97-10-28 Hellkrusher – [Boycot] – Insane Youth – Disbeer

Another show organised by Michael ‘Mike’ Maes…

‘Hellkrusher’ (anarcho-crust-punk from Newcastle) were touring again… They also played Belgian dates in Deurne (Antwerp), Leuven & Tessenderlo. They played a couple of times earlier (93-04-04 & 93-11-21) but the line-up had changed by then. In December ’96 they had recorded for the Doomsday Hour LP (Skuld releases/Profane Existence) with regulars ‘Scotty’ Ian Scott (guitar) & Alastair ‘Ali’ Lynn  (vocals), the old drummer Ian Curry, second guitarist ‘Scoot Gladok Von Stickleback’ (also in ‘Doom’/‘Extinction Of Mankind’) & Rob on bass.

‘‘Hellkrusher’ [1 = Scotty & Curry – 2 = Ali, Rob & Scoot – 3 = Ali & Rob – 4 = Rob] (source unkown)

‘Disbeer’, a crusty metal-punk band from Auch (France), were: Fred ‘Utopia’ Jourdan ‘the bomber’ (drums; ex ‘Enola Gay’ & ‘Vomit Yourself’), ‘the hammer’ (bass) and Michel Cebrian ‘the motherfucker’ (guitar/vocals; ex ‘Enola Gay’, also Reality Of War zine). Fred & Michel had been at the V.V. with ‘Enola Gay’ (95-11-05); ‘Vomit Yourself’ played on 95-02-11 an dthey would come back with ‘Disbeer’ once more (99-09-11). They had recorded for the Beer Drinkers & Hellraisers LP a few months before (March ‘97) that would come out on Panx recs…

‘Boycot’ & ‘Insane Youth’ released a split-7” in 1997…

‘Insane Youth’ were from the Sint-Niklaas area but hung out in Ghent a lot so they became mates. I liked what they were doing (musically and attitude-wise) so I did an interview for Profane Existence with them. It wasn’t their first time at the Vort’n Vis: 94-09-16 & 94-10-22 – in the original line-up: Steve ‘Stiv’ Descamps (vocals), Thomas ‘Tomaz’ Van Rumst (bass), Jan ‘Fons’ Wuytack and Tim De Baere (guitar) – and 95-09-16 & 96-05-19 with Stef De Leersnijder (ex ‘Corpus Christi’) on second guitar. They also played 98-02-13 and continued until about 1999. Steve & Stef did their first recordings with their new band ‘Visions Of War’ in December ’98.

‘Boycot’ from Alkmaar (The Netherlands) – Jeroen Maas (bass), Pim Bakker (vocals; ex ‘C.K.N.’), Lennaert Roomer (guitar), Billy Kuiper (vocals) & Taco Rietveld (drums) – had played here a couple of times already too (96-09-20 & 97-05-18)… They gained my repsect for speakin’ out against commerciality in the HC/punk scene (e.g. with the Only Stupid Bastards Help Epitaph 7” that they released through Axiome prods in 1995). But apparently they didn’t play that day.

Brob

I think I remember ‘Disbeer’ actually… I have photos from this tour… We played in a cellar somewhere with ‘Chaos Bastard’. [Clockwork, in Leuven]. Someone from ‘Hiatus’ was there. At the V.V. we taught Stef the Newcastle dialect… Geordie…which he still uses whenever I meet him. My wife came with us on this tour and there are photos of myself/my wife/Stef and Annabel.

‘Scotty’ Scott

Billy Kuiper, ‘Boycot’ vocalist: Our archives tell we didn’t play the V.V. that they…

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

98-04-18 Oi Polloi – Concrete – [Hellkrusher] – Link – Ulrike’s Dream – Hellcorn

Another “Ceaceless Suffocation festival”… The next day (98-04-19) Infekcja (Pol), Sarah (Fra), Enough! (Pol), Cornucopia (Bel) & Muggles (Bel) were on the bill…

Was the fest organised by Wouter Biesemans (the intern who did 97-02-28&03-01 VV Doe-Wat dagen and can be seen on the photo, on the side of the stage)? Probably not… The poster refers to Michael Maes and the other ‘shitworkers’ that day were Jan Claus & Inge Cappoen.

