95-01-29 Fabric – Badgewearer – Vanilla – [Ambush] – Liar – Neuthrone

This gig was first planned for (Saturday) 95-01-28 but got switched over…

Here’s a description of ‘Ambush’s music I read somewhere: “An intense mix of heavy sounds. Imagine combining ‘Black Sabbath’, ‘Neurosis’, ‘Acme’ (the same feeling of despair), ‘Black Flag’ and a spoon of ‘Spazz’… Gloomy, powerful, sludgy intense stuff; mostly on the slow side of things, it just rumbles along but occasionally speeds up. Lots of changes from really quiet passages to really intense, angry, agonizing passages with feedback, etc., heavy riffs all over.”… In the (German) band were (at that time): Gunnar Jakobson (drums), Thomas Schaal (vocals), Tobias Werner (guitar) and Tom Rusnak (bass; also ‘Rorschach’). By that time they had a few 7”s out (Ocean Of Irrelevance & Zebaoth, on Winter recs), a 10” (Amarcord, on André Sieg’s Maximum Voice productions) and 3 albums (Lach!, Pigs & Revue, on Common Cause recs). ‘Ambush’ and ‘Neuthrone’ were touring together but I believe ‘Ambush’ actually didn’t play (they also weren’t mentioned in the V.V. notes)…

‘Neuthrone’ were locals so regulars… This gig here was probably their last ever at the V.V. The next year there was mention of ‘7 Hate Day’ as ex ‘Neuthrone’. Around 1997 David Stubbe started ‘Holefiller’ and later he drummed for several bands (such as ‘Möse’ and nowadays ‘Gura’). Steven W./ Steve McM. ended up in prison for a while…

If ‘Liar’ actually played (they weren’t mentioned in the V.V. notes and in the final newsletter either) it was probably their 1^st show at the V.V. They had already been announced (as “new locals”) on 94-12-10 but that whole gig got cancelled… They rose from the ashes of ‘Wheel Of Progress’ (see 93-01-09 & 93-06-13). Hans Verbeke (vocals), Joost ‘Josh Fury’ Noyelle (guitar), Jan ‘UxJx’ Vandekerckhove (bass) and Raf (or Raphael; drums; replaced by Bert Guillemont in ‘96) played socalled edge-metal (straight-edge metallic hardcore). They were to become some of the most ardent H8000 promoters. It was early days for the band so no records yet…

‘Fabric’ had been here before (94-08-20) aswell… The guys were writing for and planning the recordings (May ‘95) of their Lightbringer 12”.

‘Fabric’; photography by Vique Martin

‘Vanilla’ (an emo band from Paris) put out their I Can’t Stop Hating This Empty Space 7” on Olivier Lépine’s label Laissez-Nous Jouer in 1995. On that record Jean Lebrun played bass and brothers Yann & Yves Maisonneuve (both ex ‘Ivich’), guitar and drums. Alain Vidal (also in ‘Symptom Of Isaac’ & ‘El Vidal Sonido’) joined them later. Bruno released an untitled LP of them on Genet recs in 1996. They had been announced already for 94-12-10 but bassplayer Jean had hurt his hand then. They’d also ended up on the bill opf the 94-08-19&20&21 Hardcore Festival and would come back a few times more (96-03-24 & 96-08-18)…

It was ‘Badgewearer’s 2^nd visit aswell – though they didn’t get to play the first time (after 93-07-04). The band (from Glasgow, Scotland) played complex jazz-punk with quirky guitars and groovy bass-lines. They released their stuff on Jer Reid of ‘Dawson’s label Gruff Wit recs. The band consisted of Tony Kennedy (bass & bugle), Neil Bateman (guitar & sax), Jim Carstairs (vocals) & Ross Main (drums).

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

 

93-11-07 Yuppicide – Sarcasm – Core – Neuthrone

‘Yuppicide’ were here a year before (see 92-03-29) but already some changes had occurred: Pete Guinan (drums) replaced John ‘Kid’ Lynch. The rest remained: Joe Keefe (bass), Steve Karp (guitar) and Jes(se) Jones (vocals). By then the Shinebox LP was released (on Wreck-Age). Ma Raab of ‘Egotrip’ was driving for them…

‘Sarcasm’ was a crust-punk band (“brutal, distorted and totally out of control”) from Leicester. The original line-up was Barney (guitar) – Mark (vocals) – Paul (bass) & Nidge (drums). In ’91 there was Your Funeral, My Party 7” (on a Brazilian label). In ’92 they did The Lowest Form Of Wit 7” ‎(out on Neil Robinson’s Tribal War recs) and there was also a split-tape with the Japanese ‘C.F.U.D.L.’ (tracks from ‘Sarcasm’s unreleased second demo recorded in ‘91). In ’95 Brave New World (recorded with Mark, Paul, Leigh & ‘Brillo’) was released on a label from Paris. The band here was vocalist ‘Mr Wanky’ Mark ‘Gardener’ Gardner (was in ‘Extreme Noise Terror’ for a while; nowadays he’s the guitarist/vocalist for the punkrockers ‘The Wankys’ and also runs Noise Punk recs), bassist Paul Reynolds, drummer ‘Brillo’ Brilleaux & guitarist Ben a.k.a. ‘Bené von Bastard’ (Colin Bennett took up guitar from ’94 on, I think). ‘Sarcasm’ came back to the V.V. 94-04-23.

