Rockezine.com interview with Toxic Bonkers on Dec 10, 2004

with Qboot on Dec 10, 2004

A little while ago the Polish death metallers of Toxic Bonkers released their third full length album. As there is almost nothing to be found about this band on the internet, I thought it was time for an interview.
		Could you tell our readers something about the history of the band? I guess not every death metal fan will know Toxic Bonkers. Greetings from Poland. Toxic Bonkers was formed in 1993 by Klimer (drums) and Sobi (guitar [pronouncing Sobee]). The guys met Majo (vocals) and Dżuma (bass) and started to play some crusty grinding punk. They recorded a well known demo in 1994 which sold about 5000 copies. After changing the bass player into Grela they recorded the first big LP for S.O.A. and Pop Noise (distribution in Poland) called If The Dead Could Talk (1997). The guys became really known in Europe and played some tours in Switzerland, Germany and other countries. They changed the vocalist in 1998 - Grabaż came to introduce his mighty growl. In 1999 Toxic Bonkers recorded their second LP Blindness which was the continuation of the early demo; they rearranged the tracks and wrote some new ones. I was a really crusty grind core blast with great, filthy sound. And the band was upgraded with a second guitarist - Mumin. In 2000 guitarist Sobi died of cancer which was a great, great loss for the band. Klimer even considered quitting playing altogether. But Sme joined the band after a little time to play the guitar. But two years later Grabaz decided to leave and I joined the band. And since august 2002 we play and keep the spirit of Toxic Bonkers alive. That`s the short story of Toxic Bonkers.
		What made you guys choose the name Toxic Bonkers? Yeah, that`s the main question in every interview. Well, Toxic Bonkers in polish means Toxic Farters. We fart a lot and we spread the stench every place we go. It came out in 1993 after a rehearsal of the band. Believe me, you have to be tough to get into our bus and stay alive.
		A little while ago you released Seeds Of Cruelty and I thought the production was very good. Are you happy with the way the recordings took place? Yes, we are very happy. It was my first time in the studio but everything went quite clearly. The soundman was cooperative and we didn`t have problems with defining our thoughts about the CD. It was a first professional recording as guys say. It took about 10 days to record and mix the whole thing. But we had some problems with mixing and we had to remix the material to make it sound like you can hear.
		How do you cope with the fact that a founding member dies after a bad sickness? It was a big punch straight in the face for the band members and especially for Klimer, who was Sobi’s best friend. Watching a friend becoming every day weaker and sicker was a very bad feeling and a painful experience. As I said, Klimer thought about ending Toxic Bonkers, but he is a mentally strong man and he coped with the pain. And everybody wanted Sobi to be proud of what we do so we try to do our best and remember him. It`s a pity for me because I didn`t know him and every person says that he was a great man. Rest in peace, Sobi.
		After reading the lyrics on Seeds Of Cruelty, I wondered if you guys are a political band. Are the politicians that bad in Poland? Toxic Bonkers started as a crust/grind band and it was always a political band. In Poland politicians are really bad; I don`t even want to talk about it because it could take a whole eternity. But nowadays the band is less political and we try to concentrate on the problems of a simple man; of us, our fears, angers and general feelings. It allows the listeners to identify a little more with the lyrics and maybe someone would feel better if he sees that someone feels the same as he does.
		Qboot, are you responsible for the lyrics? Or are the members free to write lyrics as well? Until now mainly Klimer was writing the lyrics. But lately I started to take part in writing lyrics and finally it`s my job, but everyone has the right to write. About 3 weeks ago Mumin brought his text and we are working to fit it into the music. So it isn`t someone`s job. Like with the music, everybody has his share.
		Are you happy with the cooperation between the label and the band? Yeeeees, we are truly fuckin’ satisfied of what Karol of Selfmadegod does. He promotes the band all around the world. He sent the material where he could and we got many many interviews to fill and there are lots of reviews on the net. And we finally feel like being in the right place, not death metal, not punk rock, but our style that someone wants to promote because he likes it, not because it`s some specified music genre. Selfmadegod is a small label and Karol doesn`t make many releases, so he has some troubles coping with it, but he does great work for the band and he is personally a great man, kind and friendly. He is our mate and we like each other very much.
		What do you think of the Polish metal scene at this moment? I mean, there are a couple of well-known bands like Vader, Behemoth and Decapitated. But what about the rest? Are there some good bands in the underground? The metal scene is strong and it grows year after year. But grind core, power violence, gore, crust bands are still little known. People in Poland like the old school metal and aren`t too open-minded for "new" music as we describe Seeds Of Cruelty. But having some well known bands, whose name every maniac around the globe knows is a reason to be proud of. It is good that they try to promote Poland in the world and they play fuckin’ good music.
		Could you explain to someone who has never seen you guys what a Toxic Bonkers show is like? So the fans can get some sort of an idea. The shows are quite emotional and we want to feel the crowd and make the crowd feel us. Feel the emotions the aggression of pissed off people and to give them some of our power. I often get into the crowd with my mic and I sing to them, straight in their faces (it is possible when they are not drunk enough to kick or punch me while screaming). We live for playing gigs. We don`t want to stand on the stage and focus on our instruments; we hate that wall between the crowd and the band that we can see on many metal shows. People are very important to us; I love to hear their screaming, when they sing with me. We try to get the closest we can to show them that we are just humans like them, we have problems and we are to entertain them or to help sometimes. It is some kind of mission that we bring every night we play. We love it.
		Some last words to the readers of Rockezine? A great, great thanks to Rockezine for the interview, big big thanks to Karol of Selfmadegod.com, to Marek Kurnatowski - our manager and friend and to all the people who want to listen to us and to be the part of Toxic Bonkers; big big thank you. See you on the show!
(Lars van Bergen)