I´ve always wanted
to interview The Angelic Upstarts, as they are one of
the coolest Street Punk bands ever to hit this planet.
When Discharge and all the other unwashed brigade were
churning out shite The Upstarts were turning out
classics. This interview was conducted live somewhere in
Sunderland.
Steve DIY: Questions. Gaz Stoker: Interviewer. Mensi:
Answers.
I hold no responsibility for any misquotes as Gaz and
Mensi still have to learn to speak the Queens English!
After much talk of snipers on rooftops and piss taking
of being assassinated by The Far Right Gaz and Mensi got
down to the interview.
Punk Globe: Mensi what have you been up to since the
Angelic Upstarts went in to retirement?
Mensi: The same thing really. A couple of cars, couple
of motorbikes and the building work really. Still in the
building work ya know. I spend my hours on a nighttime
arguing with the fascists on the guest book (Much
Laughter). There isn´t really much of an argument ya
know. They come out with their obscenities and I reply
duly. There´s nothing ya can say really that I´m put off
by them.
Punk
Globe: I´ve noticed a couple of people on your guest
book were curious about you doing a solo album so any
thoughts on that?
Mensi: Have I any thoughts? Never crossed my mind. A
solo album – fuck me who do they think I am? John
Lennon? What would it be like? Never really thought
about it. I mean what would it sound like?
Gaz: I Dunno!
Mensi: Never really thought about it. Is there more than
two people who´d want to hear it? (Much laughter) Maybe
me Ma – that would be 3. Never really thought about it.
Would you pay for it Gaz?
Gaz: I´d play on it – I wouldn´t pay for it.(Laughter
All Round)
Mensi: What you trying to say? I´m fucking shite? (Much
laughter) You wanker! You proper tosser(Laughter All
Round).
Punk Globe: You´ve been pretty political from
day one which has most probably caused you a few
headaches so any regrets of getting into the political
arena?
Mensi: No not. I don´t think…I answered this quite a few
times. I was never political. It was other person who
got political around us that’s all. Was I political when
I first started Gaz?
Gaz: Slightly.
Mensi: Oh well I mean you can talk about police
oppression like them…. what they´re called? Oi! bands.
You know what Oi! is Gaz?
Gaz: Not really.(Laughs)
Mensi: Nor do I! In never fucking knew either. Does
anyone know what it is? What do you call the lad? The
pal out of The Business – the guitarist. He wrote a book
didn´t he? He sang about having a nice council house. I
agree with that - everyone should live in a nice house.
Punk Globe: You´ve been around a long time with
The Upstarts so what have been your favourite periods in
time with your band? Any great memories you´d like to
share?
Mensi: I just love playing where there´s no trouble
right and everyone´s into it especially in Europe ya
know.
Your Germany, Your Italy, Basque even Poland. The places
where went to like a couple of years ago.
Where else did we go? Czechoslovakia apart from the
sausage meat it was fucking mint weren´t it you know.
Aye the catering weren´t up to much but I´m watching my
figure and I´m really skinny these days aren´t I? Gotta
keep my figure to keep the girls interested. I just love
all that.
America was fantastic this time. When I went it 1982 I
was sick and wanted to come home after a week. I was
fucking crying to get on the plane I´d have killed
somebody. This time was different ya know. It was a
whole different scene. Some of the new bands are really
fucking good as well aren´t they ya know.
Punk Globe: I bet when you first started the
band you wouldn´t have thought in years to come that
you´d have nutters leaving messages about threatening to
beat you up and travelling hundreds of miles just to
take a photo of you?
Mensi: Ah well that’s just a fucking joke innit? I just
remember the first threat in 1978. We had loads of
fights in 1977 but it was mainly gang fights but the
first political fight – well there aren´t any real
fights with them lot. In 1978 I was in Shrewsbury Town
Hall and I get a phone call "Hello this is the National
Front we´re coming to get you´ so I said ´Righto make
sure you pay to get in´ and I´m still fucking waiting
for them to come. As for that daft fucker in London I´ll
be waiting til I fucking die before he turns up. When I
usually meet them there´s not a lot of room for fucking
dialogue.
