I DON’T WANNA GROW UP / JOHN MOORE

An Interview with The Adicts' Pete Dee Davison.

By John B. Moore

Believe it or not, it took a lot to get noticed in the burgeoning UK punk scene in the late 70's.

When every other punk is putting a safety pin through his ear and sporting a swastika arm band, it's going to take a lot more than ripped jeans and a spray painted anarchy symbol on your shirt to stand out.

Based out of Ipswitch, Suffolk, England, The Adicts had stellar punk anthems with sing-along choruses that stuck in your head for days, but it was their stage clothes that first got them noticed: reminiscent of a Clockwork Orange, they dressed in all white, with black boots, bowler hats and singer Keith "Monkey" Warrens sported joker makeup night after night.

Formed in 1975, The Adicts are officially the longest running punk band still playing with its original members.

Earlier this year, the band released their latest Life Goes On, their ninth record (not counting live albums and comps). Band co-founder and guitarist Pete Dee Davison put down his cup of tea recently to talk about punk (he doesn't think it has ever been accepted into the mainstream), staying together (for the record, they did NOT break up in the 80's) and hip hop (he's clearly not a fan).

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The Adicts have been together longer than most kids in punk bands have been alive. How have you guys managed to stay together for so long?

 
I think we have stayed together so long because we really enjoy what we do and each other. Also contributing factors are we write what we want to and don't copy trends or fashion. We are who we are and that's about it really.

Have there been any lineup changes over the years?

Yeah,  when we first started we were a four piece and then we tried bass players who were pretty shite over all and Mel was shite on guitar so we threw him on bass and he's still shite. Now we have Scruff, his brother, on rhythm guitar and he is great. We have had a couple of dodgy keyboard players we really didn't like at all  - one had the smallest dick we have ever seen, so we can't have that in a band now can we?  Now we have Dan on keys and Violin and we kind of like him a bit. Mel's not too well at the moment so we have Shahen on bass. He is great; fits in good and we don't have to Baby him like we do Mel.

Are you surprised to see that punk music is still around and now pretty accepted by the main stream?

 I don't agree its gone mainstream at all. Only a handful of bands have had some success and that's not representational of punk rock is it?  I am not surprised it's still around at all. Its street music, it rocks and fuck anything is better than the shit R&B Rap crap that's around. The problem is the industry itself: it's full of twats. Fuck the lot of them I say. I can't remember when we had a record air played during the day on any mainstream radio station. They are just as prejudiced now than they ever were against anything different or clever. Instead we have bollocks that ram the airwaves and MTV. It needs a good enema, I recommend it if you're reading this, you boys and girls who think you know it all.

Punk, as a genre, has been popular at times and then moved underground at times. What years were the hardest for the band to find audiences?

       I think the 90's were difficult as it had almost been pushed into the cemetery. I don't think punk has ever been popular at all.

Are you fans of any of the newer punk bands?

 Yeah, of course.  The Cute Lepers are one of my favorite bands out there. They write catchy songs and have good melodies.

What can you tell me about your new record, Life Goes On?

 It's our latest album and it's fucking great! Diverse, interesting, sounds awesome, gives one something to think about at times and even has a track on it you can shag to. It's the Adicts! I enjoyed working with Earle Mankey again on the album and hope to work on the next one with him too. When we record we have to record everything because we don't practice, due to living far away from each other so it's all done real and honest, spontaneously and I love it. We all do, so we just knock it out.

The band took some time off in the mid-80's. What happened during that period? Did the band ever officially break up?

 Every band takes some time off, we did what we had to. We were playing all over the place getting pissed off with each other and touring, we needed a break from all the bad things that come with being young and touring; like drugs and drink. We never broke up or had any inclination of doing so, we just needed to get our shit together and we did. I think we took a year without even talking to each other. It was that bad, then we did a gig or two, realized we still weren't ready to tour so we wrote some songs, got back into hanging out at the pub and liking each other again and then we hit the road again. Just to clear the record we have NEVER broken up  or we wouldn't still be here. Saying that I wouldn't mind having a reunion gig.

You are currently playing all over the world. Have you noticed a difference in the audiences from one country to the next

They are all different colors and speak different languages but they are all Adicts fans and we love them all. I think we are very humbled and grateful to have this huge worldwide following. That is our success. We have reached places even Heineken hasn't reached so that's something in itself. It's refreshing for a band who refuses to make an MTV video. We have done it the hard way and we love meeting our fans everywhere we go. It's still a beautiful world and we help make it so.

What has changed the most about the music business from the mid 70's to now?

Technology and wankers who think they can make music. One thing that boils my water is the c-rap scene. Fucking rubbish it is. Morons the lot of them. I can't understand a word and don't really want to. Once and  awhile a good record comes out. But really, the music industry has gone to the lowest form of life and they call us Punk. Well it's all gone to shit to be honest. We need instruments and musicians just like we need proper artists again who can paint. Fuck me anyone can lay a pile of  bricks  down and gets a grant for it is a genius really, come on. We need to get back some common sense here. I like art and music but somehow we are not using the capacity of our brains or knowledge or even either these days. Maybe I'm a dinosaur and if I am then who cares ‘cause I don't. It's easy, I just switch it off and don't bother with it, but when I see the kids out there... retardos.  Everyone's a rapper from the crapper. I just don't get it and don't want to. Thank God I don't.

Any advice you have for bands just starting out?

Yeah, write some good songs with good tunes and lyrics. Take control of your music from day one or you will be eaten by hungry bastards who will rape you and destroy your soul. Enjoy your music and love what you do. It will reward you.