The Apers
Ever heard about the Apers??? Great band, great songs, great guys. They've been around for a couple of years now and things are really going pretty well for this Rotterdam punkrock 'n' roll threesome. An upcoming 10"/cd and a tour to look forward to, what more could you want? Singer / bassplayer Kevin tells you all about it.
How did it all start with the Apers and what have you been up to so far?
The Apers started back in late 1995 when Marien (guitar) and me (bass,
vocals) where still in highschool. We both shared a huge passion for bands
like the Ramones, the Queers and Screeching Weasel, so we decided to start a
band. Ivo Backbreaker became our drummer and the Apers were born.
One of the first shows we did was in the Willem 2 in Den Bosch at the Ramones Tribute
Festival. That was in 1996. In that we also released our first demo-tape THE
KING IS DEAD, 8 songs. We did alot of local shows here in the Rotterdam
area. In 1997 we have put out a split 7" called SCOOTERS IN SPAIN with the
Headliners, a hiphop group from Zoetermeer, and we were on a local sampler
THREE MINUTES OF PANIC. The band was doing ok, and we were asked for shows
in other parts of the country.
In 1998 we have put out two releases. A
crappy recorded 10 song cassettecalled FASTER IT'S ALRIGHT and a 7" EP
called LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD AND WE'RE THE STORMTROOPERS, recorded with
Menno Bakker at Bunts studio, and with Gareth on guitar cause Marien had
broke his wrist. We had some raving reviews, and we got more and more shows,
also with bands like NRA, Travoltas and so on.
1999 was the best year so
far. We didn't release anything though, but we got to play with bands like
the Queers, Groovie Ghoulies, Hi-Fives, Chixdiggit, Teen Idols and many more
cool bands. Plus we did alot of cool shows in Germany. Our LOVE IS A... EP
sold out, and we were finally getting some attention from the Dutch press.
The line up by the way, is still the same one, and will probably never
change.
How many songs do you have now, coz I heard about a show at which you
played for hours.
There was this one show were we played every song people requested. All the
covers we knew and all our own songs. So far we have recorded over 30 songs,
and I think that we have written over 50, but who's counting? I'd like to do
a request show again sometimes.
Is there a message you want to bring across?
No, no message. Punkrock!
You write some pretty frustrated songs, is it that bad?
Yes, it is actually. My heart's been broken a couple of times, and I'm just
a weak dude, who can't handle it. Same goes for Marien, although he's alot
happier than me right now. His girlfriend is buying him bicycles. I'm always
alone up in my room, drinking Chubbies and eating Liga, so you could say,
that's pretty pathetic.
There are two (?) 7"es coming up, tell me about them (Where have you
recorded them, who will release them, what can we expect etc)
Well, there's alot of new Apers stuff coming up. First we have our new
10"/CD TEENAGE DRAMA EVERY KID WILL UNDERSTAND, release date February 17th,
great party in the Vlerk, on Little People Records again. 8 new songs,
punkpoprocknroll to the max! The second release will probably be a reissue
of FASTER, IT'S ALRIGHT on vinyl, put out by Stardumb Records. The third
release is one we have recorded in Arnhem at the Rocket Studio, where we've
also recorded TEENAGE DRAMA, in January this year. Four new songs, we will
call it FOR YOU AND YOUR LOSER BUDDIES, and we're still looking for someone
to put it out, so if someone's interested...
What are the Apers doing besides the band
Marien goes to school, Ivo works, and I do nothing except watching Heart
Break High and Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
Tell us about Stardumb
Stardumb is an organisation dealing with punkrock. They put out a great
zine, they are a punkrock bookings agency, they set up local shows, they are
a label, they run a mailorder. DIY as hell. Better be on the lookout for
those guys. Issue #4 of their zine will feature Groovie Ghoulies Tour Report
and interviews with The Mufs, Tilt, Crispy Nuts, Darlington plus a Raise
Kain story and lots of regular zine stuff.
What do your parents think about the music you make?
They love it!
You used to sing in New Friend, are they still around and are the Apers
involved in any side-projects?
New Friend, I have no idea, cause I don't wanna be the one to say it. Maybe
we will rise again. About side projects, Marien and I both play in the
fantastic bowling team The Sterretjes, and I also play bass in the Cheap
Motels, a band that also features members of Beyond Lickin', The Solo Men
Only and the Low Point Drains (ex-Bullshit Propagandha)
What are your plans for the near (releases, tours) and distant (selling
millions of records?) future?
Well, April/May 2000 sees the Apers taking off at their first European tour.
In two weeks we'll playing shows in Germany, Switserland, Italy, Spain,
France and Belgium. We also wanna play in Berlin this year. And in the
distant feature we just wanna rock n roll and put out records. USA would be
great, but don't get your hopes up right?
What's the favourite record you own?
The self-titled Screeching Weasel debut, original pressing, traded with
Tjeerd Feaver for some Face To Face CD's.
And what's the one you're most embarrased about?
None, I love them all!
What was the shittiest dump you've ever played in?
Definetly the Big Confusion in Den Haag, not the joint, but the people who
came there are a bunch of lame ass motherfuckers.
How can people get in contact with the Apers
They can contact me at:
Apers HQ, Kipstraat 34c, 3011 RT, Rotterdam, The Netherlands or send an
email We also have a website/homepage/what the
hell, it's here. I also know the people at Stardumb very
well so...
Any final comments?
If the Rotterdam scene would become a bit more tolerant, it would be one of
the best scenes ever. But now there's too much backstabbing going on. Read
all about it in the Sense! But anyway, thanx for the interview, and to
everybody who reads this (hey you two!), come to the show on the 17th and
get drunk or not with the Apers. Punkrock!
Ok, Kevin Aper
Thanks Kevin
Check out the flyer for the releaseparty
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