Please give a brief history of the band, including current line up.
We started up in 1979 as a part of the
early Danish punk scene and we did our first gig on the 13th. of November
that year. During the first years we went through some line up changes, but
always with a steady backbone consisting of Henrik and me (Steen).
In 1982 Dennis joined the band on drums. He had been a great follower/fan and
friend for quiet a long time and it turned out to be the right decision. We
then played as a 3-piece band for quiet a while (and recorded the 5 track "HA!!" EP).
We where always on the outlook for a second guitarist, but it had to be the
exactly right one. Well, along came this other old punk rock band, with this "new
guitarist". We thought "he is good and a nice guy", so we sort
of highjacked him! That was 1984 and the guitarist was Jens.
In 1987 we decided to call it a day. We where at that point the oldest and
longest living Danish punk rock band.
Well, now it is 2002 and WE ARE BACK. We are no longer "bored teenagers" but
bored middle-aged old men!!The new line up is:
JENS MÜLLER: GUITAR
DENNIS JENSEN: DRUMS
ANDERZ NIELSEN : BASS
STEEN THOMSEN: VOCAL AND GUITAR
Discography.
-THE ZERO POINT: T.Z.P. : Tape 1981. 10
songs.
-LORTELAND: Comp. Tape 1983. Boston Tea Party (Hø-Hø 01) 3 songs.
-HA!!: 7" EP 1983. Spån Records (Spån-sor) 5 songs.
-THE MURMUR: 7" EP 1986. Spån Records (Garn) 3 songs.
And then we got some tracks on different compilation records and tapes. Best
known of them are properly ROIR tapes "WORLD CLASS PUNK" release
(original issued in 1984 and in 1998 as a CD).
Where did the inspiration come from when the band was formed?
I was so lucky to spend the summer of
`77 in England. I was Only 14 years old, and already heavily into music (glam
and early Kiss). Before I left for England I had only read about this "punk
thing", so I was very eager to check it out. It turned out to be just
the thing I had been looking for. I brought home some of the first punk records
and had this weird feeling "something big and very exceeding are happening
and I want to be a part of it".
Henrik, Peter (our first bass player) and me went to the same public school
and they where into loud rock music as well. In 1978 we attended the first
Danish punk festival. And that was it, we where out looking for a rehearsal
room and trying to look up some cheap gear.
So the main inspiration for the band came from the very early British punk
scene.
What is the highlight and what is the lowest
point in the bands history?
I think there have been many highlights.
Some of them have been:
- Playing at an outdoor festival in our hometown Aarhus, in front of approx.
10.000 people. We were the only punk band invited to play the big stage.
-Our gigs in Spain 1986. Especially the one in San Sebastian was fantastic.
-For me the first gig we did in England where very special. It was sort of "bringing
punk rock back home!" It was a "dream come true".
But the real highlight must be all the people we have met, worked with and
have become friends with. Well, now we hope that there are a few more highlights
to come.
The lowest point, the absolute zero point. I think that was the gig we where
going to do together with DISORDER here in Aarhus. Not because of Disorder,
`cos they never managed to show up (why is a completely different story. Just
ask Taff, he still remembers and tells the story). But the Danish promoter
had taken a train ride to pick up Disorder by the ferry. When he found out
that they didn't show up, he called us and told it. We thought "right,
the gig is off". Felt a bit depressed and started consuming large amounts
of alcohol (I mean LARGE amounts). When the promoter was back in town he phoned
us up again and asked us what was going on? And what we where up to? Because
he had contacted 2 or 3 other Danish punk bands and the where going to play
instead of Disorder that night. So the gig was on. But at that point we have
had far too much to even considering stop drinking and when we hit the stage
we where complete shit faced! I guess that was the worst Zero Point gig ever.
Funny enough, the audience seemed to like and enjoy it, they where properly
as drunk as us. The weird thing is that I think that the promoter actually
have released a couple of tracks from that night on a compilation tape. I have
not got a copy of it and it is properly best that way!
Do Zero Point do any covers in the set, if so what and why?
Our upcoming CD will feature a recording of CHELSEA`s "Government".
We don't know if it will be a part of our live set yet. I still think it
is a great song and Chelsea is a great band. Unfortunately I have never had
the chance to se them live.
