Liberty were one of the best Anarcho Punk bands to come out of the 80´s. On Vinyl they put out an awesome EP and album which have now been re-released on CD(Mortarhate Records). Aside from that I saw them support Conflict in Telford around the mid to late 80´s if memory serves correct. It was a blinding night and now they´ve reformed I just had to interview them. Here´s what they had to say.

Punk Globe: First off can you introduce Liberty to our readers and tell us who plays what?

Liberty: Liberty is Mark W-vocals, Mick-guitar, Derek-drums, Mark S-bass & Lee (Soote)-guitar. Mark, Delboy & Mick were all in the original line up and Lee & Mark S are much-needed new blood.

Punk Globe: So now you guys have reformed what do you expect this time around compared to the 80´s when you formed?

Liberty: Meet new faces, catch up with OLD friends, bring new lyrics to a new audience, hopefully they’ll like it. Were not expecting anything really apart from groupies, sex, drugs and rock’n’roll, joking apart everything from now on is a bonus. We aim to bring truth to all willing to give us a listen. Before ‘reforming’ we hadn’t seen each other for years but on meeting up again we found we still shared the same feeling that we LIBERTY hadn’t achieved all it could have done so we thought we’d give it another crack.

Punk Globe: How come you split up anyway? You had such a wicked album then it was like you went off the face of the planet. What happened?

Liberty: Cheers for liking the Lp. Since its re-release on Mortarhate a lot of people have said that they like/liked it. We split up before the lp was released and never really got any feedback. Liberty split for many reasons members left to pursue relationships with good ladies some with bad (oi oi), personal differences reared its ugly head, the usual band problems. Getting to gigs was always a problem as none of us could drive, we played a lot of benefits so money or lack of it was a problem to some members. Some band members wanted to dedicate more time to direct action within the movement and something had to give unfortunately that was Liberty.

Punk Globe: Your album was in many ways so different to the EP release – Why was this?

Liberty: In order for anything to progress it has to stay fresh that goes for LIBERTY. The ep was a mirror to the musical taste of the band at that time (Crass, Flux, Conflict etc) but by the time the lp was mentioned we were brave enough to bring in other influences ( Neurotics, Redskins, Motown even) we were never afraid to try different styles although due to musical competency this was sometimes difficult. Tracks such as ‘Revolution Time’ by Red Mole (RIP) and ‘Determine your Destiny’ lyrics and vocals by Pete Dog, reflected the ever growing LIBERTY family, the brass on the LP was provided by ‘PIGBAG’ who Colin (Jerwood) knew although we had been using some ‘woodwind’ musicians from the Greenwich Musicians Co-Op (Bulbous Skunk Cabbages) at some live shows. We wanted to cross boundaries. To think outside the box was one of the ingredients needed in hating a system that loves to categorise, we wanted to offer people value for money and get the message across to whoever wanted to listen. Were still very proud of the ep & lp and judging by comments on our myspace site its still relevant in many ways today even though they were recorded over 20 years ago.

Punk Globe: I noticed on the Conflict site that that certain people were pissed off with your song ´Fuck Off And Die You Junkie Bastards´ so do you find it amusing that these people so missed the point of what you were saying?

Liberty: Liberty recorded that track ‘fuck off you junkie bastards’ in the mid 80’s, we were all bit naïve trying (and by the sound of it succeeding) to shock. The anger came from losing many of our mates and even partners to drugs, the punk movement in the 80’s was infested with all kinds of powders and potions, some people were becoming apathetic, while the system laughed at us, the same old rock & roll clichés’ live fast die young’ LIBERTY wanted life for all not death. Liberty regrets that the track upset some people, the cd was released with artwork and articles culled from old zines without our involvement, its now 2005 & Liberty have grown as the years have passed, we still feel the pain but realise every man & woman has their choice.

Punk Globe: These days I feel that the Anarchist Punk scene of today is so stagnant and mainly full of people always moaning but during the 80´s there were some right characters who were always up for a laugh and were so positive - What happened?