‘Sarcasm’, photo by Wim De Leersnijder

‘Core’ were a band from London that sent me a demo which I reviewed in Tilt! #8: >>Strong material with a gloomy feel, based on metally riffs reminding me of ‘Prong’ or ‘Metallica’ by times. Slower to mid-tempo but well-structured. Steve ‘Neuthrone’s kinda stuff, I guess…<<. Don’t remember anything else about them… The demo mentioned a guy named Alex as contact and there was a reference to the Norwegian band ‘Punishment Park’…

1993 was the year ‘Neuthrone’s As The Grey Skies Opened / Stough 7” was released. It was recorded with Steve Wackenier (guitar/vocals), David Stubbe (drums), Tim ‘Nutje’ Denutte (bass) & ‘Bako’ (vocals). Phillipe Bakeroot only appeared on Neuthrone’s second 7” and did partake in their live shows from time to time. He was found dead (murdered) at his house in 2003 at the age of 37. The vocalist at this gig here was Jimyh Anti (editor of International Objection zine; from Mouscron). Their music can be descirbed as doom, death-metal, sludge; as influences Steve mentioned old ‘Celtic Frost’, ‘Prong’, ‘Voivod’, ‘Melvins’, ‘Amebix’, etc.

Brob

I have very little memories of our gigs at the V.V. They went well I think, sleeping at the venue was cramped and uncomfortable (L.O.L.)… The singer of ‘Yuppicide’ wasn’t as straight-edge as he was supposed to be (L.O.L.) but -shsss- don’t tell anyone héhé ;-).

‘Brillo’, drummer of ‘Sarcasm’

I remember not being the biggest fan of ‘Yuppicide’s music but brought their…10”? – I think – because I thought they were cool and they gave an absolutely mental performance… They made the place seem absolutely tiny… I remember it not being large anyway but they filled it. I felt welcome and part of an organic whole at every gig in Belgique… I carried the sense of comradely familiarity and a set of values, attitudes and proactiveness that I got from interacting with all kinds of people when we toured… Although I have retired from putting gigs on now from the point of getting back from a tour, I always aspired to follow the European model and also truly considered myself European from then too.

FYI… The original line-up of ‘Sarcasm’ ca. 1984 was Rich Boot (guitar), Paul (bass), Nidge Good (drums), Mark & ‘Bené’ (vocals). Mark and I formed ‘Sarcasm’ after a visit to our town by German punks Cliff and ET… They were as mental as is and we did a drunken performance using pots and pans one evening in the garden of a friend. We decided to form a band and I suggested ‘Sarcasm’ because that was descriptive of us. Barney moved to Scandinavia. Both him and I were in ‘Dirge’ in the 80s but never at the same time…

Ben, ‘Sarcasm’ guitarist

I did 5 concerts as ‘Neuthrone’s vocalist in 1993 (93-10-23 @ JOC in Ypres, 93-10-29 @ the Pits in Kortrijk, 93-11-07 & 93-11-13 at the V.V. and 93-12-18 @ De Kelk in Bruges). In September ’93 when the summer had gone (the last festival I went to was Graspop Dessel, which wasn’t a metal-meeting yet – I saw ‘The Cramps’, ‘Ramones’, etc.), I went over to the V.V. to see ‘Contropotere’, ‘Bad Influence’ & ‘Herb Garden’ (93-09-04) and talked with Steve W. (‘Neuthrone’s guitarist) who told me they were looking for a ‘singer’ so the week after that I was a part ‘Neuthrone’…

Jimyh Anti

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

94-03-19 Virtual Reality – Health Hazard – Brawl – Fleas & Lice – Neuthrone – Portobello Bones

‘Virtual Reality’ (Bradford) was a project/band that played ‘Black Sabbath’ influenced stuff (varying from groovy beats and heavy riffs to techno-based tracks) featuring Brian Talbot (guitarist of ‘Doom’; here on bass). He’d teamed up with Steve Butler (guitar) and Darron ‘Bill’ Ward (vocals), both of ‘The Next World’ (see 90-05-01). At this time they still used a drum-machine. They did a split-7” with ‘Neuthrone’ on Genet recs in 1994 and released their LP Dreamstate (Genet recs & Flat Earth recs) in 1995. During this tour here, they also did a show in Brugge where ‘Health Hazard’ played aswell (94-03-26) so I guess they were touring at the same time… Bruno (Genet) invited them over a couple of times more (94-05-08 & 96-04-27).

‘Virtual Reality’; photo by Wim De Leersnijder

The Bradfordian invasion was complete with ‘Health Hazard’ (uncle Sned & Alec’s band between ‘One By One’ and ‘Suffer’) on the bill. They had been here already the summer before (93-09-18) and even earlier on this tour 94-03-05. They also did a gig here when Mandy had quit already 95-02-11. Their set in Toulouse (94-02-22) was recorded and Fred Jourdan (‘Ultimate Disorder’) put it out on a split-tape (with ‘Hiatus’). After this tour they recorded (with Bri ‘Doom’ Talbot behind the desk) for their 10” (released on Alec & Sned’s Flat Earth recs). For those who don’t know (?) or can’t remember: “abrasive, thrashing, overpowering blasts of hardcore fury with caustic female vocals”…

‘Brawl’ (another Genet band: they did their LP entitled Gulag on Bruno’s label – it was recorded July ‘94), had also been here before (93-09-04) and would come back (95-09-08). They toured with ‘Fleas & Lice. They were from Ireland and played straightforward HC/punk with some slower parts; some people said they have ‘Fugazi’ influences but I don’t hear that…

‘Fleas & Lice’ also didn’t need an introduction anymore (after 93-02-06). On the photo of this night we see vocalist Robbie Tempel, Joshua Lagerwerf (bass) & Esther (vocals). The others were Piet/Pierre Erickson (guitar) and Maynard Schut (drums). A few weeks after this, they recorded (in Dublin) for the split-LP with ‘Bleeding Rectum’ (another band with ‘Brawl’s drummer ‘Crispo’). The band would come back once more: 95-07-09.

