“SUICIDE PILOTS Not Grounded By Government And Set To Tour”

From The latest issue of Chart Attack…note the tour dates at the end of the article.

Suicide Pilots Not Grounded By Government And Set To Tour

Thursday May 22, 2008 @ 06:30 PM
By: ChartAttack. com Staff

Ottawa punks The Suicide Pilots were under surveillance by the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service due to their political activism and logo that features a cartoon airplane flying toward Ottawa’s Parliament Buildings.

Drummer Jeffrey “Bones” Monaghan was alleged to have leaked the federal government’s environmental plan last spring while he was working on contract for Environment Canada. Though he was never charged, he was led away from his post in handcuffs by the RCMP. That first put the punk band on the feds’ radar, but it didn’t stop there.

The Suicide Pilots’ recently released War On Satire album features a song called “Harper Youth” that a RCMP report dated two days after Monaghan’s May 9, 2007 arrest said compares Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Adolph Hitler. There was also concern about the aforementioned logo, which a report said depicts “a 9/11 type drawing showing an airplane crashing into the Parliament.”

In response to the government’s uneasiness, The Suicide Pilots posted this message on their MySpace blog on Wednesday:

“Paranoid governments are prone to attacking artists and dissendents. Perhaps the paranoia evident in this enormous police apparatus is an expression of the system’s weakness; the tighter their grip, the more people will slip through their fingers. As more folk find themselves on the fringes — disenfranchised, manipulated, persecuted & cast aside by a system emphasizing property and profit — resistance to this abusive structure will grow. Things desperately need to change; the more those at the top of the hierarchy struggle to hold on to the reins of power, the more apparent it becomes, even to those who never thought themselves radical, that change is imminent. We would like to believe that this bloated, top-heavy, cop-shop-State — being built by people, can be broken down just the same.”

The Suicide Pilots are taking their anarchist message across eastern Canada.

You can catch them here:

May 23 Amherst, NS @ The Shack
May 25 Halifax, NS @ Chebucto House w/Flags Of Convenience
May 26 Fredericton, NB @ Vixens Bar & Lounge w/Holy Co$t and The Legacys
May 27 Quebec City, QC @ L’Echouerie
May 31 Trois-Rivieres, QC @ Rock Cafe Le Stage w/DIY
June 3 Ottawa, ON @ Bytowne Tavern w/The Botched Suicides and Humans Off Planet Earth!
June 4 Peterborough, ON @ The Underdog w/Creosote (AZ) and Shitreign
June 7 Toronto, ON @ 15 Lower Sherbourne St.

(High Art For The Low Down)
June 19 Windsor, ON @ The Coach & Horses
June 20 Kitchener, ON @ The Circus Room w/Broadcast Zero and The Rotten
June 21 Hamilton, ON @ The Casbah w/Broadcast Zero (matinee)
June 21 London, ON @ The Embassy Hotel
June 27 Montreal, QC @ Katacombs w/Barricade Mentale

“Anti-Terror Cops Probed Ottawa Punk Band”

An article from today’s Toronto Sun, followed by a rebuttal from the band…

Anti-Terror Cops Probed Ottawa Punk Band

May 21, 2008

OTTAWA–All it takes to get noticed by Canada’s top anti-terrorism team is a shocking band name and a provocative logo.

At least, that’s the contention of The Suicide Pilots, a self-described “no-name punk band” based in Ottawa that promotes itself with a cartoon image of a plane swooping toward the Parliament Buildings.

Access to Information documents released by the band’s lawyer yesterday show the RCMP’s Integrated National Security Enforcement Team took a look at the group last year as a result of the band’s outspoken and politically active drummer, Jeffrey Monaghan.

Monaghan was alleged last spring to have leaked the environmental plan of the Conservative government, and was marched in handcuffs by the RCMP out of his contract job at Environment Canada.

He was never charged with anything, but his musical tastes, including a song titled “Harper Youth,” quickly attracted state scrutiny.

“Subject is a self-described anarchist and drummer in a punk band that compares (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper to Hitler,” says an RCMP report dated two days after Monaghan’s May 9, 2007 arrest.

The band’s MySpace page depicts a “9/11 type drawing showing an airplane crashing into the Parliament; there is also anti-Harper songs from the band,” says an assistance request from the national security team to the Tech Crime unit.

