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In July 1999 I caught up with guitarist Shrimp for a few words.

What are the bands main influences ?

Oh shit, err, Operation Ivy I guess but individually our influences are all over the place. 2-Tone stuff, Jamaican trad ska, hardcore punk, pop punk, weird riot girl shit, indy stuff (Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, NOT Oasis.  (Yeah we believe you ! - Ed)

How long have you been together ?

Nearly three years, but the current line up, about a year and a half.

Did Bankshot records release your debut album and is it available in the UK?

Bankshot records fucked us about for a bit promising all kindsa stuff, then got bored and stopped replying our letters. Arseholes. But wee feel no bitterness towards them....... cunts.

What happened to Aaron, the original singer ? and why is he called a fuckin’ wanker in the song ‘new day old day’ ?

Aaron has very strong Punk ideals and we were talking about doing very un punk, things like getting a manager, (which we still haven’t got, any offers ?) and signing record deals. Aaron just wasn’t into doing any of that so he left, he now sings for the very punk Homebrew and I think he’s a lot happier now, but we still miss him, “new day, old day”  is taking the piss, its not serious and Aaron knows that. I think Homebrew are writing new day, Old day part 2.

What do you guys do outside the band ? i.e.: Are you at college/Uni ?

Most us have crap jobs. I wash pots, Adrian (singer) works in a factory making cards, Jamie (Bass) is a labourer, Jim (Drums) works in a mill, Katy (Sax) is at College and Bob (sax) is finishing his A-levels.

Apart from the Bradford soup run do you have any other gigs lined up ?

We’ve got a bit of a tour in July and should be playing Birmingham, Lancaster, Scunthorpe, Leeds, Derby, Eastbourne and some other scuzzbucket cities.

What have been your best gigs so far, or the best bands you’ve played with ?

We all have our own faves but mine are probably Thirsk gigs, they’re always a good laugh. Best bands ? Hmm, The Riffs were great as were Loonee Toons, Dropnose, Pedantics, lubby nugent, spunge and Freaks union.

What was it like playing with MU330 ?

It was pretty intimidating, we hadn’t been playing long and suddenly we’re asked to play with two big American bands, plus it was the first time we’d played The Duchess and pretty much, the whole band had grown up watching bands there. It was weird, damn weird.

Do you play any covers in your live set, is so what ?

Fuzai - waiting room, Exploited - dead cities, Bad Manners - Special Brew, Madness - Night Boat to Cairo, Symarip - skinhead moonstomp and catch the pigeon (from ‘stop the pigeon’ cartoon show).

How can people get hold of your split 7” with Homebrew and how much is it?

You’ll have to write to POTATO PRINT RECORDS.
323 Hagley Road, Pedmore, Stourbridge, West Midlands,
DY9 0RF.

You can also write to Shrimp :
11 Carlton Avenue, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, Yo7 1RJ.