SKANEWS Webzine - KEVIN FLOWERDEW Interview

KEVIN FLOWERDEW
DO THE DOG ZINE AND LABEL
OCTOBER 01

Skanews : " Do The Dog (music and zine) story so far ?"

Kevin : "The zine started life way back in 1989 when my younger brother Sean asked me to write the newsletter for the fan club of his band The Loafers. Through doing this newsletter & going to The Loafers' gigs, i discovered many more great ska bands like Maroon Town, The Hotknives, Potato 5, The Busters, Mr Review & No Sports. When The Loafers split up, i decided to continue the newsletter as a zine that featured ska bands from all over the world. I did 52 issues under the name "Rude", before in 1997, changing the zine's name to "Do The Dog". Since then i have published a further 23 issues.
Do The Dog Music's first release came in 1996 with a CD sampler titled "Rude Vibes". I decided to release the CD to celebrate the 50th issue of the zine & asked several of my favourite bands to contribute tracks.
Since then i have released three more CD's on Do The Dog Music."

Skanews : "Can you introduce all Do The Dog productions ?"

Kevin : "Various Artists - Rude Vibes An international ska sampler featuring : Intensified, Ruder Than You, The Bakesys, Skankin Pickle, The Porkers, Secret Cajun Band, The Kingpins, The Invaders, MU330, The Peacocks, Unsteady, Steady Earnest & Ngobo Ngobo.

Various Artists : "Rude Vibes"
- Intensified : "Carnival"
- Ruder Than You : "Uncle Albert"
- The Bakesys : "The Lick"
- Skankin Pickle : "Hate"
- The Porkers : "Buds For Brains"
- Secret Cajun Band : "Teenage Smokers"
- The Kingpins : "Spy vs Spy"
- The Invaders : "Such A Jerk"
- MU330 : "Got Caught"
- The Peacocks : "In Any Case"
- Unsteady : "The Cost"
- Steady Earnest : "Singular I"
- Ngobo Ngobo : "No One Cares"

The Bakesys - self titled
Debut album of 2 tone ska/pop & reggae from the band that i played keyboards for.

The Bakesys : "The Bakesys"
- Sex Freaks
- The Lick
- Looking For Love"
- Life So Tuff
- Confused
- Open All Hours
- Animated Violence
- Days Comme By
- Grass Is Greener
- Life So Dub

Various - Mad Dogs & Englishmen
A collection of some of the best UK ska bands from the late 1990's. Features traditional ska, 2 tone & ska/punk from: The Skanxters, Intensified, Too Many Crooks, The Bakesys, Colonel Hathi, Rough Kutz, Too Hot, The Write Offs, Forest Hillbillies, Spunge, Capone & The Bullets & The Fentons.

Various Artists : "Mad Dog And Englishmen"
- The Skanxters : "I'll Never Know"
- Intensified : "Evening News"
- Too Many Crooks : "hey You"
- The Bakesys : "Life So Tuff"
- Colonel Hathi : "Alfie"
- Rough Kutz : "Gob Iron"
- Too Hot : "Fake"
- The Write Offs : "Words"
- Forest Hillbillies : "Stranger"
- Spunge : "Best Mate's Girlfriend
- Caponde & The Bullets : "Troubled Lands"
- The Fentons : "Mother & Me"

Skanews : "Can you introduce your new sampler "This Are UK Ska" (bands, music etc...) ?"

Kevin : ""This Are UK Ska" was released to bring attention to some of the great new upcoming bands on the UK scene. It features trad ska tunes from The Great Googa Moogas, 100 Men (RIP) & The Splitters, 2 tone flavoured songs by Shootin Goon, Ye Wiles & Fat Jabba & ska/punk from Rebelation, Muttly, Kenisia & The Propagumbhis. With this CD i wanted to let people hear all the different styles of ska that are being played in the UK today.

Various Artists : "This Are UK Ska"
- Shootin Goon : "Back Again"
- Rebelation : "Fall Apart"
- Great Googa Moogas : "Moriarty"
- Muttly : "Better Place"
- Ye Wiles : "Cry Wolf"
- Splitters : "Smugglers"
- Kenisia : "If You Ever"
- Fat Jabba : "Holidays"
- Propagumbhis : "Good Guys"
- 100 Men : "Reggae Juk"

Skanews : ""This Are Uk Ska" introduces upcoming bands from the UK. Why are the excellent Top Cats are not on this sampler ?"

Kevin : "I did ask Top Cats to be on the sampler, but they were not interested."

Skanews : "What are the future productions of Do The Dog ?"

Kevin : "At the present time i am busy preparing volume 2 of "This Are UK Ska". This CD will include songs by ten more cool UK bands: The Cheapskates, Pama, Captain Everything, Hilda Strange, Identity #1, Lubby Nugget, Citizen Fish, 4Ft Fingers, Lightyear & Too Many Crooks. After this release i hope to begin releasing some albums by individual UK ska bands."

