>>The ‘Enola Gay’/‘Masskontroll’ tour included 15 individuals piled up in 2 vans. The first was French with on bord ‘Enola Gay’ in its new formation: Michel & Cyril (alternating between drums and guitar/vocals) – both from Auch, Anne-Gaelle (bass) & Gavus (2^nd guitar) – from Thionville, Philou the driver and myself. In the second van: Steph ‘Tofupunk’ (driver) & his inseperable dog Gargouille, Rebecca from Canada, ‘Masskontrol’ (bassist Jason, singer Adam, guitarist Kelly and drummer Chris), Saira with the thick American accent and Gi (Portugese-Belgian).

The first date was in Belgium at the Vort’n Vis. Cool to start a tour there, it’s a familiar place and an occasion to meet up with Belgian and French friends. Pleasant reunion. ‘Agathocles’ furious grindcore always pleases me a lot. Jan (vocals/bass – with just 2 strings) is totally crazy, it is worth seeing him alone! On the other hand, I don’t like the voice of the guitarist too much: way too death-metal to my liking… An unchained ‘Enola Gay’ is more chaotic than before; one feels very well that things don’t fit that well yet. It was their first gig in this line-up. ‘Masskontroll’ arrives very late from the U.K., where they had a few dates. I’m expecting something more powerful, more angry. I find especially that the singer doesn’t have a lot of his voice left and the sound didn’t sound that great either…<<

From Ludovic Haché’s tour-report (in his zine Ras L’Bol #4)

‘Masskontroll’ (from Portland, Oregon) did D-beat crust-punk with japcore/scandinavian mid-80s HC influences and lyrics on political issues. The band was Kelly Halliburton (guitar; ex ‘Resist’, ‘Defiance’), Adam Jordan (vocals), Jason ‘Trousers’ (bass) and Chris was the replacement drummer (for ‘Jolly’ Roger Forbish) on the tour. Their driver was Stef Panikeshi (‘Viktor’s Hofnarren’, a mate of Pablo Resistance). The LP Will You Ever Learn? was recorded Spring of ’95 (produced by Pig Champion) and released by Mind Control. The Polish label Nikt Nic Nie Wie did a CD, Malarie recs from the Czech republic did a tape. The latter had already done a split-7” for them (with ‘Heartline’) in ’94. Kelly released the Recycle Or Die flexi 7” on his label Consensus Reality (’94). Also recorded in Spring ’95 was the 7” (with a cover of ‘Heresy’s Genocide) that Felix did on his label Havoc recs. Their last release was the flexi 8” split with ‘Battle Of Disarm’ (Consensus Reality ’95).

‘Enola Gay’, a grindcore band from Auch (France), used to be Michel Cebrian (guitar/vocals; also Reality Of War zine), Cyril Prieto (bass/vocals) and Fred Jourdan (drums). They had a new line-up here. They had done a split-tape with ‘Ultimate Disorder’, a few 7”s and a split-LP with ‘Vomit Yourself (on Panx prods entitled Exempted Authority / Nihilism…). in ’95 Sylvain Vilette released a split-LP between them and ‘Coche Bomba’ on his label Bad Card recs. Later they formed ‘Disbeer’…

If what is written in the guestbook is correct this was the 6^th time ‘Agathocles’ played at the V.V. Jan Frederickx (bass/vocals), Burt Beyens (drums) & Steve Houtmeyers (guitar/vocals) had recorded a bunch of tracks that would appear on the Razor Sharp Daggers album a few months before this.

‘Serpico’ (formerly named ‘Sleeper’, see: 94-05-22) was announced but I don’t find a trace of their passage. They melodic emo-influenced hardcore and came from Staten Island, New York. In April that year they recorded for They Shoot Babies Don’t They? 7” that came out on the Czech label Day After (with Anthony ‘TJ’ Quatrone on drums, John Lisa doing guitar/backing-vocals, Marc Treboschi on bass, Michael De Lorenzo on guitar and John ‘Apples’ Telenko doing vocals). On this tour Chris Guardino played drums (‘TJ’ only did the tour in ’94) and John T. wrote that he never toured Europe; Jeremy Weiss did vocals on tour. The Feed The Rainbow LP, finished end of ’94, came out on Equal Vision recs (that also released the Rumble LP in ’96). They also did a few split-7”s on various other labels.

‘Core’, from London, had been here already on 93-11-07. Don’t remember much about them or if they actually showed up. My review of their demo in Tilt! #8 goes: >>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…<<.

André Hoppe of the German (from Hünxe; Two Face distro) distro visited…

Brob

This was a great show. I remember rolling around on the stage and barking like a dog. Our drummer was Chris (He wasn’t in the band in ’94 so it has to be ’95.), ‘TJ’ (played on the ‘94 tour) was on and off in the band. Chris had a lot of snot coming from his nose and I caught it with my tongue. The audience looked grossed out… Loved that place! The crowd was fantastic. I truly felt at home. I chatted with so many people. I remember a few guys from ‘Nations on Fire’ – Ed and Jeroen. [Brob: Perhaps that was in ’94?] I think the Vort’n Vis was legendary. Our tour was booked by Steffen Rose (Navigator); Haagen was the driver…

John Lisa, ‘Serpico’

I think [Brob: I’m sure!] I was at the V.V. for a show with ‘Masskontroll’ in ‘95… I honestly don’t remember… My zine started in ‘93 in Portland. I lived in Berlin for a year in 98-99 then moved to Minneapolis in 2000 and went to live in NYC in ‘09. I also played in ‘Resolve’ (Minneapolis) and I still play with ‘Question’ since we started in ‘06. ‘Detestation’ was from Portland (95-98)…

Saira M. Huff (Diminutive Rage zine, Portland; later vocals for ‘Detestation’, bass in ‘Faggot’, etc.)

I don’t know if ‘Serpico’ played, though… I don’t remember that. And I also have no idea who ‘Pedro the Drunk Punk’ is! [Brob: a mate of Wim & Stef De Leersnijder] Ha, ha…must have been someone I met at the gig and had some drinks with, there seemed to be those guys at every show, ha ha… I do remember showing up late, though… I recall we got a late start in London, and then we were delayed when Saira lost her passport and had to go through everything she was carrying to find it. After that we had to take a train and a bus to get to Dover to cross the channel, and then I think we went to Callais instead of Ostend…I guess I was still learning to tour back then and not doing it as efficiently as I could have been.

Kelly Halliburton, ‘Masskontroll’ guitarist

‘Enola Gay’ didn’t show up on the last show of their tour… [Brob: 95-11-19 @ Berchem’s youthcentre: Masskontroll (USA), Deconsume (Bel), Insane Youth (Bel), Skatta (Bel)]

Erik Minnen, ‘Cornucopia’ vocalist

Their van broke down before the last show and they didn’t have enough money to get it repaired…

Steve, ‘Insane Youth’ vocalist

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

The poem by Jan AgX is impossible to translate…

Steve ‘Neuthrone’ speaking in tongues…

Jaak De Cock (former ‘Nations On Fire’ drummer) expressing his discontent with the Vort’n Vis programmation…

additions wellcome!…

… as published in the Vort’n Vis zine, Fifi (#6, August 1995)

(column by Vort’n Vis co-founder Jan Claus)

[translation below]

THE SOCIO-CULTURAL LIFE IN YPRES & ATC [autonomous meeting-centre] THE VORT’N VIS

Summary: This is a message for local people about the local socio-cultural life, the too big influence of the local ccommunity-council and the abuse of power, the repeated waste of money on expensive prestige-projects, the censorship against alternative projects and the prejudices against the Vort’n Vis.

First I want to make clear that this here is my personal opinion. Still, I’m far from the only one who thinks this way. I also want to clarify that I don’t see culture as something separate from the rest of society. It’s also influenced by the establishment and politicians who like to get their picture in the newspaper.

In Ypres there’s too much cheering about the socio-cultural life. Wrongly, because in Ypres there’s only space for the Flemish sausage-culture, prestige-projects and projects of the friends of the city-council. And as we know: these types of activities are usually unimaginative. Don’t get me wrong: there are definitely interesting things in Ypres but they are small and are suppressed by costly prestige-projects of which one can seriously question the common utility, but that cost the inhabitants of Ypres a lot of money.

Just take the new Grand Market e.g. That has costed a 100 million, of which 9 to 12 million francs went to an ugly, tacky fountain that no-one asked for. Some people probably got very rich on that but whether it attracts more tourists is very doubtful. On the contrary: many foreigners (especially from other EU countries) say that this market looks sterile “because there are thousands of markets like that all over Europe”; Ypres, Diksmuide, Bruges,… it all looks very really similar. There’s nothing original to it. It’s the dictatorship of mediocrity. And in the meantime there’s cuts on social welfare and people on benefits are suddenly (after 7 years) getting a reminder for refunds!

