German ska band Bluekilla have been around since 1985. Coming close to folding in 1992, Amedeo, a mate from school, joined on vocals and the rest as they say, is history. They've played with legends such as Pauline Black and Laurel Aitken, to name just two. They are one of the most consistent ska bands in Germany, if not the world, playing regular gigs and continuing to draw large crowds. Their sixteen years has only resulted in three albums, but those who have the albums or have heard their music know that it isn't a reflection on the quality of Bluekilla. When Bluekilla come to Australia in November, what we can say for certain is they'll get everyone dancing. Amedeo answered some questions for dizzybeat, only a month out from the start of the riskiest and rudest tour of all. Tell your friends Bluekilla are coming!

I'll start off by asking whether there is excitement in the Bluekilla camp about coming down under?

At the moment (beginning of September) it's more kind of panic because of all the visa horror and the rest of the preparations which still have to be done.

How did the idea for the Australian tour come about? Why Australia? I understand Gary Skaman was instrumental in getting you here?

That's right. He came to Germany and contacted me before. He said he's going to do an interview with all bigger ska bands in Germany for his radio show and that he wants us because he likes us. Later we met in Munich and he stayed for a couple of days. Unfortunately we had no gig in Munich at that time. He had to travel to Berlin to see our next gig, but he didn't regret it. After the gig and a great drinking night he just asked us to come to oz. That's how everything started.

Hypothetical situation. I'm an Australian, who hasn't heard much ska. Why would I want to come and see Bluekilla?

Do you like ska? I bet you do. Have you ever seen a german ska band before? I bet you have not.

How has the German ska scene changed since you joined Bluekilla in 1992?

Ska bands are coming and going and ska music had it's ups and downs but in general nothing has changed except that since 1992 Bluekilla became one of the most respected ska bands in Germany.

Will you be catching up with the owner of your old record label while over here?

You read our band history on our homepage, ey? He's not in Australia anymore. He stayed about half a year and got tired of the illegal state and all the paranoia. He came back then and faced the law.

Any plans for a new recording from Bluekilla?

Right now the band is planning to make a 4-track vinyl single with three new songs and a bonus live recording. One new song for the single has been released now on a famous german punkrock fanzine. It's an asskicking cover version of The Ruts' "Staring at the rude boys". We will start recording right after the tour, just when we're top fit.

Is there a place for politics in ska? Can we ever escape politics in street music?

We play a lot of political songs. even an instrumental like "LUMUMBA" is a political song in my eyes. Lumumba was an elected president of the African country called ... (ups i forgot for the moment) and he was shot in 1963 by the CIA for reasons of American economical and political interest. His death was cruel and shocking. On every our cds is at least one song which expresses our position against fascism and ignorance.

editors note: Lumumba was the first Prime Minister of the Congo

How did you [Bluekilla] first get signed to Porkpie? Does Bluekilla have a good working relationship with the record label?

We were looking for a record label and i know Matzge, the boss of Pork Pie since years. We had one phone call and decided to give it a try.

I read a feature on Bluekilla stressing the fact you played 2-tone. I tend to think there are more traditional ska and skinhead reggae influences involved however. Would that assessment be correct?

We have no problems anymore being called a 2-tone band. I still think that 2-tone is the perfect way of combining all those styles which make ska so likeable. All 2-tone bands used to play also skinhead reggae and traditional ska.

Amedeo, how did you see your joining of Bluekilla?
a - you were lucky to be in the right place at the right time
b - the other members were going nowhere, you were the only thing that
could save Bluekilla
c - You will regret that day for the rest of your life
d - other

After i thought about the right answer for over 3 hours:
I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time because i had no band at this time and there was no other ass kicking band in town, but Bluekilla was going nowhere and i was the only person who could save the band and i will regret that day for the rest of my life because i never learned a proper job in favour of a ska band, which is near to brainless stupidity.

Melbourne band Trojan Horns cover "Ska-Au-go-go". Have you heard it and what do you think of it?

It is a great honour for every ska band if another ska band does a cover of an original song. I mean, I don't know many bands in our genre who can put this sign on their flags and truely man, I like the Trojan Horns version very much.

What other Australian ska have you heard?

I heard the Porkers, Loin Groin, the Allniters, Oiska and some others and I'm sure I will know some more after the tour.

The song shoplifter, great song, Do I recognise the riff, or part of it from a song by Australian surf band The Atlantics, titled Bombora?

I just wrote the lyrics to that song and my brother, who's not in the band at all and not into ska at all, wrote that song for us. I'm pretty shure that he never heard about any Australian bands other than INXS or AC/DC.

Did Germany ever go through a stage where record labels were signing any band that claimed they were ska as in the USA? Would my impression be correct that with labels such as Porkpie and Grover that there is more of an emphasis on quality in German ska?

First question: no
Second question is hard for me to classify. Pork Pie is a sub-label of a bigger independent label with a few but selected ska bands while Grover is a big ska label with a temporary huge output (not at the moment). I have most of the cds and i'm not really happy with all of the music, but It's not my destination to judge over other ska groups.

What are a couple of highlights of Bluekilla's past?

Biggest highlight of all was my wedding (sorry grrls), when all the rest of the band did the full monty. Since that day we're also called "the chippendales of ska".

What do Bluekilla's members like to do when they aren't playing/rehearsing?

Desperatly waiting for the next gig/rehearsal.

I don't suppose your willing to sell that autographed picture of Laurel Aitken?

Censored/this is not an allowed question

What are better, Vespas or Lambrettas?

Personally I prefer bicycles, but a Vespa is something I will own one day or maybe an "APE 50" which is really cool in a country with lots of rainy days. (It's the closed three wheeling thing)

LONG MAY YOUR CHIMNEYS SMOKE
AMEDEO

for dates of the Blukilla Australian East Coast tour check out:
the official Bluekilla site - www.bluekilla.de