I almost missed Headlines, I have a record
before but Jake was so kind and sent their new
Warpaint and it's a really good punkrock record.
The band may be bigger in other countries but
then I think you have missed something if you
have not listened to them. This was the first
interview for the year 2021 and this happened in
January…
What's the story of your particular band? I
think I hear a lot of different influences but
mostly punkrock?
-We really started to rehearse already in 2005
and tried to find our style. At the time, both
me and my little brother, CC, were a bit
half-tired of "regular" punk, if you can put it
that way. Therefore, we, but also Kerry who is
an original member, wanted to create something a
little more unique. Therefore we had the
instrumentation with mandolin, saxophone and
harmonica in the mix heard on the first two
records. At that time we looked a lot at
Springsteen, later Clash, New Model Army, Pogues,
Hooters etc.
In a way, you can say that this band has worked
backwards as most punk bands usually start
harder musically and then get the above
mentioned influences! I say punk band because
there is a lot in the lyrics, Clash could play
Jazz and still write about relevant societal
problems etc. it IS punk. For me, punk is not
primarily in music.
Then my brother quit and we became a more
classic setting in 2011 with two guitars bass
and drums and for obvious reasons more
influenced by Ramones and that kind of "guitar
bands". The difference between our pop punk and
others is probably that we are more extravagant
and have more rock n roll influences and
riff-based sometimes that you hopefully hear on
the later records ("s / t" "Vendetta" "In the
end" and "Warpaint" )
Please tell, whats the story of the members.....
Age, family, work and the best thing really
yummy about every member that no one knows until
now?
-Peter Rasmussen, drums, vocals, 40 - Sick thing
is that he is a caretaker in the area where the
killer Peter Madsen built his submarine and met
him on a few occasions, etc. when the workshop
was under the responsibility of his employer, so
to speak!
Peter Henriksson, guitar, 40 - Works with forest
machines at a company in Österlen but is also a
notorious Go Kart champion out there! The only
one in the band who can, and has ridden a
snowmobile. However, not on Österlen.
Kerry Bomb, vocals, 35 - Runs a tattoo studio in
Italy i.a. - She receives various offers most of
the time, which always begins with some kind of
promise of marriage from different men in the
industry. One of them has been Conny Bloom. Then
you will not get more.
Sofie
Ward, bass, 30 - Works at Swedish Radio - Sofie
is a relatively new acquaintance for us in the
band and she has not had time to tour yet with
the band, which usually gives rise to yummy
details. I think she's a bit kinky but ask me
again in two years hahaha.
Jake
Lundtofte, Guitar, vocals, 38 - Cultural worker
and booking agent etc. - I do not know where to
start as my whole life has been lined with yummy
details. I have played guitar with Svullo for
example but what first came to mind was how
after a tour at the end of 2014 I went into a
notorious gay bar in Berlin at 01 and came out
again at 05 but I do not remember what happened
in there. The statute of limitations is also 5
years, isn't it?
---
No one in the band has any children.
I understand that you received many questions
about your name, but how did it come to life?
Are you always the headline band?
-No,
that is not what the name refers to as it is
called "HEADLINER" we thought more about
newspaper headlines ie Headlines. Regardless,
it's not a good band name, but what should we do
about it now?
Which is your absolute favorite name in the rock
world?
-Clearly SEX PISTOLS. That name has it all ....
sex, dangerous, violent, rock n roll .....
You released an LP quite recently, tell us who
did not hear it? You have released on many
different companies?
- "Warpaint" is our latest album that was
recorded in Gothenburg for the first time when
we previously mostly worked with Stry Terrarie
or in Denmark in different studios. This time
the choice fell on the duo CHIPS KIESBYE /
HENRYK LIPP who may not need any further
presentation. It can be said that we continue to
dig where we stand in a tradition with
influences such as Rancid, The Bones and Sator,
among others. and it was important to us that it
sounded Scandinavian as it is quite tiring today
how all bands want to sound American. Musically,
it is a potpourri that suits everyone who likes
energetic punk-influenced rock music, I think.
