CRASIER FRANE: Undressed Army Interview

Raphael Walter of Undressed Army was kind enough to agree to an e-mail interview with the Crasier Frane Show. Check it out.

You mentioned in your e-mail that Undressed Army is breaking up in December. How come you guys have decided to end it now?

Well, first I'd like to say "Hi!" and that I am really surprised that there is someone interested in our shit in Scotland. We never thought that our fucking music will come out over the borders of fucking Germany. But now back to your question. Well, we started the band in 2003 and now 5 years later we think it is a good time to finish, because we are burned out. In the last few weeks we were not really motivated to spend time and energy in the band. It is a little bit sad but that is the way it goes.

Why do you think hardcore bands usually have short life-spans? Is it because it's hard to support yourself and keep the band going at the same time?

I think there are a lot of reasons and factors why bands break up. One of my theories is that the band members are young and when their bands start they spend a lot of time and energy on it at a high level. But they cannot hold on that high level because of all the other things they have to do in life.

(Haha! Right know while writing that shit I am listening to your radio show and heard a song by my other band, Alarmstufe Gerd, and you are reading the title and don`t know what it means it is "Jesus freaks and black metal satan yuppies are brother and sisters for 100%", but now back to the question).

I think another big point is that friendships in the bands brake up and that is often the main reason for bands to break up.

You mentioned a complete discography release as well. Will it just be made up of 7"s and demos or are you planning on putting any special other stuff on that release? What labels are you putting it out with?

We will put the 7" and our two "Demo" EPs on it plus two new songs we will record. I will release it on my label, called Dreckchords Records, but there will be just 66 pieces. it will be called "Jede hardcore band braucht eine disco" what means "Every hardcore band needs a disco".

Are the final two gigs going to be big events, or are you planning on keeping things quite low-key?

I hope so. But we are not a popular punk band and also not very beloved. The gigs are just in process of planning.

Are there any other projects which members of Undressed Army will be moving on to or are you all quitting music for good?

For sure. Schulz and me play also in a band called Alarmstufe Gerd.

How did things get started for you guys as a band? Were you all in different bands before Undressed Army?

Tobi and me were in other bands before. When we were founded we had a different sound, we did more the NYHC style. Schulz wasn't in the band that time and there were two other guys on bass and microphone.

We played some shows and Schulz came into the band as second singer. After a year we broke up, but Tobi, me and Schulz (who learned to play bass guitar) did some music just for fun. After a short time we started the band again, because we liked to do music with real good friends. We changed the style a little bit. We had shit on all rules and did more carneval than music. We sucked so bad and until today nothing has changed.

When did people first start to pay attention to your music?

I really cannot appreciate how many people pay attention. No fucking idea.

What were some of the biggest influences on you as an individual and on Undressed Army as a band during the time you guys were together?

Good question. Maybe R.A.M.B.O.! I was at a R.A.M.B.O. show and that was fuckin amazing. The people in the pit were dressed specially and it wasn't that serious cool thing which you can find at other hardcore shows. Every show we played after our first break up we also dressed specially and sometimes also the people in the pit did it.

And of course we do not do that serious hardcore shit. Some people say we are cynical and ironic in matters of hardcore scene and hardcore rituals, but we also can laugh about ourselves.

How far did touring ever get the band in the past? Did you ever do the USA? Did you ever play any really weird shows in strange places?

We just played in Germany. Mostly gigs in our home area and we played one little tour together with Sidetracked. The last show of that tour was really weird because there were some trouble with the fuckin police. But the story is too long and my English is too bad to explain it. Yep, and of course we met a lot of interesting and nice people over the years.