It was 15 years since I last interviewed Paranoid Visions and this interview I sent to them some years ago but something happened. But the questions was OK to use again and then they was so kind that they answered them now instead. June-2022

I interviewed you 2007 the last time, what have happened since then with members and those things? How many members have gone through Paranoid Visions through the years? Which are todays members, tell me a little about everyone?

I think we have had about 40 members over the years, but the current line up is the longest we have ever had. Previously we almost acted like a collective, members were in and out all the time and some only played on records… but with the line up we established in 2014, we finally had a full set of musicians who all had the same attitude, eclectic tastes and a desire to try to be different.

Deko – vocals

Aoife destruction – vocals

P.A – guitar

Jay Sus Christ – drums

TJ Qra – bass

Danarchy – guitar

Steo Pain – samples

Have Ireland become better as a punkcountry, you were disappointed on it the last time?

-No, it’s still pretty much the same… we have always produced top quality and totally original punk (and any genres) bands, but as a scene its not great. There aren’t many venues to play, it costs a fortune for a travelling band to play here, so its happening a bit less and theres no touring circuit worth doing in a cohesive manner.

Is there any good new bands on Ireland?

-Yes theres a lot, bands come and go all the time, but at the moment I would highly rate the Nilz, 50 Foot Woman, Audible Joe’s, Nxxbodies,  and more established bands like the Gakk, the Lee Harveys, the Black Pitts, Vulpynes, the Blowins and many others are all excellent bands

You work together with Steve Ignorant sometimes, when you play gigs with him is it only when you do Crass-songs or how is it?

-We recorded 2 albums of original material and 2 singles and a mini album…none of the tracks were Crass songs. We did plenty of gigs of that material, but started to add some Crass stuff for a specific tour after we had done a one off at rebellion with him where we did 7 crass songs, and a song by Conflict, Dirt, Poison Girls and Flux of pink Indians. It´s likely we will make another record in the future, but at the moment we are working on our Pharmageddon project amongst others and he’s doing the Crass tour with slice of life (borrowing our drummer!)

Have your view on punk changed through the years, what is the biggest difference between punk around 77 and if you compare with nowadays?

-My opinion will never change!!!!!

Punk is, was, and always will be the driving force for everything I do. The message and philosophy of the early punk movement is as relevant today as it was back then. The main difference these days is accessibility. In 1976/1977 bands were only getting heard through records wither through an established label or through their own label…now they are accessible through the internet.

What´s the biggest difference of playing gigs nowadays if you compare how it was in the beginning of your career?

-Back in the early days, EVERY gig turned into a bloodbath. It’s the reason why we run the first three songs in our set together…once we stopped there would be a massive fight…”you spilt my drink! You knocked me over! Etc etc”. It’s a lot better organised and a lot more passive now.

If you would do a Cover-EP with 6 songs which isn´t punk and do them your way, which 6 songs have you been recordings then?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

These would be my personal choices…

These boots are made for walking (Nancy Sinatra)

Hurt (Johnny Cash)

Heroes (Bowie)

Mickey (Toni Basil)

Romeo and juliette (Taylor Swift)

Enola gay (OMD)

The name Paranoid Visions, are you still satisfied with the name? Do you got many questions about it?

-Rarely get asked… I never really liked it back at the start as it didn’t have a “THE” at the start!!

Please tell me a little about following songs….

-(Join the) recession club

Its about the state of the irish economy… musically it’s a jam in the studio done in real time, vocals as well. Totally ad libbed

-Sex Kills

It’s a punk rock furious song that is about how men sexualise women and think they are there for the taking

Bondage(when we get out)

Its about the prison system and how it fails to rehabilitate people and seemingly has no interest in anything other than punishment and vengeance

When you do a song, how do you do it, is it so that some come to the rehearsal room with a full songs or do you do them together?

-Usually it will come from someone having a verse and/or chorus and they bring it into the rehearsal room. We work from it from there. Deko has thousands of lyrics so will either drag one out that springs to his mind, or write a new one

Where do you stand when we talk about Spotify, downloading etc?

-I’m ok with it. It’s a rip off to the artist, but nowhere near as much of a rip off as someone deciding to upload your material to a torrent site without your permission and what could be inferior quality. At least with Spotify you can control the quality, track order, image and wording.

Does it feels like you haven´t release a record if you only have released it digital?

-Yes! As far as I’m concerned, you haven’t released a record if its only digital…you’ve just uploaded some tracks!

