Deeply surprised by their first record, "Last Chance Saloon" (Skipping Musez Rec.), which follows the sound of all those punk bands that upset the reign of Queen Elizabeth in the end of the 70's, I picked the occasion to exchange two words with the four Londoners. One of them, Allan Crockford, is certainly not a new name in the rock' n'roll scene, having been part in important bands like Prisoners, Headcoats and Solar Flares. So check it out!

Hi guys, try to explain to our "Exploders" how, where and when The Stabilisers were born:
Allan: The Stabilisers were playing for a while before I came along. I thought they had good songs, good attitude and a sense of humour. The last thing they needed was a miserable, opinionated git who could only contribute some overloud guitar. Unfortunately they disagreed and asked me to join.
Jon: We used to be a five piece called Sump - Simon, Francis and me plus two other guys. They didn't really fit in with my idea of what the band should be like, i.e. good, so I kicked them out. We carried on as a three-piece for a while. Allan used to turn up to our gigs and beg us to let him join the band. Eventually we agreed to let him join, so long has he did all the band's laundry.

I've always been curious about all those little circumstances which finally lead musicians to choose the name of their bands. For example, which ones are hidden behind the choice of The Stabilisers?
Allan: I think the condition is desperation, as a new band with a rubbish name or no name at all suddenly realises that unless they think of something quick they will be stuck with being called Sump or Liquid Fart, or something similar. I think Stabilisers are something to do with motorbikes or dangerous food additives. For some reason it sounds a bit punk so we like it.
Jon: Stabilisers stop you falling over and having extreme mood swings. It's a cry for help.

I find so funny the photo on the cover of "Last Chance Saloon": it makes me imagine the set of a driver going outside the road 'cause distracted by one of your songs, unexpectedly on air...
Allan: Hearing one of our songs on the radio would definitely be unexpected! A bit like SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) realising their search was finally over. Actually it's a picture of the aftermath of an 'accident' that befell one of Lord Simon Corbey's former manservants after he attempted to blackmail his Lordship with certain compromising information about his private life...
Jon: For legal reasons I can say nothing about the incident depicted on the album cover, except I'm innocent and it wasn't me that cut the brake lines. Simon - if you need any more 'jobs' doing, you know where to come.

I'll probably not the one to tell you, but it seems that your sound is strongly inspired by bands like Buzzcocks, 999, Boys, etc. It's your will or it's an accidental effect?
Allan: It's a deliberate accident. We all like different types of music but for some reason everything we do sounds like we've been given the Royal appointment to supply High Quality English Punk Rock to Her Majesty and her Loyal Subjects. Jon is a big fan of experimental Progressive Rock, Francis is heavily influenced by the New Romantics, Simon gets his kicks from Mantovani and James Last and I only like Kentish folk music for Morris Dancing.
Jon: It is totally deliberate. I have no idea what Al is talking about. I hate prog rock. I'm more a trad jazz man.
Francis: I think I was inspired by the Dr.Rhythm drum machines. I would listen to those for hours

Even the next record (45 record on Nicotine Records) will be licensed by an Italian label. What's up, you think it's convenient to be good friend with our Mafia to start to conquer the music world?
Allan: Everyone knows that Italy has the best food, wine, weather, clothes, friendliest people and the best taste in music. Besides, no one else is the slightest bit interested.
Jon: Not many bands get a chance to release stuff on vinyl these days, so we were really pleased when Nicotine offered to put a single out. We've had a few offers recently from UK based record companies - the Italian labels just got there first.
Francis: Nobody mentioned the horse head we found back stage after the gig with a contract pinned to it.

Allan, your name is strongly associated with illustrious names like Thee Headcoats, The Solarflares, The Prisoners. You think it can help you to create interest around The Stabilisers?
Allan: That's a strange use of the word 'illustrious', but I take your point. Obviously it can help to the extent that I can speak to people who may be able to help get gigs because of the association with those other bands, but The Stabilisers' music is quite different so it can only help for the initial contact. Luckily their is a common attitude to music within all the bands - punk is not so far from garage - and of course we have some great songs, so once fans of the Solarflares etc. hear The Stabilisers I think they will find a lot they will like about the band.. Particularly our jolly sweary singalonga Bott anthems.
Jon: Having a legend in your band is obviously advantageous. Having Allan in your band is a different story though.
Francis: Who is the Allan bloke everyone keeps mentioning?

What's the meaning of "Bendy Head"? It makes me think about a dark gang of your fans.
Allan: 'Bendy Head' is of course an anthem for the band, so it seemed a good name for the mailing list... I think you'd better ask the writer himself, Mr J. Bott, about what it's actually all about. It might have a hidden meaning, but I think it's got more to do with writing songs while under the influence of alcohol.
Jon: I just started singing it one morning when molto postumi i.e. hungover. It doesn't mean anything really. Some people think that it is about blow-jobs.
Francis: I thought it was about Indian folk dancing.