In ‘Oi Polloi’ were – I thought probably the same line-up as a few months before, 97-12-26 – vocalist Deek Allan (of course) & Calum Mackenzie (bass) (which I recognise on the photo), and guitarist Ricky ‘Zodiac’ Olsen; the drummer is not Chris ‘Wheelchair’ Willsher (Ruptured Ambitions distro; also in ‘The Bus Station Loonies’) – as Calum suggests but Chris denies – so I’m guessing it’s ‘The Love Doctor’ Ade Crawford (ex ‘Satanic Malfunctions’).

‘Oi Polloi’ (photo by Michael Maes)

Also a second show with the Scots for ‘Link’ in a few months time (97-12-26)… Michael Maes (guitar), Inge Cappoen (vocals), Greg ‘Briko’ (bass) and a ‘Juju’ Julien De Jonckheere (drums).

‘Concrete’, from Rome, had played the V.V. already on 95-08-19. They played aggressive, dark (post-)HC. They were: Cristiano D’Innocenti (drums; also ‘Comrades’, ‘Los Vaticanos’) a.k.a. ‘Capoccia’ or ‘Nerone 666’, ‘Orko’ Cristiano Fini (guitar; also ‘Comrades’), ‘Fucking Bastard’ Giorgio Gregorio ‘Greg’ Luciani (bass; also ‘Comrades’), Matteo Fadighenti (guitar) and Tommaso ‘Tommy’ Garavini (vocals; tommasogaravini.com). This was just a few months before they recorded the Nunc Scio Tenebris Lux CD (out on Paolo Petralia’s SOA recs). They already had a split-tape out with ‘With Love’, a self-titled 7” & the 10” Patior Ergo Sum (SOA recs; ’94), the Sescenti Sexaginta Sex 7” (on Nicola Olivieri’s Halley recs; ‘96) and a split-7” with ‘Antisgammo’…

‘Ulrike’s Dream’, from Leuven, started February ’97 when ‘Het Preekgestoelte’ split up but bassist-changes held them from gigging a lot. I think here they were: Anton Meeus (drums), vocalists ‘Sapé’ Sebastiaan Putseys (Reflex & Wolfpack recs) & Jeroen Verbeeck – later replaced by Magalie & Saar, Hans (guitar), Daan (guitar; nowadays in ‘The League of MentalMen’) and Erik (bass). They recorded a demo (Burn The European Swastika) a month before this gig and did a DIY 7” (If It Leads… It Bleeds) which was recorded by Bruno ‘Sloef’ Mastyn in July 2000. They played grindcore and sung political lyrics; some compared them with ‘Disaffect’ and early ‘Conflict’…

Some more history: “Somewhere in 1997/1998 Anton and Hans were looking for a new bass-player. They asked Erik to join ‘Ulrikes Dream’. Later Johan sung for a while. After three times or so, ‘Sapé’ and Jeroen came on vox. Daan joined the guitar-squad. We played a couple of gigs: some were brilliant, some were awful. Every band has these kinds of moments. We recorded our first demo-tape in 1998. It was called Burn, Burn, Burn the European Swastika!. The sound-quality wasn’t perfect but it had a cool booklet an it sounded grind. [raw and messy] It *had* to sound grind: it was recorded in a sixteenth century basement under a grotty punk-hole [Clockwork] full of drunks and drop-outs. It was great.”

