[ OBSCENE EXTREME 2009 ]

Vielen Dank an Curby, mir trotz all des Stresses, den er in der heißen Phase der Organisation des Obscene Extremes hat, ein paar Fragen rund um sein Open Air Baby zu beantworten. (Peter, Juni 2009)

1)Hi Curby, great to get a few thoughts from you even though Obscene Extreme ist coming really soon and your family is growing rapidly (congrats on that!!). How are you and how many hours of sleep are you getting each night lately?

-Yeah, I'm really fine…I just came back from Maryland Death fest and it's really cool Ami festival where I met and saw lots of friends plus some killer bands as PHOBIA, BOLT THROWER, ASPHYX, VENOMOUS CONCEPT, BIRDFLESH and lots of more so I had fun there. Also our new born is going great, he is 100% night creature as he is screaming from 4 am so he must be some kind of rocker I guess…with sleeping is not that fine but who cares?

2)Let's get right at it. OE 2009 is on it's way and the lineup so far ist fantastic. Any major additions to be expected or is this how you want it to look like?

-No, no, this is really final line-up, actually today or tommorow I'll announce shedule for every day as well so check www.obsceneextreme.cz out for more info! Believe me or not I'm really fully satisfied with this this year's line-up...it's great mix of grindcore, hardcore, thrashcore, crust and that's fine for all of us!

3)Man, NAPALM DEATH. Finally! Besides being one of the groundbreaking pioneers of the whole extreme punk scene, do you still love ´em nowadays?

-Yeah, absolutely, I simply adore them since "Scum"!!! I still remember when I heard this album for very first time, I have got ice on my back even now! I simply founded my music with "Scum" so I have really huge respect for those guys, they're excellent band with cool lyrics and they had huge impact on my life in more aspects...I remember when I was teenager I was reading interview with Barney where he is talking about animal/human rights and this was one of very important things that really changed my life as I'm vegan since that...so you can imagine how I'm happy after that 10 long years they will definitely play at OEF! And to second part of your question, sure I still love them! "Time Waits For No Slave" is another proof they still kick ass!!! [You are absolutely right on that. Just saw N.D. at Death Feast Open Air and boy did they destroy the place!! Peter]

4)You dug some very interesting bands out of nowhere (for many fans, including me) during the years. FLAGITIOUS IDIOSYNCRASY IN THE DILAPIDATION last year was amazing. Virtualy unknown, but asskicking as hell. Which "new" band do you expect to suprise the crowd the most this year, which ones will draw the biggest crowds?

-Yeah, it's just what I love on OEF...you'll going here for big names as NAPALM DEATH, BLOOD DUSTER, DISFEAR, RATOS DE PORAO and that's ok, they're cool but then you'll surely find interesting even no name band, it's another plus of the fest...I believe that SLAVEBREED, SOUND OF DETESTATION, CAPTAIN CLEANOFF or LIVSTID will seriously damage some ears...

5)Who chooses the bands playing at OE anyway? Are you kind of a dictator when it comes to organizing everything? Please tell us a little bit about your "staff".

-Yes, yes, I choose everything...I'm doing whole festival agenda all year long then Martin is the man who is behind our layout/posters/flyers/ads/website and I'm also talking with him about his opinions about bands...also Bilos from Malignant Tumour always talk to me about some nice new bands, actually I have got many tips/promos during the year so I choose from few hundreds bands every year ...and of course at the fest venue ther're many helpers from different bands, friends etc.

6)Some questions on the new location. Rumours about a move of Obscene Extreme Festival from Trutnov were flying in recent years. In the end, when and why did you decide to leave Trutnov?

-Believe me I had to do that...I really like Trutnov, it's very nice city and festival venue is awesome, but it's ways too expensive for us...imagine we had to pay rent every year, then always some extra money after fest and we didn't get anything from sold beers/food...not even fucking discount from rent for fest venue..so all that money went to pocket of the owner of the place..I was talking to him every year, please think twice and help us with the fest little bit, he was like no, no...so then I moved the festival to Svojsice and mainly I chose give that money from catering/.beer/bars to bands and not to private person...and I believe this is really right thing, as bands deserve our support more!!! It was really bad last few years, we could't control price of the beer and food and it sucks...we always wanted to do everything cheaper and fair for fans as we really appreciate all that help and support...you know, fans are our main sponzor so I really believe we did good thing for our fans! Actually festival area in Svojsice is quite similar to Trutnov, it's once again natural amphitheatre, just closer to Prague and easier to get there....

7)Why Svojsice? What´s to be expected from the new Area? Any changes in the philosophy of OE coming with the relocation?

-Svojsice is famous place for festivals here in Czech, this place have long history of country fests where you should find as 15.000 fans like 20 years ago...then also Antifest, one of the biggest punk festivals was there, same as two years of Brutal Assault festival...so it's good place for festivals...and it's also closer to my home, so just easier organize things here!!! We're working hard to do this festival place nice and good for all us - bands, fans...just try to believe us little bit!!!! No changes in OEF philosophy of course! We always will be freak-friendly fest for all that maniacs that love extreme musical styles!!!

