Ελληνικά
No need for introductions for this one. Everyone knows who GBH are and is familiar with their importance in making Punk great. Those of us who have attended their shows can easily admit GBH is one of the most intense live bands out there. On the occasion of GBH visiting Athens once again, I came in contact with the band and had a bit of chit-chat about this and that. What are you waiting for? Keep reading!
Good evening, lads! This is Elpida and I welcome you to Metal Invader! Thanks for having us! So, how are things flowing for you? Is life treating you well these days?
Hey there Elpida, life is ok. Thanks, we are very busy these days… which is good.
GBH is considered a colossus for the punk movement and as has been mentioned by many, have served as an influence for numerous punk rock musicians and bands. How does this make you feel? I’d be honored!
Yeah, is a humbling thing and also a little embarrassing to be honest, we wanted to be a band so for other bands to mention us in an honor.
Extending the previous question, GBH are the early pioneers of English Street Punk as a whole. Did this ever feel like a weight on your shoulders, as in creating a certain feeling of responsibility towards a massive lot of fans and the genre itself or haven’t you given that much thought on it?
Never given much thought to it, I don’t even know what ‘Street Punk’ is. We just thought it was Punk Rock, plain and simple. There are so many subgenres these days…
Concerning the band’s name, as we all know, it came from Sean McCarthy’s trial for grievous bodily harm. Didn’t it occur to you that maybe this name would have a bad reflection on the band?
That thing with Sean never happened, it is a legend I don’t know who or where this rumor started but it is not true… shame I suppose.
GBH’s core lineup (Colin / Ross / Jock), along with Scott who came in later, stayed the same throughout the band’s history. So… it’s not just band, eh? It seems more like family to me. Is that the case?
Yeah, we have known each other for so long, me and Ross first met when we were 10 years old, we played for the same football team, Sheldon Boys.
Despite the fact that three of you are the unchanged core of GBH, almost a handful of drummers had joined the band, until Scott came along. What was the special feature you saw into him and made him part of your gang?
Well, before he was in the band he used to come and watch us rehearse, we would get to our rehearsal room and he would be waiting outside, with a plastic bag full of beer. So, he deemed the obvious choice.
For the most part, GBH have remained fairly faithful to their original sound, well apart from 1992’s speed-driven “Church of the Truly Warped”, contrary to other bands that changed more or less their musical direction. How difficult is it for a band to remain true to its roots in terms of music and attitude / mentality?
I don’t think we have ever changed our music, It’s just fast ROCK’N’ROLL. I’m not really a fan of Heavy Metal/Speed Metal or whatever it’s called.
You’ve been a consistent band, as far as releases are concerned. Your last album “Momentum” was released last year. What keeps you motivated? After all you’re a band that’s had its shares in the music industry and worldwide shows.
We just want to keep doing what we are doing, we tour the world and write and release new albums… Every now and then, being in a band is all the motivation we need.
Any new tunes you’re working on? What does the future hold for GBH?
Yes, we have a few ‘half songs’, but are in no rush. We just let things happen organically, we are contracted to Ηellcat for at least one more album…
Has the band become a way of life or is it the other way around; life dictating the course of the band?
It’s all the same really. The band is our life and our life is the band.
Over the time, GBH has dealt with various issues and subjects in their lyrics, either personal or social. If you could, how would you describe the band based on your lyrical themes, besides being just a (notorious) punk band?
Well, I like to think we are serious at what we do, I write the lyrics, so I try to make them make sense. They don’t have to be grammatically perfect, far from it but they have to make sense and fit with the music and have a beginning, middle and end. And if you talk about some problem you should try to mention a solution.
Being around since 1978 means you’ve experienced changes both in the music industry, the fans and yourselves. What would you say is the most striking difference in these three subjects betwixt then and now?
The internet/computers, they have changed the whole world, from the way you now record music to the way you buy it and now you listen back to it. One very good and positive thing is that communication is so much better now.
GBH are about to visit Greece once again, this time for the Vive Le Punk Festival in Athens. What have you prepared for us and what are your anticipations for the gig?
Really looking forward to it, we always have a good time in Greece. We will be playing a few of the new songs and also the old ones… So it should be a good time for all.
Any chances for a last minute show in Thessaloniki, or is it much to ask? Haha!
I wish we could, one of my everlasting memories of Greece is when a few years ago we played in Thessaloniki. Then got the train the next day to Athens, it was 5 hours but we loved it, the scenery was spectacular and we stopped in the middle of nowhere to change the engine, everyone got off and started smoking. Brilliant.
Well, that’s about it! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions! Much obliged! Last words are yours. Any messages you’d like to send to all your Greek fans?
SEE YOU AT THE SHOW …
