98-09-19 Doom – Oi Polloi – Link – Outrage – Sarah – Alcatraz – Filth Of Mankind – Reller

Intro: 98-09-18&19 10^th Leedfestival

[all pics here by Henk Loobuyck; except ‘Link’ courtesy of Michael Maes]

Both ‘Oi Polloi’ (Deek Allan was accompanied by Calum Mackenzie – bass / Ade Crawford – drums / Ricky White – guitar) & ‘Doom’ had been here several times before (The Scots even less than half a year: 98-04-18); no need to introduce them. ‘Oi Polloi’s 7” THC was recorded right after this. ‘Doom’ had recorded for the split-10” with ‘Cress’ (out on Sned & Alec’s Flat Earth recs) in March with Chris Gascoigne (bass), ‘Stick’ (drums), ‘Bri’ & Denis Boardman (guitar) & Wayne Southworth (vocals; R.I.P.).

‘Doom’

‘Oi Polloi’

‘Filth Of Mankind’ (Gdansk, Poland) hadn’t been able to play the year before because of the general cancellation of the festival (see 97-09-20). This time they were invited back…

This is from their website (www.filthofmankind.nsm.pl): >>The organiser of the Leed Festival asked us (and ‘Money Drug’ to come over and do 3-4 shows with ‘Doom’. Unfortunately, a few days before we left, it turned out there were only 2; and when we got to Ieper we were told that there was only going to be this one at the fest. Bummer! Even before the journey it was clear that Maciek [Kowalski; vocals] couldn’t travel along, Milosz [Gassan; guitar] & ‘Balon’ [Paweł Szymański; drums] took the roaring name upon them – off course an enormous mental task. We played early on Saturday; the first part of the V.V. hall started to fill up. Milosz wanted to get things started but – still numb of the night before (alcohol & co) – had to look really hard to find the right strings. Once tuned, it seemed another key than the rest, so he started anew. That took about 10 minutes (if not more)… When we finally managed to get going, things were OK and the audience seemd to like it…<<

I believe the others in the band were Lazej/Anders Storm (later Michał Jędrejek) on bass and Pawel ‘Scream’ Rzóska (guitar). The band did a 7” (Czas Końca Wieku [End Of The Century]; ‘99) and an LP (The Final Chapter; 2000) on Scream recs. Their music was described as “Apocalyptic Crust” (dark, heavy and metal-influenced)…

‘Filth Of Mankind’

The band ‘Link’ had people from the Ieper/Ypres & Lille (France) area: Vort’n Vis ‘shitworkers’ Michael Maes (guitar) & his partner Inge Cappoen (vocals), and Greg ‘Briko’ (bass) & ‘Juju’ Julien Dejonckheere (drums). After a couple of demos their 1^st CD The Last Sacrifice (recorded with a drum-computer) was released in 2000. The music: “brutal metallic HC with a serious crust-punk edge & raging female vocals”. One reviewer actually believed Inge was really from Sweden… They’d played the V.V. a few times already (97-09-12, 97-12-26, 98-04-18; those last 2 times also with ‘Oi Polloi’).

‘Link’

‘Sarah’ were Bretons “fighting for their future, their language”. Their address stated “Breizh via France”. Breizh is the Breton name for Brittany (Bretagne, a region in the North-West of France). They wrote: “The French laws are improper for what is going on in Britttany, e.g. concerning water-pollution, agriculture,…” but they didn’t see themselves as nationalists: “We are communists.”. They were also a SxE band…“to show people that it is possible to live without drugs or alcohol”. They played hardcore/punk and also did a zine named An Eeunded. This was also their second appearance at the V.V. (after 98-04-19). The band consisted of Fabien Lecuyer (vocals/fiddle), Michaël Genevée (drums/accordion/fiddle), Erwan H. (guibasse/mandoline/piano) & Jérôme Bouthier (bass). They did 2 demos (Herzelomp Betek An Trec’h & Latcho Drom) and in 1999 they released Ez Eterninmens (4 track CD).