Attitude and playfulness have always been two
keywords. It is Metalville / Rough Trade that we
belong to, then it is released on license on
vinyl through Sunny Bastards in the EU.
I have missed you a lot (at least your records)
does it feel like you are a bigger name abroad
than in Sweden?
-Yes, definitely. Our style is rather limited in
Sweden and it feels quite old-fashioned.
Germany, Russia, Canada and Japan are the
countries where we felt most appreciated - which
of course is super fun!
You never think about writing Swedish texts?
-No.
Is there anything you will never write a text
about?
-How wonderfully fair life is and having
butterflies in your stomach when you see another
human being.
What do you think about the future in Sweden
with the political chaos? Covid? How has the
government behaved?
-We can not answer that because we do not know
anything about it.
Were you happy that SD "only" got 18% or are you
just as pissed that they got as many as they get
because they themselves believed in 25%? What do
you think makes 18% of people vote for such a
party? Or do you not care about politics at all?
-I am afraid of the total disinterest in facts
that prevail in Sweden. It is completely
unacceptable that such a party gets so many
votes today. I am puzzled but at the same time I
understand WHY they get it when I do not think
the ruling parties take their responsibility and
a clearer distance from extreme right-wing
politics. It is a party of discontent based on
slander of "the others". It's such an awfully
low level of politics these days that I more and
more just don't care at all anymore when I get
pissed and sad. You should build on love and
inclusion and not hate!
Now back to the music. How ddo you do when you
make a song, does anyone come up with a whole
song or how does it usually work?
-I usually come up with a basic idea, usually
then we build together. I usually have maybe 75%
ready when I arrive.
Tell us a little about the following songs?
Skeletons -
Is about everything that you do not see, the
subconscious, your "passenger" who is always
there but who you can not escape from such as
addiction and other ill health.
We are all losers -
Thought as an anthem for all of us underdogs who
never got anything for free. A reality check but
at the same time a kick in the ass and a call to
never give up.
Belief -
Here it shines through some kind of craze for U2
that I may not feel anymore maybe and a pretty
nice ending to our first record. Lyrically quite
mature for a 25-year-old, I can think with
various thoughts about outlook on life, etc.
How would you describe your own music in three
words? Do you call it punk?
-Rock music with punklyrics maybe ...
How do you think punk lives on in Sweden? Are
there any new good bands that you want to tell
us about? Doesn't just have to be a punk band of
course?
-It's so fucking cool with these really young
bands Borgerlig Begravning and Jönzonligan, I
think which has given a fresh breath and energy
to a fairly age-old genre today both as a genre
and those who work within it. Världen Brinner we
also like very much if you are to mention
something interesting that has come in recent
years. Think punk lives pretty well anyway after
all.
Is it important for you to get physical records
out, I know many who think that it does not feel
like you have released a record if you do not
physically release it? What is the favorite
format?
-The important thing is that people hear what
you do and like it and then come to the gig. But
of course it feels special to see a physical
copy of the work you have done after all the
hard work. Vinyl is the shit!
Do you still buy a lot of records yourself or is
it just Spotify that applies? By the way, do you
know how much paid artists get for each play of
a song?
-Would say like this - Spotify is preferred at
parties or when traveling etc. but aesthetically
it is not very fun. I buy a lot of vinyls as I
collect old singles mainly in different genres.
What's a bit of a shame with Spotify is that it
becomes difficult to get an idea of how much
work is actually behind an album with recording,
design, artistry, etc. Music turns into a kind
of consumer product only that just go on in the
background. It's 0.5 öre or something like that
per play?
Tell us about the worst gig you've ever had with
Headlines and the best?
