Deeply surprised by their first record, "Last Chance
Saloon" (Skipping Musez Rec.), which follows the
sound of all those punk bands that upset the reign of
Queen Elizabeth in the end of the 70's, I picked the
occasion to exchange two words with the four Londoners.
One of them, Allan Crockford, is certainly not a new
name in the rock' n'roll scene, having been part in
important bands like Prisoners, Headcoats and Solar
Flares. So check it out!
Hi guys, try to explain to our
"Exploders" how, where and when The Stabilisers
were born:
Allan: The Stabilisers
were playing for a while before I came along. I thought
they had good songs, good attitude and a sense of humour.
The last thing they needed was a miserable, opinionated
git who could only contribute some overloud guitar.
Unfortunately they disagreed and asked me to join.
Jon: We used to be a five
piece called Sump - Simon, Francis and me plus two other
guys. They didn't really fit in with my idea of what
the band should be like, i.e. good, so I kicked them
out. We carried on as a three-piece for a while. Allan
used to turn up to our gigs and beg us to let him join
the band. Eventually we agreed to let him join, so long
has he did all the band's laundry.
I've always been curious about
all those little circumstances which finally lead musicians
to choose the name of their bands. For example, which
ones are hidden behind the choice of The Stabilisers?
Allan: I think the condition
is desperation, as a new band with a rubbish name or
no name at all suddenly realises that unless they think
of something quick they will be stuck with being called
Sump or Liquid Fart, or something similar. I think Stabilisers
are something to do with motorbikes or dangerous food
additives. For some reason it sounds a bit punk so we
like it.
Jon: Stabilisers stop you
falling over and having extreme mood swings. It's a
cry for help.
I find so funny the photo on
the cover of "Last Chance Saloon": it makes
me imagine the set of a driver going outside the road
'cause distracted by one of your songs, unexpectedly
on air...
Allan: Hearing one of our
songs on the radio would definitely be unexpected! A
bit like SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence)
realising their search was finally over. Actually it's
a picture of the aftermath of an 'accident' that befell
one of Lord Simon Corbey's former manservants after
he attempted to blackmail his Lordship with certain
compromising information about his private life...
Jon: For legal reasons
I can say nothing about the incident depicted on the
album cover, except I'm innocent and it wasn't me that
cut the brake lines. Simon - if you need any more 'jobs'
doing, you know where to come.
I'll probably not the one to
tell you, but it seems that your sound is strongly inspired
by bands like Buzzcocks, 999, Boys, etc. It's your will
or it's an accidental effect?
Allan: It's a deliberate
accident. We all like different types of music but for
some reason everything we do sounds like we've been
given the Royal appointment to supply High Quality English
Punk Rock to Her Majesty and her Loyal Subjects. Jon
is a big fan of experimental Progressive Rock, Francis
is heavily influenced by the New Romantics, Simon gets
his kicks from Mantovani and James Last and I only like
Kentish folk music for Morris Dancing.
Jon: It is totally deliberate.
I have no idea what Al is talking about. I hate prog
rock. I'm more a trad jazz man.
Francis: I think I was
inspired by the Dr.Rhythm drum machines. I would listen
to those for hours
Even the next record (45 record
on Nicotine Records) will be licensed by an Italian
label. What's up, you think it's convenient to be good
friend with our Mafia to start to conquer the music
world?
Allan: Everyone knows that
Italy has the best food, wine, weather, clothes, friendliest
people and the best taste in music. Besides, no one
else is the slightest bit interested.
Jon: Not many bands get
a chance to release stuff on vinyl these days, so we
were really pleased when Nicotine offered to put a single
out. We've had a few offers recently from UK based record
companies - the Italian labels just got there first.
Francis: Nobody mentioned
the horse head we found back stage after the gig with
a contract pinned to it.
Allan, your name is strongly
associated with illustrious names like Thee Headcoats,
The Solarflares, The Prisoners. You think it can help
you to create interest around The Stabilisers?
Allan: That's a strange
use of the word 'illustrious', but I take your point.
Obviously it can help to the extent that I can speak
to people who may be able to help get gigs because of
the association with those other bands, but The Stabilisers'
music is quite different so it can only help for the
initial contact. Luckily their is a common attitude
to music within all the bands - punk is not so far from
garage - and of course we have some great songs, so
once fans of the Solarflares etc. hear The Stabilisers
I think they will find a lot they will like about the
band.. Particularly our jolly sweary singalonga Bott
anthems.
Jon: Having a legend in
your band is obviously advantageous. Having Allan in
your band is a different story though.
Francis: Who is the Allan
bloke everyone keeps mentioning?
What's the meaning of "Bendy
Head"? It makes me think about a dark gang of your
fans.
Allan: 'Bendy Head' is
of course an anthem for the band, so it seemed a good
name for the mailing list... I think you'd better ask
the writer himself, Mr J. Bott, about what it's actually
all about. It might have a hidden meaning, but I think
it's got more to do with writing songs while under the
influence of alcohol.
Jon: I just started singing
it one morning when molto postumi i.e. hungover. It
doesn't mean anything really. Some people think that
it is about blow-jobs.
Francis: I thought it was
about Indian folk dancing.
It seems the success of Libertines
and Hives has regained the interest of the London people
for some kind of sounds. How is the r'n'r scene right
now in your country?
Allan: I think that it's
good that the 'garage' thing has happened, because it
means that live rock'n'roll gigs have become more popular.
