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Colin Abrahall is the lead singer of long-lived punk rock band (and rare Elvis Costello album) GBH. When the wonderful folks at Go-Kart Records offered to set me up with an interview, my immediate thought was, "Have you actually read my GBH review page?" For those that haven't, shame on you, but here are a few excerpts:
- "I in all my finite wisdom tooth cannot come up with a single reason why anybody would like this album for any reason at all."
So yes, I was a little concerned about this. But the fact is (A) GBH's 1982 LP City Baby Attacked By Rats is, in my estimation, one of the greatest 5 or 10 punk albums ever recorded (which is to say one of the greatest 5 or 10 albums PERIOD), and (2) their latest CD Ha Ha is the least awful album they've released in nearly twenty years. So I DID want to interview Colin. I just didn't want him to ever in a billion years find out about my web site.
So what do my good friends at Go Kart Records do? SEND HIM A LINK TO MY GBH REVIEWS. As you read the following email interview, keep in mind that when I wrote the questions, I had no idea that Colin already knew how much I hated most of his band's albums. Sigh...
I'm in bold - he's in plain text. And all caps. And yes, he's yelling at me.
- "Is there really an audience for this stuff? Who are they? And why is their musical taste so bad?"
- "I can't believe I bought every GBH album. Time to sell `em on ebay!"
- "I've had the flu for four days now. Sometimes I wonder if I'm giving GBH such bad reviews because my sickness is affecting my feelings towards EVERYTHING. But then I listen a bit closer and realize they suck."
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As leader of one of the longest-lived punk bands, what is YOUR definition of "punk"? Is it more of a political/social attitude, a type of specifically loud/fast music, or something else entirely?
WELL I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF A LEADER OF ANYTHING ,BEING THE SINGER YOU ALWAYS GET MORE ATTENTION BECUASE I SUPPOSE YOU'RE THE FOCAL POINT ,WE ARE ALL EQUAL IN MY EYES. MY DEFINITION OF PUNK WOULD NOT BE THE SAME AS ANYONE ELSE'S CUZ IN MY OPINION IT'S DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE ,SURE THERE WOULD BE POINTS ON WHICH EVERYONE AGREED. IT IS A MIXTURE OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES AS WELL AS A LOVE FOR GOOD HONEST MUSIC.
What kind of music were you listening to BEFORE punk hit? Did punk attract you immediately or did you have to warm to it?
I DID'NT HAVE MUCH INTEREST IN ANY KIND OF MUSIC BEFORE PUNK BUT AS SOON AS I HEARD EARLY STUFF ON THE RADIO BY THE SEX PISTOLS AND THE RAMONES I WAS HOOKED ,AND HAD TO FIND OUT AS MUCH AS I COULD ABOUT IT, THERE WAS'NT A LOT OF INFO TO BE HAD IN THE BEGINING, SO I SORT EVERY SNIPPET I COULD.
Was GBH a group of friends that formed a band, or a band that became friends after forming?
WE WERE ALL FRIEND FIRST ,WE USED TO DRINK IN THE ONLY PUB IN BIRMINGHAM THAT LET PUNKS INTO,I'VE KNOWN ROSS SINCE WE BOTH PLAYED FOOTBALL FOR THE SAME TEAM WHEN WE WERE 10 OR 11 IT WAS ALWAYS MY AMBITION TO BE IN A PUNK BAND AS THAT WAS ONE OF THE POINTS OF PUNK ROCK -YOU DID'NT HAVE TO BE A GREAT MUSICIAN OR ANYTHING -YOU HAD TO HAVE A LOVE FOR IT.
I have been a huge fan and proponent of "City Baby Attacked By Rats" since I first heard it thirteen years ago. What was the reaction among the punk rock community when that album came out? Did you guys immediately become punk legends because of that album? Or was that something that built up over time?
LEGENDS IN OUR OWN LUNCHTIME MORE LIKE , WE WERE I SUPPOSE IN THE SECOND WAVE OF BANDS ,ALONG WITH DISCHARGE ,THE EXPLOITED ETC WHEN "CITY BABY" WAS RELEASED IT GOT A 5 STAR REVIEW IN "SOUNDS " WHICH WAS THE MOST POPULAR MUSIC WEEKLY AT THE TIME.BUT WE DID'NT GET ALONG WITH THE REVIEWER ,GARY BUSHELL, WHO WENT ON TO "INVENT " OI MUSIC AND WAS BASICALLY A STRAIGHT (SOMEONE WHO WAS'NT PUNK), BUT I GUESS HE DID US A FAVOUR BY WRITING SUCH A GOOD REVIEW. AT THE TIME WE WERE SIGNED TO CLAY RECORDS WHICH WAS A SMALL RECORD SHOP IN STOKE -ON -TRENT , SO WHEN THE ALBUM GOT INTO THE TOP 20 IN ENGLAND WE WERE AMAZED , CLAY HAD NO A+R DEPT IT WAS JUST ONE MAN, SO IT WAS REALLY A WORD OF MOUTH THING,RATHER THAN ANY PAYOLA ,MAJOR LABEL BOLLOCKS.
