Words with Joseph Chubba Smith

Hi Joseph, what was your introduction to music ?

The Bay City Rollers song “Saturday Night” was my introduction to music. When I was 4 years old, I would pull the pots and pans and pound like crazy with wooden spoons.

How did you end up playing drums ?

My parents bought me a drum kit when I was 4 so that I would stop beating on the pots and pans. I punched a hole in the base drum so I could get inside it and roll around like a wheel, so that kit didn’t last long. When I turned 12 my parents bought me a new kit and signed me up for drum lessons. I took lessons for about about 3 years. I took piano lessons for a short time as well, but my mind was always on the drums. I have always been drawn to the beat of the drums.

Were you part of some hardcore scene ?

Well, I grew up in Heber, which was a small town about 50 miles from Salt Lake City. Gentry and I started playing together and we were pretty much the entire hardcore scene in Heber at the time. He and I would go to shows in Salt Lake City, and that it how I got connected to that scene. I got introduced to the Insight guys. They were in need of a drummer, so I started playing drums for them when I was 15. Salt Lake had an amazing underground scene at the time. We had great all-ages music venues and the best record store around (Raunch). I was lucky to have been a part of the scene at the time. It wasn’t just hardcore either. There were some great metal and punk bands as well. It was a very active and tight knit community.

So Insight. What are your greatest memories with them ?

We had some amazing local shows here in SLC. The scene at the time was amazing, and some of the shows were nuts. That was quite a treat for 16 year old me, playing to a crowd that was totally into it. One summer we played a lot of shows with Judge, and Bold that was probably a dream for any kid into the hardcore scene at the time. That summer we somehow picked up Chuck Treece to fill in on bass after our bass player flew home. He’s a really cool cat. He taught me how to tune my drums that summer. I think probably the most memorable was the next summer we toured with Chain of Strength. Al Pain and Chris flew out to SLC and set off with us in our van and we picked up the rest of their crew later on in the tour. Both bands were in one van and used one set of equipment. It was crazy. When we were in New Jersey, the engine on the Insight van went south, so we were kind of screwed. We ended up renting  renting the biggest U-Haul truck you can rent and towing the van behind it. Two people sat up front at any given time, and the rest of us were piled in the back. We had the back door up the entire way, with only a single piece of plywood across the back to keep us from falling out. We drove the entire way back from New Jersey like that. How we didn’t die, I will never know. It’s funny how your perspective changes. Even some of the crappiest moments at the time are some of my greatest memories now. I just feel really fortunate to have had those experiences.

Then Iceburn. How did you end up in this band ?

Iceburn grew out of the ashes of Insight and Brainstorm. Both bands broke up around the same time, so we joined forces and Iceburn was born. Gentry and I have always had a musical connection since we started playing music together in the early days. The cycle came back around for us.

Have you got a favorite recording ?

Hephaestus is the recording I am most proud of. I feel like it speaks most to the Iceburn spirit. Gentry and I had a lot of similar musical and philosophical interests at the time, and I think this recording speaks to them. Cache was new to the band at the time, and he quickly connected with the vision as well. Cache was so young when he joined the band (like 14 years old), so it amazes me when I think about it. The studio we recorded Hephaestus in was in the basement of a house. Cache and I were in one room and Gent was in another. Every song has some improvisational elements to it, so that aspect speaks to the mental connection we had at the time.

Did you find a home at Revelation Records ?

That is an interesting question. I’m not sure about finding a home. When I played with Insight, we toured and played shows with a lot of Revelation bands. Even though Insight wasn’t a Rev band, we had a lot of friends in that family. With Iceburn, it was a different story. When Revelation released the Iceburn stuff, it was quite different than everything else Revelation had put out up to that point. I don’t know of any other 4 song double albums that Revelation has put out. Looking back on it, I think it’s cool Jordan did it. One summer, we played a lot of shows with Into Another and Farside, which were both Rev bands. While our music was very different, we had a great time touring and playing together. I think it is cool when labels don’t stick to one type or genre of music. I love it when each band on the bill is very different. If anything, I certainly feel appreciation for what Jordan has done for Iceburn.

Is there a particular reason why you left the seat after Poetry Of Fire ?

I was going to college and had just gotten married. My mind was in a different place. We had a short tour on the West coast and I think it was personally discouraging. I needed a break. That break ended up being longer than I thought, since I became a father shortly after. Once I started having kids, I just wanted to be a family man.

What are your greatest memories with them ?

I have a lot of great memories with the band. We have always had a close personal relationship. Members have rotated in and out as life has progressed. The band definitely has a “collective” element to it. One fun memory is the time Iceburn and Farside were invited to play the CMJ festival in NYC. Farside loaded up a van in California and drove to Utah to pick us up, then both bands in one van drove together straight through to NYC to play the show, hang out for about 12 hours, then drove straight back home. It was a long trip for one show, but so much fun. One other memory that I’m fond of was the time we got booed off the stage in Denver when opening for the Offspring. We played some shows with them one summer. At our final show, the crowd wasn’t having any of us. I guess we were on to something.

What about this new record on the way ?

We have been working on some new stuff over the last year or so. Now it’s just a matter of tightening things up a little more before we head into the studio. All that I can say is it’s going to sound like Iceburn.

What are, if you have, your views on straight-edge ?

Insight was a straight-edge band, so I have that element in my roots. I don’t think much about it these days though. I admire the positive aspects of the straight-edge philosophy. I don’t have much of an opinion either way. Whatever makes people happy is fine by me.

How do you stand in this world, politically, philosophically, spiritually,...?

I was a Philosophy major in college. I guess I have always been drawn to studying different  ideologies and observing how man makes sense of the world. I read a lot of Dostoievski, Nietzsche, Sartre, Camus, and was really interested in the existential thinkers. I connect a lot with that kind of stuff. I also studied Classics, particularly the ancient Greek language, so that introduced me to Heraclitus.

Spirituality for me is centered around nature. I live in a very beautiful place. I have easy access to the mountains, desert, and canyons and I get to enjoy them on a daily basis. I run and ski in the Wasatch mountains all the time and feel a strong connection to them. Music is also something that fills my spirit. I connect on an emotional level with a very broad range of musical types. I have 3 kids who are also big nature and music lovers, so it’s the perfect spiritual trifecta.

