This belgian band sent me two records of really good quality. And I was ”forced” to send some questions to the band for know more about the group. April 2024

Please tell me a little about the story of Stay Idle, how you met and why you did start to play and how long it was ago?

-Vincent(guitar&vocals), Alex(bass&vocals) et each other at university and started jamming togheter. After a while they were in need of a drummer to complete the group, but drummers are hard to find so i(Ronald) decided to learn to play drums to join them. We started out playing together somewhere in 2018. After two years Manuel joined the band as lead guitarist.

Please tell me a little about every member, age, work, previous bands etc?

-Vincent : Age 30 , Digital Marketeer , He had a previous band but it didn't last so long. Ronald : Age 30, Plumber , No previous bands. Alex : Age 30, ICT , No previous bands. Manuel : Age 30 , Graphic designer, Played in the band Nutshell but they broke up, remaining members started the band Parks , go check them out!

The name Stay Idle? How did you come up with that? You werent´afraid that some other band would be called so already?

-The name comes from the first song we wrote with the same name. I found it funny because the music we make is far from idle haha. With the internet it is fairly easy to check out if the name is already taken or not and as far i can see the name was not taken already.

You come from Belgium, how is it to live there nowadays, racists and politics overall?

-It's quite ok I guess. Every country has racists but I think the Belgium government does a good job of punishing hatespeech. But ultimately, as a native Belgian, it is difficult for me to answer how people with other roots are effectively treated. And the politics yeah.. you got a few hours? haha

When you do your lyrics, what are they about, anytime political or is politics nothing to have in music? Is it worth doing music without being political?

-Our lyrics are mostly about personal and social topics. We write from everyday experience but we don't have lyrics focussing on politics.

How would you describe your own music in three words for those who haven´t heard you?

-Rip it up!

Is there any there groups you have being compared to? Is it bad or good to be compared?

-The Hellacopters/Turbonegro popped up sometimes. Those are very good bands so when people compare us to them that is a very big compliment!

Have you listened a lot to old Belgian music, and I remember that there was a lot of hardcorebands around and do you have any favorites from the past? I don´t know so many, please recommend some?

-The oldest most famous are The Kids, Deadstop , Liar , Congress , Zyklome A...

Which is the best format to put out records on?

-Vinyl ! But things like Spotify makes it alot easier to send your music around the world.

Can you feel that you have done a record if you would release it only digitally?

-We would still make music if only digital was avaible. But hearing it playing on a record table is still the best feeling.

When you listen to music, what is your favorite way to listen to music, Spotify, vinyl, CD or what do you prefer?

-I listen alot to music while working so Spotify is the thing I use the most. But at homeIi will pop open a beer and play some vinyls!

Do you buy much records yourself?

-We share the stage alot with other bands , when I like them I will support them with buying a record.

Is there any good record shops left in your hometown?

-There are none in the town where I live , but in the cities close by there are!

Any good bands from your town and in Belgium nowadays overall?

-There was a hardcore band called Rebuild wich inspired me to play music , but they disbanded some ten years ago sadly. Whispering Sons is a good postpunk band from my town go check them out! There are many cool bands in the Belgian punk scene The Priceduifkes, Prince Beastly, The Sha-La-Lee's, The Guru Guru, Crackups, SONS, Equal idiots, Get Well, Loud Love, Steele Justice, FLKS,... to name a few

What does punk mean to you, is it only a musicstyle, a word or is it a style of living?

-No matter where you go in the world, when you enter a bar or concert were they playing punk you immediatly feel at home! So definitly a way of living.

Tell me a little about the following song and what they´re about? Who did them and tell me a little about the story? a) Unloaded Gun b/ Hear no Lies c) Juggernaut

Unloaded Gun : The wonderful life of going out

Hear No Lies: People who invent their own reality on the internet and people who fall into that black hole

Juggernaut: Dead end jobs and prove the opposite when people think you can't do shit.

Are you selling any merch on your gigs, do people buy it? What sells best?

-We do, People buy T-shirts the most.

Which is your own favoritesong among your own songs? And which song is the people choice? Do you play any covers too, if you do which songs?

-I personally like The Algorhythm the most because its a little different from the rest but still really hard. The peoples choice is Rip it up because its the easiest to sing along to. From time to time we cover Cheap beer from Fidlar.

When you do songs, is it one in the group who does them or how do you compose a song?

-Vincent comes up mostly with a guitarriff and lyrics, and then the whole band adds some more ideas until we get the full thing.

Please rank your five favorite records? Five best concerts you have been to? And the five most important things in life?

1.Turbonegro - Apocalypse Dudes 2.The Hellacopters - Suppershitty to the max 3.Title Fight - Shed 4.Kyuss - Welcome to sky valley 5.Clowns - Bad Blood

1.Turbonegro at Groezrock 2013 2.The Hives at Groezrock 2014 3.Refused at Pukkelpop 2012 4.The Bronx at Sjock 2018 5.Clowns at Antwerp music city 2017

Good health , good company, good food , good drinks and good music!

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

-Reviews are good to learn things about our band and ourselves.

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?

-The Ramones , Iggy Pop , Ty Segall , Motorhead , Ozzy Osbourne

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

-Punks/Metalheads are the nicest people, so yeah!

You have never had any thoughts in singing in your own language?

-Not really

Any good Swedish bands you like?

-The Hellacopters , Refused , Scumbag Millionaire, The Hives, In Flames , Ghost,.. And of course Abba!!

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

-Any kind of interview will do

Futureplans for the band?

-Wreck every stage we can get on! 28.

Futureplans for yourself?

-Trying to stay alive

Wisdomword?

-Rock n roll is dangerous!