93-09-04 Contropotere & Brawl (extra photos)

More on this concert:  93-09-04 Contropotere – Herb Garden – Brawl – Bad Influence

Here’s a series of photographs taken and donated by Carla Oliveira (a Portugese interrailing through Europe at that time):

‘Contropotere’

‘Brawl’

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

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

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

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

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

Brob

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

Holy Herwin

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

Pat Labie

additions wellcome!…

90-09-28 Dreft – C.O.D.A. – K.U.N.T.

An almost forgotten gig with local ‘bands’…

The second gig of ‘Dreft’ here (a year after 89-07-09) – from the Izegem-Kortrijk area. Here in their grindcore phase (they started in ’85 but things got ‘serious’ in around ’88); with Dominik ‘Nolf’ Denolf (vocals), Pascal ‘Scalle’ Desplancke (vocals), Sammy Windels (guitar), Kris ‘Mosh(terd)’ Maes (bass) & Bernard ‘Narre’ Demeulenaere (drums). The death-metal sound came later when Erwin De Vriendt took over the guitar (without ‘Nolf’ & ‘Scalle’; ’88-’92), and in an even later stage ‘U.J.’ played bass and ‘Josh’ guitar ’92-’93?). Their demo Butchered was recorded September 1991 with Kris doing vocals…

‘C.O.D.A.’ (‘Co-operation Of Death Alcoholics’) was the band of Andy ‘Wanky’ Debaere (growls). There were two vocalists (Benny & Swatn/Swab), a drummer (another Andy/ ‘Anti’ Vandendriessche) and a bassist, Patrick Foré – no guitarist. They were from the Roeselare/Torhout area and surroundings. There’s a demo from 1989 entitled Growing A Moustache Isn’t Hardcore!? with 30+ tracks (labeled “noise-thrash”).

Brob

K.U.N.T. (‘Krisis Und Neurosis Theater’) was a figment of Dieter [Roelstraete]. He had lyrics and wanted to do something in the vein of ‘ Einsturzende Neubauten’, proto-noise with costumes and tribal drums. If I remember well ‘K.U.N.T.’ was myself, Fabrice Baclet, Dieter Roelstraete, Jeroen Vanhandsame and Philippe Dassonville [‘Fluppe the Hardrocker’]. We performed once together with a little project that Jeroen ‘nationsonfire’ [Lauwers] had: “The Jeroen Machine” – a benefit for god-kows-what. One hand-written poster, nothing more. Just a racket: everyone ‘played’ a character from Dieter’s lyrics; the idea of what later would become ‘Anus Mundi’ – Dieter’s little artist-club in Gent.

David Stubbe

We only did 2 gigs with ‘K.U.N.T.’, At First I was bassist, then drummer… We didn’t have songs; we did pure jam-sessions. Rather wild parties…

Philippe Dassonville

I think David Stubbe made a few too many wrong combinations of alcohol, mushrooms and other chemical substances in his life…

Jeroen Lauwers

‘K.U.N.T.’, ai, that was for fun really, just as that tape with 1001 ‘songs’ that David and I made under the moniker ‘Anal Disobedience’. Can’t believe we ever played live…

Dieter Roelstraete

‘C.O.D.A.’ was called ‘Chronic Death’ at first and had a guitarist.

Ben Adams

Benny was thrown of the band because of fascist ideas. Then I joined… I don’t have any recollections of this gig but I might’ve been there…

Andy Debaere

additions wellcome!…

99-09-11 Disbeer – Insult – Suppository – BloodSuckers – Sickness – LoggerHead – Distress – [Container Crusties From Hell]

Second day of the 1999 Leed festival – “a meeting of grind, HC, punk, crust & noise” – organised by Frederic Driessens.

The day before (99-09-10) ‘Yacøpsae’ played and their guitarist ‘Stoffel’ summed up the bands that played here: ‘LoggerHead’, ‘Container Crusties From Hell’, ‘Bloodsuckers’, ‘Disbeer’, ‘Distress’, ‘Suppository’ & ‘Insult’. ‘LoggerHead’ was supposed to play the first day but because they couldn’t make it so they gigged the following day.

