Londinium SPQR
1- Short history of band.
We formed the band in 1994 (I think!) when Francesco(my self)
ex-guitarist of Intolleranza, Lorenzo and Fabrizio, who were
deeply involved into the scene, came across into Roberto, former
drummer in several hardcore band from Rome, and decided to
"create" Londinium Spqr. At the beginning it was little
more then mere fun!
2- You are a Political Incorrect band. Have you any problem in
your
country?
Well...probably you have already heard 1000 times what I am
saying but once you have decided in which side you want to be
then you just face the facts (or the consequences!) Real
problems? When you are in a band you want to play live, you want
to record and sell many Cds and do a lot of nice things. In our
case you cannot forget the deep commitment to the Cause.
Then you see that it is not easy to spread your message in other
circles then your own scene and realise that you can't go too far
because as soon gigs organisers, radio stations, journalists know
who you are, you are banned, not matter how well you can play! We
already knew all this and do not complaint about it. We do our
best in order to play good music, trying to deliver our message
as far as possible.
3- Tell me how much records you published how much copies are
sold out & what reviews you got?
When we did our first single Servizio di Stato (Tuono records) we
were an unexperienced band.
When we listen to it we are just happy to be still around so we
can say "it was good as a beginning but now we do a lot
better!" in 1995 we recorded a couple of tracks for a Tuono
Records compilation and I think that we managed to achieve a much
better result. In that period thank to the drummer we were very
much influenced by the old hardcore sound which you understand
easly listening to the songs. Last year we have been eventually
pleased to release our first CD Fare Quadrato. We have had good
reaction to our work and despite the fact that normal underground
medias tend to ignore us those that didn't care about our
political ideas wrote really good things about Fare Quadrato. We
have had amazingly good reviews in a few national music magazines
and we are very proud of it. We know that to achieve good results
(unless you are happy enough to shout slogans in front of 200
peoples) you have to work hard at all levels: quality music (and
we have a lot to learn!), quality message (I don't obviously mean
that we should write songs in the way ordinary youth would agree
with us but only that we can say good and radical things even if
we refrain from showing a stereotyped way of communicating). Then
you need promotion: if you do good music you have to try to give
it outside of your own enviroment. It is too easy to say:
"they would not understand anyway. So fuck them!". But
to do this (promotion I mean) we go back to the first 2 points:
quality music and lyrics! Oh..I've nearly forgotten our last
release which is an old recording of 1995: a 45t with to songs:
Tempo di Lottare and 1943.
Are you satisfied of these records?
Yes .....and not! Some time after releasing a Cd you always have
the impression that you could have done it better. But ok...yes,
we can say that we are happy with all our recordings because a
part fron the final result they all represent a period of our
life.
4- Some words about your gigs.
We have not played so many and it is a pity because we love
playing live. So far we have played in Italy, England, Czech
Republic and France. ALl concerts have been important. In Czech
the atmosphere was incredible: although people downthere did know
anything about us they really enjoyed the gig showing huge
enthusiasm. There were a lot of very young skinheads and
skingirls which is very important because their movement is young
and full of energy! Last November we were in France and played
along with Warlord, Legion of ST George: good organisation and
great fun! Last 5 Dec we have played in North East Italy: in that
occasion we have played for the first time with the addition of
our new keyboard which has improved a lot our sound. What we do
now is triyng to do hard music (metal&hardcore) mixed with
some
electronics: let's wait few months for our next recordings! Our
movement has to be young and modern even as far as the SOUND is
concerned. That's why we listen to a wide range of music.
If we play music is because we love music in general and not only
few songs 15 years old.
Of course it will be hard to find a Bob Marley's CD in our
collections!
5- What are your musical inspirations &
fascinations?
Real songs come from real things. After doing a song I question
it asking to it (and to myself!): do I really believe in what I
am saying? Is it the way how I wanted to do it? If I am not sure
about the ansewers then song won't work! Real life and real
feelings are very important for us. Real feelings means also our
past, our history, destiny etc.
Music inspirations? I could name dozens of band that we like. We
like hard band like Sick of it all, Madball, Fear Factory,
Metallica and even Boehse Onkelz or more melodic ones like The
Cranberries. Then Skullhead, Mistreat, Rahowa, Laibach, SFS,
Bound for Glory and many others.
6- Your opinion about:
- ZOG
- A. Hitler
- B. Mussolini
- South America Skinheads
- Communism
- Nietzsche
- Drugs
- Hooligans
- Alcohol
To be honest it seems very difficoult to answer to these
questions in a positive way: what do you want me to say? Yes! I
love drugs and hate communists? Do not misunderstand! I am not
trying to misvalue your question but too often I see bands
singing about exactly the same topics and very often in the same
way. We are white europeans living in 1999. We believe that our
body has to be
fit, free and strong as our mind. We also think that a part from
all our enemies our worst enemy is inside us. It is our weakness!
South America Skinheads? We know little but it is good to say
that at several thousands KM from Europe young Comrades are
fighting for the good values. It is just great to know that in
this very moment there are Comrades in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile,
Brazil, etc that love what we do love and hate what we do hate.
But beware from those people that become a skinhead because of a
lack of personality or for other reasons assuming the more
extremist attitudes (sometimes misunderstanding symbols, history
and real nowadays life) only to show they are OK.
7- What are you doing apart music?
We all work full time, train in gym and keep our brains fit with
good books!
8- Some words about Skinhead movement in your country?
Due to many circomstances (repression but not only that!) the
skinhead movement is not as strong as it used to be few years
ago. Never mind! MAny of those who were skinheads are now
dedicated militants. Others have turned themselves into non
political skins. That's life. It is happening in many western
Europe countries. On the other hand we assist to the growth of
good NR movements all over Europe and that's good news!
9- What does LONDINIUM SPQR mean?
In the year 55 BC Julius Caesar organised the first expeditions
to Britain. In the year 43 AD, during the rule of Emperor
Claudio, Roman troops invaded Britain founding several towns and
villas. One of their first settlements was called Londinium.
Being a London based Italian band, Londinium is a meaningful name
to all of us. Spqr stands for Senatus PopolusQue Romanus which
means the identity between the Roman Senate and the Roman People.
10 - Plans for future?
Gigs and new recordings trying to improve as much as we can our
sound. Promotion of our ideals through hard work, study and
political activities. We are also recording 2 songs for the new
RTP compilation which will be released
in a couple of months. One of this will be a new edition of
Europa (already released on Fare QUadrato) with new singing
(there were a couple of spelling mistakes in the spanish
and in the german parts.
11- Something on end?
Gracias a ti Sebastian para darnos esta opportunidad.
Queremos decir a todos que nuestra batalla para la identidad no
se puede limitar a la glorificacion de el pasado (como le
gusteria a nuestros enemigos!).
Nunca olvidamos el pasado pero vivimos en 1999 y tenemos que
luchar para nuestro futuro.
NO PARAR HASTA CONQUISTAR!
Un saludo a nuestro estilo a todos los camaradas de Sur America.