Johnny: I have known Joe for a number of years, first seeing him as singer of the incredible Cretin 77, surrounded by some of the best musicians I have had the honour of seeing live. I first saw 77 in a cow shed on a farm in the middle of Leicestershire. It was one of those bands that when they come on and start playing, ya jaw drops and you just stand there transfixed. The sheer power of Joe’s voice, and musical brilliance of the band is testament to just how good this outfit is. In over 40 years of going to gigs, this band stands out as being one of the best I have seen. I have become friends with all band members. Each one a thoroughly decent person who will always find time for a chat and a pint. No heirs or graces, just decent down to earth and very humble people who all have a great musical gift. Reading this may embarrass them, not meant to, and I’m not being complimentary, merely an observation.
This an honest and totally transparent interview, of which I am deeply grateful to Joe for. I hope that some of the questions and answers may help some who have issues as mentioned.
Johnny: I’ve known you for about 7 years, first seeing Cretin 77 in a cowshed in the middle of Leicestershire. Would I be right in saying there have been other bands before 77, if so, which ones?
Joe: Firstly Johnny....thanks for asking me to do this interview...Also it’s great to call you a friend.....7 years Wow....Gone quick to be honest man.........Anyhoo fella yes there was a couple of bands before C77.....Sox(guitarist C77)and myself originally played in a Punk/Hillbilly band called The Lonesomes, circa 97, which had some real potential but unfortunately folded with only around 3/4 gigs behind Us.....Best of those gigs playing Ruskin College in Oxford....Which was a real hoot and a blast of a night....Sox and Myself decided that we enjoyed playing music together and we got together with Mark(drummer C77)and we formed a cover band called Pig Champion around a year or so after The Lonesomes....the band was name after the great Poison idea guitarist....We were a cover band who played a set of Punk/Alternative trax....From Pistols to Joy Division.....Johnny this band really took the Cover scene on and in all honesty blew it a new A.Hole......We used to play to absolutely rammed boozers in and around Corby in Northamptonshire.....Pig Champion hit the mark with so many old punks that some of them actually came back out of the woods....and came to support us wherever we played.......I think Pig Champions last gig we played to Sommat like 350 folks in a small venue at the back of The Cardigan Arms pub in Corby.....Wow what a gig.....so yeah mate those were the two most important band that finally led to C77 getting together.
Johnny: Cretin 77 are one of those bands that stick in ya memory, certainly with me, what influences were particular in the sound of 77?
Joe: I think with C77 the sound was very much influenced by the American punk style......Stooges, Kennedys.....Johnny Thunders.....Sox our guitarist is a big Stooges Fan....I basically grew up with the Kennedys........Stevie(bass)and Andy(lead guitar)loved all those bands too....Mark(drummer)had a real Alternative background in music.....Bauhaus,Bunnymen etc.....But I Defo feel that C77 had the musicality of the American scene...That’s no derogatory remark towards UK punk at all btw....We are all massive fans of UK scene too Johnny........I think one of the stand out points with C77 is the musicality With the original 5 members and now with the new line-up(Luke and Joel)too.....The songs have got a feeling that seems to have been a winner with the Folks who come to watch and who bout the first Album.
Johnny: You have a very distinctive voice, is it a natural tone or have you shaped it in a specific way?
Joe: I’m actually a folk singer....honest ha-ha......I used to busk for years and played all the old folk standards....Dylan, Donavon, James Taylor, also old Irish and Scottish folk that my Mam used to sing on a Saturday night while having friends round....But alongside singing and listening to folk.....I was introduced to the DKs by a skinhead mate of mine in the mid-80s....I was 15 and suddenly on a stereo came ‘Fresh Fruit for rotten Vegetables’.....I was hooked.....Straight away I just knew I loved what I was hearing.....I listened to that album over and over for weeks....and being a singer of sorts sang along to the trax on the album....Mimicking Jello Biafra.....And doing a good job too......So I think my vocal sound is very much influenced from then.....I do get tagged a lot as sounding like JB....which I absolutely take as a huge compliment.
Johnny: How do you deal with the pressures of being in such a well-liked band, do you take praise well?