What was your reaction to the "grunge" youth movement of the early '90s? Did it seem analogous to punk's rising at all, or was it entirely different?
THE GRUNGE THING WAS'NT A BIG SURPRISE, APART FROM THE OBVIOUS NIRVANA, MOST OF IT WAS POOR "ALTERNATIVE" MUSIC, LIKE PUNK BANDS WHO WERE TOO STONED TO PLAY FAST ,WITH ALL THIS "I HATE MY PARENTS" SHIT, VERY MIDDLE CLASS AMERICA
It's hard for me to get a historical read on how your career has gone over the course of two decades. I own all the albums, but I have no idea which are considered "GBH classics" or which were greeted with negativity (if there were any). Would you mind giving a quick history of which of your albums were most and least popular (again, if any), as well as the ones that you personally are most proud of or (if applicable) least proud of?
THEY ARE ALL CLASSICS MARK ,YOU SHOULD KNOW AS YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THEM SO PASSIONATLEY.SOME HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS "METAL" WHICH IS THE BIGGEST LOAD OF CRAP I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE , I HATE HEAVY METAL AND EVERYTHING IT STANDS FOR ( DOES IT STAND FOR ANYTHING?) HEAVY METAL TO ME IS MOTLEY CRUE AND SHIT LIKE THAT, BUT TO SOME PEOPLES EARS OUR MUSIC SOUNDS LIKE IT , WELL I JUST DON'T GET IT.IT IS OBVIOUS THEY DON'T REALLY LISTEN. AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY DON'T YOU , THOSE WHO CAN DO IT -DO IT AND THOSE WHO CAN'T WRITE ABOUT IT" OUR CAREER HAS GONE LIKE THIS;WE MAKE RECORDS WE DO TOURS SO FAR FOR 23 YEARS ,
In my opinion, your new CD "Ha Ha" is easily the best thing GBH has released since "City Baby's Revenge" -- it's fast, it's fun, it's tough, it's consistent, it's lyrically interesting and it's extremely catchy. Plus it feels a lot more like PUNK ROCK than the thrashy metal sort of sound you had for a while there. I'm curious as to how you guys feel about the record - what was the mood while you recorded it? Was there a feeling that you had a special one on your hands, or was it "just another album"?
WE ALWAYS HAVE FUN WHEN WE RECORD,WE HAD THE SONGS REHEARSED PRETTY GOOD AS EVERYTIME A RECORD CONTRACT FELL THROUGH WE JUST WENT BACK IN THE STUDIO AND WROTE MORE STUFF, WE KNOW THE ENGINEER REALLY WELL SO IT WAS A STRESS FREE TIME WE KNEW WHAT WE HAD TO DO EACH DAY AND WE GOT ON AND DID IT, IN YOUR REVIEW OF "REVENGE" YOU SAID IT WAS BORING SO BY SAYING "HA HA" IS THE BEST THING WE'VE RELEASED SINCE THAT IS IT A COMPLIMENT?
I was pleased to hear a lot of great social commentary on the new album -- "the desire of poverty," "song for cathy" (fantastic song), the anti-drug one --a far cry from "Slut"! What are some of your favorite songs on it? And your lyrical inspiration for them?
I LIKE MOST OF THEM IN FACT I CAN'T THINK OF ONE I DON'T LIKE IF THAT DOES'NT SOUND TOO PRETENSIOUS, LYRICALLY I TRY TO PAINT A PICTURE OF WHATS GOING ON IN MY HEAD IN A WAY THAT A THIRD PERSON CAN UNDERSTAND , I ALSO LIKE DOUBLE MEANINGS AND IF I CAN GET SOME CHEESY RHYMES IN IT ALL THE BETTER
How have you guys managed to stay together for so long? What's your secret?
DON'T YOU READ THE LYRICS ? "SKIN AND GRAVITY" BUT ALSO FRIENDSHIP AND I SUPPOSE LOVE , BUT NOT IN A GAY WAY, ( NOT THAT WE'RE HOMOPHOBIC)WE HAVE BEEN IN SOME REAL BAD SITUATIONS TOGETHER AND AT OUR VERY BLEAKEST MOMENTS WE'VE MANAGED TO HAVE A LAUGH OUT LOUD.
What is it like touring with GBH? How do you kill the time between gigs? Are your audiences all ages, or mostly kids -- Is there a lot of sex and/or violence? Give me the dirt! The filth and the... well, you know. ;7)
TOURING IS BRILLIANT ,AND I LOVE IT,YOU DO GET DOWN SOMETIME LIKE WHEN YOU'RE MISSING FAMILY ETC, BUT SOMETHING ALWAYS HAPPENS TO LIGHTEN THE MOOD.TRAVELLING BETWEEN GIGS WE LISTEN TO MUSIC, WATCH MOVIES, BUY SILLY THINGS FROM TRUCK STOPS ,SLEEP ,SMOKE ,DRINK AND DO NEARLY ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN DO WHEN NOT IN MOTION.I'M A FAMILY MAN SO CANNOT DIVULGE ANY NAUGHTY GOINGS ON BUT USE YOUR IMAGINATION.
