MN : First off, (the usual start up question) brief history of the band plus why the name "The Istukas Over Disneyland"? I know the Dickies has an album of the same name, are you guys a big fan or it's because a good catchy name for band?

Gel : The Istukas Over Disneyland started in 1994 with the union of Francis and Sherwin. I really don't know how and why the band formed, because I'm not yet a member of the band at that time. Then after 5 years, Francis asked me if I can play with them (I also play bass for the Robinhood Crew), so that's it! I'm their bass player until now...

Marley : Actually, I'm not one of the original member of "The Istukas Over Disneyland". So I don't really know the whole story but a handful of kids played for the band. I used to play with the band back in 1998 as their bass player with Sherwin on guitar and Gene Mar of the Cocktones on drums and I thought the band will flush out in the drains regarding lack of practice and communication (since am living far from San Fernando), I never responded to them ever since. Francis ask me to play with them again to record a 2 track to be contributed in a various compilation while line-up rotation which Sherwin took over the drums, Gel on bass, Francis on vox and handled the guitar part which I agreed. I remember still, when Sherwin and I formed "Kristine and the Psychomotic Disorder" because this two mates (Sherwin and Francis) played in several bands and I'm glad with their supportiveness.

Francis : The band started in 1994 and played at the first ever underground gig back here in San Fernando, entitled "Punk Reigns". Yes, it's a catchy name (I knew this will come up!) that my cousin thought about and I love listening to the Dickies but we added the letter "I" to the original record title, "Stukas Over Disneyland". I'm not sure if they reformed recently? Just heard the track on Fat Wreck various artist compilation...

MN : What do you guys do besides playing in a band? Who writes the lyrics? Are your songs mostly Oi!/Punk type, with "love music, hate politics" theme?

Gel : I go to college, playing soccer and my publication (Middle Class). Francis mostly writes the lyrics and we play Oi! with anger, that's it!... While Sherwin works as a merchandiser in various markets in Clark and Angeles City.

Marley : Aside from Istukas... I've also form a band called "Crossed The Line" which I liked to have since Kristine... I wrote all the songs for the "Cross The Line" while in Istukas... I contribute some because mostly Francis does. Some says our music is Oi! but don't you think its only punk rock. Most of our lyrcis deal with politics and prejudism.
 The Istukas Over Disneyland

Francis : I wrote all the lyrics and thankfully Marley came to picture coz he's a good composer too while Sherwin puts up our musical array. We tried to priorities the label and getting old school hc and reggae for flavoring and not just another rock and roll band or else you might get bored. I'm not an expert in writing "love songs" (if that is what your referring to?) maybe because of my "shyness problem" or Butch of GIT quoted "Serious Person" and unlike Bad Omen and A.D.A. (Aggressive Dog Attack). I often tried to do one but I don't know while Marley already did some so wait for it I can sing like Melo (ex-Bad Omen), "Everytime You Say I Love You" or Boi Piodos "System Of Feeling". Of course, most of the lyrics talks about "politics" coz everywhere you go its always there while governement is another thing. All our songs were already been said before so you may considered the band an old copy of the past but this is The Istukas Over Disneyland. I work at the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation as a janitor/messenger and filing clerk, 40 hours a week while publishing "Notorious Pub. and Infoi".


MN : So have you released any materials, joined in any compilations? What do you think is the main problem as a whole for the Phil. Punk/Oi!/HC scene with regards to bands getting their stuff release?

Gel : We have our own shirt of the band and appeared on a compilation called "Up Yours". I think the main problem is lack of financial. We all know that the Philippines is a poor country... I really don't want to talk about this! Fuck! I really hate Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Marley : We recently joined Jon Fishbone (Middle Finger Production) compilation "Up Yours". Well, obviously is the money but laziness comes first.

Francis : We're one of those lazy bands here in our country. I mean, look at the TRC bands and the new braves of Pinoy Punk/Oi!/HC/ska/crust bands who put up their own recordings. They all done it so why can't we? Even though its not that quality made, it doesn't matter coz that's DIY. When we look at the word "Lazyness", everything is there even moeny so that's answer your question. We really like to thanks Jon Fishbone for supporting the Pampanga scene and hope he'll continue supporting established regional scenery. Aside MFP! we participated on a DIY compilation done by Kenneth Azucena (Outface) entitled "Frontal Throw" but until now, we haven't seen it yet. We contribute 2 songs recorded in a walkman recorder. The first demo of the band was sent to a European label that never materialized and when I requested them to return the master copy, they said "maybe our postal service had misplaced the package" and never heard any single hello from them (terrible isn't it). I also saw a bootleg that Romeo and Jonathan (Cheap Control) issued entitled "Save the Crippled Mankind" (Phil. bootleg comp.) and it keeps me wandering where did they get it coz we all know this guys barely or haven't seen them a long while. Dyey (Northern Territory) and Emman (Resist To Exist) recently released "The Container Crusties From Hell - Live in Bulacan".


