Salt Lake Drunk Punx... an interview with Bobby Struggle, lead vocalist for Endless Struggle
At the end of last year Endless Struggle released their first full length CD on Charged Records. It was called "In the Day" and featured inspired street punk anthems like "No Luck", "Bastards" and "Rebuild". It also had a cover of One Way System's "Stab the Judge". The boys hit the road all summer this year in continued support of their album touring around with bands like The Strap-Onz, The Flatliners and Street Brats. I caught first knowledge of the band when they were featured in New Jersey based Tattoo magazine "Hardcore Ink". Their tats were above average, but it's all about the music and their streetpunk sound which would have fit right in with the UK82 scene. I looked forward to them coming to Florida, and when I realized that had an open date before "Promote Chaos Fest", we booked a show for them in Gainesville with Protagonist and The Beltones (and another band who didn't show!). The crowd was less into them than I hoped (we drew a ton of college kids, but not enough punx and skinz), but those of us who knew their music had a blast. Some weird stuff happened, too. An impromptu sex show (not a pleasant sight) and a little violence when a drunken idiot continually harassed Bobby after the show and he had to drop (the idiot) to the floor. Next time around, I hope everyone knows them a little better and more folks come out for the music. Look for another LP next year and a bunch more touring from them in the future...
Endless Struggle is Magoo on guitar, Jeff on drums, Spence on bass, Jesse also guitar and Bobby, we talked to Bobby who handles the singing.
Sink Hole Zine-Of course I have to ask, how did you all meet and when and how did Endless Struggle begin?
Endless Struggle-We met at parties, hangin out and drinkin. We became good friends and started E.S. That was during the fall of 1995.
SHZ-Is the band permanently a four piece now, or will you add another guitar?
ES-No, the band is still a 5 piece. Our other guitar player Jesse, wasn't able to tour because his mother was very sick.
SHZ-How did you guys end up in Utah anyway, were you all born there? Are you transplants and what keeps you in Salt Lake?
ES-No I was born in England (Bobby). I moved here when I was 12. Magoo was born in California. Jesse, Jeff, Spence were all born in Utah. We stay in Utah because we like it here. Don't believe all the shit you hear about this place. We have beer and bars. Not every one here is a Mormon.
SHZ-Is there much of a punk scene there, and what are some other bands around?
ES-Yea, there is a punk scene here. There are more shows coming through this summer than I remember in a long time, some of the bands are; The Tommy Gun Killers, The Unlucky Boys, Repeat Offender, Frankensystem. There are a lot of bands getting started.
SHZ-Was this your first solo tour, and how did the road treat you this time around?
ES-This was our 2nd solo U.S. Tour, 3rd total. The road was great, every time it gets better. We had some van problems so we had to miss 3 shows, but besides that it was great.
SHZ-How did you guys hook up with Jake, the Casualties and Charged Records?
ES-A few years back we played a show with The Casualties. Jake liked us and asked us to be on a comp. It was "Punx Unite" (the first one), then we also did a 7" with Charged. We did a U.S. Tour with The Casualties last year. Of course our first LP/CD ("In the Day") came out on Charged.
(Before Endless Struggle took the stage there was a couple who snuck upstairs for a little quiet time...A few minutes into it and everybody in the whole club and bar realized what they were doing. People were laughing and pointing, but she went right on riding him)
SHZ-Do you get to play a lot of shows where middle aged couples fuck on the balcony right above your merch table?
ES-No not too often. Those people did not give a fuck (oh yes they did) if people were watching them or not. Does this happen often in Florida? (This was the first I'd seen of it).
SHZ-So what's a typical day on the road in the van for Endless Struggle?
ES-Well. First of all we would give Spence shit because he drives like it. He seems to think that our big old Dodge van is a Porsche with auto- pilot. The longer the drive the worse it gets. If someone is trying to sleep we will bang on the door HARD to scare the shit out of them, put peanut butter on their face and tickle their nose. As far as reading material we have a good collection of smut mags.
