Interview done by Murg, Cruel Bastard zine.
1 tell us something really interesting about atomvinter, who plays what and for how long have you played together.
Micke: a guitar, Joel: a bass, Andreaz: a voice, Christer: a drum.
This lineup has existed since spring 98. Atomvinter started in Andreaz´s
and Christer´s heads and became a band round 90. Since then there
have been members coming and going. Something really interesting: we like
fun very much.
2 if you compare the music you play now and from the first cd how much has changed ? musically and lyrically ?
Musically we are playing faster with tiny pieces of metal here and
there, more grind inbetween the d-beat. This is something that won´t
be heard until we record our really new stuff which might take us a very
long time to acomplish. Lyrics are still focused on political and emotional
topics that interest and engage us.
3. you have been around for a couple of years, how many gigs have you played with atomvinter and which was the best/worst
Noone really knows how many gigs we´ve played but it´s
far over eleven.
WORST EVER was in Lund. The bus that was supposed to take us to
the gig didn´t show up so we decided to rent a vehicle. The only
thing we could get was a small truck. The flak was packed with people (illegal
and seriously dangerous if you have an accident) who were freezing due
to the draft. We were told to come before three for soundcheck. The people
responsible for sound arrived round five. They managed to get the PA together
about eight = no soundcheck. Loads of bands were playing with crappy sound
and we had to be one of the last. This was an outdoor gig and by the time
we got to play most people had gone indoors to keep warm and get drunk.
After the gig we tried to sleep on the floor (where lots of people were
having the party of their life) since they hadn´t arranged anywhere
for us to sleep. We had asked the organizers to sell some records since
they were selling things anyhow and we made sure they would get a profit
from selling our stuff. The next day they refused to give us the money
they had promised us which was to cover travel expenses (the amount agreed
upon before the bus fuckup). After some serious and pissed off argueing
they finally gave us what was rightfully ours. That´s what we thought
anyhow. Halfway home we discover that we´ve been ripped off. What
they had given us was the money made from selling our records. If something
like this happens to us again we might just kill someone.
BEST EVER is hard to say. We´ve enjoyed playing in Stockholm
and Malmö
4 the political punk scene is just getting stronger these days (in sweden) not like before, have you always been a political band and is punk political ?
We sing about political stuff and are politically dedicated in various
forms but we have no form of official political manifest. In some issues
we have quite different opinions but it hasn´t led to any hard feelings
yet.
5 it seems like many people have set up lines for what punk is and should be and if you don't follow or look like this then you ain't "punk". What does punk mean for you and how did you get involved and how is that you still there as you know many swe punks dropout when they are 23-24, how come so many dropout to live a normal life. Is punk just a movement of the youth?
Christer: To me (political) punk is a way of changing the world.
I doubt that I would have become interested in anarchy and socialism if
I had´nt gotten interested in punk when I was 11. I thought that
punx looked cool and played cool music but I didn´t understand the
A in a circle so I borrowed books about anarchism from the library (Hans
Enzenberger: anarkins korta sommar & Daniel Guerin: anarkismen) and
understood why anarchy was good. After a while I was old enough to go into
town (gothenburg) with my friend Daniel (also into punk back then) to buy
records and go to gigs, discovering the political lyrics of bands like
Crass, Discharge, Amebix, Icons of Filth, Dead Kennedys etc, so for me
punk has always been connected with politics. I can´t see the meaning
of some sort of rebellion/protest/reaction (wich punk is wheather you like
it or not) without the want for freedom. The political scene today is just
a natural development of a culture that refuses to be sold out for the
price of a boring pointless life. I don´t really care about what´s
”punk” or not if someone has written laws about what I can call myself
depending on my outlook or what I say. I´m not interested in hanging
out with people whose friendship depends upon the basis of what´s
”punk”. I´m into music and freedom. The reason people drop out of
punk when they get to their mid 20´s could be a dying scene, getting
away from friends in the scene, getting a job and becoming a normal citizen
or whatever. I think that it´s a lot easier to keep on standing up
for what you believe in if you have friends that support and accept your
lifestyle. Noone wants to be alone (even if they tell you so). It was Andreaz
who got me into the 90´s punkscene when we decided to form a band.
Almost all my punkfriends from the early 80´s drifted away as the
scene was dying. I guess punk is something that appeals to young people
because of its perfect combination of disrespect, anger and vital energy.You
don´t need to be a wanker to put out a record, you can just do it.
You don´t need to be a journalist or some sort of media-person to
get your point across, you can make your own zine. You don´t need
to be some sort of music industry person to organize a gig, etc. The older
you get the more it is expected from you to live your life like everybody
else. That kind of pressure can also be some sort of explanation to why
punk is considered to be something for young people.