Punk Globe: Going back to the band do you think
that signing to EMI was a good thing for you or would
you have turned your back on them looking back?
Mensi: I don´t actually know the difference between
record companies. EMI, Polydor and Cherry Red what are
the differences? I don´t know? The only difference is
maybe Cherry Red where the lads working there were more
hands on and very much approachable. It´s all just to
push the band. I don´t know why everyone gets miffed
about the size of record companies? If your music is
good it will get out there anyway you know regardless –
Your fans will find a way to get it out there.
Punk Globe: I know this sounds a bit corny but
what is your favourite Upstarts release of all time?
What album or single gave you the most pleasure?
Mensi: Well my favourite album right has always been
´Reason Why?´ until ´Sons Of Sparticus´ you know but I
love some of the stuff on ´Reason Why?´. Also I loved
some of the stuff on ´Two Million Voices´. People really
rate ´Teenage Warning´ but it was hard for me to rate it
because we were just there a couple of nights and just
banged it down you know. I suppose it had all the energy
but it´s like anything you do – you want it to be that
little bit better and I just wish I could sing a bit
better that´s all.
Punk Globe: I´ve heard all kinds of tales what
you´re up to these days. So what does Mensi do for a
living outside the band?
Mensi: Like I said before I dabble still with the cars
to keep my hand in but not like I used to when I was in
London where I did it full time where it was my living.
I mainly dodge up old bits of cheap property
unfortunately there´s no cheap property left. So I´m
running out of things to do so I´m open to suggestions
apart from going back out on the road. I just keep my
hands in different things – I duck and dive. I´m sorta
like Sunderland´s answer to ´Arthur Daley´ and twice as
good looking ya know. Mainly still in with the building
and do the Nazis get upset when I´m doing extensions and
bathroom suites? They call me a ´Middle Class Bastard´
while I live on a council estate for fucks sake.
Punk
Globe: You´re a staunch supporter of Anti Fascist Action
and their actions so how do you view todays Anti Fascist
groups?
Mensi: Gaz who are the Anti Fascist groups now? I mean
the thing that attracted me was I was always alienated
by nearly all Left Wing groups. Nearly all left Wing
groups and it´s well documented that I´ve never had a
good word for them especially the likes of the S.W.P.
The Anti Nazi League I thought the intentions were
honourable but the means of getting there were like
distinguishly average ya know. When Anti Fascist Action
came along it was like a breath of fresh air. The spoke
talked and actions, which actually followed my recipe
for success and the remedy for recipe and remedy
together. I will come out of retirement at any moment at
any time for them.
Punk Globe: Anything you´d like to add?
Mensi: I´d just like to see a lot more young ladies
coming to the shows.
Gaz: Tut.
Mensi: What you tutting at? Just for a record buying
perspective to keep Gaz in curries. Look at the size of
his belly? I´m sure it´s gone down since the last time
I´ve seen him. (Laughs) Fuck me he´s a slim bastard! How
he bounces that bass guitar with that fucker I don´t
know? He may as well have been a fucking
keyboardist!(Much Much Laughter as Mensi and Friends
nearly wet themselves)
Gaz: End of interview as he´s getting pissed. He´s only
had two pints!
Thanks very much to Mensi for taking time out to
do the interview and many thanks go to Gaz Stoker for
conducting it on my behalf.
Punk
Globe: I´ve noticed a couple of people on your guest
book were curious about you doing a solo album so any
thoughts on that?
Your Germany, Your Italy, Basque even Poland. The places
where went to like a couple of years ago. 
Punk
Globe: You´re a staunch supporter of Anti Fascist Action
and their actions so how do you view todays Anti Fascist
groups?