Please give a brief history of the band, including current line up.
The band formed in 1990, and saw several line-up changes (which included ex members
of condemned '84 and extreme noise terror. By 1995 we reached the current settled
line-up of Rikki Flag (vocals), Kentucky Kev (Guitar), Fanny (Bass),
and Malcum Powder (Bums).
Who are you? Can you please introduce yourselves (name, age,
hobbies, special intrerests)
RIKKI FLAG - VOCALS, RUNS "KNOW YOUR PRODUCT" PUNK MAIL ORDER (P.O. BOX 15, IPSWICH,
SUFFOLK.IP2 8RY, ENGLAND) AND SUPPORTS "IPSWICH TOWN F.C.". HE THINKS HE'S YOUNG BUT
HASN'T WORN TOO WELL.
KENTUCKY KEV - GUITAR, RUNS A HI-FI/HOME ENTERTAINMENT SHOP AND SUPPORTS "LEICESTER CITY
F.C.".
FANNY ADAMS - BASS, RUNS THE BATH AND SUPPORTS A WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN.
MALCUM POWDER - DRUMS, HE RUNS OCCASIONALLY AND IS THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE BAND, AND
SUPPORTS THE BAR AT THE LOCAL PUB.
Discography.
'Demolition Derby'(2 Tracks split with PMT) Weird records.
'How low'/'lipstick'(Split EP with SPECIAL DUTIES).Knockout Records.
'Look mum I'm on the radio' EP Menace records.
'A tribute to the Adicts' EP(split with LOVEJUNK). Nytemayre Records.
'Drunk again'/'change in you'(one sided single,ltd 300). Empty Records.
'Cut me up'/'Dynamite'/'As I fall'. Red Flag Records.
'A SHORT CUT TO A BETTER WORLD'CD Album. Menace Records.
Compilations ETC.
'Football Crazy'(one track promo CD)
'Punk's not dread' LP/CD (two tracks)
'Knockout in the second round'(inc 'How low')
'British punk invasion vol 3' (five tracks).
'The songs of ITFC'(inc Ipswich Bop)
'Teenage mutant punk rock zombies'(inc Beating around the bush).
some maybe hard to find and deleted now but for what is available contact us at
PO BOX 15 IPSWICH, SUFFOLK, IP2 8RY
Describe your sound and the main themes to your lyrics.
Influenced by early punk rock (rather than hardcore), we have a 90's sensibility
with a catchy rock'n'roll feel. Lyrics are about all sorts, from fancy-ing
some-one on the bus on the way to school to observations on life, to animal
testing from the animals point of view or being frightened of the dark.
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you whilst touring?
Taking Combat Shock with us ! Everyone has their own fave memories and drinking/puking
story/tale (normally involving Malcum or Jack). But Kev waiting all day for a comfy poo,
to arrive at a house with no toilet, and having to go in the garden only to be hit by the
'crack Flag night photo surveillance squad' is a classic, and the attraction of female
(obviously) dogs to use Fanny's bass cab as a toilet.
Describe punk at the beginning of the 21st century.
Better than the beginning of the 20th century.(Kev tells us it was
very bleak - he can remember)
If you had to put on a 3 day punk festival, who would you have headlining each day?
Very hard question, the list is endless, some of whom you could still get and some you
couldn't possibly get - here is just a few to choose from, The Ramones, The Boys,
Motorhead, Sex Pistols, Rancid, The Adverts, The Rezillos, Iggy and The Dickies,
and of course 'The Clash', take your pick.
What is the Punk/Oi scene like in your area?
Small but respectable for where we are, we have a few good local bands like
'The Rists' and 'Lovejunk' and we all play and put on gigs at a pub called
'The Steamboat Tavern'. Recently we've had T.V. Smith, Panic, Beerzone,
Roadrage, Norma Jeans, Wreckless Eric play and loads more in the pipeline.
It's a good crowd who tend to support most of the gigs, for our tenth
anniversary we had 250 people through-out the day and yes the Adicts and
Condemned 84 are from Ippo but only Kid and Mel from the original Adicts
are still local, from Condemned we see Kev and Gunk occasionaly.
What is the meaning of your name? Has it got any political background (I think many people
think of socialism or something close to that, when they hear the words "red flag"!)
(FANNY) WE ARE NOT PARTICULARLY POLITICAL, WE PLAY MUSIC BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE
A GOOD TIME AND ENJOY IT FOR WHAT IT IS, SING, DANCE, DRINK LOTS, FALL OVER, GET UP, DANCE
AND SING SOME MORE, ANYONE IS WELCOME TO COME TO OUR GIGS TO DO THESE THINGS.
