1. Moz - a man of the scene - Tell us about your punk life so far - how did you come to be in a band and where did the name Dangerous Aces come from. Also how would you describe your style of music?
Well from a personal point of view I fell into punk in about 1998. I'd heard (and loved) a lot of 70s pop-punk such as the Sex Pistols and the Clash, but never really considered the possibility of punk as a living style of music until I stumbled on a compilation featuring Guns'n'Wankers and, the stand out track of said compilation, "Just A Feeling" by Rancid. From there I started delving, and about 6 months later delved as far as the Star and Garter on a Fruit'n'Veg night, I woke up about 3 days later smelling faintly of cheap cider.
The band started with Stu, Dino, and I pissed up and saying how crazy it would be to form a band. I can't play for shit, and thus got vocals sort of by default, Stu is a very good guitarist, and Dino had just started to learn bass. Stu has another band, the Medicine Bow, they're a country band so he was up for doing something a bit more punk rock, all that was needed was drums. To cut a long story short, a mutual friend (Liam Revenge of Revenge Of Revenge Of Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man) introduced us to Matt, and within about about a month of Matt's first rehearsal with us we were playing our first gig. I took the name from a South African lower league football team, the football team have apparently now changed their name to "The Dangerous Darkies", I shit you not.
Well, Matt and I wanted to play fast punk rock about beer and fighting, and Dino and Stu wanted to play slow country songs about splitting up with your girlfriend, so we settled on mid-paced cowpunk about splitting up with your pint. I'd say we're predominantly a Street Punk band, but by no means typical, there's a definite country feel to the way Stu strums, and we've been known to come up with ideas such as "shall we put a waltz in the next song?"
2. Tell us of any releases to date, best gig so far, low points and future plans?
Not much recorded, we tried to sort a 6 track EP out but beer got in the way, we have a great cover designed by Dr Fiend though! We've got a few live tracks recorded at a charity gig we played (and Dino organised) for the NSPCC which may make it onto a future release, main priority now though is to get a couple of decent studio tracks recorded. In my mind our best gig was Life Cafe in Manchester, we played with Band(ism) who were filming for their new video at the gig (I did try and get in the video but they edited me out, maybe I should've kept my pants on). The stage was huge and the sound quality great. Other than that any of the TNS gigs are great fun
3. Jacques Scuttlefish is planning to travel the world in a fart propelled pepsi bottle. Mr Scuttlefish will be shrunk to size using a Keith Chegwin Penis Dwarfer and will live on a diet of press cuttings and soil for the entire journey. This is funded by the NHS. People have problems with their todgers and can't get treatment - is the said adventurerer responsible for this and are you a fan of Cheggers?
I don't think Scuttlefish can be held responsible, treatment should be available on the NHS for all. Cheggers is reet by me, he played the unedited version of "Killing In The Name" by Rage Against The Machine at about half two one Saturday afternoon on Radio 1. There was a huge traffic jam on the M6 at the time (at all times, truth be known) and I love the image of all the families heading away for the weekend and mother having to explain to the kids what the line "Fuck you I wont do what you tell me!" means.
4. You get around a bit on the punk circuit - what are the good and bad things you come across as a punter to many a fine gig?
The best bit is the attitude most punk bands and fans have, or lack of attitude. For a scene that's portrayed as rude and obnoxious it's incredibly friendly. Most of the biggest names in punk rock are happy to have a beer with the fans. I remember being in Grand Central (pub) on Oxford Road a couple of years back and looking 'round I saw members of Rancid, The Forgotten, and Mad Sin and not a superstar ego in sight (Unbeknown to most there was a member of The Sweet in there too). There are some fantastic bands around Manchester at the moment such as Spittin' Dummies, Churchill, Revenge Of The Psychotronic Man, One Man Stand, I really could go on. The worst part at the moment is lack of decent venues. There's some great ones out of town such as The Soundhouse (Bolton) and The Thatched House (Stockport), but nowt in Manchester. Most Manchester gigs end up at Satan's Hollow (shit stage, playing in the 'round is all well and good for a hippy on a stool with an accoustic guitar, but not for Rock'n'Roll), Jillys (shit sound quality, expensive beer), or Joshua Brooks (bloody big pole in the centre of the stage). The Castle on Oldham Street put some fine gigs on, as do Tiger Lounge and Retro Bar, but they're all tiny, once you get to bigger bands that can pull in 60+ people you're stuck. Unfortunately venue owners know they'll make more money putting on a mindless disco than a decent gig.
