Long story short: saw these guys opening for RAMBO in a putrid squat in swiss. Not too impressed by their records but live they ruled. Interview conducted with singer Chris around march '03, originally featured in Perro Maldito#2.
Perro: Let me start
asking you something about your name. Why did you choose it? I mean,
it’s not the tipical HC name…
Chris: That's one of the reasons
we were into calling the band this. It's not that much of a typical
cliched HC name and shys away from any preconceptions people might
have about the band. A friend suggested it and we thought it was
kinda funny so it stuck.
Perro: Your gig in Lausanne has been
one of the most energic I’ve ever seen. Are all aussie bands so
crazy on stage?
Chris: Like everywhere else, there are some bands
that have energy and others that don't. We just really enjoy playing,
and being energetic is the only way we know how. I mean we play in a
hardcore punk band so raw energy,confrontation and adrenolin is a
major part of the live aspect.
Perro: Generally talking, how’s
gone your recent tour here in europe? Any funny/ scary stories? We
want dectails!!
Chris: The tour was amazing!! There are too many
people to thank who made the whole experience such a great one. I'm
so glad we made it over because we might not ever get another chance!
There are many stories here are a few: Driving between Erfurt and
Nurenburg in Germany getting pulled over by the cops and having our
bags searched, they were hassling me because I had herbal tea and
they thought it was drugs! In paris we played a live radio show and I
jumped and smacked myself in the face and chipped three of my teeth!
In brussels having a food pasta fight mid-set while we were
playing!The night before in Paris the show got shut down by 40 cops!
Our friend getting mugged of his passport and wallet in
Barcelona!
Perro: Have you noticed some differences between
the organization of the aussie and the european scenes? Is the euro
scene so well organized as I always hear from foreign people?
Chris:
Yes I will say that the touring network in Europe is amazingly
organised, much more so than Australia. Even though Austrlia is a
massive country geographically there are only 4 or 5 major cities
that have active punk scenes. So Europe is on a much larger scale. We
also don't have the awesome squats in Australia that you have in
Europe so most shows are either in pubs or youth centres with squats
being a rare exception. People in Europe are so accomodating and
generous. Getting fed before a show is almost unheard of in Australia
where as it was considered normal in most European cities we visited,
we were all so amazed and greatful of the European
hospitality!!
Perro: Your music has a strong 80s’ HC
feeling, which is something very popular these days. How do you
releate H.H. with the recent “80s’ thrashcore reinassance”? I
think you could be easily included on it…
Chris: Yeah I guess we
could be placed with that tag. I believe that the 'thrashcore' trend
is already on the way out, and something new will replace it. In
Australia 80's style hardcore isn't really that popular. Alot of
bands are doing the emo/screamo or corporate mosh metal thing. I've
always been into fast, no frills hardcore punk.
Perro: You
just released a cd that is a sort of discography with all the
material you have recorded since now. I’ve noticed a different
vocals approach between the two different recording sessions
featured. Did you change singer or he just changed vocals style? If
this second option is the correct one, why?
Chris: A few people
have thought we had to different singers. But for the record I sang
on both sessions. Earlier on were fast hardcore punk but with a
slightly more power violence feel, my vocals were more high pitched
screaming. In the more recent recording Damien (guitar) and dave
(bass)
wanted to take the band in a different direction, that
being more 'old school' 80's style with a slight rock'n'roll touch ,
they wanted yelled vocals (rather than screamed)and more melody so I
tried to comply with their request. I actually recorded the vocals
twice for the newer sessions and we all agreed that the newer style
suited the music better.
Perro: Who the hell is the guy on the
cd cover? I mean, it reminds me the macho-cowboy version of that
asshole called Brad Pitt in the movie “Thelma & Louise”. Why
have you used this pic as a cover?
Chris: Hahaha....We have had a
lot of comments about the cover! Basically we wanted to have a bit of
a homo-erotic theme to the CD because we thought it portrayed our
band quite well! Rock and roll is oozeing with sexual energy and much
of that energy can be interpreted as homoeroticism! You have to admit
he does look quite delicious!
Perro: How would you describe
H.H. with only 5 words?
Chris: Fast fun, not too serious
Perro:
Into Downsided’zine #6 there’s a good article about aussie HC
style, described as hellish as the land itself. Do you agree with
that? Does it really exist something that can be called in this way?
