Interview with Gemma Hatfield - Punkster Guitarist with Rotten Agenda

With this issue being dedicated to the oft-cited (though rather questionably) deadlier of the species it seemed fitting to pogo into the testosterone-laced throngs of punk rock for an insight from one of its leading local female figures. Rotten Agenda, possibly Northampton’s most prolific gigging combo, are fronted by Jason, the wild-eyed personification of punk itself, whose bilious vocals are spat over the buzz-saw chops of guitarist Gemma Hatfield. Jim and newest recruit Amy Edwards take responsibility for the rhythm section.

The band formed over three years ago and having gone through a couple of line-up changes they’ve now got more than eighty gigs under their collective studded belt. Their first EP I Reject surfaced back in February ‘06 and was followed up in June ‘07 with long-player Everyday Insanity and Gemma has been at the epicentre of the storm since its raucous conception.

I asked her whether she finds the scene to be slightly, er, bloke-heavy:

‘I think the punk scene is very male-dominated but not because females are excluded, in fact I know a lot of male punk rockers that would welcome more females!’ This doesn’t hit me exactly like a bombshell but I do speculate about the primal instinctive elitism of man with tool in hand (as in guitar).

‘I’ve hardly had any bad comments about being a female guitarist, in fact I would say they’ve been way more positive than not. I don't aim to be a good female guitarist, I just aim to be a good guitarist. There have been females in the punk scene since the very beginning and it’s quite non-discriminatory. It just matters whether you’re into it for the right reasons.’

So what might those reasons be? Rotten Agenda have clear political overtones to the songs so is this something that you passionately subscribe to?

‘It’s all about the punk. I’ve been into it since I was 13, and I’m 23 this year, although my tastes have changed slightly from skater punk like NOFX and The Vandals to the more hardcore and political like The Varukers and Conflict. I have pretty strong political views, but at the moment I don't think any of the parties are better than the others. I think it’s important to keep racist parties like the BNP from controlling anything though. I love the music, but also the punk ethos, and sometimes I wonder why punk is in such a minority, it just makes so much sense to me. My views have got stronger and I have converted to vegetarianism in the last few years and love playing benefit gigs for good causes.’

Rotten Agenda have a new track Armed Response Unit which features on a compilation album to raise money for animal rights group SPEAK – details can be found at

www.myspace.com/compilationbenefitcd

So you’re a band with a conscience then?

‘Well, there are gigs like the one at Epic skate park in Birmingham - when we got there we realised it was a beer festival with 50 kegs of real ale and cider and they let us drink as much as we liked for free. We were there from 3pm until 4am!’

What have been the high points so far on the road apart from that one?

‘The great thing is being able to play benefit gigs to help raise a bit of money for some good causes. We have played gigs for the Hunt Sabs, Anti-Fascism, Vegan Prisoners, Sue Ryder, Childline, Oxfam, B*llox to Poverty and also played at a CND protest rally outside Aldermaston nuclear facility. Also, we’ve had the honour of playing with most of my favourite bands including Sick On The Bus, Subhumans, Contempt, GBH, Active Slaughter, Drongos For Europe, Police Bastard, Anti-Nowhere league, The Beat and many more.’

Did the recent closing of the Soundhaus fill you with inconsolable sadness after some great gigs/nights there, or are you happy to see it stand empty like a monolithic tombstone to the death of a scene that wasn’t really needed with the New Roadmender’s re-emergence from the ashes?

‘I was actually quite gutted to see it close down – it’s the end of an era. Although it wasn't somewhere I’d go to that often recently, I did when I was at college, and have also seen quite a lot of good bands there including Subhumans, Drongos For Europe, Anti-nowhere League, Therapy? and many more. It’s just another part of the alternative scene that’s now lost forever, and all to make room for luxury flats for the rich! I'm also not a massive fan of the Roadmender, I have seen a few good bands there including Hawkwind and Stiff Little Fingers but I do find the place quite expensive.’

Rotten Agenda’s new album is in the can as they say and should be snarling its way into your consciousness in the next month or two?

‘Hopefully, it’s actually all ready to go and we’ve had a friend hand-draw the artwork for us, so we just need a bit more cash in the band fund and we will be getting it printed. We also have the track Election Time on the Birmingham based compilation Angry Scenes which we should have copies to sell any time soon.’

Check

www.myspace/rottenagenda for more details.

Grrrl power.