‘Fleas & Lice’; photo by Wim De Leersnijder

‘Fleas & Lice’ (from Ludovic Hache’s fanzine Ras L’Bol #6)

Probably the band that holds the record of number of shows at the Vort’n Vis (being locals and having ‘signed’ to Genet recs): Steve Wackenier (guitar & vocals), David Stubbe (drums) & Tim ‘Nutje’ Denutte (bass). (Jan Lacante, an old budy of the band, just sang on recordings done in 1994 who were released in 2004). ‘Neuthrone’ had a split-7” with ‘Virtual Reality’ out. Their track Silverline (recorded Augustus 1993) should’ve been on another 7” already but something went wrong, so it was used for this split.

‘Portobello Bones’ were a “noise rock” combo from Tours/Orléans (France) with Lionel Fahy (guitar/vocals; Forked Tongues zine), Franck Leprêtre (drums) & Jeremy Johnson (bass/vocals). Or was Fabrice Metais still playing bass? At that time they had a 7” (Negative) under their belt, and a self-titled album. Not sure if they actually played (but they were announced in the newsletter)… Lionel says they didn’t but he did write me in ’94 thanking for the hospitality (see below)…

Brob

The picture shows ‘V.R.’ before we got a real drummer. L => R: Steve, Darron & me. Duncan (an old punk band from Hebden Bridge; he used drum in ‘Crash’, they did a split EP with ‘Crux’) joined on drums later.

Brian Talbot, ‘Virtual Reality’s bassist

‘Neuthrone’ indeed did a split-7” with ‘Virtual Reality’ and we toured with them (also with ‘Health Hazard’) in April 1994: Belgium, The Netherlands & Germany.

Steve Wackenier

Our track on the split with ‘Virtual Reality’ was from the same recording-session as the second single – relased right before or after the tour with ‘V.R.’ & ‘Health Hazard’. The title was “Silver Linings” [Silverline] but I hadn’t gotten that… Jan Lacante sang for ‘Neuthrone’ for about a year (e.g. on the Tilleherte demo).

David Stubbe

We all have great memories of Belgium becasue over there people know how to be hospitable. We’re definitely not anarcho-punks nor do we play pure, politically engaged hardcore but we all know which side we’re on…

Lionel Fahy, ‘Portobello Bones’ guitarist; personal communication ’94

About sleeping-places… Last time we played there, people were coming in and woke us up all night. Early in the morning someone was also playing drums. So we didn’t get much sleep. But the breakfast was excellent…

Piet, ‘Fleas & Lice’ guitarist

Six months after our first appearance, it was back to the V.V. on tour again with ‘Brawl’. Their bassplayer was still not touring with them so I got the call again to fill in. On this tour we were out every gig with ‘Fleas & Lice’ from Groningen – we are life-long friends at this stage, and they are one of the main instigators of the annual GGI festival which is organised every year rotating between the punks and bands of Groningen, Glasgow and Ireland.

I also had a replacement Rickenbacker thanks to ‘Kleister’ of Skuld releases (organising for me to buy one of Flo from ‘Squandered Message’ in Berlin who was selling it – a real stroke of luck). Unfortunately this one would also be stolen in later years! I am on my third Ric now – if that is ever stolen, I will take that as my cue to retire…

Anyway, there was a big Bradford contingent on the day there too with both UK bands containing mutual friends and acquaintances of members of ‘Brawl’ and ‘Fleas & Lice’ – it was always great to play such line-ups as you were guaranteed to meet up with old friends and to make new ones. I think ‘Sned’ from ‘Health Hazard’ may be the only person who could equal ‘Crispo’ for the amount of great bands he has played in over the years. Murt of ‘Brawl’ was a non-drinker and never missed a chance to network at such gigs to get the band new contacts/gigs/releases, etc. – a shrewd and charismatic guy when it came to promoting his band – that combined with the fact the guys had their own van (a total rarity in Ireland at that time for any band) meant they were the first DIY punk band from the South of Ireland to tour Europe. I was so glad to be along for the ride. Good times.

On the gig itself: I remember very little of it other than some of the bands on the bill were a bit too noisy for my liking – I had started to get older and do the old jaded touring guys trick of half-listening to the bands whilst drinking outside and talking shite to whoever would listen – a habit I carry with me to this very day.

Thomas Maguire a.k.a. ‘Tommy Trousers’

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

Edward Verhaeghe (‘Nations On Fire’):

“This concert was the first in a long series where everyone felt really good. What a wonderful atmosphere! Everyone was super-friendly to everyone: Liège ‘loves’ 8000 crew … or something of that kind??? Fantastic. This is the day where cook Hans [Verbeke; ‘Blindfold’, SoberMind recs] decided to ‘sign’ ‘Virtual Reality’. Also a day where all bias and stereotyping was contradicted. Some would describe this in many poetic verses.”

additions wellcome!…

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!…

94-08-19&20&21 Hardcore Festival

The first weekend of September 1992 the Vort’n Vis organised what was then called Hardcore ’92. A festival with a mix of punky/crusty bands and straight-egde outfits. The same was intended in September 1993. I wrote about the incident that happened there… Although it was unfortunate, even reprehensible; for myself the motivation to try and bring all sorts of people together stayed. However other people made it so that the 2 ‘factions’ wouldn’t meet so easily anymore. In 1994 an SxE fest (weekend around half of August) and the Leed fest (half of September; the Vort’n Vis’ alternative to the city of Ieper’s mainstream Leet festival) were organised independent from one and other; and caused this ‘split’. One of the protagonists in the aforementioned incident (Hans Verbeke, ‘Blindfold’) obviously was reluctant to see the same thing happening again and set up (with good intentions, I’m sure) a “Positive Festival” – together with his sister Saskia (‘Shortsight’) and Rob Franssen (‘Feeding The Fire’).