The nightlife is getting poorer every year. Ten years ago it wasn’t already that great; now it certainly hasn’t improved. The pubs are also more and more looking alike; increasingly posh, elitist. They are so clean that they don’t have a soul anymore. You don’t get judged on your behaviour but on appearance. (“No sir, you can’t come in here, youre wearing sneakers.”) And then they’re surprised that the Ypres’ nightlife is bleeding to death because more inhabitants go elsewhere, to mega-discos or to the folk-pubs in Dranouter [small village with a yearly folk-festival]. Because these at least haven’t lost their souls and people won’t be staring at you. Students would rather spend their money in the university-towns. And they are right!

Six years ago some people started the Autonomous Meeting Centre, the non-profit association that, among other things, runs the pub the Vort’n Vis. Some wanted rehearsal-rooms, others wanted an alternative pub for alternative youngsters. Still others started it because they no longer approved the official youth-centre, which depends on the city of Ypres. They were constantly being patronised. Alternative concerts were not allowed because that wasn’t goody-goody enough. This was also debarred because politicians constantly interfered with the youth-policy and the will of the subsidising authority (the city of Ypres) is law.

In short: they wanted to get rid of mediocrity and the patronising by the establishment. They wanted more imagination and creativity. They wanted more ‘life in the brewery’ [proverb meaning ‘more activity’]. They didn’t want to have to keep asking the bureaucratic authorities if they could please be allowed to organise something fun. Nowadays the ATC organises 20 to 25 concerts a year at the Vort’n Vis – giving starting and unknown bands who want to play a fair chance. In doing so we’re the most active concert-organiser in the wider area. These concerts are known in alternative circles worldwide. At larger concerts people come from everywhere: Poland, Croatia, Turkey, Czech Republic, Portugal, Canada, USA,… The US, British, Polish,… alternative fanzines write about the concerts at the Vort’n Vis. Sometimes a band that performed at the Vort’n Vis gets famous. Virtually no-one knows e.g. that ‘Green Day’ played at the Vort’n Vis for expenses, in 1991 – when they weren’t known yet. Nowadays you can see them on MTV a lot and they sell millions of CDs. And all this happens without receiving any subsidies during those 6 years. This is indeed a conscious choice for the ATC so that politicians wouldn’t be able to interfere with our policy. Sometimes one wonders where all those subsidies for the socio-cultural sector actually go to. The cultural activities of the ATC do not cost the taxpayers one penny. On the contrary: the ATC pays VAT on the entrance-fees. Also french-fries-shops and grocery-stores in the area make a lot of money during our larger concerts.

But all this is systematically ignored and the citizens of Ypres are hardly aware of all this. Even if ATC staff regularly add press-releases and activity-calendars to the press-kits for the local press, one can hardly ever read anything about it in the regional newspapers. News about card-game-contests is apparently more interesting cultural news in Ypres. Take for instance Ieperaktief, the info-section of the city of Ypres in De Streekkrant [free and widely desitributed paper]: if one asks why there’s nothing about the activities taking place at the Vort’n Vis in Ieperaktief, they pretend they haven’t found anything about it in their press-kit. If one shoves the concert-agenda under their noses so they can’t pretend they haven’t received anything, they come up with all sorts of transparent excuses (long deadlines, no publicity for private organisations,…).

Ieperaktief representative of the socio-cultural life in Ypres? Don’t be daft! The ATC staff already stopped believing fairytales a long time ago. It has as much news-value as stalinist propaganda leaflets. Apparently everyone has to be made believe that Ypres is a paradise on earth and those in the Ypres town-hall are worried that their city becomes known in alternative circles through the unsubsidised ugly duckling, which they have no control over. On the other hand: everyone seems to have an opinion on the Vort’n Vis: supposedly a drug-shack where the tough guys come to fight every week, where girls are raped at the bar and more stories like these. We can even laugh about it because one can’t fight malicious stupidity anyway. Curiously, all those people that know it all so well have never put one foot inside the Vort’n Vis. They only know it from hearsay. Well, when I form myself an opinion on a pub, I’ve at least been ther once in person.

We’ve now started to keep a quarterly low-energy evening at the Vort’n Vis. The intention behind it is threefold: to make people aware of the value of energy, to make a symbolic contribution against the dumping of nuclear waste in the region by not using electricity – originating from a nuclear power plant, and solidarity with the Third World, which can’t afford to use as much energy as we do.

In this context we invited the Department for Developmental Support of the city of Ypres to come over with an information-stall on energy-consumption in the Third World. This wasn’t allowed by the Ypres’ community-council because it was an initiative of the ATC at the Vort’n Vis. However, this council itself organises demonstrations against nuclear waste. Or is this just to win votes in elections? They certainly don’t come to the logical conclusion that they must speak out against nuclear energy and environmentally sane alternatives. Or is it because of the fact that they all have connections with Electrabel [major energy-company that owns the nuclear plants]?

Also some older altemativos were invited to come down with info-stalls on energy-forms that are environment-friendly, sustainable. However, they didn’t show up. Apparently the May ’68 generation is no longer interested in young people who want the promote the power of the imagination, and they’re just as biased as their petty-bourgeois peers. Sometimes we encounter more understanding amongst people working as a manager in a large company. They apparently don’t look beyond their organically grown kitchen-garden. So one doesn’t have to expect much more from these older altemativos anymore either.

Yes, I know, this is a lot of criticism. But this can’t hurt in a city where one pretends nothing’s wrong. Besides: why should I remain friendly towards all these hypocritical and narrow-minded people anyway? If one keeps always silent, nothing ever changes. I can’t tolerate all that false cheering and petty-bourgeois hypocrisy any longer.

More on this concert: 91-03-16 N.O.F. – Scraps – P.J.D. – C.F.C.

Here’s a some extra photos, contrbitued by Justin ‘Nunca Mas’ Neumaier:

‘Nations On Fire’  (with a young Hans Verbele in the crowd)

‘Private Jesus Detector’

‘Scraps’

Bruno, the spider in the web ;-)

Intro: 96-09-20&21&22 8^th Leed festival

‘Carcer Molochi’ played on Saturday early in the afternoon with Gork (who had been playing here with ‘Coche Bomba’ the year before: 95-09-16) and myself doing vocals, Michael [Maes] drumming, Yannick [from France] on bass and Erwin [Degryse; still] on guitar.

Inge Cappoen, ‘Carcer Molochi’ vocalist

The band of V.V. ‘shitworker Michael Maes, ‘Carcer Molochi’, had played here quite a few times before. Their line-up had changed here: bassist Danny Suffys, drummer David Stubbe & vocalist Johan Sys had left, Michael switched instrument and some new people joined as Inge pointed out… A few months later (early 97) partners Mike & Inge would start ‘Link’ with Greg on bass and Juju on drums…

‘Witchknot’ (from Bradford) had played here already (93-09-18). Jane Graham (bass & vocals) was replaced by bassist Kess. ‘Foundsters’ Sarah MacHenry (drums; was in ‘Curse of Eve’ in the 80s), Lianne Hall (guitar & vocals) had turned the band into a 6-piece with the addition of Sally Stone (vocals), Marion (violin), Gaynor Haggerty (cello). They were described as “Punky ladies knitting songs with a load of instruments”. They put on punk and riot grrrl gigs and Witchfests at the 1 in 12. Sned put out their EP (Suck; Tilt! #8: >>The music these wome produce is not based on the traditional rock’n’roll structures. The untypical use of instruments and the upbeat colliding rhythms make it sound really bright and refreshing. Songs about empowerment and protest. A true kick in the nuts of capitalism and patriarchy.<<) and LP (Squawk; Tilt! #9: >>Complex, rhythmic, yet danceable earthbeat-punk reminiscent of ‘Recusant’, ‘Dawson’… The dashing beats keep putting you on the wrong foot but these women are still able to drag me along in their whirligig. The violin and cello also give it a folky feel. […]<<) on his label Flat Earth recs during the years. Some people labeled their music (experimental jazzy) post-punk and mentioned influences such as ‘The Slits’, ‘X-Ray Spex’, ‘The Ex’, ‘Dog Faced Hermans’, etc. etc. Later Kes and Sarah formed ‘Baba Yaga’… Well into the new century Sarah’s in Wales, playing in ‘Mwstard’ with her partner Alec Mac…

‘Witchknot’ (from Sascha May’s zine Evilspeak #3)

‘Quarantine’ (from Glasgow) were Brian Curran (guitar & vocals; ex ‘Disaffect’; later ‘Debris’), Tracey Fallon (bass & vocals) and Jamie Usher (drums; ex ‘Disturbed’, ‘Headstart’ & ‘Sedition’). If I’m well informed they did a tape – entitled Doin’ It Wrong – in ’95. Their LP Automatic Negative Thoughts was recorded in April ‘96 and released by Nabate. My reviwe in Tilt! #9 goes: >>Brutally refreshing music that provides people with the adequate energy to meet the demands and resist the pressure of life. Great melodic crusty HC with brilliant hooks and catchy riffs. ‘Strawman’ and ‘Jawbreaker’ jump to my mind. […] Wonderful!<< (The 7” Junction was registered July 1997.)

