Got-A-Nerve?

12/31/2011 | To be honest I arranged this interview much in a hurry. I just didn’t want to miss the chance to catch the guys in Italy, check’em out up on stage and let you guys read about this crossover Liverpool-based four-piece. So when I learned they were on the road to Italy for the only Italian gig of their “Questions To The Answers Euro Tour 2011” I got in touch with their press-person but due to my short-time notice I got confirmed for the interview only on the afternoon before the gig. I went home from work, scribbled down a bunch of questions and drove straight to the venue on a cold and very foggy night. Regretfully, not that much people came out tonight but SSS (Short, Sharp, Shock) are no-longer kids and are still in this and working their asses off for the good reasons; and I’m pretty sure they’d be coming back to play even before one person.
Three full-lengths out, a contract with Earache records and many gigs and miles under their belt but for the Scousers it’s still really much of DIY thing and definitely not about business, fame…it’s just about real people, true passion, playing badass music and thrashing out.
I sat down with founder members Foxy (vocals) and Mark (“Magill” on bass) –the band’s line-up is completed by Stu on guitar and Dave on drums- to talk about their latest album (released last June), this thrash-crossover revival thing that’s been going on over the past few years, skateboarding and much more. Read on…

GAN!: now it’s working…

Foxy: Can I hold it?

GAN!: Yes, sure…

GAN!: Let’start this out with an introduction for those who doesn’t know you, or just perhaps heard of your band name. You know the basic info and anything you wanna add…

SSS: Hi, this is Foxy, the vocals for SSS…I’m Mark and I play bass and we’ve got two other guys...two new guys…Stu on guitar and Dave…he’s the drummer.

Foxy: We’ve been going since 2005 when we released our first records, then we got signed with Earache records in 2006 and they re-issued those records. And we have another two LPs on Earache…so in total it’s been three LPs on Earache. We play kinda crossover hardcore, punk, metal…kinda combination of music.

GAN!: You guys have a new record out, which is titled “Problems To The Answers”. How would you compare it with earlier material or the other stuff you have out?

Foxy: I think it’s developed and progressed from the first to the second and now with the third LP it’s definitely a progression of musical influences that are coming into the band. The first record is very Suicidal Tendencies, SOD, Anthrax, Slayer, then on the second there’s a bit of grind, rock n’ roll and now on the third one there’s a lot of grind, a lot of D-beat, a lot of punk…more punk than ever before, and there’s a bit of prog thrown in it as well, prog-rock, new-wave, British heavy metal…it’s quite a combination of materials that sort of goes around…influences from the very each member of the band. It’s not like there is only a hard fast blueprint to SSS…because there isn’t…anything goes…musically and lyrically. So we’re quite open to influences.

GAN!: What about your writing process? How it all goes?

Mark: it’s quite varied…sometimes one of us may write a song at home or the music…brings it to rehearsal…teaches all the parts, and it stays the same…maybe…then at some point Foxy…he’ll work out the lyrics and put the lyrics on top. Then other times is more natural and somehow play a riff at rehearsal and we all start to put our own influences to it straight away and we write the song together. Or maybe two members might write the song. So every combinations really…it’s good way of working because it’s not just one person’s vision so that the LP would be boring and the sound would too predictable. This way it’s more satisfying for every member because every member gets to put their little bit and their own stamp on the sound.

Foxy: Sometimes I may just bring lyrics and explain them to the people because I can’t play any instrument. I may explain my ideas which may spark off musical ideas or sort of write complete songs with complete lyrics and I go in “this is the song” every of each ways.

Mark: Because Foxy doesn’t play an instrument he thinks about it in a different way…like on our first record there’s a song called “The Beast”…and...in the middle section…it kind goes faster and Foxy’s brain he was thinking about a city roller-coaster ride and he was trying to explain how to do certain things how the music should emulate this roller-coaster. Nothing a musician would do. But it’s good. So it’s not a traditional way to write music but it’s quite fun.

GAN!: The next question I wanna ask you is about…let me call it thrash-core, thrash metal revival where there are a lot of bands who seem they’re doing well and getting more and more kids…some bands are on your same record label (Municipal Waste, Gama Bomb, Evile…). How do you live this thing?

