With Punk’s 25th anniversary in full swing and the reformed SEX PISTOLS (again) about to storm the palace, you’d be forgiven for thinking that high-voltage rockers THE D4 had timed the release of their debut album “6Twenty” to perfection. However, TIM PEACOCK soon discovers Auckland, New Zealand’s finest would be cranking out their sonic maelstrom regardless of time or place when he tracks down guitarist/ vocalist DION.
In the true spirit of THE RAMONES or THE BEATLES, THE D4 are sharing a house in London while they make a series of commando raids on the UK’S venues for the first time. Typically, the mood is up and JIMMY CHRISTMAS (vocals/ guitar); VAUGHAN (bass); BEAVER (drums) and guitarist/ vocalist DION are keen to get on with the job in hand.
“England’s been real good to us so far,” confirms Dion. “We just get fired up and go out and try to give audiences the best we can. It seems to be working…they’re really into us over here, they’re not…er, reserved at all.”
Well, from a live perspective, THE D4 are something of a dream come true. Chances are, the UK’S not caught such a relentlessly energetic show for years. If you check out the quartet’s debut album “6 Twenty” – just released on INFECTIOUS/ FLYING NUN – you’ll see what I mean, as the anthems and excitement pretty much run unchecked.
The band’s recent (vinyl only) single – the delicately-titled “Rock ‘n’ Roll Motherfucker” – set out the band’s unreconstructed stall – but forthcoming single “Party” is one of the most enthusiastic hedonists anthems since THE BEASTIE BOYS’ “You Gotta Fight (For your Right To Party)”. Is this THE D4’S philosophy broken down into 2 minutes 30 seconds, Dion?
“Well, yeah, we do like a good time,” he admits. “Our ethos is basically to go out of our way to have a great time and try not to get too precious about it. I guess “Party” is anthemic and encapsulates that. It certainly includes most of the things that matter to us.”
However, in these resolutely PC times, THE D4’S no-nonsense ramalama could be construed as out of time. Do the band feel isolated from the often spurious “scenes” the press are wont to create?
“Yeah, now there’s a lot of bands who are arty-farty,” suggests Dion. “They’re trying to go out of their way to push boundaries in music and usually it doesn’t impress me. Whereas, with THE D4, we just get up and play and love it. We get “Retro” accusations hurled at us…but, y’know…so what? It just slides off us, really.”
What about the sexism accusations, though? The likes of songs like “Ladies Man”?
“Oh, we’ve had that before, too,” dismisses Dion. “It really doesn’t bother me. I mean, anything like that’s just tongue-in-cheek. I think maybe faddy people should try to lighten up a little, try and relax. We’re certainly not putting women down in any of our songs and people shouldn’t read that into the lyrics.”
Yeah…but what about “North Shore Bitch”, the (admittedly) hilarious B-side to the new “Party” single. That’s not exactly politically correct, is it?
“Well, we didn’t actually write that,” points out Dion. He’s right: the song was written and originally performed by DEVIL DOGS. “But we’ve kind’ve adopted that song because it’s deliberately silly, plus we’re from the North Shore area of New Zealand.”
“We tried the song out on our home audience and they loved it, so we weren’t gonna turn it down.”
Are audiences in New Zealand ready for the raw excitement or a band like THE D4 again?
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“Yeah, there’s more tough rock ‘n ‘roll bands like us coming through again now. There’s THE JETSONS, ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MACHINE to name a couple more,” says Dion.
“When FLYING NUN (NZ label) signed us, I think they were deliberately trying to move away from the established sound the label had (Previously epitomised by intelligent art rockers like THE CHILLS and THE CLEAN – Ed) and trying to move towards timeless rock ‘n’ roll. It definitely reflects the fact that people are after those thrills and going out to gigs once again.”
‘Timeless’ isn’t so wide of the mark here, actually. Much of “6Twenty” recalls great tunes by the likes of THE SHADOWS OF KNIGHT and CHOCOLATE WATCH BAND from the cool “Nuggets” garage punk collections.
“I’d prefer to call us a rock ‘n’ roll band,” counters Dion, “but, yeah, that element’s in there. 60s garage stuff and late ‘70s Punk are the two main things that drive us, I suppose. I gotta stress that THE D4 are trying to steer clear of pigeonholes if possible.”
You also cover JOHNNY THUNDERS’ “Pirate Love” on the album. Isn’t that a bit heart on your sleeve…?
“Yeah, well he’s been important to us for years. Not so much for me when I started playing guitar at 12 years of age, but by the time I hit 14 I got totally into his music.”
“We did worry about it being too obvious, initially,” he continues, “but then we just thought…Fuck it, why not? We shouldn’t let ourselves be constrained by expectations after all.”
Meanwhile, although I don’t want to harp on about the past, I can’t resist the temptation of asking Dion for his reactions on the recent passing of DEE DEE RAMONE.
“Oh God, it’s a downer,” sighs Dion, obviously upset. “It was weird, actually, because we were about to go onstage when we were told about it. It really was a…downer.”
“I mean, they’re one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands ever, so what can you say to make it better. I guess their first album’s my favourite, but the first four are all totally essential.”
Amen to that. Before we conclude, though, I must ask Dion about “Running On Empty”, perhaps my favourite song on “6Twenty” and a song that details the tough times of being on the road…the kind of song THE D4’S heroes like THE RAMONES could relate to.
“Well, Jimmy (Christmas) wrote that one and while it’s actually quite personal, I can see exactly where he’s coming from,” agrees Dion.
“There’s a lot of financial and relationship hardships involved with all this, so a song like that…it’s got universal appeal. Everyone can identify with it.”
Identify, search out and cherish, I’d say. Somehow, after THE D4’S vigorous rock ‘n’ roll pummelling, the day to day realities seem just a little more bearable.
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