SACRILEGE: AN INTERVIEW WITH TONY MAY,
ORIGINAL BASS PLAYER FOR LEGENDARY
PRE-CRUST METAL PUNK BRITISH BAND
Okay lads! this interview was taken this spring,
when i contacted Tony and he was so kind
answering all my questions about the past and
present, music and life in general, and of course
about the band that every metal and punk maniac
should WORSHIP: SACRILEGE!!!
This glorious ansamble was active in mid and late
80s and created the unique mixture of metal and
punk, taken both styles to new direction, new
sound and incredible outstanding riffs, which
someone would name even 'proto crust' riffs.
They were a punk band from the start, became
a crossover punk metal band and dove into the
depths of doom heavy metal in the late 80s,
and only now their legacy is becoming as
important as it must be, this was the band
that ran faster than time and were simply
outstanding!
Of course being a huge Sacrilege's fan i asked
many questions about the history and members
of the band. I haven't read many Sacrilege
interviews it's hard to find, and these i've read
were all old, so i hope you enjoy these Tony's
answers as much as i did!!!
Taken: spring 2009
Hi Tony! Thanx for doin an interview with us!
D - OK let's start with the questions 'bout very old times!
When have you first got into heavy/extreme music?
What was the first band which really impressed you?
T - I was into rock music in 1975 & when i heard
B.Sabbath, there was no other band as heavy
& original, as them @ that time, so my love of heavy
metal grew with Sabbath.
D - The first band of yours was Final Attempt according
to your myspace. What style it was, i guess simple
aggressive punk usual for those times?
T - It was 1980 & yes Final Attempt we were very raw
& inexperienced, we could not play our instruments
properly, but that did not seem to matter
( Punk Attitude), we just wanted to get our views
on life in general, across to anyone who would
listen, we were young & angry.
D - Tell us a little bit about your short
appearance in Varukers. Why you and other guys
left this band and decided to form Sacrilege?
T - I personally decided to leave the Varukers on the
way home from a european tour in 1984, that tour
had been very exhausting, & i found out Damian
the guitarist felt the same ,so we discussed
forming a new band, & that turned out
to be Sacrilege.
D - You even did two old Final Attempt songs with
Varukers, whos decision it was to make these
songs with the Varukers?
T - Yes when i joined the Varukers, i offered Rat
some F. Attempt songs, & Rat shortened them to
fit the Varukers style of song writing, the songs
were "Stop the Killing" & "No Hope of a Future".
D - So in 1984 you formed Sacrilege. Is it right that
from the start the goal was to create an
anarcho-punk band?
T - Yes the intention with Sacrilege, was to create
an anarcho punk band, as we followed such
bands as Crass.
D - Anarchopunk movement was very influential for
all bands in those times, but later many of them
turned into more metalized sound.
Why in your opinion it happened?
T - We were listening to alot of punk & metal bands,
& the metal influence started to rub off in our music,
it just seemed a natural progression for us.
D - Anarchist or other 'political' views, was it really
important for Sacrilege in early days?
T - We lived the life of protesting, going on demos etc,
so the band gelled nicely into that part of our lifes.
D - Do you remember what was the first song you
composed with Sacrilege?
T - Good question, i had to really think about this & it
was a song called Cattle Market, with Liam our
original drummer, the song was later dropped
from the set.
D - OK many bands were tryin to incorporate metal
sound into punk in mid 80s, and Sacrilege were one
off the best no doubt. Just from WHERE you got all
these incredible riffs, what bands were influential for
you? Were you into metal and punk both at that time?
D - Like i said before we listened to alot of Punk & Metal
& i think this gave us an advantage, we drew our
influences from so many bands like Antisect, Sabbath,
Slayer & Trouble, they were really our main
influences, Damian wrote 99.9% of the music
& he just progressed so quickly, in my opinion
a very underrated guitarist.
D - Later your songs became longer and darker,
but on "Within the Prophecy" it wasn't doom/heavy
metal yet. Some people describe this album as
"thrash metal" (i'm not sure about it personally).
How would you describe Sacrilege's style
on "Within the Prophecy"?
T - The intention was always to slow down & try
to get as heavy as possible, with past albums
like Realms & Prophecy, we always varied the
music, because we never wanted to be an
out & out thrash band, so "Turn Back Trilobite"
was the next stepping stone & sadly the end
of the road for the band.
D - Some songs had really interesting lyrics and
great names, with therminology from Tolkien
(though lyrics were more metaphorical i would say).
Who has been writing lyrics for Sacrilege mostly?
Was it Tam?
T - Tam did write the lyrics & i think she was a very
clever, creative songwriter, & a spiritually, deep person.
D - Amebix said one time that they had been
misunderstood on a punk scene because of their
non-political lyrics and strong metal influences,
was it the same with Sacrilege?
T - Maybe people expected too much from us,
but we never set out to please the masses,
we only ever followed our own path.
D - You left the band before "Turn Back Trilobite",
can you tell why?
T - The time seemed right, i never felt comfortable
in the studio & the pressure just got too much
for me, Sacrilege in my mind, was always about
playing live, even though we only ever played
20 gigs in the U.K.
D - Have you been playin in other bands after Sacrilege?
T - No, I almost joined Bolt Thrower, as i was meant
to give Jo the bass player a rest (sorry Jo), but in
the end i just chilled out & went to as many
gigs as i could.
