Rups: Who is who?
Betercore is Geert-Jan (g), Reinco (v), Wouter (b), Maarten (g), Rogier (d) and Billi (v). Rogier isn't our original drummer. He was in Fast Food Boys before. Also Billi joined us later, when Boycot stopped.

Rups: Did the addition of Billi in the band bring some changes?
BC: No, we played the same kind of music, and Billi as second singer didn't had influence on our music.
Rups: So not music-wise. But lyric-wise?
Reinco: Well, ehhrr. Gee... Seemingly Reinco has difficulties answering the question. And then he brightens up and says: Ha yes, Billi's lyrics are longer than mine were.
Rups: But now you have two singers to sing those lyrics. As to equalize it.... But contents-wise?
Reinco; Well, ehhrr, I don't know. Billi writes them, so you should ask him. I guess there are some differences. But not that the kind of lyrics are totally different. They are in the same vein.
Billi helps out: Only the 'invulling' differs. The message remains the same. Reinco; Yes, two of a kind.

Rups: How would you describe your music-style?
Reinco: How would you describe it? Rups: I have heard the label Youth Crust...
Reinco: Yes, Youth Crust would be a right label. And then we are the Youth and Billi is the Crust. Billi: I would describe it HardcoreCrust or HardcoreCrustPunk. Reinco: YouthCrewThrashCorePunk. GeertJan; No, not Thrash. That is a hype-word! Billi; I am from the old days, when thrash was not a hype. Disorder, Chaos UK. That were the first Thrash bands. And Septic Death and bands like that. Rups: Well, about Thrash; that is my next question. First back to Youth Crust. I guess that is a mix between Youth Crew and Crust. And does it mean it used to be Youth Crew and now with Billi it is Youth Crust?
Reinco: No, we came up with that label before Billi joined us. At start we were mainly influenced by Youth Crew Straight Edge bands, but then Crust was added. And since those two style are not that close to eachother, we came up with the label Youth Crust. Long before Billi joined us as a Crustie. Billi; the low-life versus the smart kids....
Rups: So, you have influences from both S.E. Youthcrew bands as ..... Reinco/Geert-Jan/Billi: Heresy, Larm, Infest, Charles Bronson, Youth of Today, Uniform Choice, Black Flag, Point of Few, Mihoen... Rups: Ho ho. Point of Few and Mihoen as influences, or as scene-mates? Reinco; Well. as mates. We, the 3 bands, started about the same time.
Rups: Back to the influences that you named. These are all Hardcore bands. I didn't hear Crust-bands yet.
Reinco; Drop Dead. Billi; E-150. Geert-Jan; E-150? That is no Crust, that is Emo kind of Hardcore. Billi: E-150 is as




