1. WHY DID SUFFER SPLIT
UP? DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW PROJECT?
After we went and toured in the U.S I Canada in the summer
of '96 we just sort of stopped, nothing was really said, it was always a strain
to keep the band together along with our other activities - just wasn' enough
time In the day. Alec quit the HC thing and has been really full on with his
studies and aikido and is soon to become a father - whicl1 I guess is a fairly
serious project! Chris got a free transfer to DOOM and they're going to Japan
so he's happy. I do the label and all the mail and I'm not going to Japan!
after about 18 months
break I'm now playing drums in JOHN HOLMES
which is with people from MANFAT and HARD TO SWALLOW and is a lot of fun.
2. DID SUFFER FORM DIRECTLY AFTER
HEALTHHAZARD SPLIT UP OR WAS IT ANY PERIOD BETWEEN? DO YOU STILL HAVE ANY
CONTACT WITH MANDY? _ -
Mandy carne to practice one day and was
really upset and apologetic but just didn' want to do it anymore, we could
never find a suitable replacement so we went on as a 3 piece. With Mandy we did
one final gig and recording - we had a tour arranged in Spain which we went and
did as industry, which affects and pisses us off every single day of our lives.
It's been .funny reading reactions in punk I hc zlnes, almost like
people are offended that we bring these ugly facts up... Yes we toured in a van
- so shoot us.
3. 1HEARDTHATYOUHADDONESOMESONGSONACOMPEP ABOUT
FOOTBALL. CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU GOT IN- VOLVED WITH THAT AND WHY JUST THE
FOOTBALL - SUB-
JECT?
Jase (Caught Offside Recs) asked us for a
track and we obliged. Ask HlM why he did a record about fottball, I don´t know. (VOORHEES provided a
particularly stupid (even for them) track celebrating the deaths of the 1958
Munich air disaster, other tracks were terrace chants by HC bands..), our track
was about table football - of which Chris is the 1 in 12 champion, and our team
is the 1 in 12 AFC, who we can go and see for free - DIY football! I used to go
and s~e Newcastle when I was a kid and it was affordable - try getting a
fuckin' ticket now! No chance. Fuck this - I don' want to talk about football.
4. I READINABSURD#4,ABOUT THE 1 in 12
FOOTBALL TEAM, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS QUITE STRANGE. IN HOW MANY
LEVELSDOES1IN12COLLECTIVEWORKEXCEPTONDOING GIGSETC?
Damn _ more football! There are a lot of
different sides to involvement with the 1 in 12, like - some folk are mainly
into for the football, so ya won´t really see ém at the gigs and vice versa.
There are people putting out rave parties wich is a seperate entility too – what
I´m saying is that the place is used by many different people for a wide range
of interestet, but all adhering to basic range of resepct, liberty, equality
and solicarity. So there are footballers, punkers, ravers, food groowers, quiz
teamers, game laeguers, these things overlap and are mutally supportive and
when it´s working it´s great! I´d suggest any net nerds might to check out the
website.
5. BOTH SUFFER AND HEALTH HAZARD HAS
ANTICARSONGS. DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU THINK THAT YOU SEE CARINDUSTRY AS MUCH AS
BIG PROBLEMS AS OTHER?TOPICS YOU SING ABOUT LIKE NAZISM AND SLAVERY E.T.C ?
.Hitler had a slgned photo
ofHenry Ford on his desk and regarded him as ”my.inspiration” ,what does that
say to you ? I d suggest you print some of the stuff from the record sleeves
along with this interview. Capitalism is destroying this planet and all of
these issues are manifestation of that fact, we felt it was about time we had a
pop at the auto industry, wich affects and pisses us off every single day of
our lives. It´s funny reading reactions in punk/hc zines, almost like people
are offended that we bring these ugly facts up--- Yes we toured in a van – so
shoot us.
6.WHAT DOYOUTHINKABOUT LORENZO/MINSTRELAS HE
RIPPEDYOUOFFANDMANYOTHERBAND?