How would you describe aussie HC style?
Chris: I would love to
read the article in that zine it sounds very interesting! Personally
I don't believe this actual Australian hardcore style exists. I just
hope that most bands from Australia don't get too caught up in trying
to emulate US hardcore bands because that can get very boring fast! I
do think that what's good about Austrlain bands is that they can't be
pigeon holed that easily because they take influence from many style
of hardcore punk.
Perro: Since aussie scene is not very
well-known here, are there any bands worth to check out you’d like
to suggest us?
Chris: We have had some classic bands in the past.
Bands like Arms Reach, Fallout, Price of Silence, MYC ruled during
the 1990's. Probably the most crucial ever hardcore band in Australia
was Arms Reach. They were around from 1997-2000. They were like
Australia's version of Infest a totally amazing band with spot-on
politics in my opinion. In more recent times the premier DIY
Australian hardcore bands are Far Left Limit, Deadstare,
Bjelke-Petersen Youth, Conation, Pure Evil Trio, Stockholm Syndrome
and more. People from overseas should definately check out these
bands.
Perro: Now let’s go a bit in depth about that strange
place you live in, Australia. It seems to be one of the wildest place
to live in. Am I right?
Chris: It's funny because people have all
these ideas that Australia is this brutal, crazy land where people go
around wrestling crocodiles and ride kangaroos and shit. That might
happed more in the outback but the majority of the population in
large cities like in Europe. I guess shows like Mad Max and the
Crocodile Hunter haven't done much to change people's stereotypes. We
definatley are quite isolated from the rest of the world. But I do
enjoy living here.
Perro: An aussie guy who lived in europe
for a couple of years told me he was very irritated by the fact that
there’s no space without people here. Do you agree? What
differences have you noticed?
Chris: Australia is quite sparcely
populated compared to the rest of the world. We have a population of
under 20 million in a country larger than the UK and most of western
Europe added together! I never had a problem with that in my travels.
But maybe it would be diffent if I walked around Tokyo, Mexico City
or Bombay! The tube/underground train in London was a pretty intense
and crazy crowded place!!
Perro: Australia is also well known
for having a big quantity/ quality of particular animals. Even if the
man is definitely the most dangerous one, are you more scared by the
big ones or by small and venomous insects or snakes? I’m asking
that ‘coz my biggest fear is to be eaten by one of those enormous
sharks you have downunder…
Chris: When I was about 10 I was at
the beach and everyone was order to get out of the water because
there was a huge shark lurking around, that was kind of a freakout!
My main fear is spiders, I definately have Arachnophobia. Snakes
don't bother me at all.
Perro: Ok, now let me ask you
something more serious now. We are going to have an article about the
stolen generation into this issue. How’s the actual situation of
the aborigens?
Chris: Our Prime Minister John Howard(fascist
motherfucker!)still stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the pain and
suffering caused by the affects of the stolen generation. This was
used as a form of cultural genocide! Sadly the indigenous people
of Australia are still on a whole treated as 2nd class citizens. They
are marginalised to the outskirts of white society with many living
in almost 3rd world poverty conditions. Thus causing high suicide
rates, lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality rates and a
much higher rate of blacks incarcerated than the rest of the
population. When I think about these things I feel ashamed to be
white.
Perro: While there are a lot of people into the so
called “scene” who think the technology is evil I do think it’s
useful and that it’s the way governments/ multinationals use it
that could be defined “evil”. What do you think about
that?
Chris: I hate the way technology constantly needs to update
itself thus ensuring that the lastest model of whatever machine
becomes obsolete every six months, Just so mankind can be that little
bit lazier and the machine can work for us that little bit faster.
Also the way that governments/ corporations use technology to monitor
the general public and have access to their personal details and
information is very evil. On the other hand I wouldn't be talking to
you now so quickly and efficiently if it wasn't for technology. There
needs to be a healthy balance.
Perro: Well, it’s time to
conclude. Tell us about your project for the future and conclude as
you like.
Chris: I'm not really sure about the future of Headless
Horsemen right now. I think we are gonna take some time off for a
little while. We just had a new seven inch come out on gash records
if you are interested. Thanks
for the interview Raffa, it was rad fun!! Thanks again to everyone
who helped out with the tour, you know who you all are. We love you
all!!
Ciao!
