Argy Bargy is a name on a Cocksparrer song, but it
doesn´t matter. Beacuse The band Argy Bargy is an oi-band with class. I got
this interview done 17/8-2000 with the singer Jon which also works on Captain
Oi
History?
-We formed in 1990. The original
lineup was Jon-vocals, Dustin-drums, Stuart & Kevin-guitar and Carl-bass.
After a couple of gigs that line up split and I called in my friend Daryl to
play guitar and a guy called Mark played bass. Mark left and we called in Lol
to play bass.
Please tell me a little about
every member like age, family, bands before and what you do when you don´t
work?
-I am 31 and maried with a 2
year old daughter. Daryl is 28 and lives with his girlfriend Nikki. He also
plays in Cock Sparrer. Lol plays for The Business and his girlfriend is called
Michelle. Dustin lives with his parents and is 28. When we are not working we
are watching gigs or relaxing.
You work on Captain Oi,why didn´t
you put our your music there?
-Captain Oi! specialises in
re-issues and we don't do many new bands. But, you never know what might
happen!
Have you done anything more
than drink,drugs...and if you have how can I get it?
-We have been on several
compilations and videos and all are still available from most mailorder
companies.
The name Argy Bargy is it form
the Cocksparrer song or ,what does it mean?
-The name is tribute to Cock
Sparrer.
It seems that you like football,
is it Watford which is your team? They went down to the firts divison, what
about Elton John?
-Watford are my team and altough
we went down from the Premiership it bought a lot of money into the club.
Elton John is good for Watford because he is a fan and not a business man.
What do you think about
Englands EURO 2000?
-DISASTER!!
Is Neville going to get the
same treatment as Southgate and Beckham did?
-He was stupid to foul at that
late stage in the game. He didn't think and deserves everything he gets.
What shall we do about the
english hooligans?
-You will always have people who
go to the match to fight. It's the same worldwide. If you stop them fighting
in the ground they will just go elswhere. There will always be violence at
football as long as two sets of fans want to fight.
What do you know about swedish
football?
-Not as much as I would like to
know.
What do you know about Sweden?
-Beautiful women and my friends
who have visited tell me it is a wonderful country.
Have you heard any swedish
bands?
-Only the obvious ones like Voice
Of A Generation.
It hasn´t been any ideas to
take in swedish and other european music on Captain Oi when the english one
isn´t so much left?
-As I say we tend to re-issue the
classic punk and Oi! bands. It's not because there are no good bands in Europe
because of course there is.
Back to your band,you look like
skinheads and I hope you´re the type of skinheads like they´re in the
beginning?
-Actually we are not Skinheads
although I was for many years. I did dress like the original Skins and I was
one of Londons biggest Ska/Reggae DJ's.
What shall we do about racism?
And why did the racism was associate with skinheads?
-I'm no politician so I can't
answer that but the National Front recruited many Skinheads in the early 80's after
they declared themselves the party of youth and working class.
Did it die with Ian Stuart(i
hope so)?
-No.
How is a good concert with Argy
Bargy?
-I people think we play a
good gig . We always have people on stage and there is lots of singing and
dancing. It's always good fun with NO POLITICS.
How does the average fan look
like?
-Skins,Punks, Herberts, Skate kids
etc.
Is it many interviews? Is it
boring?
-We do many interviews and they
are all important to me.
Which is the question you want
to have but you never get. Please ask it and answer it too?
-I honestly don't know!
.Is it many gigs, where´s the
best place to play? have you been outside England and played?
-We've played many gigs all over
Europe. I always enjoy them so I don't really have a favourite place.
Is Step 1 a good label? What do
you like the other bands there?
-Step 1 is a great outlet for
Punk/Oi! and ska bands. There are many good bands on the label.
When you do music, which is the
most important, the music, the lyrics or a refrain which people can sing with?
-We try to make our songs good for
everyone to sing along with. But a good tune is also important.
-Me
Idols when you were small?
-Glam Rock and 77 punk. In
1980 I discovered Oi! music and have loved it ever since.
First and last record you
bought?
-1st record was "If The Kids
Are United" by Sham 69 in 1978 and the last was the new Motorhead
album.
What does punk mean for you?
-Believing in yourself and taking
no shit from the bosses. Just because someone is earning lots of money it
doesn't make them any better than you or me.
Is the word punk mean more to
you nowadays or did it do it in the beginning?
-It is as important today as it
ever was.
What s the best and what´s the
worst of living inEngland?
-EVERYONE should love their
country without being ashamed. It is not a bad thing to be patriotic. It DOES
NOT make you a racist. The bad thing as everyone knows is the bad weather! And
o course the people in power.
What can you the people do to
the worst things?
-Nothing because all politicians
are liars and cheats who are only interested in their own well being.
What´s the best and what´s
the worst of being in a band?
-The best thing is doing a good
gig and releasing records. The worst is the long journeys and sound checks.
What do you think when I write
, family, love, John Major, reggae and ska?
-Family is one of the most
important things in life so is love. John Major was a pathetic prime
minister with no backbone. I love Reggae and Ska!
-To gig all across Europe and USA. We
are recording a new album and doing a split single with Beerzone.
-UNITY.
-Thank you Peter for the interview.
We can only survive as a scene with people like you and the people who buy the
records and go to the gigs. Without you bands like Argy Bargy mean nothing.
You are us and we are you.