‘Sarah’

‘Alcatraz’ (from Oulmes/Niort/Poitiers) was the band of Gérome Desmaison (who did the zines Cheval de Troie & J’ai le Regret à la Joie Mélé) and Séverine Rambaud (Acajou zine & Soja Service zine-distribution). She was doing bass/vocals, her brother Thierry ‘Titi’ Rambaud (also ‘Robotnička’) played the drums, Gérome did guitar/vocals, and Laurent ‘Ballon’ Daudin (guitar; ex ‘Peu Être’) & Mickaël ‘Mike’ Ramounet (vocals). Gérome & Laurent were also running a distribution called Le Brun, le Roux Corporation. Mike did Opale distro (together with Stéphanie Courret; nowadays his partner). People called their music emo-core.

‘Alcatraz’

‘Outrage’, from the Herentals area, were Sigi Loots (drums), Steven Van Goubergen (guitar), Ringo Van Dingenen (vocals) and Nico Peeters (bass). This was after their 7” To Terrorize Ear And Mind (“a DIY product distributed by a network of friends”; recorded November ‘97) got out… They had played here a few times before (96-03-24, 96-08-16 & 97-03-01).

‘Outrage’

‘Reller’

‘Reller’ were the guys from ‘Outrage’ (Nico – here vocals, Sigi – drums, Steven – guitar & Ringo – here guitar) with Yannick Daems (vocals; later ‘Vuur’) & An Caers (bass; Nico’s partner at that time).

Brob

‘Peu-être’ have split up but 3 of them and 2 other people have formed an other band: ‘Alcatraz’.

Mike Ramounet, personal communication Dec. ‘96

I was proud to be able to play in that fabulous place that was the V.V. I’d already been there as a spectator and I never thought I’ld play there one day. To me the Vort’n Vis was like ABC No Rio. I remember we were wel recieved by everyone. This was a punk festival so there were a lot of people.

Mickaël ‘Mike’ Ramounet, ‘Alcatraz’ vocalist

I don’t remember much about the festivaI where I played with my band ‘Alcatraz’ except for the ‘Oi Polloi’ and ‘Outrage’ concerts (great!). Nico from ‘Outrage’ was very nice. We stayed at his place and I think it’s him who brought us to a woman whose job was producing great tofu. We had some of course :-).

Séverine Rambaud, ‘Alcatraz bassist’

We were and are always close to Breton and Basque separatist circles. Our bassist has been in prison for 2 years, accused of terrorism (he was acquitted). We did over 100 concerts in various countries…

Fabien Lecuyer; ‘Sarah’

That was my first performance ever! I remember that people from France video-taped the gig but I’ve never seen the footage.

An Caers

We did indeed also play with ‘Reller’… I Recently found back an old demo…trying to digitalise that… I know the ‘Alcatraz’ guys filmed our performance…

Nico Peeters, ‘Outrage’ bassist

The atmosphere was rather relaxed, contrary to HC ’98 in August. Only a few idiotic brawls outside the Vort’n Vis.

Stef Goos; personal communication Oct ‘98

I remember this concert. One of the few posters I kept…with the old ‘Link’ logo I drew…

‘Juju’ organised concerts in Lille for more than 10 years with his association Rock’n’Roll Jihad…

Greg, ‘Link’ bassist

I played there too.

Michał Jędrejek; ‘Filth Of Mankind’

Our line-up here was Miłosz, Michał, ‘Balon’ and myself.

Pawel ‘Scream’ Rzóska/Krzykowski

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

2000-11-11 Link – Edgecrusher – Forcible

The VV notes mention that night the bar was manned by Frederik Plets & Nick Rebry (‘Retaliate’ guitarists) and Davy Bauwen… The profits went to Solar recs.

‘Edgecrusher’ was a band that rehearsed in the Vort’n Vis. Their vocalist was Davy Bauwen, a V.V. ‘shitworker’ (volunteer) that organised quite a few gigs there. They wrote something in the guestbook on 2000-04-22 so this one here might not’ve been there first one… They played “melodic death-metal”. Besides Davy, there was Isaac Delahaye (guitar; also singer in ‘Panopticum’), Jo Decaesteker (guitar), Nico ‘Sientje’ Sinnaeve (drums; replaced by Arian Van Weesenbeek), Frederik ‘Freddy’ Vanhee (bass; replaced by Thijs Lanoye). ‘Freddy’ & ‘Sientje were both ex ‘D.S.A.’ and also played in ‘Retaliate’. The first ‘Edgecrusher’ demo Damnatio Memoriae (recorded by Michael ‘Link’ Maes) was available that year and their second demo Impressions Of Mankind (2002), was with Michael ‘Link’ Maes on drums.