SHZ-What brought you into the punk scene and what keeps you going in it?
ES-Years ago there was a club called the Speedway Cafe. Punk bands would play there every night we would go there and watch the bands. And I guess that's what got us into punk. We keep doing it because that's the only life style we know. To change and be something else wold be really strange.
SHZ-What are the politics behind Endless Struggle?
ES-Well, Were really not too political. I don't want to be complaining about the world and how I hate everything in every song but punk rock is a form of rebellion so we do have our moments. I fucking hate it when I work my ass off every day and when I get my check the fuckers take almost half of it!! And also Fuck Racism!
SHZ-Do you guys have any plans for your next LP yet or know when you might come out with another?
ES-Yeah. Were busy writing our 2nd LP. Were about 8 songs into it that we hope to record by this fall.
SHZ-What was the worst and best shows on this tour and why?
ES-There were a lot of good shows. Probably the best one was Oi Fest (Promote Chaos) in Atlanta. It was cool to be able to play with all those bands we've liked since we were kids. Hanging out and drinking with them, they were all cool guys. The worst was Roxanna, Illinois. The cops unplugged us while we were playing. It was all very unorganized.
SHZ-What kind of shit did you grow up listening to, and what are ya into right now?
ES-We grew up listening to punk and metal. The shit were into now is pretty much the same. Magoo is a fuckin butt rocker. I never liked Iron Maiden and now when were driving down the road I find myself singing along. He just can't get enough, even after all the years he's been listening to them. Some of the stuff we've been listening to on this tour is a lot of the bands on Charged Records and Punkcore Records. Not just because we're all friends, but most of them are really good. Buck Cherry (oh shit I didn't say that) and bands that give us demos on the road. We like to check them out.
SHZ-You guys are pretty decked out with mohawks, tattoos, leather and spikes- what are some of the funniest comments you've heard on the road, like when you stop in some Midwest hick town gas station?
ES-"Hey, you boys in a singin band", "Are you guys from London", "Fucking Faggots" (that guy will never say that again). We get a lot of comments and compliments on our tattoos, we're pretty heavily tattooed.
SHZ-So do you guys prefer to play drunk or sober, (if drunk, how many beers does it take to get ready for the stage) and what's your favorite beer?
ES-We don't like to play shit faced, but were definitely better with some beer in us. Maybe a six pack or so. Our favorite beer? That's a tough one. There are so many. Newcastle. Caffreys, Natural light, Bass, Harp and of course what ever if it�s free.
SHZ-For someone who hasn't heard it, how would you describe your music?
ES-Well I don't think we sound like anyone. You can tell who our influences are. If you haven't heard us buy the CD or download it from Napster (or get a free download from www.chargedrecords.com). We don't give a shit. Just come to our show and buy a shirt, patch, whatever. It would be considered streetpunk!
SHZ-All right, your in a fire, and you can bring only one thing out the house, What is it? Of course you save your girl and your kid first, but what possession do you grab?
ES-Yeah. First of all I would grab my girl and my baby daughter Britttan. After them I would grab my records and my dog, Sarge.
SHZ-Do you guys dig on the term "Gutter Punk"?
ES-Fuck the term "Gutter Punk". There are punks that it fits perfect, but not us. We all work full time jobs, have bills and responsibilities.
SHZ-What are Endless Struggle goals for the next couple of years?
ES-Our goals are to tour when we can, we really want to tour Europe. Keep writing music. Basically take it as far as we can.
SHZ-If you could put together a dream show, any five bands, past or present- Who would be playing?
ES-Cocksparrer, Iron Maiden, Discharge, Defiance and 10 Bands from U.K. 82!
SHZ-What are your five words to live by?
ES-Time waits for no one!
For Endless Struggle info and tour dates-visit:
Endless Struggle dot com.
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