INTERVIEW WITH VOX
FROM GONADS October 2003

1. Whatīs the major reason that made you start the Gonads?

I could say boredom, madness or artistic drive, but the real answer is to pull women.

2. The line up right now, how does it look?

There are seven of us in the band: me (vox), Dan (drums), Clyde (bass and furry harmonica), Steve Bishop (guitar), Andre (synth-guitar) plus Pachine and Leah (backing vocals). Clyde is also in Right said Fred (don't laugh!) You may also have heard of a man called Paul Devine. He is nothing to do with the Gonads. He is a round-dodging wanna-be with a worse singing voice than mine. If he comes to Sweden lock him up and throw away the key.

3. Music and lyrics, whoīs making those things?

Usually I write the lyrics then Clyde or Steve writes the music, but now Andre has joined from New York and he is writing lyrics too. Clyde has just been arrested (for punching a traffic warden) so we are writing Die Warden Die in his honour.

4. Lyrics, whatīs behind them?

Largely hang-overs; if you mention any specific songs I'm happy to tell you what they're about. Most of our songs are about women, football and alcohol, some are political - but we don't hitch a ride from any political parties. We are pro-England and pro the working class, but we don't hate other nations.

5. How do you think the audience have change since the early years?

Back in the 1980s in England they were bigger and much younger.

Live in San Fransisco - The Clipper Club

6. Which bands are your influences?

The Clash, The Damned, Ian Dury, The Faces, Max Miller, Judge Dread, Menace, Max Romeo.

7. The new Oi!/punkbands, what do you think about them?
I like a lot of the new bands I've heard. I heard a few Discipline tracks and they were awesome. like Rancid and I like the Bastards. The Drop Kick Murphys are excellent. Agnostic Front are good and Maninblack in New York are very promising. We played with the Reducers in San Francisco and liked them, they reminded me of Cock Sparrer who are probably in my all-time Top 3 Oi bands along with The Blood and the 4-Skins. Of course I still rate my old pals The Business and the Cockney Rejects. I had a drink and an Indian with Jeff Turner the other night - he is writing his autobiography

8. Swedish bands, does it exist any good ones?

I heard a band called the Pints who sounded good. Have they changed their name to the Drive-ins now?

Live in New York - CBGB's

9. Iīve heard that?s a single and a studio album is on itīs way, when can we expect them to be out in stores?

I don't think we will finish the new album until Easter 2004 but it will be worth the wait.

10. Have you any idea about when addicted to Oi! Is going to be released?

It's out now in England; we have one track on it called Unky Bunk which tells the story of punk and oi. It's one of our best.

11. What could I expect to se and experience if I go to a Gonads concert?

We want to make future concerts more like events with special guests, lap-dancers, films, and art terrorism.

12. Is it any tours planned, if thatīs the case are we going to se you in Sweden?

We will play anywhere that people want to see us. I haven't been to Sweden for twenty years but I remember it as a lovely country.

13. In what other bandīs has the Gonads members played in?
Well, different line-ups of the Gonads were also Prole and the Orgasm Guerrillas. Dan the drummer now has his own young band called Spyx.

14. What happened to the bassist who was nicked here in the start of October?

He is out on bail.

Gal & fan, LA

15. What is Oi! To you?

Working class rebel music.

16. Can you tell us a little bit more about those punks throwing water at you on the concert, what did happen?

They were Crass fans, hippies. They didn't like our union jack flags. Hard luck. Our colours don't run.

With Gonads groupies in Vegas

17. Is there something more we all have to know about the Gonads?

The drinks are on Devine.

18. Have you got any other astonishing interests besides the music?

Yeah, we're making a TV pilot. Watch this space!