A HARD LIFE:
Sascha VS. Section 5
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Section 5, brother. Section motherfucking 5.

It seems like only yesterday I was scampering home with a copy of Section 5's "For the Love of Oi!" LP tucked under my sweaty little arm. I'd bought it at a once cool vinyl emporium known as Newbury Comics. It must have been right before or right after my senior year in high school and it was all about boots, buzz cuts and whatever street sounds I could find. I slapped that disc on my father's turntable and about two minutes later exclaimed, "This is the greatest record I've ever heard".

Now it's almost twenty years later. I've got a mortgage, a child, and, fuck, an actual profession. I could give two shits about Oi, or any other "scene". In the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Nick Carraway: "I'm too old to lie to myself and call it honor". There is precious little new music out there that excites me; almost none of it has anything to do with punk.

As much as I loved Oi music in the 1980's, it's a sad fact that there hasn't been much worthwhile from the genre in a long time. Most--not all--American bands are worthless copycats of an English scene and attitude that really isn't as transferable from one geographical area to another as many rabid fans claim. And the best of the English bands are long gone, or trading on past glories in a manner that is understandable yet disheartening. (The dreaded "this band has reformed with exactly one original member" syndrome). And while it's all well and good to know that Malaysia and Ulan Bator have their own crophead rock and roll, I don't feel a strong urge to actually listen to it.

But it wasn't more than a few months ago when I got my hands on Section 5's "Hard Life" LP and after slapping it on the turntable I decided that it was one of the greatest records I've ever heard.

Section 5 is simply in a class by themselves. You don't have to be a member of any subculture to dig their four fisted approach to music. And while of course you're going to hear plenty of meaty Oi Oi on their records, you are just as likely to hear ace sounding pub rock, ska touches, no bullshit hard rock, good hearted goofs and blistering punk'n'roll. All played exactly as Jude Law clone Martin "Tosh" Klosec and the boys see fit. _____________________________________________________________________________________

I consider myself a politically minded person. I've gone from teen reactionary to proud lefty. (You can take the boy out of Cambridge, MA…..) . Section 5 has always considered themselves non-political and open to all. Whether they like it or not, that can be perceived as a stance in of itself. And they've suffered for it. By their own admission sometimes it's been self-inflicted. Still, their egalitarian entrance policy for both fans and actual members speaks for itself. More pointedly, their recent cancellation of a large gig in Germany due to the dubious associations of one of the bands on the bill, plus the ending of a long standing feud with a very well known left wing band are the only other pieces of evidence I need.

Section 5 almost called it quits this year after 23 years of service to the punk/Oi world. Why? And what brought you back?

WE WERE SICK OF BEING USED AS POLITICAL FOOTBALLS, BEING THE TARGET OF SLANDEROUS POLITICAL REMARKS.

FOR YEARS BEFORE, SECTION 5 MADE A CLEAR STATEMENT ABOUT ANTI - POLITICAL MUSIC, BUT STILL PEOPLE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MESSAGE WE WERE PUTTING ACROSS.

WE BECAME THE TARGETS FOR VICIOUS VERBAL ASSAULTS, THIS BECAME FAR TOO MUCH TO COPE WITH, THE MUSIC SIDE AND THE MESSAGE WE WERE TRYING TO PUT ACROSS WAS TOTALLY BEING IGNORED BY NARROW MINDED BIGOTS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE EXTREME.

BASICALLY, THE SUPPORT WE RECEIVED, ALSO GREAT EFFORTS WERE MADE BY PEOPLE WITHIN THE PUNK AND OI SCENE TO GET ACROSS TO THESE PEOPLE ON BEHALF OF SECTION 5, THIS PROVED TO BE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL AS AFTER GREAT AMOUNTS OF HARD WORK, ENDLESS DISCUSSIONS PEOPLE NOW REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT A BUNCH OF NAZIS, OR COMMIES. OUR AIM IS TO PROVE THAT THERE IS NO PLACE FOR EXTREME POLITICAL VIEWS WITHIN THE OI SCENE, BASICALLY WE ARE A BAND WHO WANT TO ENTERTAIN NOT PREACH, AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.

 How did you guys feel about your last album "Hard Life"?

IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS WE HAVE WRITTEN, GOOD MUSICIANSHIP GOOD PRODUCTION.

What made you (Tosh) want to form a band in the first place? What was your initial inspiration?

WE WANTED TO ATTRACT LOADS OF SCREAMING YOUNG WOMEN, BUT SOON REALISED PLAYING THE GUITAR WAS NOT ENOUGH ON ITS OWN WHEN YOU WERE FAT AND BALD. FREE ALCOHOL, BECAME A GOOD SUBSTITUTE. I ALWAYS LOVED MUSIC, I GREW UP WITH BANDS LIKE SLADE AND THE FACES AND LATER ON COCK SPARRER AND DECIDED THAT WAS WHERE MY MUSICAL INSPIRATION WAS FROM, I JUST LOVE POWERFUL ROCK N ROLL.

If we were hanging out one evening, and you passed out drunk on the sofa, and I decided to rifle through your music collection, what LP or CD would I be most surprised to find?

NOT TELLIN' YA, HA HA!!!

PROBABLY THE CLASSICAL MUSIC SOUNDTRACK TO CLOCKWORK ORANGE.

What was/is Stoke On Trent like for underground bands?

IN THE 80'S IT WAS QUITE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST SCENES IN BRITAIN, JUST LOOK AT THE BANDS IT SPEWED OUT....DISCHARGE, BROKEN BONES, SECTION 5, THE SKEPTIX, LEMMY, SLASH, TO NAME BUT A FEW!

