Interview by Mike.
XXX- Pure Impact has been going for quite some time now. What initially made you want to start something like this up? Was it intended to be a label or was it a distro at first?
Peter- Pure Impact actually started out in 1984 as a fanzine, which lasted until 1995. I packed it in because of two reasons. First of all, after 10 years it was time to do something else and there was a new wave of fanzines coming out in full-colour or at least professional print. There was no way I could compete with them. When I started Pure Impact Records it was immediately intended as a label and distro. Basically the distro to generate some cash and the label for the more creative side of things.
XXX- What do you look for in a band when you sign them? What impressed you with (somewhat) local band, HAMMERBOiZ, that made you want to put out their CD?
Peter- I have to like the band, not just musically or lyrically but have to get along with them on a personal level as well. I try and bring some variation in the program - different bands with different sounds - and bands that show some originality and personality. Its all very subjective, of course, and you can like the bands or hate them but they all won't sound like other bands you know.
Onto the HAMMERBOiZ then... I got in touch with them through Paul of Bitter Grin who I know quite well. Through him I met up with Andy (vocals) in Toronto who let me hear their demo. I really liked it and it clearly showed an evolution in the band's sound. I also liked the fact that they're older guys, more mature, which would reflect on their music.
XXX- You carry and put out some releases by RAC type bands. Do you get any hassles from people for doing that? I know when we put a link to you on our website we received a few emails from people asking why we support your label because of the whole RAC thing...
Peter- You know, I started out in a time when the whole scene wasn't divided yet. I can enjoy all kinds of bands without necessarily having to agree with them on politics. I get mails every now and then from people left and right who hate Pure Impact for carrying stuff from "the other side". I don't care, I deal in music and I think everyone should be wise enough to pick out the bands they like and not to bother about the rest. This ain't the National Front's or Communist Party's mailorder, its just a skinhead distributing the music he enjoys.
XXX- Is it possible to make a decent living through the label or do you still need to work a regular job to make ends meet? If you are making a good living exclusively off of the label... do you need any help?!?! I am willing to relocate!
Peter- Sorry to disappoint you there but I still have (and need to have) a full-time job on the side. I could use some help though, so if you don't mind working for free...
XXX- Getting back to the HAMMERBOiZ for a moment, you met with them here in Canada before signing them. How did that go? I understand you guys went to a pub (of course!) and had a few drinks... were you able to keep up with them or were you put to shame? Andy is quite a machine when it comes to "putting the pints away"!
Peter- We did indeed meet up in a pub in T.O. early in the afternoon and visited some more pubs before parting ways at 2am or so. There's no way I could keep up with Andy, I'm not suicidal!. If you consider that he's twice the size of me, or just about, I do have an excuse though.
XXX- What is the alcoholic drink of choice when you're looking to get good and pissed in Belgium? I had a few different brews when I was last over there and I don't recall tasting a single foul one. (Actually, I don't recall much of anything!)
Peter- To be honest I don't drink all that much anymore but I usually drink Stella Artois which you of course all know, now that we own Labatt's. If I can make it to the Irish pub which is in the next big city, its Smithwicks I drink. Belgian beer has a good reputation overall, lots of different ones available. Some 500 or so which is not bad for a country the size of a handkerchief and with a population of just 10 million.
Peter- The scene is actually doing pretty good. Its not like its huge but there is a lot happening with gigs once a month at least. There's a skinhead pub in Bruges that puts on pub gigs every month which attract about 130 people on average. On that there's the Live & Loud Organization who put on the bigger Oi! festivals, Get a Loife who do bigger punk and Oi! gigs and Excalibur who provide the RAC scene. The Pride are probably the biggest name on the Belgian scene and an excellent live band. Headcase and Les Vilains have already made a name for themselves but the new band to watch out for is Voice of Glory which might put them all to shame... Lion's Pride is another up'n'coming band but I haven't heard them yet.
XXX- You've started taking on-line orders through your site (www.PureImpact.com) which I've used myself to great satisfaction. How has the response been to that? What else is going on in the future for the label? Have you thought of doing any other type of merchandise, ie. clothing, videos, etc.?
Peter- The response hasn't been overwhelming yet but reactions to the service, reliability and such have been excellent. That shows me that I'm doing the right thing and that it'll just take some time and patience before Pure Impact develops into something bigger. We have some releases planned for the future such as the new Retaliator album, the Pints (Sweden), Across the Hudson (USA) and Bakers Dozen (Scotland). I already have t-shirts available for Belgian customers, the shipping costs would be quite high for foreign customers. I don't want to make it seem like I'm ripping off people. Videos would be interesting indeed but they're extremely expensive to make and easy to copy. Copying kills music, be it CD's or videos, in the end no one will be willing to put any money into the bands anymore and that'll be the end of it all.
XXX- Thanks for the time with us for the interview! Anything you'd like to plug?
Peter- Rather than plugging the Pure Impact label or distro, I'd like to plug the bands themselves as they're all hardworking and dedicated and need your support! If you can help them out with gigs, feedback on what they do, do so! The bands need you as much as you need them! To finish off, I'd like to thank you for the interview and say hello to some of my Canadian friends who have had to put up with me for the last 10 years or so: Paul, Chad & Bitter Grin, Andy & the HAMMERBOiZ, Michelle, Alex, Brian, Phil, Russ, Martina, Matt, Glen, Simon, Hugo, Dominik and all those I might have forgotten.
Cheers!