Dave ‘Opoespook’ (‘Container Crusties From Hell’ drummer) insists that they never played the Vort’n Vis…

There was a third day announced (with sXe bands) but there’s no indications that this actually happened…

‘Insult’, from Dutch Limburg, played powerviolence/fastcore (on the flyer compared with ‘Infest’). They were ‘Grizzly’ Rob Herraets (guitar), Loek(ie) Peeters (bass), Rob Nabbe (drums/vocals; also vocals for ‘Mallorn’) and ‘El Sancho’ Willem-Jan ‘Edge’ Kneepkens (guitar; also ‘Mallorn’). ‘Scumbag Duke’ screamed on the split-7” with ‘B.S.E. (recorded summer of ’99). Most of their vinyl was released on Roy Meijnen (Slaves Of Mainstream zine)’s Balowski recs.

‘BloodSuckers’ had played at the V.V. before (97-05-18). They were from Wallony (Arlon area, in the Belgian province of Luxembourg) and played grind/crust. The guys in the band were Pierre Marchal (drums), Chris(tophe) Pels (guitar), Gregory Pels (bass) and Michael Thiry (vocals). They had a few tapes out, one of which was a split-tape with a thrash/metal-HC band with the same name from Slovenia. In 2001 ‘Kisaac’ (Isaac Roelens; later drummer for ‘MatrakAttak’) did a 3-way split CD with his band ‘Bob’s Bizarre Bazaar’ and ‘Angry Minded’ on his label Anvil Of Fury… In 2000 guitarist Stany Lamock (‘LoggerHead’) joined the band…

‘LoggerHead’ (described as “fast grind/mincecore”) were from the French-speaking part of Belgium (Fauvillers). They had done a split-tape and were featured on a couple of compilations (e.g. Music For The Dead Masses, on the French label Noise Solution recs)… Later there was a split-CD with the Japanese ‘Unholy Grave’ (on Romain Trocherie’s label Revolution recs). The band consisted of Stany ‘Lamince’ Lamock (guitar/vocals), Anne-So(phie) (guitar) & ‘Boule’ (drums/vocals).

‘Disbeer’ (Auch, France) also played at the Vort’n Vis already (on 97-10-28). This crusty metal-punk outfit consisted of Fred ‘Utopia’ Jourdan ‘the bomber’ (drums; ex ‘Enola Gay’), ‘the hammer’ (bass) and Michel Cebrian ‘the motherfucker’ (guitar/vocals; ex ‘Enola Gay’, also Reality Of War zine). In 1998 they had 2 releases out: Panx recs (from Toulouse) put out the Beer Drinkers & Hellraisers LP and Olivier Lacoste (Murder recs from Bordeaux) did a picture-EP entitled The Frost.

On their first release (2000) – a selftitled EP – ‘Sickness’ (a crust-punk band from Auch, France) were ‘Lolo’ Cyril Prieto (bass; ex ‘Enola Gay’), ‘Pit’ (drums; ex ‘Vomit Yourself’; R.I.P.), ‘Murdock’ (guitar) & ‘P.P.’ (vocals). They also did a demo in ‘98… At some timepoint Anne-Gaelle Manceau (bassist of ‘Enola Gay’ on 95-11-05) was also in the band (vocals) & before Greg Dupart played bass (when Cyril played guitar).

‘Distress’ (Alkmaar, The Netherlands) also had a previous passage at the V.V. (97-05-31). The band (D-beat style) at that time consisted of ‘Lucky’ (drums; replacing Bill ‘Boycot’) & Lennaert Roomer (guitar/vocals; was also in ‘Boycot’ and bands such as ‘Wartorn’ & ‘Solstice’ with Rich Militia), and bassist John-Peter ‘JP’ Kuiper (Billy’s brother). They did a self-titled 7” and 3 splits: with ‘Karma’ (on Tim Leten’s label Filth-Ear, ’96), with ‘Boycot (10”, ‘97) and with ‘Mind’ (Resuscitate recs, ‘98).