It seems the success of Libertines and Hives has regained the interest of the London people for some kind of sounds. How is the r'n'r scene right now in your country?
Allan: I think that it's good that the 'garage' thing has happened, because it means that live rock'n'roll gigs have become more popular. The problem, as with all fashions, is that there will always be mediocre groups looking to jump on the passing bandwagon. Inevitably people will become bored with listening to the same stuff rehashed by an endless stream of so-called 'garage' bands, and will move on to the next thing. At the moment there are a lot of energetic bands playing and that is healthy.
Jon: Yeah, there is a lot of energetic stuff out there at the moment, not all of it is good though. I think you need to have catchy tunes as well.
Francis: The live music scene died off in London for a few years especially with the university and college circuit, hopefully that will start to come back to life.

What does inspire you when you write your lyrics and the music of your songs?
Allan: Well I don't write them, I only help arrange them, so perhaps Jon can take us through his artistic inspirations. I think beer and sex might feature heavily here...
Jon: They are either about things that happen in real life or they are just nonsense really.
Francis: The great fun to play whatever.

July and August reserve you very interesting live gigs. Advances about?
Allan: Like all bands we do good and bad gigs. You don't know until you've done them... but I think the Happy Mondays reunion gig should be interesting. I haven't played many festival type gigs so I'm looking forward to it. Never saw the Mondays play originally, so getting it for free is even better. But mostly we are looking forward to playing in Italy in September!
Jon: Yes, it looks like it is going to be an interesting summer. I'm sure Italy will be the best part though, and I'm not just saying that. Bologna or Walthamstow, it's not really much of a competition now is it?
Francis: We have been trying to play regularly and keep our name appearing in the listings. I know we are all excited about playing in Italy. It's a top place.

So in September you'll play in Italy. It's the first time you visit our country as musicians? What did you expect from our people?
Allan: I've played in Italy many times, with the Prisoners, Prime Movers and the Solarflares. This will be the first time with the Stabilisers. I think it's my favourite place to play in Europe. The people are friendly and enthusiastic about live music. We don't encounter much cynicism - not as much as in England. And of course the food and the drink…
Jon: It will be the first time I've played in Italy. I have friends in other bands (Alabama 3, Sophia) who say that is their favourite place to play because the audiences know how to enjoy themselves. Hopefully we can make people jump up and down a bit.
Francis: I hope they enjoy themselves as much as we will.

OK. It's the classic moment when I have no more question to ask you, so I start with more personal ones. It's true that being "rockstars" gives you more chance to make sex and to find quality drugs?
Allan: If you want sex and drugs it's always possible to find them, whether you are in a band or not! Musicians are still as ugly and mad as everyone else, but maybe it opens some doors a bit easier..... but after a while you realise that playing music is the best part of being in a band. And free beer and food.
Jon: I think going out and having fun gives you more opportunities than staying in and being boring.
Francis: I've always found it difficult to have sex and find drugs at the same time.

Have you got particular passions or hobbies outside the music scene?
Allan: None that I'm telling you about....
Jon: Music is my life and God is my fretboard.
Francis: Motor Bikes.

What kind of suffering you've had because of the elimination of England team from the European soccer league in Portugal?
Allan: Apart from football of course! It's a very familiar kind of suffering - losing on penalties is normal for England. We're very good at defending heroically, but the team doesn't have the winning mentality. I think your Italian team has a similar problem. The night of that Portugal match we had a gig, so it was quite difficult to be enthusiastic, but it was ok in the end because we had an outlet for our suffering and violent disappointment!
Jon: Allan loved playing the gig after we lost because he took out all his anger on his guitar. I wasn't really that bothered. Because the game went into extra time we only got to play for about 20 minutes, I found that more annoying than England losing.
Francis: That's the great thing about drums… you can picture all the people you dislike, allocate them a drum and then bash the hell out of them and make music at the same time. Perfect. Shame I don't have an 11 piece kit.

Which are the things you love the most and the ones you hate the most of the r n'r world?
Allan: I love all the things to do with the music - gigs, recording, rehearsing, meeting people and generally socialising. I hate organising gigs, talking to management, agents, promoters etc. But I think that's normal for all musicians...
Jon: The best part for me is playing live and getting people dancing. If that didn't happen on a regular basis I don't think I'd bother with it any more. I hate carrying equipment about as I was a roadie for a few years and I think it should be someone else's job now I'm actually playing (and I'm a lazy git).
Francis: Love bashing things and making noise disguised as drumming and being guaranteed of a seat at every gig. Hate other peoples drum kits that fall apart when I play them.

Ok. Advertising space: you've got 100 characters to say some about your music...
Allan: I'd like to share with you the Stabilisers vision for the future. I could say we are a tip top punky new wave outfit with great songs and effective personal hygiene habits (mostly), but I think we all need to know that our commitment goes a little deeper, so here is our Mission Statement: "Seeking to strive beyond excellence in the field of punk rock by progressively leveraging our traditional core values to foster a deliverable vision of customer-focused quality arse-kicking, birthing a profitable client-centric vision of our Stabiliser e-brand and generating a pro-active integration of our ongoing commitment to over-achievement, innovation and transcending expectations in playing guitars and shouting and that".
Jon: Babelfish is just going to love that.
Francis: How do we remove the Thesaurus from Allan's butt?

Intervista realizzata da Roberto Barisone
Traduzione realizzata da Margherita Realmonte
Photos 3,4,5 by Antinea Peruch