‘P.A.I.N.’ (Propaganda And Information Network) – with some people who were also in ‘AOS3’ and ‘Radical Dance Faction’- brought ska-punk with reggae/dub influences supporting anarcho-style rantings. They were compared to ‘Inner Terrestrials. The band was from London: John Horabin (vocals & keyboard; was here before with ‘AOS3’), Phil ‘Pain’ Beckett (guitar & vocals), Ozzy ‘Captain Ozbert’ Wilkins (bass & vocals) and ‘Dan the Man Bdlang’, Danny Sylvester (drums & vocals). In 1996 they put out the album Oh My God! We’re Doing It! on the Bristol label Inna State recs.

‘Bad Influence’ had also been playing at the V.V. many times… This was the period after the Afterbirth 10” was released (marketed as “the Belgian answer to ‘Amebix’ and ‘Zygote’), so this might’ve been with ‘Eggy’ Egbert Verheyen playing guitar…? And Tim ‘Cow’ Shapland on bass?

‘Kirous’ from Joutseno (Finlan) were Jonne Kauko (drums; ex ‘Selfish’), Ossi Vepsäläinen (guitar), Toni Eiskonen (bass; editor of Downsided zine), Antti Valius (vocals; here replaced by ‘Sharpeville’s vocalist, later by Teemu Bergman). In 94 they’d put our a 7” the Parisian label Minstrel recs.

‘State Of Filth’ from Preston (Lancashire) played “fast, heavy crust-core with dual vocals”. A DIY/political band; in a later stage fronted by Wayne Southworth (vocals, ex ‘Sore Throat’, ex ‘Doom; also in ‘Blood Sucking Freaks’ with Bri & Stick of ‘Doom’; R.I.P. 2005). They did a demo (Forced Into Silence ; 20 tracks; “mostly sludgy punk/crust at 1000mph”) in 1996. Nick Loaring (‘Ebola’ vocalist) put out a split-7” with ‘Slain’ on his label Enslaved in 1998. 28 of their songs appeared on a split-CD in the noughties… On the 7”: Kev (bass ?), James, Adrian ‘Ade’, Rob(bie) (vocals ?) and Stu(art) Knowles (drums; later ‘The Day Man Lost’). They also appeared on the The Boredom And The Bullshit 7” compilation (‘96, Refusenik) and on the 7” More Noise By Nice Boys (‘97, Czech compilation).

‘Clutch Assembly’ was a duo into techno and techno-house: Hendrik Willemyns & Thomas Laureyssens. In ’97 they released some material on Nova Zembla, a Belgian label (based in Zwijndrecht) with a respected name in the techno-scene…

Brob

‘Clutch Assembly’ is the band ‘Arsenal’ nowadays… Hendrik was a friend of mine from uni…

Peter Vanthuyne (V.V. shitworker)

We always enjoyed playing the Vort’n Vis. Somewhere I have photos from one of our last (maybe the last…?) European gigs when we played there with ‘Quarantine’. Me and Alec [‘Health Hazard’, ‘Suffer’, …] live in the middle of nowhere now, but we do a band with a friend of ours [‘Mwstard’], maybe an oldies band on the way…

Sarah MacHenry, ‘Witchknot’ drummer

‘Quarantine’ played at the Vort’n Vis Leed fest in ‘96 along with ‘Witchknot’ (who were our touring-mates on that trip). First time I’d played in the big barn and not the bar. Really good gig I remember, apart from Tracey got her sleeping-bag stolen, that good times were had by all… We only stayed one day as we we were in Germany the day before and after. Think that was the only time ‘Quarantine’ played the V.V. We did quite a bit in a short period of time (95-98). LP, EP, demo, 4 Euro-tours with some pretty cool bands (‘Kort Prosess’, ‘Counterblast’, ‘Scatha’, ‘Witchknot’, ‘Battle of Disarm’, ‘Active Minds’ and plenty more). ‘I.B.’ and Adam [see guestbook] did come along with us as travelling companions on this trip.

Brian Curran, ‘Quarantine’

I vaguely remember that gig. There was a city festival at the same time and I remember going there to see some Japanese taiko drumming. At the time of that tour we had 2 substitute vocalists from ‘Sharpeville’ (our own vocalist Antti was not able to tour). We played did some shows in Germany with ‘State Of Filth’. The guitar-player Ossi passed away in 1999 and that’s when ‘Kirous’ ended. Jonne and me formed a new band ‘Yhdeksäs Surmanluoti’ but we never did a record with that band.

Toni Eiskonen, ‘Kirous’ bassist

Angus McPhee, of ‘Glue’, drove ‘Quarantine’ around that tour!!!

Angus Quinn, ‘Sedition’

Your archival skills continue to impress me. It’s really nice to see the entries in the guestbook. ‘I.B.’ and Adam did travel with us and also a third friend Carolyn (not in bands). ‘I.B.’ and I were in a relationship at that time. Adam was Brian’s flatmate. We took Andy [Irvine] (‘Scatha’s) distro with us and Adam & Carolyn helped with that as well amongst other things. ‘I.B.’ played in Scatha – band that ‘Quarantine’ toured and played a great deal with due to mutual friendships and past musical connections – as well.

Tracey Fallon, ‘Quarantine’

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

‘I.B.’ (‘Disaffect’), Angus (‘Glue’), Adam Johnston (‘Headstart’) were there as well…

additions wellcome!…

More on this concert: 91-08-18 Oi Polloi – Upside – One By One

Deek Allan: “In these pictures it’s Chris Orr on guitar (living in London nowadays), me on vocals and ‘Filthy’ Phil (can’t remember his real surname) [Murray; see comment] on bass – he never recorded anything with us but played bass for a while, including the tour with ‘One By One’.”

photos by Eric ‘React’ W.

centrally: Karin R. (with necklace – later ‘One By One’ vocalist), Manu (red T-shirt – Nabate, and later ‘Unhinged vocalist) & ‘Veggie’ Stephane Boens (bowing his head – R.I.P.)

Sacha ‘Chat’n’ Baelen (R corner – later ‘Blindfold’ drummer)

‘Sned’ (in the background)

Chris Orr

‘Dreaming Dan Rhythm’

More on this concert: 96-05-12 Feeding The Fire – Kindred – Shaft – Resist The Pain – Sektor – Voices At The Front

Photos courtesy of Letske M. (these are the ones mentioned in the original post by Steve Lammertyn)

Vik B., ‘Voices At The Front’

Vincent Theeten & Vik B. (‘Voices At The Front’)

Gaëtan Golvet (‘Voices At The Front’)

Sim Meersseman & Stefaan ‘Merel’ Merlevede (‘Voices At The Front’)

Vincent Theeten (‘Voices At The Front’)

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Vincent ‘Murph’ Merveillie (‘Resist The Pain’)

Pedro Fioen, behind ‘Murph’ (‘Resist The Pain’)

Steve Noyelle (‘Resist The Pain’)

Jan Volckaert (‘Resist The Pain’)

————————-

the crowd (with Hans Verbeke, Joost Noyelle, one of the Ferket bros, etc.) – great mural by Joeri Stubbe

Virginie Logie

‘Control’ rehearsing before their actual performance…

That’s ‘Sientje’ [Nico Sinnaeve] on drums, Freddy [Frederik Vanhee] on bass (both in ‘D.S.A.’ around that time) and, I believe, ‘Lorre’ [Laurent] Peene (‘Sorehead’; R.I.P.) jamming with Steve Noyelle in the V.V. rehearsal-space… The performance was, in my opinion, a one-off.

Steve Lammertyn

I know that my first band was together with Steve Noyelle & Nico but the name escapes me… Frankly, I can ‘t remember… On the photo of the rehearsal I think that’s ‘Murph’ [Vincent Merveillie, ‘Resist The Pain’ vocalist] sticking out above the rest and Jan Volckaert [‘Resist The Pain’ drummer] on the left.

