96-05-19 Ebola – Rubbish Heap – Insane Youth

‘Ebola’s precursor ‘Spite’ had already played at the V.V. (95-09-17). ‘Ebola’ (from Newcastle) was Karin R. (vocals) & her hubbie Micky McGuinness (guitar) – both ex ‘One By One’, Chris Patterson (drums), Jonny/Jonathan ‘Lobster’ Shaw (vocals; R.I.P.) and Andrew ‘Andy Stick’ Nolan played (bass; also ‘Sawn Off’ & ‘Shank’). The LP Incubation (out on Flat Earth recs in ’96) was recorded Dec ’95 with Andy, Chris, Karin, Mickey & Jonathan. The 7” Imprecation (Flat Earth & Refusenik; recorded Feb ’97 with Andy, Chris, Karin, Mickey & Nick Loaring (Enslaved recs). The latter became the second vocalist and Jon left between these first two records. They played intense, fast, powerful HC with highly intelligent, critical and political lyrics. Apparently Sned organised this tour here (see guestbook). They would be back again later (97-09-12) aswell. Well into the new century they recorded (with Andy Irvine from ‘Disaffect’ on guitar and Set Dixon from ‘Active Minds’ on drums) for a split-LP with Mickey’s new band ‘ Jinn’.

‘Rubbish Heap’, a HC/metal band from Antwerp were Dave Vanderplas (drums), Kim Vandyck (vocals; later guitarist of ‘King Terror’), ‘Peche’ (guitar), Tijs Geerts (bass; later ‘Bad Influence’) and Vincent ‘Vinnie’ Royers (guitar). They were friends of Joris De Buysser (Conspiracy recs) who released their Path Of Lies 7” (“mix of ‘Rorschach’ & ‘Downcast’…”) that year (and their other stuff later). It was recorded at Pat DeLabie’s studio a few months after this gig (August ’96). Before this, they had done a rehearsal-tape and a demo (Slow Defeat; the songs appeared on a split-tape with the Greek band ‘Hibernation’).

‘Insane Youth’ (Sint-Niklaas/Gent) had already played a bunch of shows here (94-09-16, 94-10-22 & 95-09-16) and there would a couple more later. Stef De Leersnijder (guitar; ex ‘Corpus Christi’ and later in ‘Visions Of Change’) had joined Tim De Baere (guitar), Jan ‘Fons’ Wuytack (drums), Thomas ‘Tomaz’ Van Rumst (bass) & Steve ‘Stiv’ Descamps. Don’t know if Vanessa Hoskens (their 2^nd vocalist for a while) was still in the band here. The recordings for the split-7” with ‘Boycot’ were done February ’96 where she’s still mentioned doing “throat chants”…

‘Insane Youth’ (pic by Wim De Leersnijder)

Portugese Guilherme Charters was helping out Bruno & Kathy (of Genet recs) getting things done…

Brob

I was the second vocalist – Jonny would have been in ‘Ebola’ at the first gig, as I didn’t play my first gig with ‘Ebola’ until Autumn 1996. Sadly Jonny died a few years back. Micky & Karin live in Brugge, Chris lives in Newcastle & Andy lives in Canada. The line-up would go on to change a great deal over the years. My first and only time at the V.V. was 97-09-12.

Nick Loaring

We were called ‘Spite’ for our first two shows only. When we changed our name, we discovered there was a bunch of other bands called ‘Ebola’ – big deal, at least we didn’t live in the same country as them. They called me ‘Andy Stick’ because I was in band called ‘Needlestick’ (which eventually became the much better ‘Sawn Off’).

I live in Toronto, working as a manager at a harm-reduction program for homeless alcoholic males. Also did a masters in Environmental Studies, looking at how space informs identity-politics, particularly issues of race, space and post-colonialism. My thesis was on how contemporary paganism is used in North-America to regain a lost sense of meaning in whiteness. I still play(ed) in bands (‘The Endless Blockade’, ‘Column Of Heaven’, ‘Pick Your Side’)…

There was a a posthumous e-book published after Jonathan died: Chemo Diary…

Andrew Nolan (survivalist-deathcult)

We never gigged as ‘Spite’ [Brob: the name is in the Vort’n Vis guestbook (1995) though…]; we were calling ourselves ‘Ebola’ by the time we played our first gig in La Zone [Liège; 96-05-17]. ‘Chrissy’ (Chris Patterson) was our first drummer and played on the first LP and the 1^st 7”. ‘Skater’ (Jake Thurlow) played on the split 7” with ‘Servitude’ [recorded September ‘98]. Andy and Set were both in the 2^nd last line-up of ‘Ebola’; Duane Ager (ex ‘Bloodshot’) played bass. ‘Jinn’ never played in Ieper…

Micky McGuinness (gibboncore.com)

‘Insane Youth’ started out in Sint-Niklaas around 1992-1993 (lo-o-ong ago) with Tomaz (bass), Tim (guitar), Smet (drums) and me (vocals); later ‘Fons’ joined on drums, learning the songs in a few sessions before doing his first gig. Then Vanessa joined briefly on vocals too and Stef on guitar (ex ’Corpus Christi’, now still ‘Visions Of War’, ‘Chaka’). He started ‘Visions Of War’ and I joined him, not leaving ‘Insane Youth’. After 7 years of touring, gigs they called it quits. Releases were the split 7” with ‘Boycot’ and a song on the compilation-LP Europe In Decline’ (Six Week recs).

Luckily ‘Ebola’ helped us out with the P.A.; otherwise we would’ve been ‘mute’…

Steve Descamps

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…