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This interview was not done in english originally. I tried to translate it as good as I could, but my english is not so good, so sorry for possible mistakes. January 29, 2002 NB
NB Tell me about Slovenia. Is there a rock'n'roll, surf, garage scene - clubs, radio shows...? Ex Yugoslavia had pretty strong garage punk scene: The Spoons, Messerschmitt, Partibrejkers, ... Do you think that scene had influence on new Slovenian bands, also Bitch Boys? BB The real scene exists only in trendy music like rave, rap revival, ... but there are bands who play rockabilly (Lucky Cupids), pop r'n'r (Rock'n'Bend) and we have competitors - Tubetones. The Dilars (who split 2 years ago) were also a surf band, unfortunately we didn't get chance to see them. I'm not very well informed about garage punk scene, but I can say that half of Bitch Boys (bass player and drummer) play in a "happy punk" band Virus. There are 2 clubs where they play only 100% rock in all styles: Houn Dog Club and Orto Bar. You also have KUD France Preseren and Meteljkova, but they are open for other music styles too. You asked about influences of other bands on our music. I see the begenning of our band more like fun and experimenting on guitar, as I used to play in rockabilly band called Lollipops And The Greasebillies and we didn't play enough surf - ha ha (though we planed to...). NB Do you play live often? Did you play in other countries and what are the chances for you to reach the audience outside of Slovenia? BB I think we played live pretty much. Our first gig was one and a half months after we started - it was for new year on -6 degrees C. With Bitch Boys we didn't play abroad, but each of us played with former bands at least in north (Austria). Right now we are negotiating european tour with Dusty Watson (Slacktone, he also played with Dick Dale)... As for our fans abroad - I think there are more people who know about us and listen to our music outside of Slovenia. For example radio KFJC - Santa Cruz, Devlar Surf and we are also on a compilation "Gnarly Reef" with other great bands...! Of course anybody who is interested to hear us and is inpatient to wait for our first album can order our promo CD - it's very cheap. Till now many people were interested. Last 4 months we didn't do any gigs cos we moved into studio... It all took longer than the worst nightmare - ha ha. Now I remember - it was a short break - we were guests on "Hit Festival 2001". Audience loved us. We played "Waikiki Storm" and "Otpisani" and together with us on the stage were girl dancers "Mojce Horvat". We also got positive reactions from the director himself - Branko Djuric (Djuro). We planed to stay in studio for no longer than 1 month, but it turned out much more ... $$$$$$$$$ 
NB What are the reactions of audience on your music? BB I think reactions always were (and will stay) very positive. Audience doesn't have a glue that surf isn't anything mysterious, they know it from tv, radio, movies ... I guess you know which movie I mean... It's important that people don't just stand while we play - when we see them move and dance, it's a good sign. NB I'm very curious how it is in ex Yugoslav countries. As far as I know since mid 60s instrumental r'n'r was totally neglected and was not played. BB You're completely right, though I know few instrumentals that were recorded begin 90s - band Vampiri (the best rockabilly and doo-wop band in these parts for me - you can hear them in film "Mi nismo andjeli" (We Are No Angels)), but that's more or less only an exception that proves the rule. NB Now we have pretty famous Bambi Molesters from Croatia, Bitch Boys from Slovenia. I'm curious about interest in this stuff and are there more similar bands? BB Well, sometimes I hear in an interview: "...we used surf elements in that song", but it's not really surf. Cos surf is not only playing a-minor and d-minor with tremolo... As I mentioned before I know band Tubetones (Slovenia) and of course Bambi Molesters (band that I, personally, have very good opinion about and even adore). NB As instrumental surf and r'n'r was never a big thing there, how come you play it? Tell me more about it. BB As I was without a band and Damir's band was slowly spliting - and both of us care about music a lot - we got together and played a bit. As I said Dado (Damir) played drums, but he always wanted to play guitar cos that was closer to surf. I played melodies and Dado tried to follow me with chords. Slowly he learned all chords so we could have more fun playing. Then we asked bass player Tomaz to join us - cos he also wanted to "try" surf and it was great. He immediately called the drummer ... and here we are after 1 month already in studio - recorded 19 songs (December 1999). NB Which bands do you think influenced your sound the most? BB Everybody says we have unique sound (I hope they mean it positive). I guess our sound is more result of what we are: 2 rockabillys and 2 happy punks. I shouldn't forget that we made a deal to put a part of us in the music, but not too much ... I agreed - we don't play only ballads, we have to remind the drummer that his foot is too heavy sometimes - ha ha ha etc. I don't think that another band's influence is really important to us. 
NB What do you think about east European surf? It seems that there are few excellent bands in ex East Germany like Los Banditos and Robert And The Roboters. Their big influence is East European instrumental rock (surf) from 60s and melodies from East Europe, but also from the rest of the world. BB Unfortunately they are still not part of our music collection, so I can't answer that. I guess it's all very interesting 'cos I do know the comp "Surf Behind The Iron Curtain" NB On your CD there are few covers, among others theme from famous partisan movie and series "Otpisani" (Written-Offs). BB "Otpisani" was one of our first challenges. We all know the series - series "of our and your youth". The song has nothing to do with surf, but it came out great. We got funny reactions from USA "...great surf melody". NB What about "Hungarian Dance No 5", all that makes you sound different from most american surf bands. BB Here I have to admit that idea was not ours. American surf band Satan's Pilgrims already did it before us. But I also have to say that Phil Dirt gave us better critics for that song. NB There are lot of other different influences in your melodies. How do you see all that? BB The fact that there are eastern influences in our music is normal for surf music, that's in some way standard in surf. As I already said, we all contribute to the music while we practice, so we experiment a lot and get different things into our music - ska, some metal rhythms and of course easy 50s guitar for my (teen-doo wop) soul! NB I guess that you can't really live from this kind of music in Slovenia (like in the rest of the world). BB Dear Vanya you're right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Each of us has hidden dreams we would like to reach with music, but I guess we have to wait for now. NB So what else do you do? BB I teach in the high school (guitar and economy) - that's how I met Tomaz, he was a good student - ha ha. But as far as I know Tomaz finished high school and works in kindergarten. Damir works as mechanic, he has his secretary who would do everything for him...and even our band! Somebody would think that Markan is romantic, it's not really like that. He only likes one kind of plants and from time to time he works as cook. Believe it or not he is expert in s..., so if there is a surfer girl out there who would like to experience Markan's qualities, she is mostly welcome... 
NB Tell me about band members - what are your hobbies, what do you like most and is there something you hate? BB As I said, we spent last few in studio, but there are some hobbies. Dado and me collect guitars - the only difference is that Dado also repairs them, and I have to pay for that ha ha. I also collect (very fanatic!!!) CDs and records. I like doo-wop and teen music from late 50s and early 60s. Murgl has no hobbies at the moment, except he's in looooooooooove!!!!!!!!!! And Markan still collects plants and from time to time he smokes one...(censorship). NB What are your plans for the future? BB To finally release a record, to start playing live again and for each of us - few wishes to come true. 
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