Durban Poison have
been quietly stirring an old black cauldron full of high energy, dark, and
driving punk Rock N’ Roll in shadowy woods of Victoria, British Colombia since
2009. They’ve obtained an ancient book of black magic spells, reached deep into
its pages and summoned spirits through ritualistic ceremonies that have
bestowed upon them similar Rock N’ Roll powers as people such as Cheetah
Chrome, Dee Dee Ramone, Suzi Quatro, and Scott Asheton. The men and women of
Durban Poison now walk the earth with these powers/curses. Their curse comes to
fruition when these individuals, that seem normal when they’re alone, gather
together and suddenly chaotic, bruises inducing, riff riddled Rock N’ Roll rips
from their souls and melts the flesh off anyone who happens to be nearby. Walk
cautiously and listen carefully; you never know when these individuals will be
gathering in your town.
Interview
by J Castro
Okay Matti, let’s start
things off with introductions, who’s all in Durban Poison these days?
MATTI
CORVETTE: Well, the current lineup is El Kamino and Me on guitars + an A-list
rhythm section composed of Shane Grass (Hot Blood Bombers, Shitty Neighbors) on
bass and JJ (DOA, Carpenter) on drums.
How did you all meet and
decide to play music together?
MATTI
CORVETTE: Originally the band came together from meeting new friends at house
parties and everyone just wanting to play music so bad. The first jams were in
the UVic art studios until we were kicked out.
As kids, can you remember
what band or musician inspired you to want to learn how to play an instrument
and/or write music of your own?
MATTI
CORVETTE: The Ramones, Joan Jett + The Runaways
I’m sure you’ve heard plenty
of people try to describe your sound, but how would you describe Durban Poison
yourselves?
MATTI
CORVETTE: Rock and roll-y, punk-y, co-ed, fuck I hate describing myself so
usually just use what other people have written ha ha, “hi-octane garage rock.”
Your 2011 album Lost In Space has a few nods to one of
earths mightiest bands, The Ramones! I get this strange hollow feeling in my
chest when I stop and really think about this band being gone. Do you think
there will ever be a band like The Ramones that will inspire so many people
again?
MATTI
CORVETTE: I’d like to hope that there’s that possibility, but I feel it would
occur in another genre or sub-genre as the Ramones were that for punk rock.
There won’t ever be another ‘70’s punk movement: that happened in the ‘70’s.
Tell me about the cover of
the Thunderwolf EP (which I totally love)
and what the song is about?
MATTI
CORVETTE: The cover was drawn by lead guitarist in the band, El Kamino, who has
done a lot of the art for Durban Poison and various Shake! Records releases.
The
song was written about a mythical beast, the Thunderwolf. A few years ago were
in Northern Quebec for work and my neighbor gave me this really deadly knife
with a Thunderwolf on it for my birthday. The song is about a friend wolf that
always has your back and shreds your enemies to bits.
What are some of the most
common things that inspire Durban Poison songs and do you remember the most
unusual thing or event that inspired a song?
MATTI
CORVETTE: Sexual frustration, frustration in general. On Thunderwolf, the idea for Demon Magic happened because someone I
worked with told me about when they were young one year at summer camp there
was this guy who sat up in like a lifeguard style chair and played a 12-string
like all summer and the way they described it was “What is this demon magic?”.
If you could tour with any
band in the History of Rock N’ Roll from any era in their career who would it
be and why?
MATTI
CORVETTE: Ahh, uhh, too many to choose but lets say early ‘90’s Hellacopters.
Why? Chill, cool peeps that I think we’d get along with.
I hear some Black Sabbath
licks in some of your songs, are you guys fans of Ozzy and the gang and other
late 1960’s, early 1970’s rock, if so what other groups?
MATTI
CORVETTE: I used to listen to a
lot of Alice Cooper, Motley Crue & the like and yeah Sabbath. It’s kinda
fun to go metal for 20 seconds. I listen to so much music from that era,
Jefferson Starship I love, Mott the Hoople, T-Rex, Sonics, and Nuggets/Pebbles/Back
From The Grave comps.
What is your affiliation with
Shake! Records?
MATTI
CORVETTE: I own/operate and go broke for Shake! Records. We’re doing 10 tapes
in 10 weeks right now, get em’ while they’re hot!!
Tell me a bit about the
Shake/arama Festival:
MATTI
CORVETTE: Shake/arama happened as I really wanted to tour but couldn’t get
people stoked to go across Canada so thought I’d try to bring all my friends
bands here (Victoria, BC) for one giant island party its gonna be a blast: over
30 bands for $30! Coolest and cheapest music festival this city has every seen.
Huge shout-outs to Animal Productions and CFUV 101.9FM for being mega helps
with putting the fest together!
Where can people go to hear
or buy Durban Poison’s music?
MATTI
CORVETTE: Take a listen on the Durban Poison Bandcamp or Shake! Records Soundcloud.
All the Durban Poison records are available from Shake! Records online store.
What lies ahead for the band
in the last half of 2014 any new albums or tours?
MATTI
CORVETTE: We’re going to release a split cassette with Grosser (rad Calgary
band) in time for the Shake/arama festival and are playing the outdoor Love-In
free show at UVic on June 27th .
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/durbanposion27
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