This setting would over the years grow into a huge event (not unlike a lot of the commercial summer-festivals) and moved outside of the Vort’n Vis premises. Unfortunately (and that already was from the beginning), it turned out to be a market-place for big/commercial labels and distributions (local and others). I’ve never been able to see what the value of that was and I kept reacting against it. Having SxE and non-SxE friends I also wasn’t keen on the separation.

I wrote about it in a column that appeared in my friend Joeri Hoste’s zine Emotive Impulse (Sep. ’94):

>> We were all very excited about it for months. Myself not in the least; as it came closer it promised to be something wonderful, something that could last a week instead of a weekend. (…) After some shitwork, I wanted to start a bunch of conversations but unfortunately practically all ended up being quite short and superficial (…) consuming seemed like the most important thing again… (…) “I BUY, therfor I am” (actually this goes for the whole capitalist system – ergo: the HCpunk-scene is not so diffrent form the capitalist system nowadays, no?) (…) Another thing: no matter what we all say, there are distinct cliques in our scene. We all pretend they don’t exist but they do… I’m not talking about the obvious devide between SxE and ‘crustpunx’. Also within SxE (as within the crustpunx) there are micro-communities with their own rules, prescriptions, ‘incestuous’ behaviour, etc. How are you ever gonna evolve, learn,… when you never break out these micro-units. You don’t have to know everyone but at least look for different things once and a while; and on the other hand: allow others to get into your group of peers. I try to pick up things from various people, why restrain and stick to one groove? This scene we’re in, this subculture – again – is supposed to offer an alternative to the mainstream, the capitalist/patriarchic system. Let’s all work to create this. Don’t fool yourself and others. (…) <<

The newsletter of March that year started out with announcing a “3-day festival with ‘Scraps’, ‘Blindfold’, ‘Voorhees’, ‘Iconoclast’ and plenty more”. A few months later there was mention of 3 bands on Friday, ‘Blindfold’, ‘Refused’ & 5 or 6 more on Saturday, and ‘Iconoclast’, Scraps’ & ‘Voorhees’ on Sunday. And as you can see on the flyers that were made this expanded/changed gradually.

This is from the newsletter right before the festival:

As far as I can remember this was the actual programme:

19 aug ’94: Spawn (Ger), Congress (Bel), Kosjer D (Bel)

20 aug ’94: Refused (Swe), Abhinanda (Swe), Fabric (UK), Blindfold (Bel), Shortsight (Bel), Acme (Ger), Backdraft (Nl), Nothing Left To Grasp (Ger)

21 aug ’94: Iconoclast (USA), Neckbrace (UK), Feeding The Fire (Nl), Hopeman Path (Bel), Undone (Fra)

Also got on the bill/played: ‘State Of Grace’ (Bel), ‘Vanilla’ (Fra), … But can’t remember which day… Pretty sure ‘Stormwatch’ (Ger) didn’t play.

‘Nations On Fire’ didn’t do a show. Also Steve W. tells me his band ‘Neuthrone’ didn’t play, ‘Scraps’ cancelled and ‘Voorhees’ didn’t show up (read 94-08 [Voorhees])…

Even though this fest attracted a lot of people, it still took place in the pub (and not in the ‘shed’). The distros had a lot of space in the courtyard… So did the people who wanted to ‘socialize’…

L corner: Stéphane Cormary, Ludovic Hache and Agnes (photo by Miguel Angel Lorca); the ‘Abhinanda’ crew on the R

Besides the bands I remember Vique ‘Simba’ Martin was there. So were Nicole ‘Upsi’ Vokrouhlik (from Augsburg) – who was doing a mailorder/label and organised a festival – and her boyfriend Daniel… Volker Pohlschmidt (‘Steadfast’) most likely… Marco Walzel (‘Nothing Left To Grasp’, Speak So That I May See You zine); some of the ‘Doughnuts’ girls signed the guestbook; Albert Cheong from Barcelona (Heartcore zine) took pics… Alan Davis who did Train Of Thought zine (Bristol) was there… Also Nick Royles (Sure Hand recs, How We Rock zine and various bands)… Miguel Angel Lorca from Madrid came over with a friend. My correspondent Amanda Trevens (guitarist of ‘Timmy’ & ‘Huasipungo’) who was helping out Neil Ribonson at Tribal War recs (actually an internship, studying ‘music technology’), and volunteering at ABC No Rio (all in NYC) was in Europe (actually toured with ‘Scraps’) and visited… Some French non-SxE people came over aswell (which was great): Ludovic Hache (Ras l’Bol zine) and Agnes, Karl & Steph (‘6 Feet Over’). And a hell of a lot more… Olivier Lacoste (‘Öpstand’ singer, Bordeaux)?

There were also some people that tried to get to the Vort’n Vis but didn’t make it (unfortunately)… In his zine J’Ai Le Regret A La Joie Mélé #4, Gérome Desmaison (guitarist of ‘Peu-Être’ / ‘Alcatraz’) describes how him and his friend Mickaël ‘Mike’ Ramounet (vocalist in the same bands) took of hitchhiking from Niort/Poitiers (France) to the Vort’n Vis but got stuck (spending the night in gasstation along the highway) before reaching the border, somewhere between Paris and Lille… They returned home but decided to rent a van the next time…

Brob

audience (Wim ‘Blindfold’ centre); pic by Patrick Federli

I was at every ‘fest’ there in the 90s (I guess up until 2001) and all I can say, is that I always had the best of times. The first couple of times at the V.V. were the best. The yard, the stinky toilets, the little shop at the corner, playing football with the Swedish kids… The list is endless… Best of times and always the highlight of every summer!

