the animal rights movement's actions, the goal is not really to make the most strategic or meaningful change for the animals, but that they are done to get the most media coverage. In case of prisoners support maybe it's good to get a mainstream media coverage.
I dunno, it's my opinion that mainstream activism is ineffectual and, for the most part, thrives on animal abuse industries existing (in order to receive donations and shit). This isn't to say that the people involved don't have compassion, but that their tactics are ineffectual.
This does not mean that I consider LEGAL tactics ineffectual, just 'mainstream' ones. There are lots of things that people can do that have very little or no risk that work well: home demos, live rescues, disrupting events, etc. Although it is easy to glamorize the 'big', illegal actions one can carry out I think there also needs to be a push for more people to be active regardless of how chic their actions are.
What do you do to uphold your beliefs in every day life outside of your band? What projects and collectives are you involved with?
None of us are involved in any collectives. Allan is teaching full time at an alternative school in California, I work full time and am involved in other bands, Eva and Randy both live without having jobs. In America, if you don't have a benefactor, it's very difficult to live without holding down a job, and so personal activism is a must for making that possible. That's all I really wanna go into here!
How can we close the gaps that exist between the different activist movements that hinder their individual growth?
I don't know that this is possible. The biggest push I've seen, in recent memory, to close the gaps between different activists groups was during the SHAC 7 trial. There was a big push to make people realize that even though the SHAC 7 were animal liberation activists, that the case infringed on free speech – in essence calling in liberal groups to support the SHAC 7 on the grounds of protecting free speech and limiting the govt.'s ability to arrest, detain, and sentence people who have committed no illegal crime. But in a post 9/11 AmeriKKKa, this is not an uncommon occurrence, especially for people of color.
I don't think that activism groups will ever combine into one big Total Liberation movement simply because the people that constitute most activist groups are single issue minded people. People who focus on their single issue blind themselves to the interconnectedness of all liberation struggles. People who DO recognize the interconnectedness of all liberation struggles tend to shift over to a sort of lifestyle activism or anarchism, in order to challenge the system as a whole. So in this way, the body of people who WOULD constitute the Total Lib activism movement actually shy away from the type of visible activism defined by single issue groups because they recognize the short-sightedness and tunnel-vision of single issue activist groups.
What's your opinion on primitivism, anti-technology and symbol culture rejection?
This path of thought is what most intrigues me, personally, and is one that I consider has the most relevancies as time goes on. 'Primitivism' and primitive skills are important, as they remind people that survival outside of cities and taker cultures depends on SKILLS, not necessarily money. Particularly paying close attention on how to live/survive in the absence of gasoline. None of us fully realize how dependent we are all on gasoline, and as gas continues to peak, and eventually disappears, will any of us know ways of surviving/thriving?
Symbol culture rejection, as you put it, is what I consider to be one of the best ways to maintain sanity in a world increasingly bombarded with mental pollution. Taking a little bit from Situationists and from current anthropologists and philosophers who recognize the origins of our abstraction dependent culture, one can begin to conceptualize a life free from dependence on TV, magazines, clocks, and hopefully, eventually, domestication.
As crazy as this all seems now, I think these skills will reveal themselves as valuable as time goes on: re-conceptualization of 'time', anti-domestication, survival skills, and small scale community units.
You're going to play your last shows with Earth Crisis on their reunion. What's your opinion on Earth Crisis and all the controversials they've got?
We did not play our last shows with Earth Crisis. We were asked to play their one California reunion show, which we were initially very excited to play. We learned a lot from Earth Crisis when getting into hardcore, and recorded our e.p. and split 7" with Scott Crouse, their guitar player.
We were all a little bit oblivious to the controversy surrounding Earth Crisis because we're about 5 years too young, although we now have an understanding of some of these controversies and the relevancy they had in the context of the 90's hardcore scene. I'd say that my opinion now is that I probably would have liked them less if I were the person I am now, ten years ago. But growing up in a small town where all I was going off of was their lyric sheet and song explanations, I consider them valuable to my life and the scene I am involved in.
How do you see the homophobia and other kind of discriminations occurring in the US hardcore scene? What's your opinion about the homophobe and crooked sexual hardline stances of Vegan Reich followers back in the day and their reflections now?
Those who spend time rationalizing and publicly defending the insane idea that homosexuality is either unnatural or 'wrong' are fucking pathetic. We do not consider these homophobes to be a part of any scene worth mentioning, and are certainly not involved in ours. Hardline is dead and anyone who claims to be maintaining the movement is fetishizing the past, is ignorant to how people live outside of their bullshit moral constructions, and will fade away in due time because there is no scene to support them. I hate the few people I know of now who still regurgitate the old hardline rhetoric on message boards.
You have a deal against the organized religion and the Church of Christ. But what about Islam and other states of mind and religious connected cults within the vegan straight edge movement?
Any band or hardcore kid who tries to preach a lifestyle of compliance to a religious moral order should stay the fuck out of hardcore and go waste their life away in their own church.
Do you think the recent attacks by the USA and its supporters on Islamic countries will escalate into something far worse?
Of course. The acts of 'terrorism' carried out by AmeriKKKa on other countries on behalf of economic gains and at the behest of lobby groups supporting Israel will definitely result in retaliation by those affected. The term is 'blowback' – when we carry out acts of terror and large scale murder, those political decisions tend to 'blowback' in our face.
What about the Palestinian occupation by Israel?
We recognize that this is a very complicated issue, and that even the most educated experts on this issue are divided on their opinions. I, however, have nothing but disdain for Israel and their policies of murder. I hate them on so many levels. I hate Israel because they use missiles to murder Palestinians, but call the Palestinians who use suicide bombs terrorists because they can't afford the same weapons to retaliate with. I hate Israel for pressuring the USA into starting their wars and supporting them on their conquests, while at the same time scoffing in the face of Amerikkka by building walls and furthering conquest, even against the wishes of the U$ govt. I hate conservative Amerikkkans who support Israel on the grounds that possession of Palestinian land is necessary for the biblical end times to commence. The cultural genocide happening in Palestine as a result is as devastating as the loss of life and land. Fuck the U$A and fuck Israhell for their crimes against people and the earth.
There are some extreme right wing vegan straidght edge bands and people in Europe. The straight edge lifestyle and that radical hardcore scene ideals has yet to be exposed in a way from within the neo-nazi community. There are active national socialists who take a part in the animal rights and eco-defence movement. If the animal/earth liberation is the objective What about Nazis who have the same views as you? Would you work alongside people like these if they were holding a demos and direct action against vivisection, meat industry, fur farms?
Of course not. Those people are so full of contradictions and are not fighting for freedom and equality. Gather has always been an anarchist band striving for autonomy and equality. The meat industry needs to fall by any means necessary, but for no reason should we have to stand united with people that we would normally call enemies.
What do you know about Bulgaria?
Before looking at Wikipedia? Nothing! But after looking at Wikipedia let me say welcome to the EU! haha
Band members projects after the split?
I am involved in three new projects right now. They are still in the very beginning stages. If anybody is interested, add Gather on myspace at www.myspace.com/gather and keep your eyes peeled for bulletins about future bands. Nobody else is really working with any other projects, although Allan is writing music for a project that he hopes to get going soon. His goal is to, 'write the next Firestorm.' Allan is currently working on the third issue of his 'zine What We Have! Wish him luck!
Your final words…
Thank you for your patience in getting this interview back late. Thank you for your interest and support! If anybody has any questions, feel free to contact me at ibdrugfree@gmail.com! Thank you!
2007
STRAIGHT FROM THE INSIDE
We recorded our demo/e.p. with Scott from Earth Crisis, made a 'zine to accompany our self-released demo, and went out on the Total Liberation Tour in the summer of 2004. It was on that tour that we decided to work with Eric Vanguard and New Eden Records – he released the demo as our e.p., and went on to release our split 7" with Seven Generations. Our songs for the split were also recorded with Scott Crouse.
We were able, then, to do a west coast tour, play in Mexico City, Mexico, and start writing songs for the full length.
At this time, Allan went back to grad school to get his master's degree in education and a teaching credential. We decided that when he graduated, we'd release a full length and tour a lot.
So, we recorded our full length, Beyond the Ruins, with Vic DiCara of the band 108. We released it on xCatalystx Records, toured the US over the summer 2006 with Seven Generations and Kingdom, then toured Europe in winter of '06 with To Kill. Our last little tour was with xBishopx. We then played our infamous show at the Earth Crisis reunion, and played our amazing last shows before calling it quits.
I'd say that those are our biggest milestones.
What made you want to start playing music? Was it something you always wanted to do or was it just for shouting political lyrics and preaching vegan straight edge lifestyle?
We all started playing music years ago. We all played music before we were very political, but we all were involved in playing some form of 'punk'. We all happened to get political and into Veganism and Straight Edge, and even Anarchism before the band started. We decided to play the music in Gather because we wanted to capture the sound of some of our favorite bands from the 90's, like Chokehold, Another Victim, and Culture. We were also really influenced by current bands we were playing with, namely Purified in Blood, Make Move and Seven Generations.
We also decided that as of late 2003, early 2004, in California, there was a huge drought of political messages in hardcore. We wanted to espouse the message of, primarily, Animal Liberation, but soon came to realize that all liberation struggles are linked, and really sang about Total Liberation.
What was the main goals that Gather has achieved during these years? In terms of the hardcore scene what major changes have you seen, positive and negative? When we started as a band, we didn't know many people from our local hardcore scene, or the VSXE scene at large. We were just huge hardcore fans, committed to the scene and the ethics. We made up some 'fantasy goals' that we never expected to achieve, such as: Put out a record, tour the US, play with Purification, sign to xCatalystx Records, and go to Europe. J Those are the goals we achieved that we never thought we would. Some of our goals that we never achieved were playing with xMaroonx, going to Japan, playing with Point of No Return, and touring South America.
The hardcore scene in the past few years has gotten better in some ways, in my opinion. There are a lot more political, VSXE kids now than there were seven or eight years ago. There are a lot of bigger bands who don't mind showing their pride in their convictions. So those things are cool. I don't even want to talk about any of the negative things that have come into being recently, we all know what they are: fashionable kids snaking their way into an underground scene and asshole jocks moshing to look cool rather than to have fun.
At the moment there is a lot of state violence and police opression towards green anarchist, radical ecologist and animal liberation activists in the United States. Can you tell us a bit more about that as I think a lot of people here in Eastern Europe know not so much about it. How does Gather take part in supporting SHAC7 and other Green Scare and AETA's victims? Only benefit shows, benefit CDs? What are some of the things you can do to support these political prisoners?
The US, in the past year, has really cracked down on environmental and animal rights groups. Most notably, the SHAC 7 were found guilty and sentenced to years in prison for being a part of an effective campaign against a corporation, Huntingdon Life Sciences. I urge any readers to check out www.shac7.com. There have also been FBI infiltrators and snitches involved in busting activists in California. The ALF and the ELF are considered the number one domestic "terrorist" threat in the US.
Gather has tried to educate people about the Green Scare through our lyrics and our speeches. We have donated a little bit of money, after breaking up, to political prisoners. We try to keep in touch with some prisoners through mail. Keeping in touch with prisoners, and supporting them, is the most important aspect of the struggle, because if those who have been caught are forgotten, then no one will persevere.
All of those things are ways that people can support prisoners: letters, donations, and support, ideologically. We must be willing to support radicals when it comes down to times of action – through allegiance and through direct assistance.
Finally, I've heard political prisoners say that the best thing someone can do to support them is by carrying out actions on their own! News will get to them in prison that the action was carried out! What better way to show your support ideologically than by covertly following in their footsteps?
What's your view on PETA and the mainstream activism? It seems that for some of the animal rights movement's actions, the goal is not really to make the most strategic or meaningful change for the animals, but that they are done to get the most media coverage. In case of prisoners support maybe it's good to get a mainstream media coverage.
I dunno, it's my opinion that mainstream activism is ineffectual and, for the most part, thrives on animal abuse industries existing (in order to receive donations and shit). This isn't to say that the people involved don't have compassion, but that their tactics are ineffectual.
This does not mean that I consider LEGAL tactics ineffectual, just 'mainstream' ones. There are lots of things that people can do that have very little or no risk that work well: home demos, live rescues, disrupting events, etc. Although it is easy to glamorize the 'big', illegal actions one can carry out I think there also needs to be a push for more people to be active regardless of how chic their actions are.
What do you do to uphold your beliefs in every day life outside of your band? What projects and collectives are you involved with?
None of us are involved in any collectives. Allan is teaching full time at an alternative school in California, I work full time and am involved in other bands, Eva and Randy both live without having jobs. In America, if you don't have a benefactor, it's very difficult to live without holding down a job, and so personal activism is a must for making that possible. That's all I really wanna go into here!
How can we close the gaps that exist between the different activist movements that hinder their individual growth? I don't know that this is possible. The biggest push I've seen, in recent memory, to close the gaps between different activists groups was during the SHAC 7 trial. There was a big push to make people realize that even though the SHAC 7 were animal liberation activists, that the case infringed on free speech – in essence calling in liberal groups to support the SHAC 7 on the grounds of protecting free speech and limiting the govt.'s ability to arrest, detain, and sentence people who have committed no illegal crime. But in a post 9/11 AmeriKKKa, this is not an uncommon occurrence, especially for people of color.