(RIKKI) PEOPLE ALWAYS DO THINK IT'S GOT SOCIALIST LEANINGS - BUT NO,WE LIKED THE NAME
AND THOUGHT IT SOUNDED GOOD. WE'VE BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION FOR TEN YEARS NOW AND OFTEN
MAKE UP STUPID ANSWERS .
THE '77 WAS ORIGINALLY JUST TO GIVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WE SOUNDED LIKE AND WERE INFLUENCED BY.
What are your lyrics about?
(FANNY) ALL SORTS, FROM FANCY-ING SOMEONE YOU MEET ON THE SCHOOL BUS TO ANIMAL TESTING
FROM THE ANIMALS POINT OF VIEW AND BLOODSPORTS, TO OBSERVATIONS ON EVERYDAY LIFE AND
RELATIONSHIPS.
(RIKKI) ANYTHING AND EVERTHING - WE'RE ANTI BLOODSPORTS (3/4 OF THE BAND ARE VEGETARIAN),
WE HAVE STUPID SONGS ABOUT GIRLFRIENDS AND FEAR OF THE DARK TO MORE SERIOUS TOPICS LIKE
ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS, RACIAL EQUALITY AND HEROIN ADDICTION.
What about the szene in your area? Are there many shows?
(FANNY) IN IPSWICH THERE IS NOT MUCH OF A SCENE AT THE MO' BUT WE DO OUR BEST, WE HAVE
ONE OR TWO GOOD PUBS AND HAVE HAD THE LIKES OF TV SMITH AND WRECKLESS ERIC DOWN HERE LATELY
BUT WE FIND IT IS GENERALLY BETTER TO TRAVEL OUT OF THE AREA TO GET THE BEST GIGS (USUALY
ABROAD)
(RIKKI) MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THE PUNK SHOWS IN IPSWICH ARE PUT ON BY US OR THE GUYS FROM
THE BAND "LOVEJUNK", IT'S JUST A SMALL SCENE IN OUR LOCAL PUB. WE'VE RECENTLY PUT ON
"BEERZONE", "ZERO TOLERANCE", "PANIC", "TV SMITH", "THE STAINS", "WRECKLESS ERIC",
"ROADRAGE", TO NAME BUT A FEW. ACTUALLY WE SHOULD BE SORTING OUT SOME UK GIGS FOR GERMANY'S
"GEE STRINGS" SOMETIME SOON.
You're an Ipswich-based band, like the skinhead band Condemned 84. Do you know the guys from
C 84? What do you think of this band? What do you think of skinheads in general?
(FANNY) WE VAGUELY KNOW CONDEMNED 84 BUT DON'T TEND TO SEE THEM AROUND MUCH, SKINHEADS ARE
OK BUT AS WITH ALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE THERE'S USUALY A FEW IDIOTS WHO SPOIL IT FOR THE REST.
(RIKKI) I KNOW KEV AND GUNK FROM "C84" BUT DON'T SEE THEM SO OFTEN. WE USED TO HAVE THEIR
OLD GUITARIST MICK IN RED FLAG IN THE EARLY DAYS. SKINS ARE OK IF THEY'RE SHARP
How many shows have you played so far? Which bands have you played with?
(FANNY) WE'VE DONE TOO MANY TO ACTUALLY LIST BUT SOME OF THE GOOD ONES HAVE BEEN WITH THE
LIKES OF "THE DAMNED", "STIFF LITTLE FINGERS", "ROADRAGE", "THE ANGELIC UPSTARTS",
"THE STAINS" AND SOME GREAT EUROPEAN BANDS WHO I'M SORRY BUT I FORGET NAMES.
(RIKKI)OUR GIGS MUST RUN WELL INTO THE HUNDREDS BY NOW, WE'VE PLAYED WITH ALL OUR
HEROES WE GREW UP LISTENING TO, - "DAMNED", "SUBS", "SLF", "UPSTARTS","DRONES","999",
"VIBRATORS", AND LOADS MORE, BUT WE LIKE TO PLAY WITH THE BANDS WE,VE MET SINCE FORMING,
- "STAINS", "ROADRAGE", "BEERZONE", "NORMA JEANS", "SPECIAL DUTIES", TO NAME A FEW.
What was the worst show and what was the best in the history of Red Flag 77?
(FANNY) THE BEST ONE FOR ME WAS THE FIRST FRENCH GIG AS WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
AND WERE SHOCKED AT THE FANTASTIC HOSPITALITY WE RECIEVED, (WE NEVER GET TREATED AS WELL
AS THAT IN ENGLAND) WE WERE SUPPORTING "SPECIAL DUTIES" ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND THE WHOLE
THING WAS SO GOOD WE CONTINUE TO GO BACK TO EUROPE EVERY YEAR AND HAVE A GREAT TIME.
THE WORST ONE(S) ARE USUALLY THE TOOOO DRUNKEN AFFAIRS WHICH THANKFULLY I'VE BEEN TOO DRUNK
TO REMEMBER.
