GBH - Interviews

Ok, the article below was intended for a Brazilian fanzine but unfortunately, by the time we got back the fanzine had packed in ! Rather than waste it, it seemed like a good idea to reproduce it for these pages. You can find another interview with Jock here and a more vintage interview (I reckon circa 1987-ish) made with HIP magazine .

Interview by Lopes Viard from August 1998, answers by Jock.

What have you been doing lately ?

We've been doing some gigs in Europe and Great Britain. Also Ross (Bass) and I (Jock, Guitar), have been touring and recording with our new band TheWernt.

What does GBH mean and why have you chosen it ?

(Nigel speaking .. ), right I have been asked this question so many times that I have made a special section on it ! Follow this link for Jock's answer !

Are you linked to Punk as you were in the beginning ?

Yes, we still play the Punk circuit all round the world. We listen to old and new bands from the last 22 years. It's the best music and attitude going.

How do you see the divisions and quarrels in the underground nowadays ?

There is an argument between big money labels (major labels) and independent labels. There are many arguments between the straight edge and drunk punks, it would be better if everyone concentrated on the music and gigs rather than image and politics. I do support independent labels though, they have the best music.

What has brought you to Punk ?

Me personally ? A way to escape every-day boring life, doing and following something that excites me and gives me something to wake up for. I've been into it since I was 15 years old and I'm now 37 and still happy with it all.

Do you keep the same ideals you had in early times ?

Yes, having fun, still realising that all you're told in school, on TV, in the newspapers is not always true.

During your career, what has surprised you and what were the best things that happened ?

It surprised me and all of us that we started to get coverage in Mainstream music papers in the early 80's and our records got into the charts. The best things have been meeting loads of crazy interesting and travelling all over the world seeing other countries and getting drunk in new places.

When you started playing, did you think that you would be known and respected as you are ?

No we did not, it all came as a bit of shock when people had T-shirts with GBH all over them. We were quite happy playing in our local pub. It was very strange to us, we were suddenly invited to America and Germany etc to play and be given money for doing something we enjoyed. As for respected .. well !

Did you expect to last so long and have such an important role in the development of the Punk thoughts and Punk Rock ?

We never really thought about how long we should stay together, we only started for fun and something to do. It's turned into our life now. I'm really happy when I hear of, or someone tells me that GBH were an influence on them. What more could you ask for ? That's exactly why I got into it, because of bands like The Damned, Slaughter & The Dogs etc.

What do you think about these Pop - Punk bands of nowadays ?

Everyone to their own.

Have you got now or in the past some political leanings ?

No, freedom of speech is about it as far as I am concerned.

What do you think are the major problems in the world today ?

The greedy Western World raping the planet. Rich pigs being paid too much for doing very little and the breakdown of families, this I speak from personal experience.

What was your audience in the past and what is it now ?

Pretty much the same, Punks, Skins, Rockers, misifts and weirdos.

What bands influenced you in the past and nowadays ?

Oh god is there enough time ? I already mentioned 2 of the best of the old ones but here goes. Stranglers, 999, Lurkers, Rezillos, Sex Pistols, Motorhead, X Ray Spex, Siouxsie & The Bandshees, Damned, The Jam. There's more but now some new ones, Anti-Flag, US Bombs, New Bomb Turks, Road Rage. Ok in the 80's, Discharge, Exploited, Subhumans, Black Flag, Toxic Reasons, Agnistic Front, Cro Mags .. is that enough for now ?

Which of your records do you think describes the band best ?

Catch 23 - about shithead businessmen who think that they can make money from you because you're young (well we were then), and naive. I hate them and I have seen lots of them come and go. They can all piss off because we're still going and they're probably all trying to rip-off some innocent musicians.