Foxy: After the first record we thought “well!” the first record we just made because we didn’t think anyone else would making, apart from Municipal…and another band called Mastery…then we realized everyone else is writing this music and suddenly it’s like “shit in the field” and everyone is doing it so with the first record it was like “everyone is doing it…cool…” but then on the second record we tried of breakaway even more and on the third record breakaway even more again so…to kind keep getting…like a crossover band…that’s what SSS is, because we crossover many different kinds of music. A thrash band is kind of painting yourself into a corner…it’s very self-limited…it’s like AC/DC…it’s the same record within certain pop boundaries. So for us it’s like “well, the kids too understand the music…that’s what it is” because it is basic but as a band…there’s a lot more influences, a bit more stripped down, more gritty than just thrash…you know. We’ve been always thrown in it with all these other bands but there’re not really many crossover bands…you know there have not been many crossover bands since SOD…since DRI…things like that so I think from the record label point of view, Earache’s point of view it was the best way to sort of get the band known. It was give us this label…but we hate it and try stay clear of it as much as possible.

GAN!: Coming back to the title of your latest record. Is there any meaning behind it?

Foxy: There’s like a big picture…there’s like a faraway sort of vision of the answers…how to get to it…we’ve to cross many bridges, we’ve to overcome many problems to get to the utopia, and this is our way of sort of identifying certain problems…it’s very open to interpretation because a lot of the songs…some of them are very specific in terms of will problems…some of them are right down to a personal level and are just axis the grind and again everyone who’s reading in this magazine will probably have their own problems in the their life they have to deal with…to overcome…to better themselves…to a better person. I think in “Problems To The Answers” from SSS there are certain elements…lyrically…that are trying to better yourself as a person and see a better vision of the future. You we’ve got short term long term problems…that’s what it is.

GAN!: On this record you had Mark “Barney” Greenway making a guest appearance. How this thing came about? Did you know the guy already?

Foxy: Yeh…Barney has been a longtime friend of the band…like personally friend to the band so to get him involved with the record…especially on the songs he chose for…like “The Kill Floor”…it’s kind of like humanist…like pro-human, human rights, pro-animals rights and Barney has been like vegetarian since very young. It was something we knew he would be interested in doing and when we asked him he was like more the eager and said “yes, no problems!”. So me and Mark went down to Birmingham with all our recording gear…Napalm Death was practicing down the corridor…we set up…he came out…bang, bang, bang…half-an-hour it was done…lyrics were done. So to get that one on the record…is…it’s like very…like personal. From a personal view point it’s great because we’ve been fans of Napalm Death since their inception. And to have, you know, Barney coming out on record it’s great…I’m really happy.
GAN!: And what about the musical scene in Liverpool?…I mean…if there’s something we can call “musical scene”...Which bands, what/where they play?

Foxy: If had asked us about five years ago there was a lot more going on…five years ago…since then a lot bands sort of died or the members sort of formed other bands but I mean there’s still like a healthy punk hardcore scene…not so much metal…maybe one or two metal bands.

Mark: in sense of metal I don’t know what’s really going on…maybe we haven’t played in Liverpool for about four teen/fifth teen months so maybe there are some local bands…but I don’t know where we fit. I mean when we play shows in Liverpool it’s usually a mixed bill…different bands…which I think is more fun than just play with punk bands or metal bands like a lot of time we play with them…it’s more interesting so I can’t think to one band at the moment really…

Foxy: We can name Liverpool bands that we played with in the past…that are still going…like Who, Blood Value, Down and Outs… I promote gigs but my vision of what I wanna do as a promoter is very small so I don’t really sort of look through the bands…I just promote what I like. I don’t really take chance on other bands anymore while in the past I used to put on a lot of different bands but now because I only do a few gigs in the year I just wanna go right…bang, bang, bang…so a non-answer to a good question hehehe…

GAN!: I’m sure, not counting gigs promotion or other activities you might be up to, you guys hold a job. Does SSS pay the bills?...hehehe…

Mark: hahaha…

Foxy: No, no…SSS is the UK hardest working semi-professional band…that’s what SSS is…and…it’s a hobby, it’s a passion and everyone else has got jobs.

Mark: Just normal…normal people. You know, I go to work, jobs, family, mortgages and then at night we go to the rehearsal room for a few hours, play music. We got jobs like anybody else. Every year for a few weeks we come to Europe and we play around. It’s just a passion. We treat it professionally but it’s not our income.