Anton went on to play for ‘The Usual Suspects’ (anarcho ska-dub-reggae-punk; also with Hans) & ‘Cop On Fire’…

‘Hellcorn’ wasn’t announced on the poster but they were mentioned in the V.V. notes… They might’ve replaced ‘Hellkrusher’? They played their first gig at the V.V. a couple of months before (98-02-28). They was a local band (Poperinge) with guitarist Noam Sohier (nowadays in ‘Netra’), Angelo Santy on drums, Tony Stamper playing bass and Nathan Floor singing…

Brob

We didn’t make the all-dayer with ‘Oi Polloi’. The van broke down before we got out of Newcastle…

Scotty, ‘Hellkrusher’

‘Hellcorn’ replaced ‘Hellkrusher’, indeed…

Noam Sohier

I recall ‘Ulrike’s Dream’ played for 20-25 people (a lot of French crusties) because most didn’t have the money and it was early on a Sunday (I think) [18^th was a Saturday…]. I remember that there was vanilla-flavoured soy-milk that we got into for a while. We just played the old V.V. this one time. I believe that we played with ‘Link’ on Sunday but it’s too long time ago. I do recall that ‘Link’ sounded like ‘Nausea’ at the time. It was also then that we got the appreciated proposal of Saar (R.I.P.) to come and sing for us.

Oh, and we definitely appreciated the french-fries place nearby that carried a variety of vegetarian products thanks to the V.V. visiters.

I also saw ‘Doom’ and ‘Oi Polloi’ play at the V.V. … most probably in 97 and/or 98. But I also missed some great bills, that’s for sure.

Anton Meeus

I especially remember the fanatstic sleeping-attic. And we befriended the ‘Concrete’ guys there. Erik Minnen [‘Cornucopia’] and myself travelled around with them on their following tour. Phil Merckx must’ve been there too at that festival.

I just had gotten into punk/HC and was often just impressed with the the scene; hanging around, meeting new people, laughing,… Sometimes gigs were just a side-issue to the social aspect.

‘Oi Polloi’ was a true dance-party. Always a good atmosphere, non-violent, ladies and gents together on the dance-floor. ‘Concrete’ was also a fantastic band.

Jeroen Verbeeck

Vague recollections about this a concert where ‘Sarah’ (playing bass with a fiddlestick!!!) played the next day… Great atmosphere in the old barn. ‘Disorder’-fans shouting “Fuck Your Nationality” at ‘Oi Polloi’ because they played a song about over the preservation of their celtic heritage. Polish distros sellig tapes and self-made patches. I also remember ‘Concrete’ playing solid metal-like screamo brachten. Took me a step closer to the DIY scene that is still dear to me…

Daan, ‘Ulrike’s Dream’ guitarist

‘Ulrike’s Dream’ is still alive and kicking. The band exists for 20 years in 2017. We recorded an LP – Anarchie In Leuven. Nowadays all our hits are sung in Dutch and when we used to play grindcore, it’s now more of a mix of punk, metal & crust. Our previous record Van 9 Tot 5 came out in 2011. That was still with Kim singing. Nowadays Hans does the vocals.

Hans & Anton gained their first experiences ever regarding the production of noise in ‘Het Preekgestoelte’ [pulpit]. After that they started ‘Ulrike’s Dream’. They also founded ‘The Usual Suspects’. And after that ‘Death Church’, a ‘Rudimentary Peni’ tribute-band. And I have been in ‘Les Baudouins Morts’ and the hiphop-sensation ‘Flahaut’. That covers our side-projects…

Erik, ‘Ulrike’s Dream’ bassist

From the UD20 blog: ‘Concrete’ had played @ JH Clockwork [Leuven] not long before. Some ‘U.D.’ members were big fans and played their 10 inch record on a daily basis. Jeroen had left ‘U.D.’ but he sang a couple of tunes so he could see the other bands for free. Mich came along to sing the ‘Dirt’-cover. People at the entrance noticed the large amount of singers ‘Ulrike’s Dream’ had and told them this was more than enough. The band played over the guitar-amp of Michael, ‘Link’s guitar-player; he was the organiser of this show and the sound-guy. It was the first show with a “big” amplifier. He warned that the guitar was way too loud. But of course the band was convinced that there was no such thing as “too loud” in punk-music. This turned out to be a mistake. The band just blamed the P.A. for the band-sound afterwards but learned from it. ‘Ulrike’s Dream’ line-up here was: ‘Sapé’ (vocals), Jeroen (vocals), Mich (guest-vocals), Hans (guitar), Erik (bass), Anton (drums)

There was a lot of pogoing going on during the ‘Oi Polloi’ set. ‘U.D.’-members demonstrated the art of silly dancing once again.