Skanews : "Is it hard for a label as Do The Dog to find a good distributor in UK, Europe etc... ?"

Kevin : "Do The Dog has no distribution deal anywhere! My CD's are sold 100% DIY, by direct mailorder to the customer or on our merchandise table at gigs. Thanks to a few cool ska labels (Jump Up, Stomp, Phalanx, Grover, Liquidator, etc) i am also able to get my CD's sold on a small scale in the USA, Canada, Japan & Europe."

Skanews : "Can you talk me about actual Ska scene in UK ? Is it big or very small ? Lots of fans ?"

Kevin : "I think that the UK ska scene is at its most healthy now since the 2 tone era. I don't think that the new bands will ever dominate the UK charts like in 1979-81, but there are certainly more bands playing ska related music in the UK today than ever before.

Also venues all over the UK are now happy to organise ska & ska/punk shows because there are so many new fans of ska music. In London in particular, ska/punk shows can now attract audiences of up to 1000 people.

Ska/punk bands like Capdown, Spunge & King Prawn are beginning to attract the attention of the mainstream music press & the number of UK record labels releasing ska & ska/punk CD's is also increasing (Jamdown, Do The Dog, Moon SKA Europe, Household Name, Good Clean Fun, North Sea, etc)."

Skanews : "21 years ago, in UK, it was The 2-tone explosion. 21 years after, what do you think about bands such as The Selecter or Bad Manners?"

Kevin : "I think it is cool that after all this time Pauline Black & Buster Bloodvessel can still get up onstage & put on such energetic shows. There is still a great demand for shows by these 2 tone bands in the UK, both from older original 2 tone ska fans & the new younger generation of ska/punk youngsters."

Skanews : "Do you think ska/punk is the future of Ska music or bands like The Top Cats ?"

Kevin : "I think that the future of ska music should contain bands playing a wide range of different styles (trad ska, ska/jazz, skinhead reggae, 2 tone, 3rd wave, modern ska/pop, ska/punk, skacore, etc). It is this diversity that keeps the scene fresh & attracts new fans. If all the bands played only one style of ska then things would soon get very boring!!!!"

Skanews : "Are there lots of fans of trad Ska bands in UK ?"

Kevin : "The UK ska/punk scene is definately the largest at the moment, but we do also have some great UK trad ska bands (Top Cats, Intensified, Splitters, Kingsize, Rebelation, Great Googa Moogas, Trojans) & their shows also attract good sized audiences. The older Jamaican guys like Des Dekker, Rico & Laurel Aitken are still popular in the UK, as are American trad ska bands like The Slackers & Stubborn All Stars when they tour here."

Skanews : " What do you think about the end of label as Moon Ska and the rise and fall of Ska in USA ?"

Kevin : "I thought that it was very sad to see Moon Records close down in the USA. That label did so much for the American & indeed worldwide ska scene in the 1990's. They released so many excellent CD's (Pietasters, Toasters, Dance Hall Crashers, Hepcat, Scofflaws & Skinnerbox to name just a few). in the mid 1990's it looked like ska would break into the mainstream in the USA (bands on MTV & getting signed to major labels) but the bubble burst & many bands, labels & zines shut down.
However i think that ska's popularity will rise again in the States. Labels like Asian Man & Jump Up are still going, as are great bands like: The Slackers, Bosstones, Less than Jake, Reel Big Fish, Bim Skala Bim, MU330 & The Pietasters. It might take a while, but things will get better there."

Skanews : "For you what is good for the future of ska music ?"

Kevin : "The best thing that ska has going for it is its history & its underground network of labels, zines, radio shows & promoters. Ska is not something created as a trend by a major record label to make some quick money. It has been around for many years & will be for many years to come."

Skanews : "Do you like some french ska bands ? What do you think about French Ska ?"

Kevin : "Through my work on the zine i have heard from many great French ska bands. My favourites include: Jim Murple Memorial, Western Special, Jamasound, Ejectes, Les Frelons, La Ruda Salska & ASPO. I wish that i were able to see some of these bands live as well as listen to their records ! "

Skanews : "What are you plans for Do The Dog for the upcoming months ?"

Kevin : "I plan to keep putting out regular issues of the zine, to release volume 2 of "This Are UK Ska" & start to release albums by other UK ska bands."

Skanews : "Can you talk me about the record label and bands of your brother ?"

Kevin : "My brother Sean's label, Jamdown Records, has been going from strength to strength this year with excellent releases by 4Ft Fingers (skate punk) & Fat Jabba (2 tone ska/pop). Jamdown will soon be releasing albums by Identity #1 (ska/punk) & Top Cats (trad ska), plus volumes 3 & 4 of "The Shack" sampler series. Jamdown has also organised a series of highly successful ska/punk festivals in London this year."

Skanews : "Why don't you work with your brother on the same label? You have the same passion !"

Kevin : "I do actually help Sean with his Jamdown releases & gigs & he also helps me with my Do The Dog work. The 2 labels do work closely together."

