92-11-01 Nessun Dorma – Bad Influence – Pleum – [Steve Ignorant’s puppet-show]

Half a year after their previous appearance (92-05-02) Bristol-based ‘Nessun Dorma’ were back already. In Oct 1991 their Chew It Over LP was released on Mike Foster’s label M.C.R. so they were promoting that extensively… The band was Seamus Cummins (bass), Paul Perry (vocals), Phil (drums) and Ju(lian) Newby & Tony ‘Tone’ (guitarists). They came a couple more times…

‘Bad Influence’ were supposed to be guiding Steve ‘Ignorant’ (ex ‘Crass’; real name Steve Williams) around on his puppet-show tour… But I can’t recall have seen him at the V.V. He came over with Stratford Mercenaries (98-03-29).

‘Bad Influence’s line-up changed quite a few times in the 90s. About a year after this, on 93-09-04, the baddies had Tim ‘Crow’ Shapland (ex ‘Zygote’) as bassist and Egbert ‘Eggy’ played guitar. On the New Age Witch Hunt LP – which was released in ’92 (recorded May/June) – it was Pat Delabie & Thomas Noppe.

‘Pleum’ (‘Pleûm’), a punk/HC band from the Rouen area (Normandy, France), were: Nico (bass), Ludo (guitar), Fred ‘Frédo’ Lachnowich (vocals) & Cyril(lo) (drums). They did a tape called Et ça Craint (D.I.Y.; 1989) and a CD Pue-La-Merde (1995) on a label from Poitiers, called On A Faim! They were also on a bunch of compilations (see discography).

Brob

My guess is that Steve had canceled last minute. We played with ‘Labie’ and Thomas then…

Holy Herwin

I don’t think I still played bass for ‘B.I.’ at that time…

Pat Labie

additions wellcome!…

92-06-13 Kelly ‘Resist’s extra photos

More on this concert: 92-06-13 Resist – U.F.D. – Zero Positives – Hiatus (Bel)

Here’s a bunch of photographs taken and donated by Kelly Halliburton (‘Resist’ bassist):

‘Hiatus’; alternative line-up with Phill ‘Kill’ on bass

‘Hiatus’

L => R: Azill ‘Hiatus’, Chris Eagan, Chris Eagan’s girlfriend & Bruno Vandevyvere

L => R: some Canadian guy, Ty Smith [R.I.P.] (‘Resist’ drummer), Chris Rainier (a friend from Paris), Chris Eagan’s girlfriend, Chris Eagan & Bruno Vandevyvere

Chris Eagan; Desperate Attempt recs (Louisville, Kentucky)

Vort’n Vis courtyard with Roi (‘U.F.D.’ bassist) saying cheers, and (sitting down) closest to camera: Peter, (‘U.F.D.’ driver), Arno (‘U.F.D.’ guitarist) and Mark Landers (‘Resist’ roadie)

92-12-20 Supertouch – Subway Arts – Spirit Of Youth

‘Supertouch’, a hardcore band from New York, was more or less considered “a legend” by some of the SxE kids here (although they stated “we’re not a SxE band”); probably because when they started (1985) Mike ‘Judge’ Ferraro (connected with ‘Youth Of Today’) played drums in the band… There was even a documentary made about them in the beginning of the 90s. In the band on this tour: Jon Biviano (guitar), Richard Edsell (drums; replacing Andy Guida), Mark Randall (bass; replacing Joe Graziano) & Mark Ryan (vocals). They released the 7” What Did We Learn on Combined Effort recs (NY hardcore label) in 1989 an LP entitled The Earth Is Flat, on Revelation recs in 1990 (“Heavy, brooding music with a lot of emotion.”). ‘Supertouch’ played with ‘Farside’ (also on Revelation recs) at the 1 in 12 in Bradford (92-12-19) but they didn’t tour together, they sort of linked up in the UK. ‘Supertouch’ crossed the Channel that night to end their tour on the continent… ‘Farside’ also played in Leeds on 92-12-29.

‘Subway Arts’ 1^st gig here… Not their last: 93-02-06, 93-07-04, 93-08-01, 94-04-02, … The Luxemburgers released a split 12” (All Life is Equal) together with their mates of ‘No More’ in 1991. They were: Claude ‘Bourano’ Bour (drums; Mike played on the split-lp but left also soon after), Steve ‘Diff’ Differding (guitar), Fränz Laureys (bass), Sabrina D’Aurelio (vocals; David on the split-lp) and Xavier (guitar).

‘Spirit Of Youth’ had played plenty of times before this one: 91-06-08, 91-09-01, 91-12-21, 92–08-09 & 92-09-05. Their line-up here was the one of the Abyss 7” (Crucial Response recs) – recorded at Cats studio in Brugge, October 1992 – with Jan (Maelfait) back on vocals (after a short stint by Ed ‘N.O.F.’), little Fred (Frederik Denolf) hitting the drums, Ignace De Meyer on bass and ‘Dompie’ (Dominiek Denolf) playing guitar. Their performance here was taped (see cover) and there’s also some video-footage on the H8000 DVD.

‘Spirit Of Youth’, Jan crowdsurfing (supported by Peter Hoeren and others)

Brob

I didn’t tour with ‘Supertouch’ (nor ‘Farside’)…

Jordan Cooper, Revelation recs

I wasn’t in the band in 1992. I’m on the 7” from ‘88 and The Earth Is Flat. We broke up in ‘91. I came back in July 2010. I don’t know who was in the band when I was not.

