Playing in an honorable slot as headliner on the second day of the St. Patrick’s Weekend Punk Rock show, UK’s MENACE drummer, Noel Martin and guitarist, Finn Panton gleefully surveyed the premises, taking in all the palpable energy the first night provided. Fortunate enough to meet the two Englishmen, I sat down with them to discuss the early days of the band, the highs and lows of their career and what the future holds.
When did MENACE actually begin their Punk/Rock path and who were some of your early inspirations?
Martin: We started in 1976. We were friends attending the same school and met Morgan Webster, the singer who was in Toronto, Canada, at a popular pub. We were signed right away when we played a gig at the Roxy. Unfortunately, Morgan died in 1991. MENACE eventually split up in 1979 but managed a sort of cult-like following with « Last Year’s Youth » and « Carry No Banners« , two songs that really pushed the band forward. However, being a «Street Punk» band certainly lends itself to controversy as some of their material had been banned and as a result, the record companies decided to pull their support, thus ending the first incarnation of the band. Oh I’d say Ian Paiste from Deep Purple, Zeppelin’s John Bonham and of course THIN LIZZY were of great importance to me back then.
Panton: We were influenced from lots of bands playing at the time from those around us to the U.S. bands as well.
Since its inception, how has the band’s sound changed over the years?
Panton: It hasn’t really. We still play old school Street Punk.
Martin: Right, we still play the same style but of course we’ve gotten better as musicians along the way.
What are some of you fondest memories/stories through the years?
Martin: We have quite a lot. Most probably the gig we played at CBGBs two days before September 11th.
Panton: Oh yeah, it was a very poignant moment for us.
Martin: Well that and seeing my first born son being born. We actually carved his name into our first single with The ACES in celebration of the birth. It was called, « One Way Street« .
Panton: I remember when MENACE broke up and some of us joined with Vermillion (female biker) to form The ACES from 1980 to 1984, we were privy to what THE POLICE were doing and at one point they were recording « Roxanne » in Leatherhead (a small town in Surrey, England) and we thought, «Nah, they’ll NEVER make it with THAT song!» (laughing)
So how does the latest album, « Too Many Punks Are Dead » compare to those records so many years ago?
Martin: (laughing) Well, like we said, our playing has gotten a lot better!
Panton: Yeah, but I think we’ve written two very «iconic» songs, in « Fuck You » and « Vote Punk Rock« .
Finally, how do you see the future of MENACE in 10 years?
Panton: (laughing) I’ll be dead! No, probably still playing. I have two illnesses, 1) Rock n’ Roll and 2) something I won’t talk about here. (smiling)
Martin: Most likely, we’ll continue playing and performing. With MENACE headlining the Montreal, St. Patrick’s Weekend gig, there’s no doubt fans have emerged to see the legends perform after so many years. As the world is in the state that it’s in, there will always be room for the youth to find a way to « tell it like it is » in no uncertain terms. This is the essence of Punk, the essence of rebellion, the essence of MENACE…
