Jan AG: It's a way to express yourself rationally and emotionally
This small interview is kindly given to MOLOTILKA by Jan Frederickx aka Jan AG from Great belgian veterans of grindcore/mincecore Agathocles and is represented to U. This interview discovers some themes about AG forming, life, musical preference and much more. Read, enjoy, wonder and listen to... listen to their uncompromising music that made for us all. Let's begin!
М> Tell me please what does the word Agathocles mean?
I’ve twisted my mind out trying to understand the meaning of this
word. Initially, I think that it’s French, but it’s not so. It’s nor
French non English word.
J> AGATHOCLES is the name of an ancient Greek tyrant (around 350 before
Christ). AGATHOCLES is a Greek name, not Latin, not French,...but ancient
Greek.
М> What groups influenced AG in the beginning? Tell some words about AG
forming. Is It Hard to make group of belgian mark Of grindcore in a
period Of Heavy metal reign?
J> All bands that we have been listening to have influenced us in the way we
play. Most of the bands came from the extreme side of punk, hardcore and
metal. Bands like LARM, REPULSION, HELLHAMMER, NAPALM DEATH, DISCHARGE, old
BATHORY, NEOS, ACCURSED BLUDGEON, CYANAMID,.... Back in 1985, it was not
that easy to have some support in the scene because people were not open to
our kind of music.... But we have never wanted to make accessible music,
hahaha.
М> Why do U choose just grindcore style for music U play? What do U and
other bandmate music prefer?
J> Grindcore and mincecore is what we like to play because it explore new
boundaries of extreme music, surely back in the 1980's. It's a way to
express yourself rationally and emotionally. We like different kinds of
music, going from cold wave to metal to grind/mince to punk and hardcore to
noise and industrial. There are many great bands in different kinds of
styles.
М> Did music become only your profession? Do U work somewhere else? What does
concept "mincecore" appear?
J> Mince core = socially aware grindcore. This means that our lyrics deal with
social and political matters. NO, our music is NOT our profession. We all
work. Two of the AG members are social workers and another member is working
for a transport company. We can not live from our music.
М> What can U tell about grindcore genre
{scene} in a today and period AG forming? What changed? What do you
think about music Of noisegrind bands like Anal Cunt, Agoraphobic
Nosebleed ect.?
J> Back in the 80's, there were only a few bands playing our kind of music,
bands such as NAPALM DEATH, FEAR OF GOD, CARCASS,.....Now, there are tons of
bands doing this kind of music. The scene has grown a lot and surely some
things have become better but many things have become worse. Anyway, I am
not an ANAL CUNT fan and AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED is an OK band. But both bands
are not the kind of bands that I listen to every day.
М> Some metalheads have an opinion that grindcore already exhausted itself in the moment of forming. Though about old school death metal
bands can be spoken the same. Alongside with "veterans", among of which
your band is, is now alive, a lot of new bands is constantly forming.
There are many of interesting bands. How do U explain it by your
side? What the active bands can you note?
J> Some great actual and new bands to check out are: AXED UP
CONFORMIST, EXTREME DECAY, ROT IN PIECES, SIKA, BINGO, SEE YOU IN HELL,
MUCUS, HYRBID VISCERY,......So many to mention. Everyday, new great bands
are being born, I think.
М> What are your impressions from BBC Peelsessions U
made. How did U feel yourself in studio where Carcass and Napalm Death
were recorded too?
J> It was a great time to record there. I was not so much impressed that NAPALM
DEATH or CARCASS recorded there too, but I was more impressed that JOY
DIVISION has recorded in the same studio. We did this Peel-session back in
1997.
М> I've just known that you have side project - Jan AG. What kind of
music U play there? What's the reason for project forming?
J> JAN AG plays weird electro-cold wave punk.
М>That's enough for the first time I think. Thanx Jan. Good Luck !!!
I'd like to thank specially Gert aka Carnut from Ultimate Metal Forum without of whom this interview can not be able.
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