The documents show that the force’s integrated cyber-analysis team, the commercial crime unit and national security team were all involved.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service was apprised. “Advise CSIS of our findings,” states a timeline for May 29.

The last entry is dated Sept. 8 and is marked “NFAR, CH” – RCMP jargon for No Further Action Required, Cancelled Here.

The band, in a statement, said the investigation is indicative of “Harper’s `War on Terror’ gone mad.”

The RCMP declined to comment.

Response from THE SUICIDE PILOTS:

It appears some idle bureaucrats in Ottawa’s spy departments have been evaluating the terror-ness of The Suicide Pilots.

A note on our logo: Please, please, notice the plane has a face. Unless you’re a crude and improbate crap-sack, you will recognise that “planes” do not have faces. Therefore, if this “plane” has a face, is it really a “plane”? Now, silly reactionaries, ask yourself that question. If you’re being snide, let us help you: The answer is no! (our apologies for all individuals that did not need that condecending explanation). That is not a plane. It is an image of a plane with a puzzled face. That means it’s a symbol, or metaphor, or whatever the fuck you want to call it. Please feel the freedom to interpret it any particular way you’d like. We’ve displayed the image publicly and have therefor accepted the risks of independent interpration. So please, eat that shit up.

Authoritarian states have a long history of suppressing dissent. Some of history’s most powerful images of dissent have been expressed through various means of art (for the record, we don’t consider our art, or expression, or music – for that matter – particularly important). The fact that the gargantuan “War on Terror” apparatus of the State has identified and catalogued our work is an example of the ridiculousness of this phony war. Of course, there have been many individuals directly impacted by this war’s racism. We do not want to understate those abuses. Along with the renditions, racism, and other forms of oppresion perpetuated by the “War on Terror” campaign, the spying on social activists, artists and others, displays the real character of the State. It shows a closed group of power-hungry meglomaniacs entirely concerned with protecting their power and suppressing movements that challenge their authority and legitimacy.

Paranoid governments are prone to attacking artists and dissendents. Perhaps the paranoia evident in this enormous police apparatus is an expression of the system’s weakness; the tighter their grip, the more people will slip through their fingers. As more folk find themselves on the fringes – disenfranchised, manipulated, persecuted & cast aside by a system emphasizing property and profit – resistance to this abusive structure will grow. Things desperately need to change; the more those at the top of the hierarchy struggle to hold on to the reins of power, the more apparent it becomes, even to those who never thought themselves radical, that change is imminent. We would like to believe that this bloated, top-heavy, cop-shop-State – being built by people, can be broken down just the same. Sarah Polley shall lead the charge that sees Harper swingin’ in the breeze, so much crow meat…..Apologies to Ms. Polley if they take that last sentiment as seriously as our poor little plane.

For centuries the buildings atop of Garrison Hill (aka parliament hill) have coordinated the violence of this colonial enterprise. No empires last. When in Rome, do as the Vandals.

FOR A LIFE WITHOUT DRUDGERY
FOR A HOLIDAY WITH NO BEGINNING OR END
FOR A SOCIETY WITHOUT PARANOID COPS AND TERRORCRATS
FOR A MEDIA WITHOUT SENSASIONALISM AND TRIVIALITY
SMASH THE STATE!

BROADCAST ZERO – Tour Dates

PUNK ROCK MATINEE – HAMILTON – JUNE 21ST

Featuring not one, but two, thats, right, two RebelTime Records bands!

Thanks to Lee from THE RUCKS for the poster design!

More info at the PUNK ROCK MATINEE MYSPACE

 

REBEL TIME RECORDS On REVERBNATION

Join REBEL TIME RECORDS on REVERBNATION…still a work in progress, but, hey, join the mailing list and stay tuned for music, tour dates, band info, etc…

Cheers!

Interview With THE BRAT ATTACK

Here’s an excerpt of an interview with Davey from THE BRAT ATTACK that will run in the upcoming issue of DO MORE SAY LESS…the zine will be out in May some time and will include interivew with THE REBEL SPELL, THE FALLOUT and THE ROTTEN!

In the Brat Attack bio, you mention the “dozens of line-up changes.” Just for the record, who is in the Brat Attack at this time?

