Interview – Comply or Die

Oh, who are these mythical human beings from ‘up norf’…well, children, let’s find out. All photos taken from Comply or Die Myspace.

First things first, can you give us some background information on yourselves (how you met, band members etc)?

Following my previous band’s breakup (the hazard) me and mike (1st bass player) decided to go down a difernt route and start a new band together.I was then asked by a girl i sort of knew to do 2nd vocals in a new ska/punk band she was forming.She also needed a bass player so me and mike decided to join them.Thats where i met dave (drums) and steve (guitar).After the 1st rehersal of doing shit cheesey ska punk covers kaylee never showed up again so.I sort of took over.With this lineup (me vocals,mike bass,steve guitar,dave drums) we continued to write and play a mash up style of punk,ska,funk,drum and bass.Last year mike was not happy with how the band was going and after playing his final gig supporting the ANWL we all decided it would be better for us all he left to do his own thing.That is where we brought my old mate jim (currently in the vexed and outbreak u.k)in on guitar.Steve switched to bass until our quest for a new bassist found our current bass player lee.With this lineup (me vocals,lee bass,jim ridum,steve lead,dave drums) we continued through our second tour up untill xmas 2009 were parted ways with both steve and jim.After a couple of uncertain months we have brought in a good friend of mine,Dan gott (or gottie) on guitar and we are now concentrating on finally getting our 1st album out there.This is our best lineup by far,gottie has a much more powerfull guitar style and im very happy with how things are going.

So you’re a punk band, eh? How did you get into punk and I know it’s a cheesy question, but what, if anything, does it mean to you? Would you call the band a DIY band? Is that side of things important to you?
I can only speak for myself but i got in to punk at around 12/13 through my uncle who played me sex pistols,clash and motorhead.Then through bmx and skateboarding i got in to alot of the more recent punk bands like rancid,nofx,snuff,leftover crack,op ivy,casualties etc.Then when i fucked school off the flood gates opend up as i met more and more older punks.I cant really say what it means to me as i dont really think about it because its just my life now.Punk isnt a hobby or an interest for me now its just shaped my whole life with out me realising.I cant escape it!

Were definatly D.I.Y as nobody every pays us for anything so it all comes out of our own pockets.D.I.Y is important as its the only way to get things done.And also every things your own and theres no higher power telling you what to do.But at the same time its a ball ache organising tours,recordings etc.I am not really opposed to getting signed (i can already hear the cries of sell out!hahaha) because i love being in a band and i hate working so if i could get paid for being in the band and not have to work then fuck it im going to sellout! hahaha. But i do love the D.I.Y ethics and its the D.I.Y promoters and venues that really look after us giving us food,fuel money,a place to kip,some beers etc.And they treat you really well. D.I.Y is ace but i wish someone else in the band would sort it out because im lazy!haha

What other stuff (musically) are you into?
We all have quite diverse musical influences which is good.
Im in to all sort of stuff hip hop,ska,funk,reggae,dub,bits of metal,50′s rock n roll,Ballken beats,some wierd shit like frank zappa,basicly anything that sounds good.Im not going to limit myself to one style of music,music is good and makes me happy so im gready with it!

Moving on to the music, how does the song writing process work? Is it all of you stuck in a room together, or does one of you go off, then come back with a masterpiece?

I write most of the lyrics (dave writes a few too).I take my little lyric book in to rehersal where some one will play me a riff they have come up with and then i go through my book to try and fit something together.I think we all come up with new ideas at home and then at rehersals we try and put stuff together.But its never contrived,the tune i have in my head when i write lyrics is all ways miles differnt to the end result.
What about subject matter, what are your lyrics about?

Whtever i feel like at the time really.We have wrote some political tunes,but at the same time its stuff /people that really pissed me off.But then party time is about my drunken foolish escapades.

Do you feel there is still room for political songs in the punk scene? Is there still room for ‘another song about unity’? Or is it simply preaching to the converted?