Crust as say...as His Hero Is Gone. Ehm, more Crust influences? Ohlo de Gato! Geert-Jan; Haha, yes, Ohlo de Gato are a big influence for us, haha!
Rups; To what extent does the Crust-ideas come back in your lyrics?
Reinco: If you mean lyrics like War; no. If you mean topics like Animal-rights, veganism and stuff like that, yes. Billi: In a way we deal with clichees. Geert-Jan; But it still are issues that are important. There's not much change, so the topics remain relevant.
Rups: But aren't these topics that everyone in the punkscene already is aware of? Reinco: Well no. Not if you hear people speak. Geert-Jan: Some of them should better go to a VVD-meeting instead of punkshows. Billi; There is a core of people that are aware, but a lot of people around make up the so-called scene. And a lot of those are not aware.
Rups: Do you think your lyrics will make a change for them. To make them fully aware? Billi; You can change all of them... Geert-Jan; there are always newcomers in the scene. Young kids. For them it is relevant. And to show we have more to offer than just music.
Rups: There are other bands that care for a message, but do that not in a clichee-way. Like the band Active Minds. They keep on coming up with new topics and bring that in a critical and refreshing way. If you stuck on clichees, like Meat is Murder, aren't you afraid people will loose interest?
Billi: It is not that much our goal to convince people or to change their life. We show what we feel and we show an alternative way of thinking. In concrete we don't aim to listeners to become a vegetarian directly, but we do show them that there are people that don't eat meat, plus our reasons.
Rups; And who do you want to reach with your music and message?
Billi: Who-ever wants to be reached. And nothing more. Geert-Jan responding on Billi's 'resolute' answer: Ehrr, hehe.. little questionmark. Billi; Clear and honest, isn't it!
Rups: In that way, I guess your music and message won't have much effect, since it will reach the people in the scene that already think that way...
Geert-Jan: To me, Hardcore/Punk/Crust can't and won't make a change that much. It is something personal. What we have to say. If you want to change peoples thoughts and lives, then there are better ways, like flyers, , demonstrations, personal conversations, Discussions on Television. The Hardcore-music-scene is a closed circuit. In that way you can't change the outside world. To Billi: Doesn't it?
Billi: It can and does change your own personal 'invulling' in life. But it won't change society.
Rups: So besides music, there are other, more effective ways to make changes, as you said so. Are you guys active in these other ways?
Geert-Jan; For my personal feeling, not enough. It would like to be more active in that way. But I doesn't have that much time. Social pressure. We got to know how to deal with it.
Billi: For me, in regular live I am not that active in those things. It's more like when I go the a concert I feel 'at home'. I feel that's were I and my ideas belong. It's not like I am convincing my colleague to come over to one of our gigs.
Rups: But do you inform and discuss at your job about topics you stand for?
Bill; No, not that much. They know I don't eat meat, but that's about it.
Geert-Jan; I do, at work and at school. They know my point of view on things. For example recently the son of my colleague/chef wanted to know if I do wear wool. And if so why or why not.

