"NEGATIVE REACTION" INTERVIEW - DECEMBER 2005

NEGATIVE REACTION IS A PUNK / SKA / HARDCORE ZINE WRITTEN BY VARIOUS PEOPLE ACROSS BRITAIN. JOE DIAMOND LIVES IN BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND, AND DOES A LOT OF WRITING FOR NEGATIVE REACTION. JOE CAUGHT UP WITH BENNIS IN DECEMBER 2005 TO HAVE A QUICK CHAT ABOUT SPLINTER.

How & when did the band form & who does what?
Dek and Rik (our first guitarist) started trying to get Splinter going around 2000 / 2001, but it didn't really kick off until early 2004 (when Euan and I joined). It was then that Splinter found its feet as a tight, compatible line-up and actually started playing shows. We played our first gig on the 2nd May 2004, but after a few shows Rik left Splinter (around August 2004) and the band split up for a while. We re-formed around May 2005 with Jamie playing guitar until we could find a permanent guitarist. He left in September2005 when Sancho joined Splinter. The current line-up is Dek (Drums), Euan (Bass), Sancho (Guitar), Ben (Vocals).

From what I remember, Dek has drummed for near enough every punk band in Scotland! Any good stories / dirt that he wants to share with us?
Dek has played with quite a few bands (notably his time with Oi Polloi) and has lived in some crazy old punk houses, so you could fill a whole zine with his stories. His craziest time was when he lived in Hardcore House (in Edinburgh). It was a block of flats inhabited by many punks (including members of Oi Polloi and The Exploited) and used to get raided by the cops every weekend.

What've yis been up to lately? Any tours or releases planned?
We've not been up to much lately, just a couple of shows in Glasgow and Dundee. I'm gonna be away in Oz for a month over Xmas, but we have a lot of shows booked for the first half of next year (including shows in Denmark, Slovenia and Croatia).

What's the Scottish scene like?
The scene in Scotland isn't huge, but big enough to get plenty of good bands coming through each year. Most people seem to get along alright, but (like any scene) it has its wee cliques here and there. We pretty much stay out of that whole side of things.

When we were over in Glasgow we heard that a few people had started gettin into Skrewdriver & all. Do yis get much hassle off nazis? What do yis reckon is the best way to deal with them?
I've heard of these wankers, but never seen them (because like most right wing fuckers, they obviously don't have the balls to get about much). I think people talking about them gives them more time and attention than they deserve. We should just leave them in the sad wee gay club they came from, but if I start seeing them about it'll be a different story.

Do any of yis really eat deep fried haggis / pizzas / pies? Fuck me, seriously like!
I, personally, have never eaten a deep fried pizza. Pizza is good with lots of gooey cheese and shit, so I don't see the point in sticking it in a fryer until it's just a fried bit of crispy pizza base. Deep fried pies taste the same as any pie really ('cos pies are always fuckin' greasy anyway). Deep fried haggis is the fuckin' dog's bollox! It comes out like a big fried spicy sausage and tastes fuckin' superb!

What'd yis make of Belfast? Any good stories from when yis were over?
You're all gay ..... just kiddin'! We had a great weekend in Belfast and look forward to returning. The only story that comes to mind is that crazy fucker running around your house painting people with Dulux Weathershield while they were asleep.

The EP sounds & looks very professional, was it much hassle / money to record & release?
The EP didn't cost too much to record as all the songs were really tight before we went in, so we got it done in 9 hours. We had a friend do the cover art and a camera / production crew from Autonomi Productions put together the DVD. Dek's girlfriend works for Autonomi Productions, so we were very lucky as we got the DVD recorded and produced for free. The entire CD /DVD is copied by Dek (who has a CD / DVD burner and even has a machine that properly prints the artwork on the CDs and covers - like when you pay to have it done). This means we can put together the EPs ourselves and as we need them (which makes it very affordable for us), instead of having to pay someone a shitload of money up front.

A lot of bands wouldn't record a cover, was there any reason why yis recorded minority of one?
Don't really care what other bands do (as long as it sounds good). We thought "Minority of One" went well with the other songs and finishes off the EP really well.

I could be wrong here like, but a lot of yer lyrics seem to be about experiences & life (which I think's a good thing!). Do yis think punk should all be political, or have a bit of fun in it too?
You hit the nail on the head. I don't think it should all be too serious / political. People have gotta remember that lyrics are just one person's opinion anyway, so the main thing really is that there's a good energy there (and you're not a total redneck / wanker). People who are too political are often all over the place, image driven (and / or trying to fit in with a certain clique) and usually don't really know what they believe in. These people often get too self centred and forget what (and who) is really important to them. At the end of the day, punk / oi is still also a style of music and, therefore, entertainment.

Which celebrity would yis most like to buck / give a good bootin to / have a pint with?
I, personally, would love to give Avril Lavigne a buck or too (she's such a cute wee thing). I would like to give Michael Jackson and Barbara Streisand a good kickin' (they are like the real life evil step-sisters). I would love to have a pint (or fuckin' many) with Jimmy Johnstone and Georgie Best (two great footballers who can also sink the piss like fuck).

Any thoughts on George Best snuffin it?
George Best was a god. Nobody can bag a man who comes up with quotes like this: "I've spent a lot of money on booze, fast cars and fancy women over the years ..... the rest I just squandered!" Need I say more?

Any last comments?
Cheers for the interview Joe, we look forward to coming back to Belfast next year. Anyone wanting to check out future Splinter shows or order stuff online, go to the website. KEEP THE FAITH!