"
We are a non-political, band therefore we do not
express ourselves on the subject of politics
since the fun of the music is in the foreground
and politics always means trouble. The only
political statement we make as a band is that we
don't want to have anything to do with
right-wing nutcases, racists and extremists. I
hope this is ok for you.
Greetings and Cheers ...listen to this wonderful oiband from Gwermany....May 2021
Please
tell me a little bit history of the group? You
started 82 and did a reunion 2000?
-The Herbärds were founded in 1982 and emerged
from the "Oi/Punk Band "Total Kaputt", which
Oimel, the guitarist, had already founded in
1979. Due to a big reshuffle, we decided to
change the name. In 1982 we recorded the first
album "Eu Se Bois" (Swabian dialect for Oi The
Bois), 1986 the second album "Wakos" and 1987
the band was put on ice again due to an serious
motorcycle accident of singer Tek. The first
Come Back was in 2000 with the album "Wir sind
zurück", unfortunately we had little time due to
family and jobs, so we put the Herbärds back on
ice. The second Come Back was in 2017 when we
reunited for a short concert at the exhibition
"how punk came to Stuttgart". The evening was so
much fun that we decided to continue. Since then
we've been playing live on a regular basis. In
2019 the maxi vinyl "Oi Oi Oi" was released.
Please tell me a little about
every member in the group right now, age,
family, work, interests and something bad about
everyone? Earlier bands? Other bands on the
side?
-We are all no longer young men and run the
Herbärds as a hobby, in which we put a lot of
heart and soul and which is very important to
us. We all have families, children and a normal
job. Bands like Ramones, Cockney Rejects,
Einstürzende Neubauten, Slayer and Buzzcocks
brought the current band members to make music
themselves. Gallon, Monterzuma's Rache, Genossen,
Ahab and Wickie und die starken Männer, are just
a few bands the members have played in since
1980.
I can hear much different influences but mostly
punk and oi ? Favorites from the past?
-Our basis is punk in all its fullness. But if
someone has an idea for a new song that deviates
from that and we all like it, then we do it.
That's the beauty of punk, there's no hard and
fast rule.
Herbärds are you satisfied
with the name? How did it came up? You weren’t
afraid that some other band would be named like
this? Which is the best bandname you know?
-In the early English working class, the term
"Herbert" already existed. It stood for not
taking someone so seriously, or also fellow
travelers. This term was adopted in the soccer
and skinhead scene of the 70, 80 years. We liked
that, because we just wanted to have fun with
the music, and we still don't take ourselves too
seriously. The spelling Herbärds, is the Swabian
dialect variant. There was once a French band
called "The Herberts". But we never had any
contact with them.
What´s the best thing with playing live? Do you
miss it nowadays?
-The feeling of being on stage with friends,
playing your own songs, is indescribably cool
and can't be compared to anything else. Of
course we miss to play live and to celebrate
with the audience. We hope that the Corona spook
will pass soon.
And where is best to play?
And the worst place? Have you played outside
Germany a lot?
-We like to play at festivals the most, other
bands, lots of people, that's just fun.
Unfortunately, we haven't played in other
countries yet. It has not happened or was
canceled like in Zurich due to fucking Corona.
How is to play this sort of
music in Germany right now? Which types of bands
do you have concerts together with?
-This music is simply goil regardless of
the country and speach. We played with bands
like "UK Subs" "Sham69" "Cockney Rejects" "Pöbel
und Gesocks" to name a few.
How would you describe your
music in three words?
-Rough, straightforward, oldschool
What does punk mean to you,
is it only a word or is it a lifestyle?
-It is in any case a lifestyle. Even if the
exterior is no longer as important as in my
young "storm and stress“ years and I do not yell
in everyone's face or vomit in front of their
feet. lol
Which song/album or group was
it who took you into punk/oi?
-Cockney Rejects
and Sham 69 “Tell
Us the Truth”
What shall a young guy do
today to shock their parents as the way we did
when we were young? They have already seen
everything
?
-Much of that time has been forgotten.
Therefore, he can do the same, and maybe try to
increase it. The only criterion for him should
be "Is this my kind of punk? „
How is
it to live in Germany right now? Politically?
Fascists? The Covidsituation?
-Covid makes life difficult and annoying, as it
is in every country. I don't need to say much
about this, we are all experiencing it at the
moment. The so called "Querdenker"
demonstrations in Germany against the Covid
measures of the government are infiltrated by
right-wing groups.
Is there
any good bands from Germany right now? Is the
punkscene/metalscene/hardcorescene big? How is
it in your hometown?
-To give a good assessment of the different
scenes, an old, stubborn guy like me is probably
the wrong one. I prefer to drink my beer in a
small club with live music. Cheers.
What do
you know about Sweden? Have you been here
sometime?
-Many years ago I made a round trip through
Scandinavia. I was among other things in
Göteburg and Stockholm.
I liked it very much. Only the beer was
unfortunately very expensive. I have long
planned to visit an old friend who lives in
Stockholm because I think the city is great.
Have you
heard any good bands from Sweden?
-I like "The baboon show" which I have already
seen live and "City Saints" with whom we will
play at a festival here in Germany in fall.
