Here's an interview with one of the best bands ever. It was done back in '95
with Andreas Lönnqvist.
1.WHEN, HOW AND WHY DID TOTALITÄR FORM?
We formed in the winter of 84/85 since we wanted to “kill the rut” and we thought that TV was boring. The original members are Lanchy-guitar, Andreas-bass and Poffen-vocals. We’ve had several drummers through the years but since 1990 Jallo has been drumming.
2. HOW MANY GIGS HAVE YOU DONE?
Don’t know. Between the years 1991-1994 almost none. We’ve just recently come home from a 9 gigs-tour with DOOM. Uh, through the years we’ve played quite many gigs, but I don’t know how many.
3.HAVE YOU PLAYED IN ANY OTHER BAND/S?
We had played in a couple of shit-bands before we formed TOTALITÄR. Todays line-up is/has been involved in bands such as: NO SECURITY, MEANWHILE, BROWNEYE, BRAINBOMBS, SWINEHOOD, TEENAGE GRAVES etc.
4.DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WAVE OF “TREND-HC” HAS RUINED THE “REAL” HC-MOVEMENT?
To be honest, we don’t care that much about trends whether it’s GREEN DAY on MTV or SIKA ÄPÄRÄ-clones within the “zine-scene”. If you want to meet interesting people and ideas you have to search without assumptions. I like a lot of people and I don’t care what music they listen to.
5.INFLUENCES?
Our early influences were bands such as DISCHARGE, CRASS, CONFLICT, DEAD KENNEDYS etc. Nowadays we listen to everything we think is good, from Hc/punk and techno to quiet poetry.
6.YOUR OPINION ON SKINHEADS?
I can’t possibly think something of people I’ve ever met, I try to see people as individuals. If you mean racists, then that’s another thing. All kinds of “people-hostile” ideologies must be fought.
7. YOUR OPINION ON SXE?
It’s good if people are more comfortable by hiding behind isms or movements provided that they keep developing and sooner or later also find themselves, which I presume is their real goal. Maybe you get there faster if you poison yourself as little as possible.
8.WHAT RAWPUNK-BANDS DO YOU LISTEN TO?
Except for old favourites such as ANTISYSTEM, DISCHARGE etc, I guess a few modern good bands such as 3 WAY CUM, BASTARD and LIZZBOX are pretty ok.
9.ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD?
Thanx for the interview. Good luck with your fanzine and your whole life. Greetings to all people we know, especially those who made our tour so successful. Order our split-LP with DISMACHINE directly from us, 80sek including postage (Don’t know they have any copies left, I suggest you mail them in advance and ask. Anyway, thanx a lot for the answers, Andreas! / ed).