I don't think that activism groups will ever combine into one big Total Liberation movement simply because the people that constitute most activist groups are single issue minded people. People who focus on their single issue blind themselves to the interconnectedness of all liberation struggles. People who DO recognize the interconnectedness of all liberation struggles tend to shift over to a sort of lifestyle activism or anarchism, in order to challenge the system as a whole. So in this way, the body of people who WOULD constitute the Total Lib activism movement actually shy away from the type of visible activism defined by single issue groups because they recognize the short-sightedness and tunnel-vision of single issue activist groups.
What's your opinion on primitivism, anti-technology and symbol culture rejection?
This path of thought is what most intrigues me, personally, and is one that I consider has the most relevancies as time goes on. 'Primitivism' and primitive skills are important, as they remind people that survival outside of cities and taker cultures depends on SKILLS, not necessarily money. Particularly paying close attention on how to live/survive in the absence of gasoline. None of us fully realize how dependent we are all on gasoline, and as gas continues to peak, and eventually disappears, will any of us know ways of surviving/thriving?
Symbol culture rejection, as you put it, is what I consider to be one of the best ways to maintain sanity in a world increasingly bombarded with mental pollution. Taking a little bit from Situationists and from current anthropologists and philosophers who recognize the origins of our abstraction dependent culture, one can begin to conceptualize a life free from dependence on TV, magazines, clocks, and hopefully, eventually, domestication.
As crazy as this all seems now, I think these skills will reveal themselves as valuable as time goes on: re-conceptualization of 'time', anti-domestication, survival skills, and small scale community units.
You're going to play your last shows with Earth Crisis on their reunion. What's your opinion on Earth Crisis and all the controversials they've got?
We did not play our last shows with Earth Crisis. We were asked to play their one California reunion show, which we were initially very excited to play. We learned a lot from Earth Crisis when getting into hardcore, and recorded our e.p. and split 7" with Scott Crouse, their guitar player.
We were all a little bit oblivious to the controversy surrounding Earth Crisis because we're about 5 years too young, although we now have an understanding of some of these controversies and the relevancy they had in the context of the 90's hardcore scene. I'd say that my opinion now is that I probably would have liked them less if I were the person I am now, ten years ago. But growing up in a small town where all I was going off of was their lyric sheet and song explanations, I consider them valuable to my life and the scene I am involved in.
How do you see the homophobia and other kind of discriminations occurring in the US hardcore scene? What's your opinion about the homophobe and crooked sexual hardline stances of Vegan Reich followers back in the day and their reflections now?
Those who spend time rationalizing and publicly defending the insane idea that homosexuality is either unnatural or 'wrong' are fucking pathetic. We do not consider these homophobes to be a part of any scene worth mentioning, and are certainly not involved in ours. Hardline is dead and anyone who claims to be maintaining the movement is fetishizing the past, is ignorant to how people live outside of their bullshit moral constructions, and will fade away in due time because there is no scene to support them. I hate the few people I know of now who still regurgitate the old hardline rhetoric on message boards.
You have a deal against the organized religion and the Church of Christ. But what about Islam and other states of mind and religious connected cults within the vegan straight edge movement?
Any band or hardcore kid who tries to preach a lifestyle of compliance to a religious moral order should stay the fuck out of hardcore and go waste their life away in their own church.
Do you think the recent attacks by the USA and its supporters on Islamic countries will escalate into something far worse?
Of course. The acts of 'terrorism' carried out by AmeriKKKa on other countries on behalf of economic gains and at the behest of lobby groups supporting Israel will definitely result in retaliation by those affected. The term is 'blowback' – when we carry out acts of terror and large scale murder, those political decisions tend to 'blowback' in our face.
What about the Palestinian occupation by Israel?
We recognize that this is a very complicated issue, and that even the most educated experts on this issue are divided on their opinions. I, however, have nothing but disdain for Israel and their policies of murder. I hate them on so many levels. I hate Israel because they use missiles to murder Palestinians, but call the Palestinians who use suicide bombs terrorists because they can't afford the same weapons to retaliate with. I hate Israel for pressuring the USA into starting their wars and supporting them on their conquests, while at the same time scoffing in the face of Amerikkka by building walls and furthering conquest, even against the wishes of the U$ govt. I hate conservative Amerikkkans who support Israel on the grounds that possession of Palestinian land is necessary for the biblical end times to commence. The cultural genocide happening in Palestine as a result is as devastating as the loss of life and land. Fuck the U$A and fuck Israhell for their crimes against people and the earth.
There are some extreme right wing vegan straidght edge bands and people in Europe. The straight edge lifestyle and that radical hardcore scene ideals has yet to be exposed in a way from within the neo-nazi community. There are active national socialists who take a part in the animal rights and eco-defence movement. If the animal/earth liberation is the objective What about Nazis who have the same views as you? Would you work alongside people like these if they were holding a demos and direct action against vivisection, meat industry, fur farms?
Of course not. Those people are so full of contradictions and are not fighting for freedom and equality. Gather has always been an anarchist band striving for autonomy and equality. The meat industry needs to fall by any means necessary, but for no reason should we have to stand united with people that we would normally call enemies.
What do you know about Bulgaria?
Before looking at Wikipedia? Nothing! But after looking at Wikipedia let me say welcome to the EU! haha
Band members projects after the split?
I am involved in three new projects right now. They are still in the very beginning stages. If anybody is interested, add Gather on myspace at www.myspace.com/gather and keep your eyes peeled for bulletins about future bands. Nobody else is really working with any other projects, although Allan is writing music for a project that he hopes to get going soon. His goal is to, 'write the next Firestorm.' Allan is currently working on the third issue of his 'zine What We Have! Wish him luck!
Your final words…
Thank you for your patience in getting this interview back late. Thank you for your interest and support! If anybody has any questions, feel free to contact me at ibdrugfree@gmail.com! Thank you!
2007
STRAIGHT FROM THE INSIDE
Interview with COMMON ENEMY
Who is the Common Enemy? When and why did you get together?Greg: I joined the band in 2003, to rock out!
Tank: To have fun!
Justin: To stop all the damn zombie attacks!
How many vocalists have you guys had? Has it been a struggle to keep a consistent vocalist? Who is the current vocalist? It seems that every next release is with a different vocalist.
Justin: Too many to talk about!
Tank: The new one will be our 4th; sometimes I think they can't handle the fun! But who knows!
I think you guys made a European Tour in May 2007. Tell us about that, how did the tour go? And what have you seen in Europe?
Tank: Europe Rules! The people are awesome! I saw things that put U.S. scenes to shame.
Greg: Tour was a blast, met tons of cool people, and drank lots of good beer.
Justin: FUN…. FUN….. FUN!
Do your shows really have such a community spirit as you sing in your songs. With circle pits, fun and unity between all the different types of underground kids.Justin: Everything except the unity. Not all, but some would rather fight and find an enemy then be happy and just have a good time!
Tank: We're on a mission…………everyone is to have fun!
Greg: HELL YEAH!
Parents usually don't let kids join underground things, protests, gatherings... It really sucks when the people who are most close to you don't support you in what you do. Well, I go to a show, protest or anything anyway, cause it's my opinion. But maybe, the kids are losing the rebellious image of the scene back in the days and now they are more reliable to obey their parents or to consume the culture as a fashion or trend.
Tank: I'm afraid you are probably right!
Greg: Hopefully more kids will stand up for what they believe and parents will be more understanding and supportive.
Do you consider yourself as a DIY band and what's wrong with the punk/hc kids today? Is it really as you sing in "Punk's dead, you're next!" ?Justin: Yeah we are D.I.Y.! The song is true of course!
Too much money in this world is spent for guns and thus for destruction of the planet. How long do you think it will take for communities to realize that governments are the biggest enemies of the people? When do you think the Governments will stop all the wars and start spending money on skate parks and half pipes? There are Bulgarian troops supporting G.W.'s war for oil in Iraq, but there is no skate park in Sofia, there are almost no skate parks in Bulgaria!
Justin: No skate parks, dudes we need to ............BUILD RAMPS, NOT BOMBS!
Tank & Greg (shout): HELL YEAH!
Tank: I hope soon, it's bullshit, they need to start spending money on skate parks and stuff soon. It's bullshit that they support G.W.'s war and there is no skate parks, what the fuck!
Greg: Sounds like a good dream, war sucks!
What else do you do in your lives, except having fun, skateboarding, playing fast music? Are you involved in any kind of activism?
Justin: All that and work too!
Greg: I work way too much, it sucks!
How important do you think it is for bands to sing about zombies who will eat your brain? What is about punk/HC and zombies that draws them together?
Tank: Zombies to me are a symbol of what most of us are today…..sheep!
Justin: He said it all right there.
Your top 5 horror movies? Your top 5 skate movies? Or your top 5 music albums who influence you for skate?Tank: Evil Dead, Dead Alive, Bad Taste, Night of the Living Dead, Devils Rejects
Greg: Dead Alive, Re-Animator, Dawn of the Dead, Army of Darkness, Toxic Avenger
Who is making Common Enemy skateboard decks? Are you guys sponsored? What's your favorite / best tricks?
Tank: Bombing Hills
Greg: Lost Soul Skateboards, Face Plant….haha
Justin: Any trick that we can do!
Do you think that the skateboard industry has taken the fun out of skateboading and turned it into profit? So that the kids today ride because they wanna get sponsored. So that they have big banners of big corporations on the demos and comps. And skateboarding is turned into a commercial sport.
Greg: Yeah, I believe some kids are doing it for profit and sponsorship. But there are still some kids who skate just to have fun.
Tank: Yes! Leeches! It's ridiculous you should be skating for yourself assholes!
What's the most influential aspect of skateboarding?
Justin: Freedom!
What are your worst skateboard bails and injuries?
Greg: Ripped up elbows!
Tank: Justin you should answer this one! Head, Wink! Wink!
Justin: I've eaten' so much gravel in my day. Scars tell it all!
Tell us about your area Reading, PA? Any good punk/hc bands and things happening? The skate "scene"? Skate parks, spots?
Justin: I need more time to skate and less time at work!
Greg: We have 2 skate parks. The scene here is too divided, kids need to unite more.
What do you think about people downloading Common Enemy mp3?
Justin: Shred dude!
Tank: Share it! I don't care!
Greg: Do it! Listen to that shit asshole!
Something to add? Any final comments and words for the readers...
Tank: Keep it fun! And you need skate parks, you hear that Bulgarian Government! Do you hear that……!
Justin: Keep shreddin'
www.myspace.com/commonenemywww.commonenemy2000.com
2007
STRAIGHT FROM THE INSIDE
Interview with Strike Anywhere
Are you satisfied with the show tonight and how are you feeling after the show?
T: Yes, very much! We had some technical issues, but I hope it did not hurt the show. But in the end it was awesome time. This whole place has been wonderful to us. La Plebe, and Empty Face, and everybody.
I'm glad people stuck around, because we know people know of La Plebe but we have no right to expect anyone to know us here, so, the people that
stayed and sang along - you know, we're grateful.
How was the tour so far and what do you expect..?
T:It's been incredibly long, it's crazy. We've been as far as Portugal, and then now to Romania and here, and up to Stockholm, Sweden...
Tomorrow we drive to Tеssaloniki, then we drive back up trough four countries, through Zagreb, Croatia, and then we have two days in Germany after that. So this is the longest tour, with the most land cover driving in a van. We had accident with the van, robberies, people broken in and stolen our things. We hit a car in Budapest, and when we were driving through Transylvania the hood of the engine came up into the windscreen, we had to stop in the road and try to pull it down and we bond bungee chords, tying the hood down. So we had all this crazy times at the shows make it all worth it of course. We had the best times playing for you guys. I hope people like it.
What do you want to achieve by playing music, what's the idea of the band? And tell us a bit about your political beliefs.
T: The message lies in our lyrics. When we're making a record we have lyrics, but we have and explanations. In our most recent record we have have pages of text, talking about what the songs are about and what we're trying to achieve. We've been a band for about 8 years, and we've traveled the whole planet.... We believe that human society need to get liberated from corporate bondage, from the mythology of nation-states and nationalism.
We believe we make you think we're green Anarchists or social ecologists and we operate in many different ways - sometimes we play really big shows with corporate bands, and sometimes we play tiny DIY shows and we do everything in the middle, because we think the message is important and we think that society is really conflicted and that there's a lot of reasons to not bottle up the punk message for just the chosen few...because we think a lot of people hear it through the radio and the music television, but more and more people are getting into it through the internet. There's an independent and DIY music community thats happening because music is now free, which makes it harder for us to tour and eat and stuff but it's more worth it because more people can get a hold of the ideas. So, it's a very strange time with touring and music. A lot of bands that would want to come here don't have the chance to, don't have the ressources to do it. When we get home, and La Plebe gets home we'll all have to go back to
work in the states, because non of us are wealthy at all....amazing.
So you're not just playing music, but you work as well?
T:Yes. For an year we've been touring almost the whole time and we had a little break at home for a week or something....
I'm kind of like a green grosserer. I work at a farm market for organics and
biological produce. So we all pick up jobs...