MN : Tell us about the best and worst gigs you ever played? By the way, how's the Pampanga Punk/Oi!/HC scene nowadays?

Gel : Best gigs, when the kids started to sing with us and the worst is when my bass guitar stop while playing. Pampanga scene is doin' fine nowadays...

Marley : The best was on Tarlac State University with my first band (Kristine and the Psychosomotic Disorder) while the worst is on Sta. Maria, Angeles City coz of the feedback of my guitar. To tell you the truth, the Pampanga scene is sinking but at least there are some concern people out here like us.

Francis : The gigs we've never played but most of them are one hell of a performance coz its very rare really. The scene is dead right now but we're glad Nerry (Marcos Cronies/Raw Meat) is taking time to promote the Punk Rock Scene in their hometown, Angeles City. I hope kids will come out of their closet and communicate.


MN : I understand that you're the editor of Notorious Zine "The only real Oi! read in the Philippine scene", so isn't it hard to interview foreign Oi! bands as more often than not they are racist & can you honestly say there is a "Pinoy Oi! scene"? As most of the skinheads I know are more into the "Pinoy Ska scene".

Francis : Well thank you fore see the publication on that label and you're into a very heavy one I've say. I just do what I like and it makes me happy even though it lacks financial as while as distribution (thanks for the kids who did distro especially Gani and Adie of MYO). Is not that a publication merely focused on Oi! bands but a variety of UG bands especially in our local scene coz we must support it more often, it's really just Punk Rock & nothing else. As you may know, every 4 month period I released this paper and that's when contribution works but now its almost a year delay, I barely had enough time to work it out even my co-editor Jeff hasn't either and I've decided to release an issue per year and I think it will be a compact one. People, let's not jump to conclusion coz we don't know each and everyone of us while rumours carry more than facts. I really believe those nasty boneheads created a wrong/opposite expression of the "Real Skinheads" and I supposed you know whose who and whose not? Take for example, a Visayan friend who speak different language and barely spoke "Tagalog" same as ours then teasing them like a racist not knowing what we do is what mostly "racist" does. It's not hard to communicate with Punk/Oi! bands globally unless your afraid to do so. Networking must run every seconds and not only Punk/Oi! bands but the whole underground musical style (no more musical discrimination). No, coz I call it the "Pinoy Punk Scene", one and all while the "Pinoy Ska Scene" has a huge followers merely skinheads and that's a good sign of a healthy scene but its sad their nowhere to be found maybe because of the bloody fist fight. I can believe it will come to that point.


MN : So when Istukas Over Disneyland started only a handful bands are playing Oi!/Streetpunk music but they all disbanded or changed their musical style, what made you guys stick to your guns all these years?

Gel : All I can say is that I love Punk, I love music, I love my family, my band, my football jersey, my girlfriend, me and... my bandmates...
The Istukas Over Disneyland
Marley : Let's just say we love the music that we play.

Francis : If those bands like Contras, A.P.K., Nancy's Donut, The Great Morons, Bihag Ni Bahag, Bad Breaths, among others maybe will have a "Pinoy Oi! Scene" you've been asking. You know, a lot of good bands are broken up and others are shifting onto another band with different style of music, so what! It's just the music for that matter, what the fact is they manage to continue what they want to do and made them happy (while making it mainstream is another thing and that's their choice!). I'm glad Chris Laki of the Varackos (The Varukers huh!) had put up their unit and had a chance to see them live at Quezon City for "Unite For Peace" last year. I really like to thank all of my friends who lend me some records of their favorite bands with different style but I tell you, I wouldn't live without this label.

How would you fore see your band 10 years from now?

Gel : I'm hoping we're still here supporting the UG or simply punk...

Marley : Disbanded!

Francis : I don't know? Write us when that time comes.


Any last words?

Gel : Well, best of luck to your zine, Noel and thanks a lot... Cheers!

Marley : Thank you Noel and All the Best!

Francis : Salamat Ricky Davao este Noel Francia. Thank you for the interest and featuring us in your wonderful publication "Mutilated News". I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following kids: Rheetyard Ortiz, Boi Piodos, Butch and Dangie, Mike Nuestro, Jon Fishbone, Franklord, Mark Liwanag, Edwin Carson, Karlo (Recycle Bin), Dyey, Emman, Erickson, Tweety, Ronnie, Gina and Lani Salonga, Nerry, Chiqui, Jeff, Ton-ton, Jonah, RJ, Lino, Melo and others. Salamat and keep on having a laugh and a say.


The Istukas Over Disneyland
c/o Francis Jordan L. David
Blk.6 Lot 21 Ph.1
St. Jude Village
San Fernando, Pampanga
2000 Philippines

interview by: Noel Francia
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

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