-It's hard ... and we've been doing this for so
long that I forgot a lot, but what comes to mind
is maybe once in Dresden when we sit outside the
venue, this is probably 10 years ago, and hear
how the band sound checks someone kind of weird
jazz and then see how their hippie friends come
and a few punks, a total of 13 people in a room
that takes 400 in the middle of summer .... no
fun night. I drank white wine but it went pretty
well musically anyway haha. The best I can think
of was probably at my absolute favorite place
Kulturbolaget in Malmö a while ago when we were
supported Stiff Little Fingers and there were
lots of people at the front and sang along to
our lyrics! Cruel feeling, and then a big plus
to be able to go home in 2 minutes because I
live on the same street.
What makes a gig good? Which countries are the
best in?
-Apart from obvious factors such as that all
technology works flawlessly and that you are not
over-refreshed, I would say the energy from both
the band and the audience is extremely important.
That you have fun and offer an intense
experience. Germany, Japan and Russia are
probably the countries where people show very
clearly that they like what you do. No people
with their arms crossed but totally fucking
wild.
What if you could choose any five bands
throughout history to have a concert with your
band, which would you like to play with at a
mini festival?
-Jerry Lee Lewis, The Clash, Ramones, Sex
Pistols and Ebba Grön.
Do you have any fans who have done something
really crazy, a Headlines tattoo or other things
with your band's name?
-There are lots of Headlines tattoos mainly in
Germany but the craziest thing was probably a
fan who kind of made a car that was covered with
us on. Logo and pictures etc. a Headlines
automobile if you like ... but not as nice as
the one with Hellacopters .... but still haha!
Which band besides the band Headlines would you
have liked to have been with and started?
-I'm obsessed with Sleaford Mods at the moment
so I would love to do something like that ...
punk in a new suit instead of distorted guitars
... The Prodigy maybe.
Record label you have been to? What is the best
thing about each? Have you had any problems with
any of them?
-Most companies we have collaborated with have
often failed in communication, what is promised
in the contracts is not what is then done. This
applies to most major companies we have worked
with. I do not want to hang out anyone special
but on the other hand I can say that what has
been most positive are the small companies such
as Radio rebel with the first record (now asleep)
and the vinyl release now on Sunny Bastards
records in Germany.
What do you think Headlines will do in ten years?
Same thing or what do you think?
-I think we put the music on the shelf as it
does not feel relevant to sing about what we do
at that age. I probably play the blues.
How does the common Headlines fans look like?
-We have been lucky enough to touch people in
all segments, so to speak, but if you have to
say something, it is often women and men who
have the music of the time as a starting point,
such as The Clash and AC / DC perhaps, but at
the same time a curiosity about something new
and exciting with speed in!
Five records that have meant a lot to you? A
little explanation of each why?
-Five discs is really impossible but OK:
Ebba
Grön - We're only in it for the drugs - my first
contact with punk and an incredibly intense
experience with distorted guitars as a slap in
the face.
Jerry Lee Lewis - Live at Star Club in Hamburg -
An interesting insight into something you
yourself could not be a part of and also a proof
of how skilled he was once upon a time. Cruel
energy and joy of playing.
Rancid - Let's Go - The first album with the
band I bought and an introduction to great
American punk and a fucking attitude.
Sleaford Mods - English Tapas - completely
dismantled by me and an electronic punk new
variant of the Sex Pistols, I think with
charming insight into the geezer culture in the
UK. At the same time it questions the old
imperialist Britain.
Sex Pistols - Never mind the bollocks ... - The
world's best album simply.
Future plans for the band?
-We are doing an exciting split release with our
friends in The Bones from Karlskrona which will
come sometime in 2021! It feels so much fun!
For yourself?
-There will probably be another coffee ... and a
cigarette ... (do you know the reference?)
Do you have any really good words of wisdom to
give us?
-Always try to be true to yourself and what you
create - never do something YOU do not want just
to fit in!
Anything to add?
-Wow, no except for what a damn good interview
you wrote to us!