(RIKKI) THANKFULLY WE PLAY MORE GOOD SHOWS THAN BAD ONES. OUR XMAS GIGS ARE ALWAYS GOOD
FUN, BUT WHEN WE'RE SHIT-FACED I TURN INTO KARAOKE MAN. OUR 10th ANNIVERSARY BASH WAS ONE
OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EVENTS WE'VE PUT ON AND PLAYING IT WAS GREAT.
There's since a couple of years the "Holliday's in the Sun" festival taking place every year!
This year also in Germany! Have you ever played at one of those festivals? What do you think
of such big events? What do you think of old well known bands reforming therefore?
(FANNY) H.I.T.S. GIGS ARE O.K IF EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE TO PLAY, IT'S NICE TO SUPPORT
YOUR OLD FAVS AND AS LONG AS THEY CONTINUE TO INCLUDE NEW BANDS I THINK IT'S A GOOD
PLATFORM TO GET NOTICED,(IF YOU ARE GIVEN A GOOD TIME SLOT, SO OFTEN THOUGH NEW BANDS
ARE ON AT TOTALLY UNSOCIABLE TIMES). AND A GOOD PUNK ROCK HOLIDAY IS ALWAYS A GOOD WAY
TO UNWIND.
(RIKKI) A GOOD IDEA, BUT BLOODY EXPENSIVE AND NOW IT'S GONE ON FOR SO LONG THE BANDS
DON'T CHANGE MUCH.
What was your latest release and what have you planned for the future?
(FANNY) AT THE MO' THE ALBUM IS AVAILABLE FROM "KNOW YOUR PRODUCT" PO BOX 15 IPSWICH
SUFFOLK IP2 8RY U.K. AS IS THE NEW SINGLE "CUT ME UP" OUT NOW ON RED FLAG RECORDS.
(RIKKI) THE LATEST RELEASE IS A 7" ON OUR OWN LABEL. WE MAY GO ON TO RELEASE OTHER
BANDS TOO ! WE'LL ALSO DO A 2nd ALBUM SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE CAN AFFORD TO RECORD.
MOST OF OUR OTHER STUFF IS AVAILABLE FROM US AT "P.O. BOX 15 IPSWICH, SUFFOLK, IP2 8RY,
ENGLAND
what is the first record you've ever bought and what is the last?
(FANNY) 1st - PHYSICAL GRAFFITTI BY LED ZEPPELIN / LAST - BEERZONE - THEY CAME, THEY
SAW, THEY CONQUERED.
(RIKKI) 1st - BILLY DON'T BE A HERO - PAPER LACE / LAST - THE PEA WEES - THIS IS ROCK
AND ROLL
(KEV) 1st - TELEGRAM SAM - T.REX AND GUDBYE T' JANE - SLADE / LAST - THE RICH KIDS
(MALC) 1st - BLACK SABBATH - GREATEST HITS / LAST - RUDIMENTARY PEGNI
You also appeared on the "Punks not dread" compilation (your first realease when I remember
right!) together with bands like "Chaos U.K". and "Raw Noise" etc.. Are you still in contact
with one of those bands? which other bands are you friends with?
(FANNY) WE ARE QUITE A SOCIABLE BUNCH AND GET ON WITH MOST BANDS WE MEET AND PLAY
WITH, AT THE MO' WE TEND TO SEE "THE NORMA JEANS", "THE STAINS", "COMBAT SHOCK",
"ZERO TOLERANCE", (ALL FANTASTIC BANDS), AMONGST OTHERS.(IN FACT ANYONE WHO WILL TALK TO US).
(RIKKI) WE STILL SEE "CHAOS UK" SOMETIMES AND DEAN FROM "RAW NOISE" AND "ENT".
As i know you are already together for 10 years, but still you are quite unknown.
is that because the band is so bad, or donīt you just want to get bigger?!?
Probably 'cos the band is so bad !. No I guess with jobs,families etc. we don't/can't
contribute enough time soley to Red Flag 77 work. Also we're hardly in punk rock central
being out on our own in Ipswich.
How comes you put out tons of 7"s on different labels but only two CDs (incl. the
Anniversary CD)?
It's not like we get offered loads of great deals. So we tend to do 7" singles or supply
compilation tracks to the labels that get in touch and ask us. Nobody has offered to do
an album for us, so we've done them ourselves. Beer City are now gonna release "Short Cut"
in the States. Any labels wanna do an album with us get in touch.
email redflag77_uk@yahoo.com
What funny and sad things happened in these ten years? What things do you always like
thinkin of?
Loads of funny things - falling of stages, bed wetting, vans full of puke, broken vans,
great gigs, crap gigs. On the sadder note - Playing benefit gigs for the families of
friends who have passed away.