Frederik Vanhee

Yep, that was our first band, with Steve Noyelle: ‘Control’. We only played this one time. Pierre ‘Congress’ was there too and sang a few songs…

Nico Sinnaeve

Actually this wasn’t an official concert; just a cozy get-together in the rehearsal-room – no particular occasion. Piling too many people in a small shack and go nuts …

Pedro Fioen

*************************

a ‘concert’ díd take place… pics by Steve Lammertyn:

‘Carcer Molochi’: Inge Cappoen (vocals), Michael Maes (drums), Erwin Degryse (guitar); Johan Sys, Danny Suffys & David Stubbe might’ve just left the band around that time…

————————-

‘Resist The Pain’: Steve Noyelle (bass), Jan Volckaert (drums), Vincent Merveillie (vocals), Pedro Fioen (guitar)

————————-

‘Control’

More on this concert: 96-05-12 Feeding The Fire – Kindred – Shaft – Resist The Pain – Sektor – Voices At The Front

Photos courtesy of Letske M. (these are the ones mentioned in the original post by Steve Lammertyn)

Illona Stephan (‘Feeding The Fire’)

René Natzel (‘Feeding The Fire’)

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‘Kindred’: Jan Beckers (guitar), Maarten Beckers (drums), Eric Sefton (vocals), Walter Beckers (bass) & Raf Gielen (guitar)

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Piet Cardoen (‘Sektor’) + Karen Rolly & Valerie Afschrift

‘Lenny’ Wouter Cael (‘Sektor’)

Bert Guillemont (‘Sektor’)

Jeroen Therry (‘Sektor’)

See: 93-09-17&18&19 5th Leed-festival (Intro & Incident)

‘De Kift’ play post-punk (a mix of punk, fanfare, rock & pop). They came from Koog-aan-de-Zaan (North of Amsterdam). The band still exists and plays; have a look at dekift.nl. Back in these days I think the line-up was as follows: Ferry Heijne (vocals/trombone/trumpet/guitar; ex ‘Svätsox’), Han Hulscher (trumpet), Jan Heijne (trumpet), Mathijs Houwink (bass; ex ‘B.G.K.’ – Niels de Wit played on the Krankenhaus LP), Patrick Votrian (trombone/tuba), Pim Heijne (guitar), Wim Ter Weele (drums) and Marco Heijne (vocals). Frank Van Den Bos (keyboards; also ‘Trespassers W’) joined later.

The guy who did the sound for them was ‘Bill Bimetaal’ (René de Boer), who used to play guitar in ‘U.B.C.F.’ (‘United Blessed Chicken Fuckers’). He also did the sound in the famous Emma squat in Amsterdam and the Groote Weiver in Krommenie. Nowadays he plays in ‘Fucking Virgins’ (fuckingvirgins.nl)…

‘Beerepoot Brothers’ were a “bluegrasscountryfolkpunkmetal” band. They “fucked up old blues and country songs, old punk classics, and even covered ‘Slayer’s Angel Of Death”. Niels de Wit (ex ‘Gepöpel’ & ‘Vernon Walters’) did vocals and played banjo/harp/kazoo, Ed played guitar and ‘Frommel Beerenose’ ‘jug and kuttepiel’.”. They were announced in the V.V. newsletter but I can ‘t really remember them playing…

‘Fingerprint’, from the Paris suburbs, had already played here (93-05-22). Christophe Mora (guitar/vocals) and his mates Nicolas Fisseau (vocals), Thomas Guillanton (bass) & Jérome Bessout (drums) brought us their intense emo-HC from the Surrender 7” (that was out on Christophe’s label Stonehenge recs) and their new stuff (that was gonna be on the We May Be Brothers 7”).

Brob

This gig was just before I joined ‘De Kift’ but I do know that the band played in Ieper! The others sometimes still talk about it…

Frank van den Bos, keyboards ‘De Kift’

Can remember that one vividly… It was my birthday that day. It was the very, very first time Krankenhaus [LP out on Konkurrel Sep. ‘93]. A very noisy crowd, there was, indeed. Un-Belgian actually.

Marco Heijne

The people of ‘Fingerprint’ slept at my house that night…

Henk Loobuyck [There was a short interviwe he did with them in the V.V zine Fifi #1]

As far as I can remember ‘B.B.’ only played Belgium once, together with ‘De Kift’, for an audience of militant straight-edgers. We did our bluegrass adaptation of ‘Minor Threat’s (I’m Not) Straight Edge… :-) We did it as a duo because Ed had missed the train…

I also played with ‘De Kift’. Mathijs joined a few years later (around the Gaaphonger album I believe). ‘De Kift’ was a trio (Ferry, Wim & myself) for a while. After Krankenhaus we expanded live to a band of 7 or 8. After a few months I left (to return several times as a stand-in). The line-up at this gig was Ferry, Wim, Niels, Pim Heyne, Jan – the father of Ferry & Marco – on trumpet, and ‘declamateurs’ Maarten van Oudshoorn & Eddie Kagie.

Niels de Wit

Niels announced the song as I’m Not Straight Edge by the ‘Beer Drinking McKay Family’.

‘Frommel’

additions wellcome!…

See: 93-09-17&18&19 5th Leed-festival (Intro & Incident)

‘Sore Throat’ (UK) was announced in the preceding newsletter as “very likely” but this didn’t happen….

In Willy ‘Hiatus’ zine (Rabougri #1) ‘Doom’s Brian Talbot & Tony ‘Stick’ Dickens tell how they decided to throw J(h)on Pickering (vocals) & Pete Nash (bass) out, already before the Japan tour (but they did still come along) and after the recordings of The Greatest Invention. They were replaced by Tom Croft & Paul ‘Mall’ Mallen (guitarist & bassist of ‘Excrement Of War’, ‘Stick’ played drums for them aswell). This new foursome recorded for the splits with ‘Selfish’ (Ecocentric recs ’94) & ‘Hiatus’ (Lost The Fight, on Flat Earth recs ’93). ‘Mall’ was replaced by ‘Scoot’ and that line-up recorded Doomed To Extinction (split with ‘Extinction of Mankind’ on Ecocentric recs ‘94), the Hail To Sweden 7” (released in ’94) and Fuck Peaceville (recorded Feb ‘95). The Live In Japan EP (recorded April ‘92) also came out on Ecocentric recs. ‘Scoot Gladok’ played bass at this gig already…

‘Doom’ (photo courtesy of Willy ‘Hiatus’)

‘Witchknot’ (Bradford) played this one with Jane Graham (bass & vocals; later replaced by bassist Kess), Sarah MacHenry (drums), Lianne Hall (guitar & vocals), the ‘foundsters’. They stepped up from 3-piece to a 6-piece (see 96-09-21) when Sally Stone (vocals), Marion (violin), Gaynor Haggerty (cello) joined. They described themselves as “Punky ladies knitting songs with a load of instruments” and said their (experimental jazzy) post-punk was influenced by ‘The Slits’, ‘X-Ray Spex’, ‘The Ex’, ‘Dog Faced Hermans’, etc. etc. They put on punk and riot grrrl gigs and Witchfests at the 1 in 12. Sned put out ther EP (Suck) and LP (Squawk) on his label Flat Earth recs the years after. Their touring was in a van that they called Fanny the Tranny… I believe I’d gotten in touch with Jane though here zine Shag Stamp when she was still living in Sheffield. It was nice to meet her there.

‘Witchknot’

‘Health Hazard’: Sned (drums), Chris Gazza (bass), Mandy (vocals) & Alec Mac (guitar). The first of their 4 passages at the V.V. They’ld come back 94-03-05, 94-03-19 & 95-02-11.

‘Witchknot’ & ‘Health Hazard’ on tour

‘Health Hazard’ (photos by Karl Penando)

‘6 Feet Over’ had just come back from a very intense tour (14 concerts in France/Spain/Switzerland/Luxemburg) in August with ‘Hiatus’ (Chris ‘Gazza’ on bass then) where Sned was drumming for them. They had met him when he was the interim bassist for ‘Doom’ earlier that year (93-02-27). Pierre Anne had left after these gigs with ‘Doom’ so they asked Sned to fill in…

‘6 Feet Over’

‘Bambix’ played a tuneful, melodic brand of HC/punkrock with great vocals/chorusses. ‘Wick’ Dewilde played drums and sang originally. Just listen to their debut-7” (They Even Took The Memory)! The CD Out Of The Cradle Endlessly Rocking was the last one they recorded with the orginal line-up (‘92). In 1993 first Nat and then Maniet left, ‘Wick’ went on with other people. The line-up changed quite a few times. (For their second album Crossing Common Borders, ‘Wick’ switched from drums to guitar and Beer Delsman started drumming. The 3^rd, Leitmotiv, was still with Maniet, and with Peter on drums.) and nowadays ‘Wick’ is the front-woman, still singing and playing guitar. They play/tour a lot, all over the world (even Latin-America). Check out bambix.org

‘Because’ (from Luxembourg) were Michelle Marnach (vocals), Brego (bass), ‘Gull’ Alain Gouleven (guitar; later ‘D’Rotzbouwen’) and Thierry Thill (drums). Michelle & Brego were a couple at that time. I started corresponding with them because they did the zine Persons Unknown. Some of the band’s music appeared on a demo: Some More Ugly Puke Stories.

