More Punk Than You Zine:Hey guys, Romania says hi! How are you doing?

Hi, we're doing fine! Thanks! And even better now that we know that someone in Romania heard about us!

How did Atarassia Grop start?

Well it all started as a group of friends that wanted to have fun togheter.
Playing was a wonderful way. Then a lot of things changed, and so our music, but not our friendship.

(C)atarassia grop

How did things go with "Non si può fermare il vento"? Are you satisfied with the result?

Yes we are. It was a work very different for the previous ones, but we definitely like it. I know some people expected something different, but we like to change, and to do something new. In these days, for example, we're trying to put togheter also an acoustic set... we'll see what will happen.

You, yourselves said that it is "unusual" for a punk band to use other kinds of percussion instruments or accordons. How did you come up with that idea?

We wanted to give to our music also some acoustic sounds. We all like a lot the use of the classical instruments in acoustic songs, so we thought that could be great to mix that approach with our music. And in the end we liked it.

What do you think about bands with "fist in the air" choruses that sign with Columbia
Records or other such labels? Do they lose their message?
Well, I think it depends. I think that most of the times the answer is yes. Udoubtly when you sign for a major you agree that your music is a good to be sold for money. On the other way you can reach much more people with your message, and that's good. Probably ther's some case where a major production and distribution doesn't invalidate jour message but, again, I think that most of the time it's not like that.

Please tell me about the bands that have played a part in the evolution of "Atarassia Grop" (musically or in other ways).

Well, a lot of band influenced our evolution. Misfits and Sex Pistols in the very early stages, than Mano Negra, Clash, Fabrizio De Andre... just to name a few.
And Los Fastidios: they are like brothers for us! We spend some time togheter when we can and we always have great time!

(C)atarassia grop

You started out in 1993 in a small town. How did you see things then and how so you see them now?

In 1993 we wanted to start a revolution and to break the whole world. We were 17 years old, and when you are 17yo you can do everything.
Now a lot of things have changed... some of us have their own house and family, we all have a job, and we know that we can't change the world the way we wanted. At least not like we used to imagine when we where 17.
But we still live around this little village, and we still play togheter and stay togheter to have fun. On top of that we learned how to use our band to bring a message, and we had the opportunity to meet a lot of fantastic people, in Italy and abroad. So we see things differently now, but we're still friends, and we still want to say something, and to shout when needed.

The track "spalle al muro" refers to the Palestinian wall. Is this a solution for the problems in that area? For example, the Berlin wall did nothing but worsen the situation.

And it will be the same in Palestina, if not worse. It does nothing to resolve the root causes of the hate, but only try to avoid some of its effects. And it won't work. We know that the situation in Palestina is difficult: there are economic, cultural an theological matters all twisted togheter. So it's difficult to address the root causes of the hatred. But I strongly belive that it's the only way to end that war (or whatever it is called).

(C)atarassia grop

Tell me a bit about the italian punk scene,and if you know anything about Romania? (bands or fanzines or something?)

I think that italian punk scene is very eterogeneous, but most of the time, it's not united. I think that if we all are togheter we can make much more noise. We produced a compilation of all the punk bands we could gather in COMO (our city) and in the neighborhood, and we titled it COMOCITYPUNKERS "United we shout stronger". It was funny, but I think this should happen more often.
I don't know anything about Romania, sorry about that!!!

Thanks for the interview. We hope to see you in Romania! Cheers!if you like to add something please do it.

Thanks to you! And keep on with the great work!!
Ciao!

thanks to Atarassia Grop and special thanks to Marco

contact: www.atarassiagrop.it

Interview by:Mircea