Davy and Freddy ran the label Solar Productions (intended to release an ‘Edgecrusher’ CD?) together. Davy also did Arcane Chaldaeus (a “dark zine, dealing with philosophy, occultism, mythology and other magic darkness”) and a newsletter (in Dutch) entitled Youth Against Society (with philosophical/political items).

‘Forcible’ (also previously in the guestbook on 2000-07-26) was a local thrash-metal band. The above-mentioned Isaac Delahaye (a student at the Rotterdam conservatorium) was also in this band. Besides him there was Matthias Baillieuil (bass/vocals), Michiel Cauwelier (drums) and Phil (guitar). Isaac later played for the Dutch death-metal band ‘God Dethroned’ (and a few others). They did a demo (Imprisoned Redemption of Disorder) in ’98.

‘Forcible’

‘Link’; another local band with V.V. shitworkers: Inge Cappoen & her partner Michael Maes (vocals & guitar). They played many times since they started around ‘97… I think bassist Greg ‘Briko’ and drummer ‘Juju’ Julien De Jonckheere had left by then. Their 1^st CD The Last Sacrifice was recorded in 2000, with a drum-computer and Geoffrey Geeraert on bass. Geoffrey & drummer Michiel (both in ‘Abrogate’) had joined the band beginning 2000 but the latter already left  after a few months. The band continued with a drum-computer for a few years… (Read Michael’s ‘history-lesson’: 97-09-12)

‘Link’ (The Last Sacrifice line-up)

Brob

Isaac joined later on. The original line-up was with ‘Sientje’, Jo and myself.

Frederik ‘Freddy’ Vanhee, ‘Edgecrusher’ bassist

additions wellcome!…

98-11-14 Detestation – Hellcorn – Link

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!…

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!…

97-12-26 Oi Polloi – Accion Mutante – Link – Holefiller – G.D.B. – D.S.A. – Sorehead

Another gig organised by Michael Maes… With practical help of Inge Cappoen, Jan Claus & Lieve Goemaere.

Besides vocalist and frontman Deek Allan, I believe the band here consisted of bassist Calum Mckenzie (he left to the U.S. in ‘99) and drummer ‘The Love Doctor’ Ade Crawford (ex ‘Satanic Malfunctions’) – see guestbook. Guitarist Ricky ‘Zodiac’ Olsen first appeared on the T.H.C. 7” (Campary recs 1999; with ‘Love Doctor’ – drums, Calum – bass, Deek – vocals, ‘Zodiac’ – guitar), having replaced Matt ‘Keith Chugwin’ Finch in 1997. In 1996 ‘Oi Polloi’ let a French label release their earliest recordings (from ’84) on the Punx’n’Skins EP. They did a lot of touring, which brought them back to the V.V. on 98-04-18 & 98-09-19. And in 1999 a few records – such as the Fuaim Catha LP on Skuld releases (with bassist ‘R. Sole’, drummer Murray Briggs and guitarist ‘Red’ – Brian Tipa ?) & Let the Boots Do the Talking EP (with bassist ‘R. Sole’ drummer ‘Bulbheid’ & guitarist Matt Finch) – came out… Neil Robinson also released the tape It’s Not The Monkey That Need’s It’s Head Examined (Tribal War) to support ‘Oi Polloi’s travels with the Primate Freedom Tour (Summer of ‘99).

