94-02-05 Varukers – Corpus Christi – Agathocles – 4 Minute Warning

The ‘Varukers’ played a bunch of gigs in Belgium in 1986 but then kinda ‘disappeared’…to re-emerge in the 90s (they’d split and reformed). On their website (www.thevarukers.com) ‘Rat’ wrote: “I think about 2 years or less had past, when ‘Biff’ got in touch with me and mentioned that the ‘Varukers’ should get back together, ‘Biff’ would play guitar; ‘Rat’ on vocals, Kev Frost on drums and ‘Biff’s mate Brian on bass (This was the longest running and most stable line we ever had.). We recorded and released the 7” Nothings Changed (‘cause nothing had, the music, the attitude, the underpants) on Weird recs [in 1994; which indeed featured Anthony ‘Rat’ Martin (vocals; also in ‘Discharge’), Kev Frost (drums), ‘Biff’ Ian Smith (guitar) & Brian Ansell (bass)] and it sold well. Nothing’s Changed let people know we were back and offers for tours came flooding in: the band’s first American tour in 1994, a tour of Japan; the momentum was growing, we signed to We Bite recs from Germany and released Still Bollox But Still Here (1995), new versions of some of the band’s early materials that a lot of people could not get hold of the originals, unless they wanted to get ripped off by record-dealers.”. I guess people know ‘Varukers’ played D-beat à la Discharge… (The year after, 95-07-09, they would be back already)… The line-up changed quite a few times; people that were in the band at certain timepoints include Les Duly (‘Concrete Sox’), Todd (‘Distraught’, USA), ‘Kenko’ (‘No Security’, Swe), ‘Taff’ (‘Chaos UK’), etc. Tony ‘Stick’ Dickens (‘Doom’, etc.) plays drums for them nowadays…

‘Varukers’ (pic courtesy of Annabel de Jonghe)

‘4 Minute Warning’ were a gang of squatters from Gent: Fred ‘Fré’ De Vos (vocals), Leffe (guitar, ex ‘Chronic Disease’), Tom Van Hauwaert (drums) and Gratiën Versypt (bass). There were also some extra vocalists (Bart/Marleen) at a certain timepoint, if I remember well… They just had some tracks on a compilation-tape. Leffe told me he only played at the Vort’n Vis once with ‘4MW’ and Tom revealed that the one on 93-02-06 was indeed without him…

‘Corpus Christi’, by this time a new line-up, were: Bram De Cock (drums), Peter Vancolen (vocals), Stef De Leersnijder (guitar) & Koen ‘Siesele’ Lammens (bass). See also 92-11-22, 93-10-31, 93-11-21, 94-09-16

‘Corpus Christi’: (1-2-3) by Wim De Leersnijder; (4) by Jurgen ‘Spatje’ Fiems; (5) by Annabel de Jonghe

‘Agathocles’ (Jan Fredrickx – bass/vocals, Steve Houtmeyers – guitar/vocals and Burt Beyens – drums). Second show at the V.V.? (91-09-01, 94-09-17, 95-11-05)

Brob

‘Agathocles’ (pic by Wim De Leersnijder)

This was the only gig that Marleen Deneys did with us… We played an anti-XXX song (Middleclass Rebellion) and the PA was briefly turned off (by Ward ‘N.O.F.’???). Our first concert at the V.V. was indeed just Gratiën, Tom and me. The gig in Oldenburg was with ‘Oi Polloi’ and ‘Legal Suffering’ [from Brugge]. We did a gig @ Democrazy (Gent; organised by ‘Zwarte’ Jan) [93-12-03] with Bart ‘Xinix’ singing. He didn’t know our lyrics and had written them on a piece of paper. We did a “cover” of ‘The Dead Kirks’ song Mr. Kirk, Your Son Is Dead. A bit before a bunch of nazi-skins had died in a car-crash so we sang “He died in a car crash.” Instead of “He died of an overdose.”. Stefaan Van Leuven (‘Soulwax’) rehearsed with us a few times (for fun). He was a buddy of mine; he wasn’t into punk but we swapped tapes and he thought ‘Crass’ and ‘Conflict’ were OK.

‘Fré’ De Vos, ‘4 Minute Warning’ vocalist

‘4 Minute Warning’: (1) by Wim De Leersnijder; (2-3-4-5) courtesy of Fré De Vos

Don’t recall much more than being super-psyched about playing with ‘Varukers’… and the healthy rivalry between us and ‘Corpus Christi’… according to some haha…

Tom Van Hauwaert, ‘4 Minute Warning’ drummer

I’d made the banner of Squatter Bart especially for the trip the Germany (our gig in Oldenburg; 93-12)…

Gratiën Versypt, ‘4 Minute Warning’ bassist

I know we played with ‘Varukers’ in Geel [94-05-02] but forgot about this one…

Peter Van Colen, ‘Corpus Christi’ vocalist

This was our first time out for a very long time. Have good memories of this tour & especially this gig in particular. The venue was great & all the bands were in top form. Great crowd too :-) I was surprised that we even played as I though we were going to get deported due to “Mad Andy’s” antics in Ieper. I definitely remember this venue as we slept upstairs & it was bloody freezing!!! The windows were broken and the mattresses were on a concrete floor. We also nearly killed ‘Rat’ as he snored all night! We were very grumpy the next morning! I remember the bassplayer Brian passing out just before we went on stage due to drinking too much. He can always still play notes perfect though. We were well pissed if I remember correctly as we had been out all day. I recall the venue well though. Reminded me of an old café. Small stage & great audience. The ‘Varukers’ line up at that time in my opinion was their best.

I have vague memories of ‘Corpus Christi’ whom I liked. The other bands I’m afraid I have no recollection. Over the years we played with thousands of bands. 99% I have no idea about.

Great venue & we played there again over the coming years (with ‘Chaos UK’) [95-07-09].

Kevin Frost, ‘Varukers’ drummer

Looking at the date of this gig, I guess we played a lot of new songs which we had just recorded for split 7”s with ‘Man Is The Bastard’, ‘Social Genocide’, ‘Audiorrea’, ‘Smash The Brain’…at the end of 1993. A session which was more D-beat/raw punk inspired. As most of the time, it was again very nice to play at V.V. and also to meet people from that time. Great to see these old photos.

Jan Fredrickx, ‘Agathocles’

I remember that we played a ‘Varukers’ cover, as a tribute: Protest To Survive, if I’m right…

Bram De Cock, ‘Corpus Christi’ drummer

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…