Great. We've heard you're vegan, so what else do you do for animal rights, exept your job that seems also linked with that? A lot of animal rescue. Where dogs and cats, especially dogs are used for fights. Street animals and animals that are used in the pitbull fighting trade. Which is people betting on dogfighting and trying to liberate these animals from that situation, involves being in extremely poor and violent american neighbourhoods (ghettos), and riskin a lot to take these animals out of their situation. But it's more like social work, word diplomacy, trying to educate people about animals, and their rights and their needs, that they're not just a security system, where all it does it make you feel tough, that it's a living being with a heart and mind. That's basicly what I've done and my bandmates are done. Yeah and we've also written songs and donated music for benefit records, that contribute money to the legal defence of activists who are imprisoned for animal rights activism, like property crimes in the US law are classified under the patriot act as terrorism. So they're taking all green, red and black anarchists and taking the f of the law and treated them as terrorists, as crimes against the state. Which is so insane and it's really hard to explain what a mess it is. So that's how I act out for animal rights. We put benefit shows for other animal legal defence funds too.. we play the shows and give all the money to different groups.
Are you afraid of what machines could do as much as of what people are doing?
T:People! Machines are just tools. I think technology is a way to keep us distant from each other in a kind of distorted society, and keep us isolated.
Like, you guys wouldn't have to come to the show now, you could have stayed home and watch it on youtube, instead of being here.
But I don't think that all technology should be destroyed. I know a lot of friends who are primitivists but I'm not that one. Use our tools wisely and ..way of consciousness whereever we can. For example, the Internet, many people here would not know our songs and because of that Alex (Last Hope) took a chance and invited us and so made it possible for us to play tonight, and we are very grateful.
What's your opinion on nationalism, is it a big problem in the US as it is here in Eastern Europe? We also have a big problem with nationalism in the States. The isolation and strangeness of american life. Nationalism is a root to some kind of economic power and respect and all it is is a weapon to use against the nation-state. It's kind of like being macho. But on a country wide level. It keeps you from enjoing your life. There are whole nations with people who are repressed because they think they're the greatest. It's a strange contradiction. We're obviously not into it. We think nation-states are an illusion and they're a construct that let global capitalism continue to feed. And then all of a sudden all their rest of the poor people think that the only way they can have power is to be proud as fuck to be from whereever they're from instead of organizing. I believe that organizing as a class and understanding the way that the world really works is extremely important. But a lot of this information is getting harder and harder to get because of media consolidation. And we have a couple of songs about this, one of them is called "Infrared". We played it tonight.
We're from the side of Amerikkka that lost a civil war, and people are still really upset about that. Every country has a civil war, and there's monuments, and graveyards, and lost families everywhere and it's a mess. So, in some way, we can understand what was happened right to the west from here, with your neighbours in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It's just all about outside forces coming in and making people hate each other that never had to in the first place. And this is how we see nationalism as sort of like a self-exploitative mechanism.
12.07.2007 Sofia
STRAIGHT FROM THE INSIDE & KATARZIS
Interview with THE NOW-DENIAL
Hallo, Kumpels. Wie geht's? How's life? I hope you can you introduce your band with a few words to our readers and give us a brief history about the band.Soeren: Here we go! We started rehearsing late in the year 2000 with Chris on drums, Ash on guitar, Phil on bass and me with just a microphone. We soon added Hans on guitar, who quit later on. After a while of being a 4 piece, we found Rob who is still playing guitar with us these days. But how to describe the band? We are all longtime friends, but also people who developed into different directions. We live in 4 different cities. We have a very diverse musical taste. But somehow we love making music together. And so we keep on going…
So you're at the process of recording and releasing new material soon?
Soeren: Yeah, we just released our 3rd record called “Mundane Lullaby”. It is on Sabotage Records and Sounds Of Subterania Records. Check it out. We like it!
You're all near 30 years-old dudes. Most people at that age have a very critical look at the so called hardcore/punk scene and the DIY movement in general. What's your view on the current trends in the "scene" and do you see it a kind of elitist or dogmatic?
Soeren: Apart from Robin, all of us passed the 30 year old border and you are right. throughout the years the look at the “scene” changes, gets more critical, sometimes more indifferent. For sure you get more distance, emotional as well as physical. I don´t need to go to every show and don´t need to know every (hip) band. Of course the D.I.Y. scene (whatever that is) is elitist and somehow dogmatic. That keeps it alive. Who doesn´t know the feeling, when some band or trend gets popular and you don't want to share it with the mainstream, because it's watering down the intensity. What is getting on my nerves though, is taking things too seriously. I tend to do so too. Or at least I did some years ago. But we have to face, that this is just a music scene. I won't deny some specials here. Like the network you can benefit from as a band, like independent venues, labels, zines, etc. You won't find such a well working structure in many other independent music scenes. But hey, this is important for ourselves. It doesn't have any impact on lots of things in a wider sense. I think it is important to see all this with a realistic view and to place it correctly. It can be the most important thing in your life, but it's not the most important thing in life in general. In the end the inflexibility of the dogmas in hc/punk are just helpful to find a place, to develop identity. For me in the late teenager years and early twenties hc/punk were the crutches I stumbled with through a world full of questions, full of expectations. Things like DIY, straight edge, veganism and this special trust in other hc/punk kids helped me a lot. And this elitist touch makes it even closer. It only works with demarcation from other cultural appearances. But I expect from people to develop and not to stop at this point. This leads to stagnation and boredom. Too many people are feeling so well in their oh so important niche.
Your shows are famous with the highly energetic performances with high-jumping, stage-dives and fun along with talking on stage, representing the true spirit of DIY hardcore. Maybe the passionate and energetic live performance with talking to the crowd about what you think and what is all about is the best way for a band to promote its ideas, what do you think?
Soeren: What is the true spirit of D.I.Y. hardcore??? Ask 20 different people and you get at least 15 different answers. And sorry, I have to disagree you once more. I don't talk on stage because I want to promote any ideas. For me lyrics are one part of The Now-Denial and since I know that most of the people in the audience don't know them, it's just natural, that I tell here and there what the lyrics are about. But there are also many shows, where I don't say anything about lyrics, but rather talk shit, make crappy jokes… it's just how I feel. But since a live performance always has a comunicative aspect, I like it, when a band appear as more than musicians. And please don't be fooled by good photographs. Stage-diving and crowds going crazy is absolutely not a regular thing at our shows. Which is a pity, of course…
Is it true that you're handing out your lyric sheets at your shows?
Soeren: Yeah, that's true. It's an offer, because, as I mentioned above, lyrics are one part of The Now-Denial, that should be available also at shows. But to be honest, we came back from a 2 week tour last week and that was the first tour without lyric-sheets. But just because I forgot to bring them….
It seems from your band's name and your lyrics that you're speaking about problems, denying and criticizing without providing any solutions. Do you consider your message nihilistic?
Soeren: We don't have one message that can be described precisely. Some lyrics may tend to be nihilistic, but some are very positive and constructive. My lyrics and I´m sure ashs lyrics too, are more emotional outbursts than social or political themesongs. You're 100% right that we don't provide any solutions. Who are we to provide solutions? We are just a bunch of fuck ups who try to deal with emotions through our music and lyrics. And since it´s angry music and anger is a strong emotion, that I feel regular when I think about the world, a lot of the lyrics are angry!!!
If you had to sum it up what drives you to continue making passionate hardcore music and being involved in the "scene"?
Soeren: Hardcore/punk is the perfect vehicle to deal with my emotions, the perfect vehicle to express myself creatively. This scene gives me the opportunity to share this with many others. And I got to know a big part of my friends through this scene. And as long as I still meet interesting new people through this I will keep being involved!
People try to label things as easy as they can fit. Like many bands you have been described by some zines as Tragedy/HHIG style hardcore. I won't ask you how do you label your music or whatever, but to tell us a little bit in your own terms about your music and lyrical contents. And do you really fit in that new wave of neo-crust?
Soeren: It would be stupid to deny the influence of bands like His Hero Is Gone or From Ashes Rise on our music, but hey we are around for 7 years in this band and played in bands before that for several years too, so I won't limit myself to influences of such a small genre. And I think everybody who knows us or maybe has seen a live show must recognize that we don't fit in very well. we are too diverse. None of us looks like a crusty, haha. None of the artwork of our records or shirts fit in this genre. But I'm not thinking that much about it anymore. At the latest the new record will stop every try to put us into the “neo-crust” box. We are just a hardcore/punk band which likes to spice their shit with a little rock here and there, which likes their lyrics to be relevant for ourselves, which tries to find healthy compromises in artwork etc. to cover all our different tastes, which tries to benefit from the diversity of its members…
In all interviews with you there's the question about your opinion on playing in squats. After the destruction of Ungdomshuset in Denmark several other autonomous projects in countries near Germany have been raided. Also such places as Rote Flora in Hamburg and others in Berlin and Bremen were raided due to the G8 summit in Germany and maybe the biggest threat to the autonomous spaces in Germany was the auction of Köpi. What's your view on all those events?
Soeren: Without squats or autonomous centres not only a very important part of hc/punk-infrastructure would pass away, but first of all a space where you have possibilities to develop and experiment own rules. We are all raised under rather straight circumstances. We are deeply used to the possibilities and responsibilities offered by this society. And we can't get rid of this socialisation. Of course we can reflect and work on it, but it will always be a part of us and we will (probably) always live in similar structures. So it can't be valued high enough to have spaces, where this logic is at least questioned and in the best case people involved trying to tear it down. You have homophobia, sexism, racism, antisemitism in places like this as well, but they are not welcome. Most of the people try to get over it. That's why these spaces are so damn important. The raids in left centres and places before the G8 summit could be describes as ridiculous regarding the results “they” got from it. But it is scary that laws and rules are worth nothing, if “they” really want to get on you. Not that I was surprised too much, but it is scary nonetheless. There are still people in jail because of these raids. The construction of a terrorist group seems to be enough to put activists in jail, raid houses and so on… and in fact it gave “them” a better insight in structures and with confiscation of e.g. computers, the preparations for the G8 and other activities were hindered. Yeah, Ungdomshuset and Köpi. What else is there? Zorro in Leipzig and Rote Flora in Hamburg and some others. Fewer and fewer. Obviously. I don't know. Sometimes I wonder why all these places exist at all. Maybe for a while it was easier for “them” to know where the potential is. And maybe “they” nowadays think the movement (whatever that is) is so weak, that the closing down is easy enough to handle? But that's not the case in Copenhagen, haha. But if you look at the '80s and the big times of squatting, it's very disappointing how few people are ready to fight for their (!) spaces today. Maybe the younger (our) generations never had to fight for these places and so never learned it. When I was younger, there was the AJZ (Autonomous Jugend Zentrum) Bielefeld and everything was there. It was so easy to be lazy and still have a lot of possibilities…
In early June the leaders of the G8 nations met in Heiligendamm, Germany. The G8 summit is indeed only a symbol, a personified image for the abstract social and economic model. And this is a chance for revolutionary and independent groups to show their anger and frustration to the neo-liberal vision of the world. There were many controversial issues about the image of the black bloc activists and the violent confrontations during the summit. How do you deal with the tactics of property damage and direct confrontations? And do you think that activism like "reclaim the streets" parties are such an ungovernable force?
Soeren: That's not so easy to answer. If I would answer impulsively and emotionally, I would ramble about riots and fighting back and shit, but it's not so easy. For me there's no doubt about violence being one part of resistance. It always has been and it will always be. It's all a question of how and when, about taking responsiblities for others and always keep questioning the meaning and possible results. I have absolutely no problem with property damage, if it makes sense. I have no problems with fighting back against the cops, if you do not endanger “comrades” and other people who don't want to get into it. That was the big problem with the riots in Rostock. It was stupid and dangerous not only from the cops, but also from some testosterone macho assholes dressed in black. The positive part is, that these riots draw attention, make these summits so ridiculously expensive and sometimes are a lot of fun. Is there really an ungovernable force? Reclaim the streets-parties are nice. I'm not into it too much. It's just a matter of time, when there enough cops to gouvern this force. Well, that's of course no reason for not doing it. Just for being realistic about the effects. This could of course be an endless discussion about what kind of activism makes sense. I´m very ambivalent about it. I don´t know. Sometimes I think “better anything than nothing” and sometimes “stop being so naive and quit that bullshit”.
It seems that you're not fans of the CrimethInc rhetoric. What's the most controversy that you've found in the modern "drop-out" counterculture activism as that promoted by collectives such as CrimethInc?
Soeren: Shit, I just made one funny remark about Requiem/CrimethInc in an interview and now I'm nailed to it. Haha. I try to make it short. I respect drop-outs. If they are happy with it, I have no problem with it. But promoting this as the revolutionary act doesn't feel good to me. I'm living in the year 2007, a highly developped, industrialized, technicized world which scares me to death sometimes. This all seems so complex and abstract that I somehow understand the wish to get back to the basics. But is this an answer to complexity in the long run? (yeah, what is an appropiate answer anyway?) I don't think so. I don't have any idea to deal with hyper-capitalism and an overdevelopped industry and shit. I do not think that anarchy or communism are ideas that are in any way relevant for this society. (yeah, again, what is relevant for society?).
Looking at the current leftist social and political movements around Europe it seems that in Germany there are so full of contradictions. Especially throughout the antifascist movement where such extreme controversial groups as "Anti-deutsch" and other pro-zionist, reactionary activists are spreading very confusing message.
