Lower Class Brats set out to create an original brand of music. Mixing Punk, Oi, Glam, and Rock ’n’ Roll, LCB’s music encompasses the philosophy of punk combined with visceral and cinematic references to “A Clockwork Orange.” LCB’s fresh blend of pure energy, freedom, creativity, angst, and passion is unparalleled. With a discography including 7” records/EPs, 12’ records/EPs, full-length albums/CDs, as well as collections, live recordings, and DVDs, LCB has toured the world, including the U.S., U.K., Europe, Canada, and Asia. LCB celebrates every moment with their fans, encouraging them to shout and mosh along.

Roya sat down with Bones, singer of the legendary Lower Class Brats, to talk about their history, music, tours, and advice for upcoming bands in the scene.

What are your top cities you’ve toured?

Not Really quite sure how to answer that one. We have played a lot of different places while touring over the past 20 some odd years. I can’t say that any one place is better than the other. Some cities are bigger, some towns are smaller. But we always put on the same show. Doesn’t matter to us.

Is there one city that stood out?

The one city that stands out to me personally, has always been a little part of Berlin called Kreuzberg in Germany. That place definitely stole my heart.

In the early 80’s, DC had one of the biggest, thriving punk scenes in the nation. Starting your band in the mid 1990s, did you get to play with some of the legends in DC?

Believe it or not, no. We have never played in DC proper. We have played in plenty of cities around it like Baltimore, Charlottesville, Richmond and even Virginia Beach.

What are your top DC punk/hardcore bands?

Classic bands like Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Teen Idles, Iron Cross and my personal DC favorite’s, Black Market Baby; plus tons more. The nations capital was a hotspot for punk rock. Hosted by clubs like the 9:30 Club. Which changed locations in the mid-90’s. I just recently looked up the history of that place and it is off the hook. Recommended online reading for sure!

What are some of your favorite venues?

They all have their own charm. Big or small. Just like the cities.

All-time favorite?

My all-time favorite venue was definitely CBGB’s. It was like walking into a time warp. We got to play there three or four times and I am extremely grateful for that.

CB’s is legendary. I think I saw one of the last—or the last—show before they closed down. Do you have a story from when you played?

I remember one time we were loading-in and his daughter, Lisa opened the door for us. She asked us to be quiet and said that Hilly (owner of CBGB) was doing a video interview for VH1 and to load-in and walk around the camera as not to be in the frame. We quickly loaded-in and sat behind the cameraman and listened to Hilly tell his story; from managing the Dead Boys to his presonal thoughts on people like Patti Smith. it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear all the cool stuff he had to say and the memories he had.

That’s incredible! What a once in a lifetime experience! What was it like to play there?

We always played to a packed house there. Which really wasn’t hard since it only held 350 to 400 people. But I have a lot of great memories from that place. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Best hotel on tour?

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed at (definitely the funnest) is the Phoenix Hotel in San Francisco’s Tenderloin. It is 100% a Rock ‘n’ Roll hotel in every definition of the word.

I heard there’s something about their pool?

Their pool was declared a Rock ‘n’ Roll landmark!

Type of food you prefer when you are touring?

We are kind of split up between vegetarians and meat eaters in the band, but we can make anything work.

Best food spots?

Truthfully, we tend to eat cheaply. Haha!!

Tell us about Marty’s (guitarist) first band.

Back in the 90’s Austin there wasn’t a lot of bands playing the type of music that we were listening to. In fact, no Oi! bands whatsoever in the city or state. The whole city was filled with garage rock revival bands, college rock and 90’s pop. Marty was playing in a band at the time called The Cov’rs, which consisted of about half covers and half originals. The covers they were doing were bands like Angelic Upstarts and Sham 69.

What was The Cov’rs original music like?

Their originals seemed to be more in the hardcore punk vein.

It sounds like Marty and you were into the same music.

Yeah, Marty and I were into the same types of music. Glam rock, punk, Oi!, rock ‘n’ roll, and 80’s American hardcore.

How did you start LCB?

I approached Marty about starting a different band with him. We wrote a handful of songs together in my bedroom and soon took in The Cov’rs bass player, Rick Brat and started practicing. Rick’s friend, Rob Brat (who was a metal drummer) was recruited about two months later.

I know you started the band in 1995 in Austin, TX. Are you all still living there?