From a political aspect, I don’t identify with any of the traditional political parties in the U.S.. I pretty much keep my views to myself. In today's world, everyone has an easy platform to spout their beliefs, and it’s a turnoff for me. Actions speak louder than words. I just hope our country becomes a more selfless, and caring place.

Words with Luke Pabich

Hi Luke, what was your introduction to the hardcore punk scene ?


In the mid 80’s, as a teenager, I was going to thrash metal shows in San Francisco. Many of the shows would have a crossover of metal, hardcore and punk bands. Also bands like Slayer and Metallica would have stickers of punk/hardcore bands on their guitars or be wearing shirts of punk bands which led me to go start buying some of the records. Record stores were also a great place to discover music. I would buy a lot of records just based on how cool I thought the record cover looked or if the person working at the store recommended something to me. By around 1987 I was buying more punk/hardcore records than metal records and started going to a lot more punk shows.


Can you remember the beginnings of Good Riddance ?


Good Riddance existed before I joined in 1989. Russ started the band in 1986 with some of his friends and played a mix of cover songs and originals. I believe I met Russ in 1988 when my band at the time (Rude Awakening) started playing shows/parties together around Santa Cruz. He and I became friends and at one point the GR guitar player broke his wrist while snowboarding and I filled in on guitar for a few shows. When my band broke up in 1989 I asked Russ if GR would be interested in having a second guitar player…thankfully they were. At that point the band went through about 5 years of twists and turns with various members until we finally were able to find our sound and landed a record deal with Fat Wreck Chords in 1994.


Have you got a favorite GR release or era ?


Operation Phoenix stands out. For me it was the first record I was proud of from front to back and I feel it really captured the spirit of the band from the songwriting to the lyrics to the tones. Going into recording Operation Phoenix we decided to change record producers in hopes of finding a different sound for the band. We decided to take a chance with Bill Stevenson at the Blasting Room because we really liked the catalogue of bands he had been producing and thought it would be cool to record with the old Black Flag drummer. Bill really helped us dig into the more aggressive side of the band and helped us define our sound for future records.

What can we expect from GR in the future ?


Probably safe to say we will continue to do short bursts of regional shows and perhaps talk about a doing a new record in a year or so. Other than that we all like to travel to new places so hopefully we’ll have some opportunities to play in countries we’ve never been to.


You did (and still do) some side-projects aside from GR. Can you tell us a bit about them ?


I’ve recently resuscitated a band I did 20 years ago. The band is called "Coercion 96". It is a real blend of all the music that has influenced me and the other band members over the last 30 years with influences ranging from Black Sabbath and Metallica to Agent Orange and TSOL. We just recorded 4 songs which we had written 20 years ago and have an E.P. titled "Exit Wounds" coming out on Bird Attack Records late June 2016.


What are your views on the world we live in, politics and metaphysical views included ?


Boy this question certainly opens a can of worms so I’ll keep it simple. In general, I am a proponent of living life by the Golden Rule…"do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I feel that if society lived by this standard our world would be a much better place. My political and metaphysical viewpoints and philosophies are based in this principle.


What was and what is the meaning of hardcore punk for you ?


An outlet for lives frustrations, comradery, inspiration, a challenge to think outside the box, ringing ears and a sore body…ha!

What are your views on straight-edge ?


I think for some people it can provide a positive foundation and direction. For others I feel it creates division and self-righteousness like a religion can do. I don’t have very strong views on it…as I am not straight edge despite that fact that our band gets labelled this sometimes because our singer is straight-edge.


Who are the people, from artists to thinkers, who had the biggest influence on you ?


I guess this could be the question where I could name some book authors, philosophers and musicians but to get to the heart of the question I think it is only fitting to talk about people I’ve had relationships with that have left a lasting influence on me. My greatest personal influences have always been my family, friends and band mates…I consider all of them to be artists and thinkers in their own right and they have all had some sort of influence on me (good and bad at times). My relationships span from very progressive left wing types to more conservative people. I try to understand all types of people and I feel most people have interesting points of view to offer…though I have no interest in people rooted in ignorance, hatred and bigotry.

Since I am a band guy I can elaborate a bit on my musical influences. My music roots began when I was 6 years old and my parents bought me the KISS Alive II record…they inspired me to make my first guitar out of wood and cardboard at age 7. As I grew up I evolved into finding a connection with aggressive and pointed music in my early teens (Slayer, Metallica, Testament) and was then drawn to bands that had an aggressive edge with a thought provoking message or cool style (Bad Religion, Minor Threat, Adolescents, TSOL). I am a bit of a musical mutt. As I’ve gotten older I’ve also dabbled in 80’s pop, 70’s classic rock and will even listen to Jack Johnson if the mood is right…ha!




We lost two great singers from the California scene in the last few years, Tony Sly and Jon Bunch more recently. Any memories ?


I never met Jon Bunch but was a fan of a lot of his music. The GR singer Russ had turned me on to Reason to Believe way back and I also thought Sense Field was one of the most underrated bands of our time. Tony Sly was a great guy…talented, smart, funny and good natured. Good Riddance did a variety of shows/tours with No Use through the years and I will always remember Tony as being a very approachable and friendly guy…many laughs were shared with him. RIP.






Have you got the same memory as Russ of that show with Buckwild in a small club in Clermont-Ferrand back in the nineties ?


I don’t…my memory isn’t so good after so many years of banging my head but if someone reminded me I’m sure it would come back to me…there were a lot of shenanigans on that tour.


Do you like France (don't feel forced to answer yes !) ?


I like France enough to tell you that I took my wife on vacation there before we had kids because I thought it was one of the most amazing and beautiful countries I had been to in my band travels. I appreciate that France is a cultural epicenter with forward thinking, highly intelligent and creative people. Touring France also had a heavy influence on my non-music career choice (I have worked in the wine industry for 10 years now). Shows have always been a bit hit and miss for Good Riddance in France but regardless I enjoy the atmosphere of the country. I am excited to be playing 3 shows with GR in France this coming June and look forward to baguettes, cheese and good red wine!

Words with Reid Black

Hi Reid, first, tell me about these 5 new songs Into Another just released, how did it all come to life ?


The songs came about because the reunion shows went so well. We enjoyed playing music together and the idea of creating new material became more compelling as time went on. I’m happy to see the band chasing the art again.

How did you end up in that band and what does it mean to you ?


