Recently, Dan Volohov got the chance to speak with Garry Maloney – the former drummer of Discharge and The Varukers. In this interview for Punk Globe magazine, we speak about“Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing” and the power of punk-rock, about Gary’s fashion brand – KONG and his current plans, about drumming and his attitude in general. Hope you enjoy!
Punk Globe: Tell me about the punk-rock scene on 70’s ? How you discovered punk rock and how you remember those days ?
Garry: For me it was watching Sex Pistols on TV doing Pretty Vacant it was a life changing moment, then finding record shops that sold punk-music and chatting to like minded people and then discovering The Clash, The Damned etc.
Punk Globe: Who were your influences?
Garry: I didn't really have any drum hero’s back in the day. I was more into the whole band experience. I appreciated how good other drummers were - John Boham, Tommy Aldridge, Tommy Lee, Rat Scabies and even Topper Headon.
Punk Globe: The Varukers were your very first band. But you then joined Discharge tell us about that.
Garry: Antony (Rat) Carlton and myself formed The Varukers at school. Anyone who could play really were welcome to get involved, when we left school Antony and myself kept things going and another couple of local punks were happy to get involved with the Protest and Survive single and gigs locally, we used to go to the Discharge early gigs and got to know them and gave a Varukers demo to Cal to give to Mike Stone but we had already signed to Tempest in Birmingham. It was good getting to know Discharge at the time, with all this communication, I was asked if I’d be interested in drumming round the “Why ?” time, in these days you didn’t really play in two bands. So the lads in the Varukers said: “Good luck, you go for it!”. We were good friends and still are. So no problems with the move from Varukers to Discharge.
Punk Globe: When you joined Discharge – it was just after the release of “Why?” – was it difficult for you ?
Garry: No, not at all, the three members were super cool and helpful, with me travelling at the time that seemed a long way from Leam to Stoke, we were all into the same sound and once the set was learnt we moved onto “Never Again” EP, it was all very natural.
Punk Globe: Before the release of “Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing” you had already achieved the status of one of the most radical punk-rock bands. Could you please tell me more about recording this record?
Garry: The rehearsals of “Hear Nothing” were done in a small cellar in Burslem town hall -near Stoke. Basically Bones and Rainy were coming up with the riffs and I was adding drums beats to it so it sounded as heavy as possible and Cal turned up with lyrics he had worked on at home already, Bones and Rainy were way ahead with the “vision of sound” making it easy for me and with Cal’s style of vocal and short sharp shock intense meaning, it was feeling good at the time basically natural and no big deal to be honest with you, just a natural progression from the “Never Again” EP.
Punk Globe: Despite the length of “Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing” there was minimal lyrics – in comparison with music.
Garry: Sometimes less is more ! Short sharp blistering songs with heavy meaning lyrics and a vocal style to wake the dead, as far as I was concerned it was an-all the-Planets-in alignment moment.
Punk Globe: Speaking about your radicalism quite often people connect it with your personal feelings. Do you agree that punk rock, requires a thoughts about politics ?
Garry: At the time, I felt Discharge had a good stand on the anti-war angle, the kind you couldn’t ignore, it was a Crass type different approach to punk that was refreshing, with a heavy wall of noise vibe, I thought was perfect.
Punk Globe: What were the principles or ideals that you had when writing music and being in Discharge ?
Garry: I don’t think I followed any principles in contributing my slice of the pie. We were all into the same sound that was evolving. It was very natural not planed.
Punk Globe: With Discharge you toured all over the world – getting cult status in Japan and playing in Mexico among others. How it felt visiting all those places and seeing the reactions to your music ?
Garry: It was excellent traveling to other countries meeting up with other like minded people, I never took it for granted that people in other countries appreciated the music and overall image and style of the band.
Punk Globe: Being on stage and looking at the crowd reaction what was it was for you?
Garry: It was quite interesting to see how seriously the audiences took the whole Discharge thing. It felt like the band and audience were on the same page into the same thing.
Punk Globe: After the release of “Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing” you changed the lineup of the band which affected the sound of “Grave New World”. Did you feel it was natural after Tony left the band ?
Garry: Well…We did the State Violence single with Bones and Warning 12,” Price of Silence & amp; The More I See single with Pooch before the few years gap before the Grave New World era...
Punk Globe: As far as I know, you left the band during that period. And Discharge disbanded for a few years. Why, after such a successful period in your creativity you decided to put everything on pause ?
Garry: We were burnt out and into different stuff, I guess. Sometimes you need a break. We had no management. So, it was down to Cal to sort stuff out and he needed a break too I guess.
Punk Globe: In 1991 Cal and you returned back to the work by reviving Discharge. The band recorded “Massacre Divine” tell us about that?
Garry: it was good to get the band together again, obviously not the same but everyone from the older lineups were in their own worlds, Cal and myself keep in touch through all of these times so it was up to us to sort out a new line up warts and all.
Punk Globe: The last album you recorded with Discharge was “Shootin’ Up The World”. The sound of the record was different from «Massacre Divine” –more intensive and heavy. What do you remember about working on this record ?
Garry: Basically, it was a follow up album to Massacre, just felt a natural progression and I was pleased with the finessed product, obviously different to “Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing” but each album was of its time.
Punk Globe: Looking back now, and thinking about your shows… What do you feel that Discharge, as a band did bring to punk-rock?
Garry: Difficult for me to say. As I was in the eye of the perfect storm, depending what era you choose, I guess. Since leaving Discharge, I started my own company 32 years ago call “Kong” Street fashion, sneakers, Skate culture, and have just launched a K brand based on the history of Kong the early days of punk/music that has influenced the store and its outlook.
Punk Globe: Tell us about your future plans?
Garry: The “K" Kong brand that I've been working on for a few years is a personal history of the detail and style of music that influenced me, it’s a move on from playing in the band years ago and after running the stores for 30 years it feels like a natural story to tell.
Right now, KONG is working on the collab with Alison Brown.
