The Threats ***New Interview***

The Threats are one of Scotland's greatest punk bands. The Treats tore up Rebellition Fest. They bring a great show to every show, so it was not a hugh suprise. They also have some great albums out there, as well. The band itself started in '79 and then ended in the '80's. Later they got back together and put out a great album on Doctor Strange Records here in the States. I go Gogsy to tell their story...

Introduce yourself…

Gogsy guitarist and now singer for Threats now that Jim has retired.

How did the band start?

Born out of the punk scene in the UK in 1977. Music then was boring and the damned, sex pistols, clash and aaaaalllll the other great bands just injected life into the music scene. The established music scene hated punk and we as 15/16 year olds lapped it up. Great to stand out from the crowd. An Identity was available for all the punks.

How did you come up with the name?

It was actually an accident. We were going to call ourselves the FRETS, but we at a gig in a place called the Netherbow in Edinburgh and someone said " oh we know the Frets" so we changed it to Threats.

Who would you say are your influences?

You could guess these. Pistols, damned stranglers , UK subs, ramones, cockney rejects , exploited. You name it we were all fans.

What was the punk scene like in 1977?

In Scotland it was a lot more violent due to the fact that punks were unusual. We got chased a  lot hehehe. But to have your identity was great. It was ours no one could join in coz they didn't want the look. It was great to have an identity no one could take or copy.

How do you feel in has changed?

Well, we are a lot older now (FFS I'm 49). But the music is still important. I personally don't like the bands that just roar, I like to hear a sung vocal line. But thats just me, the guys who roar have just as much place as the singers. The world is a much easier place, well it was, not so much now. As people feel the hardship the punk ethic will stand out. When people fell the strain in life Punk comes to the fore. 

What is the song writing process?

Thats easy now. As a band we practice every week and songs really just do fall out now. Its so natural for us as we have been doing it for so long. A bit like a tradesman who is so comfortable with his job. Young bands I can understand can take a bit longer and I do remember those days spending days on songs trying to get them to work. Thank god thats passed.

Your first release was ‘Backlash’, tell us about the demo…

Well we went ito the studio with a whole set of material and picked one for backlash. We recorded I think 4 songs which are all on the Demos and rarities CD. The record company was run by a guy in Edinburgh who had released one record sampler before and we knew him from hanging around a clothes store in Edinburgh which we knew as "Scotties". He came in and heard our demo in their and said he wanted to put it on the next sampler sigle. That was it Threats are out there woohoo .

You then released the ‘Go to Hell’ EP, tell us about the EP…

We had played loads of gigs and at the same clothes store Scotties we met a guy called Brian. (Forget his surname) He actually owned the store. He had lots of contacts and put us forward for a tour with Anti Pasti. The tour was great and the Anti Pasti record company snapped us up. That was Rondelet.

After that you released ‘Politicians and Ministers’, tell us about the EP…

That was a hoot. We recorded loads of songs in the studio but they are all gone now. Never to be found. The guy who recorded us back then was Wilf Smarties. he was the guy who discovered Wet Wet Wet, remember them? When we were recording Wilf just kept shouting Keep going Keep going. hehehe Great time. Rondelet wanted 3 songs for a single. But Wilf convinced them torelease all six tracks as an EP.

Both were released on Rondelet Records, what was it like working with them?

Non event really . We were young lads in a band wanting to release music. Anu one would have done. 

Why do you feel you guys stopped doing shows 1983?

We had done what we needed to do. The more you play the more competent you become. So when we got to a better standard the musical differences started to show. Jim wanted to do more Indie type stuff. I (gogsy) wanted to be more rock orientataed..... and so we went our different ways

What got you guys to start doing shows again in 1999?

Jim was asked to do a show in 1997. He thought it would be a waste of time but for old time sake he did it. The venue was packed . It was amazing. Threats then played a few mor shows and in 2002 Jim asked me to rejoin. I had refused numerous times before but my sister had died and I thought life is too short so rejoined. ...and here we are in 2011 and still playing.

In 2003, you guys released your first full length ’Twelve Punk Moves’, tell us about the album…

This was threats getting rid of the remainder of 1982. Some of the songs on the album were written in the 80's. So they were put straight on there, The others were new. The line up thyen was a good unit and gelled well together. dave Threat was an amazing musiciian and we miss him although Bobe is a more than capable replacement.

It was released on Dr Strange Records, what is it like working with them?

Bill is the man at Dr Strange. He is an absolute star, nothing more to be said.

In 2007, you released your most current album ‘God is Not With Us Today’, how does it differ from the first album…

Listen to it. Its darker, heavier, ballsier, nastier. An album that Jim is very proud of. His lyirics were very very good in this one. Very well tought out and presented. The musical presentation is awesome and thats down to Neil at the recording studio. he is a recording master there is no better in edinburgh.

Tell us about the current lineup…

Well Gogsy me is original from the 80's. Rikk drummed on God and is the longest serving drummer by far. Bobe is the bass player is a great solid boulder of a bass player. just threats through and through, if you had to design a Threats bass player from scratch you'd invent bobe. ...and our new guitarist is Rab. Rab has known the band since  1980. ... and as we scratched our heads trying to find a new guitarist we never saw Rab as he was so close. Then one night Bobe said, "what about Rab". For fuck sake how could we have looked past him all thsese times. Perfect. So perfect.

Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?

This is like the influences question, just roll them off. Exploited, Damned, abti nowhere league, anti pasti, Vice squad, and so on and so on 

Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?

Personally yes. This is because they are few ad far between. Threats can hold an audience in a large room as well as a small room. We do lots and lots of small gigs and lovethem so much. But, the large ones are few. But we can do them. So there is the challenge.

Where have you toured?

UK, Europe, USA. America - amazing love it. Jet lag is shit but hey live with it. Germany is awesome, great people we love germany and Czeck republic. Put a stamp o the map to say - If you are a band, go to the Czech republic, it is the place to be.

Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?

Typhoon Motor Dudes from Germany. The greatest peple in the world. No questions asked.

Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?

Showcase Theatre in california which has now gone. Allan Theatre California, Keil in Germany and Kirkcaldy in Scotland

What do you see is the future of the Threats?

Another album for sure the material is written and shall be out soom. More gigs which we love . After that I'm not sure but certainly ok for the next 10 years 

How can people contact the band?

www.thethreats.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Threats/196177489997
www.myspace.com/threats