6 what do you think about the swedish scene now days compare to some years ago. And how come punk is so strong in sweden if we see to norway for ex there's not that many band s (there are a few and they really great)
Christer: I like the scene the way it is now but it feels like there
could be more young punx at the gigs. Too many old farts that stand around
and drum on their legs or tap one foot instead of getting in to the mosh
(if there is one).
7 have you recorded all Atomvinter material in tollered with krille ? could you tell us little about christers hobby (recording)
Christ: We´ve recorded everything ourselves and we will propably
do so in the future. I got into recording
when I was 13. I used two casetterecorders, recording drums onto one of
them, then putting them in front of eachother while playing electric
guitar through my fathers japanese carstereo (it had a microphone input
and it was´nt in the car). I later borrowed portastudios of friends
to satisfy my audio needs. When I was 20 I had saved up money to buy a
reel-to-reel ½” eighttrack which I´m still using. Now I´ve
got some good mikes and some effects but most of all experience. I´m
not going to pay money for a crappy recording ever again, I can make them
myself. D.I.Y. or do´nt.
8 i know you are running fäk åff rekords, how is it going and who is involved, are you playing in other bands?
FÄK
ÅFF is run by us in the band but it has been a bit chaotic so
we have been talking about reorganizing the label/distro, bringing in new
people to work with us, having proper meetings etc. There should have been
a split EP called "If
you play with matches, you´ll get burned..." out with us and
PCP ages ago. Due to reasons beyond and within our control the fucking
EP is still not out. In other words: it could be better. When we get our
shit together we´ll try to put out a book (Träsket Glöder
Greatest Hits and maybe a vegan cookbook), some industrial music (homemade
CD´s),some video stuff, and an Atomvinter album. Micke plays in some
secret rockband occasionally. Joel plays drums in E471. Christer plays
bass in E471 and drums in Herstory. Andréaz might sing in a band called Blixtattack.
9. same struggle same fight said before but is something happening? punkrockers seems to have a hard time with sXe people even when we struggle against the same goal why come? i don't think we can fight alone ( unite bla bla )
Christ: I don´t have a hard time with sXe people. I even admire
those who choose not to take drugs although I´m not one of them.
I can´t understand why some people hate sXe. If someone into sXe
trys any ”I´m superior cos I don´t use drugs”, remember that
not everyone into sXe are on the same powertrip. Ofcourse we can´t
fight alone. I might have anarchy in my flat but I need more people if
it´s gonna go any further (and it´s not pure anarchy because
I still have to pay rent).
10 what do you do when you not playing with atomwinter, and how is it going with jo hells (torp) is going to be any gigs out there?
Christ: When I´m not playing in Atomvinter I play in Herstory,
The Moonies or E471. I also spend my time recording other people´s
music, cooking and eating with friends, going to gigs, watching the Simpsons.
If everything goes as planned there will be some sort of 10 year
anniversary gig next year (2000) at Joels & Marinas place. We´re
hoping for Warsore and Ensuing Hell and free food.
11 a sensitive question vegan/vegetarian is it hard to make people understand the point whiteout preaching kind of hard. Question cause i don't think it's right to eat animals but i respect that people does it cause i don't like to preach for anyone feeling quite stupid putting my opinions in another throat. What do you think about preaching and what about vegan/vegetarian ?
Christ: When meateaters get pissed off hearing about veganism/vegetarianism
I believe it has something to do with that they deep, deep down inside
know what´s right and what´s wrong. Anger and irritation comes
out because noone wants to feel guilt. Don´t shove arguments down
their throats, serve them with a delicious meal and some friendship. Guilt
is always bad if you want to achieve something good.
12 what's the future plans for atomvinter ? is there any goal with A-wiinter to spread music/thoughts worldwide ?
We want to do an album. After that maybe nine more. Touring Austalia,
Japan, America, Africa and the rest of the world would be really nice.
13 are you political active ? what do oyu think of direct action ? is boycoting something good that will lead to something ?
Playing political music is a way of being politically active. Some
of us have been active in the syndicalist (anarchosocialist) union. Direct
action: if you do something stupid - then you´re stupid, if you do
something good – then it´s good! I don´t really understand
the question, but I refuse to give away my money to Nike, Coca cola, Pepsi,
Nestlé and other fascist multinational capitalist companies. If
everyone believes that their actions don´t matter then we´ve
fallen for the big captalist lie that you´re not important and this
world belongs to someone else who just happens to sit upon a pile of money
(wich they wouldn´t have anyhow if it wasn´t for all of us
unimportant people)
14 nazis, scums of the earth but i think we have something to learn from them, they have something that is missing in some punk areas and that's the gathering. When there's a new nazi they catch him being as friendly as possible brainwashing him with thoughts and friendship, saying he´s doing just fine and just tell him a lot of bullshit. But they have a global organization that attract people, how come that people are not that interested in punk? Could it be so that it's more simple to hate people for their color than question the society? And how important is communication in the scene ?
