INTERVIEW WITH THE LAST RESORT

INTERVIEW WITH JJ KAOS (bass player) OF THE LAST RESORT

What do you think about your new album?

WE'RE REALLY PLEASED WITH THE WAY THAT IT TURNED OUT. I'M A REAL PERFECTIONIST SO I SPENT AGES WORKING ON THE SONGS, MAKING DEMOS AND REWRITING BITS UNTIL I WAS HAPPY WITH IT. ME AND BEEF WORKED OUT DRUM BEATS, MELODIES, LYRICS AND ARRANGEMENTS THEN TOOK IT TO THE REST OF THE BAND TO REHEARSE IT. I DIDN'T WANT TO RUSH THIS ALBUM LKE WE HAVE DONE ON PREVIOUS RELEASES AND I THINK THAT THE EXTRA TIME SPENT WAS WELL WORTH IT WHEN I LISTEN TO THE FINISHED RESULT.

Did you feel something different about your new album that you didn't feel about your last album?

WELL THE FIRST ALBUM WAS RECORDED ON A FOUR TRACK TAPE MACHINE AND THE NEW ALBUM WAS RECORDED IN A FULLY EQUIPPED STUDIO SO THE PRODUCTION IS THE FIRST DIFFERENCE THAT YOU'LL NOTICE. ALSO WE'VE ALL IMPROVED AS MUSICIANS SINCE THE 80's. SO THE SONGS ON THE NEW ALBUM ARE A LOT TIGHTER. THAT CONSIDERED I THINK WE'VE STILL MANAGED TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE OLD SOUND AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE SAME SPIRIT.

My favourite song from the album is Beyond the Promised Land. Could you tell us more about that song?

YEAH IT'S A GENERAL OBSERVATION OF THE WAY THAT SOME YOUTH CULTURE IS TODAY IN ENGLAND. KIDS ARE GETTING FUCKED UP ON DRUGS AND STROLLING ROUND WITH GUNS EVEN BEFORE THEY'VE LEFT SCHOOL. THEY HAVE NO AMBITION OR DIRECTION AND THEY'RE BROUGHT UP TO BELIEVE THAT THAT'S OK.

What do you think about the skinhead scene in England today?

OBVIOUSLY THE SKINHEAD SCENE IS NOT AS CONCENTRATED AS IT WAS BACK IN THE DAY BUT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE MET SO MANY COOL SKINS, GOOD PEOPLE THAT HAVE GIVEN US SO MUCH INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION. IT'S A PLEASURE TO STILL BE A PART OF THIS CULTURE. THE SHAME IS THAT SKINHEADS ARE STILL GIVEN A BAD NAME BECAUSE OF THE MINORITY THAT ARE NOT SO COOL. BUT I THINK THE REAL SKINHEAD SCENE IS AS STRONG AS IT HAS EVER BEEN.

Do you have any plans to tour Southeast Asian countries? Like maybe Indonesia?

YES WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE UP FOR PLAYING IN SOUTH EAST ASIA. I'VE HEARD THAT THERE IS A GOOD SCENE OUT THERE BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTACTS IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD. SO IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BRING US DOWN THERE FOR A TOUR, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH US THROUGH OUR MYSPACE PAGE
SO WE CAN SORT SOMETHING OUT.

Do you have any comments for webculture zine?

YEAH, I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS LISTENING TO THE NEW ALBUM AS MUCH AS WE ENJOYED MAKING IT. HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE YOU SOON IF WE GET OUT THERE ON TOUR. Oi! Oi! KEEP IT REAL...ALL THE BEST...

JJ