Disrupters Interview

08/08/2007

Not a hard decision for me I had been trying to talk the others into doing it for years. I was hoping to get the definitive line up of myself, Kev Wymer, Paul Greener and Steve Hough. No chance, Paul has always been adamant he never wanted to do it again, he sold all his equipment years ago when he was skint. Houghy said yes initially when I last tried to persuade him but has since jumped ship when we starting rehearsing again recently. So it's me and Kev, original founder members with new boys Steve Hardy on guitar and Steve Skingley on bass. We've known Steve Skingsley for many years he used to tour with us when he was in Revulsion, Steve Hardy plays in Kev's other band Saigon Kiss. Prem Nick who recorded a few spoken word tracks for us will put a few appearances in too. It always felt like unfinished business after we split anyway.

I kind of felt obliged to reform too, people have been on at me for years to do it especially since Overground released our Gas The Punx complilation. Some of the songs on there have never been heard before they were originally meant for a 3rd album that we never completed.

Yes but just as punters mostly, we didn't play in any bands for quite a few years. When I left the Disrupters I had the smart idea of broadening my horizons but ended up working as head barman in a dingy nightclub/venue. The cool lady who managed it liked partying after hours so I spent the next 5 years off me face mostly. So much for broadening my horizons. Kev formed Saigon Kiss a few years ago, they are still together. I got dragged out of retirement to front the New York Scumhaters when they started doing Ramones covers I've since left but it was mostly fun. The Ramones are the best band ever anyway, I can only hope I did Joey justice performing his songs. Probably our music tastes are a bit wider these days, we listen to some rock and metal too these days. I can't see the point in disregarding something that doesn't fit into a particular category. Love getting messy at festivals still.

Well the CD is selling so I guess there are folks who think it is still relevant. The world ain't changed that much has it? We're still ruled by self serving bastards commiting crimes against humanity whilst hiding behind a cloak of phoney decency and religious dogma. Faces and names change on the world stage not much else does.

I suppose we are influenced by what we see around us, I always tried to keep a sense of humour in my lyrics, a fact often overlooked back then by our more serious minded anarchist friends.

New material? One step at a time I think we're still rehearsing a set that will revolve around the Gas The Punx album.

High point must have been the reaction we got to our 1st single Young Offender. We paid for the 1st 1000 copies ourselves and frankly didn't think we could give it away. That initial pressing sold out in a week after that Back's Records took over the financing of our label, strange to imagine that our 1st few records charted in the indies. Another high point was getting asked to play in Belgium, fuck I'd never even set foot out of the UK at the time, a personal milestone that.

Low point? Not that many really, it was a very hand to mouth existence for quite a few years but that ain't important when you're doing something you believe in. Could have done without being hauled up in court a few times but it's all good character building stuff :)

Mixed feelings really obviously great it's still around but a little bemused that rags like the Guardian are giving away "best of" punk albums free to their readers. I couldn't get to grips with the idea of HITS and WASTED for awhile. Those seaside/holiday fests seemed a little too close for comfort to the teddy boy weekends we used to take the piss out of in the 70s. Bit harsh though, I played Wasted/Morecambe the other year with the Scumhaters it was cool as fuck. Played twice in fact. Well organized, good atmosphere and no sign of the aggro we used to put up with. Bit surreal playing bingo with Max Splodge though.

To be honest I think punk is in a better state now than it was in the late 1980s. I quit the Disrupters in 88 it seemed to me it had degenerated into a bitchfest with warring factions trying to score punk rock cred points off one another. And of course on the anarcho side of things the scene police had arrived pointing fingers and creating new rules. And straight edge what was that? All the straight edgers I knew were just to fucking mean to get a round in. But yeah it's come on from that I think. The Disrupters were always classed as an anarcho band, it's not a term I ever liked really but I guess these days it is a convenient reference. I always thought we a punk band pure and simple, I loved Crass they were an awesome band but it was the Pistols and the Ramones that got me into punk originally. Despite it's many faults though that whole anarcho thing was fucking great to be around for a few years with the ideas, the activism and the bands were very diverse.

Hope I ain't sounding too negative here on punk in general, not my intention for a good few years things were amazing but I really remember the late 80s being a low point. A lot of bands folded around the time we did. But it's picked up again, just changed a bit.

Did the the Disrupters influence any other bands? Never thought about that really. A few bands covered our songs live. Reality from Kings Lynn did a good version of Napalm. I remember that one.

Would be chuffed if the Subs covered us, Mr Harper has always been a bit of a hero of mine. Where does he find his stamina?

Hey who knows, Robbie Williams might ask to cover Rot In Hell one day :)

Kevin Wymer used to play in a band called the Aborts and he hates it when his drums rattle.

Steve Hardy likes suntan lotion rubbed on his back.

Steve Skingsley likes cider, holidays in Greece and is more than willing to show his vasectomy scar to anyone who asks.

Bangkok Steve like backpacking in Thailand, thai red curry and lager and is also more than willing to show his vasectomy scar to anyone who asks.

Prem Nick was known at school as "Mad Nick", he now works as a mental health nurse.

We start gigging in October of this year, 12 Bar Club, London on the 20th is the 1st one I think and then handful in November, including a slot on the bill at Steve ignorant's Feeding Of The 5000 weekend (saturday night), couldn't turn that one down could we? As for releases, we'll be recording and filming at various times so something will surface at some some point. Watch this space.

Hey it's cool to be back, all you who have been in touch be sure to catch us soon.
Visit us at www.angelfire/ak5/disrupters/
www.myspace.com/bangkoksteve77
www.myspace.com/disrupters

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