Servus Lizal! So we are Katz and Frank. Hahaha... No, we both got into punk here in Munich in the early 80s, and we've known each other since '83 or so – however, we lost sight of each other for a good 20 years in between. We randomly met again in 2008, have been on the road together since then, and run the München-Punk website.
2. Tell our readers what MÜNCHEN PUNK is exactly and how long you have been active?
MÜNCHEN PUNK is a website about punk in Munich - and everything that comes to our minds about it over time. In addition to an event calendar, you can find various news and the occasional interview with Munich bands – whenever the opportunity arises.
We also set up the online mail order Munich-Punk-Shop, which since 2009, after the end of the predecessor project 'Aggressive Noise Promotions', aims to support Munich bands in their productions, for example through the collaborative project 'In München Nix Los!'.
We would really like to have a 'real' record store – because there isn't one in Munich for the punk-hardcore area, and it would be urgently needed as a contact point – but with the local rents for commercial spaces, that's just not feasible.
3. Do you think that we Bavarians are sometimes just tiredly smiled at, and others think the bands from here must be crap? Have you been able to dispel any clichés through your "Munich Punk Shop" and has anyone been convinced otherwise?
Yes, the phenomenon that most bands from Bavaria have always had a hard time asserting themselves against the usual prejudices has existed since the 80s. Showing that there was indeed something going on here from the beginning in terms of punk was also a fundamental idea for the film 'Mia san dageng!'. It attracted quite a bit of attention and interest, but as a documentary, it was of course more backward-looking.
Therefore, it is very important for us with the Munich-Punk-Shop to bring the currently active regional bands to the forefront. Of course, a lot of the old stuff is ordered from us, the classics like ZSD or A+P – but slowly but surely, interest in the current bands and their productions is also rising, notably especially regionally and internationally.
A fundamental problem for Bavarian bands has always been bridging the great distance to Berlin, Hamburg, or the Ruhr area (keyword: fuel costs). It is still easier for local bands to find a gig in the Czech Republic than in northern Germany, which plays a crucial role in their visibility.
However, we do notice that thanks to digital networking, these boundaries are fortunately disappearing more and more, and the bands are approaching each other regionally, nationally, and internationally at a high quality level. Good!
4. How did the idea for the vinyl compilations "IN MÜNCHEN NIX LOS!" come about?
There were already the 'M-Punks United' samplers in 2006 and 2007, which were created as a project together with Munich bands. All participating bands announced in advance how many tapes or CDs they wanted to take at production cost, we as a label took an additional 100 copies, and that determined the print run. A kind of scene crowdfunding without the internet..
The time was simply ripe again in 2012 for a similar story, and the response was overwhelming: In the end, 61 current Munich bands came together, so we had to release a 'In München Nix Los!' double CD, which was packed to the last second of playtime.
We also held a nice release festival at Feierwerk, where 10 of the bands played live.
However, since we like the vinyl format much better and didn't want to wait another five years for the next installment, but rather wanted to document the development of current and timely events, we came up with the idea for the 'In München Nix Los!' 7-inch EP series.
We now release a jointly financed, limited 7” with four current Munich bands from the punk and hardcore scene every three months and hold a release show where these bands present themselves live.
Thanks to the support from Feierwerk, we can offer the shows with free admission, while we then go around with a donation box to collect for the bands and the sound engineer. The concept works great, the concerts are well attended, and the guests are very generous.
The beverage sales are also good, so Feierwerk is happy, and everyone is happy...
5. I really think it's great that you are open to the musical diversity in punk and hardcore and that you also try to offer musical variety in your "In München Nix Los" compilations. How do you see the development, does the Munich scene stick together and do the most diverse bands like to share the stage together? Free from pigeonholing?
The subtitle of our series is 'A Munich Punk/Hardcore Statement' and that is very important to us: Currently, the trend in Munich is more towards hardcore/metalcore than towards Deutschpunk, yet we try to showcase the wide musical range in the noise area - so there can gladly be a noise-rock or pop-punk band included if available. The main thing: noise that is fun! The selection of the bands that appear on each record also depends on whether fresh recordings with the appropriate song length are available and whether the band has time to play at the release.