‘Accion Mutante’ – from Stuttgart – play aggressive HC/crust-punk (references to ‘Discharge’, ‘Doom’, ‘E.N.T.’). In 1995 they released their 1^st 7” (called Fear) on Skuld releases. The line-up on that was Capde (guitar), Jochen (bass), Frosch & Alexander Rossi (vocals), Dominik (drums, replaced Schmier) and Timo (guitar). In 1998 they did another 7” (Y No Hai Remedio) on the same label: ‘Migge’ (Mike/Michael Schwarz) did the drums and Karsten had replaced Frosch by then. A planned split-7“ with ‘Extinction Of Mankind’ didn´t happen. The band still exist (accion-mutante.com)…

‘Link’ had played their first V.V. gig earlier that year (97-09-12). This local band was (at that time) V.V. ‘shitworker’ Michael Maes (guitar) & his partner Inge Cappoen (vocals) – both had been in ‘Carcer Molochi’ – and the French-men Greg ‘Briko’ on bass and a ‘Juju’ Julien De Jonckheere on drums. They played crust-core-punk and hadn’t really released anything yet…

Around this time ‘Holefiller’ (see 97-02-28) recorded a demo (with the help of Michael Maes, in his attic). These mates (from the Ghent squat-scene) played slow, dark, doom-metal mixed with industrial parts. Sometimes they performed as a combo producing industrial noise, then they’ld call themselves ‘Hellfiller’. The core of the band was Karel Busschop (bass), David Stubbe (drums; ex ‘Neuthrone’) & ‘Leffe’ (guitar; ex ‘Chronic Disease’, ‘Private Jesus Detector’). Their mate Billy did the electronics for ‘Hellfiller’.

Local band ‘Sorehead’ had also performed at the Vort’n Vis before (97-06-27, 97-07-12, 97-10-25) were Laurent ‘Lorre’ Peene (vocals; R.I.P.), Dries Verclyte (bass), Pieter Desmyter (guitar), Pieter Derycke (drums) and Jan Lazeure (guitar). Some said their music was metal-influenced, others disagreed. They did a couple more shows at the V.V. after this…

‘D.S.A.’ (see 97-06-27 & 97-10-25) was another local band that played old-school NY Hardcore. The band consited of Nico Synnaeve (drums), Frederik Vanhee (bass), Maarten Verschaeve (vocals) and a guy called Pieter-Jan (PJ; guitar)…

‘G.D.B.’ (or ‘Chargée G.D.B.’) was a punk-rock band from the Maloka (distro) / Les Tanneries (venue) scene (Dijon, France). They had a few tracks on the Autonomy Not Submission compilation-LP (a benefit for Maloka, on Pariah Rules recs). They also did a few tapes… A later gig planned on 98-06-05 got cancelled…. Band-members were ‘NoFun Leouf’ (guitar), ‘Colas’ (vocals/beatbox; and guitar when ‘NoFun’ left) & ‘Kaos Youki’ (bass).

Brob

Ricky had taken over guitar-duties for ‘Oi Polloi’ by December 97…

Matt Finch

I think this was during a short tour with ‘Oi Polloi’ and ‘Boycot’ perhaps? [Brob: That was the days after: 97-12-27 in Leuven & 97-12-28 in Opwijk] I remember the kitchen, the stage and the sleeping-place under the roof ( with some holes) haha…

‘Accion Mutante’

My best memory was playing with ‘Accion Mutante’ and ‘Oi Polloi’ at the Vort’n Vis in Ieper.

‘Kaos Youki’ (gdb.kaosyouki.net/english.html)

‘G.D.B.’ was ‘Nofun’ on guitar and vocals, me on bass and a drum-machine. It wasn’t a serious band, it was kind of a joke. We both played in the band ‘20 Minutes de Chaos’ from Dijon and at that time our female singer went to England for a few months. So we did ‘G.D.B.’ as a side-project. We existed only for a few months. If I remember correctly, Michael from ‘Link’ organised this gig. The previous day we played in Liège, so we arrived rather tired. We left the day after to Paris even more tired. I think it was the best gig we did with ‘G.D.B.’, mostly because a lot of friends from Lille showed up. I also met new people at this gig that are still very good friends nowadays. So the atmosphere was fun. I remember ‘Oi Polloi’ did a good gig but I mostly remember enjoying ‘Accion Mutante’s concert. I don’t recall that much of the other bands. Afterwards, I spent time chatting with some people from ‘Accion Mutante’ at the bar; also with friends from Lille and some people playing for ‘Link’ that are really good friends now. I almost didn’t sleep that night.

