From the Archives – 1998 – An Interview with [spunge]
This interview was first published in ‘The Skinhead Fanzine’ Issue 10, dated October 1998 whilst [spunge] were on their huge 1998 tours that took in over 35 venues around the UK in three months. The tour was actually named as three tours, one for each month – ‘The Still Kickin Pigeons Tour’ (September), ‘The Kicked a Pigeon to Death Tour’ (October) and ‘The Pigeon Kicks Back Tour’ (November).
[spunge] are a five piece guitar based streetpunk band originating from Tewkesbury int he Midlands. The band have been together in various guises for about three years, during which time they won the Three Counties Battle of the Bands competition two years running (1996 & 1997). However it’s only recently, since October 1997 that the current line up finalised itself with the addition of a new bass player, Martin Holt, giving the band a more seasoned and professional approach.
Having established themselves throughout the Midlands with numerous storming shows, the band decided to put down their first recording featuring three tracks which had become live favourites with the bands followers. The CD EP features ‘Kickin Pigeons’, a hit single in the making if ever you’ve heard one, ‘Best Mates Girlfriend’, a real smile inducer live and ‘Friend Called Fred’ which broods along magnificently.
Since the self financed EP was produced, the band have managed to sell several hundred copies at just a handful of shows which indicates both the growing support the band is receiving and the fervour of that support.
Using the EP to gain further shows at new venues, the band managed to get that final organisational necessity, management!
One of the CD’s fell in to the lap of Dave Juste, the man responsible for promoting and running The Xposure Rock Café and XL’s nightclub in Birmingham, renowned as two of the UK’s premier rock establishments. Dave was so impressed at the quality of the songs that he immediately tried to book the band, which is when he found out that they had no manager. He offered to do this for them and now is electively managing the band and using his contacts, has already got interest from major labels in signing the band.
Tell us about the band members and their rolls within the band.
The band comprises Alex Copeland the vocalist, Damon Robins (Des) and Paul Gurney (Wol) on guitars, Martin Holt on bass and Jeremy King on drums. The line up has only been together for about 9 months.
[spunge] is an unusual name. How did it originate and why the brackets?
It came about because two of the guys used to be in a band called Spit Plastik and had a load of t-shirts done with SP on them. When that band split up, they were left with a heap of SP t-shirts, so they tried to come up with a band name beginning with SP so they could still sell the shirts and spunge was their best idea! They added the brackets to make people notice it a bit more on posters etc., as if to say, huh? I’m happy to say they sold the shirts!
Where does the band draw it’s influence?
Al: We don’t draw our influences from any particular band, but draw from punk, reggae, metal and ska scenes and blend into [spunge].
Des: I draw mainly from crappy support bands who only have one decent idea and are never gonna go anywhere so I nick it and put it in our songs! Ha ha ha!
Are any of the bands Skinheads?
Des and Wol both used to be skinheads, still are if you ask me, they both own scooters and were always into the ska scene. The other guys came from a more varied background like punk and mentioned above.
Al: We started off doing covers of Guns n Roses, Rolling Stones, Who, Offspring, Green Day, Metallica etc and then veered into writing our own material which all ended up with a ska/punk feel.
Wol: Because there’s a bit of everything thrown in there, I wouldn’t say we’re a strict ska band but more of a fresh approach to ska with other influences and feels.
Do you find life in a band is a strain on your friendships or do you all get on well together?
Des: Yes, we get on fine, we all have a similar philosophy to life so there’s no real band rows. Anyway, we all play golf so you can’t argue when you’re all holding nine irons!
Martin: We’re the worlds first golf/punk band!
The words to your songs are twisted to say the least. Who writes the lyrics and is he as twisted as he seems?
Des: Worse, Al should be permanently locked up!
Wol: Alex writes all the lyrics and the band collectively come up with the music.
Al: The lyrics come off the top of my head, whatever I’m thinking of at the time and if it fit’s, I use it. Ha ha ha! So anybody that wants to be my best mate, please send a photo of your girlfriend to….
Have you had any of the major labels showing interest in your music?
Al: We’ve had a few major labels showing interest since Dave, our manager, got involved but this tour that’s coming up should really make people sit up and notice, I think.
Do you enjoy the luxury of having a good following?
Des: We only have a good following in our local area because up until now that’s the only place we’ve really played. This tour will see us getting around the country and we hope to build a large fan base from that.
Wol: We get all sorts at our shows int he Midlands because we play stuff that attracts everybody, skaters, scooters, mods, skinheads, even dance and technoheads turn up and party.
How would you describe your live performances?
Al: Bouncy, sweaty, loud and fun. A good day out for the family.
What has been your best and worst gig so far, and why?
Jem: The worst gig was Scruffy Murphy’s in Birmingham. The promoter didn’t do anything to let people know we were playing so there was us and a barmaid. Then we came out and the car had been broken into and trashed.
Des: The best is The Axiom in Cheltenham, it’s always packed when we play and we get crowd surfing, stage diving, moshing and skanking all at once!
With all the current interest in the Ska scene, can you see a full scale revival happening?
Wol: yes definitely, with us at the forefront!
Des: No, there won’t be a revival, there’ll be a revolution.
Al: Straight Ska won’t have a revival because it needs something different to fire people’s imagination. I think we offer that variation. Not that I think Ska’s dead or anything because it’s always around and has a huge street level following but something is needed to open it all up to the mainstream press in Britain.
Des: Hold on, we’re about to have our first band row!
A lot of the current Ska bands are trying to distance themselves from their Skinhead following in the hope of mainstream recognition, do you openly accept Skinheads at your gigs?
Wol: Come one, come all, the more the merrier. Just don’t beat up the kids!
What are the bands plans for the future?
Martin: To get more mainstream, get Ska everywhere on national radio and have a Christmas No 1!
Jem: To play Scruffy Murphy’s again!
Anything else you’d like to add?
Des: Buy our CD, it’s fuckin brilliant and see us at the gigs!