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

93-11-21 Hellkrusher – Dirt – Chaos UK – Corpus Christi – Last Years Youth

‘Words In Season’, from France, were announced in a newsletter but didn’t make it on the actual ‘bill’… No idea who they were…

‘Hellkrusher’ had been at the V.V. earlier that year (93-04-04) with ‘Dirt’. The band had a different line-up because Ian ‘Scotty’ Scott wasn’t in the band between mid ‘93-’96; he only did the earlier show. Also drummer Ian Curry had left (read more below). But they still did the recordings (Sep. ‘93) of the Fields Of Blood 7” out on Skuld Releases (’94). Besides bassist Gary ‘Gus’ Raine and singer Ali Lynn, I’m guessing the temporary replacements Steven ‘Moy’ Morrow (guitar) and Martin ‘Hairy’ Harrison (drums; ex ‘Energetic Krusher’) played here (they also toured the US with ‘Dirt’). (See ‘Hellkrusher’s history) In the French zine Réagir (’93) Ali announced a split-EP with ‘Dirt’ on Fobia recs (Fobia Duros Sentimientos, from Madrid) but I don’t think that ever happened…

Ali ‘Hellkrusher’ (pic by Wim De Leersnijder)

‘Dirt’ were touring extensively. This was their 3^rd time here that year (after 93-04-04 & 93-05-01). As indicated before the line-up was that of the Feast Or Famine demo (recorded Feb. ‘93): ‘Deno’ (vocals), Gary ‘Gaz’ Buckley (guitar), Karen (lead guitar), Mick (bass) and Stef (drums).

photos by Wim De Leersnijder (1-2) & Karl Penando (3)

‘Chaos UK’ (from Bristol) had had to cancel an earlier gig at the V.V. (read my story: 91-10-05). Beckie Gibbons says she was in ‘Chaos UK’ between the beginning of 1991 to 1993. In ’93 the Secret Men 7” was released. The recordings were with Adrian ‘Chaos’ Rice (vocals; taking over from ‘Mower’), ‘Gabba’ (guitar), Pat ‘Devilman’ Evans (drums; replacing Chuck) and ‘RamRaider’ Marvin (bass). The One Hundred Per Cent Two Fingers In The Air Punk album was with Beckie playing bass. She didn’t play here though. Both records also featured ‘Nausea’s guitarist Victor ‘Venom’ Dominicis and he played here aswell…

gnarly bunch ;-)

photos by Kurt Van Den Eynden (1-2) & Wim De Leersnijder (3)

‘Corpus Christi’, who’d just done a surprise-appearance supporting ‘Disrupt’ (93-10-31), presented themselves again: Bram De Cock (drums), Peter ‘Coli’ Vancolen (vocals), Stef De Leersnijder (bass; later guitar when Koen ‘Siesele’ Lammens joined on bass), the very first guitarist Bart ‘Goemie’ Goeminne was replaced here by Tom Van Laere. The tracks for their split-7” (with ‘Força Macabra’) – Ecologische Doem on Genet recs – were recorded 93-05-08 and mixed 93-06-22 at Cat’s in Brugge, with Stefaan on bass and ‘Goemie’ on guitar.

photos by Wim De Leersnijder

No recollection of Last Years Youth… There’s some music of them on YouTube (Oi/punk-rock). They have some tapes (The Walls Come Crashing Down – Gobbin On The World – Safety Pins, Black Leather Jackets) and a CD from ’97 entitled Yah Boo Fuck You. An old interview (’99) on the www tells me they were from the Sheffield area and the band consisted of ‘D-Generate’ (guitar), Andy ‘Vacant’ (drums), Owen Money (bass; later replaced by Jake ‘the-man-who-can’) and ‘BP’ (vocals).

Brob

Yep, guitarist Tom Van Laere replaced Bart Goeminne that night.

Bram De Cock, drummer of ‘Corpus Christi’

I played twice at the Vort’n Vis with ‘Corpus Christi’ [94-02-05 & 94-09-16] but not here… It was indeed still with Stef on bass and ‘Goemie’ on guitar (I only saw them once it this configuration).