Joe: Hmm, this is the question that I’ve really got to answer with some real thought man.....Johnny as You and some close friends on the scene know I’ve had some issues with Mental health......The simple answer is.....I haven’t dealt with it all very well.....As for praise, well......I totally shy away from it......Feck knows what it is....I go onstage do me ‘thing’ then want to get as far away from the stage as soon as I can.....I just struggle so much with the before and the after Of that 40 mins onstage(it’s got better I do have to say)....I absolutely love being up there with The band....It’s like a release for me....that 40 mins is what I can do and do well...the whole social aspect of gig life I have a hard time with Johnny.....Mental health issues unfortunately were the reason the original band are now not together mate......I let the guys down big time....And we were flying...Really going somewhere and I blew a gasket man (twice in fact)......Thing is Johnny now that I’ve levelled off I wish I could go back there....know what I mean?...Wish I could just have that time again.....I’m straight now...been booze and substance free for 6 and a half years....Yeah I still struggle with Mental health issues....But they are not as prominent in me napper...Which is testament to my clean living......I think I would just like folks to know that I totally appreciate all their support for C77......it never passes me by how much they have all been a part of The band In their own ways.....I could name lots and lots of names, People I really love mate.
Johnny: What were the main reasons for disbanding Wreck-Age?
Joe: My time with Wreck-age was great......To play with Sox, Tony, Kat and Luke was ace.....We produce two excellent discs too.......with a few classic trax on them.....One in particular was a song written by Tony Taylor...’drop out, Cop out’.....For me it was our best track....But all the trax we wrote were class........Johnny I felt for me my time in Wreck-age was up.....There was no animosity or fall outs...Sox continued with the Vocals...and Wreck-age continued as a band for time.......Was a good period and we played some beauty gigs...
My main regret with my time with Wreck-age was missing the Rebellion festival 2017.......I would have loved to have been onstage with the guys......Huge accident on M6 kept a few band members away.... if I’m right in saying that Luke played drums for Pizzatramp that year too........Due to their drummer having the same luck as me....
Johnny: Musical tastes vary massively with different singers and musicians. I know you have a very wide-ranging liking of different styles. What one style you haven’t been a part of, would you most like to try playing?
Joe: Classical music......For me the virtuosity of the music(ians) is second time none.......I actually got into Classical music by becoming Friends with Trina Breedon’s (Eastfield) father Roy......We were having a cuppa tea in his house one day and he said ‘would you mind putting a DVD on for me’....Which of course I didn’t and asked Roy what one....Roy pointed out a DVD of the Dutch Violinist Andre Rieu......So I slotted it in machine and sat and watched.....Feck I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing......And the sight of the orchestra was Wow.......I’m actually never without Classical music.....it’s on in car, on my phone and on my wee radio at work....I don’t have a tv....So Radio 3 or classic FM are constants.....I just simply adore it mate.....Blows me away how emotive music can be...without words .
Johnny: How do you wind down after a gig, seeing you on stage it’s obvious you throw everything into it?
Joe: I’ve struggled over the years with the whole Social aspect of gig life....For a long time I used to hide away till a few mins before going onstage then shoot off as soon as I got off.....Crackers I know but that’s what I did.......Before I cleaned my life up I used to get back from a gig and get a bottle of wine (2 was more like it) down me neck as sharp as I could.....Now mate when I get back home after a gig....it’s generally something nice to eat and silence to give me ears some peace ha-ha.
Johnny. Do you prefer singing to playing an instrument?
Joe: I much prefer to be the frontman......Especially as I’ve had the absolute privilege of playing with some of the best musicians in punk rock....And I really don’t say that lightly....the Musicians who I’ve played with Are just incredible players.....in fact it’s them that actually make the band....they are all the real deal...And all of them have made it extremely easy for me to be a frontman.....The newest addition to that list is Nick Fenton who is just a cracking guitarist and it’s great to be involved with him musically in new band Plastic Angels......
Johnny: At what age did you realise that music was the path you were going to take and was your family musical?
Joe: My old mam used to sing lots of old Irish songs about the house, any wee family get togethers were filled with music....My brother in law was a great country singer....He was a big Hank Williams fan.....Which rubbed off on me because Hank is one of my musical idols to this day........When I was a young punk/alternative type I used to go busking all over UK...it was a way of making a living and I did well out on street....Loaded with my guitar and songs and always a bottle of wine with me ha-ha.....Most of the time my wee punk mate Kenny with me.....We did well and got hammered in the process.......So for me it was around 16/17 that I knew music was for me.....And found it out through busking mate.
Johnny: What size audience do you prefer playing to?
Joe: I love to perform in the small venues mate.... It’s great having a friendly crowd real close......Nothing like it.... that time onstage and performing for a group of folks who enjoy what you do is just ace.... As I said earlier in answering another question.... it’s my release ...
Johnny: What was the proudest moment of your life outside of music?
Joe: Easy one for me, my daughter being born......I was just so proud to hold her and to
show her off to my family.... She is a great girl and She is a performer herself......She was bass player for another cracking Corby band Mental Ward UK....personally I think MWUK had it all going on.... Shame they stopped.... Great set of songs and a cracking bunch of musicians fronted by a seriously great vocalist.......