‘Suppository’ (Dutch Limburg) had been invited to the Vort’n Vis twice already: 97-05-31 & 97-10-04. Boris ‘Bastard’ Cornelissen (vocals), Max ‘Goulash’ Duys (bass), Rutger ‘Ragout’ Noij (drums) and René (guitar; later Robin de Boer) played grindcore. They had recorded their first efforts in March ‘97 (released on a split-7” with the Greek ‘Rakitis’ in ‘98). The same year there was a CD with ‘Agathocles’ where Matty replaced René on guitar. More releases followed… They also did a German tour that year with ‘Cornucopia’.

‘Container Crusties From Hell’ were the band of Dave ‘Opoespook’ (drums/vocals) & Ronan Gallou (guitar/vocals); Pepijn van der Geld (also in ‘Mihoen’) played bass. Their music was fast grindy/thrashy crust-core with anarchist lyrics in English and French. I used to correspond with Dave: he ran the Paria Collective and was involved with Anarchist Black Cross in Utrecht. He also booked bands at the Pariaschool squat in Veldhoven (The Netherlands). Only Ronan was from Dijon (France). In 2000 Maloka (punk collective from Dijon) released a split-7” with ‘Mihoen’. After the turn of the century Maloka also put out a benefit-LP the band did for the Food Not Bombs chapter in the Philippines. Plus they did a track for the album Au Pied Du Mur (Anarchist Black Cross benefit-compilation, Maloka 2001). There’s also a demo and a live-tape (recorded in the Czech Republic) out there.

Brob

This gig ‘Distress’ did in ‘99 was already with ‘Lucky’, the drummer after me…

Bill ‘Boycot’ Kuiper

I’m not sure if we actually played this gig. I know we had to cancel a few concerts but not why. It could’ve been that Bill had wuit and we had to find another drummer… By the way ‘Lucky’ is DJ at Baroeg in Rotterdam [venue for “alternative” music]…

Lennaert Roomer

After ‘Vomit Yourself’ [95-02-11], I played drums in ‘Sickness’ and also bass in ‘Ultimate Disorder’.

‘Pit’

In ‘99 I didn’t play for ‘Sickness’ anymore… Cyril Prieto played bass at that time.

Greg Dupart

I wasn’t in ‘Sickness’ anymore…at least I don’t think so…

Anne-Gaelle Manceau

An incredible evening with lots of alcohol… It was the eraly days of ‘Sickness’, with ‘P.P.’ singing.

Cyril Prieto

Pepijn ‘Mihoen’ lives in the U.S. nowadays…

Michael Kopijn

I believe us, ‘Suppository’ & ‘Distress’ were the only dutchies, can’t recall ‘C.C.F.H.’… We slept on the beach afterwards [Ieper’s not on the coast though], fucking cold…

Rob Nabbe

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

94-07-27 As Usual

No idea if this was an actual gig at the Vort’n Vis… The only indication is the entry in the guestbook below… But the date mentioned is a Wednesday (which would be pretty unusual for a gig at the V.V.)…

‘As Usual’ was a local band that had a couple of V.V. shitworkers among their ranks. They’d done a few shows here already (93-09-18 & 94-03-05). The band consisted of Frederick Wyckaert (drums), Dimitri ‘Dimi’ Loones (vocals), ‘Boeze’/‘Booze’ Johan ‘Yoan’ Seys (vocals), Danny Suffys (bass) and Michael Maes (guitar). The latter 3 later formed ‘Carcer Molochi’.

Before this they had “experimented” under the name ‘Suffocating Emotions’, covering other HC/punk bands (‘Zero Positive’, ‘Nations On Fire’). ‘As Usual’ started in 1991. In an interview they stated ‘Sedition’ and ‘No More’ as influences… Around the end of ’93 they recorded a first demo (rehearsal; no mention of ‘Boeze’ yet) and they did a split-tape with ‘Hiatus’ (distributed by Olivier Hogie from Toulouse). They were also on the compilation-tape Possessed By Death (put out by Frederic Driessens in 1993).

