Brutal Attack

Courtesy of Blood & Honour Magazine - Issue 26 - 2002

1) Salutations and racial greetings, could you please tell us what the band have been up to in the last year, since the memorable White Christmas gig 2001? And what we have to look forward to in 2003!
Greetings, I must say it has been a while since B&H have taken the time to ask about Brutal Attack! Thought you may have forgotten about us. During the last twelve months myself and the boys have been very active playing Spain, Austria x 2, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia and America all of which have been very successful.
However I expect 2003 to be a little quieter as three of us are expecting babies now or in the future.

2) As one of the longest standing figureheads within our movement, could you please tell us your thoughts, opinions and ideas on the direction Blood & Honour has taken?
Firstly I feel uncomfortable with the word figurehead as I see myself as no different from any of the people who attend our concerts. I think some people should remember that with out the support from our fans there would be no band! We are ALL as important as each other. I do not have any input into Blood and Honour so am in no place to complain. Although I don't see it as being run in the way originally planned.

3) Brutal Attack have played most theatres, how would you compare the American and Australian scenes/movements to Europe, many see these scenes really coming together now, do you agree?
Every country/continent has its own way of working all of which are successful I have noticed by way of revisiting countries in Europe 5 or 6 years after first playing, the dramatic change in organisation and professionalism none more so than this year in Slovenia, I was extremely surprised and even humbled by the hard work they had put in to ensure the gig was a success.

4) The Blood & Honour magazine was first launched at a concert in Croydon, with yourselves and Skrewdriver playing, over a decade ago! Have times changed the crowds and concerts, and your views on the magazine in its current independent form?
Time has changed our scene, but it has had to change to survive. B&H has been through some very traumatic times, but still survives and may be not as big as it was, I believe it is healthy.
Those who sought to destroy it have revealed themselves as traitors, spies and generally greedy self-promoting egotists. I still have a lot of hate for those people. An awful lot of hate!!

5) With Brutal Attack's history and achievements, what goals and ambitions do you still hold?
Brutal Attack's only ambition is to still be a valid mouthpiece for the W.P scene.

6) Have you any memorable incidents or recollections of your times with Ian Stuart that you would share with us?
I get asked this question quite a lot, my answer is always the same, my recollections and memories are mine and I will keep them to myself. Sorry.

7) Looking back on all Brutal Attacks releases, have you a personal favourite? And why?
This may sound odd but I don't listen to Brutal Attack that much I am always planning the next release. A lot of people cite 1987's "Tales of Glory" as a bit of a favourite so I would have to agree. Of our later releases I enjoyed "When Odin Calls" and our last release "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned" which was our 20th anniversary album.

8) As a lead singer you have obviously experienced the highs and lows of being such a well known face in our scene, would you share with our readers what you recall as your finest/best moment with Brutal Attack so far?
There is a moment that will always stick in my mind. We were playing in Bratislava in Slovakia and half way through our set. While Brad was playing the intro to "Always Near" I started to clap my hands above my head. Suddenly 1500 people in the crowd were doing the same. Now this may not sound to exciting I know, but none of these people spoke any English but when we played those chords all these people suddenly reached out to us and we all were simultaneously paying respect to the greatest man I have ever met. I wont deny it I cried and I actually cry quite a lot during this one song.

9) Every band/type of sound/music has its fans, but what do you personally listen too and what direction do you see the musical resistance taking, do you see the heavier American sound becoming more prominent within Europe, or do you think the more traditional oi! /rock sound will stay true?
Its horses for courses really, no one sound try's to dominate another, what happens is when 4/5 guys form a band is the music normally defines the band. You cant force anything, I have respect for any band who genuinely believe in what they are doing regardless of style. My favourite band of the moment? The mighty Max Resist that track "ghost" breath taking.