Soeren: Yeah, that's true. It's very confusing, even for people living here. But there are so many different approaches throughout the “anti-deutsch”-movement, that it's almost ridiculous to speak of the “anti-deutsch”-movement. I don't want to defend this here, because there are so many ugly things going on that I don't understand why cooler people still label themselves as “anti-deutsch”, but whatever. But to get back to the question. For me a lot of positions in the european left are confusing. How can you relate to the 9/11 assault positive, how can you refer to the “Jihad” positive, how can you defend irans policy? Don't we have brain enough to find a position far away from the two options with us or with the terrorists? I don't get it. If you talk about reactionary activists in the “anti-deutsch”-movement, you have to speak of reactionary activists in the left or hardcore/punk scene everywhere. Where is the progressive part of talking about bush over and over again. Boring! What is the progressive aspect of repeating and supporting antisemitic clichees a la “the jews have too much influence” over and over again? Is it so difficult to think for yourself? Just to explain some more of the German situation: if you go to a nazi-demonstration in Germany these days, you see flags of Palestine, Iraqi flags, you see Palestinian scarfs and so on. You hear the same slogans against the U$A and Israel like in the “left” in Europe. And with the special antisemitic tradition in Germany, it's very ugly and confusing. To say it clearly, I don't think that waving American and
Israelic flags (or similar “anti-deutsch” tactics) is a good idea as a statement against this trend in the German nazi-scene. But I can demand a critical look on the sometimes simplifying rhetoric in leftist anti-imperialism. Again: I don't understand the black and white view on this complex issue.
Are the members of The Now-Denial veg(etari)ans? How do you deal with the animal rights issues? What's your opinion on veganism alone as an act of social/political and environmentalist action?
Soeren: I'm vegan. The only survivor in The Now-Denial. Well, animal rights are no big issue in The Now-Denial. So it wouldn't be fair to ramble about this issue much. Of course I would say that veganism/animal rights alone, without the connection to emancipatoric views on the “world”, is a strange thing I don't understand. But all the people I know being active in this scene are deeply rooted in a “left” context.
Since January 2007 Bulgaria became a European Union member. What is your opinion on the Bulgarian/Romanian EU membership? And what do you think of the immigration flow from our country to Western Europe, the universal currency Euro, the European constitution?
Soeren: Fucking hell! This is too complex and complicated for me. I could answer this only superficial, but that doesn't feel right for me. I can tell you that I hate the refugee-policy of the European Union, I hate the vision to be the dominating super-power force. This whole thing seems to be so shitty and I'm aware that we, as Germans, rather profit from it. And I wouldn't be honest, if I would deny that it's so easy and practical for us with the Euro, but the increase of prices is pretty tough for many people… I don't know, it's an abstract hostility towards the European Union, whether with or without Romania and Bulgaria, but I'm far away from being well informed.
Your thoughts on education and work? I think it’s an interesting question, because there are so many Bulgarians studying and working in Germany. What’s your opinion about the very complicated educational system in Germany?
Soeren: To be honest I never tought of the German educational system as complicated. But I grew up with it, don't know about any other in detail. It's strange to think about it, because I have to face my privileges. I'm a well-educated guy with all the options. There was a time, when it seemed that the school-education should be restructured and there aren't many low-education-schools (Hauptschule) anymore. But high-education-schools (Gymnasium) will be there forever. There are more and more schools for everybody (Gesamtschule), but since there are new movements to support elites, the hierarchical education system will continue. This year some universities got extra money for being universities for the elite. And fees for studying are installed at most of the universities, which make it harder for people with poorer backgrounds, because the scholarship system in Germany is a joke compared to the US for example. of course I can understand people from Bulgaria who come here to study and/or work, if they hope to get a better education or at least the option to get higher wages… I 'm not working on carreer-opportunities, but I can't blame people for doing it. So why not trying to achieve the best for yourself. Some hopes will turn out to be just illusions, but well, that's capitalism…
Anything to add or any comments?
Soeren: Thank you very much for this interesting interview. I really hope that we will make it to Bulgaria one day. But there are so many ideas and options and our time-schedules are so damn tight because of work and shit… we will see. And please keep in mind, that I'm only one out of five individuals in The Now-Denial. The others are okay with my answers, but there are different opinions at one point or the other for sure.
Take care!
November 2007
http://thenowdenial.com
http://myspace.com/thenowdenial
STRAIGHT FROM THE INSIDE
So you're at the process of recording and releasing new material soon?
Soeren: Yeah, we just released our 3rd record called “Mundane Lullaby”. It is on Sabotage Records and Sounds Of Subterania Records. Check it out. We like it!
You're all near 30 years-old dudes. Most people at that age have a very critical look at the so called hardcore/punk scene and the DIY movement in general. What's your view on the current trends in the "scene" and do you see it a kind of elitist or dogmatic?
Soeren: Apart from Robin, all of us passed the 30 year old border and you are right. throughout the years the look at the “scene” changes, gets more critical, sometimes more indifferent. For sure you get more distance, emotional as well as physical. I don´t need to go to every show and don´t need to know every (hip) band. Of course the D.I.Y. scene (whatever that is) is elitist and somehow dogmatic. That keeps it alive. Who doesn´t know the feeling, when some band or trend gets popular and you don't want to share it with the mainstream, because it's watering down the intensity. What is getting on my nerves though, is taking things too seriously. I tend to do so too. Or at least I did some years ago. But we have to face, that this is just a music scene. I won't deny some specials here. Like the network you can benefit from as a band, like independent venues, labels, zines, etc. You won't find such a well working structure in many other independent music scenes. But hey, this is important for ourselves. It doesn't have any impact on lots of things in a wider sense. I think it is important to see all this with a realistic view and to place it correctly. It can be the most important thing in your life, but it's not the most important thing in life in general. In the end the inflexibility of the dogmas in hc/punk are just helpful to find a place, to develop identity. For me in the late teenager years and early twenties hc/punk were the crutches I stumbled with through a world full of questions, full of expectations. Things like DIY, straight edge, veganism and this special trust in other hc/punk kids helped me a lot. And this elitist touch makes it even closer. It only works with demarcation from other cultural appearances. But I expect from people to develop and not to stop at this point. This leads to stagnation and boredom. Too many people are feeling so well in their oh so important niche.
Your shows are famous with the highly energetic performances with high-jumping, stage-dives and fun along with talking on stage, representing the true spirit of DIY hardcore. Maybe the passionate and energetic live performance with talking to the crowd about what you think and what is all about is the best way for a band to promote its ideas, what do you think?
Soeren: What is the true spirit of D.I.Y. hardcore??? Ask 20 different people and you get at least 15 different answers. And sorry, I have to disagree you once more. I don't talk on stage because I want to promote any ideas. For me lyrics are one part of The Now-Denial and since I know that most of the people in the audience don't know them, it's just natural, that I tell here and there what the lyrics are about. But there are also many shows, where I don't say anything about lyrics, but rather talk shit, make crappy jokes… it's just how I feel. But since a live performance always has a comunicative aspect, I like it, when a band appear as more than musicians. And please don't be fooled by good photographs. Stage-diving and crowds going crazy is absolutely not a regular thing at our shows. Which is a pity, of course…
Is it true that you're handing out your lyric sheets at your shows?
Soeren: Yeah, that's true. It's an offer, because, as I mentioned above, lyrics are one part of The Now-Denial, that should be available also at shows. But to be honest, we came back from a 2 week tour last week and that was the first tour without lyric-sheets. But just because I forgot to bring them….
It seems from your band's name and your lyrics that you're speaking about problems, denying and criticizing without providing any solutions. Do you consider your message nihilistic?
Soeren: We don't have one message that can be described precisely. Some lyrics may tend to be nihilistic, but some are very positive and constructive. My lyrics and I´m sure ashs lyrics too, are more emotional outbursts than social or political themesongs. You're 100% right that we don't provide any solutions. Who are we to provide solutions? We are just a bunch of fuck ups who try to deal with emotions through our music and lyrics. And since it´s angry music and anger is a strong emotion, that I feel regular when I think about the world, a lot of the lyrics are angry!!!
If you had to sum it up what drives you to continue making passionate hardcore music and being involved in the "scene"?
Soeren: Hardcore/punk is the perfect vehicle to deal with my emotions, the perfect vehicle to express myself creatively. This scene gives me the opportunity to share this with many others. And I got to know a big part of my friends through this scene. And as long as I still meet interesting new people through this I will keep being involved!
People try to label things as easy as they can fit. Like many bands you have been described by some zines as Tragedy/HHIG style hardcore. I won't ask you how do you label your music or whatever, but to tell us a little bit in your own terms about your music and lyrical contents. And do you really fit in that new wave of neo-crust?
Soeren: It would be stupid to deny the influence of bands like His Hero Is Gone or From Ashes Rise on our music, but hey we are around for 7 years in this band and played in bands before that for several years too, so I won't limit myself to influences of such a small genre. And I think everybody who knows us or maybe has seen a live show must recognize that we don't fit in very well. we are too diverse. None of us looks like a crusty, haha. None of the artwork of our records or shirts fit in this genre. But I'm not thinking that much about it anymore. At the latest the new record will stop every try to put us into the “neo-crust” box. We are just a hardcore/punk band which likes to spice their shit with a little rock here and there, which likes their lyrics to be relevant for ourselves, which tries to find healthy compromises in artwork etc. to cover all our different tastes, which tries to benefit from the diversity of its members…
In all interviews with you there's the question about your opinion on playing in squats. After the destruction of Ungdomshuset in Denmark several other autonomous projects in countries near Germany have been raided. Also such places as Rote Flora in Hamburg and others in Berlin and Bremen were raided due to the G8 summit in Germany and maybe the biggest threat to the autonomous spaces in Germany was the auction of Köpi. What's your view on all those events?
Soeren: Without squats or autonomous centres not only a very important part of hc/punk-infrastructure would pass away, but first of all a space where you have possibilities to develop and experiment own rules. We are all raised under rather straight circumstances. We are deeply used to the possibilities and responsibilities offered by this society. And we can't get rid of this socialisation. Of course we can reflect and work on it, but it will always be a part of us and we will (probably) always live in similar structures. So it can't be valued high enough to have spaces, where this logic is at least questioned and in the best case people involved trying to tear it down. You have homophobia, sexism, racism, antisemitism in places like this as well, but they are not welcome. Most of the people try to get over it. That's why these spaces are so damn important. The raids in left centres and places before the G8 summit could be describes as ridiculous regarding the results “they” got from it. But it is scary that laws and rules are worth nothing, if “they” really want to get on you. Not that I was surprised too much, but it is scary nonetheless. There are still people in jail because of these raids. The construction of a terrorist group seems to be enough to put activists in jail, raid houses and so on… and in fact it gave “them” a better insight in structures and with confiscation of e.g. computers, the preparations for the G8 and other activities were hindered. Yeah, Ungdomshuset and Köpi. What else is there? Zorro in Leipzig and Rote Flora in Hamburg and some others. Fewer and fewer. Obviously. I don't know. Sometimes I wonder why all these places exist at all. Maybe for a while it was easier for “them” to know where the potential is. And maybe “they” nowadays think the movement (whatever that is) is so weak, that the closing down is easy enough to handle? But that's not the case in Copenhagen, haha. But if you look at the '80s and the big times of squatting, it's very disappointing how few people are ready to fight for their (!) spaces today. Maybe the younger (our) generations never had to fight for these places and so never learned it. When I was younger, there was the AJZ (Autonomous Jugend Zentrum) Bielefeld and everything was there. It was so easy to be lazy and still have a lot of possibilities…
In early June the leaders of the G8 nations met in Heiligendamm, Germany. The G8 summit is indeed only a symbol, a personified image for the abstract social and economic model. And this is a chance for revolutionary and independent groups to show their anger and frustration to the neo-liberal vision of the world. There were many controversial issues about the image of the black bloc activists and the violent confrontations during the summit. How do you deal with the tactics of property damage and direct confrontations? And do you think that activism like "reclaim the streets" parties are such an ungovernable force?
Soeren: That's not so easy to answer. If I would answer impulsively and emotionally, I would ramble about riots and fighting back and shit, but it's not so easy. For me there's no doubt about violence being one part of resistance. It always has been and it will always be. It's all a question of how and when, about taking responsiblities for others and always keep questioning the meaning and possible results. I have absolutely no problem with property damage, if it makes sense. I have no problems with fighting back against the cops, if you do not endanger “comrades” and other people who don't want to get into it. That was the big problem with the riots in Rostock. It was stupid and dangerous not only from the cops, but also from some testosterone macho assholes dressed in black. The positive part is, that these riots draw attention, make these summits so ridiculously expensive and sometimes are a lot of fun. Is there really an ungovernable force? Reclaim the streets-parties are nice. I'm not into it too much. It's just a matter of time, when there enough cops to gouvern this force. Well, that's of course no reason for not doing it. Just for being realistic about the effects. This could of course be an endless discussion about what kind of activism makes sense. I´m very ambivalent about it. I don´t know. Sometimes I think “better anything than nothing” and sometimes “stop being so naive and quit that bullshit”.
It seems that you're not fans of the CrimethInc rhetoric. What's the most controversy that you've found in the modern "drop-out" counterculture activism as that promoted by collectives such as CrimethInc?
