Interview with Knox of The Vibrators
After The Vibrators broke up in 1980, what prompted you to reform the original line up again in 1982? Our original bass player Pat Collier, who was then running a rehearsal and recording studio, said there was renewed interest in punk rock and we should reform to make an album, and some money. I said we had to make proper album not just cash in on our name.
Of all the albums The Vibrators have released (14 total) “Pure Mania” was the most sold? Which of all the albums that were released is your personal favorite? I think it must be this one easily as it’s like an old friend and has served us well. I think the songs on it aren’t bad, and the accidental sonic originality seems to have got stronger over the years. I sometimes think it’s a very quirky album, but lots of people (our fans obviously) say it’s a better album than the Sex Pistols’ one, and most of The Ramones’ albums after the first couple.
The Vibrators like many punk bands has changed line-ups many times.At what point do you think a band should change its name? When there’s maybe no original member left, or the only original member wasn’t very important. Though also there’s the idea that perhaps if there’s a non-original member and he’s been in the band for ages, that’s alright, too.
At one point or another The Vibrators changed every member of the band, was there ever a time you considered changing the name?The only time we ever thought of changing our name was in 1978 when we were getting a lot of bad press. We felt very bruised by it and one of the names we considered was Professional Low-Life as that was how we were described one-time in the press.
Of all the songs The Vibrators have recorded is there any one that stands out as your favorite or “most special”? Currently I really like “Nazi Baby”, the version on V2. It’s so intense, I think it went beyond the most intense stuff Iggy Pop did. When I ever hear it loud in a club I think that it’s so extreme. I also have to say “Baby Baby” is a massive current favorite of mine as it’s a popular song and I always say when I play it it’s like the sun’s come out on your holiday.
You’ve played many shows at CBGB’s; does it surprise you that Hilly Krystal was a multi-millionaire when he died?I didn’t know that, but I suppose it’s true. I can’t understand if he was so rich why he didn’t keep the place going at the end. I know the CBGB’s brand name is probably worth a bit of money.
What are your thoughts on the idea that Hilly Krystal wasn’t broke at all and used the “Save CBGB’s” as a way to make more money?That seems pretty appalling. I don’t know, it sounds like some sort of conspiracy theory thing. Also it would come out and surely even if he was dying you’d think he’d want to maintain his good name. Maybe it was some sort of in-joke, or a way of somehow getting back at people trying to manipulate him, or he was through with CBGB’S and didn’t want anything else to do with it...the theories go on...
What music/bands do you currently listen too? I like Tim Armstrong’s ska thing he did with the Agrolites, Bob Dylan’s new album, it’s all really the stuff my girlfriend listens to as I’m kind of too lazy to listen to anything else. Plus listening to what other people listen to is broader than what I might listen to on my own. I sometimes like the radio out here in the States. I like a variety of stuff, a lot of great old songs with real singers, and a lot of new Hip Hop, dance stuff, some have great hooks and ideas in the music.
Was there ever a point that you thought about just hanging up the guitar and calling it a career? Well I did it once before between the ages of 22 and 29, so maybe I’ll do it again. I was thinking of stopping when I hit 50, in fact I phoned up our drummer Eddie and told him so. I thought it was ridiculous to be standing on the stage doing our sort of music at 50. But then I carried partly because a slightly older guy than me in a Czech band said “if you want to play the music, you will have the energy” so I thought OK, I want to play the music so I’m gonna have the energy. And here I am still doing it.
I saw that Steve Godoy (Former Professional Skater) is on your most recent tour, when and how did that come about? We’ve known Steve for a number of years, through our old bass player Robbie Tart, and stay with him when we come over. We needed a drummer for this tour as our drummer Eddie’s is involved in a child custody battle back home, so we asked Steve if he would play drums for us and he said yes. He was previously in The Exploding Fuck Dolls, and is currently in The Last of the Bad Men.
How long has the current tour’s line up been playing together?We had a rehearsal on 5th September and started playing the next day 6th September, we don’t mess around! Steve had been given a list of songs and knew some of the stuff anyway.
After 31 years of playing & touring around the world what part of the punk scene has changed the most?I think it’s steadier now. The older people know us and our music,While the kids that come to our gigs seem to get really into it too.That’s very good because it means the band can go on as there are new fans coming along all the time.
Don’t forget to check out our web sites:
www.thevibrators.com
www.myspace.com/thevibrators