No idea anymore who ‘Plum’ were and if they actually played… Henk Lobuyck reviewed their demo in Fifi #5. Apparently they were friends of V.V. shitworker Peter Vanthuyne; a 3-piece from the Brussels area that played punkrock reminiscent of the ‘Ramones’…

Michael Maes (‘Carcer Molochi’, ‘Link’) claims the band he played guitar for at that time – ‘As Usual’ – performed at Leed ‘92. I’m pretty sure it was in ’93 (as is mentioned on the flyer and in Johan Seys’ zine Gash #1). The others in the band were Danny Suffys (bass), Dimi Loonis (vocals) and Frederick Wyckaert (drums). Before this they “experimented” under the name ‘Suffocating Emotions’, covering other HC/punk bands. A few months after this, end ’93, they recorded a first demo (rehearsal). Johan ‘Boeze’ Seys did vocals too.

‘As Usual’

Jon ‘Active’ Elliott came over and did a stall! At that time Bruno ‘Genet’, Joeir Hoste and myself had merged our distros (a project named Fuse!) and since I insisted we expanded the reading-material, this was a good chance to stock up on the vast amont of books that Jon was carrying. A cooperation that lasted when Fuse! broke up and I started Tilt! (the mailorder distro) up again…

Steve Hyland (Attitude Problem zine, A Network Of Friends distro, 1 in 12) was there aswell. A very nice bloke; vegan, sXe (at that time); a mate of Jaak ‘N.O.F.’ aswell. Interesting chap too, studied sociology and social history. And very active… I think, as of today he’s still putting up gigs (Means To An End)…

One of my French zinester-correspondents, Armel Presselin (Auf-Zu) also visited…

Brob

We played our last gig with ‘6 F.O.’ that day…

Karl Penando

My first ever gig ever outside of England, this all-dayer, a life changing moment indeed… It was overwhelming as I had never left the country before & I was playing my first concert with ‘Doom’ – a very special moment for a 19yr old. ‘Doom’ travelled alone, we just did the one gig, we all [Brob: the other bands/people from Bradford/Leeds.] travelled back together though, I felt very proud & happy to be a part of everything – never did I think I would be in a band/bands travelling the world, playing DIY punk music & involved in the community – magical… My memory isn’t as good these days and I’m afraid all my photos of this concert got stolen… ‘Sore Throat’ did not play – this I know for sure. ‘Doom’ arrived quite late if I remember well. I recall seeing ‘6 Feet Over’ and the rest of the bands. It was busy and people couldn’t get into the gig. I don’t remember any trouble!

Scoot (‘Doom’s bassplayer)

I can remember ‘Nations On Fire’ [the next day]… But was this the concert where we slept above the venue and got thrown beer at us?

‘Wick’, Bambix

This was my first time here; I hitch-hiked there with Wojtek from ‘HomoMilitia’. We almost missed the first day but luckily made it on time just to see the 2 bands we wanted to see: ‘Doom’ and ‘Health Hazard’. I kept coming to that fest every year till ‘98…

Pawel, Scream recs (Gdansk, Poland)

If I recall well this was with ‘Oi Polloi’. Hate to admit it but I was very nervous and very drunk after the show, but still: no regrets. I remember having a big discussion with ‘Oi Polloi’ because we accidentally took their sleeping-place…

[Brob: ‘Oi Polloi’ ??? They – Deek (vocals) / Calum (bass) / Murray (drums) / Brian (guitar) – were interviewed in Fifi #1 (published May ‘94). But Calum tells me: “No, I don’t think we played. I’m sure I would have remembered this incident.”.]

Thierry Till, ‘Because’ drummer

Dominique & Philip Osier (from Antwerp) were 2 brothers playing in ‘Plum’… Later they played in the absurd cabaret ‘Circus Bulderdrang’ and after that they were musicians for Guido Belcanto [street-singer, variety-artist and “rock’n roll chansonnier”] … ‘Plum’ had a demo with 4 songs… I knew them from uni. [see comment]

Peter Vanthuyne

The ‘Plum’ demo was entitled Six Feet Down. Here’s the cover…

Henk Loobuyck

additions wellcome!…

Intro: 95-08-18&19&20 Hardcore Festival

After the split of ‘Spirit Of Youth’, Dominiek ‘Dompie’ Denolf (guitar) and Frederik Denolf (drums) formed ‘Solid’ together with Kris Casier (bass) and Giovanni Debruyne (vocals). They would record 5 songs at Midas studios in January ’96 and that was released on a mCD entitled Sadness Of Mankind (co-release on Alain Herszaft’s Released Power Productions and Existence Of Hate recs – also NYHC fanzine by Jean-François Fleury – from Vaulx). “Metallic NY style HC”.

‘Solid’ (photos by Steve Lammertyn [1]&[2]; ? [3])

‘Burning Defeat’, an emo-core band from Alessandria (Italy), were: Diego Cestino (vocals; also ‘Permanent Scar’), Alessandro ‘Alex’ Azzali (bass), Andrea ‘Ics’ Ferraris (guitar; also ‘Permanent Scar’) and Umberto Fabbri (drums). They had 2 realease on Green recs: Singlin’ Out The Aims 7” (‘94) & Seldom LP (‘96). In 1996 they were on the bill of the fest again…

According to Michael Maes ‘The Jedi’ started out with himself on drums, Edward Verhaeghe (‘N.O.F.’) on guitar, Jeroen Lauwers on bass (who quit after one rehearal) and Vik Bulik singing; but they never played with that line-up. Kurt Deprez (ex ‘Shortsight’) played bass when Jeroen left… Letske Mistiaen also sang for this band at one timepoint. There’s a photo of them playing at The Pits (95-07-20) with Vadim Vandekerckhove (later in ‘Sektor’) on guitar and another bassist (according to Vik: a guy named Koen). I doubt it that the drummer was Jaak of ‘Nations On Fire’ as someone suggested… The band didn’t last very long. Letske (even though appearing with the GL logo in her hair on the first GoodLife compilation) & Vik later did a sticker ‘HC 1997 killed by GL’… I guess that explains things… Photos of ‘The Jedi’ mysteriously disappeared ;-)…

Brob

‘The Jedi’…wasn’t a big deal… I was about 17 I think…

Letske M.

‘The Jedi’ was an idea of Edward and I rehearsed with them once, I recall vaguely. One band with him was enough. I thought that Jurgen Desmet’s brother did the drumming and the rest moved on to ‘Spineless’ (and later ‘AmenRa’).

Jeroen Lauwers

‘The Jedi’ were Ward ‘GoodLife’, Letske, Koen Sandra and myself. We only did a few gigs, the band didn’t last that long.

Vadim Vandekerckhove

All I remember is that we played in the barn in the back of the V.V. and that it was really hot…

Kris Casier, ‘Solid’ bassist

excerpt from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…

More on this concert: 91-03-16 N.O.F. – Scraps – P.J.D. – C.F.C.

Here’s a some extra photos, contrbitued by Justin ‘Nunca Mas’ Neumaier:

‘Nations On Fire’  (with a young Hans Verbele in the crowd)

‘Private Jesus Detector’

‘Scraps’

Bruno, the spider in the web ;-)

Intro: 96-09-20&21&22 8^th Leed festival

‘Carcer Molochi’ played on Saturday early in the afternoon with Gork (who had been playing here with ‘Coche Bomba’ the year before: 95-09-16) and myself doing vocals, Michael [Maes] drumming, Yannick [from France] on bass and Erwin [Degryse; still] on guitar.