Soeren: Shit, I just made one funny remark about Requiem/CrimethInc in an interview and now I'm nailed to it. Haha. I try to make it short. I respect drop-outs. If they are happy with it, I have no problem with it. But promoting this as the revolutionary act doesn't feel good to me. I'm living in the year 2007, a highly developped, industrialized, technicized world which scares me to death sometimes. This all seems so complex and abstract that I somehow understand the wish to get back to the basics. But is this an answer to complexity in the long run? (yeah, what is an appropiate answer anyway?) I don't think so. I don't have any idea to deal with hyper-capitalism and an overdevelopped industry and shit. I do not think that anarchy or communism are ideas that are in any way relevant for this society. (yeah, again, what is relevant for society?).
Looking at the current leftist social and political movements around Europe it seems that in Germany there are so full of contradictions. Especially throughout the antifascist movement where such extreme controversial groups as "Anti-deutsch" and other pro-zionist, reactionary activists are spreading very confusing message.
Soeren: Yeah, that's true. It's very confusing, even for people living here. But there are so many different approaches throughout the “anti-deutsch”-movement, that it's almost ridiculous to speak of the “anti-deutsch”-movement. I don't want to defend this here, because there are so many ugly things going on that I don't understand why cooler people still label themselves as “anti-deutsch”, but whatever. But to get back to the question. For me a lot of positions in the european left are confusing. How can you relate to the 9/11 assault positive, how can you refer to the “Jihad” positive, how can you defend irans policy? Don't we have brain enough to find a position far away from the two options with us or with the terrorists? I don't get it. If you talk about reactionary activists in the “anti-deutsch”-movement, you have to speak of reactionary activists in the left or hardcore/punk scene everywhere. Where is the progressive part of talking about bush over and over again. Boring! What is the progressive aspect of repeating and supporting antisemitic clichees a la “the jews have too much influence” over and over again? Is it so difficult to think for yourself? Just to explain some more of the German situation: if you go to a nazi-demonstration in Germany these days, you see flags of Palestine, Iraqi flags, you see Palestinian scarfs and so on. You hear the same slogans against the U$A and Israel like in the “left” in Europe. And with the special antisemitic tradition in Germany, it's very ugly and confusing. To say it clearly, I don't think that waving American and
Israelic flags (or similar “anti-deutsch” tactics) is a good idea as a statement against this trend in the German nazi-scene. But I can demand a critical look on the sometimes simplifying rhetoric in leftist anti-imperialism. Again: I don't understand the black and white view on this complex issue.
Are the members of The Now-Denial veg(etari)ans? How do you deal with the animal rights issues? What's your opinion on veganism alone as an act of social/political and environmentalist action?
Soeren: I'm vegan. The only survivor in The Now-Denial. Well, animal rights are no big issue in The Now-Denial. So it wouldn't be fair to ramble about this issue much. Of course I would say that veganism/animal rights alone, without the connection to emancipatoric views on the “world”, is a strange thing I don't understand. But all the people I know being active in this scene are deeply rooted in a “left” context.
Since January 2007 Bulgaria became a European Union member. What is your opinion on the Bulgarian/Romanian EU membership? And what do you think of the immigration flow from our country to Western Europe, the universal currency Euro, the European constitution?
Soeren: Fucking hell! This is too complex and complicated for me. I could answer this only superficial, but that doesn't feel right for me. I can tell you that I hate the refugee-policy of the European Union, I hate the vision to be the dominating super-power force. This whole thing seems to be so shitty and I'm aware that we, as Germans, rather profit from it. And I wouldn't be honest, if I would deny that it's so easy and practical for us with the Euro, but the increase of prices is pretty tough for many people… I don't know, it's an abstract hostility towards the European Union, whether with or without Romania and Bulgaria, but I'm far away from being well informed.
Your thoughts on education and work? I think it’s an interesting question, because there are so many Bulgarians studying and working in Germany. What’s your opinion about the very complicated educational system in Germany?
Soeren: To be honest I never tought of the German educational system as complicated. But I grew up with it, don't know about any other in detail. It's strange to think about it, because I have to face my privileges. I'm a well-educated guy with all the options. There was a time, when it seemed that the school-education should be restructured and there aren't many low-education-schools (Hauptschule) anymore. But high-education-schools (Gymnasium) will be there forever. There are more and more schools for everybody (Gesamtschule), but since there are new movements to support elites, the hierarchical education system will continue. This year some universities got extra money for being universities for the elite. And fees for studying are installed at most of the universities, which make it harder for people with poorer backgrounds, because the scholarship system in Germany is a joke compared to the US for example. of course I can understand people from Bulgaria who come here to study and/or work, if they hope to get a better education or at least the option to get higher wages… I 'm not working on carreer-opportunities, but I can't blame people for doing it. So why not trying to achieve the best for yourself. Some hopes will turn out to be just illusions, but well, that's capitalism…
Anything to add or any comments?
Soeren: Thank you very much for this interesting interview. I really hope that we will make it to Bulgaria one day. But there are so many ideas and options and our time-schedules are so damn tight because of work and shit… we will see. And please keep in mind, that I'm only one out of five individuals in The Now-Denial. The others are okay with my answers, but there are different opinions at one point or the other for sure.
Take care!
November 2007
http://thenowdenial.com
http://myspace.com/thenowdenial
STRAIGHT FROM THE INSIDE
interview with P.A.W.N.S.
You speak about the hypocrisy and atrocities that the capitalist system has created. Do you think that making music and playing in a punk band is good and effective way to fight against this system and to show dissent?Shawn: Music isn’t so much a way of fighting the system as much as it is a spreading solidarity in a way to develop an alternative lifestyle that’s worth living. We choose to sing about the things that give us meaning in our lives because if we were to derive meaning in our lives from the capitalist system then we’d have a very terrible life to live. So, for us it’s not so much about fighting the system, because the system is destroying itself, that’s obvious. We don’t have to do anything, the system will destroy itself, but what we do have to do for ourselves and people like us, is to provide a basis of unity in which we can support one another in the hard decisions and the hard choises of our lifestyle, to make our life worth living. So, it doesn’t quite answer the question but i know it’s an honest answer that punk rock isn’t a weapon, it’s tools for living a life worth living.
St.Ann: ...and tools for meeting other people who think the same way that we do, and give the good excuse and a good reason to travel and meet those different people...
How do you put your lyrics into action? In what activities are you involved?
St.Ann: I think that actions come before the lyrics, and the lirycs also are more of a commentary on our personal experiences and a good way to vent frustration because sometimes there is only so much you can do about a problem...
Shawn: ...that’s right...you spend too much time internalizing suffering whereas you can vocalize the suffering. That’s what makes people like the music. It isn’t so much because they like to feel the pain and misery, but because they identify with the same sort of things that all of us confront and all of us are subjected to. That’s really the main issue. Putting the yrics into action, as St.Ann said, was really a consequence of having to survive in a system that destroys people. And so, there are too many levels to describe specificly what we do, but every choice we do in our lives is based on how we react to a system that’s there to destroy poor people, to destroy people who want self-determination, and a system that really tries to materialize everything that’s valuable in life. And in action, we’re not materialists, we’re people who care about human beings. And so the lyrics are a representation of what we see in the world and what we recognize as things that are detrimental to our own mental health and it’s a way in which we can express these things, to share a bond with people who feel the same pains or same problems. It’s not really a negative thing, it’s more a putting in words to a tangible life, a life where capitalist system, where a system that emphasizes on material goods over humanity is really the problem. And to us the lyrics are just a reaction, not necessarily an approach.
How do you describe yourself? As an (anarchist) collective or as a punk rock band?
St.Ann: Definitively as a collective. We have, at this point in time maybe, eight or ten members of the band. Shawn and I have always been in the band from the baginning and Sam, our bassplayer, that’s here with us now, he is our second bassplayer but the one who’s been with us the longest. We had a couple of other bassplayers that come on different tours with us. And we’ve had, I think, five drummers...
The Power and Wealth will need their slaves until the Power and the Wealth still exist. Do you think that there is another way to escape the slavery except a total rebuilding from the ground up?Shawn: That’s a very interesting question, because isn’t not just the lyrical content that helps us view a world in a certain paradigm, but it’s our drive to really analize human interaction trough time. We’re both historians and we really take the time to see what is distinctly human and separate that from what’s manufactured by a given society. So, in that sense, I think in the question is the answer. Ofcourse, an utopian society will not emerge until this society destroys itself. That’s, ofcourse, the situation. But we can’t choose what type of time we live in. We can choose the place we live in but we can’t choose the paradigm, all we can do is manufacture a paradigm that’s worth living in. So in that sense, “power and wealth need slaves”, a lot of people resonate with that name because it’s something that’s been common to the capitalist system, something common to the modern world. And you see that as it’s played out from at least the fifteenth century, but you can certainly go before that. Even the pharaohs, imagine how they built the pyramids?
St.Ann: Also, the long name for PAWNS - “power and wealth need slaves”, puts the emphasis on the power that the “slaves” have, all the worker people. In more recent history, like the French Revolution, when the working class stopped working - everyone suffered. Who’s there to clean the streets? Who’s there to make the clothing that everyone buys and wears? Who’s there to bake the bread? And it’s important to know how much power we have as workers in a society. If we all choose to stop working for other people, that’s where our power is.
Shawn: That’s right, the power of creativity. Not just workers, but when we use the word “workers” we’re really talking about people doing what they care about doing. So, in that sense an artist can be a worker, a roadbuilder is certainly a worker. But “workers” we mean – people who make their existence by their own hands, not people who count money and collect rents. That’s the opposite of what we mean by “workers”.
What does the punk lifestyle mean to you?
St.Ann: Just being yourself, and being true to yourself and to other people...
Shawn: ...and letting other people be true to themselves, that’s the most difficult aspect, because you have to be able to let people be themselves.
Power and Wealth need their slaves in the music industry. The mainstream media tries to infilitrate the message and the ideals behind the punk movement. Do you think that the D.I.Y. ideals and creating your own music, packaging, merch etc. is the only way to fight against the musical industry?
St.Ann: I don’t know if it’s so much fighting against it as ignoring it. We just do what we do. We have our friends and the bigger collectives, not just in our band, not just in the city we live in, or the state we live in, or the continent we live in, but friends everywhere, and in Netherland, and Bulgaria, everywhere.
Shawn: And the thing is, we have a problem with the term “do it yourself”. I think it’s not accurate. It’s really “do it ourselves”, it should be D.I.O.
St.Ann: ...’cause there’s not to many things you can actually do by yourself...
Shawn: ...it’s “do it ourselves” and that’s the power of cooperation...
St.Ann: ...like how many people it takes to make the zine that you guys do...
There’s a lot of people involved...
St.Ann: A lot of people that contribute, and whose contributions are a part of what makes an end product so wonderful...
What can we do as a punk community to heal the damage that the Power and Wealth have created to the planet?
Shawn: Support, mutual support, a mutual aid in anarchist terms. Ofcourse, we have to assist one another in helping each other achieve goals that aren’t really accessible if you play the capitalist game. As far as what we can do to heal the damage – that’s all we can do to heal the damage. But the damage is continuing expedentially, and we can’t stop that damage. All we can do is survive that damage, and we can best survive that damage...
St.Ann: ...together. We need the punk people as a worldwide community and collective...and that’s where our power is...in the community, across borders, across timezones, across languages, everything...
...punk internationalists...
Shawn: Sometimes when we play a lot of bands go “we’re from so and so”, we always say we’re from planet Earth...sometimes we say we’re from Occupied North America, but the typical answer, that reflects how we feel, is ”we’re from the planet Earth”
What did you learn about Bulgaria?
Shawn: That people are the same wherever you go. We have excellent friends here and we’re meeting new friends, and there’s the sort of people we’d like to interact with wherever we are. So what did we learn about Bulgaria? Well, we learned what we expected that we’d would learn and continually meet people of the similar mindset, similar views of the paradigm, similar people in the sense of integrity, similar people in the sense of a drive to fabricate a life worth living and so thats our goal - to unify the world tribe. And that’s what’s fantastic about punk rock as a music...
St.Ann: Well, i think it’s not just our goal, it’s everyone’s goal...that’s why we’re having this interview and this conversation...
Shawn: Punk rock music is the veins and the blood of the human body, it’s what transports that solidarity...
St.Ann: It’s the way we can communicate through languages, through cultures, through the music to express the shared ideas that we all believe in every little place on Earth.
What do you think of the antipolitical trend in punk scene? There are so many bands that sing only about beer, fun and street tunes.
Shawn: People have different ways of expressing what is important to them at the moment. And if what’s important to people is drinking and partying, then that’s the level of their maturity at the time. We don’t write these people off, what we do is we accept the fact that people have different value systems. Do we care to listen to macho-punkers talk about women and beer? No, we don’t prefer to do that, but da we want to see them stop using the term punk? Well, not really. It’s important to be exposed to those individuals because that’s the opportunity to develop dialogue with people and help them develop their own set of values. No we’re not that into beer, drink...we like to drink beer but we don’t sing about drinking beer.
Are any of you vegans? Are you involved in some kind of animal rights activism?
St.Ann: Some people in the collective – punks and anarchist punks, animal rights punks...we know people that are very active. I think that what is important to us is working on how people interact with eachother first, and that’s our primary goal – make relationships with other people. Ofcourse, we love animals...
Shawn: We respect the Animal Liberation Front. We think that the work those people do is very effective...
St.Ann: ...but we have a different job...
