Dawn Of Liberty (interview Tilt! #2)

December 5, 2011 at 12:52 pm | Posted in Tilt! # 2 | Leave a comment
Tags: D.O.L., Dawn Of Liberty, HardCore, Punk, Tilt!

Interview with ‘Dawn Of Liberty’ (‘D.O.L.’) singer Stefan Joosten * 1986

(translation below)

When I heard the 24 Love Songs II tape by Mokka & Scalle of the Smurfpunks the first time, I was immediately surprised by the first 3 songs. Those appeared to be by an unknown (to me) band ‘A-strant’. For a few months I wondered who the people behind that music were. Untill I met their singer in Scherpenheuvel. In the meantime the band’s name was changed in ‘Dawn Of Liberty’. And yes, he was willing to answer some questions. Unfortunately it wasn’t possible to do it with the other group-members: “It’s possible but with a little luck you’ll have the answers by next year then …” Here are the answers by Stefan Joosten.

Is the name-change (from ‘A-Strant’ to ‘D.O.L.’) perhaps accompanied by a change in line-up? What is the reason otherwise? What is the line-up? Has the repertoire changed?

It hasn’t got anything to do with the line-up. We did get a second guitar-player in our ranks around that time. The reason is simply because we didn’t like ‘A-strant’ anymore. It doesn’t say much more than ‘brutal’ and then in the context of little cheeky rascal. Not a lot of significance. The line-up: Stefan – vocals / 2 (va) [‘Tweeva’] – bass [Luc Deckers] / Frits [Danny Brebels] – guitar / Danny [Vandevelde] – guitar / Stijn [Persoons] – drums. The repertoire hasn’t changed. We still play solid ‘presentable’ HC (editor’s note: From what we could here in Aalst on – 86-12-19 – with a considerable dose of ‘metal’.). However, we are ready for some new songs and that doesn’t seem to work out well (editor’s note: That was Oct. ’86.).

‘Dawn Of Liberty’! Why did you choose that name? Explain!

We wanted a different name as soon as possible. A member of the band came up with it and we all felt it was a good name. It has a meaning and sounds good. We are not a band that wants to promote an ideology, so we don’t have a common message. So ‘D.O.L.’ doesn’t mean anarchism, socialism, … It indicates more what we’re seeing, experiencing, … It has little to do with freedom.

What do you do outside of the band? In terms of work/studies, and in the scene? Ages?

Two members work, the others study. We are 18 to 19 years. In Neerpelt/Overpelt there are some people who engage in doing ‘zines, tapes, stickers, a bit of distribution. Soon there will be a new ‘zine out here: The Last Judgement.

What music do you listen to yourself, in other words: what are your influences? How do you describe your own music?

The favorite music of Stijn and Stefan is H.C. and thrash. Danny is a big fan of speed-metal. 2(va) likes psychedelic music and Frits is more into dark and experimental music. We describe our music as solid hardcore.

What are the lyrics about?

They’re socio-critical lyrics and contain a protest. Function is about the modern slavish mentality of the 20th century (luxury, money, possessions, …). Anti-sect talks about the danger of sects. Money is about the hypocrisy of capitalism and communism on the other hand. Just illustrating.

On the 24 Love Songs II tape there are 3 songs by you, including one with a Dutch title. Is this one a song in English (it’s difficult to understand) or do you sometimes sing in your native language?

It’s a song in English. We don’t sing in Dutch. It simply has to do with the fact that I don’t like to sing in it.

Have you released anything else? What are your future plans?

We haven’t released anything yet. We have appeared on a couple of compilation-tapes. We might do a demo in the near future. First we’re gonna make a sticker.

You come from Limburg. There’s ‘Heibel’ … and besides that? Zines? What do people there think of punk/hardcore?

I don’t know of too many bands here in Limburg. There will probably some punk-bands but they haven’t been mentioned in ‘zines or so. ‘Emotional Blackmail’ is at least one that I know of. They come from Bree, the city of Jaak Gabriëls [politician]. Zines … In Overpelt/Neerpelt we had enough. That’s a bit over with now. Here in the neighbourhood, there’s still De Zelfkrant [can be translated as Self Paper], from Helchteren, 20 km away from here. Apart from that I don’t really know. I do not know how people in Limburg think about punk/HC. In our neighbourhood there are a lot of people interested and outsiders can ‘get into it’. We have done quite a few gigs in youth-pubs already; which yielded mostly positive reactions.

Can you count on support in your neighbourhood? E.g. did you have to search a long time to find a rehearsal-room? Are there people who organise things?

We get enough support. So far we’ve had 6 rehearsal-places. Now we have a ‘steady’ rehearsal-space. There’s little or nothing being organised here. Soon the people of De Zelfkrant will organise a concert. If that Works out, there will probably happening more in the future, I hope.

What do you think of those things that everyone’s on about nowadays: speed-metal, vegetarianism, straight-edge?

Speed-metal is indeed such a current topic. I think the music is OK. Its influence on various HC-bands provides a bit of variety and that’s good. Personally, I keep an eye on the calmer punk-bands. I would regret it if these were to be pushed aside (concerts, compilations, …) I’m not that quick to turn tendencies into standards. Vegetarianism is just very good. Straight-edge exhales positivism and decency. Without this launching of new things things get rusty real soon. I think straight-edge is cool, but everyone has to decide for her/himself whether s/he participates. However, it’s a fact that the punk-scene uses dope and booze eagerly. Straight-edge could indeed exert a good influence.

Do you actually do anything to make ‘no big business’ come true?

When we do a gig; sell zines, tapes or records, we obviously don’t do that to make money. But to actually be involved, you need money to do a tape-label, a magazine, e.g. These are the things in which this is reflected.

As mentioned before, the questions were answered by vocalist Stefan Joosten. You can reach him at the following address: Broesveldstraat 15, 3580 Neerpelt.

The editorial address of the new fanzine mentioned in the interview Het Laatste Oordeel (Now, end of Dec ‘86, not out yet, I believe.) is: Jo Schuurmans, Fabriekstraat, 3580 Neerpelt.