I was approached by the organizers of the 2012 Rev25 shows and by Brian, the other Into Another guitarist. Underdog and Bold were already booked to play the fest and so the thought was maybe Drew and Richie would be interested in playing a couple Into Another songs with Brian on guitar and me on bass. At this point, Peter still hadn’t resurfaced so Brian and I taped ourselves playing a few Into Another songs with Craig from Ignite on drums. I thought it was a longshot but would be fun to put ourselves out there and see what would happen. We got a positive response back after some suspenseful waiting and then it was on !
Into Another is one of my favorite bands. It‘s an honor to be in the band now and be making music with those guys. I also feel responsible to help preserve the legacy of Tony Bono. I try to faithfully play his basslines on the old songs and reference his style for any new material we work on. Random fact: The very first show I ever played, with Eleven Thirty-Four in 1994, was opening for Into Another. Coming around full circle is quite surreal. In the end though, I’m just happy to see the band active again. If I wasn’t in the band, I’d still be there at the shows, in the audience.

Can you remember a bit your time in Eleven Thirty-Four ?


Eleven Thirty-Four was my first fully functioning band. First shows, records, tours, etc. So yea, I remember quite a bit since everything was so new. Brian was also a member but he had prior band experience. We got toured the US a couple times and Europe once with Ignite. Also played a show in Hawaii (which obviously isn’t a normal tour stop for bands). I also played my one and only gig at CBGB’s with that band. We played a couple reunion shows over the years just for our friends. I met someone, years and years later after the band was done, who told me that his go-to soundcheck riff was an Eleven Thirty-Four riff. That was pretty cool.

What about other bands you played in, which ones stood out ?


I’ve played in lots of bands over the past 20 years and have never really stopped doing so. I’ve played lots of different styles of (rock) music and playing different instruments too. Looking back, I’m happy with a lot of the music I’ve made.
The Third Degree is one previous band that stands out for me. It was a three-piece Motorhead / Black Flag hybrid or something that lasted from about 1998 to 2001. I played really distorted bass and we played really short sets. That band was my first step away from the small pond of the hardcore scene and out into the real world.
Another was a psychedelic band called Innaway. I played guitar and keys for that band so memories of our shows and tours involve me moving and setting up lots of gear. Recording with Innaway was actually enjoyable. We had our own studio so we spent a lot of time honing our songs and recordings and tinkering with old equipment. Nerd alert: On our last record I was able to record with a real Mellotron. Made me feel pretty legit. Nerdier alert: It’s even catalogued on the Planet Mellotron website.
These days, along with Into Another, I play guitar for a band in San Francisco called Steakhouse. It’s a little Western-y twang mixed into some krautrock and post-punk. One friend referred to it as “music that could be in a Quentin Tarantino movie”.


How did it all start for you to play music anyway ?


I was an impressionable kid in the 80’s so seeing all those metal dudes on MTV with their white high tops, big hair, and Floyd Rose tremolos made me want to play guitar. They looked like they were having fun.


What was the meaning of hardcore for you ?


In a few sentences ? I don’t know. Musically, maybe stripping everything down. Less musical wank, less theatrics. Culturally, maybe embracing the DIY mindset and keeping the “I could do that too” vibe alive. I think accessibility is one of the most important things hardcore offers.


Did you feel concern with the straight-edge philosophy ?


No, not really. I never was straight edge. A lot of my friends growing up were straight edge and some still don’t partake. I’m not an extreme person so I never felt the need to sway toward one side or the other.


Which artists and thinkers inspired you the most in your life ?



I’m a big Brian Eno fan. All the music he was involved with back in the 70’s was insane: his solo records, the Fripp & Eno records, the Berlin-era Bowie stuff, Roxy Music, his work with Cluster and Harmonia. Pioneering stuff. His music from that era really opened a lot of doors for me.
But he’s a thinker too. I like his musings on the pursuit and creation of art. How random it can be and how accept and embrace that. I have a set of Oblique Stratégies. I’ll pull cards from the deck when working on music sometimes. Or even for non-music related activities.


How do you spend your time besides playing music ?


Music has been taking up a lot of my time and energy lately. Which is good but can also be tiring. Besides that, I work full-time as a mechanical engineer. When I can fit it in I like to travel (not for music or work), exercise, hang with my friends, and enjoy the city of San Francisco. There’s lots to do here.


Do you know France and do you feel concerned to some degree by European culture ?


I‘ve only visited France once; way back in 1998. The World Cup was going on there and I was in Paris for France’s quarter and semi final victories. It was very festive. But it wasn’t until I was watching, from a pub in London, France celebrating their World Cup finals victory and Parisians flooding the streets that I realized I should’ve stuck around for a couple more days !
Oh and I got bad food poisoning there. I’ve eaten a lot of questionable foods during my travels so it’s funny that First World France was the one to take me down.

Words with J-B Thauvin

 Hi J-B, how did you fall in the hardcore / punk movement at first ?


Rather simply, at first because in Orléans, in the 80s, there was a real excitement around this environment (Rock / Punk / New Wave) that we could cross crests in town and realize that the punks were not these "miserable" which we could see in movies on TV, quite the opposite !!
Then because by moving closer to this environment, I fell on very cool people who made me discover a great deal of groups and allowed me to attend and to participate in the organization of tons of concerts.
And because in any case, I was never able to support the soup which we are of use on the radio or on TV !!!


What is the story behind the formation of Burning Heads ?


Like all groups meet Jacky playing music, sharing the same desires and somewhat similar musical tastes (two buddies neighborhoods, a great guy came to Orléans to finish his studies, a "son" ready to send wood and debit valves ...).
In fact, Burning Heads rose on ashes of groups having stopped little before.. Orleans is a small town, and when you roamed at concerts, you often crossed the same people. Two guitarists, a drummer and a bass player available at the right time, an alchemy that takes place around the Australian rock, punk 77 English and Californian melodic hardcore that shows its face ... that's it !!

 What are the strongest moments you lived with the band ?


Replacing Jal, the former BH bass player, which always gives me a sense of guilt more than twenty years later … At that time, I was already going with them, being a roadie, a driver... When the band began to take off in '93, after the 1st album, everybody had to be available 100% for that. It was necessary to choose between work and playing with the band when it was possible, weekends, or to play as much as possible and to work when we could. I was available for that and I do not regret it !!!
Otherwise, Philippe's departure, the guitarist (replaced by Fonfon then now Mikis for more than 10 years) and the big questioning on the future of the band...
More cheerfully, when you have the opportunity to play with bands you're fan of for a long time and that the guys come to see you after the concert to congratulate yourself, fuck, that puts back to you a boost for 20 years !!!