I thought the guy was pretty weird in the
way he did things, like he sent me a load of crappy records to distribute that
I hadn' asked for - but, I mean, quite a few people do that! We never met him
or anything which is a shame because we might have had more of an idea of what
he was about, however I've got to say that he did NOT rip us off! We've had so
many hundreds of copies of that EP that I've lost count, and there are 700 more
copies on their way to us - and we don' really want them, I guess we're going
to be giving away HEALTH HAZARD 7"s away with orders soon! From a mutual
friend - Macafio, i learned that Lorenzo isn' t doing -- the label anymore.
Maybe he has ripped other bands off, but not HEALTH HAZARD.
7.WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TIME FOR THE SONGSTHAT ARE RELEASED ON THE SPLlT
WITH SAWNOFF TO COME OUT? AND WHAT IS IT FOR KIND OF DISCO-BAND THAT ARE PLAYING IN THE BEGINNING OF THE
RECORD?
It was originally a split with HOMOMILITIA
on Scream recs of Poland, Pawel had aske dus and we were well into it, we
did´nt want to send our only DAT tape and it took us a while to find a place to
make a copy, we send the DAT and artwork, next we know scream put out the
HOMOMILITIA/DISCLOSE split, so we felt a bit pissed off – HOMOMILITIA said
they´d record again and still do the split HH, but this never happened.. We
eventually got tired of waiting and released it ourselves with the raging sawn
off who are good friends, what really pissed me off is that I wrote to Pawel
numerous times to try and get our DAT/artwork back – with no response, so we
had to do the cover again etc,,, I prefer our stuff on our own label – so we
know what´s fucking going on! The ”Disco Band” was just us fooling around, I
especially love alec´s sexy BARRY WHITE vocals, I think we took longer to do
that than the other 4 songs.
8. IT SEEMS LIKE THE MOST (WELLKNOWN)
CRUSTBAND IN ENGLAND RIGHT NOW HAVE CONNECTION WITH DOOM/HAD PLAYED IN DOOM, OR
ELSE PLAYING IN A BAND WITH DOOM MEMBERS. WHY HAS THE BRITISH SCENE BEEN SO
INBREEDED?
From here it really seem like that at all,
there are plenty of things going on unrelated to DOOM! As for inbreeding – it´s
friends getting together and expressing themselves through making music/noise,
like – Bri (from DOOM) has allways been in a few bands at once, as they appeal
to different sides of his tastes. Another reason is that are there are not so
many people doing this sort of thing, a lot of the bands I know have members
living in 2 or 3 different parts of the country and that be a real strain on
getting things done.
9. SPEAKING OF THE BRITISH SCENE. IS IT
STILL MORE LIKE MANY SMALL SCENE RATHER THAN A BIG NATIONAL SCENE?
There loads of different scenes that could
lossely roped together under the umbrella of punk/hc, I have friends all over
the country through this thing, and I´ve been able to arange cool DIY tours for
DROPDEAD, CRODOS and STATE OF FEAR – I´ve allways made a point of getting to
Scotland and Ireland as a lot of bands don´t make that little extra effort and
are content to play to southenes! I see all these little scenes locally and
just wish that people could make more conections and co-operarion instead of
all this fucking post morden irony and cyniscism wich really wears me down.
Once you can recognise and deal with the fact that people are allawys going to
differ, and working on a common ground is a lot more use than the endless
backstabbing and bickering then you´re onto something! Celebrate our
differences – they are our strengths” – SUFFER.
10. I READIN AVERSION SOMETHING ABOUT THE
”MAYDAY” THING. WHAT EXACTLY IS IT ABOUT, AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BRADFORD THE
FIRST MAY THIS YEAR?
(To quote from the leaflet) ”In May 1886,
Chicage was the scene off bitter strike demonstrations against poor working
conditions. During a peaceful meeting in Haymarket Square, the polce charges
the crowd and a bomb exploded. During the repression that followed four
anarchists were executed and others imprisoned for many years. All were later
found innocent.
Since there events, May 1st became an
international day of working class solidarity, based on the principles
ofLiberty, Equality and Solidarity. Each yar, millions of people around the
world gather to march, talk and celebrate their strenghts. In the UK, May day
been shuffled to the nearest Monday, almost forgotten. In Bradford May Day has
been reclaimed as the one day of the year we can truly call our own”.