The problem, as with all fashions, is that there will
always be mediocre groups looking to jump on the passing
bandwagon. Inevitably people will become bored with
listening to the same stuff rehashed by an endless stream
of so-called 'garage' bands, and will move on to the
next thing. At the moment there are a lot of energetic
bands playing and that is healthy.
Jon: Yeah, there is a lot
of energetic stuff out there at the moment, not all
of it is good though. I think you need to have catchy
tunes as well.
Francis: The live music
scene died off in London for a few years especially
with the university and college circuit, hopefully that
will start to come back to life.
What does inspire you when you
write your lyrics and the music of your songs?
Allan: Well I don't write
them, I only help arrange them, so perhaps Jon can take
us through his artistic inspirations. I think beer and
sex might feature heavily here...
Jon: They are either about
things that happen in real life or they are just nonsense
really.
Francis: The great fun
to play whatever.
July and August reserve you very
interesting live gigs. Advances about?
Allan: Like all bands we
do good and bad gigs. You don't know until you've done
them... but I think the Happy Mondays reunion gig should
be interesting. I haven't played many festival type
gigs so I'm looking forward to it. Never saw the Mondays
play originally, so getting it for free is even better.
But mostly we are looking forward to playing in Italy
in September!
Jon: Yes, it looks like
it is going to be an interesting summer. I'm sure Italy
will be the best part though, and I'm not just saying
that. Bologna or Walthamstow, it's not really much of
a competition now is it?
Francis: We have been trying
to play regularly and keep our name appearing in the
listings. I know we are all excited about playing in
Italy. It's a top place.
So in September you'll play in
Italy. It's the first time you visit our country as
musicians? What did you expect from our people?
Allan: I've played in Italy
many times, with the Prisoners, Prime Movers and the
Solarflares. This will be the first time with the Stabilisers.
I think it's my favourite place to play in Europe. The
people are friendly and enthusiastic about live music.
We don't encounter much cynicism - not as much as in
England. And of course the food and the drink
Jon: It will be the first
time I've played in Italy. I have friends in other bands
(Alabama 3, Sophia) who say that is their favourite
place to play because the audiences know how to enjoy
themselves. Hopefully we can make people jump up and
down a bit.
Francis: I hope they enjoy
themselves as much as we will.
OK. It's the classic moment when
I have no more question to ask you, so I start with
more personal ones. It's true that being "rockstars"
gives you more chance to make sex and to find quality
drugs?
Allan: If you want sex
and drugs it's always possible to find them, whether
you are in a band or not! Musicians are still as ugly
and mad as everyone else, but maybe it opens some doors
a bit easier..... but after a while you realise that
playing music is the best part of being in a band. And
free beer and food.
Jon: I think going out
and having fun gives you more opportunities than staying
in and being boring.
Francis: I've always found
it difficult to have sex and find drugs at the same
time.
Have you got particular passions
or hobbies outside the music scene?
Allan: None that I'm telling
you about....
Jon: Music is my life and
God is my fretboard.
Francis: Motor Bikes.
What kind of suffering you've
had because of the elimination of England team from
the European soccer league in Portugal?
Allan: Apart from football
of course! It's a very familiar kind of suffering -
losing on penalties is normal for England. We're very
good at defending heroically, but the team doesn't have
the winning mentality. I think your Italian team has
a similar problem. The night of that Portugal match
we had a gig, so it was quite difficult to be enthusiastic,
but it was ok in the end because we had an outlet for
our suffering and violent disappointment!
Jon: Allan loved playing
the gig after we lost because he took out all his anger
on his guitar. I wasn't really that bothered. Because
the game went into extra time we only got to play for
about 20 minutes, I found that more annoying than England
losing.
Francis: That's the great
thing about drums
you can picture all the people
you dislike, allocate them a drum and then bash the
hell out of them and make music at the same time. Perfect.
Shame I don't have an 11 piece kit.
Which are the things you love
the most and the ones you hate the most of the r n'r
world?
Allan: I love all the things
to do with the music - gigs, recording, rehearsing,
meeting people and generally socialising. I hate organising
gigs, talking to management, agents, promoters etc.
But I think that's normal for all musicians...
Jon: The best part for
me is playing live and getting people dancing. If that
didn't happen on a regular basis I don't think I'd bother
with it any more. I hate carrying equipment about as
I was a roadie for a few years and I think it should
be someone else's job now I'm actually playing (and
I'm a lazy git).
Francis: Love bashing things
and making noise disguised as drumming and being guaranteed
of a seat at every gig. Hate other peoples drum kits
that fall apart when I play them.
Ok. Advertising space: you've
got 100 characters to say some about your music...
Allan: I'd like to share
with you the Stabilisers vision for the future. I could
say we are a tip top punky new wave outfit with great
songs and effective personal hygiene habits (mostly),
but I think we all need to know that our commitment
goes a little deeper, so here is our Mission Statement:
"Seeking to strive beyond excellence in the field
of punk rock by progressively leveraging our traditional
core values to foster a deliverable vision of customer-focused
quality arse-kicking, birthing a profitable client-centric
vision of our Stabiliser e-brand and generating a pro-active
integration of our ongoing commitment to over-achievement,
innovation and transcending expectations in playing
guitars and shouting and that".
Jon: Babelfish is just
going to love that.
Francis: How do we remove
the Thesaurus from Allan's butt?
Intervista realizzata da Roberto Barisone
Traduzione realizzata da Margherita
Realmonte
Photos 3,4,5 by Antinea Peruch
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