“This is not a metal fanzine.”
Before Was?, Guillaume Dumoulin (Grenoble) had done three issues of L’Ordurier and one (or two?) issues of Graffiti. Since we corresponded, Guillaume sent me this issue. It dates from 1988 and contains interviews with ‘Upset Noise’, ‘Negazione’, Skeezicks’, ‘Eat Yourself’ (Grenoble), ‘Death Noise’ (Marseille), ‘A Reason To Live’ (Fréjus) & ‘Nerve Rack’ (Leeds); plus reviews (music/concerts) & infos (scene-report Grenoble, skating, conscientious objection).
In the editorial Guillaume states this is a HardCore zine but that and opening towards other musical styles is possible… “Contributions from everyone are wellcome.” The price is kept low but potential profits will be used for future issues and a tape-label. “It’s possible that #2 comes with a tape.”
>>By doing a fanzine we wanna don’t wanna prove anything but rather convey our ideas and those of the bands. See where we stand at the present time, how ideas/attitudes haev evolved. In France we’re several years behind other countries. People are closed-minded and the various problems in the world are of little interest to them because inequality has made people egoistical. Punks in general have limited themselves to their ‘no future’ and see no alternative in hardcore. […]<<
I haven’t seen any other issues but the cover of #3 mentions ‘Agathocles, ‘Doughboys’, ‘Filthy Charity’, ‘Instigators’, ‘Les Cafards’, ‘Lethal Aggression’, ‘M.S.T.’, ‘Nomed’, ‘S.N.F.U.’, ‘The Feebles’, ‘Vortex’, ‘Youth Of Today’, etc.
‘Upset Noise‘ (1987) consisted of Paolo ‘Boffo’ Cattaruzza (bass), Fausto Franza (guitar), Lucio Drusian (vocals) & Stefano ‘Bone’ Bonanni (drums). In ’88 they had a second guitar-player that joined the band just for that tour. After the split they reformed about a year later with Guido Zamattio on bass and Massimo ‘Max’ Arban on 2nd guitar…
[Translation below]
Fuck! What an excellent Italian band! Their LP, released at the end of ‘87, is a gem. ‘Upset Noise’ play fast slightly metal-influenced HC, but without the violent, sexist or satanic attitude. On the contrary! Their lyrics deal with subjects that are close to their hearts; such as AIDS, which is seen by the church as god’s revenge on the sinners. (But where do they get all that?!)
While waiting for their tour, you’re obliged to buy their LP, if only for its superb cover full of pretty neon colors!
Come on, enough joking, let’s do an interview with Lucio (vocalist), whom I thank for agreeing to answer my questions despite his nervous state.
Write (for info, concerts…) to Lucio Drusian, v. Scaramuzza 4/b, Mestre (VE), Italy.
HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO RELEASE YOUR RECORD AND HOW COME IT CAME OUT ON A BELGIAN LABEL?
It’s a long story. In December ‘86 we took of to tour Holland and Germany (It was the first time we played outside Italy.) and we already knew that after this little tour (9 concerts) we would have enough money to pay for the studio but not enough to pay for the pressing and distribution of the record. After a gig in Arnhem (The Netherlands) I discussed it with some of the ‘Heibel’ guys and they told me that maybe Werner from Hageland HC recs (That a released their great LP – Yeah, Everything’s Great!.) could help us. So we negotiated with Werner and made a deal for a record.
DON’T YOU THINK IT’S BAD FOR THE HC SCENE TO SEE HEAVY METALS COME TO CONCERTS WITHOUT ANY IDEAS OTHER THAN TOSSING THEIR HAIR ABOUT, DRINKING BEER, SOMETIMES FIGHT AND NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE LYRICS?
Well, I don’t know what the heavy metal kids in your town are like but I have friends in the metal-scene. At first they came to HC gigs to “toss their hair about” and drink their beers, but then they started buying our records and paying attention to the meaning of our lyrics. Maybe they realized how stupid it was to fight against people like them. I think we’re not that different. We all hate trendy disco-freaks and posers, and we all love listening to fast music. Anyway, skinheads are much more violent (in my city).
