Interview with John Robb (1/3) By Steve Rudd

(1/3) (2/3) (3/3)

John Robb: is a legendary figure in punk-rock circles, having been at the forefront of making some fantastic music since the age of sixteen, when he co-founded The Membranes in Blackpool. Since then John has been involved in allsorts of interesting projects, and not always ones that have been music-orientated. He is a very well-known author who has written some mesmerising books, with his take on The Nineties being a mind-blowing look back at such a decade that is a classic piece of culture-soaked writing that really does have to be read.

John is working on a new book right now about the punk movement, but while we wait for the publication of such a book we have his latest album with popular punk-rock band Goldblade to get all excited about. Entitled Rebel Songs, this album follows on from past Goldblade records Hometurf, Drop The Bomb and Do U Believe In The Power of Rock 'n' Roll? John is the singer of Goldblade, and if you haven't checked the band out yet you really don't know what you're missing.

In this exclusive interview with John (who you might have spotted on a recent episode of Heaven And Earth discussing the day's newspaper stories with witty and totally honest relish) we get up to speed with anything and everything that he's been up to lately, so sit back and enjoy the ride as John's enthusiasm for living life to the full is unleashed courtesy of his hugely exhilarating and Kerouac-esque way with words ...

Hi, John. How are you and the rest of the band? We're good brother. Gigs have been going really well. Last year we did a lot of support tours with bands like The Stranglers etc and that's made a big difference. Also playing a few festivals has really helped. It's got the word out about the band. There's still a lot of work to do but word of mouth is definitely making a difference. There seems to be an excitement out there about the upcoming album; people keep asking when it's out.

And the album is really good. Normally you wish you had done better with a new album but this time it sounds right. I put it on when they all arrived and was jumping round the room...I can't wait for people to hear it.

Goldblade are back with a bang with a new album called Rebel Songs. Does this release differ in many ways from your past albums, and which songs on this new album excite you the most? The album is much more concise. It's everything that we really do well: 12 uplifting, powerful songs with great sing-along choruses. The songs are catchy and the playing on them is spot on. The guitars sound fantastic. The album is much more political.

Celebrating rock n roll swagger during the Iraq war and the greed stained current era and Bush regime would be a bit decadent! A new album means a new tour, so where are you guys playing? And when? We are always playing somewhere - it's best to check our website www.Goldblade.com for details.

Goldblade has long been a band that is a truly international band that isn't afraid to go and play in far-flung places across the world. Where have you guys had the most fun and the most crazy adventures playing? The international punk rock scene has its tentacles everywhere. We have played some amazing gigs abroad. I guess Russia is the one. We have played massive festivals and in stadiums over there. Thousands of kids in the moshpit going crazy and getting recognised on the streets of st Petersburg and Moscow, it feels right!

Continued ...next page

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