Over the years we have done a few covers. I think this is a complete list:
"Ghost Rider" by Suicide. Early `79 cover. Not much to cover at the
time. Still thinks it is a great song.
"Never Trust A Man (with egg on his face)" by Adam And The Antz.
"C.I.D" by U.K. Subs. We have always
loved the Subs. First time they came around Denmark We where scheduled
to do a "Rock against Racism" gig in Aarhus. We cancelled
and instead we travelled to Copenhagen to se Charlie and the boys.
Never had no regrets about it, they where great!
"California Sun" by Ramones. O.K. they did not write it, but it was
their version we stole. The Ramones are absolute one of the best and most important
bands in punk rock.
"No Fun" by Stooges/Pistols. More a Pistols cover version we did. For
me, the Pistols are the greatest band that has ever walked this earth.
"Love and a Molotov Cocktail" by The Fly's. We love that song. I think
we where the only people in Denmark who knew The Fly's existed.
"Headbanger" by Cockney Rejects. When the new wave of punk hit the
streets, it hit so hard that we just had to pay our tribute. The early Rejects
are now classics!
If you could take a vocalist, guitarist(s), bassist and drummer
from different bands to make your perfect band who would you choose (can
be deceased)?
Actually, we don't want to replace anyone. But there are
a lot of people that we would enjoy working with or being joint by on stage
or recording (guess the "cover track list" leaves a clue).
All four of us will have our personal favourites. But I think all of us would
like to back up Poly Styrene through a handful of X-Ray Spex classics. Be joint
by Mick Rossi or Mick Jones and play some old fashioned punk rock with David
Vanian and Jimmy Pursey.
What bands would you recommend checking out?
THE GUV`NORS, my absolute favourite newcomer band from
around here are. They are an Oi/ glam/ kickass rock`n`roll band. They are
very well playing and always a laugh. Their singer was Aarhus first Skin
and one of my really old mates. They have just been signed by a new American
label, so look out for their debut release. This band rocks!
THE OUTFIT is another great band. They should soon have a CD release on "Step-1
Music". They are a great Oi! band in the traditional way. Check them out!
BARCODE is hardcore in the Agnostic Front style. Worth a check if you are into
that sort of stuff. Their new CD is simply called "Hardcore".
SKALOOT are Denmark's no. 1 band if you like Ska . They have not have a proper
release yet, but they have made a brilliant promo CD. I am sure they will sell
a copy on the Internet.
WAR OF DESTRUCTION, classic hardcore punk from Denmark. Will soon have a CD
re-release on GTA records. How cut I nearly forget them? I play the drums on
that CD!
What is the Punk/Oi scene like in your area?
Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark. It only
got 287.000 citizens. So it is quiet a small scene.
Over the last couple of years the scene have been growing again. A lot of new
faces have showed up and some of us old timers are starting to show up again.
I think the standard of the bands are very high and a lot of the people who
are into the scene are very committed. Punks, Skins, Rude boys and Psychos
all hang out together and attend the same gigs.
Last year one of the local skins sat up a 2 days Oi! Festival with bands from
around Europe (and Aarhus) and as a brand new thing some of the local punks
and Skins have started a Punk, Skin, Rude boy and Psychobilly club, booking
gigs on a monthly basic. Beside that we got two good venues here there, from
time to time, are veiling to set up Punk and Oi! gigs. We are still talking
small crowds, but things are started happening...........again!
Plans, gigs and releases planned for 2002.
We have just signed a deal with American based record
label "Grand Theft Audio" for the release of a CD containing all
our old releases; some never released studio tracks and a few rehearsal tracks,
all in all more than 70 minutes of music. The CD is set to have a release
date in November and will properly be called "LIFE BELOW THE ZERO POINT".
We will be promoting the CD release with some live gigs and we strongly hope
that we will be given the opportunity to make some "HITS" appearances.
After that I would like to start working on some new material for a CD single
or EP release.
Any final comments?
It is great to be back and taking part in it all again.
I have been longing for this too long. We can hardly wait to do the first
gig!
Thanks to you Rebecca for giving us this opportunity, you are doing a great
job for the scene. A special thank to Brian from GTA and Marcus from FOREIGN
LEGION for the fantastic backup.
HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL OUT THERE!
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