Of course, we have certain personal preferences, but we make an effort to achieve a colorful mix. It is nice to observe that this leads to a correspondingly mixed audience at the shows, and thus always allows for 'new discoveries' and aha experiences. In the end, everyone benefits, both bands and audience.
In Munich, instead of one large 'scene', there have always been various 'scenes' that exchange and complement each other more or less. There are always bands that do not want to share a stage or a record together – that is human, but so far we have been able to coordinate that well. In general, the sampler story has the nice side effect that bands get to know and appreciate each other: The backline is provided together, the playing order is drawn, no band is more important than the other.
6. How is your work received by bands and organizers or venues in Munich, and are many grateful for the time you invest?
You never know... You know how it is, usually something is only noticed when it is no longer there, hahaha. You shouldn't really think about the actual time investment, otherwise anyone involved in the D.I.Y. scene would probably just throw in the towel, right?
In a scene naturally shaped by individualists, you can't get everyone to pull together anyway. But fortunately, we receive a lot of positive feedback and ongoing active support from various people. For us, the focus is clearly on collaboration. No leaders, no heroes!
7. Do you think you have been able to facilitate many contacts between bands and organizers with your work and that your actions have helped bring the scene together a bit more or assist in networking?
Over time, a network naturally develops. Through the München-Punk website and Facebook, we receive many inquiries, especially from external, even international bands, who would like to play here. We try to establish contacts as best as we can, but unfortunately, mediation rarely works because venues in Munich are so scarce, and organizers can hardly keep up with inquiries themselves. Based on experience, the exchange between organizers, musicians, and venues works best through personal conversations at concerts. Go to more concerts and talk to people! In real life.
8. What do you think, is it harder today than in the past to get gigs in Munich?
It has always been rather difficult here in Munich because there has never been a truly self-managed center where punk concerts could be held. Exceptions in the early days were the Post in Ampermoching, the Ballroom Esterhofen, or the Kulturstation Oberföhring – but that was really a long time ago, and these venues were all notably outside the city. There are simply far too few cool venues in the city. Well, the usual problems like rent prices, residents, etc.
So: Self-organize! But if you then don't have the opportunity to offset losses through beverage sales, but all the gastronomy revenue goes entirely to the landlord and you also have to pay for hall and technical rentals, you can be glad if you even break even. Unfortunately, one DIY organizer after another falls flat... It's nice that someone keeps trying!!!
The larger halls, commercial organizers, and bookers usually prefer to play it safe and primarily book international bands with higher recognition; for small, lesser-known bands, it is almost impossible to get a spot.
9. What is the current situation and development, are many bands emerging? It was also very difficult for us as a band to get a gig in Munich at first, could it be due to an oversupply of bands and concerts in Munich? Or could there be a bit more?
New bands? Oh yes! It's really fun again! The youth is giving us a huge boost. It's amazing what different young bands are coming up. And they want to play! Everywhere, anytime! But the older bands are also giving it their all, and even some veterans want to give it another shot! Everything is very dynamic at the moment!
Munich has a large catchment area, so there can never be too many bands and concerts - only too few performance opportunities and organizers!
However, these could coordinate better with each other so that there aren't three or four cool events happening simultaneously on Fridays or Saturdays...
10. What do you have planned next and what projects do you have in mind for the future?
Of course, the continuation of the vinyl compilation series is firmly planned, and all release dates for 2014 are already set. Otherwise, we like to go with the flow, always have projects and ideas in mind that we implement as soon as time and financial resources allow.
For example, since the end of last year, we have started a film series with 'Killed-By-Kino', where we show documentaries from the international punk and hardcore scene together with Werkstattkino and 'Taken By Surprise Records' once a month on Sunday afternoons.
We continue to try to support as many bands as possible with their releases. There are some very nice things coming up... And because it brings us so much joy along with the hard work, we are also planning a few smaller events in between, which we are very excited about.
A dream would of course be to have a real record store here someday, preferably with a café and stage, hahaha.
www.muenchen-punk.de
www.munich-punk-shop.de
www.in-muenchen-nix-los.de
www.killed-by-kino.de
Then I would like to thank both of you for a very enlightening interview that has certainly provided outsiders with an interesting insight into the Munich scene! I wish you continued success with your future projects and hope that the record store dream comes true, so if you out there have an empty property, get in touch with Katz and Frank ;-)
