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MAXIMUM ROCK'N'ROLL #11 (USA) - January 1984

The Kids, Streets, Chainsaw, X-Pulsion, Mad Virgins, ... all belong to the history of Belgium's punk. Most of those bands are now defunkt, and after 1978 there were hardly any more punk releases. Only on the new wave sampler LP No Big Business were there any punk songs, one by Spermicide (who also had an EP) and one by Underdogs.

In 1980-1981, there were several post-punk records, which were interesting: Red Zebra, De Brassers, Siglo XX, AA, and the Strugglers all started as punkbands, and remained so in spirit, even when their music changed. But compared to Germany or Holland, punk in Belgium was always less of a phenomena.

In the beginning of 1983, the first attempts were made to change this. Punk Etc., the first Belgian punk label, was set up by Dirk Michiels, a 23-year old computer operator from Merchtem, near Brussels. Their first release was a C-60 cassette called Allez Cracher, with 7 punk bands on it (Typhus, Vortex, Oveux, Anarchists on Dope, Sexy Bollocks, Underdogs, and Nuits Saint Georges). One of these bands, Sexy Bollocks, released a 7" EP, What's in a Name !, on Punk Etc. Other bands such as Jeugd van Tegenwoordig released a 7" of their own.

Dirk Michiels produced and financed these releases. He also organized a few gigs with several Belgian punkbands. A new cassette is being released, Second Time Around, and will contain material by More Action, Kraut, Subversion, Zyklome A, Fixator, and The Dirty Scums. The tracks sound amazing. Also, a double A-side single will be released on Punk Etc.: Moral Demolition and Zyklome A will be produced by R. Beelen, the leading post-punk producer.

As there are not a lot of Belgian punks (only a few thousand), it is difficult to sell many copies of punk records. We would like to get some support from outside Belgium: letters, orders, tapes, etc. Please write us at Punk Etc., Mottestraat 12, 1870 Wolvertem. Thanks.

Jan De Bonolt