 Have you got a favorite album ?


You mean of the band ? No, I don't believe so.
I like very much the fact that we were able to put out albums essentially "Reggae", it is small challenges we give to ourselves and it is cool that we manage to realize them.
I also like that the last album is a double album, we wanted to do that for a very long time. Then I am very proud of the tribute which arrives. When I learnt that it existed, I thought at once it was a joke, that a tribute was a tribute for a dead band... But when I saw what it was really, namely the first album resumed in full with a different band for each song of the album, Woh, even if I did not play on this album, I understand the dimension of the project and yeah, it is so cool !!
In fact it is stupid to wait that somebody or something isn't there anymore to pay him tribute, it is like bringing flowers on the grave of a deceased, it's better to offer him as long as he is alive, that will please him ... when he died, it's too late !!!

 How do you see the future of the band ?


How will be the future ?
We always played in this band to be able to make concerts, to travel and to meet buddies, it is the first one of our motivations, as long as we have some energy for that, we shall continue to make it !!!
And for the moment, the projects do not miss, they will come true, or not, but this is what motivates us (an Opposite tour with Zenzile, maybe some dates in Japan where we still never went...).


What is your appreciation on the evolution of the French scene since the beginnings of BH ?


What you're asking me is a bit hard: it's to give you my appreciation over almost 30 past years (Burning Heads began in 1987 !!)...
Not easy to answer, there were so many evolutions these last 30 years. Burning Heads put 3 years before being able to put out their first one 45t (in 90 thanks to Label Black and Black of Angers), my children made up their first piece with their band yesterday and it is already retranscribed on computer…We passed fanzines photocopied with cassettes compile to the musical magazines with Cds to fanzines on the Internet with streaming and download and you also feels the effects at the level of the stage and of the public. At the end of 80, the beginning of 90, the time of Fanzines, there was quite a lot of small concerts with concerned people, but not a great deal of places adapted to make them. Concerts in bars, some squats or other improvised places concert halls for the opportunity. We could see dark Punk / Hard Core bands of various countries and an interest started in France for this kind of music. The biggest stages were kept by groups of alternative punk in this time. During the 90's, there was Noir Désir and the Nirvana boom, relieved by TVs, radios and musical magazines. I think that opened the ears of quite a lot of people to rock music and big guitars, there was quite a lot of people in concerts, it is the beginning of the SMAC in France (official rooms of "Amplified musics"). The Punk / Hard Core scene develops, full of bands form and there is a good network of connections in particular thanks to the circles of very active fanzines, relieved by the magazines which emerge, the possibility of expressing himself either in bars, or in little better organized rooms. Radios, TVs were a little less sensitive to show French bands (who sing in English !!) in some broadcasts.
2000/2010, that goes bad a little...
Internet develops, we can have access to everything and we find ourselves lost right in the middle …
It is also the strengthening of "all security", laws on the noise, on the gatherings. It becomes harder and harder, not to say impossible, to make concerts in bars. Nothing has to exceed : the sound, the number of entrances for a place, the hour of the beginning, end of the evening... Everything must be normalized. Fewer small places for concerts mean fewer small bands, fanzines "paper" do not exist almost any more, magazines stop one after the other, anymore of underground music on the TV (fortunately, some radios always resist !!). That, more the purse which is far from being stretchable, not easy to fill rooms !!
At the same time, the accessibility to the music is enormously simplified, there are more and more practice studios, the price of instruments fall not bad (bottoms of the range are not very expensive, thank you the Chinese small children, but for really rotten quality, thank you the businesses men !!), and the bands which manage to emerge really have a very good level !!! On 2010, I have the impression that it gets better. The upheavals of Internet begin to be digested. We find fanzines, groups, music on the Web. Even if it is not obvious and even if it is necessary to know a little where to look, networks are there. People begin to meet, again, rooms begin to open towards the small structures, the small assos. We return, I think, towards a more human side, more DIY while incorporating the existing structures.
Even if that doesn't remain obvious yet to put up small concerts, there are many bands only asking to go out of their premises.


What is your appreciation on the evolution of the French scene since the debuts of BH ?


I don't see special peculiarity in France. The Punk / Hard Core scene is international, in all the countries, there is a small part of the population which feels concerned by this movement and which tries, with great difficulty, to make it live against all that we would like to gull him.
There are countries where it's more or less easy to make it, countries where the commitments are much more intense (where to be a punk is to risk jail, not to say death !!) but together we fight in our scale to be able to live in a world about which we know it could be a better one.


To what extent were you or not influenced by the straight-edge movement ?


I found out soon enough that movement through bands that claimed as such. I was really attracted to the energy they gave off in general, but I do not necessarily attaches great importance to the words in the sense that I do not like being dictated to do or not do things ... But I still feel close to these ideas, even if I was not able to take all being younger, what bothered me most was (always) on one side some fundamentalist of some people.I do not drink alcohol, do not use drugs, I'm a vegetarian and live with my wife (and only) for over 25 years. I do not claim myself Straight Edge. I smoked, drunk, drugged myself and I stopped. That may be so that I am as tolerant, as it is above all a personal choice that in no way prevents spending good times with other people, Straight Edge or not.


Who are the people and bands who have decisively influenced you?


Without being pompous, but it is the truth: Burning Heads ...Around 15-16 years when I started hanging out a bit in the concerts in Orleans and listening to punk rock, see the band in concert was like a revelation, an opening to a musical style, positive energy that gave us Pierre wanted to play together (DDT, in 88, later replaced Doud Pierre on guitar / vocals in Burning Heads / 89).In general, the first love are those that remain etched in the heart: Liveage of DESCENDENTS turned my head (the melodies, power, emotion, speed), ALL / DESCENDENTS, the kind of bands you played back 30 years later and you continue to discover !!!Rude Boy, the film about the Clash, as the Clash, this is also my first love.Dag Nasty, DI, Adolescents, Hüsker Dü, Poison Idea, Rorsharch, Bad Religion, Born Against, Minor Threat, Snuff, Doom, Suicidal Tendencies, ...And many others !!!

