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"Bands should be shot if they smoke dope"

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by Tom Carlin
Artists: Mazuma Fly
Mazuma Fly are Jamie Jenkin (vocals), Rick Morris (guitars), Mark Briggs (bass), Dan Vickers (drums). They combine loud guitars with loud politics. They're into The Clash and the Manics, then.

With yourselves and Miss Black America emerging recently, do you think there is a new need for politicised pop bands?

"The need for politicised pop bands has never gone away. As long as people are disillusioned by the politics that govern our lives there should always be bands that document that disillusion."

Jamie - what was the cause of your breakdown?

"A sense that the rest of the world was making my life a living hell. The things that comforted me no longer had that effect. Fuck 'em."

Do you think that you, The Moonies, Pinhole and The Relatives represent an important counterculture to the Coral-led 'psychedelic' scene? Could any of these bands go on to have similar success? How big do you want to get?

"Liverpool is a city riddled with decay. It is serving its sentence for its general apathy from its rich past. This is what we are forced to endure, and our music, and the music of the other bands mentioned reflects this.

"The Coral are also from Merseyside and create pointless noise. The Coral led psychedelic scene is devoid of culture, it's an apathetic, drug fuelled, boring piece of novelty shit. Petty jealousy? Perhaps, but songs about turning into trees, essentially kids' music, have very little relevance to what's happening to us. Bands should be shot if they smoke dope. It's really depressing that a drug now so mundane is still considered cutting edge and exciting, and can be used to sell Skiffle to the masses. In answer to the second question, we want to be the hugest band in existence. To hear bands moaning about how indecent it is to become famous is the antithesis of what we are about. We want as many people as possible to hear what we have to say; if we get lots of money and fame along the way then great. We have suffered this bloody frustration for too long and we want everyone to hear about it."

Who are your influences?

"The Clash, Larkin, Joy Division, Irvine Welsh, Sigur Ros, At The Drive-In, Manic Street Preachers, Mike Leigh. All of these people/bands have helped influence us musically and politically amongst others too numerous to mention."

What makes you different from all the other loud, angry guitar bands popping up all over the country at the moment?

"A conscience and a brain. There are many supposed angry bands. However, it seems to be anger about the girl at school snogging their friend or anger that teacher makes them do too much work. Petulance is not anger. What sets us apart is the willingness to see beyond the anger and create a comprehensible message of what you are being fed."

For those unaware, can you give us a short history of the band?

1 Birth
2 Routine
3 Boredom
4 Frustration
5 Sadness
6 Band
7 Greatness

What type of people would you think would be into your music?

"Anyone with a heart, anyone with a pulse, anyone with a soul. Anyone without a Coldplay LP."

What are your plans for the future?

"Get signed, get drunk, get out of this mess."

You can hear Mazuma Fly at www.mazumafly.co.uk, where you can also find out more about the band and where to see the band live.



Ooh! So close...

So "bands who smoke dope should be shot"? Ok, fine. And bands who are anything other than vital, energizing, informed and politicized should be dismissed? Rightio.
Yet this bands immediate plan for the future is to go out and "get drunk"?
Sometimes I wonder why these musically-militant bands bother, when their ambitous promises and fiery words aren't remotely aligned to their own actions.

Re: Ooh! So close...

Righto Johnny. Let me guess your quite into this passe culture then. I agree that this may appear as a contradiction but it is more a defining statement of who Mazuma Fly are. Its just that punk was defined by alcohol where as the hippy culture was defined by hash , and the "get pissed " thing just is part of that. It just shows that Mazuma fly want to be part of something rather consumed by something.

Re: Ooh! So close...

No, I'm not even remotely into the "passe" culture of (dope) smoking. I have no interest in it, whatsoever. None.

With regards to the rest of your statement...Ahem. You believe that 'getting pissed' defines punk (more specifically the punk 'ethic')? You honestly think that? Really? Because it's so utterly wrong and completely contrary to it's (or 'a' if we're being punk pedantics) meaning, it makes me want to laugh til I cry.

"they want to be part of something rather than than consumed by it". What in thee hell does that mean?!? are you forgetting to think before you type?

Re: Ooh! So close...

Well, they've certainly studied the early Manics press interview clippings closely. Pretty much an updated, word-for-word re-run of some 1991 Richey & Nicky rant. Except he forgot to say that The Coral were "worse than Hitler".

Surely speed was the drug of choice for punkies?

Re: Ooh! So close...

Speed was the drug of choice for the punks, but in conjunjction with alcohol. Mazuma Fly do not like speed

Re: Ooh! So close...

You still haven't justified or explained anything you said previously.

Re: Ooh! So close...

HERE'S A CRAZY IDEA!!!

