KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN
Wayne Flask interviews Maltese punk band BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED, on their album, ideas, future

"It all started at home. We were playing in our washroom, and we listened to a song. It was called 69, or something like that. Anyway, we started playing it. From then on we held on to that music…"

"The Batteries" are, namely, Miguel Debattista, known as "Kinnie" (guitar and vocals), Malcolm Dalli "il-Mammal" (bass and vocals), and Steven Dimech, known as "Fish" (drums and vocals). BNI, now into their sixth year, are hailed as the Maltese version of the Sex Pistols. They are a friendly punk band, with a penchant for wine and for speaking the truth.

"We chose Batteries Not Included from a list of forty names to give to our band… we stuck to it, you see! And we chose punk, because, after trying out different kinds of music, we found out that punk was our way. It has to do mostly with our ideas; in this country you either walk with the trends, or else you do something completely different. You can say what you feel… which is very rare in other types of music."

Miguel also pointed out that there is no competition, and no antagonism, between the bands. In fact, he pointed out BNI's thick relationship with R.A.S. and Abstrass, a seventies' punk which has been recently re-united.

"We have fun, and we speak out in the open about the wrong mentality of some people, the many things which are not going well in this country, against politics and other bugs in society…"

What are the main problems which BNI are facing?
"}add ma jridna..." Kinnie barely gave me time to finish my question, citing, as an answer, an R.A.S. song. "We can't go into certain bars because of our hairstyle, people are afraid of you…"

In fact, a child who was chasing a pigeon round the Upper Barrakka Gardens halted his fun, merely to look, dumbstruck, at Miguel, who was innocently sitting down and politely answering my questions. Malcolm, meanwhile, stood up, looking reflectively to Cottonera on the opposite side. "They say you're mad, they think that if you're going to play in their bars the place will be smashed to pieces… They'd say you're stupid because your hair's green… try to explain to them for how long I've been studying!"

Miguel, in fact, is near to completing his sixth year at University studying Italian. Is it a problem for someone like Miguel, with colourful hairstyles and a calm, non-chalant attitude, to cope with University life? "No, not at all. You learn how to live alone and do your own things in peace."

BNI have released their first album in February, released only through DIY, and called, aptly, "Ilsien Pajjizi -Native Tongue." The album, recorded at Padded Cell Studios in Zebbug, in September and December of 1998, has been produced, mixed and engineered by Robert Longo. According to Miguel, the sound was "clearer than what we wanted." The cover of the CD features Miguel, with a safety pin passing through his tongue, and being attached to another one piercing his nose. The concept of this cover, despite its straightforward appearance, needs the artist's explanation to be understood.

"My brother gave me the idea. Ilsien Pajjizi is the grammar book, by Dun Karm Psaila, and we chose that because it is an emblem of pride in the country and in its language. However, the way the safety-pins are attached shows that you cannot speak out for the country, because you'd only get a clout on your head for it. Apart from that, we also chose "Ilsien Pajjizi -Native Tongue," because we have recorded songs in Maltese, and up to now we are the only ones to have done so.

The lyrics in "Ilsien Pajjizi" are clear, straightforward, stinging, honest, but steered clear of sleaze and useless vulgarities (exceptions possible). "Those lyrics are directed towards those who do not want to do things their own way out of fear and oppression. It's a reflection for the brainwashed, actually."

Much like R.A.S., then, although more punky than trash. There is less anger in their lyrics, substituted by sing-along satirical verses, with subjects ranging from unfaithful girlfriends to political divisions. Not surprisingly, the Maltese songs, especially l-Imgissem (an attack on the wannabe macho, ridiculing him accordingly) and Miskina l-Gharusa tend to be the favourites. Other songs, the ones in English, can be equally striking, or then at times reflective ('What Can I Do?') and even angry ('Red and Blue', the title suggesting the theme.) The album comes to a conclusion with "Punk", a sort of handbook to the ideal punk: Walk your own way, let the others do the talking.

What are BNI's future projects then, considering that the album has been produced through hard DIY work and paid for from the individuals' pockets? "What we have tried to do," says Malcolm, "is to attract as many people as possible from Malta, and up to a certain point we have been successful. Some ideas, however, are still difficult to filter through to most people. Now we are trying to sign a record deal in Canada, maybe we'll get some help this time - the first album was all paid for from our money and we had no aid at all. We had to do everything bit by bit, and we had started to work for it in August, moving at a slow pace. It took seven months in all."

"We want this record deal not to do money for ourselves, but to be financially able to release another album. If some extra money comes in, we won't refuse it, but we'll use it to pay for some other expenses. This year, for example, we will be playing in Holland. We do not want enormous amplifiers in our garage or any other luxuries. Too much money will change your mentality. We only want our message to keep flowing through our music."

This deal can change a lot of things for BNI, if not in Malta, it can do so abroad. So, BNI's talent can be compensated if the record deal succeeds.

Would you consider releasing a 'soft' single to make money and make future projects sustainable? "No, we wouldn't," says Miguel. "It's not in line with our ideas," says Malcolm, "we prefer to hang on to our style. We don't like being commercial, we only write our songs for people to realise in which society they are living in."

What about prejudice against punk? "I think that whatever you do will still cost you some scornful looks… I don't care. If you keep minding to what other people say, you'll never make it. The important thing is never to judge other people yourself."

How hard is it to get help for BNI? "Excluding family and friends, we find it quite hard. There are so many people willing to help youths, but when it comes to music there is always some problem with the neighbours or with the venue."

What will Miguel, Malcolm and Steven be doing at 40? Will they still playing the same music, remembering how twenty years before they used to crank up l-Imgissem at The Edge rock bar? "Who knows. I hope we do. I think the attitude will remain the same. It has to remain the same."

My last question regarded prospects for rock music in Malta. Is there too much importance laid upon the Eurovision Song Contest? "Perhaps, instead of spending so much money on clothes and make-up and advertisement, there should be some investment in rock music, maybe a studio built by the government for Maltese bands. After all, music is culture, so why not encourage it?"

"There's a great talent in Malta, and very good rock music. But some people are simply not interested in investing in it. There should be more help to record albums," said Malcolm. "When you're playing, it's gratifying to see people in front of you really having fun, be it one or three hundred."

"What encourages us to continue? The fact that we were born to speak our minds is the main reason. And punk is the only way, I think."

Batteries Not Included have started on quite a good note, managing to record their first album even through the deprivations (especially financial) of DIY. However, whilst some people might tend to dismiss BNI as a one-album band, the future for them might be brighter than expected. After all, Nirvana, the three-man band led by the great Kurt Cobain, had recorded their first album (Bleach) through DIY.

So why not bet on Miguel, Malcolm and Steven?

Wayne Flask

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