Rups; Okay, back to the music-style topic. I have understand you have problems with the label Thrash..
Billi (knowing me well enough): Heee, I knew this question was coming. Rups: Yes, cause you guys weren't to keen on using the NederThrash-title on the new UPS compilation. While in the meanwhile your split with Point of Few is one of the Dutch Thrash on the Rise releases on Balowski.
Billi: Personally, I don't give a fuck.
Reinco: On one side it is just a word. But at the other side it such a hyped word. One year PowerViolence is THE thing, and the next year it is Thrash and next..... In fact it is all just Punk. Why not call it Punk? Right?
Geert-Jan: Out of the sudden the label Thrash was brought up, by some-one who had an old DRI-album or something (Rups' note; They had an album called Crossover, why is that label not hyped then...?) and now everyone is using it. And NederThrash; I don't care if the bands are Dutch or not, We are in an international scene. I don't see a difference between bands from Holland, Scandinavia, South America or Uzbekistan. In the case of your compilation I can understand the title, since all the bands have their lyrics in Dutch on this EP.
Rups: Yes, and it is a kind of word-joke; translating Dutch Thrash on the Rise to NederThrash in Opkomst. And you are part of the scene with Dutch bands like Point of Few, Mihoen, Cockroach.
Geert-Jan; Yes, I understand. But NederPop and NederHipHop are being used as being proud to be Dutch. But we are not proud to be Dutch. We just happen to be born here.
Billi; Take Ohlo de Gato. We are from 5 different countries. Not bonded by country, but bonded by Hardcore. And it is not cool to be Dutch. Nothing to be proud on. Nothing to be nationalistic about. Holland is boring!
Rups (not nationalistic, but curious for their views): Why is Holland not cool?
Billi; Everything is dead and boring. Things are overkilled.
Geert-Jan: Everybody is stressed. Billi: Everyone is on top of the latest news and gossips. Geert-Jan; Everyone cares most about their Jobs. Billi; Everyone is eager to serve. For other persons. But not thinking of their selves, in a positive way. Geert-Jan; Just for having the job, the money and status. Billi: No one wants to put that aside and care really for themselves. To follow your heart.
Rups: But differs that much from other countries? Geert-Jan; No, it's everywhere the same. Billi: It's not cool to be American. It is not cool to be English. It is not cool to be Swedish....
Rups: Reminds me of the song from the band Het Goede Doel; Belgie.
Billi; Haha, yes. I guess being Belgium fits me well. Or East-German. Geert-Jan; Japanese for me.
Rups; Further about the Netherlands; the Monarchy.......?
Billi (loud): BOOHHH!
Rups: Yes, boohh I understand. What would you like to see instead?
Geert-Jan; The most predictable and realistic alternative will be a republic. But it wouldn't be my alternative.
Rups: Then, what will be your alternative?
Billi: Kwadraat instead of Maxima (Kwadraat is the nick-name for the bassplayer from Ohlo de Gato).
Geert-Jan: Now you wanna hear us say we are anarchists?
Rups: What I am asking is... It is obvious the Monarchy sucks. It is based on an old family and it makes no sense. So it is easy to say Fuck off to the Royal Family. But when the time is there and the Monarchy is history, then we must have thought about a good alternative.
Geert-Jan; The alternative that is workable is a Republic, since there are enough people with that idea to realize it. To make it actually work. But a Republic wouldn't be my ultimate choice. I prefer no Institutions at all. power to the people.
Rups: Power to the People by a Democratic system, or by referendums....?
Geert-Jan; No, not that way. I am reading at the moment a lot of stuff about Anarchism, Socialism and Syndicalism. Small groups of people, small communities, working together which each other all over the world. Living together not for profit, but for each others personal needs and wants. That's in my eyes a better then the current society where the rich get richer and the get poorer. For personal greed of the people that are the richest already we are fucking up the world around us. In 50 years, I don't know what to expect. Empty sees and no more forests?
Rups: So a form of Anarchism or Syndicalism?
Geert-Jan; Well, not strictly.... What name you give it is not that important. The differences between Syndicalism, Anarchism and Socialism are little. They have in common to realize the current way can't go on much longer. According to all three, we got to do something and organize a way of living in which all our personal needs are fulfilled, not just the Rich-men needs. Only the used tactics differ. And everyone has to figure it out for themselves. The way(s) to accomplish the ultimate goals. But it will take a long time before it would be able to realize.
Billi: What it is; Anarchism is cool, but humanity just isn't ready for it. Or at least 90% of the people is not ready for it. Geert-Jan; Well, for Europe. But at other places in the world it is different. In Africa a lot of small communities live that way. Only it is threatened. Billi: Europe is influenced a lot by America and the media plays a big role. People don't want to live like African-communities. the want to live the American way.

Rups: Time for a less heavy topic; KnuffelPunk! You did Knuffelpunk, Reinco. Didn't you?!
Reinco (unpleasantly surprised, laughter by the others): Oh my god! Yes, that's right. I can not deny it.
Rups: Speak up....:
Reinco; Gee, what can I say. KnuffelPunk was a little zine I have been doing some time ago together with another guy. It was back then, when I had other interests in the punkmusic...
Geert-Jan (seriously or cynical? I don't know); It had good comics in it. Reinco (repeating hollow); Yes, good comics... Ehrr, what do you want me to say about it?
Rups: Well, I like to know why you said Oh my God when I started about KnuffelPunk?
Reinco; Because it was something that's not what I stand for now. Billi: A closed chapter of life.
Reinco: It was 4 years ago and I just enter the world called Punk. I had still interest in bands and labels that I don't care about anymore. Billi (putting fuel on the fire): Like what labels, Reinco? Reinco: yeah, I know; Epitaph... Billi: Ooouuchhh. Geert-Jan (supportive-tone to Reinco): Still I think it was a good initiative to start your own zine. (teasing-tone:) And especially the newsletter you started after that, The New Beginning. Reinco (offended); Sod off, you are teasing me! (mean laughter (but still in a kind way)).