Have you ever felt any desire to change your appearance or play a different type of music, but you resisted because you were afraid of how GBH fans might react? Or have you always been strictly into the punk, hardcore and metal that you're known for?
TO CHANGE DELIBERATLEY IS DISHONEST IN MY OPINION, AND I THINK THE OLD MAXIM OF " BE TRUE TO YOURSELF............." IS FAIRLY RIGHT I'M NOT INTO DANCE MUSIC SO WHY WOULD I WANT TO MAKE DANCE MUSIC,ETC ETC , I DO LIKE OTHER FORMS OF MUSIC LIKE REGGAE , AND I'M A BIG FAN OF ELVIS , AND JOHNNY CASH
It seems (to me) that the British music press is always desperately on the lookout for some new, completely British musical style. (Thus their hair-splitting distinctions between types of electronica like jungle, trip-hop, drum-n-bass, etc.) As a band playing a form of music first developed many years ago, do you feel unfairly left out of their coverage? Or do you not really care about those kinds of outlets?
THE MUSIC PRESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MADE UP OF FAILURES.AND OPINIONS ARE LIKE ARSEHOLES---EVERYBODY'S GOT ONE (EVEN ME) THERE ARE ONLY THREE CHORDS OUT THERE SO UNLESS SOMEONE DISCOVERS THE LOST ONE NOTHING WILL CHANGE,BUT FASHIONS CHANGE AND FASHION EQUALS $$$$$$, EVERYTHING HAS A SHELF LIFE AND THE SHALLOWER IT IS THE SHORTER LIFE IT HAS.
You guys have worked with a lot of different record labels. Are you at liberty to discuss how you've been treated by the "industry" over the years?
IF YOUR IN A BAND YOU WILL GET TREATED LIKE SHIT ,YOU HAVE TO EXCEPT THAT FROM DAY ONE ,THE VERY FIRST CONTRACT WE SIGNED I NEVER EVEN READ,CUS IF YOU DO READ THEM YOU'D NEVER PUT YOUR NAME TO IT , THEY ARE ALWAYS STACKED ON THE COMPANY'S SIDE
As punk is generally considered to be music for teenagers, do people ever give you guff about being a 40-year-old punk rocker? If so, what is your response to them?
WHY IS PUNK MUSIC FOR TEENAGERS? I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE , ITS MUSIC AND SHOULD'NT HAVE ANY RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON IT. THE ONLY PERSON TO GIVE ME A HARD TIME ABOUT BEING A 40 YEAR OLD PUNK ROCKER (I'M 41 ON DEC 5TH SO DON'T FORGET MY CARD ) IS MY WIFE!
Are there any current, newer bands that excite you?
I CAN'T THINK OF ANY OFF HAND ,BUT IF NOTHING IS DOING IN TODAYS SCENE I JUST GO BACK IN TIME TO WHERE I KNOW THERES LOTS OF GOOD STUFF AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER ONE TO COME ALONG.
What are your other interests outside of music?
FOOTBALL, READING BOOKS, WATCHING T.V. GARDENING
In your opinion, is there any chance for another youthful musical revolution comparable to the rise of punk rock?
NEVER
And anyway, when he's talking about "football" you know he really means soccer, so fuck him, the damn limey pussy! Learn a real sport, you randy scouse git!
Good interview with Collin.
I love City Baby.....Womb With A View is a killer song! Church Of the Truely Warped is a good album too....the last one I bought. I dont think they have ever sounded metal in the music....but maybe sometimes in the sound......better instruments....different producers....it all adds up. Anyone who has said they suck doesnt listen to the music very closely....there is a lot going on there. This interview is getting me to go out and find their newer stuff.....I didnt know they were still around but glad they are........and if some of these new Emp TV darling punkPop bands would drop off the face of the earth.....that would be a GOOD thing......so people who wanted to hear the real thing ...could.
And it is FOOTBALL . It is called football around the planet , you spaced- out twat . Only ignorant yanks call it soccer .
And I love how he generalizes an entire genre of music by using a shitty pop group with loud guitars as the norm. I think he's jealous of the fact that as GBH got slower and lost their balls, grind death and black metal came out and captured the hearts and souls of children the world over.
ah, anyways, on a different note I really like your site Mark, your interviews are really interesting (the ones with Dave Dictor and Vadge Moore are my favorites) and your reviews are funny. Keep up the good work! And I think you should do like a 5 hour interview with Blag, so you can get all the good dirt on the greatest band in the world. Or even longer, and then write a book (since if Blag wrote a book about himself he'd probably just make everything up). okay sweet yeah bye
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