Jean-Christophe of Maloka was our driver…

About Vort’n Vis in general: I started hearing about it in the very early 90s from a friend who was going there regularly. It was sounding a bit like a myth to me: all these bands that I was really into who played there, the DIY scene, etc. Unfortunately when I started to go there a few years later, there were already these ‘arguments’ between crusties and straight-edgers. Which 20 years later sounds rather childish on both sides to me…

In fact ‘Colas’ was supposed to sing for us in the beginning but in the end never got to it. His only participation in the band has been to help us write some lyrics. So the band has always been just ‘Nofun’ and me.

‘Kaos Youki’

One of our lesser shows… It was very cool that we could play – we were very grateful to Michael for giving us the chance – but if I remember well the crusties were not that fond of us…

Frederik Vanhee, ‘D.S.A.’ bassist

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

97-09-12 Ebola – Link

According to the ‘Link’ website they supposedly did a show on 97-06-03 but that was a Tuesday. So I’m pretty sure this here was their first gig at the Vort’n Vis (see guestbook). ‘Ebola’ is mentioned in the V.V. notes and also played at Kompas in Sint-Niklaas with ‘Quarantine’ and ‘Unhinged’ the day after this… ‘Link’ (from the outskirts of Ypres) at that time was Michael Maes (guitar), his partner Inge Cappoen (vocals) – both had been in ‘Carcer Molochi’ – and the French-men Greg ‘Briko’ on bass and a ‘Juju’ Julien De Jonckheere on drums. At first they played crust-core-punk. Since their start they did a series of demo-tapes, CDs and a split-7” with ‘Raised By Drunks’ (from Sweden). Their 1^st CD The Last Sacrifice (recorded in 2000, with a drum-computer and Geoffrey Geeraert on bass) was released in 2000. The music: “brutal metallic HC with a serious crust-punk edge & raging female vocals”. One reviewer actually believed Inge was really from Sweden… The band still exists – (although with a different line-up, Inge left) today with, besides Michael, Geoffrey Geeraert (bass; he returned after Björn Denys; Laurent ‘Lampe’ Lampaert, etc. – see Mike’s history below) and Jens Hoornaert (drums) – and they bring “melancholic atmospheres, heavy tunes, dark lyrics, fast riffs and slow epic parts”.

‘Ebola’ had been at the V.V. already (96-05-19). Karin R. (vocals), Micky McGuinness (guitar, ex ‘Generic’, ‘One By One’), Chris Patterson (drums) and Andrew Nolan (bass; later in ‘Shank’) from Benwell (Newcastle area) were presenting their new singer (replacing Jonathan Shaw) Nick Loaring (vocals; Enslaved recs). By this time their Imprecation 7” (intense, fast, powerful HC) was out (recorded Feb. ’97). Later they also did a split-7” with ‘Servitude’ (’98) – re-issued in 2000 on Enslaved recs as single-sided 7” – and in 2000 they recorded for a split-LP with ‘Jinn’ (that was to come out in 2003) with Andy Irvine from ‘Disaffect’ on guitar and Set Dixon from ‘Active Minds’ on drums.

In the V.V. notes it’s mentioned that ‘Lifecycle’ also got some drink-tickets that they but no other clues if they played or not… Perhaps some of them just helped out.

Brob

I don’t think we’ve ever played together with ‘Link’, I’m pretty sure of that…

Karel Deweerdt, ‘Lifecyle’ guitarist

I was the second vocalist – Jonny [Jonathan] would have been in ‘Ebola’ at the first gig, as I didn’t play my first gig with ‘Ebola’ until Autumn 1996.

Nick Loaring

Princess Di had had died [97-08-31] and every UK band on tour in Europe had stories of American tourists coming up to them in the street and offering them their condolences… I think we got paid partially in out-of-date chocolate soy-milk at this show.