10) What is your take on the political situation in Great Britain at present, can you see one of the Nationalist Parties taking more of a centre stage if the current trend of mass immigration continues?
Oh serious stuff! The present Governments policy on immigration is going to back fire, of that there is no doubt, however the leaders of all the right wing parties today are in no position to lead anything, to many petty jealousies, to much back, biting to much rivalry.

11) You have also branched out and recorded many very successful ballads, will you continue with this route and have you any new projects in the pipeline?
Not much time to elaborate there then? I enjoy recording ballads so will continue to do so, as it gives me another avenue for my story telling. Brutal Attack has a split cd on the way with America's Bully Boys also another project in the pipeline, which we will reveal shortly.

12) Blood & Honour would like to take this opportunity to thank Brutal Attack for continuing to be such an inspiration to so many around the world, would you please give us any closing comments and thoughts you would like to share with our readers?
My personal thoughts? Anybody who turns their back on B&H for whatever reason, leaves forever, there is no way back, this is not a hobby, pastime, this is for real this is for life.

Ken Mclellan

Brutal Attack - A History of '25 Years On the Attack'

Courtesy of Blood & Honour Magazine - Issue 33

My Friends, Seriously though, Brutal Attack, Where do I start? Talk about up and down. Kids in the classroom singing about the injustices of being stopped from entering pubs because we were too young! Through angry adolescents vowing vengeance for years of nationalistic disrespect, onto fathers crying over a senseless slaughter of innocence, up to today. Proud, proud bearers of the standard of sense and justice. I myself am lucky to have been involved in our revolution from the beginning, maybe a backroom revolution, but to those involved, a very profound, emotive and far reaching one.

1980: Schoolboys, playing (badly) sixth form disco's, a hotbed of leftwing activists, we didn't last long!

1981/82: Outcasts, not old enough to play pubs, not allowed to play college circuit, disband. Talking to Roi Pearce in a pub on the Kings Road, Chelsea. Telling him we were patriotic and loved their skinhead anthems album. Remember him telling me if we want a record deal, we had to drop our political stance. Astounded, I said playing live gigs would be enough. Fuck the record labels!! Played the Blue Coat Boy, Islington (Skunx) Thursday night as a punk band (only way to get gigs!) in the crowd Mr Ian Stuart. After we played he asked us to support them the following week, me and our bass player Andy Nunn, shaved heads again. Dave Lloyd and Neil Holden left the band..Bollox!

1984/85: Not a problem finding replacements, original guitarist, John Whittington rejoins, ex Combat 84 drummer, Brownie comes on board (find out why he's the ex drummer.... he's shit). Nevertheless start playing with all the major skinhead bands, becoming Skrewdrivers No 1 support act. Ian arranges a record deal for us, 6 albums, 6 singles! Unheard of, with Rock 'o' Rama: a German label. Two months later we enter Mark Sutherlands studio in Bow East London and cut 14 tracks, "Stronger than Before" released, using a new bass player, Paul Thornton and drummer the mighty Tony Tompkins! The album was well received.

1986/87: Band off the road, Paul Thornton injured in a motorcycle accident, needs extensive surgery. Fucked him off.

1987/88: Recruit Martin Cross, Skrewdriver guitarist to play bass, and the evolution of Brutal Attack begins. Record 2nd album "As the Drum Beats" which was originally titled "Rocking for Race and Nation", but thought too harsh by the record label who by now are interfering in our progress.

1989: Enter studio on April 1st to record "Tales of Glory". 3 days later it was complete. This seminal recording turned us from another band into a very popular band, gigs were offered everywhere. By now Darren McEviley had replaced Martin on bass who had moved on to guitar! Are you keeping up?

1990: Plugging away with Skrewdriver playing the length and breadth of the country. Record "Steel Rolling On", takes 6 months! Overlaid guitars, piano, orchestration...nobody noticed.

1992: The album "Resurrection" released. Record the bleak "Lost and Found". Band in turmoil due to internal trauma!