Inge Cappoen, ‘Carcer Molochi’ vocalist

The band of V.V. ‘shitworker Michael Maes, ‘Carcer Molochi’, had played here quite a few times before. Their line-up had changed here: bassist Danny Suffys, drummer David Stubbe & vocalist Johan Sys had left, Michael switched instrument and some new people joined as Inge pointed out… A few months later (early 97) partners Mike & Inge would start ‘Link’ with Greg on bass and Juju on drums…

‘Witchknot’ (from Bradford) had played here already (93-09-18). Jane Graham (bass & vocals) was replaced by bassist Kess. ‘Foundsters’ Sarah MacHenry (drums; was in ‘Curse of Eve’ in the 80s), Lianne Hall (guitar & vocals) had turned the band into a 6-piece with the addition of Sally Stone (vocals), Marion (violin), Gaynor Haggerty (cello). They were described as “Punky ladies knitting songs with a load of instruments”. They put on punk and riot grrrl gigs and Witchfests at the 1 in 12. Sned put out their EP (Suck; Tilt! #8: >>The music these wome produce is not based on the traditional rock’n’roll structures. The untypical use of instruments and the upbeat colliding rhythms make it sound really bright and refreshing. Songs about empowerment and protest. A true kick in the nuts of capitalism and patriarchy.<<) and LP (Squawk; Tilt! #9: >>Complex, rhythmic, yet danceable earthbeat-punk reminiscent of ‘Recusant’, ‘Dawson’… The dashing beats keep putting you on the wrong foot but these women are still able to drag me along in their whirligig. The violin and cello also give it a folky feel. […]<<) on his label Flat Earth recs during the years. Some people labeled their music (experimental jazzy) post-punk and mentioned influences such as ‘The Slits’, ‘X-Ray Spex’, ‘The Ex’, ‘Dog Faced Hermans’, etc. etc. Later Kes and Sarah formed ‘Baba Yaga’… Well into the new century Sarah’s in Wales, playing in ‘Mwstard’ with her partner Alec Mac…

‘Witchknot’ (from Sascha May’s zine Evilspeak #3)

‘Quarantine’ (from Glasgow) were Brian Curran (guitar & vocals; ex ‘Disaffect’; later ‘Debris’), Tracey Fallon (bass & vocals) and Jamie Usher (drums; ex ‘Disturbed’, ‘Headstart’ & ‘Sedition’). If I’m well informed they did a tape – entitled Doin’ It Wrong – in ’95. Their LP Automatic Negative Thoughts was recorded in April ‘96 and released by Nabate. My reviwe in Tilt! #9 goes: >>Brutally refreshing music that provides people with the adequate energy to meet the demands and resist the pressure of life. Great melodic crusty HC with brilliant hooks and catchy riffs. ‘Strawman’ and ‘Jawbreaker’ jump to my mind. […] Wonderful!<< (The 7” Junction was registered July 1997.)

‘P.A.I.N.’ (Propaganda And Information Network) – with some people who were also in ‘AOS3’ and ‘Radical Dance Faction’- brought ska-punk with reggae/dub influences supporting anarcho-style rantings. They were compared to ‘Inner Terrestrials. The band was from London: John Horabin (vocals & keyboard; was here before with ‘AOS3’), Phil ‘Pain’ Beckett (guitar & vocals), Ozzy ‘Captain Ozbert’ Wilkins (bass & vocals) and ‘Dan the Man Bdlang’, Danny Sylvester (drums & vocals). In 1996 they put out the album Oh My God! We’re Doing It! on the Bristol label Inna State recs.

‘Bad Influence’ had also been playing at the V.V. many times… This was the period after the Afterbirth 10” was released (marketed as “the Belgian answer to ‘Amebix’ and ‘Zygote’), so this might’ve been with ‘Eggy’ Egbert Verheyen playing guitar…? And Tim ‘Cow’ Shapland on bass?

‘Kirous’ from Joutseno (Finlan) were Jonne Kauko (drums; ex ‘Selfish’), Ossi Vepsäläinen (guitar), Toni Eiskonen (bass; editor of Downsided zine), Antti Valius (vocals; here replaced by ‘Sharpeville’s vocalist, later by Teemu Bergman). In 94 they’d put our a 7” the Parisian label Minstrel recs.

‘State Of Filth’ from Preston (Lancashire) played “fast, heavy crust-core with dual vocals”. A DIY/political band; in a later stage fronted by Wayne Southworth (vocals, ex ‘Sore Throat’, ex ‘Doom; also in ‘Blood Sucking Freaks’ with Bri & Stick of ‘Doom’; R.I.P. 2005). They did a demo (Forced Into Silence ; 20 tracks; “mostly sludgy punk/crust at 1000mph”) in 1996. Nick Loaring (‘Ebola’ vocalist) put out a split-7” with ‘Slain’ on his label Enslaved in 1998. 28 of their songs appeared on a split-CD in the noughties… On the 7”: Kev (bass ?), James, Adrian ‘Ade’, Rob(bie) (vocals ?) and Stu(art) Knowles (drums; later ‘The Day Man Lost’). They also appeared on the The Boredom And The Bullshit 7” compilation (‘96, Refusenik) and on the 7” More Noise By Nice Boys (‘97, Czech compilation).

‘Clutch Assembly’ was a duo into techno and techno-house: Hendrik Willemyns & Thomas Laureyssens. In ’97 they released some material on Nova Zembla, a Belgian label (based in Zwijndrecht) with a respected name in the techno-scene…

Brob

‘Clutch Assembly’ is the band ‘Arsenal’ nowadays… Hendrik was a friend of mine from uni…

Peter Vanthuyne (V.V. shitworker)

We always enjoyed playing the Vort’n Vis. Somewhere I have photos from one of our last (maybe the last…?) European gigs when we played there with ‘Quarantine’. Me and Alec [‘Health Hazard’, ‘Suffer’, …] live in the middle of nowhere now, but we do a band with a friend of ours [‘Mwstard’], maybe an oldies band on the way…

Sarah MacHenry, ‘Witchknot’ drummer

‘Quarantine’ played at the Vort’n Vis Leed fest in ‘96 along with ‘Witchknot’ (who were our touring-mates on that trip). First time I’d played in the big barn and not the bar. Really good gig I remember, apart from Tracey got her sleeping-bag stolen, that good times were had by all… We only stayed one day as we we were in Germany the day before and after. Think that was the only time ‘Quarantine’ played the V.V. We did quite a bit in a short period of time (95-98). LP, EP, demo, 4 Euro-tours with some pretty cool bands (‘Kort Prosess’, ‘Counterblast’, ‘Scatha’, ‘Witchknot’, ‘Battle of Disarm’, ‘Active Minds’ and plenty more). ‘I.B.’ and Adam [see guestbook] did come along with us as travelling companions on this trip.

Brian Curran, ‘Quarantine’

I vaguely remember that gig. There was a city festival at the same time and I remember going there to see some Japanese taiko drumming. At the time of that tour we had 2 substitute vocalists from ‘Sharpeville’ (our own vocalist Antti was not able to tour). We played did some shows in Germany with ‘State Of Filth’. The guitar-player Ossi passed away in 1999 and that’s when ‘Kirous’ ended. Jonne and me formed a new band ‘Yhdeksäs Surmanluoti’ but we never did a record with that band.

Toni Eiskonen, ‘Kirous’ bassist

Angus McPhee, of ‘Glue’, drove ‘Quarantine’ around that tour!!!

Angus Quinn, ‘Sedition’

Your archival skills continue to impress me. It’s really nice to see the entries in the guestbook. ‘I.B.’ and Adam did travel with us and also a third friend Carolyn (not in bands). ‘I.B.’ and I were in a relationship at that time. Adam was Brian’s flatmate. We took Andy [Irvine] (‘Scatha’s) distro with us and Adam & Carolyn helped with that as well amongst other things. ‘I.B.’ played in Scatha – band that ‘Quarantine’ toured and played a great deal with due to mutual friendships and past musical connections – as well.

Tracey Fallon, ‘Quarantine’

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

‘I.B.’ (‘Disaffect’), Angus (‘Glue’), Adam Johnston (‘Headstart’) were there as well…

additions wellcome!…

More on this concert: 91-08-18 Oi Polloi – Upside – One By One

Deek Allan: “In these pictures it’s Chris Orr on guitar (living in London nowadays), me on vocals and ‘Filthy’ Phil (can’t remember his real surname) [Murray; see comment] on bass – he never recorded anything with us but played bass for a while, including the tour with ‘One By One’.”

photos by Eric ‘React’ W.

centrally: Karin R. (with necklace – later ‘One By One’ vocalist), Manu (red T-shirt – Nabate, and later ‘Unhinged vocalist) & ‘Veggie’ Stephane Boens (bowing his head – R.I.P.)

