ZNC.1.Hello to the band!! Can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us who are Combat 77, ages (if you can say it! Hahaha), jobs, hobbys and how did you decided form the band?

Hi, we´re a five piece line-up playing Oi! music. Combat 77 formed in early 2007 in North Germany with members from Riot Company, Annex5 and Vendetta. The line-up is: Kirsten (vocals), Dole (guitar), Silvio (guitar), Hannes (bass) and Björn (drums). Some of us have jobs, others are studying. Our hobbies are drinking beer and having a good time.

ZNC.2.I´ve to say that your Demo likes me very much, the new Lp is very good… Have been difficult edit it? How has gone the record? Is there any funny anecdote that you want share with us?

In late 2007 we recorded four songs at a studio in Hamburg for our first demo cd which sold out immediately (but will now be repressed on a triple split cd with “Clockwork Rebels” and “Riot Company”). This drew us to the attention of some record labels so we got a record deal with German labels Sunny Bastards (CD version) and Contra Records (LP version) and recorded 14 songs (again in Hamburg) for our first album “100% Oi!”. We prepared well for the recordings so everything (except a blown up amp in the middle of the guitar recording session) went very smooth. On the second last evening we even had time for a decent drinking session at the “Reeperbahn” til morning… .

ZNC.3.The first time I heard you I didn´t think that you was a Germany band. Your sound is far from the typical Germany Oi! (hard voice and heavy guitars) and it´s very similar to British bands or bands like “Die Lokalmatadore”, “Riot Company”… Which bands do you think have influenced you more?

There might be some similarities concerning “Riot Company” (guitar- or bass-sound- wise) since 3 members of them are also playing in Combat 77. However, the main song ideas are written by Björn whereas Dole writes most stuff with Riot Company. Also Combat 77 has a female singer and that´s quite different anyway. Bands that have influenced us most are old British Oi! bands like Cock Sparrer, The Adicts, Cockney Rejects, Last Resort etc.

ZNC.4.You just have publish your first Lp but your not new in all that of music because some of you comes from other bands (Riot Company, Vendetta) How is for you play in Combat 77 and do it in other bands at the same time?

It´s no problem because Riot Company and Combat 77 have the same rehearsal place and practice in one go. Also we do a lot of gigs together. Vendetta has split up a while ago.

ZNC.5.Who of you had the idea of present the Demo to a contest for play in Punk & Disordely? How was the experience of play with all those good bands?

Björn wrote a mail to the festival organizers and asked if they would put us on the line-up. They responded saying they liked our music very much and we should join their contest, so we did and won. It was great playing there, although we nearly missed our own gig because we got lost a bit on our way to Berlin and entered stage only minutes before the show.

ZNC.6.Germany has now the most active skin & punk scene. The big number of bands, shows and labels has us to see it in this way. Like a part of your country scene What do you think about it? What other countries do you think have a good scene? And from the Spanish scene Do you know anything?

The German scene indeed is great and multifaceted in terms of styles, music and opinions. There are good opportunities to play because of youth centres. However, the scenes in other European countries has improved as well: Take for example England with the great Blackpool festivals – because some decades ago there weren´t such good events there. Also Eastern European countries like Czech Republic or Hungary seem to have a bigger and healthier Oi! and punk scene nowadays. There are loads or really good bands coming from Spain, too much to mention, a classic LP is from “R.I.P”, a very good recent one from “Riot Squad”.

ZNC.7.Can you talk about the songs that forms 100% Oi!? Are you happy with the result? Which songs do you like more?

The 14 songs were written in a quite short period of time and we are very satisfied with the recording result. We received great record reviews and people seem to enjoy the album as well. Favorite songs? Hard to tell, everyone has own ones, maybe the most catchy songs are “Walking On”, “Double Dealer” and “Drunk Driving”.

ZNC.8.Who had the idea of made a cover of the Chips Ahoy song? By the way, you do also one of the greatest Adicts… Do you use to play it in live? What other version do you use to play?

The Punky Chips ahoy song was Björn´s idea; he saw the original TV advert on YouTube. The Adicts cover song “Numbers” is also played live on every show. Apart from this, all other songs are written by us.

ZNC.9.I see that some of the members are from Hildesheim and others from Hannover, How do you do for practice? What can you tell us about the skin & punk scene in your cities?

We practice in an old barn near Hildesheim. Hannover has a great younger Oi! scene with many skins and some punks hanging out together at weekends, doing barbecues, going to gigs or just drinking on the streets or in pubs. Hildesheim is home of the notorious Bootboys Hildesheim who organize some Oi! gigs from time to time.