Andrew Guida, ‘Supertouch’ drummer

Our European tour of October-December 1992 was arranged by Steffen Rose at Navigator Booking. ‘Supertouch’ played in Ieper a day after playing a show in Bradford, England. We were really pressed for time so we did the Bradford gig, loaded up the van immediately after and started driving to Dover to catch a ferry. Our driver from Berlin (Tobias) was very good and got us to the ferry in great time. The boat took us from Dover to Calais, France and instantly got back on the road to Belgium. We reached the gig a little late but with enough time to set up and play a full set but unfortunately we missed the two bands before us. The staff were very nice. They fed us after the show and supplied us with drinks and a case of beer. Everyone we hung out with that night was very cool. It was a good after-gig party. I vaguely remember the room we played in but I do remember the stage was fully carpeted. I found that interesting. The club let us stay the night. We all slept on the carpeted stage, with our backline still set up. I also remember the beer the venue gave us (Duvel). So whenever I have a Duvel, I think of Ieper. It was our only show in Belgium on that tour in 1992.

Jon Biviano, ‘Supertouch’ guitarist

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

92-12-12 Spina Bifida – Dreft – Trail Of Sorrow – Caducity

I think ‘Caducity’ played there too, did they replace ‘Spina Bifida’…?

‘Narre’, ‘Dreft’ drummer

The flyer states “+1 more”… That might’ve been ‘Caducity’. I know for sure I’ve seen them play at the V.V.: I remember us all joking about their vocalist growling theatrically and spreading his legs so wide out that we feared he was gonna shred his pants…

‘Spina Bifida’ were a death/doom-metal band from Tilburg (The Netherlands). I believe the band’s line-up here was Gerard van Boxtel (drums), Harrie Van Erp (guitar), Veronika ‘Vroon’ Wilking (bass; Jeroen van Veen, the founder of ‘Within Temptation’ played on the demo), Rob Kesselaar (guitar) and and Werner van Rijswijk (vocals). They had a demo out entitled Symphony Of Indictment and just recorded (October 1992) for a their album Ziyadah. They reunited in 2010.

‘Spina Bifida’, photo by Henk Loobuyck

‘Dreft’ (Kortrijk area) had played a few times at the Vort’n Vis already (89-07-09, 92-08-29). I think their line-up at this stage was Bernard ‘Narre’ Demeulenaere (drums), ‘U.J.’ Jan Vandekerckhove (bass), Kris Maes (vocals), Erwin De Vriendt (guitar) and Sammy Windels (guitar). I don’t think Joost Noyelle (guitar; also ‘Burning Fight’, ‘Congress’, ‘Liar’, …) played here. On 93-03-28 (their last or one of their last shows – ‘Caducity’, ‘Spithead’, ‘Dreft’ in De Gilde, Ruddervoorde), they recorded their set live…

‘Dreft’ in action

‘Dreft’, posing

‘Trail Of Sorrow’ were a local death-metal band: Arjan (bass), Bart (guitar & vocals), Johan (drums) and ‘Breeb’ (Kurt Vanbrabant; guitar; later in ‘Confrontation’).

‘Caducity’ was a death-metal band from West-Flanders (Oostrozebeke/Waregem); at that time consisting of Steven Suys (bass; later guitar), Koen Arnoys (guitar; replaced by Vinnie Bonduwe in ‘93), Dirk Peirs (bass), Bert Van Thuyne (drums) & Guy ‘Nirion’ Cnockaert (vocals). They had 2 demos out: Incarnated: The Abhorer’s Tale (92) & The Imperishable Mystery (93).

Brob

I remember we played our set twice. There were some real ‘Spina’ fans at that gig. The line-up you mentioned is not correct. We played with Veronika on bass, Joris did drums, Michel on guitar, Norbert singing and Rob playing guitar. This was the third ‘Spina’ line-up. Jeroen van Veen never played with ‘Spina’, though I know you can find it on internet. We started playing in 2011 again with almost the same line-up we recorded the CD back then.

Rob Kesselaar, ‘Spina Bifida’ guitarist

‘Neuthrone’ played with ‘Spina Bifida’ in Lauwe (La Gare) May 1993.

Steve W.

I can’t remember exactly who joined ‘Dreft’ when… Erwin came first; when Sammy quit we replaced him UJ (bass) and only later Joost popped up.

Best line-up of ‘Caducity’ was the one of the demos and first 2 CDs (with Guy – who’s an MD nowadays – doing vocals)!

Kris ‘Mosh’ Maes, ‘Dreft’ vocalist

The former 2 ‘Dreft’ vocalists were fired or quit?! Kris stopped playing bass and went on to do vocals, and I started playing 2^nd guitar alongside Sammy. When he quit (because of school), a good hardcore gitarist named Joost joined. We did some concerts in The Netherlands (still with Sammy) and later also a few ‘big ones’ (e.g. in the halls of Kortrijk with ‘Gorefest’ and ‘The Gathering’; and also one in a very decent venue in Ieper with ‘Caducity’, loads of people there! The last gig was indeed recorded.