HAVE YOU PLAYED IN OTHER COUNTRIES? DID THE AUDIENCE APPRECIATE it? WAS IT MUTUAL? WHEN DO YOU COME TO FRANCE?
We played in West Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium, and people always had the same reaction.
I want every concert to be a real party because, personally, when I go to a concert, I want to be able to have fun in peace.
People should listen to our music with a lot of humour. You’ll see it when we play at your place (in March or April).
HOW IS THE SCENE IN YOUR CITY? ARE THERE A LOT OF BANDS AND CONCERTS?
Not as much as two years ago. Police oppression increases every day and concerts are restricted. There are still good bands such as ‘Dirty Joy’ [oi! band from Mestre] or ‘Guerra Fredda’ [hardcore punk band from Venice], but the scene is dying.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MACHISM, SEXISM AND PORNOGRAPHY?
I guess that question comes from the fact that you read the lyrics to Weekend Massacre, huh? That song (like most of ours) has an ironic meaning. It’s about the macho attitude which is very strong in Italy right now. You know: Rambo, Terminator, Top Gun as well. These movies have a strong influence on young people, making them believe that war is cool and killing is fun. About sexism and pornography: on the one hand I think sex is wonderful, it’s the most natural means of communication. But I think it’s a shame to see people are using sex only as a commodity.
WHO DID THE PAINTING FOR THE COVER? CAN YOU EXPLAIN ME WHAT IT WANTS TO EXPRESS?
The cover was done by R.K. Sloane, an American artist who has done covers for psychedelic bands such as ‘Plan 9’. It’s a graphic representation of our everyday paranoias, if you know what I mean. It’s a world full of colours, but pale, ephemeral.
ARE YOU A POLITICAL BAND? WHAT ARE THE POLITICAL BELIEFS OF BAND-MEMBERS?
No, we’re not a political band, I would rather say social. How could we trust a political party when we have had so many changes of government? Three (failed) coups and a pornstar as a senator (even though I think that debauchee is prettier and better than a bunch of lying politicians like ours)…and nothing changed? We think they’re all pigs. Anyone who takes power tries to fuck over the poor and take their money. It has always been like that, and we lost belief in revolution after ‘68 and ‘77. Currently we are waiting for something to believe in.
And it’s strange; there’s a kind of anarchy right now but on the wrong side of the fence. I mean on the side of the rich: they have the power and they do what they want. (Crap!)
ARE YOU SCARED BY THE POSSIBILITY OF A NUCLEAR WAR? DO YOU THINK THE REAGAN-GORBACHEV SUMMITS WILL LEAD SOMEWHERE?
Who isn’t afraid of a nuclear war? Reagan and Gorby are friends even though they claim otherwise.
They’re similar, they are the masters of the world and they make fun with our lives.
WHAT OPINION DO YOU HAVE OF ITALIAN SOCIETY?
It’s stupid, rigged and fanatical.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD PROBLEMS DURING CONCERTS?
No, never, except for small problems like drunk technicians.
WHAT ARE YOUR PROJECTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
We’re going to do a big European tour in March/April and release a new EP in May (Yeeeaaahhh!!)
DO YOU THINK HC WILL BECOME A FASHION ONE DAY?
No, as long as it remains non-commercial (unlike new-wave and heavy metal). That day, I wouldn’t call it HC anymore.
WHY ARE YOU THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE BAND WITH SHORT HAIR?
Hey, what kind of question is this? I really don’t care about the length of my hair. Anyway, I have long hair now, I don’t know how long it will last and I don’t care. (HEY LUCIO, IT WAS IRONICAL!)
ANY LAST WORDS?
Stay united and don’t let your brains be eaten by all those stupid labels (punk, HC, metal, freak, etc.). Have fun and expect us: we will meet in March. See you! Thank you for this nice interview!
Brob Tilt's zine-world 2 