Koen ‘Siesele’ Lammens

Ali said ‘Hellkrusher’ were shit at this gig as we had a poor drummer at the time, luckily I wasn’t in the line-up to witness but bet it was an awesome gig. Myself and Curry left mid ‘93, we couldn’t do the USA tour so stand-ins were found and we just thought fuck it and formed ‘Aftermath’; I re-joined end of ‘95…Well, basically Ali didn’t have a band so ‘Aftermath’ became ‘Hellkrusher’ with ‘Scoot’… Read all about it in Ian Glasper’s book [Armed With Anger: How UK Punk Survived The Nineties] …

Scotty ‘Hellkrusher’

The show we played with ‘Chaos UK’ was incredible! Absolutely packed, what a great time.

Gary ‘Gus’ Raine, ‘Hellkrusher’

I made that poster! It was one of Stef”s very first gigs… Great memories !!! :-) I think Ali is too hard on the band…. I remember it being a great gig!

Wim De Leersnijder

I was the tour-manager for ‘Chaos UK’ for their 1992 European tour…

Bear Hackenbush

I was at this gig with ‘Hellkrusher’, ‘Last Years Youth’, ‘Dirt’, ‘Corpus Christi’ and ‘Chaos UK’. It was with Chaos on vocals and it sucked harder than a black hole… I didn’t like their silly cider-punk. I have something in my notes about ‘Last Year’s Youth’ at that show… I never heard of that band since then and to be honest, I don’t remember them at all…

Tom Van Hauwaert, ‘4 Minute Warning’

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

visiters from Lille (France): Yannick ‘Pikpik’ & Karine (Stop/Réagir zine)

Jan ‘Doomy’ Claus commenting on his sleep-over with ‘Chaos UK’ (PS2: “Damn what are they blowing in the air? I think I was stoned, because I saw a walking flower-garden (or was that Gratiën?”)

additions wellcome!…

93-04-04 Hellkrusher – Dirt (photos)

More on this concert: 93-04-04 Dirt – Hellkrusher – Instigators – Crisis Of Society

Photos (by Yannick) scanned by Ian ‘Scotty’ Scott:

Curry – Ali – Scotty (Pedro & Arnaud W. in the crowd)

Gus (under the watchful eye of Siesele – on the L)

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more pics of the ’93 ‘Hellkrusher’ & ‘Dirt’ tour (courtesy of Scotty):

Stef ‘Dirt’  …desolation (probably the allyway next to the V.V.)

‘Hellkrusher’ & ‘Dirt’ in their rusty transit outside the V.V.

Gus, Karen & Scotty somewhere in Germany…

93-04-04 Dirt – Hellkrusher – Instigators – Crisis Of Society

‘Crisis Of Society’, a political hardcore band from Dutch Limburg were Dennis ‘Crustbus’ Niesing (drums), Maurice ‘Mories Vies’ Truijens (guitar) & Rolf (vocals); Ferry Krop (bass) says he wasn’t in the band at that time…

I think this was ‘Dirt’s first appearance here after their reformation. ‘Gaz’ wrote about this on their website (gagsdirt.co.uk/dirt/story): “I got a call from Ali of ‘Hellkrusher’. He had heard from friends that me & Deno were working together and made us an offer! He had made some contacts and was booking a small tour for his band. We went along on a kind of low key ‘see how it goes’… It went well for us and we were all fired up! Karen, Mick and Stef were the recruits on guitar, bass and drums.”. That was also the line-up on the Feast Or Famine demo (1993): ‘Deno’ (vocals), Gary ‘Gaz’ (guitar), Karen (lead guitar), Mick (bass) and Stef (drums). ‘Hellkrusher’ also worked with ‘Kleister’ (Oliver Schmid) of Skuld releases (German label) and that lead to the Scent of the Kill EP in 1994 (with ‘Stick’ on drums, Cecile on bass).