 What is the meaning of playing music for you ?


I think music is my reason for living, anyway, I owe it a lot for what I am today.
Music is the soundtrack of your life, it can be a piece like this, it can be the song of a bird, a natural or industrial noise. This is something that comes to you for a moment, brand emotions and makes you stand out shalt hear again.
To share his music in concert provides a form of wellness: already between us because it means we managed to create something that we like musically and that is able to capture it, then with the one who listens and takes pleasure in doing so.
It's also a great way to bring together people to unite around a stage to be able to share, discuss, have a good time, to remake the world and seek the meaning of life.

Words with Ishay Berger

 

Hi Ishay, how did you get into the hardcore / punk scene ?


As a younger kid I was totally into music, pop, new wave, all 80's - early 90's stuff.
When i was about 10 years old my parents moved to a different part of town, all new faces and new ground.
We had a lot of kids skateboarding in the new place and I got close with most of that crew...One of the kids played metal and punk to me...like, Anthrax, Pennywise, Bad Religion, Death...It was all a mix up but I did really like that fast, melodic music.
With time I got to know some more people who were into Punk and it became very important to me to catch up on more and more music...until this day I am like that with Punk music.

Can you remember the beginnings of Useless ID ?


Sort of...I only joined a year after the band started - when the original guitar player went on a trip to India and I was called in to replace him.
In the begining the band was very fast but very early on very amazing and good for me...I remember me and Yotam and some other young Punk kids would catch the bus downtown every time there was a U.I.D reharsel and it blew our minds how good and punk rock they were.

What are you the most proud about Useless ID journey until now ?


I have to be honest, I'm not a very proud person, I just think it's cool that we had a dream to go out and be a touring band and make a lot of friends and we pretty much set to do everything we had planned and wished for.

What are the future plans with the band ?

More of the same...a new album is in the works, we are taking our time with it because everyone is busy and I guess we also want some time off from the crazy write-record-tour routine, but yea...more of these things are coming up sooner or later, anyway...

What is your favorite Useless ID record ?

Lost Broken Bones.

Can you talk a bit about the history of hardcore/punk in Israël ?

For me the most influental Israeli punk band band has and always will be Nekhei Naatza...a super political punk band that started in 1990 in a "Kibutz" in the north of Israel.

They were the first Anarcho H.C band and their massage and music changed it all for me.

There were many others bands and people active but for me there has been nothing as powerful as them since.

Basicly most punk bands in Israel break up very quickly and the scene is VERY fragile as most of the kids go to the army at 18, and when You get only very young scenesters and very old scenesters....You know You got a dying scene.

Do you think the movie "Jericho's Echo" is a good illustration of the israeli punk scene ?

For the movie I can't say much because it would have a lot of different things in it if it was shot today.
There's a lot of new faces and the movie was pre-internet as we know it so who knows.
I'd definetely apear at both movies, ha!

What it's like to be a punk in your country ?


Crucial!
If You are a punk in a place so isolated and fucked up as Israel, You get a sense of "This has to be important for me".so...there are very few of us, but...we do fucking mean it.

Have you got views on politics ?


I do, I am not a very political person, but I do got my views.
The world is very devastating and so are it's  politics.
I try to take my positive energy from people and music, and I get my negative energy from governments and politics.

Have you got views on religion ?


Worst thing that has ever happened to mankind.

What are your views on the straight-edge movement ?

I'm not good at saying if a movement is good or bad, I can only judge if I like the massage or the music or the people, and with SxE,I admire the positive espects of it, most of my SxE friends are great people with a big heart.

I know that the movement itself gets people irritated or judgemental, but I stay clear of irritating/judgemental people anyway and to me it doesn't matter if they drink or not.

Which bands / artists do you find relevant today ?

Many!
I think that there's a ton of great bands in these times

Too many to mention.

Who are the people who had the biggest impact on your life ?


Life is weird, I take my impact on both the good and bad, so it's hard to know...the ones who I love and hate the most, those people have a big impact on me, now I just have to focus on the ones I love, right ?

Final question : do you like France ?

I love it.

Me and my girlfriend went for a vacation in Paris a couple months ago and we had Lotfi from Straightaway taking us on a big walk all over town all through the night.

This was a night that We will NEVER forget...what an amazing place!!!!

Words with Rich Jacobs

Hi Rich, how did you find yourself in the hardcore scene back in the days ?


So, basically I got into hardcore through skateboarding basically - I had a few friends I skated with that were metalheads, I was too young to even care about music much - but then when I was about 11 I decided that I wanted to be different than my older brother who was into BMX and hair metal sort of. I wanted to make my own mark or stain as it was probably thought of in my family. I was raised with cool but definitely conservative parents - who considering everything were pretty mellow and trusted me for the most part but also helped fuel my teen age and youthful angst and feeling of being pissed off, misunderstood, and like a real outsider freak. I had bad skin - which as one can guess - pretty much sets you apart weather you want it to or not - plus it messes with your self confidence unfortunately as well as an 11 year old. But I found a comfortable place amongst the punks that I could fully express my artistic side, my creative, and rebellious side. I wanted to do my own thing though rather than trying to sort of just fit in with another group. I wanted to feel OK to be me - not judged, criticized, picked on, or beat up. Luckily I didn't care much what anyone else really thought - that never really mattered too much to me for some reason. I had a different idea in mind about what I wanted and I wasn't about to let anyone really get in the way of that concept - I try to keep an open perspective nowadays - but not really much has changed in that regard for me. I feel it is very important to be doing what you feel passionate about, love doing, or feel like you need to be doing - otherwise you are clogging up the channels of your own life. I don't wanna ever be there. The process in which I ended up into hardcore was really organic - I was exposed to the music and ideas through a lot of innocent methods - like fanzines, skate magazines like Thrasher, going to record stores, and reading, talking and living what I was into. It helps to find someone you can talk about these things with - bounce ideas off, etc...I wrote a ton of letters, did mail order, went to shows, made zines, traded tapes through the post, played in bands, put on shows, made shirts and graphics for other bands and my own, it became a part of my daily life as much as anything else did. My parents used to think and tell me it was just a phase I was going through - it has only been 30 years I guess since they told me that - so maybe it is a long phase. The era I got into it was fun for me - the later part of 1983 and as I mentioned before - I was 11 years old.  But you gotta also remember that a few things if that seems young to you : 1) I was six feet tall in 6th grade- I was always a head taller than anyone around me growing up basically. 2) From being a skateboarder I was used to being a solitary loner by choice-and it makes you kinda seek out your own path or trip. 3) Many of those I skated with were quite a bit older than me generally as well.


