Loyalty was formed in 1999. After a slow start we had some success in the years 2001-2003 when we played 11 gigs and released two singles. After a break of 3 years I decided to start the band again with a new line-up in 2006. Currently we are Steve (vocals/bass), Wantage Steve (guitar), Andy (drums). So far this new line-up has recorded a cd of 6 new songs �Take No Prisoners� and played gigs in Spain and Italy.
How would you describe your music?
Basic eighties style British Oi. It�s as simple as that!
What are your influences?
I listened to loads of different Punk and Oi bands from around the age of 13 but the band that really made an impression on me was Condemned 84, that great sound with hard as nails vocals, and lyrics that pull no punches. The 4-Skins were another important band for me, and two lesser known bands The Guttersnipe Army and The Betrayed who I was listening to alot when I first started to write songs.
Which football team do you support?
Steve - Sheffield United
Wantage Steve - Oxford United Andy - West Ham United
Your plans for the future (gigs, new album�)?
The new cd �Take No Prisoners� is now available to buy via our website. We also have another new song �The Tonbridge Robbers� due out on a British Oi compilation very soon now. Our next two gigs will be in England in March, and France in April. After that we�ll decide whether to play more gigs or whether to go back to the studio and record more songs. At some stage we want to record a full length cd of 12 songs.
What do you think of politics (right-wing or left-wing) ?
Skinheads are supposed to be strong individuals and Oi music is supposed to be about having a say so I think it�s only right and proper that there be some politics in the scene. But the problems occur when skinheads believe that they have to belong to either the extreme left or the extreme right and no other politics exist, and bands believe that they have to declare for one side or the other, or state that they are �non-political�. This is all wrong. There is a world of different opinions between the two extremes and the skinhead scene needs to get real again. We have some political lyrics but they are just our opinions about society and life in general. We are not affiliated with any particular political group and we don�t try and force our views on others. People can listen to our songs and make up their own minds. Thinking for yourself is the always most important.
What do you think of the scene today?
It�s great that Oi continues to survive more than 20 years after it first began, and has spread from it�s roots in England to almost every corner of the globe. Many other countries have scenes that are stronger than England now. There are still alot of English bands but other countries seem to have bigger and younger audiences. It�s great that some young people still reject the whole shitty drugs culture to become skinheads. Youth is always the future.
Any last words?
Many thanks for the interview. Cheers to everyone in Greece who reads this. Thanks for your support.
Steve
Loyalty 2007
[email protected]
www.loyaltyengland.co.uk