Sacha ‘Chat’n’ Baelen (R corner – later ‘Blindfold’ drummer)

‘Sned’ (in the background)

Chris Orr

‘Dreaming Dan Rhythm’

More on this concert: 96-05-12 Feeding The Fire – Kindred – Shaft – Resist The Pain – Sektor – Voices At The Front

Photos courtesy of Letske M. (these are the ones mentioned in the original post by Steve Lammertyn)

Vik B., ‘Voices At The Front’

Vincent Theeten & Vik B. (‘Voices At The Front’)

Gaëtan Golvet (‘Voices At The Front’)

Sim Meersseman & Stefaan ‘Merel’ Merlevede (‘Voices At The Front’)

Vincent Theeten (‘Voices At The Front’)

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Vincent ‘Murph’ Merveillie (‘Resist The Pain’)

Pedro Fioen, behind ‘Murph’ (‘Resist The Pain’)

Steve Noyelle (‘Resist The Pain’)

Jan Volckaert (‘Resist The Pain’)

————————-

the crowd (with Hans Verbeke, Joost Noyelle, one of the Ferket bros, etc.) – great mural by Joeri Stubbe

Virginie Logie

‘Control’ rehearsing before their actual performance…

That’s ‘Sientje’ [Nico Sinnaeve] on drums, Freddy [Frederik Vanhee] on bass (both in ‘D.S.A.’ around that time) and, I believe, ‘Lorre’ [Laurent] Peene (‘Sorehead’; R.I.P.) jamming with Steve Noyelle in the V.V. rehearsal-space… The performance was, in my opinion, a one-off.

Steve Lammertyn

I know that my first band was together with Steve Noyelle & Nico but the name escapes me… Frankly, I can ‘t remember… On the photo of the rehearsal I think that’s ‘Murph’ [Vincent Merveillie, ‘Resist The Pain’ vocalist] sticking out above the rest and Jan Volckaert [‘Resist The Pain’ drummer] on the left.

Frederik Vanhee

Yep, that was our first band, with Steve Noyelle: ‘Control’. We only played this one time. Pierre ‘Congress’ was there too and sang a few songs…

Nico Sinnaeve

Actually this wasn’t an official concert; just a cozy get-together in the rehearsal-room – no particular occasion. Piling too many people in a small shack and go nuts …

Pedro Fioen

*************************

a ‘concert’ díd take place… pics by Steve Lammertyn:

‘Carcer Molochi’: Inge Cappoen (vocals), Michael Maes (drums), Erwin Degryse (guitar); Johan Sys, Danny Suffys & David Stubbe might’ve just left the band around that time…

————————-

‘Resist The Pain’: Steve Noyelle (bass), Jan Volckaert (drums), Vincent Merveillie (vocals), Pedro Fioen (guitar)

————————-

‘Control’

More on this concert: 96-05-12 Feeding The Fire – Kindred – Shaft – Resist The Pain – Sektor – Voices At The Front

Photos courtesy of Letske M. (these are the ones mentioned in the original post by Steve Lammertyn)

Illona Stephan (‘Feeding The Fire’)

René Natzel (‘Feeding The Fire’)

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‘Kindred’: Jan Beckers (guitar), Maarten Beckers (drums), Eric Sefton (vocals), Walter Beckers (bass) & Raf Gielen (guitar)

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Piet Cardoen (‘Sektor’) + Karen Rolly & Valerie Afschrift

‘Lenny’ Wouter Cael (‘Sektor’)

Bert Guillemont (‘Sektor’)

Jeroen Therry (‘Sektor’)

See: 93-09-17&18&19 5th Leed-festival (Intro & Incident)

‘De Kift’ play post-punk (a mix of punk, fanfare, rock & pop). They came from Koog-aan-de-Zaan (North of Amsterdam). The band still exists and plays; have a look at dekift.nl. Back in these days I think the line-up was as follows: Ferry Heijne (vocals/trombone/trumpet/guitar; ex ‘Svätsox’), Han Hulscher (trumpet), Jan Heijne (trumpet), Mathijs Houwink (bass; ex ‘B.G.K.’ – Niels de Wit played on the Krankenhaus LP), Patrick Votrian (trombone/tuba), Pim Heijne (guitar), Wim Ter Weele (drums) and Marco Heijne (vocals). Frank Van Den Bos (keyboards; also ‘Trespassers W’) joined later.

The guy who did the sound for them was ‘Bill Bimetaal’ (René de Boer), who used to play guitar in ‘U.B.C.F.’ (‘United Blessed Chicken Fuckers’). He also did the sound in the famous Emma squat in Amsterdam and the Groote Weiver in Krommenie. Nowadays he plays in ‘Fucking Virgins’ (fuckingvirgins.nl)…

‘Beerepoot Brothers’ were a “bluegrasscountryfolkpunkmetal” band. They “fucked up old blues and country songs, old punk classics, and even covered ‘Slayer’s Angel Of Death”. Niels de Wit (ex ‘Gepöpel’ & ‘Vernon Walters’) did vocals and played banjo/harp/kazoo, Ed played guitar and ‘Frommel Beerenose’ ‘jug and kuttepiel’.”. They were announced in the V.V. newsletter but I can ‘t really remember them playing…

‘Fingerprint’, from the Paris suburbs, had already played here (93-05-22). Christophe Mora (guitar/vocals) and his mates Nicolas Fisseau (vocals), Thomas Guillanton (bass) & Jérome Bessout (drums) brought us their intense emo-HC from the Surrender 7” (that was out on Christophe’s label Stonehenge recs) and their new stuff (that was gonna be on the We May Be Brothers 7”).

Brob

This gig was just before I joined ‘De Kift’ but I do know that the band played in Ieper! The others sometimes still talk about it…

Frank van den Bos, keyboards ‘De Kift’

Can remember that one vividly… It was my birthday that day. It was the very, very first time Krankenhaus [LP out on Konkurrel Sep. ‘93]. A very noisy crowd, there was, indeed. Un-Belgian actually.

Marco Heijne

The people of ‘Fingerprint’ slept at my house that night…

Henk Loobuyck [There was a short interviwe he did with them in the V.V zine Fifi #1]

As far as I can remember ‘B.B.’ only played Belgium once, together with ‘De Kift’, for an audience of militant straight-edgers. We did our bluegrass adaptation of ‘Minor Threat’s (I’m Not) Straight Edge… :-) We did it as a duo because Ed had missed the train…

I also played with ‘De Kift’. Mathijs joined a few years later (around the Gaaphonger album I believe). ‘De Kift’ was a trio (Ferry, Wim & myself) for a while. After Krankenhaus we expanded live to a band of 7 or 8. After a few months I left (to return several times as a stand-in). The line-up at this gig was Ferry, Wim, Niels, Pim Heyne, Jan – the father of Ferry & Marco – on trumpet, and ‘declamateurs’ Maarten van Oudshoorn & Eddie Kagie.

Niels de Wit

Niels announced the song as I’m Not Straight Edge by the ‘Beer Drinking McKay Family’.

‘Frommel’

additions wellcome!…

See: 93-09-17&18&19 5th Leed-festival (Intro & Incident)

‘Sore Throat’ (UK) was announced in the preceding newsletter as “very likely” but this didn’t happen….

In Willy ‘Hiatus’ zine (Rabougri #1) ‘Doom’s Brian Talbot & Tony ‘Stick’ Dickens tell how they decided to throw J(h)on Pickering (vocals) & Pete Nash (bass) out, already before the Japan tour (but they did still come along) and after the recordings of The Greatest Invention. They were replaced by Tom Croft & Paul ‘Mall’ Mallen (guitarist & bassist of ‘Excrement Of War’, ‘Stick’ played drums for them aswell). This new foursome recorded for the splits with ‘Selfish’ (Ecocentric recs ’94) & ‘Hiatus’ (Lost The Fight, on Flat Earth recs ’93). ‘Mall’ was replaced by ‘Scoot’ and that line-up recorded Doomed To Extinction (split with ‘Extinction of Mankind’ on Ecocentric recs ‘94), the Hail To Sweden 7” (released in ’94) and Fuck Peaceville (recorded Feb ‘95). The Live In Japan EP (recorded April ‘92) also came out on Ecocentric recs. ‘Scoot Gladok’ played bass at this gig already…

‘Doom’ (photo courtesy of Willy ‘Hiatus’)

‘Witchknot’ (Bradford) played this one with Jane Graham (bass & vocals; later replaced by bassist Kess), Sarah MacHenry (drums), Lianne Hall (guitar & vocals), the ‘foundsters’. They stepped up from 3-piece to a 6-piece (see 96-09-21) when Sally Stone (vocals), Marion (violin), Gaynor Haggerty (cello) joined. They described themselves as “Punky ladies knitting songs with a load of instruments” and said their (experimental jazzy) post-punk was influenced by ‘The Slits’, ‘X-Ray Spex’, ‘The Ex’, ‘Dog Faced Hermans’, etc. etc. They put on punk and riot grrrl gigs and Witchfests at the 1 in 12. Sned put out ther EP (Suck) and LP (Squawk) on his label Flat Earth recs the years after. Their touring was in a van that they called Fanny the Tranny… I believe I’d gotten in touch with Jane though here zine Shag Stamp when she was still living in Sheffield. It was nice to meet her there.

