Ian: I
played Bass guitar, but by now i learn to play drums. I?m 26 years old, and
work as a street warden. I love to play music, aswell to meet friends and go to
gigs as much as i can.
Majo: I
sing and play the Tamborin, I try to play Bass hehe. Im 29 years old ans Im a
dance teacher, I love to travel and go to gigs, mostly punk gigs.
Markus:Hey
there ! Well OK, here´s a little about me: Im 28 years old, Im a Mechanic and i
love play Guitar , have a good time with the other lads around, drink some beer
and laugh a lot. Ian and I meet on some gigs in the past, so he called me in
the spring of 2013 if i was interested to play in a new band.
2. When and why came decision to start
Buzz Off! and why did you choose this name?
In
spring time 2013 we started. First there was Neil(on drums at the beginning),
monny on rhythum guitar and ian on bass. We tried to cover some songs of bands
like, Blitz-"nation on fire", or "4Q", Anti-nowhere
league-"i hate people" and so on. After a view rehearsals marek
phoned us up and said his wife can sing. So we arranged to meet together for a
try with Majo on vocals and played Rezillos-"top of the pops", which
was quite funny. So we said let?s keep on going, and marek asked Lars to join.
He came and we went on with a couple of own created songs. The decision to
start the band was simply against boredness, for fun and try to play music for
the scene. The name Buzz Off was Lars his idea, and we thought it sounds good.
3. I know your guitarist used to play in
Shaven Heads...have your other members also any experience with playing in some
band?
Markus
and Ian played guitar for a while in two seperate bands. So both got some
experience playing in a band. Neil and Majo didnt have experience in other
bands. Majo just sang argentine folk with her parents.
4. You have just released EP on Pride
and Passion Records (whgich is owned by your guitar player I think)...why did
you choose this label?
Majo: We
just wanted to do on our way to release (do it yourself) and Lars had already
the experience and contacts so he did it.
Markus:What should i say ... Shit happens? haha! No its, near to release an DIY EP on your own label if you have one. The only shit for the future is that Lars is no longer with us, so we must see how to handle releases in the future.
5. Are you more into vinyl or CD´s and
why?
Ian:I´m into cd´s and vinyl, years back friends gave me some really old punk and
skinhead vinyl records as a present. So i bought myself a record player and
started to collect since. I havn?t got a vinyl-records player in my car so i
need cd?s too;-P
Markus: Haha
what Ian says... Cds are made for being destroyed in the backseat of my car...
No fun , I like Cds but its digital. Vinyls have a awesome sound and its just
classic, I love that.
Majo: I
collect CDs and Vinyl (only first editions or bands that we really like) with
my husband but sometimes he put away from the collection some vinyl he doesnt
like and I like, (like The Smiths, Blondie, Stranglers) but when he doesnt
notice I put it again all together in the collection
6. You will have also some songs on
compilation released by Olifant Records...how do you came in cooperation with
Bosy?
Majo:Bosy is a friend of my husbands family, he asked if we wanted to be in this
compilations "Swieza Krew vol 2" and we said why not! So now there
are two from our songs. Markus: I think Marek is the culprit.
7. Your vocalist Majo came from
Argentina, can you tell us something more about your journey to Europe and how
did you came into Germany?
Majo:Well, Its a long story, first I came in 2003 and I really liked the language,
then I studied in Argentina and Ive got the chance to come again in 2010 for a
year, I didnt speckt that I will stay, and finally I marry a polish man
8. Also can you tell us some differences
between skinhead scene in Germany and in Argentina?
Majo:First of all I think its amazing how big the skinhead scene over the world is, that coming from Argentina and then to Europe and find people with the same likes and interest for the musik and some way of life in common. But I can say that its very different, not just because of skinheads, I mean, because the society and culture is very different. Argentina is not in a good economy moment and people in general is more aggresive and violent, you have to be carefull and have eyes on your back on the streets because of criminals, punks (yes, punks who dont accept skinheads), etc... Anyway, the scene is smaller than in Germany and unfortunatelly very infected with politics, so you have to be on one side or the other side, people who just like to enjoy gigs and musik are a minority. In the 90s there were just a few patriotic skinheads that had contact with skins in Brazil and Spain (many spanish bands influenced us and most of them were very political too). Then, with the internet, more people got to know about skinheads and suddenly appear lot of skinheads who were before in another scene, like hippies, rolingas (an argentinian subculture that are Rolling Stone fans), gothics, very crazy!! Skins from the 90s would beat this people in that time! hahaha but times changed so you have everything in south america, there are some mods as well! We have just one band that I would say its very important in the skinhead scene in Argentina, and its Comando Suicida, they play since 83 and they are just an Oi! and patriotic band, generally people in Argentina is patriotic. Gigs from international bands are not so often because its expensive for the bands and for the organizators to get there, so maybe is one concert once a year, but we really enjoy when some classic punk or Oi!bands from other countries come, its another atmosphere than in Europe that the bands play like 4 times in a year (or more) in the same country. Of course it is very difficult to to get skinheads clothes and musik because Argentina is in the ass of the world, lot of people doesnt collect cds and just get mp3 because for us is like impossible to buy musik for a good price, and... we have the most shitty postal service!!! So as a punk or skinhead in Argentina is not so easy, there is a lot of acction, always happened something violent or adventures that I have a lot of stories to tell!
9. You came from the city of Borken, can
you tell us anything about the life in the Borken area? Pubs, clubs, bands...
Markus
and Ian live in Borken, that´s also the place of our practice room. We´ve got a
few pubs down town, and one shitty disco we never go to ;D Borken is in the
western part of Germany near the Dutch border, and is a small town with about
40000 people. So there is actually not much around this area. Twice a years
we?ve got a town festival with life bands aswell... but sadly we havn?t got a
good club with life music.
10. What about your merch, where can we
order your stuff?
What
Kind of stuff are you interested in? Cigarrete lighters, bottle openers,
coffecupos or what else? No just fun, we printed a few t shirts in the past but
not that much. In the Moment we are concentrated in good Music, not in merch.
Maybe in the Future there will be a few shirts you can buy. But nowbody of us
wants that Buzz Off becomes an commercial shit Band like those, you can find in
masses in Germany.
Majo:there
are the debut EPs by Olifant records, and if there are some news, you will find
them on our facebook page.
11. And what about the gigs...do you
like playing live and what are your requirements?
Sadly
we only played 3 times. But really enjoyed it!! We hope to play more songs in
future! All we need is a dry place to sleep, petrol money and beer.
12. What do you know about Czech
republic, are you interested to play there?¨
Ian:Yes sure we are interested to play in Czech republic!! As far as i know you?ve
got one of the best gunsmiths in Europe! The beer tastes good, and I heared
you´ve got good organized concerts.
Majo: I
was in Pilsen and Prag for a Cock Sparrer gig but I was very drunk that I cant
remember some things, thats why I would love to go again there so obviously I
would like to play there
Markus: The
czechs know a lot of the Gold life,I realised this year on the gig with The
Riot. Haha! that was really great, so lets do some horrorshow in prague.
12. Plans for the future?
First
we want to get ready to play gigs again, because Lars and our second drummer
(Marc) had this year left us. So we are looking for a lead-guitar player..or a
drummer.
13. Last words...
Ian: Thank
you for the Interview, good look for your fanzine! and cheers to czech
republic, hope to play there one day.
Majo:Thanks for the interview and I hope next time we drink some Beer together Peddy
Markus: Thanks
a lot , hope we have some beer next year, maybe in czech. I heard you have some
awesome sorts. Cheers