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Gallows are the most fashionable and most hated hardcore band in the country. It doesn’t take a genius to work that these two accolades may be related. It is a plain fact that it’s impossible for any hardcore group to endure any amount of trendiness outside their circle of peers without being subject to ultimate ridicule and rejection by their community, that’s part of the deal. While once upon a time punk bands could get away with doing things like going on primetime TV and getting presenters sacked by saying naughty words and staging mock record deal signings outside Buckingham Palace, these days that doesn’t cut the mustard. In 2007 it seems the smaller the amount of people that hear you, the higher your hardcore credentials are. Gallows don’t subscribe to this school of thought. And we don’t begrudge them that.

Vice: So what do you make of hardcore’s current fashions?

Frank Carter (vocals): I’m getting really fucked off with all these stupid fucking fake metal and punk bands that are basically producing the worst music in the fucking world and making loads of money doing so.

Are you going to give us any examples?

At the moment it is pretty much any heavy band you see anywhere near the fucking charts. I really shouldn’t say this, as they’ve been really good to us by taking us on tour and stuff, but I really don’t understand bands like Bullet For My Valentine. I mean, I’ve talked to those guys at length and they know their metal. They are all into like Pantera and shit like that, but every night they get up on stage and play this fucking nonsense. It’s like, is the money really worth dedicating yourself to playing soulless shite?

You must be getting some stick from the hardcore community for being in NME and Kerrang! and suchlike?

Well that’s the thing about the hardcore community, we’ve had shit from day one. People always want to bitch about something, even when there’s nothing to fucking bitch about. We’re not fucking bothered about being “hardcore” or “punk” or whatever that fucking means these days. We just want to play fucking rock’n’roll music and give people one hell of a fucking show. We want to take our music and message to as many fucking people as possible. I stopped looking at the hardcore internet forums ages ago, ’cos I was close to starting some real fucking trouble. But if any cunt wants to come and tell me face-to-face why he thinks my band are shit, then I’ll happily talk to them, or fight them.

Who are the best-dressed punk band?

Us. Fuck it, we look fucking cool.

And the worst?

Not that they’re actually punk, but some cunts like Bowling For Soup.

JAIMIE HODGSON
www.myspace.com/burnthegallows

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