Erwin De Vriendt, ‘Dreft’ guitarist

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

92-09-05 Feeding The Fire (photos)

More on this concert:

92-09-05 Ironside – Strong Event – Blindfold – Shortsight – No More – Feeding The Fire – Spirit Of Youth

Here’s some extra photos (taken by Jean-Paul Frijns), courtesy of Jason Fox:

Léon Kleikers (drums; also guitarist of ‘No Sense), Illona Stephan (guitar); co-organiser Hans Verbeke

Rob Franssen (vocals), Roger ‘NBH’ (bass); Tom Chapman (‘Ironside’ guitarist) in the crowd

Illona, Har(ald) Brosselt (guitar; also in ‘No Sense), Rob; Nick Royles (‘Ironside’ drummer) & Jase Fox (‘Step One’) in the crowd

Har, Illona, Rob, Roger; Nathalie D. & Jörg Jacoby in the crowd

Illona, Har, Rob; Edward Verhaghe & Jörg Jacoby in the crowd

Har, Rob, Illona; an astonished Michael Müller (R)

92-11-22 Blechreiz – Neuthrone – Corpus Christi – [Hiatus] – [Farside]

In my notes this gig is listed on November 22^nd but Bruno highlighted (in the guestbook) it was on the 15^th… ‘Hiatus’ didn’t play because the bassplayer had to attend a family-party. Also ‘Farside’ didn’t show up: they didn’t get enough dates, they claimed (!?)… Bruno wasn’t happy with that! They did tour Europe but didn’t come to the Vort’n Vis (see also: 92-10-04). ‘Corpus Christi’ did play. Early 80s anarcho-HC. They sounded OK but they did a bit of a nervous set (quite some little mistakes). ‘Neuthrone’ got the opportunity to present their (“not quite completely succeeded” – their own words) 7”. They got a fantastic sound though (there was a 12-channel P.A.) and there was some pretty vehement head-banging going on. The P.A. was necessary for ‘Blechreiz’, the ska-band from (Kreuzberg) Berlin, who played last. Great music to dance to. The atmosphere was fantastic and everybody went home satisfied.

‘Corpus Christi’ played here for the first time; the start of a whole series: 93-10-31, 93-11-21, 94-02-05 & 94-09-16. They had formed in the summer of this year. Bart ‘Goemie’ Goeminne was the original guitarist (he stayed until Oct ’93 and was then replaced by Tom Vanlaere for a little while; Stefaan – ex ‘Warcry’ – joined in the Winter of ’92 on bass but took over guitar later). The original bassplayer Johan Maes left after 2 months and went on to play for ‘Dogfish’ (he was also in‘Cry For Change’ – see 91-03-16 & 91-09-01). So I guess the line-up her was Peter ‘Coli’ Van Colen (vocals), Bram De Cock (drums) & Tom (guitar); and was this the actual first time with bassist Stef De Leersnijder?

Being locals and having ‘signed’ to Genet recs, ‘Neuthrone’ had already played here a bunch of times. They were the ‘perfect replacement’. In the summer ‘Tim (‘Nutje’) had started playing bass (together with Steve & David) so this was probably his first appearance at the V.V., with the band. They had recorded that summer (see 92-02-09) so I’m guessing the 7” was only just out or about to come out.

‘Blechreiz’ were Christian Prüfer (vocals), Marcus Renner (trumpet/vocals; ex ‘Ceresit’ – who played for Smurfpunx 86-12-19), Matthias Bonjer (bass), J.B. Beat (organ), Michael ‘Mike’ Betz (guitar), Hermann Lamboy (drums), Michael Rühl (tenor sax) and Wolfram Segond von Banchet (alt sax). I can’t recall seeing these all on the tiny V.V. stage?! I think they’d left the horns-section (who also played for ‘P.N.A.T.S.H.’; see: 93-04-04) at home…

From their website (www.blechreiz-berlin.de): >> ‘Blechreiz’ was especially active against the emerging right-wing extremism in the ‘Wild East’ and West in the ‘90s. Because as everyone knows, skinheads also like ska. ‘Blechreiz’ has always been on the side of anti-racist and anti-fascist skinheads, including the international SHARP (skinheads against racial prejudice) movement and the ‘Trojan skins’, who are well aware of the black roots of Jamaican ska. <<

They were around since the mid-80s so they already had a bunch of records under their belt by the time they played here. In 1993 they would release a single (Loving Couple) and an album (Which Side Are You On?) on the Zensor label … If you wanna learn more about Ska in Berlin, watch the documentary by Alexander van Dülmen.

Brob

Can ‘t remember why we cancelled… I did like ‘Corpus Christi’: they reminded me of ‘Mob 47’. Little did I know that so many years later I would be in ‘Visions Of War’ together with Stef [De Leersnijder]…

Willy ‘Hiatus’

It was my first acquaintance with SHARP-skins – I’d never heard of these before. In all my ignorance I didn’t know there were also like anti-racist skinheads. The band consisted of some 10 or 11 people; who were all crammed on that small Vort’n Vis stage. They played very catchy ska! All punks, crusties, metalheads, etc. were convivially skankin’! Great respect for SHARP!

Henk Loobuyck

I’d already left ‘Corpus Chrisiti’ by then. I only played twice with them, in the Tielt area.

Johan Maes

I can’t remember playing here… If we did, then it must’ve been with Goeminne and not Tom Vanlaere. Stef had only joined ‘Corpus Christi’ a month before…

Peter ‘Coli’ Van Colen

Tom Vanlaere replaced Bart Goeminne just this once because the latter wasn’t able to come. We were alle friends anyway; Tom was in different bands and didn’t have trouble with our 2-3 chord songs.

Bram De Cock, ‘Corpus Christi’ drummer

excerpt from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

92-09-19 Human Lethargy – Embittered – Slum Gang – Exhauster – [Jawbreaker] – [Agent 86] – [Youth Brigade] – [Decadence Within]

guess who…!?

