Interviews
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Bad Cop/Bad Cop

Jennie Cotterill on navigating the pandemic, mental health and 'The Ride'

Jennie Cotterill is often busy doing many things, but she is best perhaps known for being one of the vocalists and guitarists of Bad Cop/Bad Cop. Although she is often busy out on tour around the world, the many events of 2020 have brought that to a halt. Nevertheless, Bad Cop/Bad Cop persisted in releasing their new album, The Ride, on June 19th. Punknews writer Chris Barrett sat down and spoke with Jennie about a myriad of topics including emotions regarding the pandemic, mental health awareness, touring and coming home early because of the pandemic, as well as the process of creating the new album.

(Editor’s note: This interview took place before the events involving police violence and the subsequent Black Lives Matter demonstrations.)

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Interviews
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Punks on Politics: Checking in with Mel Gagarin

Punks on Politics: Checking in with Mel Gagarin

Last November, we spoke with Mel Gagarin, singer and guitarist of New York City punk band Scarboro about his run for congress in his hometown of Queens, New York. A lot has happened in the 8 months since that conversation, editor Samantha Barrett popped in to checked in with Mel on his run for congress ahead of the June 23rd New York Primary day.

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Interviews
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Mike Park

Mike Park on the new Chinkees EP, Bernie Sanders, and Skankin' Pickle

From Skankin' Pickle and Dill Records in 1989 to Ska Against Racism, the Plea For Peace Foundation, and Asian Man Records (which helped launched the careers of mainstream artists like Alkaline Trio and Less than Jake), Mike Park has made a profound and lasting impact on the punk and ska landscape. Park’s latest release, K.A. Music is with his long-running band the The Chinkees, their first new material in 18 years. Punknews staff writer Tyler Barrett caught up with Park to discuss the new EP, race and racism in the 21st century, and to what extent Mailorder is Still Fun!!.

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Interviews
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Rat Scabies on the new Sinclairs LP, modern punk, and the Damned

Rat Scabies on the new Sinclairs LP, modern punk, and the Damned

Who was the first punk rock band? Was it Link Wray & His Ray Men with the release of “Rumble” in 1958? Or was it the Stooges and their song “I Wanna Be Your Dog” in 1969? While it is definitely arguable, many agree that the punk scene that we know and love - or hate -commenced when The Damned released their song “New Rose” as a 7-inch single in 1976, helping ignite the first wave of punk rock including bands you might recognize such as The Clash, the Sex Pistols and across the pond, the Ramones who also released their first album that same year. And aesthetically, long before Alkaline Trio and much longer before My Chemical Romance, The Damned were donning DIY fashion and vampiric style while singing stories about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and being grimly fiendish.

Since that time, The Damned have gone through numerous lineup changes including the significant departure of original drummer and founder Rat Scabies who left the legendary band in 1996. Over the following years, Scabies has remained busy, bringing his percussive talents to several bands and his producing talents to a number of albums. His latest project is The Sinclairs, in which he partnered with Flipron’s guitarist and lyricist Billy Shinbone to release their superb instrumental debut album, Sparkle, on May 8th.

Over a choppy Skype connection, Scabies spoke to Punknews writer Gen Handley about his new album, what the punk scene was like in the British 60s, as well as the origins of his unique name. Check it out below.

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