GAN!: On this tour you played Germany but at the moment I can’t remember where…

SSS: We played Leipzig, Hamburg…there’re two more…(it’s only last week I should remember hehehe…)…check the website…hehehe...

GAN!: How did it go? And what was the reaction of German kids?

Foxy: To the band?

GAN!: Yah!...

Foxy: Gigs were always good…I mean there were always up and downs…great…good…okay. But on this tour they have been all positive…a lot of people…they bought cds, records, we talked and we chat. We played a show in Leipzig and it was like a thousand punks, crusty, goths, ravers all dancing until like ten in the morning after we played and the place was packed and it was cool…you know…these people were watching it and we couldn’t ask for more. It was busy.

Mark: Germany…was really good fun. People were nice. No complains…it was all good. Usually…I mean…we are not like hugely popular bands like maybe some of the other bands we are on the label with…you know…like we can’t sell out every night wherever. When people come a long even if it’s not lot of people they’re usually very excited…a few people very very enthusiastic and into it and who love the music.

Foxy: It’s like the hardcore…the hardcore…it’s…the nucleus is…the people who come down are genuinely into it.

GAN!: And what about Italy? What are your expectations for tonight?

GAN!: Italy…yeah it’s good…I’ve got high hopes. We’ve been to Italy before and those gigs have been cool. The two other bands (You Suck and Spleen Flipper)…it’s good to see old friends like You Suck…it’s good to see them and hopefully it will be cool. We’ll have a good laugh…we’ll play and have fun.

Mark: Nice people…good food…beautiful mountains…good drives…we like Italy.

GAN!: Talking about the pre-internet era. When bands used different means to promote themselves. If you had to compare…the new Vs. the old?

Mark: I think the past is more romantic and obviously I can remember the pre-internet ages…I can remember when I first started playing in a band…everyone was phoning people, get people addresses, write letters and organize the tours that way…our first tour was organized with the telephone and letters and it was really difficult to do. And now it’s easier…social networks can be really good…I mean…maybe at times it’s only advertising…other times it can be…get close to the audience…you know…connect with the people that like the music. Direct connection…direct conversation with these people so it can be really good. And it’s also really really easy now for bands to form, write the songs and put the music out…there are a lot of different sites like Bandcamp and things like that with a demo zone on there…you can write a song and make it and release in one day. You couldn’t do that fifth-teen years ago. But the downside is that there are some bands…everyone can do it and there’s not quality control but I think it’s more of a positive thing. I think if still difficult to find good bands just as when you may have listened to fifty demo tapes and 49 demo tapes was shit…you’ve got one demo tape. Now it’s the same…you go on websites and you can go through 100 bands on a website and when 99 are rubbish and you find one good band. So I think it’s better…it’s not as romantic as obviously put the tape in…read the lyrics…or get a fanzine…but you know I think a few bands are still releasing tapes…fanzines will always be there…in general I do think it’s better but maybe not as nice as in the past.

Foxy: I think it’s probably got people involved in music…you’ve got pro-tools, home recording equipment, internet it’s like more access…it’s very quick, accessible and you can reach a lot of people very quickly so I think that’s positive a way of sort of get the kids involved in music but sometimes I think it’s like stale over substance and you have to do a lot of searching…and even like with the internet which is fast you can probably find out that a band has done a demo, a record and done a tour and it broken up before you even find them on the fastest way to get this information. So I think it’s still after look on the rocks to find the good stuff. The internet…webzine…is the zine of today because people like yourself who write and do review and it’s all up there because it’s not made of paper…it’s not photocopied…it’s still the same DIY sort of format…I think…again…everyone wants to be writer, everyone wants to be in a band, everyone wants to be a journalist…again it’s all about searching through and eventually find the diamonds after searching through the chuff.

GAN!: Earlier this afternoon I was checking the web and I found a blog…I can remember the name…where there was your latest record up for free download. Among the comments there was one signed SSS…stating “even though we appreciate the interest in SSS it’s still annoying when the record is given away for free. A sign of the time we’re well aware of. Here’s the link to buy direct from ourselves”… I suppose it was someone of you, right?

Foxy: It was probably me who wrote it.