5. Describe your fellow band members in 4 words? Slander is of course much welcomed as is any comment detrimental to their state of mind!
Medicine Stu - Little ol' Wine Drinker
Dino - Didn't go to work
Matt - faster, louder, heavier, ROCK!
6. Tell us your influences, heroes and zeroees in punk and life?
My influences range from the 4-Skins to Dean Martin, by way of the Zounds. Don't really believe in heros, but I have massive amounts of respect for TV Smith, really nice fella, a few years ago we exchanged e-mails, he'd had a radio show cancelled because the Queen Mother had died, my Grandma passed away a few days later, I sent an e-mail to the BBC complaining about TV's show getting pulled, and threw in that I didn't take kindly to constantly being told that the Queen Mother was "everyone's favourite Grand Mother" under my own personal circumstances. I got a really nice e-mail from TV Smith wiishing the family well.
Earlier this year we played with Demented Are Go. The Psychobilly scene is endemic with attitude problems but Sparky is a truely nice person. A lot of people had warned about Sparky but he was really down to earth and nearly sane.
7. Ali Bongo once said that the reason his magic wand was stuck in Paul Daniels' magic circle was due to an ectoplasmic reaction on behalf of David Nixon. Is it me or are these guys shagging each other?
I have a slight issue with Mr Daniels. Both he and Frank Bruno said they'd leave the country if Labour ever got elected. I supported New Labour in '97 on that basis and yet the cunts are still here. I personally believe they should be deported.
8. Tell us the ideal gig you could play with Dangerous Aces. Who would be on it, where would it be and would you put anyone on the guest list and 'You're not coming in because you are a twat' list?
I think our ideal gig would have us playing alongside Slayer, The Dead Kennedys, and Cock Sparrer, maybe with G.F.A. headlining. I'd have to put Psycho Dave on the Guest List, it's kinda tradition. I wouldn't have a twat list, there maybe people I'm not keen on but as far as getting people to watch the band goes I'm pretty much a musical whore.
9. American punk or British Punk? Which is your fave and why?
Depends on the bands really. I don't like that whiny American vocal sound that a lot of pop-punk bands have, but there's as many British bands doing that as American at the moment. I'll always love a good old British Oi! sound, but I'll not slag off America while they're producing fantastic acts such as Pressure Point or Gogol Bordello.
10. Spam Shoes with built in hovis-based socks? Ideal for hungry explorers. A catchy tag or am I just wasting money backing inventions by renowned creator Nettles Mc Shite? Also whats your greatest invention to date?
When I go on an expedition I tend to get peckish midway and start munching on my emergency rations. This can cause problems but the problem would be compounded if I then realised I'd eaten my shoes and had to finish barefoot. My greatest invention would be fizzy gravy, it's sadly going to be stuck on the drawing board until I can find a gas that will stay fizzy as the gravy is heated.
11. 30 years of punk - any views on it and what do you think the future holds for the bands of today?
My stock response to the 30 years of Punk line is it's closer to 40, though Dino would disagree.
One thing I love about Punk Rock is the age range it appeals to. You get to see kids of 12 alongside people in their 50s at a typical gig. The kids getting into is a great thing as it means there’s a future for Punk. There may be “no future” for society but Punk Rock’s future is bright.
12. Moz - you have a pen and the underpants of life are going to be raised aloft for all the world to see. The crotch is the main point of attention - you have a chance to scrawl a message across the main cock and nut area - what shall it be?
UP THE PUNX!