Long time bass player John "Sid" Berry, what became of him? Is it true he was kicked out of the band due to his vile body odor?

SID WENT TO PLAY FOR THE WARRIORS, SUPER YOB AND NOW VIVA LAS VEGAS (CHUCKLES!) HE WENT TO LIVE IN LONDON AND DECIDED HE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY IN SECTION 5 ANYMORE. WE'RE STILL GREAT MATES AND HE SHOWS UP AT MOST OF OUR GIGS.

WE GREW ACCUSTOMED TO HIS VILE BODY ODOUR, IT WAS THE SIGHT OF SEEING HIM WANDERING AROUND HOTEL ROOMS IN HIS UNDERPANTS WHICH CAUSED MOST OFFENSE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HADN'T BEEN CHANGED FOR A MONTH OR TWO.

 Is Steve Walker still a tight cunt when it comes to buying a round? What are he and Lurch up to these days? 

I'VE NOT SEEN THOSE LADS FOR 3 YEARS SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE UP TO.

Who is Michelle Fowler and why did you feel compelled to write a song about her on "Fat Out Of Hell"?

YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT, SHE MOVED TO AMERICA DIDN'T SHE? (Oh, okay-Sascha ). WE BELIEVE SHE RAN AWAY WITH HARRY MAY! SHE WAS A FICTIONAL CHARACTER IN A BRITISH TV SOAP, BUT SHE RAN AWAY TO USA....

Section 5 has shared members with Close Shave, The Skeptix, Discharge and The Rough Kutz. Did any of these bands influence the overall S5 sound? Or vice versa?

AS FAR AS TEZ AND FISH GOES, YES THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SOUND AND CO WROTE MOST OF THE MATERIAL THEY PLAYED ON, AS FOR THE OTHERS ALL THE MUSIC WAS WROTE BY TOSH.

I saw Section 5 at the Main Event in London in 1988. Tosh sprayed me with his sweat as he was rocking out on his flying V guitar. I called it "Oi the Baptism". But what would Tosh call his Oi baptism? 

HAVIN' MY FRONT TOOTH KNOCKED OUT AFTER A 4 SKINS SHOW IN NOTTINGHAM.

Can the phrase Oi Not Politics ever be a true reality, or do you see politics still fucking things up for street bands?

IF PEOPLE WISH TO STAY AWAY FROM OUR SHOWS, BECAUSE OF OUR ANTI POLITICAL STANCE, THAT IS FINE BY US. ALSO, IF PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO OUR SHOWS, WHO AM I TO TELL THEM WHAT TO THINK OR SAY?

IF PEOPLE LIKE OUR MUSIC, WHOEVER THEY MAY BE, THEY SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO HAVE GOOD NIGHT OUT WITHOUT THE THREAT OF OF MINDLESS VIOLENCE.

What was the story behind the Eddie & The Hot Rods cover on "The Way We Were"?

IT'S JUST A CLASSIC TRACK, PLUS ITS MY KAROAKE SONG AT THE LOCAL WHEN IM PISSED, I JUST WANTED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO A GREAT SONG.

Free associate on the following topics:

Discharge/Broken Bones and other anarchy style bands.

BOTH BANDS ARE REALLY GOOD MATES OF OURS, WE GREW UP TOGETHER, I LIKE SOME OF THE MUSIC, SOME OF IT I THINK IS PRETTY AWFUL,  IF I LIKE A BAND, I'LL GO WATCH THEM WHETHER PUNK, Oi, SKA,WHATEVER.

The movie "Sexy Beast"

SEEN IT ONCE, CANT REMEMBER MUCH ABOUT IT, FISH HAD TO REMIND ME OF IT FROM HIS WANING MEMORY, PROBABLY DRUNK AT THE TIME.

Jimmy Pursey

DON'T REALLY KNOW THE GUY WELL ENOUGH TO COMMENT, ONLY MET HIM ONCE, SHAM WERE NEVER ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BANDS.

The U.K. Subs

CHARLIE HARPER IS ONE OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE WITHIN THIS SCENE THAT IVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO MEET, IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY A BAD WORD, I'M SURE ANYONE WHO KNOWS OR HAS MET HIM WILL AGREE (Agreed, the man is one of the few justifiable legends ever-Sascha).

Why does S5 change labels so frequently e.g. Link, Oi Records, Pure Impact, Step 1, Blind Beggar and Thunk?

NO PARTICULAR REASON, WE JUST SIGN UP FOR ONE ALBUM, WHOEVER OFFERS THE NEXT DEAL...

Any hobbies outside of the band besides Port Vale Football Club?

DRINKING, SURVIVING, OLD CARS, MORE DRINKING!

What accounts for the longevity of the band?

PROBABLY BECAUSE I'M A STUBBORN OLD BASTARD THAT REFUSES TO LIE DOWN, PLUS I ENJOY IT SO MUCH.

Just what is significance of the name?

I GET ASKED THIS SO MUCH! BASICALLY IF YOU WERE A FOOTBALL HOOLIGAN IN BRITAIN AND WERE ARRESTED BY THE POLICE FOR DISORDER AT THE FOOTBALL GAME, YOU WERE CHARGED WITH SECTION 5 UNDER THE PUBLIC ORDER ACT, IT WAS A LEGAL TERM FOR BREACH OF THE PEACE...HENCE THE NAME.

Closing comments or hollers?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE BAND AND ARE LOOKING AT THE LOGISTICS OF A USA TOUR SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE

All graphics for this interview were lifted from section-5.co.uk. Just who is that sexy woman in the "On the Piss" t-shirt?

-FIN-_____________________________________________________________________________________

-Sascha