Patrick Federli

We ended up at the Vort’n Vis because it was basically the place to be for red edge kids like us! ;-). I went from Marseille to Bordeaux to meet up with my mate Manu who was doing a red edge zine called Wolfpack. We took the train all the way to Ieper, that was a long fuckin’ ride! Ah ah and we sure didn’t regret it.

Frédéric Falzon

 

photo courtesy of Heath Crosby (Sherry Beth Sacks in the background)

Marco Walzel

see also: 94-08-19&20&21 Hardcore Festival * Italian impressions

additions wellcome!…

91-10-05 Rectify – Debiele Eenheid – Neuthrone – Sloth – [Chaos UK] – [Knucklehead]

‘Chaos UK’ didn’t play on Oct 5^th 1991 at the VV. They were announced but the tour-bus broke down (I think) and they didn’t make it. [Brob: Did the ‘Mushrooms – see 90-12-31 – fill in for them…?]

Wim Hollevoet

In 1987 I was visiting John & Baz of ‘Ripcord’ in their hometown Weston-Super-Mare… One day Baz took us to Bristol and we dropped by at the squat (St Michael’s Park) where the Chaos lads – ‘Mower’ (Kieran Moylett), ‘Chaos’ (Adrien Rice), ‘Gabba’ & Chuck – lived (I remember Bear Hackenbusch of the ‘psychedelic’ Skate Muties From the 5^th Dimension zine and Shane Dabinett of Manic Ears recs being there too – and Tim Bennett of Children Of The Revolution recs hung around there aswell I believe…). The band was about to start a ‘rehearsal’ so they pushed all the ‘furniture’ aside and rocked out! I’d seen them a couple of times live but this was even more impressive… In ’91 I was asked to help find them some gigs in the area: they played in Terneuzen (The Netherlands) and were supposed to play here aswell… ‘Chaos UK’, at that time, was (if I remember well) ‘Beckie ‘Beki’ Gibbons on bass, ‘Chaos’ (a.k.a. ‘Lice’) doing the vocals (‘Mower’ wasn’t in the band anymore by then), ‘Gabba’ playing guitar and Chuck hitting the drums. In the end they didn’t show up at the V.V. (They made it here a couple of years later, 93-11-21, though…)

‘Rectify’ (I think these replaced ‘Knucklehead’ – a legendary pioneering ska-punk band from Bristol/Bath, that were planned at first) were a political (anarcho) punk band from Blaina in Wales. I think they were: Wayne ‘Pig(gy)’ Cole (vocals), Mark ‘Wedge’ Wedgebury (drums), Andrew ‘Footy’ Foot (bass) & Michael ‘Mudgie’ Mudge (guitar; R.I.P.)… I thought they only had the20^th Century 7” on Taff Core recs (’88) out at that time. Welly of Artcore zine pointed out there was also a split-LP with ‘Bazzy And The Budgies’ around then…

Later ‘Pig’ and ‘Wedge’ started the band ‘This System Kills’…

‘Debiele Eenheid’ from the Rotterdam Jazzbunker scene were probably introduced by ‘Political Asylum’s Stevie Dewar (who lived in R’dam at that time). Back then the band consisted of Jorem (vocals), Niek Den Braven (bass), Henk Van Schaik (sax), Karel(tje) Dops (drums) and Joop ‘Dops’ De Doelder (guitar). Long Kees played guitar on the Venus Has A Penis tape and on the 7” on Tirana Tunes in 1989 (Here’s some original studio recordings.). Carla (van der Marel; of ‘Bat Attack‘) told me Jorem had the most incredible stage-acts but I can’t recall any of that. There’s some vids out there so you can see the chaotic bunch. I read somewhere Jello Biafra was a big fan…

This was the last ever gig for ‘Sloth’; the line-up (see also 91-02-08) was Dieter Roelstraete (vocals), David Stubbe (guitar), Fabrice Baclet (bass) & Jeroen Vanhandsame (drums).

I thought ‘Neuthrone’s first gig at the V.V. was on 91-12-31 but Steve W. explained it wasn’t. They did a short, un-announced set at the Leet fest (91-09-14) and also played here with ‘Debiele Eenheid’. “That was perhaps our first official 1^st gig as ‘Neuthrone’.”; Steve said: “Fabrice played in the band from August 1991 to June 1992. Then he started a training to become a sailor & was at sea for months and months. In the summer of ‘92 we asked Tim (‘Nutje’) if he was interested. We recorded 5 songs in August ‘92 in Brugge (3 for the 1^st 7” on Genet recs & another 2 for compilations and stuff (but they actually only appeared on a ‘Neuthrone’ LP with unpublished songs in 2004). Because Tim wasn’t ready for recordings yet, I played all the bass-tracks.”

Brob

Bassist ‘Footy’ left ‘Rectify’ years before that. He was only in ‘Classified Protest’…

Dean Jeffery Beddis, ‘Cowboy Killers’ vocalist

I played in ‘Debiele Eenheid’ until ‘89/’90 so I can’t recall anything about the Vort’n Vis in Ieper…

‘Long Tall’ Keesie

I played for ‘Debiele Eenheid’ in the nineties but I can’t remember this concert…The gigs were a bit chaotic yeah… Drummer small Kees (De Greef) played also with ‘Political Asylum’ for a bit and is on the recordings of the last two records. He also played in ‘Budrot’ with members of the ‘Stink Sisters’ and ‘Anarcrust’. Long Kees still plays in ‘Reknub’ – a long-standing psychedelic punk duo. Small Kees played drums when I was in the band between ‘92 and ‘94 I think. Long Kees was before that indeed…

Stevie Dewar, ‘Political Asylum’

I was in ‘Chaos UK’ between the beginning of 1991 to 1993. We toured Europe in October ’91.