Another great opportunity to see some great bands and meet up with some friends (like Joris De Buysser of Bonds Of Friendship, Anneke Schuurman of Puffy zine, Anthony Palmer of Dingo Baby zine, …).

‘Embittered’ was a grindcore band from Middlesbrough. Their line-up changed quite often: Anthony Palmer (vocals), Brian Puplett (vocals; later also ‘Manfat’) and Ash(ley) Quinn (bass); played this one. ‘Mac’ (drums) and ‘Gus’ (guitar) were replaced. Michael J. Gillham (the drummer of ‘Voorhees’) wasn’t in the band at that time yet… I’d gotten to know them because I was corresponding with Anth who was doing a zine (which I distributed, and vice versa) and Bri had sent me a demo of his former band ‘Catharsis’. Their split with ‘Hiatus’ on Desperate Attempt was about to be released. On this tour they did a live recording of their show (92-09-16), at the Café Fabrik squat in Potsdam (Germany), that got released as a cassette called All Too Human. The year before they’d already done the And You Ask Why? When You’ve Only Got Yourself To Blame cassette (“intense & fast grinding anarcho-core”); and in 1993 Misanthropic recs released a split-LP with ‘Dystopia’. Their last release was the Choked 7” on Ecocentric recs – with a completely different line-up than in the beginning; e.g. Mark Fox on bass, Michael Gillham on drums and Rob ‘Slavery’ Ankers (R.I.P.) doing vocals.

Anth Palmer [R] (‘Embittered’) & friend

‘Human Lethargy’ from Athens were Spiros (vocals), Thanos Georgilas (bass; later in ‘Panikos’), (Evangelos) Va(n)gelis ‘Vanx’ Petropoulos (drums; ex ‘Anabiosis’) and Thanassis (guitar). They released a demo-cassette in 1992 (still with Sakis ex ‘Industrial Suicide’ singing). Their music sounded great, reminiscent of ‘Antisect’ and ‘Contropotere’. Both Genet recs and Joris of Conspiracy recs were planning releases. Here’s a video of them “live in Belgium”; it doesn’t look like the Vort’n Vis so I’m guessing it’s at La Zone in Liège (92-09-11: ‘One By One’, ‘Sedition’, ‘Embittered’, ‘Human Lethargy’)?

‘Slum Gang’, from Nottingham, were: Eddie Greenaway (guitar; bass in ‘Downfall’), Joe Nott (‘Pug Slum’, drums), Tim Cleaver (bass) and Loyd Sims (vocals/guitar; sang for ‘Concrete Sox’ on the split with ‘Nightmare’). This band hadn’t released anything yet; they recorded their 1^st demo in early ‘93. Listen to some of their melodic HC/punk. They came back to the V.V. with their mates/drinking-buddies from Groningen on 98-06-05.

‘Slum Gang’; photos courtesy of Eddie Greenaway

‘Exhauster’ were Ringo Haezebrouck (drums), Vinnie Bonduwe (guitar; also ‘Caducity’), Phillippe Dassonvile (in the Vort’n Vis referred to as “the hard-rocker”), David Verbiest and Laurens Barroo (guitar). Henk Loobuyck reminded me they were “metal-heads” from the Ieper area who played “a trashy ‘Metallica’ style”…

‘Jawbreaker’ had been announced (they were touring – see tourposter) but as explained in the post on 92-10-04 I can ‘t come up with a reason why they didn’t show up (the UK part of the tour was cancelled but they played in France a bit later). They did do a gig here a couple of years later (94-10-01)…

‘Agent 86’ (see 92-09-06 & 92-10-04) had been announced for this one too (probably when their tour-schedule wasn’t completely arranged yet) but were in Yugoslavia at this time…

‘Decadence Within’ were announced at some timepoint but I can ‘t remember why they didn’t come. They had already played in Poperinge on 90-04-08 and would be back at the V.V. on 93-05-16.

(Fom my personal communication oct ’92 =>) >> ‘Youth Brigade’ was supposed to play. I think they just reformed to be able to make a quick buck. They cancelled the show because “it’s too small” (500 people!?). Actually, it’s because they can make more money in a rockstar-club in Germany. Fuck that! I don’t really care to see those big well-known bands, I prefer smaller but truly DIY bands. <<

Brob

It was the last show of a pretty successful/ enjoyable tour and I guess everyone was just out to have a good time. I have a tendency to shout a lot when I’m having a cool time drunk; I hope you didn’t take too much notice of my attacks on certain things (e.g. ‘Political Asylum’ & Ramsey, etc.) – all in good humour.

The Vort’n Vis is a cool/friendly place – in fact our Belgian dates were easily the best! From my one, solitary experience: I have no problem with the place whatsoever; just a percentage of the kids who were there that night. Perhaps I’m upholding stereotypes or maybe I’m talking from experience (not just with the Vort’n Vis). I’m not saying they shouldn’t be there or that they shouldn’t be straight edge… I know some ‘crusties’ are fuckin’ idiots, as are some ‘edgers’…

Anthony Palmer, ‘Embittered’ vocalist; personal communication oct ’92 and later

The line-up was (indeed) Bri & Anth (vocals), Ash (guitar), Saul (bass) & Mac (drums). Darren was the original guitarist. ‘Cockney’ [Darren O’Hara ? – see comment] played guitar following that tour. In 1993 we became a 6-piece with two guitarists. We played 7 shows on this tour, I thought it had been more – Liège, Duisburg, Hannover, Berlin, Potsdam, Groningen & Ieper. The show in Ieper was great; last show, got way drunk I recall. ‘Slum Gang’ from the UK also played, ‘Human Lethargy’ from Greece as well…

Anth Palmer, ‘Embittered’

‘Youth Brigade’ pulled out, ‘Decadence Within’ weren’t there, a metal band called ‘Exhauster’ headlined, the Greek band and ‘Embittered’. ‘Slum Gang’ played instead of ‘Youth Brigade’. We didn’t come with ‘Embittered’, we just played Liège and Ieper; it was the first 2 gigs we did. Lloyd was our songwriter, he was also in ‘Default’ and he did stints in ‘Concrete Sox’. Myself and ‘Pug’ also stood in for ‘Substandard’.

