interview with 16 Ton Rockers
Spinx- We've all played in various bands throughout the years. Iv'e been in Suicide Pact (with Pepz), The Sexsationals, Sold Out Sweethearts, Swindle-A-Go-Go, Salvation Star Brigade (with Freddy Luger) and The Slagsterz (with Pepz),All beginning on the letter S. So if Rolling Stones would ask me to join, i'd have to decline. or they'd have to change their name to Scrolling Stones.
Palle- I played in a band, Avfall (later Silvias Juveler) between 1978 and 1988.
Spinx- Freddy has a soloproject called Freddy Leo, and he also plays with a band called Wildbeard. Pelle has a soloproject called Neznacomets, and has played in lots of bands.
and I think i've got a project called the El Rocker Diablo Show, but i'm not sure...
How is it that you started playing music?
Spinx- I heard voices in my head... turned out to be the headphones. Music keeps me alive.Palle- We formed a band… so we needed to learn how to play to keep the girls interested.
What are your names? / Who plays what? / How old are you?
Spinx - Vocals, i'm old enough to be my own mother.Freddy – Guitar. he's our younger Gallagher bro' in the bandPalle – Guitar. Filthy, Furious, Fat and Fifty. Pelle – Bass. He is a our three wise men, and the only musician in the band. Pepz – Drums. We're not sure, but we think he might've escaped from somewhere...
Have you had other previous members? Spinx- No, we started playing in October 2014.
Did you make music even when you were young?
Spinx- I'm still young, so i guess, yes.
Palle- I started writing lyrics at 12 and songs as soon as I had figured out how to play….
Where are you from?
Spinx- Sthlm Rock City.
Palle- Well, me too.
Spinx- Us too
What's your style of genre?
Spinx- Punkrock'n'roll with pop tunes with desperate guitars and a few scars. I don't think we fit into any genre really... too rock for the punks, too punk for the rockers and too pop for both of 'em. And too jazz for the metalheads... and so on and on. I'd say we're just too good to be be categorised.
Palle- Fuck genres! Punkrock is in my heart, but that is an attitude, not a music style.
What inspires you?
Spinx- Life, reality and other people.
Palle- The fact that I have lived for 50 years and nothing have fucking changed. I’m just furious.
How often and where do you reherse?
Spinx - Once a week with the band, and everyday with me myselfish and I.
Palle - Once a week… I work with music as a full time job, so once a week is enough at the moment.
How have you developed since you started with the music? Spinx - We're looking better than ever, and started eating lots of pizza. Musically we found our sound pretty quickly. Palle-We have gotten poorer…
Do you have other interests of work outside the band?
Spinx - I write songs constantly. For my other projects and for 16 Ton Rockers.
Palle - As I said – I work full time teaching music to kids in school. They teach me a lot.
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that?
Spinx- Yes, maybe, or to be honest, i prefer them come look for us. We're already doing the hard work.
Palle - Yeah, they are welcome to do the dirty work….
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that?
Spinx - They should be looking for us. But I wouldn't mind 16 Ton Rockers music being released on some label.
Palle - If a label wants to help us reach out – fine… as long as we get the cash.
What made you decide to make this music?
Spinx - The lack of good music? Or i think the correct answer is ”I Love Rock n Roll”.
Palle - I was bored with the bands doing nostalgia and covergigs…
What are your songs about?
Spinx- reality, real life stories and nothing but the truth, so help my dog.
Palle- The way things are right now.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics?
Spinx - I write the majority of the lyrics. All members writes music. I've usually written most material in past bands, but with 16 Ton Rockers, there are many good songwriters, so i feel quite secure the others deliever good stuff. Just listen to Somebody Save Me and All The Fucks.
Palle - Spinx has a hidden cave with popsongs…. But we all contribute with songs, lyrics and arrangements. My songs are a little more aggressive, but as I said – I’m fucking furious….
Do you start with the music or the lyrics?
Spinx - Mostly i start with the lyrics, but sometimes the opposite.
Palle - Both. I usually come up with some chords and then let the others fill in with their own ideas.
Do you compose in a certain inviroment?
