Last Updated on March 4, 2023
Originally published in Beat Motel issue 2.
This lot of Ipswich punksters have been skanking up a storm up and down the country over the last couple of years and now they have an album out to show for their troubles. Jo hit them with a few questions…Glenn answered them…
Ok first of all, lets have your names, and please introduce yourselves as a band, how you formed etc?
Well we formed about November 2002. I think. ! god it’s all a bit of a blur now, but yeah me and Daz first started talking about getting a band together. Got mike on bass, asked Richie to play guitar and away we went. I had never sung in a band before part from backing vocals. Mike hadn’t played bass for years and Richie had just played with himself in his bedroom. So we didn’t know what was gonna come out of it, plus we didn’t have a drummer, Then we meet Steve who join on drums and done a few gigs with that line up and recorded first CD go Ballistic. Richie then left for Uni. and we got Roki in and we never looked back. Then just recently Steve Satan has joined on trumpet, and that’s it, up to date!
What would you say your style of music was?
God knows Chas no Dave meets the sex Pistols ? Don’t know how to label us. Don’t really want to pigeon hole it as any type of music. I will let others do that, coz people love boxing things don’t they. Tag it, make it safe!
What were all your influences when you growing up, Any Hero’s?
Oliver reed and my late Nan, and anyone who works with kids with learning difficulties and challenging behaviour. lol ! So me really, I’m my hero!
What Bands played the most important part of your life? That is quite a tough one, Do you choose the bands you listen to now all the time, or the ones when growing up, Or Is there one, that has followed you throughout?
Can’t answer for the rest of the band but for me its the Clash, best live band I ever saw!! Still listen to them but play lots of different kinds of music at home—different music for different moods.
Ok, on a personal one, what about, are any of you really anti anything? Is there anything that you hate?
Things I hate. Well, snobs !! This government as they are so right-wing no different than the conservatives. They have let down the whole working class. That’s pretty crap! hunting, any form of! ! New CD’s you cant get the wrapper off and empty bottles of beer!
What’s been your best ever gig so far, and was it because of the Venue or the atmosphere of the crowd?
All the gigs in Ippo are just great! Blows me away every time I see people singing and dancing along to our stuff !!!!!!!!!!!
Tell your fans 5 things that they will not know about the Ballistics..?
- Well first, apart from me they’re a bunch of wankers! lol.
- Daz loves horses
- Mike really has a great IQ
- “Steve pipe has got lots of fish nets but never goes fishing!”and
- Roki is the best-read punk I know. That ok?
Talking of fans, is there anyone that has stayed with you all the way through?, (that you didn’t know before)
Yeah a few people have, which is great, we’ve met some really lovely people along the way. Which is what it’s all about. It’s the experience of being in a band that makes it so good. Going to places you wouldn’t normally go to and meeting new people, yeah that’s fucking cool! I love it!
What about “All my neighbours” – Are the lyrics linked with anywhere that any of you have lived, or are currently living?
Well neighbours was written mainly by Daz, I think I wrote a verse, can’t really remember now, but yeah it’s about where Daz used to live and his neighbourhood. True people who live there and the local pub we used to practice in which was next door to daz’s place.
Glenn, you’ve been a Drummer, Bassist, and vocalist, are you happiest singing like you do now, or do you miss being able to play your instruments after the accident? – Hope its better now by the way.
Well thank you, my arm and hand is a bit fucked and I’m still having operations on it to try and get it back to some sort of working order. Yeah fell into singing coz I couldn’t do anything else after that. but I do love it. not very good at it but I love being able to just let yourself go and do what ever comes out as in moving and that. Its weird I come off stage and I couldn’t tell you what I just done up there. saying all that, I do miss playing bass sometimes.
Mike C, You were in “Screaming Holocaust” and released 2 Singles, Do you want “The Ballistics, to become more famous, or do you prefer the Playing for fun in Pubs with mates.?
Have to answer that for mike, well I think we would all love the band to really take off, but we love doing what we do so it’s all pretty cool at the moment.
In actual fact, pretty much all of you have been numerous other bands, Would you all say, this was the best, most fantastic one of all, and that you planned to stay in for as long as you can?
it’s the best band I’ve been in, although playing for Red Flag was always a good crack aswell. Just like the Ballistics good bunch of mates. I don’t know how long the ballistics will be around for? I know we’re planning to practice on Tuesday , if we all make it there that will be good. Got some gigs coming up and I would like to think we will not let anyone down by not being together but who knows?
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