Eddie Greenaway, ‘Slum Gang’

Vagelis still plays in punk-bands (he mailed me the CD of the band ‘Anatopia’). Also ‘Panikos’ [who played on 94-05-08] did a new LP.

Joris De Buysser

I played for ‘Embittered’ a little while, did a few shows and recorded 6 or 7 tracks with them – not sure what they did with them… I was supposed to tour Europe with ‘Embittered’ but I left and joined ‘Hellkrusher’ before it happened.

Gary ‘Gus’ Raine

Can’t remember much of that, too long ago. We also played there with ‘Neuthrone’ and ‘Dreft’. On another occasion I played there also a few times with ‘K.U.N.T’ [‘Krisis Und Neurosis Theater’; with ‘Neuthrone’s David Stubbe] …

Philippe Dassonville [‘Fluppe the Hardrocker’]

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

Bruno wonders if it’s a Candian visiter, I reckon it’s ‘Embittered’s bassist

‘Doomy’ wonders if the V.V. food caused the ‘Embittered’ guys to spit bile… ;-)

additions wellcome!…

92-12-31 Infezione

New year’s eve in the Vort’n Vis? Of course! When there’s a band of intelligent people playing great music. ‘Infezione’ were a great HC/punk band with an anarchist message, from Modena (Italy): Enrico Manicardi (guitar & vocals), Barbara (bass & vocals), Lory (drums) and Chicco (vocals). They did a demo called Oppressione Quotidiana (Daily Oppression; re-released as a benefit for the political prisoners of the Genua G8) and 2 LPs entitled Chiediti El Perche (Ask Yourself Why) & Religione Oppio Dei Popoli (Religion Opium For The People) – both with extensive booklets.

The gig was only announced a week before so it was a real surprise! I gave them a bunch of questions for an interview in my zine Tilt! They didn’t want to do it on tape ‘cause they thought their English was too poor… It should’ve been in published but the disk crashed and I lost everything… Later I was told they’d split up and did their last concert at the El Paso squat in Torino in May ’93 (after being together for 10 years).

Nowadays Enrico is a lawyer and author (enricomanicardi.it) but apparently still doesn’t speak any English… ;-)

Brob

excerpt from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

92-10-04 Downcast – Disaffect – [Farside] – [Jawbreaker] – Faroutski – Agent 86

Besides the bands that actually played (can’t remember if ‘Punishment Park’ were there aswell; I think they abondoned touring with ‘Agent 86’ by then) also ‘Jawbreaker’ was announced (see poster). Can ‘t recall why exactly they didn’t show up (the UK part of the tour was cancelled) but they played here a couple of years later (94-10-01) though… This day was part of a ‘B.L.O.’ weekend (can ‘t remember what that meant) and ‘Naked Lunch’ performed the day before…

This was the first time ‘Disaffact’ played here. They would be back 93-07-04 and 94-05-22. As everyone knows, ‘Disaffect’ (a political HC/punk band from Glasgow) was Andy Irvine (bass; later ‘Scatha’, ‘Debris’, etc.), Lynne Entwistle (vocals), ‘Joe Fear’ (Jock Deacons; vocals; nowadays in ‘Constant Fear’), ‘IB’ Iain Blue (a.k.a. Debo Williamson; drums, later bass in ‘Scatha’) and Brian Curran (guitar; later ‘Quarantine’, ‘Debris’, etc.). Billy Steele (‘Sedition’) played second guitar only the last time they were here… They must have had their 7” An Injury To One Is An Injury To All out (on Flat Earth & Nabate) at that time… Martin Mann (drummer of ‘Sedition’) did the cover. Marc Papito, ‘Agent 86’s driver filmed ‘Disaffect’ live and you can see the video here (It was ‘92 not ’91, as is stated).

‘Agent 86’ were touring but since a few gigs fell through the tour was a bit messy: they’d played here already but not on 92-09-06 as was mentioned on the tour-schedule. Mike Briggs (guitar & vocals), Michelle Orgill (bass) and Rob(ert) Perry (drums)…

‘Downcast’, a political band from Santa Barbara, played metallic hardcore. They were known for their “anti-dancing” stance: an effort to rid the pits of the ‘tough guy’ attitude and allow all women in the hardcore-scene to return to their rightful place up-front or in the crowd (instead of in the back). The band consisted of Brent Stephens (guitar; co-founder of Ebullition), Kevin Doss (vocals; also helping out Kent McClard with distribution of Ebullition releases) and Dave McClure (bass). They had different drummers on their recordings (Lance York, Javier Vasquez & Chris Harvey – RIP 1996). Not 100% sure who did this tour but I believe it was Chris… They released a tape by themselves in 1990 and Kent McClard (whom I’d met in San Francisco a few years before and toured with ‘Downcast’) put out a 7” and an LP (both self-titled, ’90 & ‘91) on his label Ebullition recs. ‘Downcast’ broke up after the tour. Kent reminded me (personal communication ’93) that Sonia Skindrud (Exedra zine and Kent’s partner in Ebullition) started singing for ‘Not For the Lack Of Trying’ (with Kevin & Dave of ‘Downcast’)…