What was the meaning of hardcore for you ?


Hopefully some of what I just wrote will explain what hardcore means to me - I would just add that I have always looked at punk or HC as a house with many windows and doors in it, stairways, and extra rooms. I was generally almost always most happy when I didn't feel like those doors were shut, or locked. I liked the idea that you could open up the windows and see something new, you could go explore other parts of the house, and find things you didn't know existed, if you just stayed in your room, with the doors closed always. I wanted to open the back and side doors and learn about everything else too. It was just the impetus or starting block on which to build all your other ideas and adventures on. I want to think of the world in not just punk terms - I am grateful for the knowledge and opportunities it afforded me- the experiences obtained while actively pursuing being a part of it, but i want to be a citizen of the whole globe / world. Not just a guy into hardcore only. Maybe that means i am not a purist - I am totally OK with that. I caught a lot of grief for being different from some of my punk friends, when I branched out into listening to other things they didn't understand, appreciate, or even know much about. I don't care really about that now - but I do remember feeling kinda confused when many many years later they too would start to check some of that stuff out and be super zealous, and almost preachy about how "sophisticated" they now were for liking those things . I have always liked rawness - it translates into many forms. I enjoy raw, unfiltered, unprocessed, rough around the edges, not perfectly framed or constructed things. It makes more sense to me, and feels more warm or inviting to me. It seems like humans had a say in it instead of robots, machines, and rulers. Hardcore can fit that I suppose, or it can be as cookie cutter as people make it. It is and always has been available as a choice - you gotta decide - which side you want to pursue though basically - it is up to you though for sure.

Were you straight-edge at some point ?


Yeah there was a time from the ages of about 14 to about 18 that I thought of myself as straight edge or at least found some meaning in identifying with it as an important factor in my life personally. That being said - I never wanted to look at it as a reason to separate people, or be self righteous, as much as I thought it was sort of a personal way to be subversive to the ways in which normal society said you needed to be. I guess it that way i wanted to distinguish myself or mark myself as different than that - but when you do so - it can be exclusionary, elitist, and sort of alienating.  Based in the fact that we are all just humans - some don't have X's on their hands, & some do choose to put them on their hands. So to me it makes no difference. I have never taken drugs, smoked a cigarette, drank a sip of alcohol, ever-not even once just see what it is like. I have smelled most of those things but that is about as much as I ever needed to know it wasn't for me personally. I don't want to use my time to worry about what other people do or don't do so much. I figure no one really honestly cares or should care about what I don't do - so I rarely ever talk about it nowadays - unless it becomes an issue for someone else - which it rarely does. I wanna be given the chance to not do it, so I am totally fine giving others the same courtesy and respect of doing what they feel like they want to do for themselves. I don't care in other words about identifying myself as straight-edge - since about the age of like 18-19 maybe latest. Other things took my interest i guess. I do find it kinda amazing that it still exists as a movement within the punk circle. Extremism within any culture is kinda boring and i don't get much from thinking or worrying about it. I would much rather focus the time and energy I have towards creation, expression, and sharing the things i have come away with as a result of doing just that. Not to pretend like I am any better at anything than anyone else. It is all personal. I view any choice as very personal.


Can you talk a bit about the Salt Lake City hardcore scene ?


I honestly know very little about the Salt Lake hardcore scene personally, I lived in Utah once in 1990 for about 7-8 months. I liked the bands The Bad Yodelers, The Stench, Brainstorm, Iceburn, and maybe a couple others ? I think Raunch Records, and more specifically Brad Collins deserves full credit for any scene related discussion in that area - he really was the one in my opinion that built the infrastructure for any scene to thrive - he documented it, nurtured it, was the only real outlet for it to exist, and distributed all the music that local and other bands put forth through his doors, and on his radio show. He is back at it from what I hear. He is the man to speak with on that matter - I really do feel unqualified to speak on such things, but I do know it was he that made most of it happen. He is a killer guy too - super funny and tweaked in the best possible way. He was always super nice to me, as was Brad Barker who worked there with him. They are the reason there is / was ever a scene there as far as i can see. Honestly - it is that simple, and the kids who wanted it to happen.

Can you talk a bit about your relation with Iceburn ?


As far as my relationship with Iceburn goes - I kinda feel as though it would not be too out of line to consider myself a silent partner, or invisible member of the group almost - I never was an official member musically - although we did try to do a one off band once under the name Dizzy. We played only once - and no one even would clap when we finished - that should let you know how well received it was. I will take partial credit for being an influence on the band - I know that it must seem cocky - I don't mean it to be, I just remember turning Gentry and the guys onto some key things that helped shape the course of the group - be it bands, composers, ideas, concepts, and just being friends with them really. I went on several of their tours, did most of their cover art, t-shirt graphics, and was one if not their largest fan and champion. I hope they won't be bummed I say that. Gentry is one of my best friends - he sang and played guitar and did tuvan throat singing at our wedding. I still to this day value and respect everything he says, and plays on. He is a rare person. In fact i would pretty much describe him as a musical genius - something I would never say about nearly anyone else. He is truly capable of doing anything he would ever want to do with a guitar and if at first he can't - he finds a way to eventually make it happen. The guy makes his own amps, and has remade most of his guitars to better suit him, and his preferences while playing. He is serious believe me. Listen that is all you need to do. I feel lucky and honored to know him. He has given me, and everyone who listens so much to consider - it is a real blessing no matter what your take on blessings is. He is beyond gifted, but works twice as hard at developing his playing as anyone I have ever met. He can write full orchestra pieces, and has. He rules. Iceburn were a great band, they pushed it about as far as you can in a single band - they were always like 3 records ahead of themselves on tour. They have hours of legit material unrecorded, full pieces of music that never happened, I feel like they were not only miles ahead of anything else around them, but people have still not caught up to what they were doing 20 years later. But they are starting to luckily. Eagle Twin is very sick also. Not to be glossed over or overlooked. Gentry is a real deal music man. Try to dispute it - I dare anyone.

