No strangers to Rebellion, these Dark Punk Overlords have been regulars for the past 7 years.
http://www.systemofhate.com/home.htm
2018 saw them launch their second full length album “There is no Madness here”. This followed on from their excellent first album “Unhallowed Ground”. Breaking the mould of the regular punk scene, these guys have taken the “post punk” sound and been part of a re-birth of what was an incredible time for dark-gothic influenced music which spurned Joy Division, Bauhaus and Killing Joke.
I caught up with Pat and he’s giving us some insight into the madness
Q. What was your initial opinion of Rebellion, as a festival.
It always looked an amazing line up, a bucket list of bands to see. When I was 40, I had it has a birthday present, to go, I said I will just go once and that will be me satisfied. I went with Paddy (System Of Hate Bass player) and a good pal of his.
Q. Was it always your plan to play at Rebellion. How was it in 2018.
Yes it was something extremely important to me. Once System Of Hate were up and running, it became a major obsession to play Rebellion. We made out debut in 2013 on the new band stage and that was amazing. That was Suty’s (System Singer) and Carl’s (System Drummer) first time, they hadn’t done the slog like Paddy and I, they don’t know what it’s like to push ya face up against the sweet shop window and want so much to have a taste (ha ha). To be honest Paddy had done years; even back to when it was in Morecambe, he had definitely done his time as a fan. 2018 was amazing, we played to our largest crowd, somewhere just short of 2000 I would say. We had the madness of the album not being ready but we still loved the gig, we never take it for granted and our friends / fans have never let us down. The album will definitely be available this year (ha ha). The Madness is here!
Q. Did your opinion change at all after you went for the first time.
Oh it changed all right, I have been every year since I went that first time (ha ha). I am no longer with my ex-partner but she hated the fact it took a chunk out of my holiday entitlement each year, she didn’t understand how important it became and now me and Paddy are big friends it became a massive pinnacle in our calendar. We went before System Of Hate even became a band.
Q. Do you have any stand out memories through the years
We’ve been lucky enough to play on all four of the days, I remember the 2nd time we played, it was a Sunday, we’d been drinking all weekend and I was nervous, with the combination of the two, I was shaking, it’s took about 4 songs for my hands to be in my control (ha ha). It was the old car park; new Casbah stage (now knocked down) the rain was really bad, there was rust dripping down in the form of large drops of water, it looked like blood, luckily it fell mainly away from us. Ratboy also joined us on stage, beefing out the sound. The only time we played on a Saturday, it was the outside stage around the back, again no longer used, the sun was shining, we were the first band on, so we got a sound check and it was perfect, that was a great gig, our good friend Stefan had passed away recently (it was the first time we’d all been at Rebellion and he wasn’t there, his daughters joined us at the side of the stage, emotions were running high). Some bands played that stage to an absolute downpour, their shows were a wash out. In general we just remember meeting lovely people, saying lovely things, It’s the best Festival in the World.
Q. Any bands that are a must see this year.
Queen Zee, Rust, Dead Objective, Goldblade, Membranes, Kingcrows, No Thrills, Surgery Without Research, Geoffrey Oi!cott, 1919, Girls In Synthesis, Alvin Gibbs & The Disobedient Servants, Dragster, Paranoid Visions, UK Subs, Angelic Upstarts, The Damned, these are just off the top of my head. Once I print the clash finder out I’m sure there will be many more…….
Q. Do you spend much time at The Introducing Stage, do you check out any bands before Rebellion.
That’s where we came from so we respect it so much, we always have a look in, our good mate Jonny Wah Wah runs that stage so we always want to support him. We have a sneak preview on YouTube, checking bands out, I bet everyone does?
Q. As an artist, has Rebellion changed your outlook any?
It’s a huge festival, more than a one off venue. We are really friendly people in the band and Rebellion has a lovely family feel to it, we have made so many friends and some we only see them once a year, so we catch up. We love the back stage bar, everyone is the same and even the bigger stars just chat away, no pretence back there. I still see it as one event, one venue with many stages, after doing Download this year, it’s so easy to move from stage to stage and of course there’s no mud (ha ha). We always stay for the full 4 days, we take in every second and we always manage to miss something because there’s so much going on.
Q. Would you say Rebellion is the highlight of your year.
Yes, it’s like Christmas Day without the turkey. Everyone gets drunk and loves one another. So much to do, so much to see, in such little time.
Q. How’s your year been, anything you’d like to share about what you’ve been doing band wise.
It’s been good for gigs, we’ve been pushing the new album as much as we can, playing new places, meeting new people. Once Rebellion is finished and the August break over, we will be writing the 3rd album, as well as gigging as we always do.
Q. Are you planning anything special for Rebellion, Single-EP-Album launch.
As we missed the boat with the new album and vinyl, we hope everyone who came for it last year will return and finally get; “There Is No Madness Here”. We have a brand new t shirt, with a great slogan on the back, a set of 4 badges and a brand new free patch. Anyone wearing a System Of Hate t-shirt can get a free patch at the merch table or with any purchase.
Q. When do you play Rebellion this year, Stage / Time Slot.
We are on Thursday at 1pm on the Casbah Stage!!! Please tell ya friends !!
Q. Why should anyone come see your band, in a nut shell.
Because it will be early and we have; buckets and buckets of dark noise and energy, to throw at the audience. What else ya gonna be doing at 1pm, on the opening day. Start your festival with a bang and treat yourselves, you’ve been good all year, now’s the time to let go. Come and join the jugglers and the clowns, we are taking names. Let’s all run away and join the Circus for one weekend in August !!!! Bottoms up, Cheers, See ya down the front folks !!!!