Rups; Okay, next more serious topic again; your own label:
Geert-Jan; WastedYouthPower-Records is not really a record-label. It is a collective of friends that have too much money so we can release records and have the honors, haha. No seriously; It is a sort of collective thing of people who bring in their share of money to release a record. We first released the Betercore/Boycot EP. Every bandmember, we were with 8 in total, paid 200 guilders and with that money both bands recorded and released the EP. Each member did get an equal amount of copies to sell and distribute, to earn back the paid money. Our second release was the Sturm and Drang 4-way split LP with Betercore, Point of Few, SoberResponse and Office Killer. Also a collective payment and sharing the amount of copies.
Rups: So the money and distribution is kind of a collective thing. But he arranged the actual pressing, the artworks and the likes?
Reinco: Geert-Jan mainly did. Geert-Jan; I did most of the artwork indeed. At home I have a computer suitable for that purpose. With the wonderful help of Reinco and Frits I must say. The pressing I did arranged via my father at Gramophone Zadoyski in Czech Republic. Also the printing of the Sturm and Drang cover did I arrange via my father at a printing-store. The cover of the Betercore/Boycot was done at Pim's, the ex-singer of Boycot. At nights at his job.
Rups: The pressing-contacts went via your father?
Geert-Jan; Yes, my father does Graphic Design and is in contact with labels and knows some-one at the pressing plant in Czech. So we could make a could deal, with films for free.
Rups: So besides a 'Network of Friends' you have a 'Network of Dad's'? Laughter You can say so haha.

Rups: Did you do tours so far?
Geert-Jan; Two times in Germany... Reinco; That weren't really tours, just weekends. Geert-Jan; Yes, and some gigs in Belgium. One tour through Austria, Poland, Czech and Slovakia. Billi: Bosnia was cancelled unfortunately. One of the coolest things of the last times. Fun. People were very enthusiastic. You know, except for Czech republic, in the East European countries there aren't many really fast bands. More bands are in the '97 old school style..
Rups: '97 Old School-style??? Reinco: Yes, like Atari and Commitment kind of bands.
Rups: So you mean '87 style? Geert-Jan: No '97 style. The revival we had in '97-98 is taking place with a time-lap overthere right now. Billi: Like bands like Driven overhere in '97.
Rups: Okay, I understand. I think I am getting old when even '97 is old school..... But people were enthusiastic.
Geert-Jan; Yes, they liked us and the fast music. And I guess they liked not seeing just music, but also seeing us running around. Reinco; And we certainly have a lot of charm, haha!
Rups: You say so, running around. That definitely is an element in your shows; running, bouncing, jumping, falling, crawling....Going out of your mind and let yourself go?
Reinco (ready to answer): We a.... Geert-Jan: We kind of have stolen it from SoberResonse. Reinco: Shit. Rups: You mean shit, there goes my answer? Reinco: Yeah, alright we have stolen a bit... Geert-Jan; Well. It is a form of amusement. Hardcore is Entertainment after all, hehe. No, it is a perfect way to let yourself go. To get rid off all your frustrations after a week of work, to quote Seein'Red. Reinco; It is a perfect way to show your anger. Geert-Jan; On a positive way.
Rups: But a loss of quality of the music you play is often inherent to it.
Geert-Jan; That is less important to us. Performing live we do it this way and we enjoy it and we don't care for some mistake and out-of-tunes well jumping and letting ourselves go. For the music you'd better listen to our records. Does it disturb you?
Rups: For me it is a pleasure to see you performing live this way. I have seen you performing about a dozen times, but it is still attractive for me to watch. But I do enjoy your music more while listening to some studio-recordings. And I can imagine people that don't know Betercore yet and hear you perform live don't get a right impression. Geert-Jan: For us performing live, the energy is most important. Reinco: And it depends. At some times we do mess up too much and other times we are pretty tight live. But enjoying ourselves and the energy is important to us. And people like watching to it. In fact it is a big Marketing-trick, haha.