I think we were supposed to tour with ‘U.Y.S.’ [‘Use Your Strength’] from Germany. André [Sieg], who ran Maximum Voice Production, was trying to set that up but for some reason it didn’t happen. I don’t know the details there. I would have liked to have seen that band, they were a weird droning hardcore band, quite unlike anything else at the time. We played a show with ‘Hellkrusher’ somewhere in Europe, Sned was most likely leaving a message for them to see when they got to the Vort’n Vis [97-10-28]. At the time both myself and Chris Patterson were in ‘Sawn Off’ ànd ‘Ebola’. ‘Sawn Off’ pre-dated ‘Ebola’ but wasn’t as productive in terms of releasing records and playing shows outside of our local scene at that point…

Andrew Nolan, ‘Ebola’ bassist (survivalist-deathcult.blogspot)

‘Juju’ and me played for ‘Link’ already. We both left the band together in 2004 [???; see Geoffrey Geeraert’s comment]…

Greg ‘Briko’

‘Link’ did indeed start in ‘97 after ‘Carcer Molochi’ quit. The first line-up was ‘Juju’ (drums), Greg (bass), Inge (vocals) and myself (guitar & backings) – we recorded a few demos and there were plans for a tour with ‘Unhinged’ but that didn’t work out. After some time Greg & ‘Juju’ left because the distance was getting a problem. They were replaced by Geoffrey (bass) & Michiel (drums), who both played in ‘Abrogate’. Michiel left the band already after a few months. We chose er to continue with a drum-computer because of the fact there were few drummers or musicians available in the Ypres’ scène. We recorded the CD The Last Sacrefice and toured Europe for the First time. Then we took a break and somewhere around 2005-2006 we started to make new songs, released a demo-CD uitgebracht and toured England (2007). After that tour we started searching for a drummer again and since 2008 Jens became our drummer. A little bit later Geoffrey quit and became the guitarist of ‘Möse’ (with David Stubbe on drums & Karel Busschop on bass/vocals). Laurent ‘Lampe’ joined ‘Link’ on bass. In this line-up we recorded the split-7” (with ‘Raised By Drunks from Sweden) and then the 12” Chapter 1 (2010). After 12 years ‘faithful service’ Inge left band and we continued as a trio with myself taking up vocal duties. The 12” Chapter 2 was released in 2011. In 2013 ‘Lampe’ quit and was replaced by Björn Denys with whom we recorded the split-12” with ‘Absolutist’ (from Scotland). By the end of 2014 Björn quit and Geoffrey rejoined as bassist. Chapter 4 was recorded by the end of 2014 and released in 2015. [‘Link’s story continues…]

Michael Maes

Myself & Michiel joined ‘Link’ beginning 2000 and not 2004… I quit ‘Link’ in 2008 and was played for ‘Möse’ since 2004…

Geoffrey Geeraert

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

98-09-18&19 10th Leed festival

(click on the links for full posts with photos of some bands playing …)

18 sep ’98: Money Drug (Pol), Hellfiller (Bel), Charlie Don’t Surf (Bel), King Creole (Bel), Lieselotte (Swi)

19 sep ’98: Doom (UK), Oi Polloi (UK), Link (Bel), Outrage (Bel), Sarah (Fra), Alcatraz (Fra), Filth Of Mankind (Pol), Reller (Bel)

After the prematurely aborted 97 Leed fest, Michael Maes of ‘Link’ took it upon him to organise this one… Bruno was probably too busy running the Pyrrhus record-store in Gent. Of course there was the V.V. crew behind Mike…

Brob

We also played with ‘Reller’… I Recently found back an old demo…trying to digitalise that… I know the ‘Alcatraz’ guys filmed our performance…

Nico Peeters, ‘Outrage’ bassist

The atmosphere was rather relaxed, contrary to HC ’98 in August. Only a few idiotic brawls outside the Vort’n Vis.

Stef Goos; personal communication Oct ‘98

I was proud to be able to play in that fabulous place that was the V.V. I’d already been there as a spectator and I never thought I’ld play there one day. To me the Vort’n Vis was like ABC No Rio. I remember we were wel recieved by everyone. This was a punk festival so there were a lot of people.

Mickaël ‘Mike’ Ramounet, ‘Alcatraz’ vocalist

Everything at Vort’n Vis was fine and well organised.

Selim, ‘Money Drug’ vocalist

announcement in the V.V. newsletter