Shut The Hell Up! have existed for the last 2 years, playing plenty of shows over the North Island. We recently decided to call it quits and move onto different things while we were still at the top of our game.
What can we expect to see from Shut The Hell Up over the next year?
3 final shows then that's it. We will always keep making music, but we have come to the end of this chapter in our lives.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Do it because you love doing it. Musicians have 2 types of egos, 1 is: "We are so wicked we won't play small venues and we want lots of money" the other is "We are so wicked we will play anywhere for anything just to prove how wicked we are"
The latter being the type of musicians I'd rather deal with when it comes to being in a band or booking shows with.
Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?
5th Threat, Dole Day Rage and Black Chrome, just coz they sound so good, and are top blokes too, I'd go into bat for any of them, anyday.
What will Shut The Hell Up’s next release be?
We have just released a live CD called 'Live and Livid'. It's a live album recorded at an all ages show in Palmerston North, its available on CD via our Facebook and MySpace profiles and on iTunes.
How do you come up with your lyrics?
Very quickly and with not much thought. STHU! isn't about agendas or deep feelings, we are a straight up Punk Rock n Roll band, dealing with reality how we see it.
Who would you most like to support live?
We have played with some of my "Punk Rock heroes" such as Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Varukers, UK Subs and we will be playing with GBH in October the night before our final show. My first experience will a fully fleged Punk Rock band was seeing the Varukers when I was 14 in Napier, changed my life (For better or worse, I'll let you decide! haha)
How do you believe Shut The Hell Up fits into the NZ music industry?
We don't and we won't. We play for the love of Punk Rock and Rock n Roll in general. We have released 2 CD's on our own efforts, we aren't "Anti-Music Industry" as such, but we are comfortable with existing as an independant DIY band.
What can you never leave home without?
Music, or a tune in my head.
How do you describe Shut The Hell Up’s music?
Loud, Fast Obnoxious Punk Rock, loosely styled on U.K Punk from 77 thru the UK82 sound. theres plenty of swearing in it too. We aren't out to be technical wizards or intelligent romantics!
What is your favourite NZ venue?
White Hart Hotel in New Plymouth, a dirty old PUB. Not some wanky "venue" with overpriced drinks and attitudes to match. Its a dirty old Bikers pub, just the way we live it. Smash Palace in Gisborne is awesome too.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Music. Seeing, hearing, or playing it. It's about shaking off all the crap from the week at work and having a good time, ready to start the next week fresh with a new tune in your head.
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
Ones that are passionate and sincere about what they do and are able to have a good chat about things.
What is in your CD collection at home?
Heaps of Punk Rock mostly, I also dig 1950's Rock n Roll, Psychobilly and local stuff.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
Playing to about 200 leather-clad bikers on a farm on the back of a truck. There was some pellets to climb onto the stage with, climbing up my pants split in the crotch. We played on anyway, I'd like to think it was a pretty Rock n Roll thing to happen!
What is your favourite place in NZ to be?
On a stage or in front of a good Rock n Roll band.
What inspired you to become a start Shut The Hell Up?
Shitty Punk Rock, nothing more, nothing less.
How did you come up with the name Shut The Hell Up?
There is various references from bands in the past, also it's about standing up for what you believe in and not taking crap from people who talk shit all the time.
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
With U.K Subs at the White Hart 23 October 2009. I was amped up from seeing the Dwarves the week before who just blew my mind live, and also my father-in-law had died the day before, so I was in a highly emotive state at both ends of the spectrum. Everything on stage seemed to be right and I had a great time, the U.K Subs were the most brilliant out of all 6 times I had opened for them on the 3 different tours.
How do you keep in contact with your fans?
At shows, on the street, and also Facebook and MySpace. "It's nice to be important, but it's also important to be nice"
What rumour would you like to start about Shut The Hell Up?
That we gave up because the Mafia gave us heaps of money and we blew it on cocaine. (Might as well go for gold!)
Shut The Hell Up! is high octane Punk Rock n Roll band from New Plymouth.
Born to Rock, Ready to Roll, Shut The Hell Up, ready to go!