Yeah theres always room for political songs as theres no end of political injustice in the world,music is a good way of venting your anger at political institutions.But i think that theres more room for politics in other musical styles as everyone in the punk scene already has the idea.I think crass and conflict have pretty much summed it up…..Dont fall in to the trap of writing political tunes just for the sake of extra punk points….
Are you politically active, as a band or personally?

No none of us are politically active.I hate politics.We do play benifit shows for worthwhile causes though.I have my own personal politics and the other members have theres.But were not members of any orginisations.But we do all have the common views of anti facism.But thats more due to common sence rather then a political agenda.
I listen to alot of political music and some might say have some extreme views but i make my own politics and never try to follow any one elses views.Balls to that.Just be nice and have a good time and respect other people,simple.
Also if you are a very political punk and want to be taken seriously for you views on how the world should be,put a suit on and cut your mohawk off and then people might listen to you.The BNP have cleaned there image up and look how many people are supporting them now!Bastards!

Are you vegan? Would you like to have a vegan moment (by which I mean discuss being a vegan, or if not, discuss why you’re a carnivore, omnivore, pescetarian…)?

I am vegan and have been for 2 years,2 years before that i was veggie.The others all eat meat.Its up to the individual what he/she eats but i think being vegan is easy,especialy now with all the vegan “meat” you can get.People only at meat to satisfy there taste buds.Theres nothing in there diet that i do not get in my vegan diet.
What the music scene like where you live? With some big cities such as Leeds and Sheffield nearby there must be good stuff going on.

York is pretty shit for music these days.I used to got to leeds alot for gigs but theres not alot i hear about anymore.The 1 in 12 in bradford is awsome and i want to go there more often buts its a fair old trek.We all ways have fun in shef when we play there but i dont get to as many gigs as i used to.

I hear that there’s the odd squat still there (well, Leeds…), is there much of a squat scene?

Yeah i think theres allways squats in leeds.There used to be a masive squat in the center of york a few years ago in an old disused hotel.They had some great partys there.After it got shut down the “york peace collective” opend up a couple more but i havnt heard anything for a while now.

You did a split with the Vexed, how did that come about?

I was in a band called the hazard with bilo and dicko from the vexed.Weve been best mates for ages.I did guest voclas for the vexed doing an old hazard tune (poison) on there half of the split.Also jim played with us for a while.
When we were asked to play mutiny festival i took bilo as our roadie (so he got backstage and got pissed baiscly).As we were going to sell our e.p there anyways we thought it might as well have the vexed on it too so they could gain a bit of exposure as well.We sold them for a quid and sold all 100 at mutiny!So thats another 100 people that got to hear the vexed that might not of done if we didnt do the split.We always help each other out because were good mates.

If you could do another split with someone who would you like to do it with, or for that matter, if you could play or work with anyone else, who would it be?

Theres no plans in the future for another split,but i wouldnt mind doing one with trashcat,or inner T’s i spose.

Where do you stand on the whole ‘music download’ debate? Would it bother you if people chose to illegally download your songs instead of buying them off you? Or do you really not give a crap?

We allways sell our stuff cheap or give it away anyways.But once the new album is finished and released it would be nice if people bought it as its costing us alot to do.I wouldnt mind having 1000 ilegal downloads if it ment that 1000 more people would come see us play.I dont know really i do download stuff ilegally but if i like the band i will buy there records anyways as i like to collect vinyl and some cds.

The Random Question: If you could possess another living creature for the day, what or who would you be? And what would you spend your day doing?

I would become a bull and go in to mcdonalds and gore everybody!
Last question then, what are the plans for the band in the upcoming year? Any plans for an album? More touring?

We will definatly release an album this year.It was soposed to be done last year but due to band members leaving all went dowen the shitter. We will also be touring year once the album is ready.
I will also be drinking lots more and pissing more people off.

Tags: comply or die, Interview, Music, Punk, york