OLD BIOGRAPHIES - 1985/1
The Dirty Scums are a three piece band from Belgium. They live in a small village, Zwevezele, at about 20 km. from Bruges. They exist already since the end of 1981. However, today's line-up only dates from October 1983. Nowadays, the members are: Pik (guitar, lead vocals) - Zjantie (drums) - Jenz (bass, vocals). Pik is the only member left from the original line-up.
To describe the music, we can say that it is punk with many '77-influences. They try to put a lot of fun in the music, but nevertheless the texts are talking for a great part about serious things like anti-militarism, anti-fascism, about our own conflicts with the Belgian police, about Belgian political and social situations, ... The lyrix are in English, but also in Dutch (our mother-tongue) and even in French.
Up to now (January 1985), The Dirty Scums have had many gigs (about 50). In the beginning (March 1982 they started to gig) it was not always for a punk public, but during the last year that has become better, because the Belgian punkscene has reached again a punk-boom. There were a lot of concerts, many new (hardcore)bands, many fanzines, but sad to say a very small number of records (1 LP from Zyklome A and perhaps 5 EP's from other bands).
The Dirty Scums have appeared with three songs ("The bloody priest" - "What's the matter with the girl" - "Michel Strée, we support") on the Belgian cassette-compilation "Second Time Around", which is sold out, but the songs are no more representative for today's line-up. They appear also with one song ("Fascist cops don't give a fuck") on a cassette-compilation from the Netherlands, which will be released in January 1985. This song still dates from the line-up before this one, and is with a female singer. There's also an Italian cassette-compilation on which The Dirty Scums appear with two songs, but till the date of release it's not known which ones. In the beginning of 1985 there will be a new Belgian cassette-compilation with some new songs from The Dirty Scums' today's line-up. In 1985 they also have the intention to put something on vinyl.
The Dirty Scums have also an own fanzine: The Truth is Revolutionary (translated). This is a politically-minded zine, with articles about the Belgian politics and the Belgian army, but also articles about bands, gigs, records, ...
For the rest, they try to live in peace and try not to die from thirst.