Shawn: Our job is to express these issues in terms of class war, and that’s our emphasis. We have many friends and many people that operate in the collective that emphasize animal rights, we support their goals, but for the PAWNS, we’re class warriors first.
What do you think will happen when Bushes mandate ends? How do you think his war in Iraq will continue?
Shawn: That is a very interesting question and it would take a lot of time to answer. But a way to conceptualize that simply is – who makes money off of war, who makes money off of killing poor people? Well, look, that’s been happenning for a long time and until we address the real issue that poor people are a source of profit for wealthy people through murder and through annihilation than we haven’t really touched the real issue. So if not Bush it’s some other rich bastard that’s fucking killing poor people for money.
2006
pawns@synthesis.net
www.thepawns.com
STRAIGHT FROM THE INSIDE
Interview with RES GESTAE from Columbia
Great to talk with a band from Colombia. First can you represent the band members, who plays what, line-up changes...
Ok, this is Res Gestae current line up: Montag - Guitar, Max Power – Guitar, Sara - Vocals, Dark Soul – Drums, Paria – Bass, in the past we were a four piece band, we added a guitar player (Max Power) 3 years ago, and we have changed one vocalist and one drummer.
How long have Res Gestae been together?
5 years.
Are you really all vegetarians and straight edge?
Well, we have been vegetarians for a long time and we continue been vegetarians at this moment. When we started the band we were also all straight edge for a long time, but right now our vocalist is not sxe anymore. I guess that is typical of most sxe bands around the world, but the thing is that we decided that it was better to continue playing with our vocalist than to kick him out of the band just because he had changed his position towards alcohol. In this sense sXe is a very important issue for some of us at Res gestae, but it is not the main focus of our band.
For what are your lyrics all about and are they especially in Spanish?
Our lyrics deal mainly with Colombia's social and political situation. We talk directly about the fucked up things that are going on over here: police repression, paramilitary activity, etc. We also have other lyrics that highlight our aim of forming a free culture, a collective way of life where hierarchy and oppression can be reduced to a minimum level. Right now we are writing lyrics about various issues that happened in the last couple of years. For example we recently wrote a lyric about a 15 year-old anarchist that was killed by the police in a mayday demonstration.
Can you give us a look at the Colombian hardcore community and the social/political situation in your country at the moment. Explain a little bit how day to day life is for young people there.
The Colombian hardcore community started as such in 1996. Before that there were a few bands, but it was especially in that year that a scene started to grow. Some of us were involved at that time and we used to play mostly NYHC stuff. The scene was oriented towards "brotherhood, loyalty, commitment" haha. After some years things changed a lot and many bands started to talk about political issues and the shows changed a little bit. The whole Colombian situation was a great influence for many of us and we were shocked by it. Also we found out about other hardcore experiences around the world that took the scene in a more countercultural manner. Now the hardcore community is very diverse. You can go to a show every two weeks and you can find from the typical nyhc type of thing to the more diy political activities.
The social/political situation over here is really complicated. Basically, the current situation is the product of a long history of oppression and war. Right now there are two main Marxist-leninist guerrillas that fight for power and a paramilitary army that fights against the guerrillas and the general social left movement. We have a really authoritarian and dangerous president which is also bowing down to Bush's politics. The most important issue right now is that quite a lot of congressmen are now in jail because they are linked with paramilitaries. Some people from CrimethInc wrote recently, for their blog, a report in English about the Colombian situation and the anarchist activity over here . So if you can, please visit their website and read it (www.crimethinc.com).
And what about the nationalism, corruption, drug wars?
Patriotism is one of the beloved tactics of the current president. The media is filled with messages of Colombian pride and the majority of the population believes that. However patriotism is not used only by the right, the left parties also talk about it and use it as a way of defending the county's sovereignty. Corruption is a common thing around Latin America, most politicians use their public power to steal money. Specifically in Colombia, corruption is also linked with paramilitaries and in this way with drugs. Drug wars were related in the 80's with the drug cartels in different cities, right now it is mostly related with the "civil war" that we are living. The drug issue is really complicated and has to be analyzed from different perspectives, because everybody benefits from this "illegal" economy. Some of us think that the greater problem is the consumption of drugs and not so much the production. We think that a solution may be related with making drugs legal. This is really important because in this moment the US and Colombian governments are using the drug issue as an excuse to attack the social movements and to take control over territories.
What do you think of Simon Bolivar and his politics?
Simón Bolivar did very important things back in the day. We think it is interesting to read his books and find out about his actions. Right now, the Venezuelan, Ecuadorian and Bolivian government are trying to actualize Bolivar´s ideas. Also the guerrillas in Colombia have a similar ideology. However, for us anarchists, these ideas are not our first source of inspiration.
I know that it's not easy to move from a country to country in South America. How does this affect your tours? Can a Colombian band tour all of South America succesfully?
It is not easy to do it, but we managed to tour Brazil a couple of years ago. We went from Colombia to Argentina in a 6 days bus trip and the directly to Brazil. For us it was an awesome experience. Making a tour over here is difficult because you won't make back the money that you invested, however there are a lot of nice awesome people that can you help you out with food, places to play and places to sleep. In our tour we met a lot of amazing people; saw really good bands and interesting places. I guess that you can learn a lot when you travel around South America in a diy manner.
What is the role of the DIY records labels? I know there are some records labels in Latin America that distribute and edit music without bands permission. And there are really DIY records stores in Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru selling CD-Rs and vinyls of international bands.
Yes, DIY labels are now common. You can find labels like Dirección Positiva, Persistencia Records, Vendetta Records, Stepdown Records, etc. This people usually do everything diy and release mainly colombian hardcorepunk bands. Sometimes diy labels also do international editions but they usually talk with the bands first and work something out.
Can you explain something about the benefit concerts you play? I know you play a lot of animal rights benefit shows...
We have played a lot of benefit shows like the ones done for political prisoners by the Colombian ABC and the yearly "Verdurada". The name of this last show was taken from a festival done in Brazil. Over here the Verdurada is mostly a show related with animal liberation were people see videos or conferences about this issue and eat free vegetarian food.
What do you do outside the band, are you involved in any collectives, organisations, distros... animal rights groups?
Some of us have a label called "Dirección Positiva" (www.myspace.com/direccionpositiva)
positiva) and we are involved in a collective called "Contracultura" (www.contracultura.cjb.net). Others are also involved in the "Crimental" Collective (www.crimethinc.com/espanol)
Anything to add.
Thanks a lot for the interview! I hope that this serves as a bridge of communication and that we can learn more about what is going on over there and expand the countercultural international network. Please visit our website: www.myspace.com/xresgestaex or write to us at xresgestaex@gmail.com
STRAIGHT FROM THE INSIDE
The unmarked categories
UNMARKED CATEGORIES
and the question of power
some anarcha-feminist notes
Erinyen collective Berlin erinye@riseup.net
This is an ode to a Berlin “anarchist” collective of my past. I am sure, many have made similar experiences of being in collectives which at one point don’t meet the same ideas oneself would affiliate with anarchism and working together in collectives, which are supposed to be based on anti-authoritarian standards. Well it sometimes becomes quite disillusioning after all those years, seeing the same stuff happening again and again. People remain in collectives, becoming one of the subordinated parts (you know how it is – planning collective actions, where a part is always cooking, cleaning, carrying around the stuff, building up the tables, technical stuff, painting banners and so on, while some other enjoy much more, always just to arrive in time to present themselves, putting their person in ‘scene’ while others have built it up) or stay because of the benefits they assume from being part of a ‘famous’ collective. While becoming more and more frustrated, many people only get their anger and frustration about dominant people out, behind their backs, but remain in their damn subordinated position. Moaning about other peoples actions and behaviour, but not realizing that a great deal also lies with them. If you want to change the power relations in a certain collective, because people have the impression that it is unequal or dominating, it’s not the only solution that people withdraw from their power (which is hard enough to communicate and achieve), it also needs people who are willing to take up responsibilities for themselves, without being fuckin lead by someone or ascribed work loads by others. Well in some collectives people become one of the silenced part, because questioning authority becomes a vital threat, if you are surrounded by people who rather put their heads down than confronting people who are insulting or silencing others. I started to write this text with a focus on power, as well as the connected issue of various forms of constraint on human action, to put my personal experiences in a broader context. Of course, even if I tell myself, I don’t surrender to your damn rules, assumptions, ego games and power seeking behaviour, it has a personal impact if oneself is getting insulted, intimidated and made shut up, for criticizing dominant behaviour or hidden hierarchies. Especially if the majority of a collective remains openly silent on this, rather making the choice of criticizing hidden behind the back of the person who is insulting others, not confronting authoritarian behaviour over and over again, or giving time and space for the explanation and excuses of this person, rather than considering to give at least the same time and space for the people who where insulted. So what does it make? It makes you feel insecure, loosing trust in people, avoiding places not to be confronted with the same people. It takes time to find your self-esteem, your place, your courage and your voice again in order to say, mean and live up to ‘NEVER SURRENDER’.
So here it goes:
Power itself appears in a relational way: one cannot meaningfully say that a particular person ‘has power’ without also specifying the role of other people in the social collective. Also power very often runs reciprocally, but usually not with equal reciprocity. To exercise power over people, one must have control over things that others desire or need, but one can rarely exercise that power without a measure of reverse control. Of course in anarchist collectives power exists, which is not necessarily bad in itself. But we have to distinguish between the various forms of power and power as such. Unlike power, hierarchical power relations are always based on social systems of command and obedience, whatever concrete expressions these may take. Hierarchies are structures, where the dominant part enjoys a privileged and coercive position towards the subordinate part which according to this social logic must subdue their will and obey (however subtly or unconsciously).
Power may be held through social class, personal or group charisma, ascribed power (acting on perceived or assumed abilities), education (ability, skills), persuasion (direct or indirect), knowledge (granted or withheld, shared or kept secret), resources (financial, control of access to places), force (violence, coercion)… It could be also distinguished between ‘power-over’ (influence on other people) from ‘power-to’ (ability to perform).
The powerful comprise those people with easy access to resources, those who can exercise power without considering their actions. The unmarked category can form the identifying mark of the powerful. The unmarked category becomes the standard against which to measure everything else. One can often overlook unmarked categories. Whiteness forms an unmarked category, in many parts of the world, not commonly visible to the powerful, as they often fall within this category. Anarchist collectives quite often also fall trap to this view of power to gender and disability: the able body is the neutral body; the man is the normal status. The marked body is outside of what is regarded as the norm: it is too thin, it is too fat, it is crippled, it is mad, it is unpredictable.
Because anarchism is purported to oppose all usage of power and forms of oppression the term anarcha-feminsim should actually be unnecessary. All anarchists should, if they really meant what they said about being against all forms of oppression, work against, or at least not support, the oppression of women. That's theoretically. However, our reality is that we are all products of our social surroundings. It is also a fact that those who find themselves in a hierarchical position of power have a hard time accepting that a hierarchy even exists. Men do not recognise the oppression of women to the same extent or to the same degree that women do. Those who have power and privilege are in addition, often unwilling to abandon these. Or people who claim to support equality have not actively confronted others on their dominating or harassing behaviour. Many male anarchists have not activated themselves in the struggle against the oppression of women and it has become necessary for female anarchists to signify themselves as anarcha-feminists.
If enough people accept 'common categories' based on unmarked categories learned through socialization, then these people exercise power by defining right from wrong and who, or what, is 'normal'. It is a subtle form of power: easier to overlook than power enforced by violence, hard to resist because it is all about 'normalization'. Many people simply do not seem to have any comprehension what it means to grow up as being different from the socially constructed dominant norm in society, which is largely hostile to your own sense of self and to your very existence. Even among anarchists it takes some effort to understand the experience of those who are different in some fundamental way, just to name gender, ableness, sexual orientation and/or ethnicity. We do not grow up or live in a vacuum; we grow up and live in a particular society at a particular time. All of us are influenced in countless ways by the world in which we live. You really think you are so special not to be affected by it?
The unmarked categories of privilege known as ‘normal’: If you are straight, white, able-bodied, mid-twenties to mid-forties person, you are as ‘normal’ as it gets. It also means you overwhelmingly occupy the main spaces, even if you are not falling in all of those unmarked categories. It also means, not always practiced active discrimination, but active inattention. What does it mean to speak and act as a privileged person? It means that you don’t see a lot of stuff because you never experienced it or had to see it.
Often there is a ‘masculinity’ culture around anarchism that some people feel alienated from. Especially patriarchy teaches people, that they are entitled to other people’s bodies, to take up space and to put their ideas and thoughts out there whenever they want to, without consideration for others. These issues bring about disempowerment not only for women, but for many men who cannot or do not want to live up to this ‘masculinity’ stereotype. This is a very different socialization than other people experience who are told to shut up, keep it to themselves, hide who they really are, get out of the way and to never forget how lucky they are to be allowed here.