Do people buy records on your concerts? Other merchandise?

-Yes… cd’s, vinyl and most often T Shirts!

Can you live on your music or do you have to work?

-We never had any intention of trying to live off the music. In general we take literally no money out of the band except to pay for recording, bankroll travel and press records. We have always felt that music is a passion and as soon as it becomes a job, it´s destroyed!

How many gigs do you do on a year? What´s the best of playing live?

-Usually no more than about 10 or so… the last few years have of course been terrible during covid, but in general we don’t like doing more than 2 or 3 in a row as it feels a bit too much like a job and the sheen goes off it!

Which country is best to play in?

-Personally I loved playing in America as the gigs were all amazing and very well organised. Germany is brilliant to as they really look after the bands!

Please tell me a funny history which have happened during a tour, concert etc?

-When we were in Canada playing at the Amnesia festival, Twisted Sister were on the same bill the night before. We met them in the bar afterward where they gave us the remains of their rider. The following morning a woman came up to Aoife and said how much her kid loved the band… you’re Twisted Sister aren’t you? Ever since then we have been winding Aoife up that she looks like Dee Snyder

Are you in the work for a new record? Please tell me some song names?

-We are yes…

Firstly we are currently finishing off Countdown to Pharmageddon part 4 – Subverse Reality. It´s another 10” box set with record, cd, inserts and a poetry book

Secondly, we are working on a 12” called 40 years in 45 minutes which is a new song chronicling the history and philosophy of the band. The B side will be 2022 re recordings of one track each from the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and 10’s. It will be accompanied with either a CD or a download compilation with one track taken from each release the band has done from the demos to now.

Have you been to Sweden and played yet? When or if you haven´t why not?

-Never been invited! We would absolutely LOVE to play there…any suggestions as to who might be able to help us?

Have you heard any good Swedish bands?

-I’ve heard of a few alright. Anti-Cimex were a band I used to listen to way back! And Existenz are amazing!!!

Also, Abba and The Cardigans!

How is it to live political in Ireland today?

-As shit as always! We have two right wing/liberal main parties…both self-serving inept wankers! The left were sold out by an abysmal labour party and the green party have a leader who got a train to Cork from Dublin for the publicity and sent a bike down in a Mercedes so he could cycle to a meeting. Absolute arseholes .

What shall a young punkrocker do today to shock their parents as the way we did when we were young? They have already seen everything 😉?

-They’ve seen everything!!! Very little shocks me these days except when I hear of people voting for right wing governments or believing the lies of someone like Trump or Boris Johnson. So I guess the only thing that could shock me is a horrible political viewpoint!

When we talk about lyrics…..Is there any subject that you never will write anything about?

-NO!!!!!

Do you think that music(lyrics and so on) can change anyones life, I mean people who listens to music?

-100% yes. It changed my life, the moment I heard Crass I realised that being in a band and expressing myself was within my reach…and the DIY philosophy I picked up from them is how I have lived my life ever since.

If you could choose five bands from the past and the history and nowadays and both dead and living bands to have a concert together with your band. Which five have you been chosen?

-From history:

Sex Pistols

Crass

Poison Girls

Siouxsie and the Banshees

Dead Kennedys

Is music a good way to get out frustration and become a nicer person outside the music??

-Definitely a way to express your self and let loose with frustrations yes. It conjures up emotion and give a huge release. That should make people a bit happier and be nicer to be around.

Which is the most odd question you ever have got in an interview?

-This one!

Which is the question you want to have but you never get. Please ask it and answer it?

-What would you like people to think when they get a new Paranoid Visons Record?

I would like them to realise and identify that the record is top quality in presentation and that the overall package is as important as the music and lyrics. I would like people to feel that the band is uncategorisable and that we have many may influences that can be heard, but we create a sound of our own…whether they like it or not

Futureplans for the band?

-Pharmageddon #4, 40 years in 45 minutes record, more rereleases of the back catalogue and to keep on kicking at the doors ! We are also in the advanced stages of completing a documentary about the band… likely out in early 2023

For yourself?

-I’m also playing with the Lee Harveys, so we always have gigs coming up. I’m doing a record with Aoife (a solo record she’s doing), a project with Dunstan from Chumbawamba, and a record with TV Smith and Paranoid Visions!

In addition, my company www.rotatrvinyl.com is pressing records for people all over the world!

Wisdomword?

-Do it yourself….always

Something to add?

-Head to www.advancerecords.com for any of our merch, and check us out on Spotify!