Agnostic Front, Sick Of It All, Beastie Boys and Warzone packed the now closed down iconic CBGBs club at 315 of Bowery Bleecker street NYC. A way of life that's not easily described by labels or reduced to some designer clothes brands.
The guys have just released, through Indelirium records, their fifth full-length record “Usque Ad Finem” which follows up to their 2008's album “Bring It Back”.
I kept postponing this since last December but I finally found time and emailed a bunch of questions to Damiano (guitar) that he was more than eager to reply to. So read on what he had to say about his band history, harcore and punk, “Italian Style”, favs HC/punk records and more. And support PAYBACK!
gan: Hey guys how's all?
Damiano Payback: everything's fine, thanks!
gan: Let's start with a quote of the short spoken word opening “Support Your Local Store”...10 anni sono passati...vi siete pentiti? siete cambiati? Non ce ne frega un cazzo! Mind explain more on this and to whom you're addressing these words?
Damiano Payback: those words were taken from a live record of Nabat, a band we always listened to since we were kids. We celebrated our 10 years anniversary and we thought it was cool to use that phrase on our new record.
gan: So PAYBACK is definitely not the new kids among the Italian/Euro scene. Can you please first go back in time to your early days and get back to the release of your latest full-length?
Damiano Payback: well, we started in 2001, we all came from different punk/hc/Oi! bands and we just wanted to create something new. We put out 5 records in these years and we had many line up changes, but we never stopped! We toured Europe many times, we had the honor to share the stage with all the bands that inspired us from the beginning, like Agnostic Front, Madball, Cro-Mags etc...but the most important thing is our friendship, the only thing that keeps us going on.
gan: How do you think the Italian hardcore scene changed over the years, and the way you guys relate to it?
Damiano Payback: it changed a lot ! When we were kids very few "big bands" used to come playing in Rome, you were lucky if they came to Bologna !!! Now there's a show almost every week, Italy is full of good guys who keep our scene alive, booking shows and supporting young bands. We became more "European", though there's still a lot to do and we all have to improve. I think we started changin our mentality when we started touring europe. When you have the chance to visit other countries you can learn so much about our scene, and i'm sure this stuff happened to all the kids who had our similar experience.
gan: The album is titled “Usque Ad Finem” (Till The End). Let me say it's kinda mission statement for your band. Tell me a little bit about what that embodies for you?
Damiano Payback : as i told you before, we celebrated our 10 years anniversary, we wanted to find a title that had something to do with time, with our passion and our lifestyle. "Usque Ad Finem" sounded great, it also brings back our historical roots, i think it really rocks!
gan: How you guys feel about this new record?
Damiano Payback: we're very happy, we mixed all our influences and we didn't give a fuck about what could come out. There's old school HC, some metal, streetpunk, Oi! music...we only tried to do it keepin' our style pure. We have to say a big THANK YOU to Matteo Gabbianelli (http://www.kutsonoisehome.com/), our first drummer and true brother, who produced the record. He knows everything about us and as he listened to the songs he already knew what to do. Thanks bro!
gan: I saw it circulating over the net. There was this banner picturing Roger Miret saying “Never trust a hardcore kid that has never listened to punk rock”. Your music as well as that from all HC bands from early 80's is deeply rooted in the punk rock and I think you'll definitely stick with Mr.Miret's statement, but if you had to express your view on this what would you add?
Damiano Payback: Roger is an icon for all of us, as well as Vinnie Stigma. They both appeared as special guests on our songs, i think he's completely right ! I never liked to say "I only listen to HC" or "I only listen to punk rock", HC is punk, if you listen to Minor Threat or Black Flag you know what i mean. I listen to so many different kind of music, I get inspiration from all of them, as long as there's true passion, it's true music.
gan: How's Roma scene these days? Any bands, spaces, zine worth mentioning?
Damiano Payback: i moved from Rome 2 years ago, now i live in Toscana, in the countryside, I'm Sting neighbor!:) No, seriously, I think Rome is the biggest scene in punk/HC music, there are many bands and many people who work to keep things going on. Maybe there are too many divisions, when the scene was small everybody knew each other, now, the last time I went to a show, I only knew maybe 20 people! I think it's normal, we always miss some links, we just should try to work together, without useless ego trips. Everybody can do something. Just switch off internet and take a walk to the city streets, meet people, go to the shows, don't be afraid to speak up your thoughts, this is a DIY movement after all, so DO IT!!! :)
gan: On the previous record you had Roger Miret a guest while this time around you got to involve his buddy Vinnie. How this collaboration came about?
