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1.
Some of your members previously
played in SANITY ASSASSINS,
which was far more on the rockin'
edge of punk. Please explain
to our readers how that move
did happen, and what are the
common points and differences
to these bands, musically or
lyrically wise.
The
Assassins were more influenced
by garage punk like the Cynics
- Hard-Ons - Ramones etc. We
had our moments of diving into
political punk though. Case
in point were the albums we
did with Spike on lead vocals
for Retch records in England.
But for the most part we stayed
away from political topics.
That
is until we picked up our last
vocalist, Phil Swanson who was
heavily influenced by the lyrics
of Discharge, Conflict,and anti
goverment/authority type groups.
As
the last incarnation of the
Assassins developed we wanted
to bring our style into a more
New York Hardcore / Agnostic
Front musical direction.
2.
How is Connecticut nowadays
as a punk / hardcore scene ?
You used to have great bands...Please
name a few of your favourite
ones, and let us know about
the most important changes in
this scene since the mid 80's.
In
Connecticut now, you can pick
up a show for your band about
once a month. Some times we
play more but rarely this happens.
But our state is sandwiched
between new york and boston.
so we have the advantage of
playing out of state from time
to time.
Some
old Ct. bands I used to love
and play with, or go see were
Jack Tragic and the Unfortunates
(my all time favorite Ct. punk
band) - Lost Generation - 76%
Uncertain and the M 80's.
Current
Connecticut groups I like are
female fronted punk band Elvis
McMann -Broken and the Bloodshot
Hooligans. But for the most
part, too many groups around
here are influenced by Slipknot,very
boring and unoriginal.
3.
Where were the live songs on
"1984" recorded ?
The sound is very good, by the
way.
We
recorded those songs at the
El N Gee club which has since
closed.
4.
I guess it's not very fashionable
to be a politically inspired
band in the US of A right now...Am
I wrong ? Any story about that,
concerning your gigs or the
way people react at your lyrics
?
Americans
are pissed. They know the goverment
is pulling the wool over their
eyes as far as the recent war
goes and the real principal
behind it. People like to go
see bands that still tell it
like it is.
5.
What did Sept. 11th, 2001 change,
within the punk / hardcore scene
?
Not
much in retrospective. The memory
is fading too quickly.
6.
Please let us know about your
"Taliban Fight Song".
The
Al Qaeta was just another violent
religious faction that's ideals
were killing in the name of
god, to make hatred justified.
That song drove home that point.
7.
I think many people fell in
the hate trap and this led to
the Afghanistan & Iraq war.
On the other hand, the population
starts to question the US government
about the chemical weapons that
Saddam was supposed to hide,
and the real (economical) reasons
to start this war ?
Not
enough people in this country
are speaking out against Bush's
goverment. One of the worst
"dog and pony" shows
America has to suffer under.
Watch the idiot get re elected.
8.
Do you realize you're collaborating
with a FRENCH fanzine ?! Aren't
you ashamed ? Do you still call
your potatoes 'Freedom fries'
?!?
Who
can believe a media that is
controled by the country ? Americans
will never know the real reason
why France did not support us
in the last made for t.v. war.
9.
I like your song "Seperate
Church & State" since
it's well thought & an unusual
critic of your country's links
between the government and the
religious lobbies. Most american
presidents (these past 30 years)
were elected with the help of
these lobbies. Are people aware
of that, and do they care about
it ?
General
every day americans would be
shocked at the behind the scene
"deals" these high
ranking politicians make to
get their "puppet"
in office to fuck things up
for four years or longer.
10.
There's been a change in line-up
last year, after the release
of 1984 ; new singer, new lyrics
? are you gonna change of topics
and will the way you were considering
lyrics be modified ?
Losing
Phil was a big loss. Smart guy
but exteremely difficult to
work with. Our new singer Ryan
is more of a street punk, personal
issue lyric writer. But a much
stronger vocalist than Phil
was with better stage presence.
11.
What did you release since the
start ? Is there any new record
planned since "1984"
?
Blastmat's
first c.d. was "Theme for
a dying world". you can
still get it from MCR in Japan.
It's other wise sold out. We'll
also appear on a c.d. comp.
released by riot 77 zine from
England. Plus a vinyl l.p. comp.
released by Departure Records
also from the U.K. presently
we're in the middle of recording
a new 6 song demo that we'll
release on my "Dagger"label.
12.
Are your next records goin to
be released on vinyl ?
CD,
but Blazing Guns records from
California may release a split
7in. with us and another band
next year.
13.
Are you still interested in
vinyl ? Or do you think MP3s,
CDs, etc. are the new hype ?
I
love vinyl but you can't move
vinyl at shows etc., C.D.'s
are more accessable to people.
We have mp3's people can down
load for free at www.blastmatfreeservers.com
14.
Keith, you compiled and
helped to release several Killed
By Death type of compilations.
Can you list it and explain
a little how you ve been able
to do it ? Which release are
you the most proud of ?
Yes
my Shielded by death series
of old punk and power pop bands
will be growing.
My
first volumes appear on Dionysus
records from USA - Busted
at the Lit club and Guillotined
at the Hangar. Dionysus
will release a third vol. this
year on vinyl and c.d.
Blazing
Guns records will release vol.4
which will also be on c.d. and
vinyl. that will be a worldwide
all hardcore punk collection.
Plus
Wizzard in vinyl from Japan
will be next year, releasing
an all oldies power pop comp.
I put together for them on c.d.
15.
Is it complicated to release
it officially, when so many
people do bootlegs ?
Yes
it is difficult to track old
members of old bands down to
get their permission to release
their band's music. Lots of
detective work is involved.also
you have to put up with some
flakey ex-members that give
you a hard time. They think
they should be making millions
off their little band's music.
But the reality is, their band
has been broken up for over
20 years, and no one remembers
them.
16.
The Assassins had released 7"
on a german label. How did that
happen ?
I
contacted Rudy at Re-core-ds
through a magazine ad I saw
for his label. I sent him an
Assassins tape and he liked
it, and offered us a 7 in. e.p.
deal. That's an interesting
record by the way. But far from
my favorite Assassins release.
17.
How did you meet ex-Blitzkrieg
singer & Retch Rds manager
?
The
same goes with Spike at Retch
Records. I sent him a tape,
he liked it and offered us a
split LP deal with his band
at the time, the PARASITES,
which turned out to be the 'HOPE
TO GROW" L.P.
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