‘Dirt’ (pictures courtesy of Annabel De Jonghe)

‘Dirt’ Mick; pic courtesy of Benoit Hanssens

‘Hellkrusher’ were a UK thrash influenced crust-punk band from Newcastle (upon Tyne). In 1992 Neil Robinson had release the Dying For Who 7” on his label Tribal Ware recs. They were Andy – Andrew Turnble (NOT Turnbull who was in the original ‘Instigators’!) – on bass, Ian Curry – who had been in ‘Debauchery’ – on drums, Ian ‘Scotty’ Scott – ex ‘Hellbastard’ – on guitar and Ali Lynn doing vocals (Ali Lee was the guitarist from ‘Hellbastard’). On this tour Gary ‘Gus’ Raine did the bass (also in ‘94).

‘Dirt’ & ‘Hellkrusher’ kicking off their tour in London (with Jules Lowery, 2^nd row on the left)

‘Instigators’ had been here before (92-05-02) and I’d organised some shows for them during the Smurfpunx-days aswell (87-04-03 & 87-12-12). They toured all the time, it seemed… Their melodic hardcore-punk has always been very popular; also thanks to singer Andy ‘Tez’ Turner’s constant PR-ing. The other ‘pillars’ were Simon Mooney (guitars) and Stephen ‘Cuzzy’ Curran (drums). Not sure if Bob Gorlik still did the bass then…?

‘Hellkrusher’ played the Vort’n Vis twice in line-ups I was involved in… I’m sure I only played this one and second time was in ‘97 I think….. This first gig was me, Ali, Gus, Curry… ‘97 was me, Ali, Rob, Scoot, Curry. The other gigs between ‘93-’96, I wasn’t in the band. I think I have the flyer from that first gig and a set of photos, as well as the video [Hellkrusher Ieper ‘93]. This first gig on the tour was with ‘Dirt’ and the ‘Instigators’… I remember because we got there late and ‘Instigators’. I think it was a case of they were just in the area and jumped on the bill…which pissed us off even more as they got there before us yet wouldn’t let us use there gear (which was already set up)…also one of the band walked in on me while I was having a shit…unforgettable…

‘Scotty’ Scott

Yeah, I played for ‘Hellkrusher’ twice (I think [See also 93-11-21]) at the Vort’n Vis. Both times were bad ass! Everyone was real friendly and helpful. Definitely one of the best punk venues in the world! I met Ali and Scotty through my other band at the time, ‘Armed Relapse’: we played with HK and they asked me to do some art for them (Buildings For The Rich lp cover), then they asked me to play bass – which I jumped at, since they were one of my favourite bands. After the Euro tour Scotty and Curry left; I went onto guitar and we went to America. I decided to stay in the U.S. and moved to Pittsburgh. I played a few shows with ‘Aus-Rotten’, then moved to South Florida – been here ever since. I’m a tattoo-artist in West Palm Beach… I’m still in touch with Scotty, working on some new art for HK – first punk art in allmost 20 years! I also played guitar on ‘Dirt’s U.S. tour…

Gary ‘Gus’ Raine

Curry played drums; I joined as 2^nd guitarist late ’94: Scotty wasn’t able to tour then…

‘Scoot’

I wasn’t in ‘Crisis Of Society’ at that time, only joined later…. I was on the 7” [Freedom’s Luxury] though…

Ferry Krop

The line-up of ‘Crisis Of Society’ at the Vort’n Vis was our last one ever: Dennis on drums, Maurice playing guitar, Gaston bass and Marco singing… We had to start quite early and the rest of the bands hadn’t arrived so the majority of the audience stayed outside. When everyone finally got in, it was rather packed. I had been at the V.V. when ‘Feeding The Fire’ played so I’d gotten to know some nice people there…

Dennis Niesing

‘Hellkrusher’ & friends from the Lille area: Karine (Stop zine) – Benoit – Scotty – Arnaud Waterblez – Yannick Moulière

some more pictures of this gig: 93-04-04 Hellkrusher (photos)

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

Ali & Scotty (‘Hellkrusher’)

Curry & Gus (‘Hellkrusher’) + Mick (‘Dirt’)

Gary’s sarcasm…

‘Instigators’ impression of their gig

additions wellcome!…