Beckie Gibbons

The ‘Chaos UK’ van broke down… ;-)

Your intro sounds right!… I left in 1989. So it was ‘Chaos’ singing in ‘91…

‘Mower’

I played keyboards and trumpet in ‘Knucklehead’. I don’t think we ever played at the Vort’n Vis but I recognise a lot of the band-names of those that did… If you want to update your site with what we’re up to now I can tell you the following:

Jon (singer) went and lived in Bremen (92-95) and sang in ‘A38’. He’s now back in the UK (in Bath I think) fronting a band called ‘Seven Crowns’. They were called ‘Tiny Elvis’ for a few years but changed to ‘Seven Crowns’ a few years ago and regularly tour all over the world I think. Mets (singer/shouter) also went to Bremen and played bass in ‘A38’ and came back the same time as Jon. Back in Bath now. Painter and decorator. Cheesey Coles (singer) stayed in or around Bath. Not sure what he did for years but is now singing in a Northern Soul band called ‘The All Nighters’ (far cry from punk-rock!). Pete’Chopper’ Panton (guitar) – not sure what he did in the years after ‘Knucklehead’ but now lives in London and doing graphics for films and ads or something similar. Si Spoons (bass) stayed in Bath. Still there or thereabouts playing bass in ‘The All Nighters’. No idea what he’s doing for a living… Adrien ‘Ade’ Poole (drums) – drummer in ‘The All Nighters’. Still in Bath (or maybe Trowbridge I think). He’s a teacher I think. ‘Fingers Fourgang’ (keyboards & trumpet) – that’s me – went to Prague for 6 years ‘Knucklehead’ and played in a reggae band called ‘Hermakoute’. Now living in Edinburgh working as a freelance copywriter and penning the odd short-film soundtrack. Alex Hornblower (sax) also went to Bremen and played in a band called ‘Korrupt’. Not sure for how long (think she stayed there longer than Mets & Jon) but now back in the UK, somewhere after a stint living in Holland I think. No idea what she’s up to but she sometimes organises ‘Knucklehead’ reunions (drinking, not playing!). Last one was about 4 or 5 years ago.

I know ‘Knucklehead’ never played in Belgium. We had a tour of various European countries lined up but we split before it came to fruition. The Vort’n Vis may have been one of the venues we were due to play but we all started fighting with each other and it wasn’t fun anymore so we split up!

Toby Morgan (a.k.a. Johnny Despondent)

Vort’n Vis audience getting drunk when ‘Chaos UK’ didn’t show up (guess they would’ve ended up drunk anyway…)

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

Dirk ‘Scum’ (Zero Positives’)…always hungry… ;-)

‘Zorro’ (Ann Claeys, Dieter Roelstraete’s girlfriend back then), the kitchen-princess of that time…

additions wellcome!…

92-02-09 No Security – Hiatus – 6 Feet Over – Neuthrone

First time I saw ‘Hiatus’ (what a blast!). Swedish ‘No Security’ (like that style of ‘Scandi-trash’!!!) and of course ‘Neuthrone’ (who played some sort of doomy ‘slow-core’)…

Henk Loobuyck

‘No Security’, a raw/fast crust/trash band from Eskilstuna, Sweden, were (at that time; I think) Jari ‘Jallo’ Lehto (drums; also in ‘Disfear’, ‘Totalitär’, etc.), Mattias ‘Kenko’ Kennhed (guitar), Harri Mänty (vocals) and Robert ‘Robban’ Eriksson (bass). They existed for some years already but had gotten even more popular because of the split with ‘Doom’ on Peaceville recs and the D-beat wave…

After a few ‘surprise-appearances’ and a gig on New Year’s Eve (91-12-31; with mostly local bands and a not so overwhelming attendance), ‘Neuthrone’ got to ‘support’ a touring band. Steve Wackenier (guitar & vocals) and David Stubbe (drums) had just asked Tim ‘Nutje’ Denutte to play bass (because of Fabrice’s departure); so that was probably their first gig in this line-up. The Half a Skull’s Size’ 7″ was due on Genet recs…

This was ‘Hiatus’ 3^rd gig here (after 90-09-15 & 91-04-21), I think… They’d just came back from their tour in the U.S. & Canada. Willy played bass here, Ben Fery hit the drums and Azill Kamizol played guitar-hero… No clue where the other guitarist (Phil ‘Kill’) was. And Fed Alabas (Don’t think he had left the band already…)? Spatje & Vrokker (‘P.J.D.’) did some of the vocals.. The band toured Europe with ‘No Security’… No further introduction necessary, I guess…

‘6 Feet Over’ were from the Duncerque region, pretty close to Ieper, so they were invited to play at the V.V. quite often. Here, they made their 2^nd appearance at the V.V. (after 91-06-08) and had recorded their demo-tape a few months before. The 7” on Panx recs would follow later that year. The band consisted of Stephane Cormary (vocals), Fred (bass), Pierre Anne (drums) and Karl Penando (guitar). Energetic old school HC. I reviewed them in Tilt! #7: “Reminds me of ‘Stikky’ or ‘Stark Raving Mad’. Short but raging. Political lyrics.”.