Gender is a process of social construction, a system of social stratification, and an institution that structures every aspect of our lives because of its embeddedness in the current system, as well as in dominant sexuality, language and culture. Well even in anarchist/autonomous settings it is quite difficult for men and women to stay outside the discourse of heterosexual masculinity/femininity. If a female with a Mohawk, tattoos, piercing, dressed in tight shirt, mini-skirt and boots, might be considered a rebellious person outside of the ‘norm’ from society, how do you think she might be interpreted when entering an illegilized bar in a squat, where she is not known? Maybe as displaying availability to males in an anarchist surrounding, ready for being ‘checked out’ or rather as a political activist for interesting political discussions? Did you ever wonder what functions some ‘dress codes’ have? Why are there still so many differences between female and male dressing in the anarchist ‘scene’? How would a male anarchist be viewed if he chooses to wear mini-skirts? Why do some guys always have to take their shirts of, as soon as they are in public and it’s not raining or full of snow? With enough experiences of women in autonomous places who have their personal space violated by men who block their paths, stand too close, use a too intimate and insulting language, crude remarks, hearing others rate women’s bodies like "nice ass", being groped or rubbed up against…, you can imagine that it has an impact on their behaviour. For some it might be necessary to form autonomous female only spaces, in order to breathe freely for a change. For others it means a constant fight against dominant gender assumptions, arguments and proving that you are equal in mixed surroundings. Privileges for men, whether they protect, threaten or aggress, are seldom analysed in a constant manner. Patriarchy is a dominant reality in our world, so much that many people cannot imagine any other way of organizing human life. Gender and sexuality are major components of structured inequality and discrimination. Of course the reality of family life is quite different from the sentimental ideal. Anarchists generally do not hold with conventional marriage. It is not acceptable that it is any business of the church or the State what people do with their sexual relationships. True emotional security for both children and adults is less likely to be found in a legally enforceable and artificially 'permanent' tie between two people of either sex, than it is in a wider network of relationships that may or may not have a sexual component. The dominant forms of socialization keep people at an emotional distance from other people. As such it creates also some intense forms of loneliness and separation, often viewed to be resolved in terms of romance. Nevertheless it permeates other realms of relationships as well, from families to friendships. The dominant course in the current society constructs loneliness and separation in terms of lack-of-romance, rather than as lack of mutual connection to others in general. It is put forward that romance (and/or sex) is something that human beings ought to have, whereas other sorts of close emotional relationships people might have with others aren’t valued as much. As a consequence relationships with friends may not feel the same as a romantic relationship, creating as well a sense of belonging, ownership, security and power (to be misused in many cases). The discrepancy between theory and practice, between alleged advocacy of equalitarianism and actually more conventional behaviour when it comes to relationships, can still be found everywhere in the anarchist ‘scene’. The unmarked categories become the standard against which to measure everything else, of course also inside the anarchist 'scene'.
Anarcha-feminism means for me also, thinking things through, especially experiences which have forced a submissive role upon me. Experiences where I have been taught that women are/should be weaker, that women should look a certain way and that women are just valued because of their bodies as well as sex. Yet how can we keep away how we've been taught throughout our lives and all those forces around us now from affecting us? How can we know if/when we're really free from our socialization, from what we've been taught, what had been ingrained in us, and the pressure we feel socially, collectively or from the closest persons around us? What unmarked categories are still remaining around us - even 'masked' in the anarchist 'scene' –holding people back, dominating or silencing others? Calling yourself an anarchist/autonomous doesn’t excuse you from responsibility over your own daily relationships with other people. How we choose to treat each other goes to the core of what we hope to accomplish. Must we always establish and follow new informal hierarchies in our collectives based on who is more popular or stronger versus who is unpopular and out of the ‘scenes’ mainstream? People cannot participate equally if they are not free to be and express themselves. Tolerance begins with the acknowledgement that people other than ourselves may see things differently than we do, and suspending judgment while those with whom we may disagree or whose point of view we may not understand are given a forum to explain their perspective and are actively listened to. The unmarked/marked categories need to be acknowledged more often, as well as the silences, protections and denials surrounding privilege/power/dominance.
The true focus of revolutionary change is never merely the oppressive situations which we seek to escape, but the piece of the oppressor or the repressed which is planted deep within each of us.
some anarcha-feminist notes
Erinyen collective Berlin erinye@riseup.net
This is an ode to a Berlin “anarchist” collective of my past. I am sure, many have made similar experiences of being in collectives which at one point don’t meet the same ideas oneself would affiliate with anarchism and working together in collectives, which are supposed to be based on anti-authoritarian standards. Well it sometimes becomes quite disillusioning after all those years, seeing the same stuff happening again and again. People remain in collectives, becoming one of the subordinated parts (you know how it is – planning collective actions, where a part is always cooking, cleaning, carrying around the stuff, building up the tables, technical stuff, painting banners and so on, while some other enjoy much more, always just to arrive in time to present themselves, putting their person in ‘scene’ while others have built it up) or stay because of the benefits they assume from being part of a ‘famous’ collective. While becoming more and more frustrated, many people only get their anger and frustration about dominant people out, behind their backs, but remain in their damn subordinated position. Moaning about other peoples actions and behaviour, but not realizing that a great deal also lies with them. If you want to change the power relations in a certain collective, because people have the impression that it is unequal or dominating, it’s not the only solution that people withdraw from their power (which is hard enough to communicate and achieve), it also needs people who are willing to take up responsibilities for themselves, without being fuckin lead by someone or ascribed work loads by others. Well in some collectives people become one of the silenced part, because questioning authority becomes a vital threat, if you are surrounded by people who rather put their heads down than confronting people who are insulting or silencing others. I started to write this text with a focus on power, as well as the connected issue of various forms of constraint on human action, to put my personal experiences in a broader context. Of course, even if I tell myself, I don’t surrender to your damn rules, assumptions, ego games and power seeking behaviour, it has a personal impact if oneself is getting insulted, intimidated and made shut up, for criticizing dominant behaviour or hidden hierarchies. Especially if the majority of a collective remains openly silent on this, rather making the choice of criticizing hidden behind the back of the person who is insulting others, not confronting authoritarian behaviour over and over again, or giving time and space for the explanation and excuses of this person, rather than considering to give at least the same time and space for the people who where insulted. So what does it make? It makes you feel insecure, loosing trust in people, avoiding places not to be confronted with the same people. It takes time to find your self-esteem, your place, your courage and your voice again in order to say, mean and live up to ‘NEVER SURRENDER’.
So here it goes:
Power itself appears in a relational way: one cannot meaningfully say that a particular person ‘has power’ without also specifying the role of other people in the social collective. Also power very often runs reciprocally, but usually not with equal reciprocity. To exercise power over people, one must have control over things that others desire or need, but one can rarely exercise that power without a measure of reverse control. Of course in anarchist collectives power exists, which is not necessarily bad in itself. But we have to distinguish between the various forms of power and power as such. Unlike power, hierarchical power relations are always based on social systems of command and obedience, whatever concrete expressions these may take. Hierarchies are structures, where the dominant part enjoys a privileged and coercive position towards the subordinate part which according to this social logic must subdue their will and obey (however subtly or unconsciously).
Power may be held through social class, personal or group charisma, ascribed power (acting on perceived or assumed abilities), education (ability, skills), persuasion (direct or indirect), knowledge (granted or withheld, shared or kept secret), resources (financial, control of access to places), force (violence, coercion)… It could be also distinguished between ‘power-over’ (influence on other people) from ‘power-to’ (ability to perform).
The powerful comprise those people with easy access to resources, those who can exercise power without considering their actions. The unmarked category can form the identifying mark of the powerful. The unmarked category becomes the standard against which to measure everything else. One can often overlook unmarked categories. Whiteness forms an unmarked category, in many parts of the world, not commonly visible to the powerful, as they often fall within this category. Anarchist collectives quite often also fall trap to this view of power to gender and disability: the able body is the neutral body; the man is the normal status. The marked body is outside of what is regarded as the norm: it is too thin, it is too fat, it is crippled, it is mad, it is unpredictable.
Because anarchism is purported to oppose all usage of power and forms of oppression the term anarcha-feminsim should actually be unnecessary. All anarchists should, if they really meant what they said about being against all forms of oppression, work against, or at least not support, the oppression of women. That's theoretically. However, our reality is that we are all products of our social surroundings. It is also a fact that those who find themselves in a hierarchical position of power have a hard time accepting that a hierarchy even exists. Men do not recognise the oppression of women to the same extent or to the same degree that women do. Those who have power and privilege are in addition, often unwilling to abandon these. Or people who claim to support equality have not actively confronted others on their dominating or harassing behaviour. Many male anarchists have not activated themselves in the struggle against the oppression of women and it has become necessary for female anarchists to signify themselves as anarcha-feminists.
If enough people accept 'common categories' based on unmarked categories learned through socialization, then these people exercise power by defining right from wrong and who, or what, is 'normal'. It is a subtle form of power: easier to overlook than power enforced by violence, hard to resist because it is all about 'normalization'. Many people simply do not seem to have any comprehension what it means to grow up as being different from the socially constructed dominant norm in society, which is largely hostile to your own sense of self and to your very existence. Even among anarchists it takes some effort to understand the experience of those who are different in some fundamental way, just to name gender, ableness, sexual orientation and/or ethnicity. We do not grow up or live in a vacuum; we grow up and live in a particular society at a particular time. All of us are influenced in countless ways by the world in which we live. You really think you are so special not to be affected by it?
The unmarked categories of privilege known as ‘normal’: If you are straight, white, able-bodied, mid-twenties to mid-forties person, you are as ‘normal’ as it gets. It also means you overwhelmingly occupy the main spaces, even if you are not falling in all of those unmarked categories. It also means, not always practiced active discrimination, but active inattention. What does it mean to speak and act as a privileged person? It means that you don’t see a lot of stuff because you never experienced it or had to see it.
Often there is a ‘masculinity’ culture around anarchism that some people feel alienated from. Especially patriarchy teaches people, that they are entitled to other people’s bodies, to take up space and to put their ideas and thoughts out there whenever they want to, without consideration for others. These issues bring about disempowerment not only for women, but for many men who cannot or do not want to live up to this ‘masculinity’ stereotype. This is a very different socialization than other people experience who are told to shut up, keep it to themselves, hide who they really are, get out of the way and to never forget how lucky they are to be allowed here.
Gender is a process of social construction, a system of social stratification, and an institution that structures every aspect of our lives because of its embeddedness in the current system, as well as in dominant sexuality, language and culture. Well even in anarchist/autonomous settings it is quite difficult for men and women to stay outside the discourse of heterosexual masculinity/femininity. If a female with a Mohawk, tattoos, piercing, dressed in tight shirt, mini-skirt and boots, might be considered a rebellious person outside of the ‘norm’ from society, how do you think she might be interpreted when entering an illegilized bar in a squat, where she is not known? Maybe as displaying availability to males in an anarchist surrounding, ready for being ‘checked out’ or rather as a political activist for interesting political discussions? Did you ever wonder what functions some ‘dress codes’ have? Why are there still so many differences between female and male dressing in the anarchist ‘scene’? How would a male anarchist be viewed if he chooses to wear mini-skirts? Why do some guys always have to take their shirts of, as soon as they are in public and it’s not raining or full of snow? With enough experiences of women in autonomous places who have their personal space violated by men who block their paths, stand too close, use a too intimate and insulting language, crude remarks, hearing others rate women’s bodies like "nice ass", being groped or rubbed up against…, you can imagine that it has an impact on their behaviour. For some it might be necessary to form autonomous female only spaces, in order to breathe freely for a change. For others it means a constant fight against dominant gender assumptions, arguments and proving that you are equal in mixed surroundings. Privileges for men, whether they protect, threaten or aggress, are seldom analysed in a constant manner. Patriarchy is a dominant reality in our world, so much that many people cannot imagine any other way of organizing human life. Gender and sexuality are major components of structured inequality and discrimination. Of course the reality of family life is quite different from the sentimental ideal. Anarchists generally do not hold with conventional marriage. It is not acceptable that it is any business of the church or the State what people do with their sexual relationships. True emotional security for both children and adults is less likely to be found in a legally enforceable and artificially 'permanent' tie between two people of either sex, than it is in a wider network of relationships that may or may not have a sexual component. The dominant forms of socialization keep people at an emotional distance from other people. As such it creates also some intense forms of loneliness and separation, often viewed to be resolved in terms of romance. Nevertheless it permeates other realms of relationships as well, from families to friendships. The dominant course in the current society constructs loneliness and separation in terms of lack-of-romance, rather than as lack of mutual connection to others in general. It is put forward that romance (and/or sex) is something that human beings ought to have, whereas other sorts of close emotional relationships people might have with others aren’t valued as much. As a consequence relationships with friends may not feel the same as a romantic relationship, creating as well a sense of belonging, ownership, security and power (to be misused in many cases). The discrepancy between theory and practice, between alleged advocacy of equalitarianism and actually more conventional behaviour when it comes to relationships, can still be found everywhere in the anarchist ‘scene’. The unmarked categories become the standard against which to measure everything else, of course also inside the anarchist 'scene'.
Anarcha-feminism means for me also, thinking things through, especially experiences which have forced a submissive role upon me. Experiences where I have been taught that women are/should be weaker, that women should look a certain way and that women are just valued because of their bodies as well as sex. Yet how can we keep away how we've been taught throughout our lives and all those forces around us now from affecting us? How can we know if/when we're really free from our socialization, from what we've been taught, what had been ingrained in us, and the pressure we feel socially, collectively or from the closest persons around us? What unmarked categories are still remaining around us - even 'masked' in the anarchist 'scene' –holding people back, dominating or silencing others? Calling yourself an anarchist/autonomous doesn’t excuse you from responsibility over your own daily relationships with other people. How we choose to treat each other goes to the core of what we hope to accomplish. Must we always establish and follow new informal hierarchies in our collectives based on who is more popular or stronger versus who is unpopular and out of the ‘scenes’ mainstream? People cannot participate equally if they are not free to be and express themselves. Tolerance begins with the acknowledgement that people other than ourselves may see things differently than we do, and suspending judgment while those with whom we may disagree or whose point of view we may not understand are given a forum to explain their perspective and are actively listened to. The unmarked/marked categories need to be acknowledged more often, as well as the silences, protections and denials surrounding privilege/power/dominance.