Politic and music, does it goes hand in hand?
Which is your most political song? Is it
important to get out your opinions in music? To
take a stand against racists and so on?
-When we founded the Herbärds, we decided that
the band should be apolitical. We like to leave
the topic to other bands. Since with us the fun
in the music is in the foreground, and politics
always means trouble. The only political
statement we express as a band is that we want
to have nothing to do with right-wing nutcases,
racists and extremists.
Is there
any subject that you never will write anything
about? Or isn´t anything sacred?
-Since we are an apolitical band, we don't write
political lyrics. Nothing else is sacred to us.
Best
political band/artist? Best unpolitical band?
-My favorite bands are Daily Terror, Ramones,
Cockney Rejects, Ska P etc.
Fortunately there are many good bands.
Do you think that
music(lyrics and so on) can change anyones life,
I mean people who listens to music?
-Absolutely. I used punk as therapy after my
serious motorcycle accident in which I lost a
leg. Punk drives away my dark spirits.
Your favorite recordcover
alltime? Who does your recordcovers? And do you
have any good recordstores in your hometown?
-Favorite Cover, Sampler Burning Ambitions (A
history of Punk).
Unfortunately there are few second hand record
stores in Stuttgart. But there is a very good
one, run by my buddy "Tommes".
Is it important to get out
physical records of your stuff? Why or why not?
Vinyl, CD, cassette, what do you prefer if you
could choose whatever ?
-It is probably goil for every musician to hold
his own album in his hand. It holds a moment of
their own life and musical creation. It makes
you proud and years later, you like to think
back how it came to be, how the attitude to life
and the circumstances were and why you chose the
cover and wrote this text.
In any case vinyl.
Please tell me a funny thing
which have happened during your career and under
some gig?
-In 2019, after one of our concerts, a very
young, angry skinhead girl came up to me, built
up in front of me and snorting at me "How can
you name yourself like an old Oi punk band, and
then even cover so much of them?" I said to her
"We are the old Herbärds" She made big surprised
eyes and asked "How old are you? (as if a
grandfather standing in front of her) At the
latest, I realized, "Tek you're getting old"
How does your audience look like? Which people
do you miss on your concerts? Which is the
biggest band you ever have played together with?
Is there anyone of your fans which have done
some tattoo with your name or something similar
to salute you?
-Our audience is very mixed up. Skins punks and
leather jacket freaks...etc. Since we are an old
band, we also attract older veterans from behind
the stove. I haven't seen a Herbärds tattoo on
anyone yet, except myself.
Please rank your five
favoriterecords, five favoriteconcerts and five
most important things in life?
-Cockney Rejects- Greatest Hits 2
Ramones- It’s alive
Daily
Terror- Aufrecht
Die
Drei Röhren- Wir leben immer noch
Cock Sparrer-Shock Troops
The Clash- the clash
Konzerte
Adicts, No Sports, Ramones, Dead Kennedys, the
Mahones
First, last and most
expensive record ever bought?
-First- I think the red Beatles album
Last- Another day, by Evil Conduct
Is it boring with interviews?
-Not with a few beers. Lol
Do you care about reviews? Which is the most
peculiar you ever had, with this band or any
other band you have been to?
-For
reviews that are justified, yes, no matter if
good or bad.
One of the stupidest review... " I hate german
punk" ( Then why do you listen and write about
it at all, moron).
Which bands do people compare
you to, is it boring that people compare you to
other bands or is it understandable?
-Everyone has a different point of view. That's
why I don't really care with whom they compare
us. As long as they are not right-wing nutcases
or extremist bands.
If you could choose five
bands from the past and the history and nowadays
and both dead and living bands to have a concert
together with your band. Which five have you
been chosen?
-Daily Terror, KGB Germany, Wendy O Williams(The
Plasmatics), Adicts, Ramones
Is music a good way to get
out frustration and become a nicer person
outside the music?
-In any case! But whether music makes someone a
better person is very questionable. But it can
change anyone.
Which is the most odd
question you ever have got in an interview?
Except this one then….
-Wouldn't Paul's... or Jonny' s have been a
better band name?
Which is the question you
want to have but you never get. Please ask it
and answer it?
-Would you like to play live in Scandinavia,
Japan or even a European tour?
Yes, yes... very much
Futureplans for the band?
-We are currently working on a new album that we
would like to release next year for our 40th
anniversary. More concerts and festival playing.
For
yourself?
-Stay healthy, enjoy life and finally play live
again.
Wisdomword?
-May our chimney continue to smoke for a long
time.
Something to add?
-Thank you for the interview. We greet all old
and new friends of the Herbärds. Our families,
our label Sunny Bastards Records and us. Cheers
Records
1982„Eu Se
Bois“ LP/CD
1986 „Wakos“ LP
2000 „Wir sind zurück“ CD
2019 „Oi Oi Oi“ Maxi
Dessutom finns det flera låtar
på samlingsskivor. Bland annat kultskivan "Ultra
Hardcore Power 1" från 1982 och "Stuttgart
brennt vor Langeweile" från 2017.
Website
www.herbärds.de