No. I am originally from Southern California. I moved to Austin in 1990 and started the band in ’95. I spent a good 25 years of my life there. Great city but it was time to come back home to San Diego, about 3 years ago. The whole band is now currently living in Southern California. Marty Volume and myself are in San Diego and Ron Conflict (bass), Zed (guitar) and Nick Brat (drums) are all living in the Los Angeles area.

Can you tell me a little about the rest of the guys in your band and how you all met? We already talked about Marty, so how about Ron Conflict (bassist)?

I remember going to see his band, Final Conflict, play a bunch of times as a kid in the mid-80’s here in Southern California. I loved them, and still do! Fast forward to the early 2000’s and we got a call from a booking agent saying he wanting to book a tour for us and The Unseen. All I knew is that his name was Ron Martinez and he was from Crawlspace Booking. It wasn’t until a couple years later that I asked him if he was ever in any bands. It turns out that he was the singer for Final Conflict! Wow! The 15-year-old me was pretty starstruck. Fast forward another 12 years and Ron is still our booking agent and we were out a bass player for an Australian tour. Being a good guy he is, he stepped up to fill-in. He hasn’t left the band since. That was 8 years ago.

How about Zed (guitarist)?

Zed came in as a try-out for second guitar. In our over 20-year history we have never had a second guitar player and thought we might just try it out. He fit in real nicely and actually played his first show with us the same night!

Tell us about Nick Brat (drummer).

I had met Nick Brat various times throughout the years, but really got to know him as the fill-in drummer for Vice Squad from England on our US tour with them in 2009. When the band relocated to Southern California a few years ago, Punt* couldn’t make it. So we instinctively thought of Nick. He’s an amazing drummer.

I’m addicted to your song “Addicted to Oi!” How do you come up with that?

Truthfully, that song title was stolen from a fanzine that came out of England in the 1990’s. I just borrowed it.

What inspires your song titles generally?

The song titles are generally just taken from the chorus or a line in the song. Pretty basic really. Nothing to it.

Your song, “Fools” seems to be about tough times and bullies. It is so encouraging to sing with the lyrics and know that even at the worst times, there is hope.

That‘s very nice of you to say! That really means a lot. As punk rockers, weirdos, freaks, metal heads, rock and rollers, etc., we are led to feel ousted and pushed aside from mainstream society. And 90% of underground music reflects that, generally speaking. ”Us against them” stuff. Which definitely has its place because it reminds you and others of where you stand. But that’s not all that life is about.

A lot of your lyrics inspire camaraderie and encourage people to be comfortable in their own skin.

A lot of people in these underground scenes only have this type of subculture as an outlet. I saw a lot of these kids hurting with no guidance in their lives whatsoever; they are not alone and we try to remind them of that. I’m 50 years old and I still remember being that kid that thought that every problem was the end of the world. It was a very dark and heavy time in my life. But I realized that if you hold your head up you can get through anything.

Name the top five bands that inspire your music.

Personally and in no order: Blitz, KISS, Slade, Battalion of Saints, and Last Resort.

Do you have any new merchandise that your fans can get?

Sure thing! Thanks for asking! https://lowerclassbrats.bigcartel.com

Do you plan to tour or record a new album after we are out of lockdown?

Not at the moment. We have been working on new riffs here and there, but are still getting ready to release an already recorded new album titled, “Tales of the Wild, the Ugly and the Damned.” The cover art is all done and laid out. We are just waiting to take band photos for the insert. But now that COVID-19 has settled in, it’s pushed us back even more.

Is COVID-19 stalling the release?

This record has been cursed due to the length of time it is taking to come out and we are laughing calling it our personal “Chinese Democracy.“

What are the songs you like to play the most on tours?

My favorite song to play live, and has been since we wrote it, is “I’m a Mess.” Lyrically, it brings back a rush of memories to where I was at in my life when the song was written. It’s about coping and humility. As I look back on the song, it’s also about redemption. Sometimes it’s like my life flashing before my eyes for 3 minutes. Not to mention, it’s got an amazing beat that the boys put behind it and it’s fun to dance around to on stage.

Have you met any fans on tour that have inspired songs or ideas that you put in your songs?

Most of my lyrics are based off of real life experiences. People I meet, places I’ve been to, things I’ve done. Stuff like that. I can’t say that I have written about a fan in particular, but there has definitely been inspiration from maybe something someone said or did.

Do you have any advice for fans starting punk rock bands?

Totally! Play what you want to play. Do what your heart tells you to do. Don’t try to be your heroes—they are already doing that. Do your own thing and inspire others. Most of all, be yourself!

Punt (Eric Powers) is LCB’s previous drummer/past member.

By Roya