GAN!: As stated by you earlier on with internet everything is more accessible but what’s your personal view on illegal downloading?

Foxy: It’s good in part…probably when I wrote on that website the problem was that was up in the first week the record was released…

Mark: it was actually on the internet before the album came out which I think it’s difficult, you know…when you spend so long making an album…spend a lot of money making an album…and it’s everywhere before being available…it’s difficult…personally I don’t really care about illegal downloading because we don’t really make any money off the band anyway…morally I think it’s wrong but I’ve done it myself so I can’t really complain when someone does it. But in ten second you can download any albums…CD quality albums…it’s not quite right…especially if you’re a professional and you know you really need that money…you just need that money coming in to survive as a band then they probably feel more passionate about it. It’s not quite right about how easy you get this music.

Foxy: I think it sort of need to be regulated to a certain degree…itune is doing it beautifully but the illegal…I download…not just music…but TV, movies and I’m just as guilty as everyone else…but I think this is sort of things are the very new, the very now…I think over time the screw will be tightened and the whole industry will sort of regulate…internet providers checking what you’re downloading…then it throws up all kind of questions like big brother sort of thing…people watching and all regulations…you know…freedom of choice…freedom of speech…which this doesn’t really exist…let’s face it…freedom of speech this doesn’t exist. I think in a contest over time things will get tighten and these websites will be knocked off. But again I can’t really say anything because I’m just as guilty as everyone else. And if you are in a professional band maybe you want people come to your gigs more…maybe you want see people buying your t-shirts more…because you can’t download a t-shirt…download a piece of fabric…you can’t download the true record…the true lyrics so for the purest…I think people will always buy records…for the people who just wanna listen to something very quickly…bang, bang, bang…I think well you can do that but I don’t think you get the true feeling of the music…it’s like opening your Christmas presents in October…what’s the point of that? You wanna wait when the record comes out and you wanna go down at the record shop and you wanna buy the record on the day…you wanna stand in the line and just buy the record…you know…I think the people who will do that get the most out of a record.

GAN!: Talking about skateboarding some of the songs of your previous records were connected professional skateboarders…what’s the connection between SSS and skateboarding world?

Foxy: there was a couple “Sk8+Destroy” with Geoff Rowley, “Hammerhead” with Christian Hosoi and “Ride the best…fuck the rest” is about a piece of skateboard equipment…so…there’s a lot of connection between SSS and skateboarding…this purely through myself. I started as a kid and I’m still doing it now…and they’re people I’ve met so those songs “Sk8+Destroy” with Geoff and “Hammerhead” with Christian and “Ride the best…” which is part of my youth…part of me…part of now. I think skateboarding and music has always taken me just a little bit further away from the house…it’s always been a connection with people…skating at everyone parks…people are making a lot of DIY parks…you know…forming the concrete themselves…make it themselves…the same with music it’s both through going hand in hand…skateboarding and music…I mean…I’m here in Italy tonight because of music…you know…I’ve been to the other side of the world because of skate boarding…it’s not a specific park…it’s always travelling…experiencing…broadening your mind…new people…new foods…new skate-parks…new music…new languages…that’s for me what that connection is.

GAN!: This tour is gonna end pretty soon and you guys will be back to your daily life but in terms of band’s plans what’s up next for SSS?

Mark: Well, we got two new guys in the band so I think at some point we can start make some music and see how music sounds with two new people playing it. I’ve got my own new ideas already so…yeh I think in the new year…January we’ll probably start to write new songs and then at some point next year we’re gonna try and tour the US so hopefully we get to have an American visit and…we’re going to do an EP…a free EP…just to introduce the two new guys and write the new record.

GAN!: Will the record be out again through Earache records?

Foxy: Er…

GAN!: Considering our web zine is read both by a good base Germans and Italians (of course, we have Europeans and other parts of the world readers too). Do you wanna add something for our readers?

Foxy: the “Problems To The Answers tour” has been really good we’ve come to eleven different countries…all of the gigs have been really good…you know…everyone has got a laugh…we’ve been enjoying playing…seeing new people…we’re in Italy tonight hopefully it’s gonna be good. See you next time in 2012.

GAN!: Okay thank you very much.

Check: facebook.com/pages/SSS/25566333929 earache.com

Print | Return

Category: Interviews
Posted by: marcs77