Skanews : "How can a french ska fan can buy your productions?

Kevin : "By writing to me for a catalogue at: Do The Dog Music, 26a Craven Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 5NE, England or by emailing me at kevindothedog@yahoo.co.uk

Skanews : "Anything else to add ?"

Kevin : "Many thanks to JP for doing this interview & giving me the chance to reach more French ska fans. Keep supporting your local ska scene!!!"

UK SKA SCENE REPORT (by Kevin Flowerdew)

The UK ska scene has been expanding rapidly over the last couple of years and there are now more bands playing ska-related music in the UK today than even during the 2 tone era of the early 1980's. Some of the hottest bands on this blossoming scene are :

TOPCATS - Hailing from south London, this band play smoother than smooth ska and rocksteady and boast one of the finest brass sections around today. Truly awesome in the live arena, their "Mr Donket Paradise" debut album is due out soon on Jamdown Records.
Contact: www.jamdownrecords.co.uk

SPUNGE - Probably the band most likely to make the jump from underground to more mainstream success. they have built a huge following thanks to non-stop touring and killer ska/punk tunes. Their excellent "Room For Abuse" album is available from Sucka Punch Records.
Contact: www.spunge.co.uk

PAMA - This all-star band features ex-members of The Loafers and Special Beat. Their sound is an eclectic mix of old and new styles: The Wailers circa 1973 meets seductive soul grooves and dubbed out ska assaults. Watch out for a debut release on Jamdown Records in the new year.
Contact: www.jamdownrecords.co.uk

HOTKNIVES - This long running Brighton based four piece must rank as one of the top ska bands that this country has ever produced. Nobody plays 2-tone ska/pop quite like these guys. They have 3 albums available on the German label Grover Records.
Contact: www.hotknives.net

IDENTITY #1 - Hot new female-fronted band from Berkshire. This young four piece play a wicked mix of punk and ska and their raw talent has already been picked up by Steve Lamacq, who has given numerous airings to their demos on his Radio 1 Evening Session.
Amazing debut "A Word Of Warning" CD is out now on Jamdown Records.
Contact: www.jamdownrecords.co.uk

TOO MANY CROOKS - Brighton is also home to another amazing 2 tone style band. These guys play a highly infectious brand of party music that harks back to the killer pop flavoured ska of Bad Manners and Madness.
Their third studio album is set for release on Do The Dog Music in the new year.
Contact: www.toomanycrooks.co.uk

4FT FINGERS - Storming out of Cheltenham is this four piece band, who deliver unforgettable skate punk, street punk and ska/punk on their wonderful debut CD, At Your Convenience, on Jamdown Records. Regarded by many people as England's best new punk talent in a number of years, they are building a strong live fan base with many gigs all across the UK.
Contact: www.jamdownrecords.co.uk

SPLITTERS - Very cool Midlands based outfit who specialise in chugging punky edged trad ska vibes. Have 2 wicked CD's available on their own Blue Line Order Records label.
Contact: www.splitters.co.uk

THE CHEAPSKATES - If killer ska/pop/punk in the mould of Reel Big Fish is your cup of tea then you are gonna love this super cool Cardiff band. Their excellent debut CD EP "Nobodys Prefect" is out now on new Welsh label Good Clean Fun Records.
Contact: www.thecheapskates.co.uk

SHOOTIN GOON - Remaining in Cardiff and ska/punk territory, these Welsh wizards also look set for a bright future. A fantastic brass section & killer song writing makes their "Splottside Rocksteady" CD on Moon SKA Europe Records a must!
Contact: www.shootin-goon.co.uk

FAT JABBA - Manchester is home to one of England's more unique and eclectic bands. Fat Jabba's sound revolves around catchy 2 tone ska/pop in the mould of early Madness, but they add to this base a host of other influences from funk to hip hop and latin. Their "Hairy Errr Than Plan B" CD on Jamdown Records is one of the hottest releases of 2001.
Contact: www.jamdownrecords.co.uk

LIGHTYEAR - This Derby based troupe are fast emerging as one of our finest ska/punk talents on the back of storming live shows all over the UK. Super cool "Call Of The Weasel Clan" CD is available now from Household Name Records.
Contact: www.lightyear.gg.st

INTENSIFIED - This long running outfit from Kent specialise in traditional ska, rocksteady and 60's
reggae grooves. Vocalist Paul Carter possesses one of the most soulful voices in ska today. The band's "Faceman Sound" CD on Grover Records is a master class in easy skanking tunes.
Contact: www.intensified.net

These bands are actually just the tip of a huge scene of really cool UK ska and ska/punk. Other acts worth looking out for include: Capdown, Farse, King Prawn, Muttly, Kenisia, Citizen Fish, Ye Wiles, Lubby Nugget, Rebelation, Zen Baseballbat, Great Googa Moogas, Spankboy, Too Hot, Smoke Like A Fish & 20 Dead Camels.

Interview by J-P Boutellier, october 2001