The Italian ska-punk band SKASSAPUNKA has been around since 2008.
For a long time, the band from Milan was in the shadow of bands like Los Fastidios, Banda Bassotti, and especially Talco.
Piece by piece, the band has built a steadily growing, loyal fan base. The band always gives their all on stage. They play captivating ska-punk with patchanka influences. So it's no surprise that they remind one of Talco, although they don't have their epic melodies.
SKASSAPUNKA is a politically clearly positioned band.
Antifascism is a given. Solidarity, the fight against injustice, and a critical view of the system we live in are a way of life.
The band has been playing in small clubs in Germany, Italy, France, or Switzerland for years. The number of concerts increases from year to year. Slowly, they are orienting themselves towards the number of concerts that Los Fastidios play in a year.
The band has released eight albums so far. The last one in 2025.
After their last concert at Schokoladen in Berlin on April 13, 2026, I contacted the band. Between their many concerts, they took the time to kindly answer a few questions.
Q: SKASSAPUNKA has been around for 18 years now. Looking back at your band history, what have been the highlights so far?
A: Eighteen years is quite a long time, and a lot has happened. Starting with our first experiences on stage, the first albums, and the first songs that people sang along to. A significant moment was definitely when we started performing abroad, when we played our first real "tours." Since then, we have never stopped. That was the first major milestone in the band's history.
A special case is undoubtedly the project "Aldo chiama ancora," both because of its political significance and the work involved, where we attempted a completely self-made production of a documentary film.
Q: In recent years, I have always seen you at Schokoladen in Berlin. Schokoladen is a small club. You now play more concerts every year, all over Europe but with a strong focus on Germany. You often play in small to very small clubs.
What gives you the energy and strength to play in small clubs?
A: Performing in small clubs is always good for a band like us to take a step back and establish a direct connection with the audience - completely without filters or barriers.
That's a completely different energy than on large stages and festivals, which have a different dimension and atmosphere that are equally beautiful and fulfilling.
Q: How would you describe your music?
A: Our music is a mix of ska, punk, and patchanka. We have many influences, not only in terms of music but also content-wise. What we compose and what we sing: In our opinion, it remains the most important thing to convey an antifascist and anticapitalist message that addresses the weakest members of society.
Q: Can your music change something?
A: Throughout history, music has always influenced social dynamics and people's lives.
On our level, we probably don't have enough reach to change something on a large scale, but it would be enough to leave traces, to convey a message to the listeners - even without knowing how this could develop further.
Q: In Germany, bands like Talco, Derozer, Banda Bassotti, or Bull Brigade are well-known. Less known is how the punk scene is currently doing.
What is the situation in Italy, and particularly in Milan, where you come from?
A: First, we should define what the "punk scene" is, but that would be a very long and difficult topic.
When we talk about the music scene, Italy has been in a deep crisis for a long time. This particularly affects small to medium-sized bands that have to assert themselves in an environment of significant emptiness. There is a lack of venues willing to invest in live music from the underground scene, and consequently, there is also a lack of an audience that supports this kind of scene.
It's a vicious cycle that has led us to today's stagnation and created a gap between the big bands and all the others.
That's also why we feel compelled to focus on abroad, where it's easier to play live.
We do not lose hope that the situation in Italy will noticeably improve someday.
Q: I would say that the political situation in Italy, especially for left-leaning people, is difficult. Would you like to describe the current situation?
A: The political situation in Italy is dramatic, but the current government is not the only problem. For decades, every political party has given up the fight alongside the people and the working class.
However, this should not be a surprise: The system is rotten, and every one of its manifestations, whether left or right, is merely a reflection of that.
The only solution is a complete system change in favor of the working class, which must free itself from the shackles of capitalism.
It's a long process, full of obstacles and oppression, as we have already seen and as we are experiencing especially today.
Q: What do you think needs to be done to initiate political and social changes to achieve a fairer and more social environment?
A: As we have already mentioned, the only solution lies in a complete restructuring of a system that cannot be reformed but can only be destroyed for the benefit of humanity. A revolution of the system, in which the working class, young people without future prospects, migrants, and all people who are generally counted among the last in society can free themselves and finally gain the power to decide about their own and the collective good.
Q: In the summer and autumn of 2026, you often play only two or three concerts and then have a week off. Do you always go back to Italy then?
A: Yes, when we are not on a tour where we also play during the week, we always go back to Italy after the concerts.
Q: What are SKASSAPUNKA's plans for the future?
A: Until the end of the year, we will continue the "Keep the Fire Burning" tour. In the meantime, we are already working on new material for next year.
Then comes the year 2028, and it will be the 20th year of Skassapunka...
We will definitely celebrate that.