ZNC.10.If some day we go to Hildesheim or Hannover for a visit. What places do you recommend to us?

In Hannover there is a gig place called “Bei Chez Heinz” (in the area Hannover Linden) where a lot of gigs are taking place also during the week. There is also a good pub called “Und der Böse Wolf” (same area) where punk music is often played. But if you want to visit the “real” drinking pub, go to “Bei Helge” in Hildesheim, near the train station.

ZNC.11.One of the things I like more of the band is the vocal session, where there is Kirsten How is be surrounded of many men? Hahaha Is she a good boss?

Yeah, she certainly is… . Watch her on stage!

ZNC.12.Which Lp´s don´t stop of play in your homes recently?

The new Cock Sparrer Lp, great stuff!!!

ZNC.13.What bands do you favor actually?

There are some great Oi! punk bands in Hannover like “Lion Shield” and “Guts´n´Glory”. Well worth checking out!

ZNC.14.From all gigs you have play by the moment, Which was the best and which the worst in your memory? Can you tell us any funny anecdote of a gig or tour?

Fortunately we didn´t have any bad gigs in the past with Combat 77. All were good and we had a lot of fun.

ZNC.15.All songs of your Lp are in English, It´s more easy for you to compose the songs in that language or It´s just you want that your music goes to more people?

The reason we sing in English is because our singer Kirsten originally comes from Canada. It´s much easier and natural for her to sing in English, and it fits perfect to the music as well. But maybe, who knows, we will do one song in German language in the future.

ZNC.16.And the video of the song Walkin On Where did you recorded it? How gone the record? Any funny anecdote?

The video was put together from live camera shots from one gig in Hannover. We did some editing concerning the synchronization of the studio recording, but that was it basically.

ZNC.17.Ok, we´re going to talk about personal things. Can you tell me your favourite food, film, actor/actress?

Björn hates noodles, spaghetti, butter and cheese but likes German “Bratwurst” and “Frikadellen”. Kirsten likes pizza (and beer), Dole favourites “Wiener Schnitzel”, Silvio looks forward to eat “Thüringer Bratwurst” and Hannes is mostly satisfied with a Big Mac.
Good films: Dole: “Braveheart”, Björn: “The Usual Suspects”, Kirsten: “Amelie”, Hannes: “Any zombie movie”, Silvio: “Good bye Lenin”.

ZNC.18.Apart of the music kind, what song would you like made? Much better, what Lp would you like to have recorded?

We´re very satisfied with the songs we already wrote and recorded and we will continue in the same style. In other words, the dream record was our own one: 100% Oi!

ZNC.19.Germany, Prague, Hungry… are the next places where you will play Have you think about play in Spain? What do you want for come to play? (Bjorn, I see you are the drummer and the manager, answer you hahahaha)

With Combat 77 we haven´t played Spain yet but are looking forward to do so in the future if there are any decent offers.

ZNC.20.People read less each moment, some ones for lazy, another ones because they think that fanzines are expensive and if we plus internet…. What role do you think have fanzines in skin & punk scene? Do you use to read fanzines? Which can you recommend us?

Indeed, the fanzine culture was much more popular in recent decades than it is nowadays. Information are easier to access and mostly more updated in the internet. However fanzines will still exist if they are having a good content and brilliant pictures. It has to be worth to buy fanzines nowadays, the online rivalry is big, and people seem to be spending more and more time in front of a monitor. We´d recommend “Oi! Warning” zine from England and “Oi! the Print” from Germany.

ZNC.21.Do you like football? Are you supporters of your city team (Hannover 96)? What other teams do you like?

Dole is a big supporter of Hannover 96, other band members enjoy watching World or European Championships.

ZNC.22.We´re now approaching the end of the interview… Now I invite you to add anything that we had not ask you and you want to say. You can tell a joke etc etc

For more info, visit our website www.combat77.com. A joke? Ok, here´s one:
Three men stood before a judge on a charge of drunk and disorderly conduct in a public park.
Judge: What were you doing?
1st man: Oh, just throwing peanuts in the pond
Judge: And what were you doing?
2nd man: I was throwing peanuts in the pond, too."
Judge: Sounds harmless. And you, were you throwing peanuts in the pond as well?
3rd man: No, sir. I AM Peanuts!

ZNC.23.It have been a pleasure to interview you, I hope see you soon here.

Cheers for the interview and Prost!

Cheers and best regards for you.