CLASS OF 1991 - 14 CDs - 1500 CONCERTS over 3 continents
The Cult band have never stopped over the last 17 years to play Ska and only Ska. The bridge between Oi-streetpunk and Rocksteady in the pure 80's spirit !SKARFACE started in 1991. Producing 1 Cd a year (like in the good old days of rock'n'roll), the band is uncontestedly in the forefront of the international Ska scene. With more than 1200 concerts bringing them to towns like Moscou,Tokyo, Bratislava, Praha, Montreal..., doing big tours across Germany, Spain, Italy, Switzeland, USA, Canada and lots of other countries... while forgetting 80% of the time their own country (France). Despite this, they have awoken many of today's vocations. From the beginning their choice of independance and freedom was obvious. Never a Recording Company, or a Promoter has been of any interest to them, prefering the Underground Scene, far from the media's and all the stupidity. Resulting to : a reject and a nearly total black-out for one of the most honest and creative french bands. Even with all the problems and voluntary tricks blocking their roads, all is going strong. Thousands of fans from around the world come to their gigs and buy their records. With no external help, refusing all of any kind, asking nothing of of anyone, they even dare to reinvest all money gained in the production of other groups, without being payed themselves for the last 8 years. SKARFACE is an attitude, a family. Unfairly criticized since the beginning (under various puroses), because several members of the group are Skinheads, for several young wankers this reject goes on even today, too stupid to see that it's themselves they're shooting in saying the same shit as their reactionary elders. Yet SKARFACE has always refused any political engagements, Humanity values, sharing, respect, no-racism and no-violence are what they fight for in their songs. Even if some of their lyrics are frivolous, you can't avoid that others treat more serious problems. Not being involved in politics doesn't mean beeing deaf, not thinking you have the right to order other people doesn't mean beeing blind. Yes, SKARFACE has done quite alot of "Involved Gigs" (insurection, disobedience, freedom of choice,human rights,...). Fathers of the anthem "Ska c'est la fête" (Ska party) in 91, their conclusion in 99 would rather be "Ska is shit". A handful of ignorants are making shit fanzines and place themselves as teachers of good thought for the world, alot of bands hate skinheads (who were the basic audience of this jamaican music), and sometimes some morons of the audience believe they see fascists in black music gigs. A bit of culture, fucking hell ! We also need sometime to rest and a band like SKARFACE is a breath of fresh air in this unfair world, ruled by social pressure. So... don't take everything too seriously and more than that : learn to laugh about yourself. no one is better than another guy, everything has already been done and the strongest will one day fall over the wall. We will all die for sure, so let's take advantage of the present in not always looking for trouble with our neighbours and trying to have a good time. For oneself, with no ulterior motive.
