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I've known Britt for years and had the pleasure of hearing Assert right from the off. They're a HC band who are just too real for many and in fairness Assert have never had the justice they deserve. They're one of a handful of UK band I've actually got time for and with a new album soon to be released I decided to drop Britt a line. Here's what he had to say on behalf of the band.
Street Voice: It's been 15 years since you started the band. When you used to come around my flat with your demo tapes back then did you think you'd go on to do as much as you have done?
I didn't really consider how long we would exist or what we would achieve, it was just to create small goals and then re-evaluate those goals. First thing was to put out a seven inch E.P. which we did ; i had it mastered in London so it had the classic 'A porky prime cut ' around the outside edge. Another goal had been achieved so it was time to move onto our first full length ; we did that and luckily Lil and Kafren at Household name were good enough to put that out for us then another seven inch ; we sort of rushed out a second album ( a bit under rehearsed ) on Household name because i wanted to strike whilst the iron was hot. All the time new goals were created ; i wanted a release on a Euro mainland label ; got an album out on Hardboiled/Diehard . My new goal was to get an album out in the states which we did through Maltsoda. We had money from those two labels , so , spent it on creating a studio to record and produce our records . It is just basic 'means of our own production' ethics in action. I lead by example and expect others to follow ; we are all leaders or followers mate.
Street Voice: You've never compromised so is that why Assert has managed to keep together for so long.
We stayed together because it was us against the world ; the idea of being true survivors ; obstacles presented themselves and those in the band who were strong enough stayed with me and overcame those obstacles ( whilst learning valuable lessons for life) those who let their negative inner voices defeat them left. There is an idea that we never compromised but in the music industry it is one big compromise after another ; people seem to look down on others far too often , based on what ? their position in the 'industry' ? its egotistical bullshit. A band compromises less if it has created the 'means to its own production' i spoke about earlier. The idea of D.I.Y. is over used without people really understanding what it means.
Street Voice: There's band members that left and two that have now passed away. How hard is it to want to carry on epecially withe the death of Chris?
It was very hard after Chris died because we spent so much time working with him ; working on him to improve his technique and attitude toward playing as a strong unit within a band . He had a lot of talent and was unique ; i had to walk into the room with his parents to see his dead body and it was tragic . Ryan found Chris' body in his spare room and called an ambulance then came to see me and was in bits . We got to the point in rehearsal where we could play two different sets and almost every song we knew with Chris ; it was magical and such a high . A few years ago our original bass player John was pulled dead from the river ; when he went missing myself and Ryan just knew that he was dead . John listened to the wrong people ( and his own negative inner voice )got involved with the wrong people and made the wrong choices ; Ryan and myself tried to keep him in the band because we knew he could self destruct without it . Strange thing is he seemed to get his shit together and was working as a personal trainer , so , maybe it was a tragic accident? ; we will never know. We owe it to our boys to keep overcoming obstacles and creating music. It's what they would want .
Street Voice: You've played a shit load of gigs over the past 15 years what shows stick in your memory the most?
Some shows stick out for all the wrong reasons !!way too many !!. We have played with many 'name' bands and have enjoyed the company of people like : Stigma ; Jerry A ; Wattie ; Charlie Harper ; Freddie Madball ; Harley ; the list goes on . I remember touring Europe with Murphys Law , we went to the Dynamo festival in Rotterdam, they played such an entertaining set . It was a real laugh , brilliant. We have been lucky to have been on some very good tours over the years . Hopefully we will go back to some of the countries we have visited and visit a few more.
Street Voice: You've a new album coming out soon so are you going to release it yourself or find a label to take it?
The new c.d. is on Anfibio records out of Italy , a growing label.
Street Voice: I presume your lyrics will be as hard hitting as ever so what kind of subjects do you deal with for this album?