‘Farside’, a Californian band playing melodic HC (reminiscent of ‘Dag Nasty’, consisted of (during this tour): Michael ‘Popeye’ Vogelsang (vocals), Kevin Murphy (guitar; ex ‘Headfirst’ & ‘411’; he replaced Rob(ert) ‘Cubby’ Haworth who went on to play with ‘State Of The Nation’), Bryan Chu (bass) and Robert (Bob) ‘Violence’ Beshear (drums). Zack De La Rocha (‘Inside Out’ & ‘Rage Against the Machine’) had been in the band shortly but left before this tour. Around that time they releases the Rochambeau LP on the straight-edge label Revelation recs. I wonder if ‘Farside’ actually did play? I have no recollection of them. They were announced on 92-11-22 aswell but cancelled that one for sure… ‘Supertouch’ played with ‘Farside’ at the 1 in 12 in Bradford (92-12-19) but they didn’t tour together, they, sort of linked up in the UK.

‘Fireside’, from the Kortrijk area preceded ‘Faroutski’ – see 95-06-18) with guitarist Piet Geldhof (I think). The others were Geert ‘Barney’ Blomme (drums) and Rine Amelynck (bass). They were part of to the scene around the indie club The Pits in Kortrijk.

Zine-editor (and mate of mine) Ben ‘Sicko’ of Raising Hell (or was it You’re So Hideous by then already?) visited that day. Can ‘t remember if he was travelling around on his own or toured with ‘Disaffect’…

Brob

‘B.L.O.’ was the ‘Bond der Langharige Onderdrukten’ [League of Longhaired Suppressed]. Peter Vanthuyne [one of the V.V.’s collaborators] met them on the-university-campus in Brussels. (‘Frank & Freddy’s Fietsenfabriek’ [bicycle-factory] was the sequel.) They did somewhat playful, student-like actions. And they needed a benefit from time to time, it seemed. ‘Naked Lunch’ was a band from Brussels with people from Limburg; if I remember correctly they did a ‘Metallica’-cover and some songs resembling the ‘Butthole Surfers’. They might have become ‘Crossfader’ later on…? I think Peter did the poster…

David Stubbe

‘Downcast’ wasn’t anti-dancing. They were anti-hurting people. They were fine with people dancing but not violent dancing that hurt people. There is a big difference… Sean Sellers was the drummer of ‘Downcast’ on the European tour. No one else was travelling with us. We had some people with us for a few days at a time but it was just ‘Downcast’ and I for most of the trip. I don’t believe ‘Farside played’ here…

Kent McClard

I remember on that tour looking forward to playing at Vort’n Vis due to its cooperative, DIY approach. It had a great reputation and people I had spoken with mentioned the club along with 1 in 12 as their “home away from home”. I sincerely remember feeling the same there. Sean Sellers played drums for us on this tour and he went on to play with ‘Crack’, ‘Manumission’, ‘Shelter’, ‘Good Riddance’, ‘Real Mckenzies’, ‘Authority Zero’, ‘Blink 182’ and ‘The Transplants’. ‘Jawbreaker’ and ‘Farside’ were not there. I remember the ‘Disaffect’ people sharing their food and tales of Glasgow with me. I also vividly remember meeting Mike and Michelle from ‘Agent 86’ (I think we did 2 or 3 shows with them), liking their band instantly and sitting in their van hearing their tour-stories of Yugoslavia (!), cancelled shows, broke and hungry and not knowing how or when they were even getting home. [Mike wrote about all of that in Tremontane #1] ‘Downcast’ was going through our own emotional insecurity issues and I asked to join ‘Agent 86’. They politely declined and kicked me out of their van…

David McClure, ‘Downcast’ bassist

The ‘Downcast’ gig @ Vort’n Vis! Could hardly stand upright…

Vik Bulik

I recall playing with ‘Downcast’ at that gig aswell as ‘Agent 86’ (definitely) but I also know I didn’t play with ‘Jawbreaker’. I’m pretty certain ‘Jawbreaker’ were on the flyer but never played – I‘d been looking forward to seeing them but they had cancelled, I got to see ‘em in Glasgow eventually… :-) We played in Liège the night before [92-10-03 @ La Zone: ‘Disaffect’, ‘Seein’Red’ & ‘Hiatus’]. Joe might have a flyer… I tried fruit-beer for the first time here (and the last time as it happens)…

Brian Curran, ‘Disaffect’ guitarist

The tour was worth it for the experience and the fun. It was good to meet your good self at the Vort’n Vis and I enjoyed our chat. It was a really good gig although a little strange to be playing in the afternoon!

Andy Irvine, ‘Disaffect’ bassplayer; personal communication oct ‘92

I do remember you, Brob, and the Vort’n Vis fondly. I have at least one flyer from the show we played there with ‘Downcast’. I do have some memories from that awesome spot – it was one of my very favourites, you guys did a fantastic job there. One of the best organizations we worked with on either of our tours over there.