11. WHAT DOES MEAN?
”Health Hazard” in Japanese.
12. MOTÖRHEAD?
Who dose´nt love them?
13. ANY NEW RELEASES FROM FLAT EARTH? ARE
COOPERATION WITH CRUST REC/DROP DEAD STILL GOOD?
There are loads of things on the way, as I
write this the last things out were the HEADACHE LP and a collaboration on
PEACE OF MINDS LP. I don´t like to avertise stuff til it´s actually out as
things have a habit of getting delayed – like the HEADACHE LP artwork took over
a year to be completed… (that´s nothing to OI POLLOI!!), stuff fairly sure of
include – 2nd SUFFER EP, DOOM/CRESS 10”, SOLANKI 10”….
Ben (DROP DEAD/Crust recs) is cutting down
the label and playing to tour again – and it will be great to see our friends!
No news on new DROP DEAD stuff but I´m pretty sure I´d help ém out again.
14, .., AND WHAT ABOUT THE OI POLLOI
”CARSON” 7”? HAS IT BEEN RELEASED YET?
Has it fuck - it was recorded almost 3 years
ago, I´ve had the Dat for about 18 months – we´re just waiting for the artwork!
I´ve give up asking but was informed recently they made a start on it! Don´t
hold your breath.
15. MANY OF YOUR LYRICS ARE ABOUT DIRECT
ACTION AND SOMETIMES EVEN (VIOLENT) REVOLUTION. ARE YOU INVOLDED IN ANY DIRECT
ACTIONS BY YOURSELF, AND DO YOU THINK IT´S TIME FOR A REVOLUTION RIGHT NOW?
I eat, sleep and shit: bands, label,
records, and trying to stay sane, I never seem to find time to do anything
usefull ther than what people may get from writing/music, so shot me! Revolutiob
will not occur overnight – right now seem the perfect time to start! Your daily
actions, the way you live your life and so on . these are part of revolution,
one must free one self, and the more people who fucked we are and what to do
about it the better, sometimes you feel like you´re banging your head in abrick
wall but somewhere inside there is smething that keeps you going, believing we
can past this shit.
16. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY DIFFERENCES SINCE
TONY BLAIR IS IN POWER, OR IS HE JUST KILLING THE SOCIALISM, WHEN MAKING THE
LABOUR PARTY MORE RIGHT WING?
I´ve noticed no signifant changes in the
balance of power, New Labour pretends to be trendy inviting rock stars etc to
Downing ST but the system still in favour of the rich and powerful, and fuck the
rest of you! There are millions of disenfranchinised people in this country –
well are of the superfacitility of it all, like the difference of Pepsi and
Coke. ”Must´nt grubble” is a Great British saying.
17. YOU SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD EYE WHAT´S
HAPPENING IN CHIAPAS, MEXICO. DO YOU GOT ANY NEWS OF WHAT´S HAPPENING THERE
RIGHT NOW?
Since the massacre of 45 people from a group
sympatethic to the Zapatsistas called ”Las Abejas” (the Bees), mostly women and
children in December by goverment supporte gunmen (while local police did
nthing to intervene) the tensions have esculated, and the Mexican Army
continued to move the people of Chiapas. For as the latest information (if you
have a computer that is) you should check out the A-Infos News service. To
subscribe via email write to MAYORDOMO@TAO.CA
with the message SUBSCRIBE A-INFOS in the header.
18. WHAT IS THE MAIN ADVANTAGE/DISADVANTAGE
BY RELEASING YOUR RECORDS BY YOURSLEF, THAN LETTING OTHER PEOPLE DO IT?
We have the absolute control over the
pressing/cover and every aspect to do with it, it´s just central part of me –
on the occation when we´ve let other people relaease our band there has been
some sort of problem or missunderstanding. I´m in a positiob now where I can
afford our shit ourselves without any great delays, so I´m more than happy to
do that – the buzz is still there,
after all the shitwork and holdups, when it all comes together, and you
released a record that you pleased with and proud of, having said all the
HEALTH HAZARD/SUFFER Discography
CD is comming out through Prank recs (U.S.), it´ll be going through shops –
this we don´t usaly do as the prices get hiked up somewhat, in this instance
though I think it work out cheaper and more accessible for people in the U.S.
and Japan, as the £ is so strong and vinyl is heavy and expensive to post… I
like to collaborate with others of like mind.
19. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT AIDS AND HIV IS
SOMETHING THAT IS MADE UP BY THE U.S. GOVERMENT TO CONTROL OVER PEOPLES SEXUALITY?
It´s possible.
20. WHAT IS ”RESPECT FOR ANIMALS” KIND OF
ORGANISATION? WHY DID THEY THINK THAT ”UP IN SMOKE” AND ”KILL EM ALL” WERE TOO
CONTROVERSIAL TO BE LINKED WITH THEIR ORGANISATION?
It´s cuddy single issue animal rights group,
who felt it unwise to be linked with a bunch of extremists like HEALTH HAZARD!
We might put off the landlord police store detective pol tax collector royalist
type of animal lover from their cause… it was a noble enough intention on
Lorenzo´s part – waiting to include animal rights flyers with our record, and I
don´t want to slag off ”Respect…”, it´s just that they had put our name behind
a more approciate group – like ALF supporters group, hunt Saboteurs or
Anarchist Black Cross or whatever
21, YOU SAID IN PROFANE EXISTENCE #29/30
THAT MANY PEOPLE IN 1 IN 12 GROUP ARE GROWING THEIR OWN FOOD. ARE DOOING THAT
TOO?
I don´t know I said MANY people! Just like,
a dozen people are involved inthe peassent collective, they have 3 allotment
together. I was using it as an example of what people are doing to take back
control of their lives, at the meetings there are sometimes vegatables for
sale, the money goes back to the collective – also there are large commnual
meals at harvest time, people eating together as well as drinking together, I
don´t grow my own food – but I´m willing trade for records! (and have done)
Barter system lives on.
22. IN THE SAME INTERVIEW YOU SAID THAT A
SUFFER LP SHOULD BE RELAESED SOON. THE INTERVIEW MUST BE OVER A YEAR OLD, BUT
HAVE´NT SEEN IT YET. WHEN WILL IT BE POSSIBLE TO BUY IT?
There is no SUFFER LP, we ceased to exist
right after that tour where the interview was done (summer 96) we recordes a
demo on 8 track in April 96, but it was only last week when we finally got to
mix it /needed to find the right machines etc) and that´ll be out pretty soon
as a 7” and also a split 7” with URKO, then it´s all over. I´m glad we were
able to get these songs out at last as I really like them. Maybe SUFFER is more
suited to 7” blast than a full LP´s worth too.
23. ONE THE ONE BY ONE 7” ”TRAPPED ON A
FASCIST PLANET2 IT SAID SOMETHING THAT SOME PEOPLE UCKED UP, BECAUSE YOU
REFUSED TO PLAY WHEN 2 NAZIS CAME INTO A CLUB YOU PLAYE. DO THINK THAT PUNX IN
GENERAL ARE TO LIBERAL AGAINST NAZI SCUMS?
We don´t play to/for nazis – plain and
simple. It´s fucking annoying when the people thee just did´nt get where we
coming from, it could have turned ugly but I just could´nt live with myself if
we hadn´t made this point clear, this all thies with the fact that there are
some (so called) ”punx” in Newcastle who are friends and hang out with nazis.
Alec was nearly stabbed in confrontation with one of them. It´s no game, and
you do not have privilege of sitting on the fence!
24. I ALSO READ IN RIOT #8 THAT HEALTH
HAZARD PLAYED IN A BIKE CLUB AND THAT CAME TO YOU AFTERWARD AND ASKED IF YOU
PLAYED THE SAME SONG FOR 20 MINUTES. WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?
It was about us taking our fast short songs
– wich DID mostly soundthe same this time, and played the to people who had
never heard of before! It´s fun to turn people´s heads, to let people like it
before! It´s fun to turn people heads, to let people who that there are
horrible, angry bands out that give a shit.
25. ANY LAST COMMENTS?
Thank you for the interview . I´m pretty
busy so it may comes out a bit rushed . gotta get on,… all answers by me (sned)
.bye.