‘Witchknot’

‘Health Hazard’: Sned (drums), Chris Gazza (bass), Mandy (vocals) & Alec Mac (guitar). The first of their 4 passages at the V.V. They’ld come back 94-03-05, 94-03-19 & 95-02-11.

‘Witchknot’ & ‘Health Hazard’ on tour

‘Health Hazard’ (photos by Karl Penando)

‘6 Feet Over’ had just come back from a very intense tour (14 concerts in France/Spain/Switzerland/Luxemburg) in August with ‘Hiatus’ (Chris ‘Gazza’ on bass then) where Sned was drumming for them. They had met him when he was the interim bassist for ‘Doom’ earlier that year (93-02-27). Pierre Anne had left after these gigs with ‘Doom’ so they asked Sned to fill in…

‘6 Feet Over’

‘Bambix’ played a tuneful, melodic brand of HC/punkrock with great vocals/chorusses. ‘Wick’ Dewilde played drums and sang originally. Just listen to their debut-7” (They Even Took The Memory)! The CD Out Of The Cradle Endlessly Rocking was the last one they recorded with the orginal line-up (‘92). In 1993 first Nat and then Maniet left, ‘Wick’ went on with other people. The line-up changed quite a few times. (For their second album Crossing Common Borders, ‘Wick’ switched from drums to guitar and Beer Delsman started drumming. The 3^rd, Leitmotiv, was still with Maniet, and with Peter on drums.) and nowadays ‘Wick’ is the front-woman, still singing and playing guitar. They play/tour a lot, all over the world (even Latin-America). Check out bambix.org

‘Because’ (from Luxembourg) were Michelle Marnach (vocals), Brego (bass), ‘Gull’ Alain Gouleven (guitar; later ‘D’Rotzbouwen’) and Thierry Thill (drums). Michelle & Brego were a couple at that time. I started corresponding with them because they did the zine Persons Unknown. Some of the band’s music appeared on a demo: Some More Ugly Puke Stories.

No idea anymore who ‘Plum’ were and if they actually played… Henk Lobuyck reviewed their demo in Fifi #5. Apparently they were friends of V.V. shitworker Peter Vanthuyne; a 3-piece from the Brussels area that played punkrock reminiscent of the ‘Ramones’…

Michael Maes (‘Carcer Molochi’, ‘Link’) claims the band he played guitar for at that time – ‘As Usual’ – performed at Leed ‘92. I’m pretty sure it was in ’93 (as is mentioned on the flyer and in Johan Seys’ zine Gash #1). The others in the band were Danny Suffys (bass), Dimi Loonis (vocals) and Frederick Wyckaert (drums). Before this they “experimented” under the name ‘Suffocating Emotions’, covering other HC/punk bands. A few months after this, end ’93, they recorded a first demo (rehearsal). Johan ‘Boeze’ Seys did vocals too.

‘As Usual’

Jon ‘Active’ Elliott came over and did a stall! At that time Bruno ‘Genet’, Joeir Hoste and myself had merged our distros (a project named Fuse!) and since I insisted we expanded the reading-material, this was a good chance to stock up on the vast amont of books that Jon was carrying. A cooperation that lasted when Fuse! broke up and I started Tilt! (the mailorder distro) up again…

Steve Hyland (Attitude Problem zine, A Network Of Friends distro, 1 in 12) was there aswell. A very nice bloke; vegan, sXe (at that time); a mate of Jaak ‘N.O.F.’ aswell. Interesting chap too, studied sociology and social history. And very active… I think, as of today he’s still putting up gigs (Means To An End)…

One of my French zinester-correspondents, Armel Presselin (Auf-Zu) also visited…

Brob

We played our last gig with ‘6 F.O.’ that day…

Karl Penando

My first ever gig ever outside of England, this all-dayer, a life changing moment indeed… It was overwhelming as I had never left the country before & I was playing my first concert with ‘Doom’ – a very special moment for a 19yr old. ‘Doom’ travelled alone, we just did the one gig, we all [Brob: the other bands/people from Bradford/Leeds.] travelled back together though, I felt very proud & happy to be a part of everything – never did I think I would be in a band/bands travelling the world, playing DIY punk music & involved in the community – magical… My memory isn’t as good these days and I’m afraid all my photos of this concert got stolen… ‘Sore Throat’ did not play – this I know for sure. ‘Doom’ arrived quite late if I remember well. I recall seeing ‘6 Feet Over’ and the rest of the bands. It was busy and people couldn’t get into the gig. I don’t remember any trouble!

Scoot (‘Doom’s bassplayer)

I can remember ‘Nations On Fire’ [the next day]… But was this the concert where we slept above the venue and got thrown beer at us?

‘Wick’, Bambix

This was my first time here; I hitch-hiked there with Wojtek from ‘HomoMilitia’. We almost missed the first day but luckily made it on time just to see the 2 bands we wanted to see: ‘Doom’ and ‘Health Hazard’. I kept coming to that fest every year till ‘98…

Pawel, Scream recs (Gdansk, Poland)

If I recall well this was with ‘Oi Polloi’. Hate to admit it but I was very nervous and very drunk after the show, but still: no regrets. I remember having a big discussion with ‘Oi Polloi’ because we accidentally took their sleeping-place…

[Brob: ‘Oi Polloi’ ??? They – Deek (vocals) / Calum (bass) / Murray (drums) / Brian (guitar) – were interviewed in Fifi #1 (published May ‘94). But Calum tells me: “No, I don’t think we played. I’m sure I would have remembered this incident.”.]

Thierry Till, ‘Because’ drummer

Dominique & Philip Osier (from Antwerp) were 2 brothers playing in ‘Plum’… Later they played in the absurd cabaret ‘Circus Bulderdrang’ and after that they were musicians for Guido Belcanto [street-singer, variety-artist and “rock’n roll chansonnier”] … ‘Plum’ had a demo with 4 songs… I knew them from uni. [see comment]

Peter Vanthuyne

The ‘Plum’ demo was entitled Six Feet Down. Here’s the cover…

Henk Loobuyck

additions wellcome!…

Intro: 95-08-18&19&20 Hardcore Festival

After the split of ‘Spirit Of Youth’, Dominiek ‘Dompie’ Denolf (guitar) and Frederik Denolf (drums) formed ‘Solid’ together with Kris Casier (bass) and Giovanni Debruyne (vocals). They would record 5 songs at Midas studios in January ’96 and that was released on a mCD entitled Sadness Of Mankind (co-release on Alain Herszaft’s Released Power Productions and Existence Of Hate recs – also NYHC fanzine by Jean-François Fleury – from Vaulx). “Metallic NY style HC”.

‘Solid’ (photos by Steve Lammertyn [1]&[2]; ? [3])

‘Burning Defeat’, an emo-core band from Alessandria (Italy), were: Diego Cestino (vocals; also ‘Permanent Scar’), Alessandro ‘Alex’ Azzali (bass), Andrea ‘Ics’ Ferraris (guitar; also ‘Permanent Scar’) and Umberto Fabbri (drums). They had 2 realease on Green recs: Singlin’ Out The Aims 7” (‘94) & Seldom LP (‘96). In 1996 they were on the bill of the fest again…

According to Michael Maes ‘The Jedi’ started out with himself on drums, Edward Verhaeghe (‘N.O.F.’) on guitar, Jeroen Lauwers on bass (who quit after one rehearal) and Vik Bulik singing; but they never played with that line-up. Kurt Deprez (ex ‘Shortsight’) played bass when Jeroen left… Letske Mistiaen also sang for this band at one timepoint. There’s a photo of them playing at The Pits (95-07-20) with Vadim Vandekerckhove (later in ‘Sektor’) on guitar and another bassist (according to Vik: a guy named Koen). I doubt it that the drummer was Jaak of ‘Nations On Fire’ as someone suggested… The band didn’t last very long. Letske (even though appearing with the GL logo in her hair on the first GoodLife compilation) & Vik later did a sticker ‘HC 1997 killed by GL’… I guess that explains things… Photos of ‘The Jedi’ mysteriously disappeared ;-)…

Brob

‘The Jedi’…wasn’t a big deal… I was about 17 I think…

Letske M.

‘The Jedi’ was an idea of Edward and I rehearsed with them once, I recall vaguely. One band with him was enough. I thought that Jurgen Desmet’s brother did the drumming and the rest moved on to ‘Spineless’ (and later ‘AmenRa’).

Jeroen Lauwers

‘The Jedi’ were Ward ‘GoodLife’, Letske, Koen Sandra [later in ‘Spineless’ for a while] and myself. We only did a few gigs, the band didn’t last that long.

Vadim Vandekerckhove

All I remember is that we played in the barn in the back of the V.V. and that it was really hot…

Kris Casier, ‘Solid’ bassist

excerpt from the V.V. guestbook:

additions wellcome!…