8)Apart from the cool site itself, Na Bojisti had the huge advantage of being located very close to downtown Trutnov. You have the train station shuttles to Svojsice, but are there regular bus connections from the festival area to Pardubice (you know i just HAVE to pay a visit to the hometown of my favourite hockey player Ales Hemsky)?

-Hahaha, I can imagine I'm same kind of maniac for football! Actually Pardubice is important point on the way to Svojsice...see our website for complete info, but if you're doing by fly/train then you have to go thru Pardubice...it's 1 hour and something by train from Prague...then you jump on that shuttle bus to Svojsice and in like half of hour you're there, by car it's like 20 minutes...actually Pardubice hockey team is one of the most popular teams in Czech league and we have plenty of hockey stars as Dominik Hasek or Otakar Janecky!

9)The fest keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. Do you still feel you can control the whole thing? Is there any limit you have regarding the size of OE?

-Absolutely yes, it's still grindcore, so fest for elects hehehe! It's still family size fest and not any monster festival...I think we will have like 5000 fans this year and it's still fine! Of course they're no limits at all...festival venue can take in about 10.000 people and as I said before on that country fest there was like 15.000 people so don't worry about your place on OEF!

10)Do you think the atmosphere of OE has changed over the years? Do you sometimes wish to do the fest like in the early days: small stage, 100% underground bands and a weekend of pure noise mayhem?

-I don't think so, I still feel same vibration as in 1999!!! Who is doing atmosphere? Fans, of course! And OEF fans are simply cool, very friendly and open to meet people all around the world! It's great to see fans from Australia, Mexico, Usa, Canada, whole corners of Europe that meet here in Czech once in a year...I'm quite proud of this! OEF is just more than usual festival, it's meeting of all lovers of grind!!! BRUTAL TRUTH just released first DVD called "For The Ugly And Unwanted : This Is Grindcore", it's their set from OEF 2007 (plus some extras from Australia etc.) and they call OEF Summer Grind Holiday, and that's true!!! You're right stage is bigger than back in times, but I want to do my best for bands, they have best possible backline and we will have also big LED screen this year but it doesn't change whole thing, it's still grindcore, very underground music and all the bands are underground bands if you ask me for my opinion...it's all just too fast for mainstream...

11)I really loved the idea with the thrash metal-thursday from two years ago (even though i think the bands didn´t do too well...). Any chance of that happening again?

-Most probably not, I just add 10 more bands so we'll have 60 bands playing one stage during 3 days so that's why we have to start with first bands on Thursday! That Thrash night was kind of experiment and I really enjoyed it myself...

12)What´s the deal with Hell.cz being an integral part of OE-thursdays. Your personal obsession? To be honest, a lot of people i talked to would prefer to spread those 50+ bands over three days, giving every band some additional minutes. That´s not gonna happen, right?

-Yeah, absolutely, see my ugly face, love piercing and everything different and original!!! Did you see any other festival with so good freak show? I don't think so, they're simply cooooooool...they always prepare something original and new...schocking as well...they had like 3 and half hours last year and it was one big madness! As I said, we're adding more bands and bands will play Thursday as well but at the end of the night there must be Hell show of course...I don't think that more minutes for bands make bigger sense, good grind band can kick you ass in 20 minutes! And if you do that show on max and full speed then 20 mins is enough for the band as well...some longer sets are kind of boring, it must be like ratata....fast, furious...you know what I mean, right?

13)How many people have been attending OE 2008? Do you expect an even bigger audience this time around? Even grinders are conservative sometimes, not liking the changes of locations etc.

-I have no idea...I think we can have up to 5000 fans, I think that grindcore fans are very open-minded and I believe they will understand me...I believe we can have brilliant Obscene Extreme festival in new place and keep that good spirit! It's still same old, good festival so who wants to come and suppport then he/she will go...

14)Please share with us some of your fondest memories of a) OE 2008 and b) all time OE history.

-Uargh! It's hard to remember something, anyway girls from FLAGITIOUS IDIOSYNCRASY IN THE DILAPIDATION were unbelievable decent girls, they were thanking for everything...also I'll never forget that my good friend Tony from AGATHOCLES played his last gig in his life there...in all time history it's just too much, so many drunk stories, not my stories actually as I'm straigh edge, so many great shows, so many golden memories that I'll never forget...

15)Easy one and totally off topic to end this chat: Who´s gonna win the UEFA Champions League, ManU or Barca?

-Sorry for my delay! We know now who is the winner and I can say, Cup is in the right hands! I love Barca and as you know second name of my newborn son is Lionel so easy to understand who are my heroes hahaha! [Personally i prefer the english premiership but since ManU stole the championship from my beloved Liverpool F.C. i agree with you on this one...Peter]

16)Okay that's it. All the best for you and your family, see you in Svojsice! Last words are yours...

-Thank you very much for your time and support!!! I hope to see you all in Svojsice from 16th to 18th July!!! Stay obscene!!! Curby/obscene