Damiano Payback: we played some shows together with AF through these years, we became friends and it was a real honor to us! Technology helped us out, we couldn't take Roger or Vinnie to the studio for the feat, so we brought the studio to the show! :) It was great, i also have a video of Vinnie's feat, we were all so excited, we looked like 15 years old kids!!! They are true people, they don't pose, they are exactly what you see and always tried to help us whenever they could!
gan: The cover artwork is an illustration by Daniele Hoagng Ceyen. Who come up with this idea and how do you think it fits with your album/band?
Damiano Payback: it fits 'cause Daniele is our brother, he toured with us and followed us since the beginning. I saw him growing up, since he was a crazy 14 years old skinhead! Now he's one of the best Italian tattoo artist and was the only one we wanted to draw the cover.
gan: There's always been a strong bond between hardcore punk and tattoo. What do you attribute this to? And have you ever saw kids with Payback tattoos around?
Damiano Payback: no, I never saw anybody with Payback tattoos, but from the next shows our drummer, Demian, who is a tattoo artist too, will start doing it on stage, you just have to buy him some beers!!! :) Outcasts always listened to punk/HC, and outcasts always liked tattoos...even if in these days is full of emo/rich kids who like to imitate Mike Ness...
gan: I like the lyrics off “Italian Style” which obviously, and sadly, are really fitting with all the shit we're going through in the recent times. But talking about this western world crisis many times I think there a clear intent in using this as a tool for keeping wages steady (or lower), having everything costing more (see petrol), growing insecurity and getting everyone working more so that the poor become poorer and the rich more richer. What's your view?
Damiano Payback: in history, the boss always tried to keep the slaves down, think about the Egyptians, the ancient Romans...in every century the story is always the same. They always improved, century by century. Now, in this age of general unconsciousness, they finally understood they just had to move the power from the parliament to the big economy. A fake place no one can attack, a real state of mind. The plan is simple: bomb everybody's brain with TV and newspapers, create chaos, let the people lose all the knowledge they gained through the centuries, then move the power, to somebody who really doesn't exist, something that can decide worker's future, without repercussions. It's really sad man, i really don't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I come from a working class family, I never expected that much from the future, maybe a family or a house of my own. But things get harder everyday and no one seems to know how to get out of it. We'll see...
gan: What are some of your favourite hardcore punk record ever?
Damiano Payback: ok, how many hours we have?:) I'll make a list of 10 records, but I'm sure I'll forget something...
1) Cro Mags - The Age Of Quarrell
2) Agnostic Front - Live At CBGB's (1987)
3) Warzone - Don't Forget the Struggle, Don't Forget The Streets
4) Madball - Set It Off
5) Sick Of It All - Scratch the Surface
6) Blood For Blood - Outlaw Anthems
7) Slapshot - Step On It
8) Verbal Abuse - Just An American Band
9) Bad Brains - Rock For Light
10) Negative Approach - Total Recall
But the list could go on and on...I didn’t mention all the punk rock/Oi! stuff....next time we'll make a list of 100, ok? :)
gan: Touring plans?
Damiano Payback: this year we didn't play too much, we all had some problems with our jobs and families, we're getting old!!! No, seriously, wanted to tour Europe like years in the past, but we decided to do it next season. We have some good shows in Italy, a couple in Spain and another in Germany. If you want us in your city, send us an email to scarred13@hotmail.it!!!
gan: That's it for me. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with gotanerve-zine. Anything to add?
Damiano Payback: thank you so much for the interview, it was a pleasure! We have a brand new video out on BlankTV and YouTube, "DIEHARD", check it and spread the word!!!
We also wanted to thank Emiliano @ Indelirium Records for being so dedicated and true, we really appreciate what he did for us ! SUPPORT INDELIRIUM RECORDS!!!
And a special big THANK YOU to all the kids who support us ! NEVER SURRENDER, NEVER GO DOWN!!!
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