Michael ‘Link’ Maes & Inge Cappoen were listed as ‘shitworkers’ that day… Both of them were in ‘Link’ (guitar & vocals). They were locals so they acted as ‘surprise-act’… See also 97-09-12, 97-12-26 & 98-04-18.
‘Detestation’, an anarcho-punk/crust band (from Portland, Oregon), started in July 1995 with Kelly Halliburton (bass; ex ‘Resist’ [92-06-13], ‘Defiance’ [95-10-14], ‘Masskontrol’ [95-11-05], etc.), Ty Smith (drums; ex ‘Resist’), Adam (guitar) and Saira M. Huff (vocals). Later Andy joined to play the drums and Brian Hopper (also ‘Defiance’) guitar. They were supposed to tour in August-September 1996 but that didn’t happen because of mis-communication between the band and Martin Valasek (Malarie recs). On the 1998 tour (organised by Kelly) the band consisted of Saira, Kelly, Brian and drummer Dominic Nigro (later in ‘War Machine’ with Brian & Kelly).
There is a rare recording of ‘Detestation’ from a gig in Malmö, Sweden (98-09-21). Their set lasts for 29 minutes. It was bootleged by Punk Art Riot on tape… There’s also a live split-tape benefit for the Kopi squat in Berlin with ‘Detestation’ (recorded in Karlsruhe in 1998) and ‘6000 Crazy’ (with ex ‘So Much Hate’ vocalist Gunnar Nuven, recorded in Duisburg in 1998). That was done by Trująca Fala from Poland. The Europe 98 7” on Consensus Reality (Kelly’s own label) contained a live and a studio-recording on one side. It was meant to be a flexi-disc but the company who was supposed the press it, refused because of “blasphemy”.
Kelly – Saira – Dominic – Brian
In 1996 they’d put out (on Consensus Reality) the Unheard Cries tape and a 7” entitled The Inhuman Condition. A bunch more vinyl followed (mostly split’s; some on the A’dam label Wicked Witch recs ran by Edwin Feenstra). In ’98 Skuld releases & Profane Existence released the self-titled LP (recorded June ’97 with Andy) and a 7” called Blood Of The Gods (recorded June ’98 with Dominic)…
Nowadays Saira is a fashion-designer. She played bass in the shock punk band ‘Faggot’ and was in some others. Read this interview with Saira in MRR.
Since ‘Detestation’ did part of their tour with ‘Cress’ (from Lowton/Warrington, south of Wigan), I had the idea they played here too. But no… They played ‘K13’ squat in Ghent (98-10-22). Just to let you know what some missed: The band evolved out of the 80s punk band ‘The Deformed’. Members were: Adrian ‘Joe’ Oakes (vocals), David/Dave Bloor (bass), Nev Shaw (guitar), Pete(r) Bloor (guitar & vocals), Ste(ve) (keyboards & vocals. They used a drum-machine (Hal2000). Chris Kpa did lighting & tapes. ‘Sned’& Alec put some of their stuff out on Flat Earth recs: the Monuments LP (1997) and a split-10” with ‘Doom’ (1998; a benefit for the McLibel campaign). QQRYQ prods also put out a tape with the Polish ‘Post Regiment’ that year… And in August ’98 the band recorded for the From Violence To Consumerism 7” (released on Worried Sheep recs). There’s also a benefit-tape circulating with their demo-recordings and live material from a gig in Leuven (97-10-31).
‘Hellcorn’ (from Poperinge, near Ieper) were Noam Sohier (guitarist; nowadays ‘Netra’), Angelo Santy (drums), Tony Stamper (bass) & Nathan Floor (vocals)… They had been on a V.V. bill already (98-02-28) and also played on 98-04-18.
Brob
Nathan wasn’t in the band anymore then, I did the vocals. The day that ‘Detestation’ played it was cold inside the barn; the stage was on the right against the wall in stead of in front. The night ended in a disco-party. Lots of people from Lille (France) were there…
Noam Sohier
I don’t remember if ‘Detestation’ actually played there??? It was so long ago and that ‘98 tour was over 10 weeks long…. I would love to contribute but I can’t recollect the show, sadly (and I wasn’t drinking at the time!!! haha). I think I was just there for a show with ‘Masskontrol’ in ‘95…but maybe we did play there… I honestly don’t remember…
Saira M. Huff, ‘Detestation’ vocalist (also did Diminutive Rage zine)
I think another band, called ‘Link’, played as well that night, according to my records. I remember the gig, mostly because there was almost nobody there! It was totally empty and we were so bored that we actually played an extra set from our side band with our roadie, Frank, called ‘Final Massakre’. That was me playing drums, Hopper playing guitar, Frank singing and Saira playing bass. This was the last show of our 10 week tour in Europe (and the last show that ‘Detestation’ ever did…ever!), so we had a lot of fun just messing around and dancing to the bad disco music that someone put on. The next day Saira and I dropped off the rest of the guys (drummer Dominic + guitarist Brian) at the ferry in Calais to catch their flights home from London, while we went back to Germany. We were planning on traveling in Europe for the next six months but we ended up staying at Köpi squat in Berlin, ending our 5½ years relationship with each other, and I started a new life in Germany…but that’s a history and adventure story for another time! Ha, ha…
‘Cress’ didn’t play. We toured with them from October 12 until October 21, mainly Germany and the Czech Republic, but we took separate ways when we went to Italy/Greece and they went home to England.
Kelly Halliburton, ‘Detestation’ bassist
Yes, it was the last gig of a 10 week tour for ‘Detestation’. We got insanely tight despite our best efforts to play shitty. This one came a couple weeks after a 6 week tour of the US and Canada… Back to the Belgium show. I don’t remember much either: it was dusty ‘n dark, and I didn’t have my glasses. The set was flawless I’m sure.
Frank, Kelly & Saira all had these studded jackets. I remember Frank putting a studded coat on me and I drummed for what?… ‘Atrocious Madness’ or ‘Final Massacre’ or someone’s project. I just faked it. We were goofing around with people who wanted us to keep playing music. We played ‘Black Sabbath’ too. It was loose for some reason
I don’t remember it – being empty but goofy. There were folks but they were spread out. I remember the stage being loose and it was fun ‘cause it was our last show. The last one I wrote about in my journal was Torino, then we played Dijon then Ieper We were all happy to be going home but also extremely grateful for how nice folks were. I learned so much and passed it on. Started doin’ lots of political work after that, did an info-shop/venue that lasted for 14 years. Taught radical hers & history…
My friend [roadie?] Chris Friedman probably has video-footage…
Dominic Nigro, ‘Detestation’ drummer
Yeah… ‘Link’ also played… Unexpectedely… And we were very drunk… What I recall about this gig is that it took place in the ‘barn’. Not too many people but the sets were great. ‘Hellcorn’ played first; followed by ‘Detestation’. There was a high alcohol-consumption that night: by myself and others. And after they pushed us [‘Link’] on stage do play a set. I could hardly hold my guitar. And when that was over, there was an ‘after-party’ where ‘Detestation’s singer played a few tapes with 80s stuff and disco. Everyone was dancing and had fun. Even Kelly (bassist of ‘Detestation’) took a chance on the dance-floor. According to Saira it was the first time he did something like that…
Michael Maes, ‘Link’
additions wellcome!…
Vort'n Vis in the 90s 