MusicJournoBewilderbomb
September 26th 2006 07:14
This is an interview with Brisbane punk band Bewilderbomb, who have recently decided to call it a day after many years of keeping it real. STEVE is the vocalist, HEAD is the drummer, and KRAM is the guitarist, and this interview was conducted earlier this year (so just ignore anything that's irrelevant).
Bewilderbomb songs - click to hear songs!
So... what does bewilderbomb mean? The name, that is.
STEVE: Well I guess it is up to your own interpretation. The name came about from a mispronunciation on the radio which sounded like bewilderbomb but was meant to say bewildered beyond belief. Credit should be paid to 4zzz for that.
The meaning I associate with it probably revolves around the effect mainstream media has on public perception. I think we were in the heart of the Tampa refugee overboard thing during the time. That is a perfect example of how public perception can be so easily swayed by a completely fictional event.
You guys have been around for aaaaaages - can you remember how you got together? How did it happen. Have there been many lineup changes?
STEVE: The staff turnover here at Bewilderbomb is pretty low. We have only lost 2 members out of the 7 that have existed in the band at one stage or another. People get the shits I guess, especially when you are putting so much effort into something that has little comparative reward.
Is it hard to keep going after so long? What keeps you guys excited about music?
STEVE: Nar it isn’t hard. Everything is constantly changing - the songs, faces and the places. The scene evolves. If everything was the same, I guess we would get stale and pursue something different. It is also so motivating to look back and see how far the band has progressed – and there is definitely room to go even further. Different members enjoy it for different reasons.
You guys ventured out of QLD for the first time recently, yeah? How did Sydney compare.
STEVE: Sydney was great. The best parts were almost getting completely obliterated by a b-double truck and having a van that liked to break down. A typical tour - these things are fully expected. It makes the adventure worthwhile.
HEAD: I liked the kebab shop across from the empire... best ever. too bad about the bands we played with, I hate those guys
Any plans for further tours?
HEAD: We are thinking about coming down again early next year maybe with some other bands again too, maybe some more shows and more metal.
What are your lyrics about? Do you think it's important to be politically-minded when you're in a punk band?
STEVE: Whether you are in a punk band or not, you should at least take note of how other people’s power is going to affect yourself and others.
From what I can gather, (and I guess we all know that) punk was music and a culture that was born from a social backlash to bad politics. But that was thirty years ago... is it still applicable? I think so. But this does not mean we should all be singing about politics or the like. There are so many punk bands that are getting around who don’t touch such issues because they are busy singing about beer or horror or whatever. It gives some diversity to the movement so I guess it is beneficial. Would you like a scene where every band sung about the same thing? The only problem would be when the scene starts to completely ignore its political roots. Let us not let this happen.
You guys almost look like a metal band sometimes with your crazy beards and long hair... but you sound like a punk/rock band with cool 80s-ish vocals and some pop inluences... what the fuck are your influences?
STEVE: The beauty of it is that we all hate each other’s music.
HEAD: I don’t think we all hate each others music, I think it’s mostly me hating Steve’s bright eyes on a rainy afternoon. I like metal.
STEVE: As much as punks seem to think they hate it, a bit of melody never hurt anyone. Look at the misfits or the clash, to name a few hugely popular bands.
Kram has a massive and impressive beard - at what point do you think his beard will become an actual member of the band?
STEVE: Oscar’s actually teaching the beard how to shred on guitar, Kram's gonna get the boot... he just doesn't know it yet.
Some of you guys love Dragonforce... any plans to cover them?
HEAD: Obviously we will at some stage
What have been your favourite shows?
HEAD: Our cd launch just the other night was awesome! Other than that maybe when we played to 5 friends at Reefo's and we discovered Steve should be a singer.
What are your favourite bands?
STEVE: John lennon, Bob Dylan, Crass, billy bragg. Misfits, bright eyes.
HEAD: Deftones, Amen, Killswitch Engage
KRAM: Stockyard Stoics, I-Spy
Any recordings coming up?
STEVE: We plan on recording an album next year, in Head’s bedroom of course. We've got a fair few songs down for that already. Oh yeah, it's gonna be nu-metal.
Steve broke his leg/ankle on stage recently, how did that happen? And how did it affect subsequent performances?
STEVE: I think Oscar (Guitar) was jumping onto his knees or something to rip into a mad sloppy-drunk solo. Just before he landed, my foot was caught underneath and it broke a few bones, a tendon and a ligament (I’m still limping 3 and a half months later). The show went on though after the set I was able to take my shoe off and let my foot balloon. There was no pain apparently because I am large and muscular and so tough. Or perhaps the swelling just cut off the nerves. The fucking public hospital system is fucking fucked. I went though didn’t want to wait for doctor for six hours on a Saturday night. So I came back to the gig with some 24 hour chemist-hired crutches and watched H-block 101 play.
