Propagandhi are one of the most influential punk bands of their time. Not only influential in the affect their music has had on younger bands, despite the vast volumes of bands who have mimicked their sound. It’s the lyrical content of their albums that have been influential on the punk-rock masses and have often be used as inspiration by many to drive change in the world. The band are champions of animal and human rights and their songs reflect this; conveying messages against many of the worlds wrongs including sexism, homophobia, capitalism and religion. Not many bands have done so with as much passion and pride as Propagandhi.
Before their impending Australian tour we gave front man and standup guy, Chris Hannah a call to see just where Propagandhi were at. We discuss touring length, staying grounded and song-writing for the new album. We even touch on how the band keeps their ideals balanced with what really happens in the real world and how the capitalist based framework of economics just isn’t working. Read the full interview here.
Propagandhi last hit Australian shores in 2009 but before that they hadn’t make the trip since 1998. That was a long 11 year wait for Propagandhi fans. To have the band return within the space of two years was a shock to many. “Chris [Blue Murder Touring] prompted it but if he hadn’t done such a great job last time we probably wouldn’t have considered it,” Chris told us.
Granted, the band were busy in the 11 year gap focusing their efforts in other places. Along with this, the band weren’t entirely satisfied with the three piece form that they had been for so long. Chris describes the space in between and where his time went. “In the years previous to that I was spending most of my energy on a record label here in Canada, G7, and doing the band almost part time so doing tours wasn’t something we were thinking about. We were a three piece and subconsciously we weren’t entirely happy with how we were live,” he states.
“In 2006 we got a second guitar player, Beav, so now it’s so much more interesting to go on tour because we get so much more out of playing live than we did as a three piece. When people ask us now we’re more likely to get out and be productive,” Chris said.
Propagandhi are still productive even when not making music, being actively involved in many causes. 2011 will see 25 years since the bands original inception means that while they may be old hats in the punk rock scene, they have families and real lives at home that must be attended to. For the rest of the world, Chris gave reasons as to why their tours never take them away for too long. “We usually do them [tours] in little pieces. We used to do long, full US tours when we were young but now we don’t usually go out for more than two weeks at a time. We have a lot of things going on here in Winnipeg so we don’t like to be away for too long. Some other bands go out for a long, spend seven months of the year on the road and get caught up in that lifestyle. Not for the best sometimes I think.”
Extended periods away from home can be taxing on the physical and mental health of any individual whether a musician or travelling salesman. It pays to keep grounded and Propagandhi have managed this balance through short tours. “I think it’s good for us, the guys in the band, all four of us. We go out, we fucking have a good two weeks of high energy then get back, get back in the basement and stay grounded that way. Even on the road playing shows every day can almost be a surreal experience. In our experience it can isolate you from what’s going on in the real world. So for us it’s good to keep them limited.”
If there is any one band that knows what is going on in the real world it’s Propagandhi. The band are not talk, they actively support the causes they say to and constantly inform fans and people alike through Podcasts and blogging. This isn’t to say that these are four gents also making their way in the real world, providing for their families and living in the real world. Chris discussed where we stand in the world and addresses the fact that capitalism isn’t working. “We’ve all be born into this framework and everyone has to get by, we acknowledge that. I don’t think that should stop people from imagining a different way that the framework should be. And actually doing things and getting involved with other people with the purpose of trying to change the framework for future generations.”
“Obviously commerce is going to be something that goes on no matter what the framework is but we’ve been born into a capitalist form of commerce and I honestly, deep down in my heart, and it’s in the evidence everywhere you see on the news that that framework is not working out for the planet. It’s not working out for democracy, it’s counter democracy, it’s not working out for the environment. There has to be a different economic framework that people are born in, grow up in and exist in,” Chris said.
The want and evident need for change is driver of many of the lyrics in Propagandhi songs however what the world needs to do to see this change is still yet to be discovered. When asked, in his mind, what do we need to do to build the ideal framework that promotes equality of people Chris replied, “Not a clue. Ideally I see, and most people would agree, some kind of system that doesn’t reward greed at the expense of other people or the environment is a good place to start.”
“Obviously it’s not going to be handed over. Capitalists and politicians who serve corporations are not going to have an epiphany and hand the keys over to the people. It’s going to have to be some level of struggle, hopefully non-violent. It’s unlikely there will be no form of violence if there is some transition away from a concentrated power that controls the world now,” he professed.
The new Propagandhi album is in the works and despite having five studio albums under the belt the song writing process isn’t easy for the band. It’s almost hard to believe from a band who has constantly released one quality record after another, going from strength-to-strength with each one. “It’s coming along. See we’re not very talent musicians so it takes us a long time to make a record. All of it comes from trial and error which is why it takes us four years to make a new record. We want to make the best possible record as well and that takes time.”
For those reading who don’t know, here at Dying Scene we played a little April Fools joke on our readers when we published a story stating that Propagandhi had signed to Warner Brothers Records. While we thought we were hilarious, it was almost surprising when Chris let us know that we weren’t entirely wrong. “The ironic part about that is that our records, in Canada, Smallman Records are distributed by Warner Records. It’s almost true.”
Propagandhi’s third Australian tour kicks off with a sold-out show in Melbourne on May 18th and you can get all the tour and ticket info here.
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