I wasn’t especially happy with our set on the day we played with ‘Downcast’ & ‘Disaffect’. We played with ‘Jawbreaker’ in Lyon about a week later – but I have no notes about why they didn’t make it to the Ieper show (I suspect it was Blake’s throat-illness, which I believe he ended up having surgery for). I traded ‘Agent 86’ records (with possibly Kent, or Kevin?) for a ‘Downcast’ LP, and made a note that there were “so many people stuffed in that little showroom” that I spent most of the evening outside! I also remember being struck by how many of the guys at the show were “All X’d up”, referring to the omnipresent straight-edge symbol on their hands, and that they slowly filed out during our set (we had driven from mid-France that day and were, admittedly, flagging in energy by that point of a really chaotic and emotionally draining tour). While I didn’t get a lot of time to talk to ‘Disaffect’ on the night of the show, we did spend the next morning chatting and I do recall our drummer Rob getting on quite well with them – both they and ‘Downcast’ blew the doors off the night in terms of performances. I was, as always, impressed with the organization and what appeared to be cooperation with everyone at the Vort’n Vis, and we stayed/’played almost exclusively at squats all over Europe that tour – so we were experiencing all varieties of squats (and ended up travelling to Serbia as well). I am amused to see the note I left in the guest-book (cannot believe I used the term ‘uberstud’ – apologies to Bruno!) but we did have a nice time there.

The only other real note from that show is that we got a speeding-ticket on our way back to France and ended up spending what little money we had made at the V.V. on that. When the French cop pulled us over telling us we were speeding even though there were no signs to let us know the legal limit, he told us (via Sonja, the girlfriend of our pal Marc): “The speed is 50 km in the city – éveryone knows that.” and it became a talking point for days.

Michelle Orgill, ‘Agent 86’ bassist

The one memory that sticks out is lending my snare-drum to ‘Downcast’ and having it returned covered in the drummer’s blood. That was also the first time I had ever heard ‘Disaffect’. They were amazing!

Robert Perry, ‘Agent 86’ drummer

In reaction to the remarks (by Dario Adamic): How can we be sexist when we’ve had a woman in the band 30 of the 32 years of our existence!? And letters to MRR? Never saw ‘em, never published? If you have copies I’ld like to see… Not DIY? That’s why we’ve never signed a corporate deal and last year self (that’s DIY) -released our 22^nd?, 23^rd? 12”/CD….I’ve lived DIY my entire adult life… And dishonest? This from a guy who demanded to be paid every day he’d travelled with us, even though he knew we didn’t have money to feed ourselves. My Dad ended up footing the bill to rent the van he so comfortably travelled around Italy in… Amazing….

Mike Briggs, ‘Agent 86’

Guitarist of ‘Fireside’ was indeed Piet Geldhof. The band recorded a double live 7” at Democrazy in Gent. ‘Faroutski’ was the same line-up without Piet (who moved to France). ‘Faroutski’ did 2 7”s (1994 Faroutski, 1995 Funarchy) and 3 CDs (1997 Mars, 1999 V8 Powered Punk’n Roll, 2001 Farout Chicken Ride). The rhythm-section continues as ‘Unwanted Tattoo’… I attended this gig. Piet had already left: it was the second gig ever by ‘Faroutski’. It was ‘Barney’ on drums, Rine on bass and Johan [Dekyvere] on guitar. Later they had a second guitarist Dominiek.

Joost Dierick, BZN productions

According the ‘Faroutski’ website it should not have been ‘Fireside’ but ‘Faroutski’ who played here. I suspect that it was ‘Fireside’ however. [They signed as ‘Faroutski’ in the guestbook.] That band was an intermediate between ‘Roadtrain’ and ‘Faroutski’; the core was: ‘Barney’ (drums); Johan (2^nd guitar) and Rine (bass). In ‘Fireside’ Piet G. (lead-guitar) and Nathalie (vocals) invigorated the heavy guitar-rock with influences of US bands from the pre-grunge era (‘Green River’, ‘U-Men’, early ‘Melvins’). In the brief span (1991-’92) that ‘Firside’ was active they release a double split-7” with ‘Party @ Vanzettis’ on their own Rock Labyrinth recs. At the end only the rhythm-section and the rhythm-guitarist remained: they chose the direction of melodic punkrock (‘Leatherface’, ‘D.O.A.’, ‘Snuff’, ‘Bad Religion’) and name was changed to ‘Faroutski’; they played “V8 powered Rock’n’Roll” as they called it themselves.

Dirk ‘Bowy’ Bauwens

Kevin Murphy from ‘Farside’ tells about their 1992 European tour in an interview:

>>It was the first time any of us had been to Europe and the entire thing was a disaster. This guy was tagged with booking it and about 3 weeks before we were supposed to leave he contacted Revelation and announced that he had not booked a single date and was not going to. Now, being dirt broke, we had purchased non-refundable tickets to and from Germany, so we were going, tour or not. Jordan knew this great guy in Bradford, England named Ian [Leck] who had booked some shows for some other touring Rev band before. Ian sang for the HC band called ‘Voorhees’. He agreed to book this tour for us and we left the U.S. without having more than 3 or 4 shows booked. So we’d finish playing in a squat in Freiberg, Germany, go to the pay-phone and call Ian and he’d tell us we were scheduled to play in Italy the next night. It was crazy. I also blew my amp the first night which meant I had to borrow equipment every night of the tour. Plus, we were all cramped inside of this tiny VW Euro van along with all of our gear and merchandise – it was just horrible. And somehow, we walked away from it, after losing tons of money, having had an amazing time. At the time, I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be a permanent member of the band but I couldn’t leave after that. It sounds cheesy but it really was a make or break moment for us and it made us. We felt extremely “punk.<<