The true focus of revolutionary change is never merely the oppressive situations which we seek to escape, but the piece of the oppressor or the repressed which is planted deep within each of us.
The squatted office – romantic stories for revolution (in the attic)
This story begins a little before the end of my last term in the university. I had spent four really crazy years in the students’ hostels in the well known “Students’ town” in Sofia. The end of the term was coming and my life in the students’ hostel was about to end, too. I had to find new place for living very fast if I wanted to stay in Sofia. I thought over a lot of options for renting a lodging, but all the rents were very expensive for me. I was working for one web page at that time. The job was pretty nice – I used to write news, concert reports, work up on photos, and doing some kind of a primitive book-keeping at the office. The best thing was that I had 1-2 free weeks every month and I was able to travel all around the country during this time, but the bad thing was that my salary was very low. It appeared that if I wanted to rent a lodging I had to find more “serious” and well-paid job. For me this was like putting a chains around me and working the whole month only to get enough money to pay my rent and food, and hopefully to save some money to enjoy the weekends. I didn’t like this idea at all, because I didn’t want to sell my leisure time for a wage. Then a great idea downed on me. I thought of squatting my work place. My boss was living abroad and he was staying in Bulgaria only for some periods of time. I had nothing to lose and in that circumstances I decided to try this. The office was an attic with two rooms and an anteroom. I had little baggage in Sofia at that time, because my future was unclear and after I left the students’ hostel I was sleeping at the homes of my friends. I was like a snail with my home (my backpack with all my stuff) on my back. So I quietly moved in my office and hid my stuff in one cardboard box. I was sleeping in my sleeping bag on the floor. The summer had just started and the weather was hot. The bad thing about the office was that there was no bathroom. There was only a toilet and a sink with cold water. I though this was no problem for me, because I had grown up in a village and we used to heat up water in buckets to take a bath. But I had an unpleasant surprise during my first bath of such kind at the office. The catch-water drain was obstructed and I experienced a little flood. I tried to unclog it but then I understood the neighbours on the floor below had blocked it up. Bad shit. Hot summer, a lot of sweat and you don’t have a place to take a bath. I started going to my friends’ home to take a bath. I also invented new way of taking a bath in my toilet. I used to heat a bucket of water, moistened a t-shirt and then got wet with it. Then I soaped myself after that I washed away the soap with the wet t-shirt very carefully because I shouldn’t flood the toilet again. The other problem was appearing when my boss was in Bulgaria. Sometimes he was staying late at night at the office and I had to wander the streets till he left. I also had to wake up early in the mornings because i didn’t want to be caught sleeping at the office. And so living illegally the summer ended and the autumn came. I was thinking if I wanted to continue this way of life or to quit. I had a conversation with my boss one day. We had good relationship and I had also been working fir him since we put the page on the net. I told him my story and that I didn’t have a place to sleep. Then he allowed me to continue sleeping at the office but not to make foolish things there. I didn’t abuse with the trust of my boss, but when he was abroad I was giving shelter to some traveler comrades that had no place to stay in Sofia. We also started to use the attic like a rehearsal hall and an underground studio to record some of our songs. I and two more agents from the Katarzis collective formed an acoustic anarcho punk band. Guitars, flutes, percussions and powerful lyrics about resistance and a better life filled up the attic. We also made a lot of preparations for protests, banners, posters, leaflets and zines. The office became really a magical place. I was full of enthusiasm and was living my days of war and nights of love. And so the winter came and the weather got cold. I got luck that I found one spring-bed in the street, because it was already very cold to sleep on the floor. I didn’t want to put on the heater, because otherwise I had to pay some part of the electricity tax. I had to sleep with 2 sleeping bags, 2-3 blouses, pants and wool socks during the coldest nights. This was real hard core shit, but my blood was boiling with anger. I got luck that the winter was short. I think that now nothing can stop me after the things I had gone trough. The spring and the summer passed with the same passion in my heart. But then I started to get sock of the life in the capital. Big city, big shit. I managed to save some money in spite of my low wage and then decided to tear up the chains around my life. I have wanted to more activist work and so I quitted my job and left Sofia. I do a lot of things now: I write and distribute anarchist propaganda, together with my friends we have started to organize some events, I try to help the people around me with what I can, I travel a lot, I do a lot of skateboarding, yoga and some physical exercises, and I also have planned one European trip around the anarchist communities and eco farms. In general I do what I want to, but I feel some nostalgia about my life in Sofia and especially about my life in the attic. A lot of memories, good and bad, make me sigh with a smile on my face for the good old times. These were magical days and nights up there – my revolution in the attic.
DIY hardcore/punk scene in Orlová - Czech Republic
Orlová is city in Czech Republic near the borders with Poland. It´s the industrial part of country. Here is some bands from Orlová. First start with Hibakusha - three piece crusting grind tsunami, they released two seven inches (split with Depresy mouse and split with Konfident), LP, one Mc and three Cd´s and they have lot of stuff on the compilations. Drummer from Hibakusha is making a label - Killing Art. They are playing for 10 years now. Great lyrics and also great people. They have some mp3´s on http://www.hibakusha.webz.cz ... Grind core with some crust influences play Karnatvar, but I don´t know now, if they are still playing or they split up - http://www.karnatvar.wz.cz ... I play in bands Tupak Amaru, Tyranie Identity and Kahkashan. With Tupak Amaru we play anarchist hc/punk, we released split MC/CD with our friends Ruce po Obrně and we have some tracks on compilations. All our stuff is for download in the discography section on http://www.amaru.wz.cz . The name does´nt come from the guerilla in South America but from the leader of the indian rebellion. He want to build equalitarian society... With Tyranie Identity we play anarchist folk. We released one cd and we have also some tracks on compilations...http://www.tyranie.wz.cz (all our stuff is for download here)...and finaly with Kahkashan we are playing crustpunk. We are finishing work on our split seveninch with our friends and great grindcore band from Madrid - Camara de Gas. You can download all we recorded on http://www.kahkashan.wz.cz ... We are active in Zničme Bariéry DIY Collective, making, demonstrations, gigs, happenings etc. So if you are looking for a gigs in CZ you can write me, and we can help you. In Orlová is also some distributions and labels. Marek from Hibakusha is making Killing Art Label and distro. Blanka from Tupak Amaru is making Follow the Rabbit label. Jiří (bass Kahkashan) is making also distro(mainly grind stuff). I run Hitchin´ to Revolution distro and label. I released some poetry, cd´s(Tyranie Identity), co-released some seveninches and lp´s(hibakusha - morula, hibakusha/konfident, lakmé), cd´s(Antitedax, Tupak Amaru/RPO Cd). So this is litlle bit about scene in our city.
Dan
Dan
Lithuanian punk/hc scene in 2006/2007 - short report
Last year we had many great debuts. Zhiurkes - punkrock trio playing angry fast music; Anarres - emo/crust/core with strong political message; Poinsettia - emoblackmetal;) ; Bad disposition - punk and many others - Wasted bullets, Tylus spengimas, Dantim i siena, Pendelis, Lenino prospektas, Netvarkoi!. There still exists such great and old bands as freak-core collective SC, doing incredible shows and shocking with their appearance; dr. Green - their 12th year counting curort punk band, Frekenbok - ska/reggae band with funny lyrics. Toro Bravo have changed their cast and still play strong oi! Check out at www.hardcore.lt
In Siauliai there was diy club "Elnias", closed because of accidents with nazis and drinking teenagers; one teenager boy was hurted in his eye by nazis attack. Now in Siauliai there is new opened DIY club "3as Aukstas". It is runned by all-grrls formed collective, making concerts, critical mass, vegan cafes and other activities http://www.myspace.com/3aukstasgrrrls. In Kaunas there is "Nebek" collective www.nebek.hardcore.lt, they are doing Food not bombs actions and writing zine "Nebek". In Kaunas there is infoshop, located in Savanoriu pr. 206. In Vilnius there was Gyvas d.i.y. club (opened in 2006.08 after closing legendary GreenClub 2006.01), now closed because of drunk teenagers and problems with angry neibours. Gyvas d.i.y. people is searching for a new place and now doing Food not bombs, writing zine "Pastec". We have infoshop "Pavasaris" in Vilnius, Mindaugo st. 20-12, where many activities/workshops are taking place. There is a "rentable squat" in Tilto st.29, where many people live and guests from abroad can ask for accomodation (they can ask accomodation and at infoshop Pavasaris), there are some bike workshops and concerts sometimes. In Vilnius there punks artist collective Artcore - they have ArtCore gallery, where you can visit exibitions or see performances, they have a zine called Artcore too www.hardcore.lt/artcore.
We have punk footbal team FC VOVA www.fcvova.hardcore.lt, they are playing in Sunday Football League www.sfl.lt and they are famous about their great fans - ~50 shouting and singing punks; there are two clubs of ultras - Beer Boys United and grrls Voveres. "Remember the past, fight for the future"
This year in July 20-21 is going to be third festival DAROM 2007, it'll be taking place not anymore at Zasynos because of some accidents last year. And Ladyfest was taking place in May with variety of workshops, discussions, grrls football, movies and concert.
Political things are taking less and less place in all the scene, there were some demos for animal rights, for Ungdomshuset and against war in Iraq. Both periodical zines "Nebek" and "Pastec" are political too. Grrls and boys are writing "Lotus" zine about gender problems, sexism, homophobia and sex. There are still problems with nazis, especially in Klaipeda and Siauliai, where they are often atacking punk shows or bullying not-lithuanians.
Critical mass are taking over the streets in Vilnius every last friday of month, from 200 to 600 bikes are riding in the mass. There were some CM actions in Kaunas and Siauliai too, but not as big as in Vilnius and not periodical.
There is a publishing "Kitos knygos", runned by old anarchists, they are issueing translated books of Noam Chomsky, Guy Debord, diary of Che Guevara and others.
All in all, the whole Lithuanian scene is getting more connected, big things are happening because of attemps of people from different cities; in May there were big meeting of punk activists and old artists/anarchists to talk about all the things we could do together.
So, maybe it's all (in a short way).
See you in Lithuania!
written by world_against_me
In Siauliai there was diy club "Elnias", closed because of accidents with nazis and drinking teenagers; one teenager boy was hurted in his eye by nazis attack. Now in Siauliai there is new opened DIY club "3as Aukstas". It is runned by all-grrls formed collective, making concerts, critical mass, vegan cafes and other activities http://www.myspace.com/3aukstasgrrrls. In Kaunas there is "Nebek" collective www.nebek.hardcore.lt, they are doing Food not bombs actions and writing zine "Nebek". In Kaunas there is infoshop, located in Savanoriu pr. 206. In Vilnius there was Gyvas d.i.y. club (opened in 2006.08 after closing legendary GreenClub 2006.01), now closed because of drunk teenagers and problems with angry neibours. Gyvas d.i.y. people is searching for a new place and now doing Food not bombs, writing zine "Pastec". We have infoshop "Pavasaris" in Vilnius, Mindaugo st. 20-12, where many activities/workshops are taking place. There is a "rentable squat" in Tilto st.29, where many people live and guests from abroad can ask for accomodation (they can ask accomodation and at infoshop Pavasaris), there are some bike workshops and concerts sometimes. In Vilnius there punks artist collective Artcore - they have ArtCore gallery, where you can visit exibitions or see performances, they have a zine called Artcore too www.hardcore.lt/artcore.
We have punk footbal team FC VOVA www.fcvova.hardcore.lt, they are playing in Sunday Football League www.sfl.lt and they are famous about their great fans - ~50 shouting and singing punks; there are two clubs of ultras - Beer Boys United and grrls Voveres. "Remember the past, fight for the future"
This year in July 20-21 is going to be third festival DAROM 2007, it'll be taking place not anymore at Zasynos because of some accidents last year. And Ladyfest was taking place in May with variety of workshops, discussions, grrls football, movies and concert.
Political things are taking less and less place in all the scene, there were some demos for animal rights, for Ungdomshuset and against war in Iraq. Both periodical zines "Nebek" and "Pastec" are political too. Grrls and boys are writing "Lotus" zine about gender problems, sexism, homophobia and sex. There are still problems with nazis, especially in Klaipeda and Siauliai, where they are often atacking punk shows or bullying not-lithuanians.
Critical mass are taking over the streets in Vilnius every last friday of month, from 200 to 600 bikes are riding in the mass. There were some CM actions in Kaunas and Siauliai too, but not as big as in Vilnius and not periodical.
There is a publishing "Kitos knygos", runned by old anarchists, they are issueing translated books of Noam Chomsky, Guy Debord, diary of Che Guevara and others.
All in all, the whole Lithuanian scene is getting more connected, big things are happening because of attemps of people from different cities; in May there were big meeting of punk activists and old artists/anarchists to talk about all the things we could do together.
So, maybe it's all (in a short way).
See you in Lithuania!
written by world_against_me
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