Taken From Skaface 6. - December 1999.
 

As well as running ska-line, a ska info service, Joe Behan's also presenting an ska radio show and has a fanzine and compilation in the pipeline. Somehow  Joe found time to answer some questions for us.

Apart from writing a skazine, giving out flyers and posters in Dublin you've been presenting a radio show on Dublin's NEAR FM 101.6 (North East Access Radio) How many shows have been so far ?

We have had about four shows to date (19/9/99) which is all part of our training for the main weekly show - which we are told will start from December into Jan/Feb 2000.

How often is the show broadcast ?

When the show is up and fully running it will be broadcast one hour per week - live in the evening and the recording going out the following morning/midday. The training broadcast go out live too and their every 2nd week at the moment.

What stuff do you play on the show ?

Mainly ska, rocksteady. I am a person who came through the whole 2-tone era. So I do like to play stuff from then. But always moving on to the new stuff of today, and going back to the '60's stuff too. I do most of the time, find that I am playing recent material of bands of today, because I like their stuff and I want to support them .

What bands have done interviews or sessions for the show?

Of recent, when the radio station called me and asked if I could fill in for someone and play some ska. I gave 'gangsters' lead singer CoCo a call and he came in for an interview. I do have plans for other shows - Hope to get an interview with The Selecter, Spunge, Top Cats and anyone else who comes to gig in Dublin. Just have to wait and see.

What kind of a reception have you had to the shows ?

The first show I did, we put posters & flyers around for it and people I met weeks after who had tuned in, seemed to really like it. The station manager, I know likes it - he's also one of the old 2-tone crew. (A big Specials fan)

What do you hope to do for future shows ?

Invite ska people in, ask them to pick a few tracks and have a chat about the tracks they picked. The type of people I mean are those who I meet at gigs and that.

What about these plans for a ska compilation ?

The plans are at the moment, 8 bands, 2 tracks each. Get the money to run a print of about 500 copies and any money made, put it to a good cause - charity. The UK, USA, Spain, France, Germany etc, etc all have one or many, why not Ireland ? The material is out there, past bands demo's and dat's. Present bands have all shown an interest. We have spoke to members of past & present bands. There is no rush on this idea, we must obtain good material, past bands would be The Umbrellas, Trenchtown, The officials and Freres Jackman and present bands would be Gangsters, skam, woodrow and full trousers.

So look out for more info in future ska-face's about the comp or get a hold of Joe's upcoming skazine. Ska Patrol, it should be out by Christmas. Its said to have interview with the Chinkees, Gangsters, G-Men, Blaster masters, xplosions and Longshot, plus loads of news and reviews.
For more info on any of Joe's projects drop him a line at :

Ska-line
C/O 4 Swansnest Ave
Kilbarrack
Dublin 5
Ireland