D - Many british bands moved from punk to metal
and then after that disbanded: Sacrilege, Onslaught,
Amebix, English Dogs, etc.
Hmm strange fact, can you tell your opinion on that?
T - It does seem strange, but i cannot speak for the
other bands, Damian our guitarist was getting
very disillusioned with the scene in general,
so after the Trilobite album, his song writing got
very laid back, to the point of sounding almost
rocky & bluesy, like the old rock band from the 70s
"Free", after that, his writing became almost folksy
& quite dark & depressing, as Damian had switched
too playing mainly acoustic guitar by then, he does
not play guitar anymore, which to me is a
great loss of Talent.
D - OK can you name your favourite Sacrilege's song?
T - I have a few, but i love 'Closing Irony', from the
Realms Album.
D - What other bands from 80s were important for
Sacrilege's members?
T - Basically the same as early influences, Antisect,
Sabbath, Venom, Slayer, Metallica, Candlemass,
Trouble, etc....
D - What album was the best for Sacrilege in your
opinion? (i would say they all were unique
interesting to know your thoughts!)
T - It has to be "Behind the Realms of Madness"
without a doubt.
...
...
D - Can you remember the best gig you played in
your life?
T - Leeds Adam & Eves & most of the Brimingham
Mermaid gigs.
D - And the best gig you've visited?
T - Got to be Rammstein Berlin 05 @ the Wuhlheide,
what a fantastic place for a band to play.
D - You said on your myspace that you're still into
extreme music, and into Rammstein as well.
What other modern bands, apart from Rammstein,
are your favourites?
T - Emigrate, Hanzel und Gretyl,etc.
D - You have a son, does he like Sacrilege's records?
And what other bands he's listening to?
T - Yes my son likes Sacrilege & he loves his Punk/Metal,
Sum 41, Blink 182, Green Day, Linkin Park & many,
many more....
D - What's your opinion on all these reunions happend
lately, Amebix even are doin a tour, Hellbastard
are ready to release an album, Concrete Sox are
reforming.. have you ever thought about playin again,
maybe even with Damian?..
T - I personally think the reunions are great & good
luck too them,remember a lot of new fans may
never of seen these bands live. I would love
to see Antisect reform myself, but as for Sacrilege,
i have already asked Damian & Tam, but sadly they
have both declined, so no Sacrilege reunion
i am afraid too say.
D - Do you think that punk and metal movements
are still actual for these days?
T - Definitely, we owe both scenes so, so much,
& the bands that have been formed,
because of those scenes is vast.
D - Do you know where is Tam now?
(maybe a stupid question sorry but its so interesting!)
And with whom from punk/metal world of 80s do
you keep relations with ('til this day).
T - I am in touch with Tam, although we have not
met up in many years, & because of my space,
i have found many old bands & friends, + made
many new friends also.
D - What are you hobbies and interests?
T - Music, Tattoos, trying to work out how to use
my computer properly, growing own vegetables,
generally trying to do up my home, going to
gigs when i can, with my Son.
D - I see that you like tattoos, what is you favourite
tattoo you've done?
T - My favourite tattoo has too be, my back which
is dedicated to my Son.
D - What movies do you like to watch?
T - Lord of the Rings, Two Towers & Return of the King.
Documentaries on History, Bikes,
anything interesting really.
D - Do you travel a lot?
T - I love visiting different countries, but due to my
knee problems, this limits what & where i can go,
there is a big world out there & i would like to see
a lot more of it before i die.
D - And the last question, i ask this one always..
If i go to England, what do you recommend to
visit/see first in your country?
T - Well England is only part of the U.K., there is
Scotland, Wales & N.Ireland too, plus Isle of Man
(Famous for MotorbikeT.T.Racing) & Isle of Wright,
which are both Small Islands close to the U.K.
If you started @ the top of the u.k. you would have
to start @ John o'Groats (Scotland), then visit the
Highlands, Lock ness(Monster), Edinburgh Castle,
Edinburgh Motolux Indian Motorcycle Shop,
Hadrians Wall (from roman empire), Lake Windermere
Cumbria, Birmingham Birth of Bands like
Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath etc, Birmingham
Motorcycle Museum, London, Tower Bridge,
Kings Rd, Stonehenge, Glastonbury Tor, Wales,
Machynlleth, Snowdonia, Beacons National Park,
Eden project in Cornwall, Tintagel Castle, St Ives,
& @ the bottom of the u.k. Lands End.
Dublin in Southern Ireland for Guinness(Stout),
Howth, where the Late Great P. Lynott is laid too
rest( T. Lizzy).
I personally have never visited Isle of Man,
nor the Isle of Wright, but there is so much to see,
so Buying a Tourist Guide of the U.K. would help,
then plan your journey from that, it really depends
on the persons interest of the country their
visiting & what they want too see.
(this last answer was almost like a Geography
lesson! hehe follow Tony's advices! -ed.)
Finally, Greetings Russia, Slanteyye who runs the
Sacrilege U.K. MySpace Site, Sacrilege R.I.P.
& Thanks to Daniel & Grind the World Zine,
I am Selling Official Sacrilege Merchandise on Ebay,
so have a look! & i am on MySpace tonymaysacrilege,
I am still amazed @ the interest in the band some
25years on, so, thank you to Old & New Followers,
it is much appreciated.
Peace! 09.
