Kassengipht is a band which I gopt a really good record from. They come from Germany and here´s the interview done with the group in july 2022.

Please tell me a little about the history of the group and the members right now. Age, family, bands before and on the side?

-Rosie: Age 34, 1 brother, 1 sister. Has a girlfriend since 15 years. Was born at Tegernsee, grew up in Neuburg/Donau. Knows Daniel from back then. There he played in a punk band called „Kongfuß“. and lives now in Munich. Is selfemployed with his own film company. Rosie has been infected with punk by his brother and still suffers from that. His cure of choice is now Kassengipht.

Daniel: Daniel - (no more money left for a suitable nick name), 37, was born as guitarist in the wrong body. During puberty he then discovered his obsession as bass player. He played in several (unknown) bands and projects, also together with Rosie.

Hamster: Hamster - Age 35 and aping the drums. Played before in several garage bands, but rarely made onto stage. But with at least the same alcohol consumption like big rock stars (before rehab). Band-demon: Works for free and does its job very well. Seduces the other members in regular frequency to do things they’re not supposed to dooooo….!

Have it been many lineup changes?

-Band: No, Kassengipht is as original as it can be! 

Kassengipht, how did that name come up? What does it mean? It´s hard to pronounce I think?

-Band: The name Kassengipht was derived from another German word “Kassengift” which means “poison to the cash register” and comes from the theater culture. When a play was that bad, that no one occurs to their shows, that play was called “Kassengift” as there was no significant income to be expected for that play. The idea to write “gipht” with “ph” is just an expression of being punk and not to follow rules :)

Is it still important to release physical records? Or can you feel that you have done a record if you only release it digitally?

-Band: We don’t think there is a need to produce a CD nowadays. But definately a LP since in punk and skinhead culture those are always preferred and bought. Moreover we feel music have a bigger value and gets more celebrated on vinyl then on any other medium. Conscious consumption of music (turn on the turntable, get the vinyl out of an hand designed bag, put it on, clean off dust from the record, and gently lower the pickup to enjoy the sound) is still one of our favorite types.

You have never been to Sweden and played or? If you not have when do you come?

-Rosie: No, we never been to Sweden, but you invite us? If tell us where to play, we‘ll be in the car right away!

Daniel: As Band we haven’t visit Sweden, YET! But thanks for inviting us, where shall we come to?

Hamster: Has been at IKEA before, but was never asked to play there…

Which countries have had the please to be hearing the band live?

-Band: We detect quite a few streams from other countries (eastern Europe, Japan, US) but live on stage we performed only in Germany so far.

When you do songs, how do you do, are you jamming together or do someone comes with a lyric and some with the music or how do you do your songs?

-Band: Rosie usually prepares ideas for new songs. He also drafts riffs and lyrics and „simulates“ using a drum machine. During our rehersals we review together and workout the details. Also the sound in the rehersalroom is usually totally different to when one composes anything at home which sometimes causes a draft song to end up in a complete different sound and mood.

It seems like your lyrics are important, is there anything you not will write a song about?

-Band: In punk everything is allowed. We cannot really think of anything being a tabu. Our demand our songs to go deeper then just „simple“ rhymed punk songs (not that these are not good, we just want a bit more out of them). But for sure, some simplified songs (e.g. about drinking and other hobbies) are also part of our lineup, as they are fun too.

Please tell me a little about the following lyrics …

9.1: Keine Toleranz The song title means “No tolerance” and deals with various sexual interests but completely without any judgment (freedom to the people) in the first place. Later in the song we point out very clear, that any kind of sexual violence, suppression, exploitation and similar are reprehensible and we react with “no tolerance” to any of those actions.

9.2: Ultima Ratio Ultima Ratio is a song that illustrates a classic scenery in which a “mob” is fighting against the police and in general authority. In the perspective of the “proletariat” does no longer accept disgrace and states their firmness for change even in use of an “ultima ratio”.

9.3: Tumultismus Tumultismus (tumultism in english) is a hymn or rather a requiem to our most beloved bar/pub in Munich back in the days. A spot to meet many different subculteral people, listen to music and have (a few) drinks/beers.

How is it to live in Germany nowadays, racists, politics , covid etc?

-Rosie: Covid sucks, racists even more! And don’t ask me about politicians. Daniel: Unfortunately sometime it feels like especially in the punk and skinhead subculture every opinion is rated down, disagreed or even declined. You always need to prove yourself while the actual shared mindset is completely out of scope. Like in a way where everyone has the need to show each other one is way more punk or skinhead then all the others. Thats just stupid and leads to more and more separation within the very same idology. Hamster: Globally in general and in Germany specifically there is an increasing radicalization to be observed. Unfortunately there are still racists and of course they are still assholes. Regarding politics, one clearly needs to distinguish between a political attitude and political extremism. It is getting harder and harder to pick any topic that may not be misused to accuse a political mindset artists never intended.

Are you calling yourself a punkband, streetpunkband or just call you a rockband? Is it important to mention punk in the same time you talk about your band?

-Rosie: You can call it street-punk, Oi!-punk, punk-punk everything is ok. Its not important to us to mention any of those genres, but thats where we belong to.

Hamster: Punk is not fashion or a clearly defined music genre but a way of life which, among other things, is expressed via music.

