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Interview With
Thunk Records
by Steve DIY
Fish from The
Skeptix has recently set up ‘Thunk Records’ and after receiving 3
releases from him I decided to catch up with him as the last interview I
ran with him was a few years back. Here’s what he had to say:
 Punk
Globe: So what was the idea behind launching Thunk Records?
Fish: Thunk records was put together initially to enable us to release
the Skeptix catalogue and future releases on our own label, the idea
then, as in pretty much most of the DIY Punk Labels (with a few
exceptions) was to trade CD´s and get a small distro together, hence
getting more punk music out to the kids, we have a lot of CD´s in stock
by great Punk Bands from different countries, mostly USA, that probably
wouldn’t even get to this coast. If anyone wants a bit of info on any
band from the mail order email me, I’ll be happy to give you an unbiased
opinion of the CD before you buy it.
Punk Globe: You´ve done a few bits for your bands ´The Skeptix´
and ´Section 5´ so will more bands be taken on through Thunk?
Fish: It all depends, it’s a hard sell, bigger distro’s are not really
interested in Underground Punk. If a newish band approaches us and they
are a good, hard working band then maybe, the last thing we´d do is
plough time and money into a release and then the band decides that it’s
over! A lot of the more well known bands have their own
labels/arrangements but if we thought we could do it justice then we´d
seriously consider it, We have the added bonus of owning our own
recording studio, so we can get a professional sounding CD recorded.
(obviously we extend the studios usage to any band - Punx get 50%
discount!!)
Fish: I believe you´re releasing a Discharge EP later on this
year so have you any information on that?
Fish: We had an agreement with Discharge to release the new studio CD
and a DVD, the DVD is well undergo, but there’s still footage that needs
to be shot to finish it off (i.e. footage from the new Studio CD). The
Discharge CD is still in the pipeline, but they took time out due to
family commitments. I’m sure that once they are ready they will continue
with the project, the demo songs that they recorded at the studio last
year were really good, I’m looking forward to seeing how it progresses.
In the meantime they will be in the studio in February 2006 to record a
3 track EP which will be available on Vinyl and CD, the CD will have
bonus video footage included taken from the forthcoming DVD release, to
coincide with their 2006 tour in March.
Punk Globe: Also what other releases have you planned for 2006?
Fish: Late February:- Section 5 ´s new studio CD
End March:- Discharge EP
Spring:- A split CD with the Skeptix and German punk legends O.H.L.
called "The Kids Are Still United" (remember the Skeptix and O.H.L. did
a split 7" in 1983) 8 tracks by each band, maybe 10. The USA version
will differ in that the Skeptix will add 2 previously unreleased tracks.
The two bands will be doing gigs together to promote the release.
Spring:- Head Clinic CD "Insubordination"
Spring:- Discharge DVD
Spring:- All 5 Skeptix 7"s available as a box set (mainly for USA)
Spring:- Compilation CD (still need a few bands go to on. www.thunkrecords.com
for details.
Summer:- Possibly new Skeptix studio CD.
 Punk
Globe: I noticed that every release you put out a % from sales goes to
charity? Is this something you had planned to do in the beginning?
Fish: To be honest at the outset, we didn’t really know how things would
go, so no, but because sales have starting to tick over better now, it’s
only right to give some money away. We donate one UK Pound from every CD
sold from the website, every CD is £6.99 or under (including UK postage)
(unfortunately Ebay and Paypal take more than that from each sale so its
best to buy direct from the website, we only use Ebay to promote the
Thunk site).
Punk Globe: Talking of Discharge you played for them in the late
80´s didn´t you?
Fish: Ha Ha! Yes! But it wasn´t the smartest move I ever made, at the
time I joined I thought it was, but I had no idea that they were going
to release Grave New World, or more to the point that it was gonna be an
album, but even worse that Cal was going to try out a "new" vocal style.
The thing was I´d always wanted to see the USA, and a USA tour and then
a European tour and then a Japanese tour was all in the pipeline,
unfortunately after the USA tour, after a few months of jamming without
Cal, I decided enough was enough.
Punk Globe: With the re-release of the Skeptix debut album and
live material on DVD/CD will you be undertaking any gig commitments to
promote the releases?
Fish: After March, the Skeptix should be back on the road the last shows
we played were with One Way System/Drongo’s for Europe/Instant Agony, in
Germany in November 2005. In the UK shows can be disappointing because
the kids don´t always come out, bands travel a long way and it costs
money to get to a show, plus time out from work, just to play to a
handful of kids, Liverpool must go down as the all time worst, I know of
quite a few good, known punk bands who have travelled to Liverpool and
played to a few kids (thanks go to the ones for showing, but shame on
you to the ones who didn’t). So as for the Skeptix yes they will be on
the road but only at places where there will be people, and it’s not
about money, we´d rather go and play for free if there’s 100 kids there,
playing to 15 kids for free is disheartening.
Punk Globe: I remember you telling me you´re involved with
another band so can our readers have details on that project?
Fish: Yes, I’ve been working with Head Clinic for a year now, it’s a
Punk Band but its a bit different, the vocals are melodic in places (not
to be confused with USA Bubblegum Punk!!!). The band is really tight,
the other band members are awesome musicians (not always necessary in
Punk, some might say, but I just like the fact that the drums and bass
playing never ceases to amaze me ). But the whole thing works well, we
play some tricky riffs, not always in 4/4. We have songs that pound you
to fuck, we have songs that are more melodic and only pound you a
little, if anyone is sufficiently interested you can listen to 4 tracks
at www.myspace.com/headclinic
Headclinic will be on the
road from march onwards, come see for yourselves!
Punk Globe: You toured the USA a couple of years back so how did
you find that experience wise?
Fish: It was great, we had a really good time, not every show was
packed, but the kids made up for it in enthusiasm, Los Angeles has a
great scene, the two shows we played there were great, the 2003 tour was
documented and now available on DVD, so anyone who wants to join the
Skeptix on tour, grab a crate of Stella and watch copy of that, The
video footage from the 2004 tour is still un-edited, it might get on a
DVD yet, I have 30 odd hours of footage from when we reformed up until
the present day.
Punk Globe: Did you find many differences between the American
and British scenes?
Fish: I prefer the USA scene, the kids are more up for it. On a whole
though the kids are the pretty much the same, same interests, fears etc
just not as reserved at gigs as some of the English (but that’s the
English way eh?).
Punk Globe: You must have some good memories with all the
different bands you played in so would you like to share any with out
readers?
Fish: They were all great at the time, years pass, alcohol numbs the
brain, I just remember I’ve had a real blast, can’t remember exactly
where though, ha ha!
Punk Globe: Anything you´d like to add?
Fish: Think I said too much already ha ha!
Thanks to Fish for taking time out to do this interview and
getting it back so quick. I wish all bands were this quick! Check out
Thunk Records and The Skeptix – You’ll be dead happy you did!
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