So there’s this clipping from the guestbook but no indications to other bands playing. Perhaps the band was rehearsing? It was mid-summer and there were probably no concerts at the V.V. around that time, even though there’s mention of “gig”? Or they were being hosts for the UK band ‘Dirt’ that was doing a few shows in the neigbourhood)? (29 jul ’94 @ ‘De Kelk’, Brugge & 30 jul ’94 @ ‘Jeugdhuis’, Beverlo) ‘Yoan’ is referring to a ride to the latter…

Brob

According to me ‘As Usual’ didn’t exist anymore by then; but I can be wrong, my memory might play tricks on me…

Michael Maes

excerpt from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

98-09-18 Money Drug – Hellfiller – Charlie Don’t Surf – King Creole – Lieselotte

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

‘King Creole’ (from Deinze) was the band my mate Frederik ‘Fré’ Danneels (who ran Bezoumny distribution and was part of our Newland collective) played bass in. The others were ‘Zimmerman’ Pieter Teirlinck (vocals), Bram Walgraeve (guitar; ex ‘Sincerity’) and Frederick De Vogelaere (drums; ex ‘Sincerity’).

‘Charlie Don’t Surf’, from Aarschot/Leuven, was Kurt De Bont (drums), Roberto Gasparini (bass), Gert Goris (vocals; gert-kleinkunst.be), Kurt Van Asselberghs (guitar) and Philippe Anthonis (guitar). That year their 7” Six Songs To Die For came out (co-released by Funtime recs, Kurt’s label Hageland Strikes Back, Filth-Ear distribution). The year after there was a split-CD (with ‘End Of Ernie’, Funtime recs & Hageland Strikes Back). Earlier that year they had already played the benefit for Dirk Van Alboom (guitarist of ‘Time Out’)’s wife and kid (98-02-13).

The band ‘Lieselotte’ did a tape (titled Pakita M.S.) in ’98, a split-LP with ‘Bagger’ (with some people of ‘Viktor’s Hoffnarren’) in 1999 and had 2 tracks on the Swiss Punk Benefit LP (Romp productions 2000). They were: Pipo (drums), Riket (guitar), Rob (bass & vocals) and Kroll (vocals). ‘Lieselotte’ were from Genève (active in the autonomous cultural centre L’Usine) and played “grind with a touch of death-metal and sludge”. They sung English, French and Spanish lyrics.

‘Money Drug’ had been the only band that played on the day that Dirk of ‘Tme Out’ died on the V.V’s stage (97-09-19). They were from Gdansk (Poland), played crust/grind and shared some members with ‘Filth Of Mankind’ (who played the day after this (98-09-19). The band consisted of vocalists Filip ‘Kalka’ Kalkowski (nowadays graphic artist) & Selim (replacing Paweł ‘Balon’ Szymański), Miłosz Gassan (drums; nowadays in ‘Morne’) and Sławomir ‘Młody’ Białecki (bass). Maciej Kowalski played guitar but (according the F.O.M. website) he wasn’t present here. ‘M.D.’ had a split-7” with ‘Wind Of Pain’ (Finland) out on Scream recs (’95) and 2 live tapes (’96 & ’97).

‘Hellfiller’ was actually ‘Holefiller’ (97-02-28 & 97-12-26) with the addition of Billy’s electronics: slow, dark, doom-metal mixed with industrial parts. Sometimes they performed as a trio producing industrial noise, then they call themselves ‘Hellfiller’. ‘Holefiller’ was with ‘Leffe’ (ex ‘Chronic Disease’, etc.) on guitar. Drummer was David Stubbe (ex ‘Neuthrone’), bassist Karel Busschop. After ‘Holefiller’ quit, David & Karel went on to play in ‘The Plague Of Gentlemen’…

Not sure if the local ‘Hellcorn’ (see 98-04-18) played aswell?