Why don't you try LISTENING to the band's MUSIC/go and see them perform live - then you might understand where they are coming from. After all, that's what it's all about at the end of the day isn't it...?

re: Ooh! Completely missing the point!

No, that's irrelevant. Why not read this interview again? This band are attempting to seek approval through outspoken, militant agenda tactics. But they do it really badly. Inconsistent, contradictory cliches.

A note for Jonny

Jonny Jonny Jonny,

I have never known a band yet not contradict themselves, and that is one of things that we allow ourselves. The militant agenda , just reflects the way we talk to each other and where we come from. The definition of a cliche includes truth, which in itself is a cliche. You will never escape a cliche. The thing about hating weed, and liking a drink is just a personal preference and not a contradiction and i think you are pouring over over it too much .

Anyway sunshine why dont you listen to the music and then you will be able to comment on it. Cheers

Re: A note for Jonny

I also think Mazuma Fly were mainly aggreviating the fact that so many bands base their musical work around pot-smoking. Wheras they merely planeed to swing down their local later.
And also, you are being much too uptight about it. Calm down, take a breather. Ignore them if you don't like it.

Re: A note for Jonny

Then thats the end of that then.
Although I would be interested in your view if you actually watched the band.

Re: Ooh! So close...

Yeah Emma's right

Just check out mazuma flys stuff , you may even change your mind, even if you have been brainwashed by the NME-Police. And if you dont , continue to enjoy sitting under your bob marley poster listening to useless pointless noise, safe in the knowledge that you will never be anyone because you are so passe. Well I hope that wraps that up, you poor poor people, i only hope that you die of indifference.

Do you actually know anything about me?

No. You don't. So don't make puerile judgements, you little turd.

'NME-police'?? Dear god, it seems that every criticism I make on this site incites a barrage of 'anti-NME' referencing bullshit. I don't read the NME, haven't done for 7 years. Hmmm. How can you have this 'NME-hipster paranoia' fixation unless you yourself regularly browse the pages of this crummy mag?

You hope I die of indifference? Have you actually read any of the counter-replies I made? I wasn't indifferent. I said you talked a load of pseudo-politiczed garbage, and you pathetically maquaraded as a self-important musical guerrilla despite arguing points that were of zero worth. "My god, our band has something to say. Namely, we really hate Coldplay cos they're totally lame 'n stuff, and we hate music that's completely apathetic despite the fact my knowledge of politics doesn't extend far beyond the deluded witterings of Nicky Wire and sleeve notes the to 'No Logo'. Yeah. And every time someone gives us a bit of criticism we DISSECT their words. Like 'cliched'- I'll admit, the musical approach of this band's is one big cliche, but 'cliche' as a word can mean truth. So we can still speak 'the truth'. And by doing this, my retort looks really intelligent. Yeah. What? You think I've got the cognitive linguistic skills and mental capactiy of a retarded 3 year old? Ok, but at least I'm not indifferent".

You say nearly every musicians makes contradictory music? Look, you're in a hole. STOP DIGGING.

And you say I should listen to your music before I can pass judgement on you? Fair enough. But let's just say, even if Fugazi (a notoriously, outspoken band) still make great music, if they'd talked as much pap as you did during their career, they'd much less respected. My point? If you're gonna talk, say something interesting. Something that you mean. More importantly, something that makes sense.



Please, I urge you- if you're going to

Re: Do you actually know anything about me?

Alright point taken . But just one thing.

Think about whats being going on, on this debate.

Im signing off a happy man

Man the picket lines!

hello everyone. nice to see you all having fits about our little band. we just wanted to set a few things straight with you all.
A few things that we said seem to have been taken the wrong way. We've had a browse through the interview again, and it would seem to us that there's not actually very much politics in it; it is a statement of intent rather than a statement of our political ideas wholesale. The point is that we have said a few things which have upset a few people. We won't shift our beliefs in accordance - it wouldn't make us much of a band if we did, would it? - but what we are playing for is not to enforce some hackneyed marxist rhetoric. We want to have fun, but we also just want to make music exciting again. We're suffering from such a massive attack of boredom at the moment that we suspect we might fall asleep on the keyboard right now. Reading into what we say is fine, and hating our guts is fine; at least you're passionate about something, which many other bands don't inspire.
Before we go, we should note that any form of debate about *anything* is absent from everything the coral say and do. It's fine for them, whatever; but we have just as much right to hate them as you do to hate us. And also as much right as the coral have to make pointless, dull, oompah skiffle.
Whatever your opinion, we have still started at least some kind of cognitive cerebral cog-turning among people, which was our aim with this interview in the first place.
We're off for a beer.