Gentry and Rich, keeping an eye on each other...Wait, isn't this Zack de la Rocha in the back ?!

How did you become a drawer ?


I became a drawer by default - it is all I could do otherwise. Words were not on my side growing up - I was shy as hell. Didn't want to even look at people when either of us spoke. Luckily I had access to pencils and paper and later other materials. It has always helped me survive most definitely. It also happened super organically - just did it all the time, and I do mean all the time. I had to.


What is the meaning of art for you ?


Art for me is really "the results of living with your eyes open". Simple but complex too. I love looking, and seeing things - and I can't just always stand by and not try to do something about it. It is in everything, or should be at least.

Who are the people who had the biggest influence on you ?


The list of people that have had the biggest influence on me is for sure artists - musicians, those that tinker, thinkers, makers of things, outsiders, the humble people everywhere in the world, the poor, and forgotten, those I have loved and do love, my family and friends, my wife and son, my self when I am honest with myself. I love making lists and was tempted to list 1000 of my closest friends, enemies, and favorite artists. But I want to keep it open ended. I want to always have an on going list for this.

Is there anything from France that inspire you ?

As far as France goes - there are many things really that I like and think are very intriguing , inspiring, and enjoyable. Let me try to list some of them - first thing that comes to mind as far as music goes - Lard Free, Catalogue, wasn't Mahogany Brain from France?, Aluk Todolo nowadays, my good friend Stephen O'malley lives there in Paris - he is in Sunn O, KTL, etc...but is from the States. I like a lot of artists & composers from there - Erik Satie, Gilles Deleuze, Metal Urbain, where is Yann Tiersen from ? I like Starcow gallery, I like the outside markets there, the food is very good. Best pastry I have maybe ever had was there, hmm? Mark and Eva Newton, a photographer named Raphael , Jonone, a lot of the old school french painters are historically important and of interest. Let me think of some good ones those were just on the top of my tongue. Hold on. Debussy, Pierre Henry, and Pierre Schaeffer, Luc Ferrari, the term avant garde is french - so that is pretty fitting. Matisse, Cézanne, Toulouze-Lautrec, there is much more for sure....I will keep adding to this list as they come to me. Yves Klein, Hans Bellmer, Unica Zurn, Max Ernst, Tanguay, Henri Cartier-Bresson, where was Man Ray from ? Magma, Gilbert Artman, Richard Pinhas-Heldon, does Gong Count, I think Faust lives there too nowadays ? I love the weird art fusion sort of space rock era stuff, I don't know the french punk stuff as well as I should, or the modern day scene - but I really think Aluk Todolo is interesting and the Gunslingers too. Maybe that is good for now. Unica Zurn was with Hans Bellmer and she died in France but she was german I guess. I think it counts though she was one of my favorite surrealists for sure. A. Giacometti of course  I love his drawings.


How do you see the world we live in today ?


I see the world through eye glasses nowadays - I like what I see sometimes, and other times it saddens me to no end. I want to try to focus on the things I can take some control over - my feelings, and my ideas are mine - but I want to freely share them - if anyone is interested. I have a lot to learn, but I want to look at life as an adventure not a punishment. I wish for all to find peace within ,and be strong enough to fight off any force trying to hold them back from that goal. I get stoked on people that are not selfish, but are kind and gentle. I am not down with wars. I like the idea of trying to leave things less messed up than you found them - or at least leaving a different kind of mess there, if you are messy. Some things do matter and should be considered carefully. But it is important to me to try to find reasons to laugh, and feel and attempt to find true happiness. It can be ugly out there, or it can be what you try to make it.  That is probably all, I think for now. Thanks for considering my ramblings. I am not a prized speller, and take a lot of artistic license with spelling on many occasions mostly on accident. Enjoy your life - use your eyes more often to see.  Rich Jacobs - 2013 Oakland

Words with Loz Wong

Hi Loz, when did you join Snuff ?


I joined snuff in oct/nov 1995, just before the Demmamussabebonk session. I was roadie for them up to when Simon left for most of that year as well. I'd also stood in for Andy on bass at a couple of rehearsals so I was kind of ingrained into the Snuff family already.


What is your favourite Snuff release ?


I know everyone says it but it is true for me this time, our current release 54321 Perhaps is my favourite, it was more to do with the spirit it was recorded in, previous recordings have been arduous at times, last minute arrangement changes, long mixing sessions, budgets etc.. This time we jammed the songs on my sofa, we all chipped in with riffs, rehearsed new tunes at soundchecks and recorded the album fresh and hungry to make a racket.


What are your greatest memories with them ?


Well there are many, I'll never forget Reading festival 1999, that was one of those gigs that felt surreal, getting to Australia, getting to New Zealand, bribing customs in Slovenia, touring the US with NOFX in 1996, meeting all the crazy beautiful punks around the globe, not the corporate ones, the real punks. I learnt so much about life in other countries, music, culture, politics, for the experiences and friendships I still enjoy today.

How do you feel about this new record ?


First off I feel this new album is a really British sounding record, not for any flag waving bullshit, more that the record sounds like where I live. Obviously we're all older and I think that's reflected in the songs. I really like Duncan's lyrics on this record and of course I'm well happy on the phat guitar mix! And as I mentioned earlier it was recorded in a great spirit and I think you can hear it on the record. But I would say that !


What about being on Fat Wreck Chords ?


Yes, it's the sort of surprise you want all the time. I've had nothing but love for Fat so when they came in for the record it was an easy decision for me anyway. I'm fairly sure the others feel the same. Saying all that being signed is not what it used to mean, downloads mean you are making music for arts sake which maybe is a hood thing but just having the chance to have a record out on a top label is bloody marvellous, at least it means people are interested, still listening.

How did you become a guitarist ?


I started on trumpet, I was shit. I couldn't read music and gave up. My little brother had a guitar he never played so I started to have a go, I played by ear and was not in tune for at least a year. I was 15. When I turned 18 I switched to bass and started a band with some mates. I was still playing guitar and as I was more eager to explore heavier sounds I started writing riffs on guitar more often and eventually became the guitarist. We soon evolved from a Floyd-esque racket to a more punk thing and once I heard Hüsker Dü and Bob Mould's guitar sound I knew what I wanted to sound like.


Do you feel like you're part of a particular scene?