Brob

I definitely didn’t play this one… I ripped the ligaments of my ankle during soccer…

There seems to be a slight misunderstanding about the ‘Charlie Don’t Surf’ releases. In 1997 we released our split-CD with the ‘End of Ernie’. Later on in 1998 we released our 7” (Six Songs To Die For). Both were recorded at Studio 195 but the split-CD was just with me on guitar – Philippe joined later (he played on both CD releases). ‘C.D.S.’ split up in 1999!

Kurt Van Asselberghs; ‘Charlie Don’t Surf’ guitarist

We were very proud that Michael invited us to play. It was stressy to get there on time, being a Friday-evening. We had 2 rehearsal-spaces at that time and Pieter was waiting at the wrong one. No cell-phones then. I got pretty pissed and the atmosphere was not optimal, but that blew over. When we got there eventually I was probably so nervous, on the verge of fainting, that I wasn’t very conscious about anything…

Fré Danneels, ‘King Creole’ bassist

We played in the pub. I didn’t wear my glasses so didn’t see anything. In those days we also still smoked on stage.

Pieter Teirlinck, ‘King Creole’ singer

Since ‘Money Drug’ didn’t release any records/tapes when I was in the band, my name isn’t anywhere. I replaced Paweł who sang for up until ‘97 (he played drums in ‘F.O.M.’)

Selim

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

“thank you for the beers”

“that’s life”

additions wellcome!…

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!…

 

You Just Can’t Kill De Vort’n Vis

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Vort’n Vis Kim Lefevre has constructed a few podcasts (only in Dutch unfortunately) on the early days of the Vort’n Vis and its association:

* Trailer

* Vort’n Vis Origin Story

Midden jaren ’80. Enkele tieners zoeken een ruimte om te repeteren met hun bandjes maar worden overal buitengezet. Ze ontmoeten Jan Claus, een iets oudere punk die hen wil helpen en tegelijkertijd een vrijplaats wil creëren in hun thuisstad, wat niet zo simpel is in het oerconservatieve Ieper… /// Mid 80s. A few teenagers are looking for a place to rehearse with their bands but are refused everywhere. They meet Jan Claus, a slightly older punk who wants to help out while at the same time trying to create some kind of sanctuary in their hometown, which wasn’t that simple in the ultra-conservative Ypres …

* Leed [the annual alternative festival in September]

Het is juni ’89 in Ieper. Op de Kiekenmarkt is een bouwvallig voormalig burgercafé de uitvalsbasis geworden van een bende jonge punks. Ze hebben nu niet enkel hun repetitieruimte maar ook een café inclusief publiek. En zelfs een naam. De Vort’n Vis. Jan Claus kan nu eindelijk zijn droom om in Ieper een autonome vrijplaats te creëeren waar maken. Ze vliegen er meteen in en organiseren van eerste keer een festival, het Leedfestival. Maar dat was buiten het stadsbestuur en de politie gerekend. /// June ’89 in Ypres. On the Kiekenmarkt, a dilapidated former popular pub has become the base of a gang of young punks. Now they not only have their rehearsal-room but also a pub, including an audience. There’s even a name. The Vort’n Vis. Finally Jan Claus can realize his dream of creating an autonomous sanctuary in Ypres. They immediately get started and organize a fest (the Leed Festival) for the first time. But that didn’t take the city-council and the police into account.

* De Zwitsers! [The Swiss!]

Het eerste turbulente jaar van de Vort’n Vis is achter de rug en hun Leed festival blijkt een succes. De café trekt een zeer bijzonder allegaartje van lokaal publiek maar voor de bands die in de Vort’n worden geprogrammeerd komen mensen van heinde en verre. Veel mensen herinneren zich nog legendarische shows en ook de zanger van ‘Green Day’ krijgt in deze aflevering een cameo. De Vort’n trekt ook nieuwe vrijwilligers aan, waaronder een van de organisators van de inmiddels ter ziele gegane Smurfpunx. Er zijn ook twee spijtige voorvallen die nog steeds een diepe indruk nalaten op de mensen die er toen bij waren. /// The first turbulent year of the Vort’n Vis is over and their Leed festival proves to be a success. The pub attracts a very special local mix but people come from far and wide for the bands that are programmed in the Vort’n. Many people still remember legendary shows and the singer of ‘Green Day’ also gets a cameo in this episode. The Vort’n also attracts new volunteers, including one of the organisers of the by then defunct Smurfpunx. There are also two unfortunate incidents that leave a deep impression on the people who were there at the time.