Anything else you guys would like to add?
STEVE: Kram’s beard will be standing in for Kerry O’Brien (7.30 report) whilst he is on holiday.
Bewilderbomb - website
Bewilderbomb songs - click to hear songs!
So... what does bewilderbomb mean? The name, that is.
STEVE: Well I guess it is up to your own interpretation. The name came about from a mispronunciation on the radio which sounded like bewilderbomb but was meant to say bewildered beyond belief. Credit should be paid to 4zzz for that.
The meaning I associate with it probably revolves around the effect mainstream media has on public perception. I think we were in the heart of the Tampa refugee overboard thing during the time. That is a perfect example of how public perception can be so easily swayed by a completely fictional event.
You guys have been around for aaaaaages - can you remember how you got together? How did it happen. Have there been many lineup changes?
STEVE: The staff turnover here at Bewilderbomb is pretty low. We have only lost 2 members out of the 7 that have existed in the band at one stage or another. People get the shits I guess, especially when you are putting so much effort into something that has little comparative reward.
Is it hard to keep going after so long? What keeps you guys excited about music?
STEVE: Nar it isn’t hard. Everything is constantly changing - the songs, faces and the places. The scene evolves. If everything was the same, I guess we would get stale and pursue something different. It is also so motivating to look back and see how far the band has progressed – and there is definitely room to go even further. Different members enjoy it for different reasons.
You guys ventured out of QLD for the first time recently, yeah? How did Sydney compare.
STEVE: Sydney was great. The best parts were almost getting completely obliterated by a b-double truck and having a van that liked to break down. A typical tour - these things are fully expected. It makes the adventure worthwhile.
HEAD: I liked the kebab shop across from the empire... best ever. too bad about the bands we played with, I hate those guys
Any plans for further tours?
HEAD: We are thinking about coming down again early next year maybe with some other bands again too, maybe some more shows and more metal.
What are your lyrics about? Do you think it's important to be politically-minded when you're in a punk band?
STEVE: Whether you are in a punk band or not, you should at least take note of how other people’s power is going to affect yourself and others.
From what I can gather, (and I guess we all know that) punk was music and a culture that was born from a social backlash to bad politics. But that was thirty years ago... is it still applicable? I think so. But this does not mean we should all be singing about politics or the like. There are so many punk bands that are getting around who don’t touch such issues because they are busy singing about beer or horror or whatever. It gives some diversity to the movement so I guess it is beneficial. Would you like a scene where every band sung about the same thing? The only problem would be when the scene starts to completely ignore its political roots. Let us not let this happen.
You guys almost look like a metal band sometimes with your crazy beards and long hair... but you sound like a punk/rock band with cool 80s-ish vocals and some pop inluences... what the fuck are your influences?
STEVE: The beauty of it is that we all hate each other’s music.
HEAD: I don’t think we all hate each others music, I think it’s mostly me hating Steve’s bright eyes on a rainy afternoon. I like metal.
STEVE: As much as punks seem to think they hate it, a bit of melody never hurt anyone. Look at the misfits or the clash, to name a few hugely popular bands.
Kram has a massive and impressive beard - at what point do you think his beard will become an actual member of the band?
STEVE: Oscar’s actually teaching the beard how to shred on guitar, Kram's gonna get the boot... he just doesn't know it yet.
Some of you guys love Dragonforce... any plans to cover them?
HEAD: Obviously we will at some stage
What have been your favourite shows?
HEAD: Our cd launch just the other night was awesome! Other than that maybe when we played to 5 friends at Reefo's and we discovered Steve should be a singer.
What are your favourite bands?
STEVE: John lennon, Bob Dylan, Crass, billy bragg. Misfits, bright eyes.
HEAD: Deftones, Amen, Killswitch Engage
KRAM: Stockyard Stoics, I-Spy
Any recordings coming up?
STEVE: We plan on recording an album next year, in Head’s bedroom of course. We've got a fair few songs down for that already. Oh yeah, it's gonna be nu-metal.
Steve broke his leg/ankle on stage recently, how did that happen? And how did it affect subsequent performances?
STEVE: I think Oscar (Guitar) was jumping onto his knees or something to rip into a mad sloppy-drunk solo. Just before he landed, my foot was caught underneath and it broke a few bones, a tendon and a ligament (I’m still limping 3 and a half months later). The show went on though after the set I was able to take my shoe off and let my foot balloon. There was no pain apparently because I am large and muscular and so tough. Or perhaps the swelling just cut off the nerves. The fucking public hospital system is fucking fucked. I went though didn’t want to wait for doctor for six hours on a Saturday night. So I came back to the gig with some 24 hour chemist-hired crutches and watched H-block 101 play.
Anything else you guys would like to add?
STEVE: Kram’s beard will be standing in for Kerry O’Brien (7.30 report) whilst he is on holiday.
Bewilderbomb - website
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