Robb champions the DIY spirit
9:49am Friday 28th October 2011 in News By Kat Dibbits
Robb champions the DIY spirit
JOHN Robb has always been a strident voice in punk rock, so it’s no surprise that he was not backward in coming forward when it came to talking about the current state of the music industry — and he’s not happy.
The Goldblade frontman, whose band are playing Butterflies in Bolton tonight, says that many exciting up-and-coming bands are marginalised in favour of “bad wine bar music”.
“I think the problem in the UK is we ignore the things we invent, like punk and goth,” says the man who is credited with coining the word ‘Britpop’. “We think we’re so hip in Britain, but it’s all bad wine bar music or X Factor music — I think we do ourselves a disservice.”
That said, he adds that at every Goldblade gig there are always talented young bands pressing their CDs into his hands.
“There are loads of kids in really great bands playing all sorts of music,” he says. “I still believe in the DIY spirit... I’m the anti-Cowell.”
Robb, who launched his own music and culture website Louder Than War this year, has mixed feelings about the effect the internet has had on the music industry.
“Most of the small labels I know are shutting, they’re basically surviving on people over 40 who don’t know how to use the internet to get music for free. But it does create a space where people can hear bands like us because the so-called ‘alternative’ radio stations certainly wouldn’t play us.”
As a journalist, Robb was the first to interview Nirvana, in 1989, and so knows just how popular music that seems miles outside the mainstream can become.
“When I first heard Nevermind we knew it was something special — we were excited, we said ‘it’ll probably be as big as Sonic Youth!’ It sold 15 million copies. I think people underestimate people’s tastes, this so-called ‘difficult’ music really isn’t.”
The gig at the end of the month, while smaller than those the band play in Brazil or America, still promises the same raucous energy that has made Goldblade’s name.
“It’s just a wild punk rock show,” says Robb. “It’s about the community of people coming down — we’ll hang out all evening and talk about music. It’s easy for us to say that because we’re not rock stars, we’re just a hard working punk band, but even if we sold a million records that would still be the case.”
• Goldblade play Butterflies, in Higher Bridge Street, tonight. Tickets cost £7.50, to book visit wegottickets.com.