bor-ing

Look, there's only been TWO people who've responded unfavourably to your interview. Don't allow your ego to swell too much.
Thing is, the kind of 'reaction' you're talking about isn't the 'reaction' that's taken place on this message board. You're saying "anything that stirs opinion has got to be good". Certainly, that is valid with regard to bands who've said something unsettling and slightly thought-provoking. This encourages thought and creates discomfort amongst the general no-brainer music masses. That IS a positve thing, agreed. BUT the reaction to your interview (from myself and some other person) wasn't one of bewilderment and threatened intrigue. It was one of BOREDOM. What you're saying has been said MILLIONS OF TIMES and has been articulated a MILLION TIMES better than how you expressed it. Personally, I love music that creates unrest and threatens orthodox opinion. But you haven't done that. You've re-hashed a third-hand opinion that had no musical, political or personal impact when it was first vocalised. So again, what I'm saying is, "yes, it's good to have opinions and make your thoughts known to anyone who's willing to listen, BUT do it your own way and do it in a DIFFERENT WAY to one's that's already been said".
Listen, what I can gather from this message board is that nobody actually hates you. We're just tired of snotty upstarts who can't channel their adolescent reactionary rage into something meaningful and positive. You haven't stirred opinion. You've advocated tedium. And that's more yawnsome that any ballad Coldplay could write.


Endure it.

"There is no originality in anything, and we dont demand it because it would be pointless. We could get out the literary heavyweights as well but that would be pointless too. What we are saying is that, we just follow a long line of bands , who try to articulate what they feel about certain things. Theres a lot of feeling here , for what felt like some throw away flippant remarks, that i cant tell you the joy that that has brought us. However before making remarks about us and coldplay , blah , blah , blah , take a second to think that, whilst you may think that this is unoriginal, this is tedious, and this is boring, it has still incited you to make comments , which i doubt coldplay could do. Anyway come and see us live and we will continue the debate in person.

by the way didnt fugazi start a song "generation fuck you" (By you) s'pose it could of been sum 41.

Pfft...

Finally got round to checking out your mp3s. It's funny, all this time I thought you might have some actual musical substance behind your misguided, confusing agenda. It was a bit of a letdown, to say the least. Hmmm. Are you actually THAT far removed from the bands you scathingly dismiss? Ie. Coldplay.

There's no point in letting this (previously) engaging exchange descend into a pointless slanging match. So I exit this debate a disappointed man.

Re: bor-ing

Oh Johnny - you really are wonderful, with your incredible insight, and interesting patter... Let me take you away from this life of being surgically attached to a comments board of a band you obviously know nothing about - I love you and I want to have your babies. TAKE ME JOHNNY!!!!

Mazuma Fly - "Bands should be shot if they smoke dope"

What exactly is this "Coral-led psychadelic scene", and who does it contain, other than The Coral? I'd like to know...

Re: Mazuma Fly - "Bands should be shot if they smoke dope"

The Bandits, The Zutons, Hokum Clones, The Mountaneers

Mazuma Fly - "Bands should be shot if they smoke dope"

Do the self obsessed cunts not realise that they are just being 'fed' a belief that attempting to appear politically inclined is cool. It really is so pathetic. They're clearly far too unintelligent to be able to make any sort of political statement anyway.

All bands that think being political is important should be shot.

Re: Mazuma Fly - "Bands should be shot if they smoke dope"

You should be shot you twat. You have not seen mazuma fly, heard them and your opiniion is ill informed. Mazuma fly are the most refreshing thing since the criminal justice bill , starting to get rid of new age travellers. And let me guess youre one of those "Pot" heads, you are so now, you trendy little fuck. Living life a bit dangerously eh!

Re: Mazuma Fly - "Bands should be shot if they smoke dope"

Have I not heard Mazuma Fly? Oh thank you very much for telling me what I have and have not heard ... you ill informed twat.

You just prove the ridiculous theory of people being desperate to cling to a stereotypical identity by instantly putting me into the category of 'pot head'. Your anger towards them also allows you to fit into some stereotypical angry political minded category. And as far as I am aware of it seems to be far trendier to be interested in politics than it does in being interested in getting stoned. Particularly with the appaling trendy left wing beliefs that anyone feigning political inclinations holds. Before it is said I am not saying that it is not possible to have genuine beliefs, I am saying there are far too many twats who pretend they understand it and will shout out marxist bollocks in an instant and usually get it wrong anyway.

As for the criminal justice act seems best not to say anything really, as if you're comment is not intended ironically you should be shot also.

Music and politics are completely different things. There is no NEED for them to ever cross.

Re: Mazuma Fly - "Bands should be shot if they smoke dope"

But if politics didnt cross with Music wouldnt that of deprived us of Latter day beatles, bob dylan, joni mitchell, patti smith , the sex pistols, the clash, the smiths, and the manics. Some of the most important bands of all time.




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