Do you have any favorite football team(I support Arsenal myself)?

-Band (except Hamster): St: Pauli (Germany)

Beer is expensive in Sweden. I have a very big interest in beer and brew myself? Your favourite beerstyle ? You don´t have an own Kassengipht-beer?

Rosie: That's too bad, we regularly get paid in beer! But if beer is that expensive in Sweden, we obviously need to reduce our equipment and increase the beer stack.

Daniel: ** pulling a beer open ** → zischhhhh

Hamster: 1. free beer, 2. cold beer and 3. beer!

Haven´t you done any other records than Reizend. When does the next record come?

-Rosie: No, only Reizend up to now. But we are currently working on our 2nd record. Daniel: We hope to visit the recording studio somewhen early next year with new songs, which are meant to be slightly different in their overall style. We want and try to get a little less of “fun punk” but a little more of “in your face!” We did a mini CD with our first “Single” Rabensohn “In-House” (self produced)

What is your strength when you play live?

-Rosie: We‘re trying to include the audience, talking nonsense on stage, making fun, littering the stage with confetti and so on.

Daniel: Making dirt and surely being dirty!!!!

Hamster: Drinking beer and moderately perform on stage.

Which type of people comes to your concerts? Which type of people do you miss?

-Band: Skinheads, Punks, Rock‘n‘rollwe, pretty girls, drunk people, the usual suspects, regular people, people who want to have an awesome time, naked ones :D and all others who aren‘t into us yet!

Do you buy much records, or is it only Spotify and those type of things to listen to music?

-Rosie: … Spotify is useful and almost everywhere available at any time, but also lacks of authenticity and heart (of music).

Are you selling any records on your gigs, do people buy them?

-Rosie: Sure, we sell our records during our gigs (shirts and stickers as well) as we are pretty proud of it.

Hamster: We sell our records, shirts, an awesome time and of course our bodies mostly significant over worth. It is important to us to get in contact with the audience, also after our shows. Therefore we also offer liquids and great talks at our merch booth. We all belong to one subculture, regardless if you are on the stage or right in front of it, we belong together!

Do you care about reviews? Which is the most peculiar you ever had, with this band or any other band you have been to?

-Band: We received several reviews for our first record. Its always interesting to hear/read what people think about our work. You compare yourself with others and their reviews to learn what can be improved for the next release. Same applies to live gigs for sure. Of course we like positive feedback, but also criticism is very valuable feedback. For sure there are also these trolls who just want to tear anything down, but we don’t give a fun about those. In the first place we make music to express ourselfs but also enjoy very much to be referenced by anyone.

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?

-Band: Lots and lots of different bands were mentioned by all of us. We probably can never agree on “only” five bands. So we would start a whole festival with our favorites. And of course with Kassengipht as headliner!

Is music a good way to get out frustration and become a nicer person outside the music?

-Rosie: I guess so! Even if I am sometimes not in the mood to make music and have rehersals I realise I feel way better and relieved from the daily stressful bussiness. Besides, is so much fun to generate creative output.

Hamster: Yes! Making music is frustrating when dealing with those two morons… Just kidding. In general making music or any other kind of art is way to express your emotions. And to hook up!

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 ?

-Daniel: Most important is to stay true to yourself, follow your very own interests, no matter what others say. This will cause the provocation on its own as people usually don’t like it, when someone simply does not care and follows its own goals in life. Hamster: I am not sure, if shocking and provocation is still an act of rebellion. But it is deep inside of all of us to separate sooner or later from the previous generation in means of opinions and way of life and to make your own experiences. Except from hippies, they just suck! :D

Is it boring with interviews? Is it much interviews? What do you prefer Telephoneinterviews, face to face or as this one via e-mail?

-Rosie: Interviews are never boring, we did all different kinds of interviews (except from TV interviews so far, but we would love to!). Each type of interview has its pros and cons.

Daniel: Recorded interviews feel a bit more authentic as they are more “unfiltered”. Even live interviews are great and a lot of fun. Depending on the beer level of the musicians of course!

Hamster: It depends on the questions, but in general interviews are a good thing. Personally I prefer live interviews as they are vivid and interesting topics may come up during the interview as such. The whole conversation feels more “alive”.

Record label?

-Band: Our producer also drives a small label which cooperates with a big distribution label. Unfortunately the target audience is not so much punk/skinhead culture. But you can buy Kassengipht on Amazon, isn’t that impressive?

Any Swedish bands you like?

-Rosie: Perkele, Randy Daniel: Millencolin, Hives, Refused, ABBA!!!

Hamster: (in addition to: IKEA, The Smörrebröd, Astrid Lindgren) Antipati, Trubbel, Perkele, The Baboon Show

Wisdomword?

-Rosie: Need to come up with something.

Daniel: Difficult to translate, thats what google suggested: “a lot helps a lot” and “put nothing in, you'll get nothing out”

Stefan: The whole life is a missed opportunity, so take what you can with you.

Something more to add?

-We’re getting thirsty. However, thanks for this interview, we hope we could give you some impressions of Kassengipht and also hope you and your audience like our music. Since we are happy to play in any new location, maybe we see each other soon somewhere at our next gig, or even play somewhen in Sweden. Keep your beers cold and the music loud!