Spinx - Wherever i bring my head, and then i bring myself to write it down.
Palle - At the toilet. Or in the car driving too fast.
Have you done any covers live? Spinx- 2 Sex Pistols tunes, Satellite and Silly Thing.
What language do you sing in? Spinx- English.
What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs?
Spinx - Don't know, we've only made one gig so far.
Palle - Too few.
What ages are most of your concert attendants? Spinx- 18+
What was your first gig like?
Spinx- Pretty good, almost like a northkorean test missile.
Palle - Somewhere between a running riot and a family dinner.
What was your latest gig? Spinx - Klubb Probation/Snövit, Sthlm.
Have you had to cancel a gig? Spinx - No. others tend cancel our gigs for us.
Where do you plan to gig the comming year?
Spinx - Wherever they appriciate good music.
Palle - Anywhere. But not for free….
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? Spinx - We haven't got any merch, maybe because we're a rockband, and not a company. But i think we'll probably prostitute ourselves with some merch later this year. We've got some pins, but they're more like giveaways.
Where can people buy your merchandise?
Spinx- We hope that IKEA will sell our merch, but we can't promise anything yet. Check latest news on our facebook page.
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records nowadays?
Spinx - In our case, free promotion, I don't mind our demos being spread around. We are on spotify, itunes and amazone etc, It's a tricky question.
Palle - If we did this for the money we would play shit like Avicii… bands who want money need to do the work. That means playing gigs.
How do you think the music industry have changed because of this?
Spinx - Less bastard bosses cashing in on other peoples work.
Palle - Well, maybe some musicians have had to face real life…
What do you think of my work?
Spinx- I like the zines and people doing something creative. I rather read a webzine than some established corporate webpage without any soul.
Palle- I just wonder when you got time for sleep…
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business?
Spinx- It will push our egos to the limit, and our drummer Pepz will probably buy another house in the country. Wouldn't surprise me if we see Palle roll into town in a brand new car. Freddy will make a hitrecord with Ernst Kirchsteiger. And Pelle will fire us and hire real musicians.
Palle- I would buy Spinx a bicycle….
Do you have any role models or idols?
Spinx- I like the razorsharp tounge of Johnny Rotten, and the talent of Lennon/McCartney, and the spirit of The Clash and Hanoi Rocks... so no, not really.
Palle- Yes! A friend of mine just went through brain surgery removing a bit of cancer. She is my idol at the moment.
Why do you think that they exist?
Spinx- Probably on the same basis as gods and trolls. People need something to believe in.
Palle- Because people are so fucking scared to take on the responsibility of freedom.
Spinx- I think the only one who can really answer that question is Ernst Kirchsteiger.
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today?
Spinx- The things you grew up with is probably what comes out of you in the end. But, I like new bands, but they usally sound and remind me of some good old stuff which i like.
Palle- Hard to tell. I find inspiration in so much more than music. Actually I don’t like music very much….
Spinx- Palle is furious
What have been your biggest obstacles?
Spinx- The Swedish Alliance, they were/are more nazis'ish than people would credit them for.
Their total lack of humanity should've given them a high position in nazi Germany. And, bad music taste in general.
Palle- Economy. I had to save for years to buy my guitar. Alcohol is another one. It makes good musicians lousy…
What advice would you give other bands or artists?
Spinx - Be yourself, it'll last longer.
Palle - Stay true to yourself
How do you get psyched for a gig?
Spinx - I'm always psyched, the question is how can I fall asleep after a gig.
Palle - Coffee…
Do you have any new material?
Spinx - Yes, our new promo/demo ”Kung-Fu Kicks And Recycled Licks”. Recorded in May 2015.
Palle -Yep. Besides the new demo, we got another six or seven songs under construction at the moment.
What are your web sites?
www.reverbnation.com/16tonrockers,
How can people reach you? Spinx - facebook or mail us at- [email protected]
What are your plans for the future?
Spinx- record a few more demosongs, before hopefully recording a full length.
Palle- GIGS! More gigs. The audience is a part of what we are.
Do you have something to add?
Spinx- Thanx for the interview. Keep up the good work.
Palle- Get off your ass!
Spinx- Palle is furious