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

92-08-29 Sedition – One By One – Dreft

The first gig of ‘Sedition’ (from Glasgow) here. On their 1^st tour with ‘One By One… I’d probably already heard them on tape. Later I helped distribute the LP over here. I’d exchanged some notes before with ‘Brycey’ about his on Reel To Real tape-label but I didn’t realize it was the same guy who played with them. The band was: Angus ‘Gus’ Quinn (vocals; later ‘Scatha’), Martin Mann (drums; just joined before this tour, replacing Jamie Usher – who later also played in ‘Quarantine’ for a while), Billy Steele (guitar; ex ‘Disturbed’ – he replaced the original guitarist Davie Thompson after the 1^st 7”; also ‘Disaffect’ & ‘Scatha’) and Craig ‘Brycey’ Bryce (bass; later in ‘Dawson’ – see 93-10-03). They played raging political hardcore/ peace-punk. Their music was also often described as ‘Celt-core’ because of their love for the tribal societies of Ireland/Scotland (hence the kilts by times)… Their 1^st releases were the Dealing With Clichés 7” (1989) and a split with ‘Pink Turds In Space’ (the latter on Reel To Real recs, 1990 – re-issued in 1994 on Flat Earth recs). Later came the Earth Beat LP and the split-7” with ‘Disaffect’ on Sned’s Flat Earth recs (‘93).

‘Sedition’; photos courtesy of Karl Penando

‘One By One’ had been here before (91-08-18 & 92-03-08)… Karin joined the lads (Sned, Mac & Micky) early ’92 (after the World On Fire 7” and the LP on Words Of Warning). The first ‘One By One’ release with Karin on vocals was the Fight 7” (recorded Oct ’92). There was also the Atrapad@s En El Fascista Planeta Tierra 7” on the Spanish label Víctimas Del Progreso and the Les 40 Ans Du Vieux 7” (with one ‘Sedition’ track) – recorded at a farmhouse somewhere near Tours, France, both in 1994.

‘One By One’ (with an attentative Hazel on the L); pic courtesy of Karl Penando

For info on the starting ‘Dreft’ see: 89-07-09. I think by then they had already evolved from grind to death-metal… Can’t remember if U.J. was in the band at that time…

Brob

I was at the old V.V. when ‘One By One’ and ‘Sedition’ toured. And later at one or two festivals?! Sascha [May] and Gregor [Kanitz] went as well as, with some other people from Düsseldorf. Only thing I recall at once is the long yet comfortable train-trip with them cheap Belgian 6-trips group-tickets for the local/short-distance trains. Dead cheap really. The lot of us were still pupils/students and could ride free to the border.

Roland, autonomous centre Mülheim (Germany)

I am actually not sure whether I have been at this gig. Actually, I think our first trips were to Liège – I am sure I saw the lot there. We only knew about what was happening in Liège or Ieper because Gregor started his distro and dealt with Alain from Nabate & Bruno from Ieper. Otherwise, no info would come over to us. Düsseldorf and the Ruhr-area were pretty much dead in the first half of the 1990s. Occasionally, we could get Gregor’s mother’s car and took the ride to Liège. The [railway] GoPass would come into play later, for the longer journeys to Flanders. Dead cheap it was indeed: a 10-ride card costed about 30 Euro and that would be valid for journeys between any two Belgian stations. Problem for us: making the transition from Aachen to any first station in Belgium. I guess we did anything: hitchhiking to Welkenraedt, watching the conductor and try not to pay until Verviers, pretending to sleep until Liège. Eventually, we would have to get out at Liège to get a GoPass anyway. Things became a bit easier when Klumpi started an affair with Gratien from Gent, because she would always have a Pass to share. But very soon, people from the Düsseldorf-area came over quite a lot and there would have been always one or two cars to go to Ieper. But I bet I didn’t come to the V.V. in 1992 yet.

Sascha May

I have some video of ‘Sedition’ playing at the V.V. I think (an old Hi 8 tape that I am in the process of getting put onto DVD). It was our first escapade into Europe and I can remember it was nothing like we had experienced before, then we got woken in the night with cops with guns demanding our passports and lots of craziness that followed. I will get the whole story of the night and get it posted!!! [C’mon Billy!!!]

Billy Steele

Me and Jane [Graham; Shag Stamp zine & ‘Witchknot’] were together for 4 years from about 1990, we came over with ‘Sedition’/‘One By One’ and they played Ieper, Hasselt, Liège and probably some other places. We also stayed in Liège and Gent (with Leffe) while the bands went on to Germany.

Russ Snell, ‘Stalingrad’ guitarist

This was the first time the bands toured together, so it must have been the one with ‘Sedition’ in a crazy bus called Amyerbus, driven by Angus Buchan [The guestbook mentions ‘Fazzy’…]. They got refused entry to Switzerland, Arjen [van der Meulen; Groninger who organised quite a few tours] got arrested (that happened a few times back then ) and … I got other memories but we toured a few times in a short time and I get them mixed up…

Sned

I’m the Angus that used to be in the band ‘Glue’ and also drove for ‘Quarantine’ / ‘Scatha’ a few times. We have indeed met more than once and also had some correspondence. [Brob: I’d mixed the 2 Angus-es …]

Angus McPhee

We had a nice dinner with the blokes of ‘Sedition’ & ‘One By One’ upstairs at the old Vort’n. Our line-up was probably still the one from the demo with myself on vocals, Erwin & Sammy on guitars & ‘Narre’ on drums.

Kris ‘Mosh’, ‘Dreft’

This was the day before they played in Hasselt [92-08-30 @‘De Hazelaar’] and a week later they were in Liège [92-09-11]…

Ralf Leesen

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…