Oh man, it was a running joke for awhile that if you knew me, that at one point any friend of mine was in the band. It was really hard to lock down a solid committed lineup. Touring takes a lot out of you, it’s physically, emotionally and financially draining. Dave Halcrow (Hammer), Dustin Jackson (Dirt) have been with the band since late 2005, before that they helped out as road crew/drivers/stage hands. It was a natural progression to get them in the band after the old lineup fell apart after the 2005 tour. Chris Ferguson (Drums) joined in 2007 and seems to be a very solid member. If Chris leaves we will beat him.

A wise man once said, “punk rock is a state of mind, not a state of dress.” What is punk rock to The Brat Attack?

I have found that punk has been moving away from the “fuck you!, DIY” attitude I found when I started getting into punk back in the early 90’s, lately its been “fuck you, look at my perfect mohawk, it matches my bondage pants”. I have always thought of it as a counter culture movement, an anti-conformist music. But it almost feels like a “uniform” when it comes to modern punk (Blame Hot Topic for that one!). I believe it’s a music shift from substance to style over the past decade. Look at screamo music, no good songs, just fashion, people go to shows to be seen, not for the music. Or maybe I am just getting old. What is punk to Brats? Allan Koehler.

A quote from a review of once of your CDs: “I have a feeling that if a big record company drove a dump truck full of money up to the Brat Attack’s door they would be flying around in jets dating movie stars like all the others.” See any cash-filled dump trucks in your near future??

If I ever got any cash, that’s the last you would see of me. Off to Cuba I say. I’d join a Cuban jazz combo. No, we are broke as fuck, no dump trucks any time soon. We had our stint with a major, wasn’t my cup of Tea. Stealing food at the Universal BBQ was fun. They thought we where some street kids stealing their precious buffet food. What Movie star would I date? Hmmm…. Sarah Polley? Anyways Brats are never going to be a mainstream band and we are very happy with that, I think we are going to go along the lines of the Ripchordz, SNFU etc…just keep touring forever and putting out CDs.

I know you’ve got something of a side-project on the go, THE CLASS WAR KIDS…what’s up with that?

Pat of the Embarrassments fame was living in Montreal with that band, he came back to St.John’s as he was fed up of their lack of making any progress as a band. He came to play in his other band, the Satans in St.Johns, a Horror punk surf band, which also came to have the same problems he was having in Montreal with the Embarrassments. Lack of any forward motion as he was cut off from being able to write for the Satans, he asked Megan (Brat Attack’s last fill-in bass player-Hammer couldn’t make the last eastern tour), Miles Sharp and I to start a band with him. So we did and it’s going really well, good feed back. It’s more along the lines of Street Punk singing along stuff. Pat’s writing is really influenced by the Wednesday night heroes. I am trying to keep my writing different for both bands. Brats are moving to more old hardcore and the Class War Kids is more punk. Oh yeah, we are touring in the summer!

The Brat Attack were on Underground Operations for a while, which really raised your profile, you even played the Warped Tour. How did that work out for you?

UO really opened a lot of doors for us. We joined them while the label was still really politically driven. It was almost like the new G7 of Ontario. We really liked what London was doing with the label so we pushed really hard to get on it. It’s nice to work with people who are progressive thinkers. Over time things changed, Protest the hero stopped being a political band , the demise of Closet monster and the shift of what the label was originally about drastically changed. It opened them up to a much larger audience, but it did turn off the people who loved supporting a label that wanted to fight social injustice. But having bands like the Brats on the roster does not pay the bills, we can’t sell the units they need to keep afloat. We can sell enough to keep a DIY label afloat..or at least the recoup needed. UO was really good to us and we appreciated everything they did, London has a heart of gold I tells yah. 

 Warped tour was interesting, I still can’t decide if it was a good or bad thing. On one hand, we got to reach out to larger audience that normally wouldn’t get to hear what we talk about, get the information we distribute. The bands and people where really nice, even Kevin was really awesome to us. But the mass consumption and waste that is produced was heart breaking. We helped hand out UO flyers and people would take them, read it and throw it on the ground. We saw thousands of the flyers we handed out just tossed on the ground; we stopped giving them out after a hour, all of us felt like shit after that. We would do it again if we had the opportunity to do so.

What’s in the future for the Brat Attack?

The non-stop barrage of touring, maybe go to Europe or South America, putting out more albums (already have half of the next one written and demo’d). Brats will pretty much never die…well, until one of us dies. But we could have a weekend at Bernie’s tour. Dustin on stick.