1993: Recorded "Into Apocalypse" as a side project with a few friends under another name. Disgusted to realise that Rock 'o' Rama release it as a Brutal Attack album. August, play Pennsylvania, USA as a replacement for Skrewdriver. Here begins a long lasting affiliation with America??? Return home, Hands across the sea. September 24th: Ian Stuart dies in a car crash. My mentor is dead. Brutal Attack is dead. I shared with Ian a very close working relationship, he was my idol. Every album Brutal Attack recorded was first run past Ian for approval. I tried to make every album better than the last Skrewdriver album, a feat we never achieved. The death of Ian hit me very hard and so began a time of turmoil. I disbanded Brutal Attack and let the scavengers fight over the once titanic Blood and Honour movement.

1995/96: We are coaxed into reforming by a good friend Peter Kress and record the album "Conquest" which contains the song "Always Near", my tribute to Ian, written the morning I heard of his death. A song that I wish I had never had to write. I still struggle to sing this at our concerts. I still miss him. 1996: Australia: the album "The Garrison cd" which is a collection of demo's is released.

1997: Next is "Battle Anthems" on Swedish label, Svea, followed quickly by an album of acoustic versions of Brutal Attack standards "Keep the Flame Alive".

1998: Between 1996 and 1998 we extensively toured Europe and America, returning late in the year to record "For the Fallen and the Free" on the German label DK Records. Still touring extensively in Europe using German musicians. At home when Brutal Attack played I borrowed musicians from all the other bands playing at the time: Blakey, drums from English Rose. Roly, bass from Celtic Warrior. Stinko, bass from Celtic Warrior. Brad, guitar from Celtic Warrior and various others. Gradually these guys became permanent Brutal Attack. Blakey, Brad, Roly, Duffy and myself rampaged through Europe once more in what up until now was the perfect Brutal Attack line up. In March 2000 we entered the studio to record our 20th Anniversary album, with Matt Duffy providing a new lease of life into the band. I hadn't realised we had slowed down over the years until we began recording. The result was a powerful energetic album produced by Stuart from nu-metal band Lost Prophets. This was released on Panzerfaust Records, an American label run by a very good friend. Between then today we have continued to play worldwide encompassing all of Europe and America, east coast and west, we have made many enemies along the way. People who don't have an understanding of pride and sense of belonging. Brutal Attack have been a thorn in the side of the establishment for 25 years, despite Roi Pearce advice to drop the politics, we have recorded 15 albums and perhaps countless tracks on countless compilations: so Roi, what were you saying?

2005: Our latest album "Thunder and Lightning" encompasses all the styles we have played over our history. There is punk rock, rock, ballads, slow and fast songs. What we have produced in these 11 tracks are what I consider a culmination of aggression, passion, honesty, enthusiasm and pride. All of us are different characters, all of us different influences; all of us have different ideals. "Thunder and Lightning" is the album I have always wanted to record. Lyrically it is an honest view of how I truly feel. Musically it is as near to perfect, as to how I wanted Brutal Attack to sound.

After 25 years of trying we have finally got it right. To all who have shown support over the years whatever country, whatever faction, we thank you one and all, for without your support there would be no Brutal Attack. From the gigs playing to a dozen people to the gigs playing to thousands, they are all as important, to the organisers, those who risk liberty to put gigs on, to the writers of fanzines that allow us to air our opinions without fear of censure, to the merchandisers who promote Brutal Attack, to the pirates who bootleg our albums, I really don't care as long as people hear our songs I don't mind. I have given 25 years to this rock 'n' roll band, I love it, I mean everything I have ever said, if I am wrong I will apologise. If I am falsely accused I will prove I am right. If I am challenged, I will meet that challenge, I have an over riding sense of morality and faithfulness. I will protect my family and friends with the same voracity I envisage they would protect me and mine.

Once again I thank you. No Excuses, No Regrets, No Remorse Ken McLellan.