Well we have 'England belongs to them' which is about those people harping on about a nation they have never owned had little input in ; or will ever be valued as citizens within . England is owned and controlled by a small number of rich and influential people ; it is their country always has been and always will be so , some folk need to wake up and smell the coffee. A factory owner could not care less which nationality youbelong to as long as you create profit and wealth for them ; you will be treated no better because you are English . The likes of the Bush family or Murdoch or Berlusconi dont care who they do business with. Our great royal family ( god save the queen and all that guv) are German and Turkish ; so is St George . So , who does England belong to? THEM mate.
'Tyranical statues' is about how the ruling elite of any nation erects ruling class statues of our so called 'great leaders' ( who send young people to fight their wars ) and neglect to include the working class heroes of history. History is written from their point of view ; was Churchill in the trenches ? on the beach ? . It also applies to the tyranical statues of the likes of suddam .
'Set the place ablaze' is written from the point of view of a suicide bomber ; i dont endorse that behaviour im just expressing that it happens, in all its tragedy.
'Patriotic masterbation ' is for all the bores who talk about THEIR nation as if it is more dynamic ; dominant or progressive then any other nation . They seem to ignore the potholes in the road ( sign of a poor infrastructure) and the run down housing ; health services and so on . I prefer to see 'people' others see boundaries and borders.
'Black hole' is about the black hole of Calcutta ; what was it ? where was it ? what happened?
'Fight tonight' is about the drunk in the pub who is staring out and looking for trouble. We have all been there.
'Everything turned black ' concerns destructive and depressive behaviour.
'M.R.S.A.' a song about the state of health in our country.
'Clampdown' there are more cctv cameras in the U.K. then any other country on earth ; surveillance society.
'United cities' We CAN come together as a positive force for change cant we?
'Anti -nazi ' ( or apologist) we are all 'Anti' or are apologists simple as.
That will do for now ; i think there are eighteen new songs on the album .
Street Voice: By the way what is the title of the album?
The title is 'Lazer tattoo removal service' it just means that all those punks/skins/hardcore kids who bought into the clothes and look can now go back to their 'nice' lives and let the likes of Assert carry on developing the correct ideas, ethics and morals needed to survive an industry / scene that will/could crush us.Tattoos will not make you tough or more punk than the next person . They can now cover up their neck tattoos ( or have them removed ) and get that job in the bank that they were destined for and stop trying to use punk/hardcore to give themselves some (fake)'street' credibility. In striving to be 'alternative' we turn ourselves into walking commodities.
Street Voice: To me most HC just sounds the same these days. Why do you think it is that so many bands sound the same when for many years the main bands who mattered all had a different sound? What is so wrong with diversity?
The bands that have/had their own sound didnt/dont care about a career thats why ; band wagon jumpers or mimics just want the shortest route to 'success' ; thats up to them . It's not an original voice its been done before and probably better . In all 'arts' we are looking for something new , vibrant and original . Diversity is great , diversity is life itself.
Street Voice: You're an open Anti Fascist so do you get much grief off the right wing because of it?
Minor incidents ; we try to be switched on to the pavement arena, but ,those people operate slyly and without warning . Three of Assert have studied martial arts ( and MMA) at the highest level and are reasonble street fighters , so ..........
Street Voice: You're also planning a full UK tour. How many dates will you be looking at playing?
No plans for a tour yet bruv, waiting to see what opens up and sticking with a few weekenders . Maybe a trip to France and Italy to see our friends and to play.
Street Voice: Having a daughter what does she think about her dad fronting an in your face HC band? Is she into the music or other stuff?
She used to like it when she was younger i think shes a bit reluctant to compliment me as she gets more grown up . As long as she is confident and happy is all that matters.
Street Voice: Apart from the forthcoming album release and tour what other plans do you have for 2009?
Just to keep playing a few gigs and continue writing our seventh full length . We are learning all the time and equiping ourselves for lifes path. I'm waiting for Mike Davies to get in touch to book us for a radio one session .
Street Voice: Anything you'd like to add?
To thank people who still come and see us ; buy our records and speak encouraging words to us.
Thanks and toodles !
Thanks to Britt for doing the interview. If you love HC then you should give this band a listen. They're the real deal and have lyrics that are meaningful instead of the piss poor ones that many of todays HC bands then to write.
12:17
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