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!…

98-04-19 Infekcja – Sarah – Enough! – [Cornucopia] – [Muggles]

The second day of the Ceaseless Suffocation weekend that Michel ‘Link’ Maes organised (with the help of other V.V. shitworkers of course). Read about the first day (98-04-18 with ‘Oi Polloi’, ‘Concrete’, ‘Link’, ‘Ulrike’s Dream’ & ‘Hellcorn’).

‘Infekcja’ was an anarcho-crust band from Wrocław (Poland) playing passionate, angry, pissed-off scandi-punk. The guestbook-entry mentions: ‘Biały’ (bass), ‘Słoma’ (guitar), ‘Biki’ (drums), ‘Mokry’ (vocals) & ‘Mosiek’ (guitar). I believe their tour was organised by Filip Majchrzakowski from Sopoł. The latter ran the label Trujaca Fala, that did the band’s first releases (Kazdy Robotnik… tape in ’96, a self-titled 7” in ’97 and the split-tape with ‘Juggling Jugulars’ in ’98). If you understand Polish, check infekcja.blogspot.

‘Enough!’ from Gdansk (Poland) were touring together with ‘Infekcja’. They played “crust ‘Misery’ style”. Band-members were Piotr (bass; replaced by Adam Musiał on the 7”), Beata Stefanowicz (vocals; not on the 7”), Ewa (Eva) Pawlak (guitar), Jacek (drums) & Tomasz ‘Tomek’ Pawlak (vocals/guitar; later ‘Filth Of Mankind’). Michał ‘Flondra’ Jędrejek (later ‘Filth Of Mankind’ aswell) also played in the band at one time… They did a self-released tape – Darkside – in ’96, a split-7” with ‘Juggling Jugulars’ (Trujaca Fala ‘97) and a split-10” with the Croatian ‘Nula’ (Trujaca Fala & Malarie recs ‘98).

‘Sarah’ were from Rennes; 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 Brittany, 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 (post-)hardcore (sometimes industrial or metal sounding, also use of accoustic instruments; some compared them with ‘Neurosis’), sang lyrics in Breton, Gaelic & French, and also did a zine named An Eeunded. If I remember well the people in the band were Fabien Lecuyer (vocals/fiddle), Michaël Genevée (drums/accordion/fiddle), Erwan H. (guibasse/mandoline/piano) & Jérôme Bouthier (bass). Thierry Jolivet and Stéphane Hardy (who’re mentioned on the tape-insert) were their friends. They would be back for the Leed festival later that year (98-09-19)… They did 2 demos (Herzelomp Betek An Trec’h & Latcho Drom) and in 1999 they released Ez Eterninmens (4 track CD).

This was supposed to be ‘Cornucopia’s 4^th passage at the V.V. (after 96-02-24, 97-02-28 & 97-10-04) but they didn’t get to play. This grindcore band from Mol consisted of Bert Dexters (bass; sometimes Dennis ‘Tyfus’ Faes), Erik ‘Smerik’ Minnen (vocals), Jim Faes (who probably played the drums by then) & the (new?) guitarist Robin. Jim ran the Ear Smear tape-label. Erik and Bert also did a distro and tape-label called Moshi Moshi that released a bunch of ‘Cornucopia’ split-tapes (e.g. with ‘Karma’, ‘Rubbish Heap’, etc.). As for vinyl… In ’96 there was the 7” Lawaat…In De Maat (Liberty Collective, USA) and in ’97 a split-7”s with ‘Intestinal Disease’ (on Moshi Moshi).

‘Muggles’ had played the V.V. already on 95-07-09. The band (from the Mechelen area) played chaos-punk: Frédéric/Fred ‘Baskie’ Vandersype (vocals; Gnome zine & distro) was apparently replaced by Erik Minnen (‘Cornucopia’), Bruno ‘Sloef’ Mastyn (guitar; also ‘Intestinal Disease’), his brother Geert & his partner Manuella ‘Manu’ De Roover (drums). They had released a split-7” with ‘Blindspot A.D.’ (Germany) on T.V.G. recs in 1996, and together with 3 other Belgian bands (‘Les Schtroumpfs Alcooliques’, ‘Hirudo’ and ‘Honey Honey’) they appeared on the Screams From Belgium ‎LP that Tim Leten (Filth-Ear distribution) put out in 1997.

Brob

‘Muggles’ & ‘Cornucopia’ didn’t play… [They were indeed nót mentioned in the V.V. notes.] I don’t know why. I was also singing for the ‘Muggles’ aound that time and I just recall that we didn’t play that day…

Erik Minnen

I wasn’t in the band at that time anymore, don’t know if Erik sang or Kurt (‘Noise Reduction’). But I was there when we played with ‘Intestinal Disease’…

Fred Vandersype, ‘Muggles’

In 98 Dennis ‘Tyfus’ took over the bass. I couldn’t combine the band with sport and studies anymore…

Bert Dexters, ex ‘Cornucopia’

I wasn’t there but I travelled with both bands for a part (well, actually 2 parts) of that tour – but not including Ieper. Filip ‘Fala’ booked the tour and drove one of the cars (both bands were split between a van and Filip’s car). At that time it was already the second drummer playing for ‘Enough!’ on that tour: Michał Jędrejek. He was bassist for ‘F.O.M.’ (where he later switched to guitar) but drummer in the last line-up of ‘Enough!’. He had joined the band before that tour and they didn’t last much longer (their second bassplayer left right after the tour and they stopped playing some time later).

Pawel ‘Scream’

I was the drummer of ‘Enough!’ for about a year…

Michał Jędrejek

We were and still are close to the Breton and Basque independence circles. We were and are militant Bretons. Our bassist has also spent 2 years in prison on the accusation of terrorism (he was acquitted). We have done over a hundred concerts in a number of countries (Slovenia, Croatia, etc.).

There was a great atmosphere at the Vort’n Vis. But we felt a bit distant from the usual HC/punk topics (also being SxE). That scene was an amazing, wonderful world but it wasn’t our trip. We were more metal-heads. I don’t remember anything about the other bands. It’s possible that we got there the day before – can’t remember, we toured a lot around that time – but after that we did a memorable Scottish tour with ‘Oi Polloi’ and ‘Bastard Sons Of Fuds’ [?]…

Fabien Lecuyer, ‘Sarah’ vocalist

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