A Sad Day for Real Punk Rock,

Having just returned from another weekend UP NORTH playing a gig for FUNGALPUNK DAVES SAS I am sadden and bitterly disappointed to see that one of the Few TRUE LEGENDS of Punk rock today has had to Step away from something he loves with all his being before it Destroys him, A champion of Punks Future, Punks Hope with an ethos that most talk about but few ever carry out. 

From Day one he set out to Champion the Underdog Punk, the Bands far and wide from all areas of the Genre that were sadly and tragically being Missed by most of the Promoters etc at the time, he came out stood up and with Honesty and a Big Punk heart he said what he thought, he gave constructive criticism where he felt necessary and he gave Praise also for the soul purpose of moving these bands on to where they should be, reaching there full potential. But unlike so many he did this Honestly to better those involved, But as is the case when someone says something that you are not happy about a lot of people tend to react differently too when it’s a positive comment and so some were not happy with what he said and so his right to say these things was questioned, But he always has and always will say he is Just giving His Personal Opinion and that’s it to hopefully help them move forward.



Now several things spring to mind about Fungalpunk that I have seen and cannot understand
Firstly the venomous Campaign against him for being Honest and True to Punk, the Bands and for Pushing the Underdog Bands that a lot of people have never heard, rather than those names we all know, this is not a bad thing is it? Its Punks Future, we love a lot of these more known bands but surely we need New Blood to Fill the ranks and stand side by side Don’t we? Anyway Bless his big Punk heart Dave fought for these bands with a passion and commitment that few have.

I have tried to support as many of Daves events as I can and have never understood peoples disinterest and determined efforts to see him fall, Why would you want someone who is putting there whole being into PUNK to fail?

I have witnessed some unbelievable reactions to Fungalpunk and SAS and it saddens and worries me that we think that much of the Punk scene that we feel Honesty and Passion are not things we should promote and nurture.

Secondly as a Band Why would you not want to be part of a bigger picture? meeting and hearing new and exciting bands along with your already existing catalogue, also why would you not want people to give you there honest opinion? Lets face it as a member of a band there is NOTHING more satisfying than someone you have never met telling you how they enjoyed your music is there?..WRONG !!! There is something better its that person actually being HONEST and CONSTRUCTIVE about your music not just telling you what you want to hear, is that not better I think it is, Now I am sure one or two of you will be thinking that as I am a Good friend of Daves that its easy for me to say because he wont criticize the Band I am in Well WRONG go check out the reviews of our 2 CDs theres a lot in there that he Didn’t like and he has told us and it makes No difference to my feelings for Dave because I know he wrote what he believes and I will take that any day over Ego stroking, he has always been fair and honest and constructive with us and that’s all I want.

Also when so many said bringing bands from other areas of the country was pointless Dave has always done so he always said if a band is good where they come from is unimportant.
He also has a talent for finding these bands and having done so bringing them out for all to hear WHY would you not support and help this? Why would you not join it or do the same yourself?

When putting on gigs I have seen Fungalpunk move his gigs because they clash with other local gigs so the punters can support them, But do you think anyone else does that for him NO in fact I think many actually put gigs on the same nights deliberately SO SAD.

And finally Bands there are a few that support and Stand by Fungalpunk but sadly there are a lot that Don’t and never have, things like not turning up to play gigs, and never giving reason why, turning up just before due to play then leaving straight after, booking 2 shows on the same day, Not promoting the gigs they are playing for him and so on, You know who you are, I just cant understand WHY?

WOODSTOCK

One final thing when he reads this you know what Dave will say? ”YA SOFT TWAT!!” haha