United Bottles – The Spirit And The Legacy interview

Redstar73 Blog: Please can you introduce your band. When was it started? What about your name?
United Bottles: We are United Bottles. A four piece punk Rock band from Belfast. We are former members of Belfast Oi! Band Runnin’riot.
We formed in the winter of 2014.
We are :
Marty – Guitar and vocals
Ralph – Bass
Eden – Drums
Phil-Guitar

Redstar73 Blog: You have released your debut album. Tell us more about it!
United Bottles: We just self released our 13 track Debut album “The Spirit and the legacy” at the start of July.
We did a run of cds and put the album up for digital download. We have a had a good response and We sold out of cds pretty quickly we’ve restocked now and We’re working with Alex at Distr-oi! Records To get it released on vinyl. We should have it in the autumn. Hopefully.

Redstar73 Blog: What are your plans for the future?
United Bottles: Well first off we still have a lot of great gigs to play this year. We have Rebellion Festival in Dublin at the end of October. Cocksparrer are playing! In Ireland for the first time. Can’t wait for that.
We’ve just started working on the new stuff and we hope to put out a split 7″ with our mates, Cork city’s finest THE JOLLARS.
Hopefully we can sort a few gigs in Europe in 2018.

Redstar73 Blog: How is the scene in your area?
United Bottles: The Belfast scene is great. Although we have fewer venues to play these days.
Plenty of new bands coming through regardless..
Like Takers and Users, Lawfucker, Deathgrip.. We even have a fantastic new Ska Reggae band called Tonic all stars. All bands to watch out for.
Locally I promote some punk and Ska shows. We also have a volunteer run social centre called Warzone and we hold alot of fests and gigs there.
There’s a lot happening in such a small city and it’s far more vibrant than it was in the bad old days.

Redstar73 Blog: Any chance to see you guys live in Europe?
United Bottles: We would love to come to Europe.
If anyone is interested in having us over to play they can get in touch with us on the Facebook page

Redstar73 Blog: How important is for you the DIY idea and politics?
United Bottles: Belfast has been steeped in the DIY punk ethos from the start! From the gigs in The Harp bar to Terri Hooley releasing the local bands music on his Good vibrations label. Then we had the Anarchy Centre which later became the Warzone collective. That’s been a hub of music and activism for a while now.
I think it’s important for bands to learn how to do things for themselves. Be it organising gigs, printing your own tees or releasing your own music.
Helps keep your feet on the ground.
Being from Belfast it’s hard to escape politics. The Punk Rock scene here has always offered an alternative to the quagmire of divisive, local sectarian politics.
As for the band. We are anti racist and anti fascist. It Goes without saying.

Redstar73 Blog: What do you think about the Oi! current scene?
United Bottles: It’s very healthy and there’s some great bands doing the rounds. There’s so many bands now it’s hard to keep track.
Special mention to Gimpfist, The Jollars, Takers and users, Arch rivals, The Angry agenda and the excellent GRIT

Redstar73 Blog: Give us your Top5 Punk & Oi! songs.
United Bottles: This is difficult and ever changing.
We’ll give it a go

RALPH –
Sex Pistols-God Save The Queen
The Clash-Tommy Gun
Sham 69-What Have We Got?
4 Skins-Chaos
Blitz-Voice Of A Generation

EDEN-
Gimp fist: skinhead not bonehead
Argy bargy:homeward bound
Booze and glory: our passion
Perkele: moments
Runnin riot: oi oi angel

MARTY –
Towerblocks-General boredom
Gimpfist – a country divided
Leatherface – Dead industrial atmosphere
The Jollars – The fight
Cocksparrer – last train to Dagenham

PHIL –
DKM: The Gauntlet
Cocksparrer: Because you’re young
Darkbuster: Whiskey Will
SLF: At the Edge
Star Fucking Hipsters: Immigrants and Hypocrites

Redstar73 Blog: Last words!
United Bottles: Keep the faith!

https://www.facebook.com/unitedbottles/
https://unitedbottles.bandcamp.com