Rups; In your band you are together with guys that are Straight Edge and with a guy that drinks and smokes hash. Does that give problems when you are on tour?
Geert-Jan, No. No problems. Reinco: Never had problems with it. Geert-Jan, No, not at all. What do you mean with your question. To what you are referring?
Rups; I can imagine when you are Straight Edge and you are together with a guy who get drunk and high, you can get irritations about that. And discussions.
Geert-Jan; Straight Edge is something personal for me. And not something I am gonna preach onto other. Reinco; No, an own choice and we are not gonna discuss it with somebody who's not. Geert-Jan; Thoughts like 'Straight Edge makes you a better person' is bullshit and not us.
Rups: So a personal choice for your own health.
Geert-Jan; Yes, although Straight Edge doesn't have to mean a good health. If you are vegan but eat French fries everyday or drink Cola everyday, doesn't make you a healthy person.
Rups: Talking about Cola. You are drinking Coca Cola and Appelsientje right now. Don't you guys have a song about buying cheap products of not-known brands that are good enough to enjoy?
Geert-Jan; That song is more about Marketing and not a way to escape it. Even if you want to, it is very difficult. Reinco: A lot of lesser known brands, are still owned by the same big Multinationals.
Rups: Okay, but now you are drinking Coca Cola, so you have chosen to buy a big brand and pay more for a cola than is necessary.
Geert-Jan; No, we got this from Parkhof. They supplied us as performing band with these drinks..
Rups: I see. When you are buying in the SuperMarket, would you not buy Coca Cola and choose some less-known brand?
Geert-Jan: Problem is that most of the less-known brands are owned by the big companies too. Like Helly Cola, that is a small brand, but is owned by Pepsi. Reinco: Even in East Germany; I did buy some kind of local chemically-tasting soft drink that you expect to be made by some small factory in Poland, but it appeared to be owned by Coca Cola! You can hardly really boycott the big companies. Geert-Jan; And in fact the system remains the same. If everybody starts boycotting Coca Cola and start buying Helly, then soon Helly would be and act the same as Coca Cola.
Rups: Okay, but then, what is the message of the song about the Hooded SweatShirts?
Reinco: About people that care that much about expensive brands and the brand-labels on their clothes. You pay for the brand, while the quality is about the same.
Rups; About clothes; I did hear stories about guys from bands in the Dutch scene that are very critical about eachothers clothes, go shopping together at H&M and stuff like that. Is that something from the current scene?
Geert-Jan; Yes, that is true for a part of the scene. You know, a lot of people are still young and looking for identity. In a way still conformists. Like on schools. For myself I will wear what I will like myself. But others....
Rups: I noticed the neat and new black button-shirts, polo's and stuff like that at a certain group of people in the Dutch Hardcore Scene.
Geert-Jan, That is indeed a trend since Oil and the '97 Commitment movement.
Rups: From mohawk, studded leatherjacks and safety pins in the early 80's to the Black button-down shirts from the Hennitz & Mauritz.....
Reinco: But in fact mohawks were a trend too. Also a kind of conformists.
Rups: Yes that's true, but still with a mohawk punx did differ from the mainstream-crowd. You can't recognize the Oil and Commitment guys as being punk or Hardcore nowadays.
Geert-Jan; But the media and fashion of today in general plays part in that too. They used the underground-look to make it a mass-fashion.

Geert-Jan; Don't you wanna know about our side-projects? Rups; Yes, sure. Go ahead:
Geert-Jan; Billi is in Ohlo de Gato; Crustcore with international punks that are living in Amsterdam.
Beer for Breakfast; with me on drums, Reinco vocals, Floris (ex SoberResponse) on guitars and Sanne on Bass. Rups: Beer for Breakfast? Not really Straight Edge.... Geert-Jan; No, '82 Black Flag, Germs and Circle Jerks style. Wouter was in Anti-Punks, but they did quit. He is in a new band but I don't know the name and haven't heard it yet. Something with Humus? And I am in Temper's Rise; Born Against-NoiseCore. Rups: And I did see you drumming for Vitamin X. Geert-Jan: That's Right.

Rups: Okay, that's it. Final Remarks?
Reinco: ehhhh. Geert-Jan; ehhhhh. We must come up with a good statement ehhh. Reinco; I do have something, but it is a kind of joke: 'I have the opinion that Catharsis must fall'. Rups: Eh? Reinco: It is a joke for the intellectual elite among us. It's from Latin 'I have the opinion Cathargo must fall'. And we changed it to the hyped band Catharsis.