* Sojamelkjes [Soy-milk]

De jaren ’90 was de populairste periode van de Vort’n Vis, zelfs tot in Japan toe kregen ze een soort cultstatus in de Hardcore en Punk. Dat was niet enkel door hun zeer succesvolle Leedfestival, maar ook door een tweede festival: Hardcore ’92. Dit bracht een nieuwe scene naar de Vort’n: de Straight Edge. Hun cleane levensstijl was eventjes wennen voor de Crusties en Punks die tot dan toe de Vortn bevolkten en dat zorgde soms voor ongemakkelijke confrontaties. /// The 90s were the most popular period for the Vort’n Vis; even in places like Japan it developped some kind of cult-status in the hardcore & punk scene. Not only because of the very successful Leed-festival but also because of the other (summer) fest: Hardcore ’92. That brought a new scene to the Vort’n: Straight Edge. Their clean lifestyle was something to get used to for the crusties and punks that had populated the Vort’n until then, and that caused some uncomfortable confrontations.

* Eigen Baas [Boss in Your Own House]

De brouwer wil het gebouw op de Kiekenmarkt voor veel te veel geld verkopen en de Vort’n Vis-ers staan op straat. Ze vinden een pand aan de Sint-Jacobsstraat en kunnen daar een deal sluiten om het te huren. Het gebouw is ideaal qua ligging en heeft zelfs een zaal! Na de verhuis raakt de werking wat in het slop maar er komt nieuw, enthousiast bloed binnen die de boel weer op gang trekt (Bert, Jeroen en Sander). /// The brewer wants to sell the building on the Kiekenmarkt for far too much money and the Vort’n Vis people find themselves on the street. They hit upon a building in the Sint-Jacobsstraat and are able to close a deal to rent it. The building is ideal in terms of location and even has a room that can serve as a venue! After the move, the operation falls a bit into a mess but new, enthusiastic volunteers come in to get things going again (Bert, Jeroen and Sander).

* Tijdelijke Autonome Zone [Temporary Autonomous Zone]

Met een gebouw dat samenhangt met een metalen harnas hebben de Vort’n Vis-ers niet veel keuze, alles moet plat en heropgebouwd. En daarvoor hebben ze twee dingen nodig: geld en vrijwilligers. En beiden zijn schaars. Nieuwe medewerker Siebe is zijn carrière nog maar begonnen in de Vort’n en hij moet al verhuizen. Omdat de Vort’n hun werking niet wil stilleggen krijgen ze van de brouwer een ander pand toegewezen aan de Diksmuidseweg in Ieper. Hun Tijdelijke Autonome Zone, het TAZ. Het pand is een voormalig rendez-vous huis en is naar goede gewoonte een versleten krot. Vooral het zaaltje waar er optredens werden gedaan werd geroemd om zijn mini-afmetingen. Intussen breekt de zwaarste periode in de hele geschiedenis van de Vort’n aan… /// A building held together with a metal armour: the Vort’n people don’t too much choice, everything had to be torn down and rebuilt. And to be able to do that they need two things: money and volunteers. And both are scarce. New collaborator Siebe has just started his ‘career’ in the Vort’n and already has to move. Because the Vort’n does not want to stop their ‘operations’, the brewer gives them another building (on the Diksmuidseweg in Ieper). Their Temporary Autonomous Zone, the TAZ. The building is a former ‘rendez-vous’ house and, as usual, a worn-out shack. Especially the room where the concerts were happening had minute dimensions. In the mean time, the toughest period in the entire history of the Vort’n is coming…

* DIY verdomme! [DIY dammit!]

