1. Hello, first of all, please introduce the members of the group? (Age, hobbies, instrument you play ,...)

Kirsten – vocals, Dole – guitar, Silvio – guitar, Hannes – bass, Björn – drums. Our ages vary between mid 20s and early 40s, we all like partying, drinking and playing Oi! music.

2. Several of you come from other groups such as Riot Company, Annex 5 and Vendetta, why decide to form this new group? Was not enough with which you were or were seeking different sound?

In early 2007 Björn from ANNEX5 and VENDETTA wanted to start a new Oi! band and was looking for a decent line-up. As he knew Dole from various drinking occasions before, the Hanover – Hildesheim city connection was enforced again, so finally COMBAT 77 was found with 2 members from Hanover and 3 members from Hildesheim. The band´s intention is to create a contemporary melodic singalong early 80s style Oi! punk with female vocals and huge choruses, which we think is not a very common mixture, not even today.

3. How do you define musically? With other groups do you compare yourselves?, For people who have not heard you.

We took inspiration from bands like COCK SPARRER, THE ADICTS, VICE SQUAD, INDECENT EXPOSURE, OXYMORON, COMBAT 84, BUSINESS and LAST RESORT in order to combine it into a unique and fresh sound.

4. As I could read on the website of the festival Punk & Disorderly, there was competition of demos and you was one of three groups winners. As compensation act at the festival, which this experience? You are happy with the prize?

In fact there were only two winning bands in this competition and we made the first position. The price was to play at the Punk & Disorderly festival 2008 in Berlin, which we were happy because as a very new formed band we don´t take it for granted to play at a big festival like this. We received a good crowd reaction and had a good night´s drinking party.

5. Previously played many concerts? Because we remind our readers that the group was formed relatively recently.

Yeah, we played some good ones in the past, and there are surely more to come in the near future like the Subculture Festival near Prague on the first weekend in August this year. As 3 members of COMBAT 77 also play in RIOT COMPANY, we also get the chance to play live in a double pack some times.

6. Anyway I imagine that you are accustomed to playing live on stage, right?

Yes, especially the people from RIOT COMPANY who constantly played gigs in the last years, have played many festivals and have toured countries like England, France and Indonesia before.

7. If I am not mistaken as a prize contest demos also was to burn your first disc.

No, the prize only included an appearance on the Berlin festival. Concerning our first album, we got the deal with Sunny Bastards because we sent them our 4 song demo cd which literally blew them away.

8. The disc is already finished and looks really well from what I have read. You can make a review of the songs that are included in, and the image-cover, internal pages, etc…?

Our first album is called “100% Oi!”, it contains 14 songs, one song (“Numbers”) is a cover version by the famous ADICTS. The lyrics are about everyday life struggle and the joys Oi!. All songs were recorded in a studio in Hamburg by Gregor Hennig who also produced the two ANNEX5 albums “Sex Rag” and “Demons” as well as the VENDETTA “Eisern Vendetta” LP and the 4 song 7” EP.

The whole cover artwork was designed by Spanish artist Javi from Portugalete, he also did the artwork for the “Sex Rag” album by ANNEX5 among various other great stuff.

9. Are you happy with the outcome of the CD? Are you happy with Sunny Bastards records, which may your relationship?

Yes, we are very happy with the result since we spent a lot of time before on the whole planning of the individual songs and the studio work which turned out perfectly. Also our relationship with Sunny Bastards is great, the label´s owners Christian and Sunny put a lot of effort in an effective promotion and distribution, and they are great people also on the personal level.

10. In June will your vinyl albums produced by Contra records. Will there be any noticeable change to this new edition?

The LP version contains the same amount of songs and cover artwork, the first amount of the pressing will be available in coloured vinyl.

11. At the demo, what songs appear? Been included on the disk?

Our demo cd contained 4 songs which we recorded in October 2007 in Hamburg. For the album version they were mastered again to adjust to the 10 other songs we recorded in January / February 2008. The demo cd is completely sold out and won´t be repressed.

12. Can you tell us the current state of the punk/oi! scene in Hanover?

The current oi! scene in Hanover is quite healthy, skins hang out together with punks. We go to concerts together, doing barbecues, and meet at private homes or in pubs on weekends. In recent years Hanover had a lot of good shows to offer from foreign bands like DISCIPLINE, BONECRUSHER or HATEFUL. There´s also a non-commercial radio station where a punk program called “Stay Punk” is broadcasted once a month, featuring a lot of oi! bands as well.

13. What music groups advise us from there?

We have great oi! bands like GUTS´N´GLORY and LION SHIELD who already released one or two albums. Definitely worth checking out!

14. Have you ever heard the song "Vacaciones en Hanover” (Holidays in Hanover) of Spanish group  Suburban Rebels?

Not heard yet. Seems like a tribute to the famous Chaos Days, a punk meeting that took place several times in the 1980´s and 1990´s. In 1983 and 1984, for example, thousands of punks and skins arrived in the Hanover city centre at the first weekend in August. Nearly the same amount of people came together in the mid 90s but it was more difficult that time to reach the city centre because the police tried to ban hordes of people from getting in.

15. What is the most important thing for Combat77 in this moment?

To have a good time playing together, to play good gigs and to gain a wider audience for our music.

16. Do you have thought any future project?

We are planning to write new song material, but this might take some time again.

17. Do you want to tell us something more about Combat77 not that you asked and you think it is important that we know?

In case you want to order any COMBAT 77 stuff, please visit the online shops of www.combat77.com or go to our label´s website www.sunnybastards.de.

18. Thank you, thank you for the interview. You can say what they want to finish.

Cheers & Stay Oi!