MASSAPPEAL
MADNESS!!!
By: Josh Schafer
Once in a great while, an innovative album is unearthed from the depths of time forgotten. MASSAPPEAL’s Nobody Likes a Thinker is one of those rare instances. Formed in 1985, MASSAPPEAL was cranking out songs faster, harder, and most importantly louder than what some people might have been ready to comprehend. Now with their resurgence, it will give us all an opportunity to hear what hardcore was like in a land down-under.
RESOUND: What were your thoughts when you found out Relapse wanted to re-issue Nobody Likes a Thinker?
BRETT CUROTTA: “It came as a complete surprise. We had just been asked to reform for the ROLLINS BAND/BLACK FLAG West Memphis 3 Benefit only a few weeks earlier and also had been offered to have our CDs re-issued in Australia. It was a pretty weird feeling for me because a lot of my favorite bands are on the label. As far as I knew, nobody even knew about MASSAPPEAL overseas. It turns out that Matt Jacobson had all our early stuff and was a fan of the band back then. He really wanted to re-release it, for which I am eternally grateful. It’s a big deal for us; we are a little band from the bottom of the world! Thanks Matt!!!”
RESOUND: The live stuff at the end of the re-issue was taken from a show while you were on tour with D.R.I. Do you have any specific memories about that tour or that particular show?
CUROTTA: “It started extremely violent and that violence gradually increased as the show went on, culminating in our singer having a go at the skinheads, which was bizarre in itself as Randy is a very mellow guy. What I do remember about the fight was Felix (D.R.I. drummer) coming straight out and bashing the culprits over the head with his drum stands of solid metal! His whole thing was that you go straight in and don’t give them a chance. They obviously had a lot of experience with this kind of stupidity by touring the states for years already. The DRI tour was great! It was the first tour by an overseas hardcore band out here and they were totally great to watch every night.”
RESOUND: I learned from the liner notes that you personally did quite a lot of traveling and saw a lot of amazing bands/shows. Did seeing these bands have any influence on the music that you wrote with MASSAPPEAL? Do you have any good stories from your travels?
CUROTTA: “When I went overseas in 1982, I didn’t play an instrument; I was simply a fan
and observer. Being in London throughout 1982-1983 I saw all the amazing English punk bands of the time - GBH, UK SUBS, EXPLOITED, BROKEN BONES and DISCHARGE - going to shows nearly 2-3 nights a week for two years. Personally, the bands that had the greatest influence on me were the hardcore bands from the U.S.A. Once they came to London, they really did show up a lot of the English bands with the aggression and speed with which they played. THE DEAD KENNEDYS came over with M.D.C in Nov ‘82, then BLACK FLAG in Jan ‘83, and then BAD BRAINS in April ‘83. Well then it was fucking all over for me!! I was hooked; I was in. This is the music I wanted to be involved in.”
“The most memorable night I had in London was seeing snow for the first time in my life, on the way to see BLACK FLAG at the 100 Club in Jan ‘83. After the show we went to a club called the Camden Palace to catch up with some friends. There was this beautiful looking girl up on stage miming to some song and I remember thinking: ‘This chick is hot!’
So, the song finished and the voice comes over the PA, saying ‘Please put your hands together for MADONNA!’ My life was complete! BLACK FLAG, snow, and MADONNA all in one night! I can die a happy man!”
RESOUND: With this re-issue are there any thoughts of maybe playing some shows? Do you have any other musical endeavors going on right now?
CUROTTA: “We have been back together since 2003: writing new music, playing occasionally and trying to get all our old LPs reissued. It’s been really great playing again and I wish we could do it more. Unfortunately, our singer lives on the Far North Coast and has to fly down for rehearsals two days before we play so it’s very difficult. Nevertheless, we’re extremely happy with the new music we’ve been writing.
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