Christ: The people that become nazis obviously have serious mental
problems. I guess they just want to feel companionship and be accepted
like everyone else. The problem is that some really basic moral and ethical
values get sacrified for the feeling of being someone in the group. Their
fear, anger and confusion make them do horrible things. When you hate you
don´t need to be rational, it´s a lot easier than trying to
create equality. It´s easier to have a global organization if it´s
run in an authoritarian way, less people need to be responsible and those
responsible can be punished. I guess that most punx don´t think of
young punx as new recruits to the worldwide revolutionary punkrock army.
It´s a shame if new people in the scene don´t feel welcome.
I also believe that punx don´t like to fight. Communication within
the scene is important, and thanks to people like you, others can read
and find out that they´re not alone or maybe respond to what they´ve
read and create a healthy dialog.
15 how about pc punks, is there really a topic to whine about (ok putting your opinions in my throat maybe not solve anything) but many people sometimes preach about something, is it not good that someone is political ? does pc really mean that you abuse other with your opinions or is that something made up by people that not like to be political involved ?
Christ: I like when people care and show it and stand up for what
they believe in. I can´t stand it when someone is trying to make
me feel guilty just because I missed an angle or haven´t thought
in the same lines. In those cases I can´t hear what they´re
saying since my brain gets busy making me feel shit at the same time as
I look for arguments defending my ego. YOU WILL NEVER MAKE YOUR POINT IF
YOU TELL ME I SUCK. Be nice. Maybe PC is something made up by people that
don´t want to feel guilt when they don´t have the energy to
get involved politically. ”I know the world´s got problems, I´ve
got problems of my own, not the kind that can be solved with an atombomb”
(Black flag). The system really works! Most people are occupied with trying
to survive without getting too depressed. Their lives circle around the
few moments of joy they can find when they´re not working. Lives
that are controlled by fear of losing their income, wich gives people the
impression that everybody is a greedy egocentric and the only way to make
it is to be one yourself or you´ll die in the gutter. Fuck that way
of thinking. This planet doesn´t belong to the multinational corporations.
This world is our´s and we must work hard if we want to be in control
of our lives and our world. If giving up the hope of a better future
is the best way to deal with things then we might as well all start
shooting heroin, or better yet, shooting the fuckers that destroy our lives.
I can understand punx that do/do´nt want to talk about politics but
it would be nice if they kept the insults to them selves.
16 influence everything that goes throw your ears ? is there any major influences in the band and what are you listening at ?
Agoraphobic nosebleed, Warsore, Nasum, Dodgy, Julian Cope, Joni Mitchell,
Lasse Hollmer, Mikael Ramel, Yes, early Anti cimex, The Residents, Dahmer,
Slayer, Ensuing hell, Drop dead, Germs, Bob Hund, Frank Black, Neurosis,
Scumbrigade, Disclose, Raw noise, Void, Art bears, Spy, Bee gees and the
Beatles.
17 to solve the problem with the nazis, what shall we do? is bashing them the only alternative? is a verbal fight that is victory better than beating the sense out of them? Is it possible that there will be something like those horrible years lead of adde h(itler)?
Christ: I don´t like the idea of using violence but it´s
difficult to defend yourself with arguments. Verbal fights are good in
the sense that they appeal to peoples intelligence. The downside is that
skins usually don´t use their brains. I hope that we´ll never
experience something as stupid as another naziregime ever again. Everything
is possible and it´s up to us. In times like these when you can get
killed for standing up against naziscum it´s quite difficult to not
feel intimidated by the mere knowledge that such people exist. Hitler said
attack is the best defence. It feels like the nazis really like to ”defend”
themselves. Maybe it´s time for us to react and defend ourselves
in a more active way.
18 Nothing more to say ask me a question and finish off thanks for answering the questions have agreat time see you at the gigs Johan
Thanx for the interview. When will the Total Silence EP come out? Is there a chance for a gig in Alingsås so the invisible people into punk can see that they´re not alone? When you arrange folkkök do you bake loads of vegan pastry and make lots of coffe (fika i Alingsås)? Tell us what you like and dislike with the Alingsås scene. How many years will it take Michelle´s band to rehearse enough songs to record an EP? Are you good or? Have it good!
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