Yes and no. In the countries where being a punk actually means an alternative life choice then yes, to be the soundtrack to their party is a good thing. There's a different scene city to city, the internet has watered that down somewhat but it's still there. On recent tours with the onset of the austerity measures across Europe, the crowd are more political, angrier but Snuff shows are where you can let that steam off in a positive way and have a sing song as well !
That's the new scene right there, everyone loves a sing song ! On the last Tokyo show we did, the crowd were singing along to "What kind of love" so loud we couldn't hear ourselves, it was great !
I guess a scene is only as good as the music and attitude that fuels it but that's the point, the point of anti establishment DIY non corporate street music will always be about substance over style and they're the bands that are remembered. There are positive aspects of a global scene though, I'd love to see a convergence of the global scene, pressing issues like the corporate sponsored punk tours we get these days or the iTunes monopoly on top of the economic bullshit it's hard for a real scene to maintain.
Fuck I'm in my 40's, I don't go out, what do I know, in reality, there may be a scene out there but I'm not part of it like when I was a younger. I hope it is healthy, not too demoralised ! Getting organised and ting.

"Table Tennis Hard Core"

Have you played in other bands?


Yes, various shit bands from 18 to 24 then in 1992 (I think)? I was living with some Irish lads from Lurgan, in Rayners Lane, we started a band called "Your Mum" with me on guitar and Simon Wells on drums, Paul McMahon on guitar & vox, Rory Blaney on keys and vox and Tony Poole on bass. We did a few shows and a short tour with the mighty J Church in the UK then a one sided album on the "Rugger Rugger" label followed by a 4 track single on the same label recorded via an EMI demo session meant for Snuff. We called it a day when Simon left Snuff and I joined Snuff. Your mum released a best of CD, remixed by Simon.
In 2004/5 I was in a punk band called "Park Royal" with Lee Erinmez (Snuff bassist) on drums, Stacey Dee (ex-Amputees, currently in Bad Cop/ Bad Cop out of SF) on guitar and vox and myself on bass, we did a handful of shows and recorded an EP but never released it, Stacey had to move back to the US so she obviously couldn't carry on. Lee and myself are thinking of remixing the EP and putting it out somewhere as it has some good tunes as well keys from Lee Murphy (also Snuff keys). I did do a collaboration with Duncan Redmonds, Wesley j Walsey and Frankie Stubbs called the Pissmops a few years back, that was a laugh. There's a few other things I've been involved in but that's not a punk thing at all and kind of more a covers thing.


How do you see yourself in the world today ?


In a lot of ways, really fortunate to have had the opportunities and experiences of being in a working band for such a long time, seeing a good chunk of our planet was never on the cards for me before Snuff so I'm really happy about that. Now I work in a completely different field from music full time so Snuff is a hobby for me now, the most enjoyable of hobbies if one had a hobby I should add, so I see myself as the same as any working person facing the daily grind, i just get to play punker a few times a year, which is nice.


What is the meaning of playing music for you?


Playing live is the reason I play, one of my favourite writers is a chap called Alan Moore, he thinks that music, art, the written word creativity expressed through particular mediums have the ability to change a persons perceptions, alter their state, he calls it the true magic, so that's what a gig is like, not all gigs but a good portion, you make a racket that transforms a crowd into a crazed mosh pit and a connection is made, from nothing, magic. When you're the opening act on a 4 band bill and the kids are stage diving off the PA by the third song you know some sort of magic just happened !

Who are the people who had the biggest impact on your life?


Well my Mum has always backed me. A few close friends who always had my back.
The original Snuff guitarist Simon Wells had a big impact, especially guitar style, he is a gifted fret fondler and I learnt a lot from him.
Bob Mould & Hüsker Dü, Jimmy Hendrix, Bill Hicks, Alan Moore, Noam Chomsky, Steven Bantu, Biko, Viv Richards, Warren Ellis, Bert Janch, London, The Clash, Mary Jane, Gordon Smith GS-1, not drinking for nearly 20 years has had an impact although that's not a person...Kazuo Koike,
Jim Marshall, Fat Mike, Trevor Tibbles, Hugo Chavez, Bradley Manning, Jacques Fresco, Boat Azizi, Chas & Dave.


Do you like France ?


Oui, j'aime France beaucoup, mon premier nom est Laurent et mon père et ma mère et par l'ile Maurice, toulement parle francais a l'ile Maurice. Mon francais et pas bon, je croix c'est comme une enfant! Je suis desolee!


What about hardcore and the straight-edge philosophy ?


I'm not straight edge. I understand the movement and respect the ideal but it's not for me. I don't drink alcohol but that's because I just don't like it, as a drug it doesn't agree with me so I don't bother. But I do enjoy other recreational pastimes if you get my drift....
I do enjoy hardcore but it can be too serious and stylised, bands like Refused raised the standard, I loved Gorilla Biscuits and SOIA, Farside, Born Against bands like that stood out for me, I like some of the politics of straight edge but I'm not disciplined enough for the lifestyle.

Do you believe in god or something ?


No. I was brought up in a catholic house and quickly spotted the bullshit of that religion.
The idea of an interventionist god or deity or a creator is pretty whacky to me and the burden of proof is not mine, I'm more interested in space exploration and what's out there.
People can believe what they want so I'm not a hater I just don't buy into the organised religion thing and I would prefer to live in a secular society.


Do you know who you are ?


Yes and no, I change with the seasons but I all I know is that I don't know nothing! Haha.
I know that I crave for a new way, fuck this consumer existence, this immoral and unjust capitalist shit storm. Endless wars, in action on climate, profits made from human misery. I am someone who is fully against that and boycotts as much of that shit as possible while trying to remember to enjoy and appreciate the world and culture around me. Being in my forties now I've seen the cycles of repeated economic downturns, for now, along with that the music revivals from ska to metal bashing to prog to techno to the money machine that is hip hop, I struggle to find content that has relevance to now, and that's the difference between the youth and the middle aged, we've seen the future and found it to be a lie, the youth haven't got that jaded yet, but soon come.
So I've ended up being the sort of person who is mostly annoyed all the fucking time!! Nice one.
I'd like to think that Snuff has made its mark and I look forward to more records and as many gigs as we can feasibly fit in. Up the punks.
Sorry about the rant, I can't stop myself these days, I do waffle on a lot if given the chance so again sorry.
This is probably why I don't get interviews too much...