To start off, a crap question what does GURKHA mean? Is it like, I Gurt pint?
Gurkhas are Nepalese fighting soldiers who are famous for their courage and ferocity fighting in the second world war. we are a scruffy bunch of punks scratching up a noise and only famous for drinking and fighting each other. so the name connection was obvious really wasn't it? but we do like having gurt pints bought us but either way its great word aint it?
Give some information on band members, ex bands etc?
Pig on guitar was in the original RANCID and a band called MAGGOT SLAYER OVERDRIVE who did a single and a split LP and toured USA and Europe. Neil on bass (our most recent conscription) was in MUCK SPREADER who did a single and ten inch, he's also currently in a band called WALRUS who are also noisy Bristol blighters. he is responsible for accidentally inventing house music years ago before anyone ever heard of it and he's really fucking sorry. Flip the drummer is also in DA CAPO he's the singer / guitarist for them and he did another band called MULK from Weymouth where he probably did bass,keyboards and lighting or something and as such is far too talented and annoying. Martin the singer is too shit to be allowed into another band although he did release a noise project record split with MAN IS THE BASTARD which was hampered in its commercial success by being made of ice (didn't stop people trying to buy it though).
Do you find it easier to get gigs, being ex members of other bands?
No we find it harder to think of new reasons to turn down gigs to be honest.ex-bands is like fucking an albatross in the neck or something. Our devastating good looks usually enable to to play anything we like mate.
What's the worst thing that has happened you playing a gig?
As GURKHA we played pissed out of our skulls in London and our guitar player had to smash his guitar "Sid style" over the head of some tyke in the crowd and the rest of us casually smoothed over all the ensuing mistakes by fighting the crowd. But as for other bands: Pig says "toothless dwarves attacking him in Cardiff" Neil says "sleeping in a p.o. box when we went on tour by accident" flip says "my tail kept popping out when I was doing a drum solo" martin says "my legs got wet when my ice record melted at its first public launch party DJ set outing"
What's Bristol like these days, punk scene, squats etc? You must have all the 'Riot City' releases since you grew up there?
Pig is the only one who grew up in Bristol but we all got our fair share of riot city records but none of us are collectors. there is an active Bristol scene well about four different scenes to be honest its pretty diverse but nothing like the 80s heyday y'know. Squats ha! well they all get closed down in two days though there are a few lightning strike squat gigs here and there. the only long standing one is the kebele which keeps itself from being shut down by the police by only having live Belgian folk music nights and being run by people who confuse socks for clothes. the Bristol various scenes come together together like a lovely kind of Venn diagram when its overlapping.
Next plans for GURKHA?
Teach the new bass player the songs, record something we like (we will give out copies of demo with cover free for price of postage if you write to us) . make some really offensive t-shirts and make some offensive music. thanks for the interview an interest mate and remember kids "kill a junkie for Sid".