Liberty: Don’t know really, any movement/scene can only survive by bringing in new blood and keeping the message alive perhaps we all just got old. The flame needs reigniting, stalls at gigs, videos, marches rallies, fanzines, all forms of music, the internet, the characters are still there and will grow from this like a plant from good soil.

Punk Globe: You´re still into Animal Rights and something I feel so strong about as an individual but don´t you think it’s gone a tad too far with bones of dead people being dug up and people being harassed in their homes etc? Isn´t that the kind of behaviour we condemn the Fascists for?

Liberty: Two of the band, Mark W & Mark S still refuse to eat animal flesh but all the band still support the struggle for animal rights. You will always get a few people who carry out their beliefs to the extreme but sometimes that’s whats needed.

Punk Globe: So what has the response been to you reforming? Many gigs been offered?

Liberty: The response has been good, since we started our own myspace site (hopefully a fully fledged website up & running soon as well) we’ve had messages of support from all the place from Los Angeles to Margate, from old gits like yer self to young skater punx they all wanna give us big love, makes yer feel all mushy inside. Liberty give thanks to anyone who gives support to the old punks on Zimmer frames, with our new tunes we won’t let you down.

Punk Globe: When can we see you guys releasing a new single or album? Will anything be released through Mortahate Records?

Liberty: We’ve recently recorded 3 tracks for a possible ep release. ‘NO REST FOR THE WICKED’ containing ‘ Military Madness’, ‘No Trust’ & ‘ Democracy is Hypocracy’ should with any luck be released in the new year if not before.As for which label its on who knows, we are currently talking to somebody about getting it out & news should follow. Check the sites for news & gigs.

Punk Globe: So which members of the band stay at home with their slippers and pipes and which members get out on the piss/seeing bands?

Liberty: Mark W stays in at home smoking a pipe, no booze, wearing his slippers and telling his children about the good old days, the others get pissed (when the money & the missus allows). Mick & Mark S still make it to gigs although these days not as many as they would like.Both live in sticksville UK so getting to gigs is rather expensive and are far too old to sleep rough these days. Delboy & Soote drink in the finer establishments and dine on the very best money has to offer, only joking.

Punk Globe: Any good memories/funny stories to share with our readers about members of Liberty back in the 80´s?

Liberty: Yeah way back in the days of old we were offered a gig in Newport,South Wales supporting the Astronauts, now as I said earlier none of us could drive and none of our mates had cars ( all skint punks like ourselves aahhhhhhhh), Anyway we got a National Express coach down there and on the way down the only people on the coach were ourselves a couple of mates and some Japanese tourists,well I would have loved to have seen their photos, they must have taken a couple of films of the strange English punk band on the bus to Wales. Cor we could tell tales of debauched drug induced orgies but that might give us a bad reputation.’ Liberty in a dormitory with several naked schoolgirls and a bucket of mayonnaise well I never!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’

Punk Globe: The struggle continues with many issues still to be sorted but do you think there´ll ever be a time on planet earth when the human race will be at peace with itself instead of murdering and maiming each other?

Liberty: Don’t think so, too much religion, too many multinationals buying up too little resources, too much power in too little hands and at the end of the day far too many arseholes to fuck it all up for everyone else.

Punk Globe: Anything you´d like to add?

Liberty: Cheers Steve for the interview, cheers to anyone who reads it, Cheers to all who have contacted us via the net and most of all cheers to the manufacturers of good quality alcohol, Liberty will accept sponsorship from any of the following; Stella Artois, Kronenburg, Hurlimans, John Smiths, Red Stripe, Smirnoff, Jack Daniels, Babycham And especially Watneys Party Seven. Hicc!! Up the Hammers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Liberty for taking time out to do this interview. Their new EP has been reviewed so pop along to the review section for a butchers. Be sure to check out this great band on My Space.

 

www.myspace.com/liberty2005