Door het werk en de benefieten van de vele vrijwilligers staat het er, het nieuwe gebouw. Het is een zware periode geweest maar het blijkt nog maar eens: You just can’t kill de Vort’n Vis. De eerste fase van de verbouwingen zijn afgerond, alles om de werking terug te kunnen opstarten en nu komt de tweede fase, de zaal, repetitieruimtes, kunstateliers,… En de ‘shitworkers’ kijken erop terug en beseffen nu pas wat ze allemaal hebben gerealiseerd en dat bijna allemaal DIY verdomme! /// Thanks to the work and benefits of the many volunteers, the new building is a fact. It has been a tough period but once again it shows : You just can’t kill the Vort’n Vis. The first phase of the renovations has been completed, everything is in place to be able to restart the operations and now comes the second phase, the venue, rehearsal-spaces, art-studios,… And the ‘shitworkers’ look back and realize now they’ve accomplished and almost all in a DIY manner damn it!

* Siempre Vort’n Vis!

De allerlaatste aflevering van de saga van de Vort’n Vis want het verhaal is verteld. De Vort’n staat er, na dertig jaar, nog steeds en zal hopelijk altijd een plaats kunnen bieden aan mensen die in de mainstream hun ding niet vinden. Alle verhalen zijn verteld, maar ik wou jullie nog een bonus-aflevering geven. Deze bestaat uit twee delen: Ik vroeg aan iedereen die aan het woord is geweest doorheen de podcast wat zij denken over de toekomst van de Vort’n. Zal het blijven voortbestaan? En in welke hoedanigheid? Het tweede deel is een verslag van ons 30-jarig verjaardagsfeest: het tweedaagse festival. Het zal zijn alsof je er bij was! Ofwel was je erbij en kan je het zo nog eens herbeleven. /// The very last episode of the Vort’n Vis saga. the story is told. The Vort’n is still there, after thirty years, and hopefully will always be (cap)able to offer space to people who don’t find their thing in the mainstream. All stories have been told but we wanted to give people this bonus episode. It consists of two parts… I asked everyone who has shared their thoughts what they think about the future of the Vort’n. Will it continue to exist? And in what capacity? The second part is a report of our 30th birthday party: a two-day festival. It will be as if you were there! Or you were there and you can relive it again…

TO BE CONTINUED …

99-06-27 Shai Hulud – Intensity – Hebriana – Clouded – Alignment

The third day of the 10 year anniversary weekend of the Vort’n Vis: 99-06-25&26&27 10 years Vort’n Vis

‘Shai Hulud’ (“hardcore with progressive metal influences”) were originally from Pompano Beach, Florida. The line-up of the band changed quite a few times… The people that signed the V.V. guestbook here were Matt Fletcher (originally guitar, but then moved on to bass) & Andrew Gormley (drums; ex ‘Rorschach’) (plus Matt Haraway (?) & Lauren (Gormley ???); probably friends). Matt(hew) Fox was playing guitar and Dave Silber bass, I assume. Damien Moyal, Steve(n) Kleisath (drums) and Chad Gilbert (vocals) had quit the band. The www mentions Matt Fletcher filled in as singer until Geert van der Velde joined the band to do vocals during the tour. In June 1999, the band recorded a cover of Fearless Vampire Killers for a ‘Bad Brains’ tribute-compilation.

‘Intensity’, from Malmö/Lund played “fast, intense old-school HC à la Minor Threat”: Jonas Nilsson (guitar; later Mathias Blixtberg & Andy Dahlström, both also ‘Satanic Surfers’), Rodrigo Alfaro (vocals; also ‘Satanic Surfers’; founder of the Putrid Filth Conspiracy label), Kristoffer Lind (bass), Simon Ricci (drums; replaced by Tommas Svendsen late ‘99). At that time they had 2 10” albums our on Bad Taste recs (The label where Jonas & Rordrigo helped out – Bought And Sold (1996) & Wash Off The Lies (1998).), and a 7” – Battered Soul- on Putrid Filth Conspiracy.

