What are Gold Blade up to at the moment?
Touring loads. just organising this tour of the USA in October and loads of other stuff abroad like Berlin, Amsterdam, a return to Russia- loads of cool adventures. We might put a single out in the autumn or early next year. Band stuff! flying the punk rock flag- doing the punk rock thing. I'm also writing a book about punk rock that will be out next spring- that's taking a lot of time, i've interviewed nearly all the key players now.
 
Who have been the major influences on Gold Blades music?
Well punk rock of most types has been a pretty big influence but we like all types of music from all over the place so that's floating about in there as well...stuff like blues, skronky jazz, freaked out rock n roll, grubby garage rock n roll, dirty funk and stomping soul, whether you can actually hear any of that in our punk rock attack is another question! we want songs that make you leap about lose yourself and that you can sing along to- its great when everyone gets involved..stage invasions and mass sing a longs are part of the gold Blade experience!
 
Who Rocks your world at the moment?
Transplants,The Clash, System of a down, Dead Kennedys, Dead pets live, James Brown, Tom Waits, The Ramones, Minor Threat, Captain Beefheart, Stranglers, Can, The Nuts, Rancid, Black Flag,...and playing punk festiavls...this will all change tomorrow!
 
Who are your heroes?
As Hugh Cornwell once snarled 'No More Heroes'!
 
Any thoughts on Sunderland, Dec 3rd?
This looks like a great bill, there's been some great punk festivals in the last year and its really good to have one in the North. Sunderland is the only city in the UK I've never been to, driven through it but never actually been there, looking forward to checking out your beach and seeing some fucking great bands and hanging out with all our mates from the North East...we know a lot of people up there and there's a great punk scene in the city and some really sound people from all around Sunderland...its going to be a top day.
 
What will Gold Blade sound like in 10 years time?
Fired up, highly energised punk rock...looking for noise kicks still!
 
Do you have a message for the world?
For fucks sake be nice to each other!

Still fighting the punk rock war, GOLDBLADE were formed in 1996 by ex-Membranes frontman John Robb. Maintaining the swagger and sharp edge, The BLADE have toured incessantly worldwide on the back of their last album, 'Rebel Songs'; their best selling album yet.
Packed full of anthems and released on Captain Oi! records, 'Rebel Songs' has been a big album on the punk scene right across the world. In the last 12 months Gold Blade have been tearing it up at huge festivals across the planet and on big punk tours. Their sweatshod adrenalised live show has built them a powerhouse reputation on the international punk rock circuit. In a blur of sharp threads, fierce quiffs and phat shoes, GOLDBLADE have taken the maxim that rock 'n' roll is a physical thing to its Olympian limits. This is truly a revolution of everyday life! Punk rockers in the dancehall! 'Rebel Songs' was inspired by the ugly politic of our times. Songs were written on anti-Iraq war demos, missives from the frontline of mediaeval Britain; it's a re-affirmation of punk rock's political roots, a loud shout back at the vile corporate world, a celebration of the rebel song and a set of stirring rabble rousing anthems to dance and sing along to. Every song is an anthem. Proof that punk rock still has meaning in 2006. Lyrically it's a brilliant skewiff vison of the world, Captain Beefheart twisted surrealism mixes easily with northern humour and punk rock anger.
GOLDBLADE have written a populist album that will sit in alongside both Green Day and Rancid, they have shared the stage with Buzzcocks and The Offspring amongst many others, they have been compared to The Clash and give a nod to Crass - it's got one brothel creeper firmly placed in the wild polemic of late seventies punk rock and the other in the punk rock of 2006. GOLDBLADE are equally at home playing in the stadiums of Russia, huge festivals in Europe and any venue in the world. "This is the people's music," they explain mysteriously. Their audience ranges from pre-teens to gnarled punk rock veterans, GOLDBLADE's insane energy and punk rock celebration welcomes everyone. There are no boundaries.
This autumn sees the release of 'Strictly Hardcore' on Captain Oi!, a compilation of the best bits from our four albums. This follows frontman John Robb's best selling book 'Punk Rock- An Oral History' the critically acclaimed account of the punk rock explosion.
There is a new album due next year.

www.goldblade.com
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