Brob

This was the first European tour for ‘Hiatus’ and the last one for ‘No Security’. Ieper and Liège were good; the rest a bit chaotic. What an idea to tour Sweden in February and the Spain in August!? I was the one organising these tours… I was young… It was the first time I met ‘6 Feet Over’ (later we toured Spain together – with uncle Sned on drums) and ‘Neuthrone’. Hi David & Steve!

Willy ‘Hiatus’

I remember this one for sure! This really left an impression… Vrokker was singing for ‘Hiatus’ those days and they had to play with ‘No Securityi in Liège. I had come along that day to ‘sing’ a ‘Doom’ cover with ‘Hiatus’ and do it over the next day in Ieper. Together we travelled in ‘No Security’s van to Ieper, learned a bit of Swedish on the way and once in Ieper there was an atmosphere of true fraternity. The place was too small, ‘No Security’ was super!!! An energy-attack, full throttle and no looking back!!! I also remember that Vrokker and myself almost demolished the joint… What Vrokker did on stage with them…was most probably a ‘Mob 47’ cover but I could be mistaken… It was one of my better performances at the Vort’n Vis…by far!

Jurgen ‘Spatje’ Fiems

That was the night before my birthday and I was very excited to play with ‘No Security’. I believe we didn’t have amp-problems this time, so a reasonably successful gig. ‘No Security’ were fantastic and super tight. After the concert, Jan Claus and myself slept on the V.V.’s stage because there were a lot of burglaries in the Vort’n at that moment (local heroine-junks) but there were no thieves that night.

Steve W., ‘Neuthrone’

I wasn’t the only guitar-hero that night, you can see Phil just behind Spatje on the picture! That was ‘Hiatus’ second line-up: Phil (guitar+vocals), Willy (bass), Ben (drums) and me (guitar+vocals). That was the Way Of Doom line-up. Later on when we discovered (by accident!) that Willy was a good frontman, he left the bass for the microphone and then we recruited a bass-player (Fred) to become a 5-piece. We recorded the first album From Resignation… with that 3^rd line-up.

I enjoyed touring with ‘No Security’, that was our first European tour. The dudes and their driver were very cool. Their music was fast, energic and the singer looked like he became mentally disturbed during their performance! We learned some cool Swedish words and we improved it later while touring with ‘Svart Snö’! ’6 Feet Over’ were nice people too (not from Nice but from Dunkerque ah!). Fast hardcore with amazing drumming, even when Sned (‘Health Hazard’) replaced Pierre behind the drums. At that same time, Chris (‘Health Hazard’) replaced Fred in ‘Hiatus’: we toured in Spain together – British reinforcements!

What else? I can see my t-shirt wasn’t grey yet… I don’t remember how many times we played at the Vort’n Vis but this must be one of the first. Vrokker and Spatje helped us because me and Phil didn’t feel comfortable singing and playing guitar at the same time. Leffe (‘Chronic Disease’) also helped us in that way a bit later. Thank you guys!

Azill, guitar zero.

great photo-shoot by Eric ‘React’ (thanks a lot!!!):

‘Hiatus’ with Spatje & Vrokker on vocals

‘6 Feet Over’

‘No Security’

Vrokker stealing the show… ;-)

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

‘No Security’ expressing their appreciation for the hospitality…

Sonia Lord & Jules Lowery (Missing The Point, London) visiting…

additions wellcome!…

91-12-31 Disturbing Foresights – Neuthrone – Blindfold – Scraps – Union Morbide – [Negative Stance]

cover of ep entitled 1992

New Year’s Eve at the Vort’n Vis? Of course! Why not!? This is where our friends were and where we could meet likeminded and interesting people from all around…

I had heard the music of ‘Negative Stance’ already on the split album with ‘Kismet HC’ and corresponded with their drummer Bill who did Actions Of Rebirth zine. These guys were also active in the scene around the well-known Villa Amalias squat in Athens. So I was looking forward to meet him/them. Unfortunately, for some reason they didn’t play… Can ‘t remember if they didn’t tour or if they just didn’t make it to the Vort’n Vis. The drummer was Vasilis ‘Bill’ Babouris, bassist/vocalist Makis, later John (Giannis Tzamilis) and guitarist Stamatis Spiliotopoulos. At some timepoint there was also singer Alex…

‘Disturbing Foresights’ played innovative HC. Some of them were organising punk-shows in the Mevr. Latenstaan youth-centre in Zoetermeer (near The Hague) which I visited when my friends’ band ‘Hate Crew’ played there (end of the 80s). The band consisted of Cor Hoogerdijk (drums & vocals; also in ‘The Incredible Softies’), Chiel Schouten (guitar; also in ‘The Incredible Softies’; a bit later replaced by Sebastiaan ‘Bas’ de Neef), Koen Bakker (bass), Iwan P. Vol & Ron Osephius (vocals). Ron had been in Barcelona where he (and his partner, at that time, Rosa) booked quite a few bands from up here. I also wonder if Arni van Driel (one of the guys who arranged things in Latenstaan) came with the band that night… They were on their 1991 X-Mass European tour with Berlin/Hamburg’s ‘Apoplexy’ (but I’m pretty sure these didn’t play at the V.V.). Their EP called 1992 was just out (see cover).

As Jeroen explains ‘Nations On Fire’ (who had been announced) didn’t play. David who was singing for them (and was not involved in the accident) probably played with his original band ‘Scraps’. Living just across the border, they played the V.V. many times. Can ‘t remember if they actually did this one…

‘Neuthrone’s appearance was, I thought; their first (of a whole series in the V.V.) that night (Steve W. explains below it’s not). They were locals and helped out at the Vort’n Vis… Guitarist/vocalist Steve W. had moved back to Ieper from the U.K. and formed this ‘sludgecore’ band together with (ex ‘Silly Old Fart’) David Stubbe (drums) and Fabrice Baclet (bass). Tim ‘Nutje’ Denutte replaced the latter a while later.