‘Hebriana’, from Merksplas, were described as an emo/post-HC band with references to ‘Reiziger’. Earlier on they had a punkrock band going called ‘Sidewinder’. The guys in the band were Stijn Colson (guitar), Sven Hoskens (bass/vocals; later in ‘Confuse The Cat’ with Geert Plessers from ‘Kosjer D’/‘Reiziger’), Peter Bols (drums) & Vaast Colson (guitar/vocals). They did a split-7” with ‘Leiah’ (from Sweden) ‎on Genet recs in1999.

‘Clouded’, a metal-core band from Kontich/Antwerp, were: Björn Van Loy (bass), Jeroen Verelst (vocals), Serge ‘Serch’ Carriere (drums; later ‘The Setup’, also toured with ‘Liar’ in 2006, replacing Bert Guillemont) and Wout Bosschaert (guitar). Their 7” Inheritance was released by Genet recs in 1998. They’d already played on the festivals (97-08 & 98-08)

‘Alignment’ was labeled as H8000 but I believe they were from the Deinze-area and Vincent ‘Pit’ Maes (‘Instinct’) was involved… The guestbook mentions Ringo (guitar), Kristof and Liselotte… Apparently Vince(nt) Tetaert (‘Lifecycle’ drummer) also played in this band; as was Kristof Mondy (‘Spineless’ bassist).

Brob

I didn’t play with ‘Shai Hulud’… Actually have never played with them in Europe.

Damien Moyal

I never drummed for ‘Shai Hulud’ overseas, so I had already left the band prior to this show.

Steve Kleisath

I joined ‘Intensity’ on drums in 1999. My first show with them was in December ‘99. I loved that band, one of the best HC/punk bands around at the time in Europe. And I ended up joining them! I haven’t played with them at the Vort’n Vis though. But I attended the festival the year they played there. [‘97] I have a lot of great photos of that.

Tommas Svendsen, ‘Intensity’

I just did vocals during the very first show of ‘Alignment, in Harelbeke (I believe).

Vincent ‘Pit’ Maes

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

99-06-26 Faroutski – The Lovehandles

The second day of the 10 year anniversary weekend of the Vort’n Vis: 99-06-25&26&27 10 years Vort’n Vis. This was the day there were no bands of Bruno VdV’s label playing but where 2 bands from Kortrijk’s indie-scene around The Pit’s (a place that started organising gigs almost at the same time of the V.V.) were asked to perform. It happened from time to time that people from the Pit’s exhibited their talents here; see: The Pit’s aficionados performing @ Vort’n Vis

‘Faroutski’ (from the Kortrijk area) had played at the Vort’n Vis before (95-06-18). They called their music punkrock’n’roll and stated they were “a DIY band in the tradition of old punk-bands”. They released their material on their own Funarchy label (previously Rocklabyrinth recs). The band consisted of people of the scene around the Pit’s (small rock/indie venue): Geert ‘Barney’ Blomme (drums), ‘Kyvie’ Johan Dekyvere (guitar) and Rine Amelynck (bass).

‘The Lovehandles’ were Greet Tanghe (drums & vocals), Annette ‘Unwanted’ Declercq (guitar & vocals) and Rine Amelynck (bass & vocals). On the flyer here dubbed as “the ‘L7 from West-Flanders”. Nowadays Annette & Rine play “punky rock‘n’roll” in the band ‘Unwanted Tattoo’ (with Rine’s partner ‘Barney’ on drums).

Brob

I’m Johan’s brother; I used to play in ‘ErsatzNoise’, ‘D.M.H.’ [‘Dallas Memorial Hospital’; with Rine singing], ‘The Valentine Girls’ [also with Rine], ‘Wij Stinken’ [= “we stink”] and ‘Wij Klutsers’ [= “us dumbfucks”; with ‘Barney’] myself; bands with ‘Bowy’ (Dirk Bouwens [Pit’s co-founder])… I remember a gig somewhere in Ieper (several bands) a long time ago (before ‘Faroutski’) with ‘Bowy’, ‘Barney’ and a drummer – but I don’t think the Vort’n Vis even existed then…

Luc Dekyvere

Can’t remember anything about this concert but I know we played some other time in the pub too with ‘The Lovehandles’…

‘Barney’

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…