Johnny: What in your opinion, is the biggest pain when playing a set, equipment issues, setting up etc?
Joe: I find that most venues are great…….we (C77, Wreck-age) get all set up and give as best a show as we can.......I always Have a certain dislike watching a musician give the soundman/woman lots of grief due to minuscule level of a certain sound....Granted if things are so bad it can be off putting, Though I would say mainly the folks who are behind the desk have some great skills.....Having said that Maybe the answer would be different if you was asking the musicians in a band.....I’m a slacker I show up grab a mic....Do my thing then get off.......
Johnny: If you and the band turned up at a gig, and there was only 1 punter there, would you still play the set?
Joe: I would get that one person up onstage give em the mic and let em crack on......Coz I’m figuring if they showed up Then they gotta know the songs........Then they could have a tee shirt and a disc for nowt.... Ha-ha......Yeah mate we would give them a good show feck it....
Johnny: Which band have you seen the most times?
Joe: The band I’ve seen most are the Brilliant Eastfield....Great band, Great folks.... Always a great crowd too....
Johnny: Do you consider yourself political?
Joe: I’m not overly political.....Few things I disagree with ....Fox hunting is abhorrent mate...I find it just a no no......Blood sport...Wtf man...Plenty of blood, Don’t see how there’s any sport in it Fella.......I’m not sure War sits well with me.....I certainly can’t understand ever being in that situation, I’ve never had to go to war...So maybe I shouldn’t comment......I just feel that dialogue is so much better than the killing of each other and innocents......Equality is something we should have....But demand for more will never see Equality happen......There will always be the haves and the nots ...The rich getting Richer...Proof of it in this present climate.
Johnny: How close are you to the band members in both bands?
Joe: I love the guys I’ve played music with...All of them.... They are a great bunch.... All ace folks and all class musicians.... The relationship through music will always keep us close.......
Johnny: Mental health awareness has been raised to a very high level in recent times, especially where the COVID-19 crisis is concerned, has this affected you in any way, if so, how?
Joe: Speaking for myself I’m pretty Much level In me napper at the moment fella......It’s been a strange period for everyone in regards to COVID-19 19....And I know that Mental Health England have reported a 30% rise in issues....Also addiction is on the up man......That addiction is on the up due to legalised Drugs...Alcohol being the main perpetrator, Folks are going through some real uncertainty at the moment.......most people would say that that’s down to COVID-19 ,Which is stating the obvious.....For me it’s about how we have been governed through the period...I’m not sure we have been governed well....I also would debate about truth and how much of it we have been told is truth.....I have some disagreement with Lockdowns.....I believe they have not helped, Especially in and around Mental health and well-being....But that’s for the powers that be to solve.....So I will shut my shit up reet there....
Johnny: What is your favourite joke?
Joe: My favourite joke is actually a sketch from the comedy show Still Game.......I call it the ‘pish pot’ sketch.... For those of you that haven’t seen it YouTube it.... or watch the show on Netflix......It’s kinda ace.......
Johnny: Do you easily accept people as friends into your life?
Joe: Yes mate I think I do accept friends into my life....I am quite a solitary fella having said that.....I ain’t got a group of ‘buds’ or owt....my friends are all folks that I have a common interest with….music, birdwatching, walking.....My best mate(won’t mention names) is the lad I actually help support......Been Supporting him for around 4 years now....and we just clicked Johnny....We have loads of laughs and tbh I love him like a brother.....Spend long long hours at work Mate, so to actually be with Him is a joy and definitely does not feel like work.....When I leave him I look forward to getting back to him....lots of trust he gives me and I value that.......And we wind each other up like feck too......
Johnny: Musically, what style and era of music do you think has had the biggest impact on the youth of today?
Joe: I actually think that There is some great great songwriters out there who are Actually making their own sound stand out.....Yes I’m sure that they’ve been influenced by a genre.....But you know what I mean ??creating their own impact......Johnny I listened to one Of my friends Trax recently ....All home recorded and shit it was ace....Quite hard hitting and I thought Wow........That could make a real impact.....It was ace......so yeah I think musicians of today are making themselves heard if that makes sense....Taking in the present climate of Covid 19....Well music appears to have stopped...But I guarantee there will be some amazing work going on out there in muso land......
Johnny: Just want to say thanks for asking me to take part in your interview.... I’ve really enjoyed reading you reviews recently........Hope to see you at the front sometime soon Rocker....
Joe: Thank you joe for agreeing to this interview, see ya soon at the next one. Cheers.
Words: Johnny, Photos: Johnny
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cretin77
Bandcamp: https://cretin77.bandcamp.com/releases