Being local and helping out at the Vort’n Vis, ‘Blindfold’ played another set, just shortly after their debut [91-12-21] here…

Apparently ‘Union Morbide’ played here aswell (see below) but I can’t remember that. I do recall them playing 91-11-23.

Brob

I recall that I played bass for ‘Shortsight’ at the V.V. once that X-Mas period [91-12-21] but I’m also certain I spent New Year’s Eve 1991 at La Gare in Lauwe and not at the Vort’n Vis viz. ‘N.O.F. seems unlikely ‘cause Edward hadn’t returned from the U.S. and Jaak still wasn’t recovered from his car-crash injuries. [91-09-01]

Jeroen Lauwers

This is our and my only performance in Belgium…so far. We entered the country through the German-speaking part and got followed after a few kilometres. It appeared to be the cops, who wanted a closer look at the inside of our bus. Yep, we didn’t smell that fresh but we got away quite easily. We had done 12 gigs by then. Every school-holiday we took the opportunity to tour and Ieper became our debut in your beautiful country; it was also the last one of that tour.

About the Vort’n Vis, I can remember that the stage was right next to the entrance; and during our set two bored straight-edge-kids were gazing at us. When I listened back to the recordings (available on-line), it appeared that the public, back in the pub, was rather enthusiastic…

I play in another band now (called ‘Zoikle’) with GW Sok (ex ‘The Ex’) and I’m a part-time music-teacher.

Cor Hoogerdijk, ‘Disturbing Foresights’ drummer

I believe the stage collapsed underneath me…

Chiel Schouten, ‘Disturbing Foresights’ guitarist

‘Apoplexy’ was on tour with us but apparently didn’t play here [Brob: probably because this was the last show before ‘D.F.’ headed home…]. After Sebastiaan de Neef we took another guitarist: Arjan van der Schee (who had been in ‘Brutal Obcenity’). Ron was in the band before me. He had gotten back from Barcelona by then (he’s not with Rosa since a long time). Myself, until recently I played in ‘Possible Suspect’ and nowadays in the ‘Pisnozems’ (and some others). Arni lives in Kopenhagen. I don’t think he was on this tour, but he did come often.

Iwan, ‘Disturbing Foresights’ singer

‘Disturbing Foresights’ (pics by Eric W.)

I recorded ‘Disturbing Foresights’ live that night [link above] (I also have recordings of ‘Scraps’, ‘N.O.F.’). I enjoyed their music, kind of rap-core [???], as well as their ep, full of meaning and good lyrics about the European Fortress, animal-rights, etc.

Eric Wawr, React distro

The first line-up (on the split LP with ‘Kismet HC’) was: Bill drums, Alekos on guitar, Alex ‘Z’ guitar & vocals and Makis on bass. When Alex left the band, the band became a trio: Bill on drums, John bass and vocals and Stamatis guitar. They recorded the second LP Angels Of Deceit.

Alex, ‘Negative Stance’

‘Neuthrone’s 1^st gig was in September 1991 if I remember well, perhaps October. We’d played a short, un-announced set at the Leet fest [91-09-14]. We also did the gig with ‘Debiele Eenheid’, last gig ever by ‘Sloth’ that was [91-10-05]. That was perhaps our first official 1^st gig as ‘Neuthrone’. Fabrice played in the band from August 1991 to June 1992. Then he started a training to become a sailor & was at sea for months and months. In the summer of ‘92 we asked Tim (‘Nutje’) if he was interested. We recorded 5 songs in August ‘92 in Brugge (3 for the 1^st 7” on Genet recs & another 2 for compilations and stuff (but they actually only appeared on a ‘Neuthrone’ LP with unpublished songs in 2004). Because Tim wasn’t ready for recordings yet, I played all the bass-tracks.

Steve W., ‘Neuthrone’ guitarist

‘Neuthrone’, ‘promo-pic’: David – Fabrice – Steve

I’m pretty positive we (‘Union Morbide’) played on 31^st of December 1991 in the Vort’n Vis! We were on tour with the ‘Scraps’ back then and we sort of teamed up with ‘Disturbing Foresights’ the night before when all 3 of us played at a festival in Ransbach-Baumbach in Germany. I remember my surprise about the total absence of fireworks at NewYear because in the Netherlands, Belgium has a reputation when it comes to fireworks: every Dutchman goes to Belgium to buy the ‘heavy stuff’. There was also another band playing that night (don’t remember their name) and the crowd was a mix of straight-edgers and drunk-punks – a little tense at times, but all in all a good spirit.

Philip van Koeveringe, ‘Union Morbide’ guitarist

So we played at the Vort’n Vis on New Year’s Eve… Inside: Flemish punx in hardcore outfit (caps and checkered shirts), also (on the other side of the venue) Walloon punx (spiked hair, tartan pants, boozing until Sid comes and gets them.) This dichotomy was unknown to us in Beverwijk – we didn’t preach punk or hardcore but hardcore-punk. We were ill , not just in our heads but also our bodies. And when we layed down our heads after having played – and underneath us the festivities continued in full swing (with here and there a yell about boozing and not boozing, in French and Flemish – which led to some squabbles) – the astmathic sucking of our drummer Michel on his inhaler provided a cheerful undertone.

Maxim Aafjes, ‘Union Morbide’ vocalist

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

visitors

additions wellcome!…