Tomas Jonsson, singer of Anti-Cimex, penned a brief autobiography of the band in the Raped Ass fanzine, which accompanied the first volume of the cassette compilation of the same name, which he and a member of Tatuerade Snutkukar released. Interestingly, Anti-Cimex did not appear on this cassette (or on the second volume).
You can view the fanzine here. The Cimex piece is on the second, third, and fourth pages. Note the great photos of the band.
Here’s a small ad for “Victims of a Bombraid” that appeared in Fight Back zine from England, put out by a member of No Brain Cells and Deformed (and later Cress). Killer artwork. It’s alongside reviews of Raw Power’s demo, Electric Deads “Mind Bomb” EP, a story about RIP from Spain, etc. The golden age of European hc, indeed.
Courtesy of: Clint Chapman.
Here is one of several ads for Anti-Cimex Records, run by Mats Bodenmalm, that appeared in fanzines circa 1984. This one was printed in the April/May 1984 issue of Maximum Rocknroll, the “Does Punk Suck?” issue. (You can read more about this label/distribution here and here, in previous posts.) The ad predates the planned release of the third Cimex EP, in March 1984, even though it was printed in the issue dated April/May. Most interestingly, the planned title of the third EP was “Set Me Free,” as you can see below. “Victims of a Bombraid,” the first track on the second side, rather than the second (”Set Me Free”) is a much more memorable title for the EP. I believe one explanation of the enduring legacy of this band is the vicious and bleak aura of the titles of their three 80s EPs (Anarkist Attack, Raped Ass, and Victims of a Bombraid). They have become iconic, and in the pre-internet era, I know many of my punk friends knew these titles long before we heard the actual records. Along with Shitlickers’ “Cracked Cop Skulls,” these records certainly lived up to the promise of their titles.
Here is a flyer for what must have been one of the greatest gigs of 1986, at Birkagården, with Anti-Cimex, Mob 47, Agoni, and Disarm. Just pause and savor that line-up for a moment. Mob 47 were blazingly fast then; recordings from around this time appear on their 2xCD, reviewed elsewhere on this site. Disarm may have been somewhat less great than earlier in their career but probably still awesome. The short-lived Agoni were likely at their peak, before shifting directions and becoming a metal band. And Anti-Cimex in 1986 were brutal, drunk, and in the process of inventing metallic käng, which would become a dominant style of Swedish hardcore in the ensuing years.
Here’s a tour poster from the 1986 Anti-Cimex / Agoni tour of the UK. It’s in the classic style of tour posters sent to promoters for them to fill in the local details. Funny (meaning “not so funny”) that this simple device is probably going the way of the dodo due to the Internet. Perhaps unsurprisingly it seems Anti-Cimex were fans of horror films.
According to Disarm’s webpage, Jonsson, singer of Anti-Cimex, made the iconic artwork for the front of the sleeve of their 2nd EP, “Dömd.” A true artistic visionary.
The Finnish blog Saapasnahkatorni has published an interview with Jonsson from Anti-Cimex, originally printed in an old Finnish zine. Thankfully, it’s been translated into English. Highlight:
Steffi: What do you do on your free time?
T.J: We play, drink, fuck and puke.
Go here for a scan and the rest of the interview.
Thanks to Tony in Hackney for forwarding this to me originally.
Here’s a photo of Jonsson of Anti-Cimex hanging out in a squat in Gothenburg circa 1984. He’s the guy on the left. Nearly everyone’s face in this photo is turned away from the camera, so it’s hard to tell what other band members might be in it. My guess is there’s at least one Tattooed Copcock in there. Note the great Kaaos/Anti-Cimex/Disarm gig poster above Jonsson.
Thanks to Levi, who got this photo from Marko, who released the many incredible Delirium Tremens cassette compilations in the 80s and 90s. Further info about the photo would be appreciated. Anyone?
Thanks to Tony Gunnarsson, who sent me a link, here is a photo of original Skitslickers graffiti painted on the wall of a squat in Gothenburg. The photo is from a scanned porno magazine, which published a report on the squat scene in the city in the early 1980s. The article also mentions Tattooed Copcocks (Tatuerade Snutkukar). Incredible find, I think.
The Shitlickers have an “official” Myspace page, on which is posted the following interview with singer Lasse, conducted by Christ of Driller Killer. I’m posting this interview here because many people do not have access to Myspace, and, beyond that, the interview is available only to their Myspace friends. In case anyone gives a shit, this publication is in accordance with fair use copyright laws.
I first tried to contact Lasse circa 2000. After multiple attempts, I gave up. Nevertheless, this interview is akin to what I would’ve hoped to have produced with him. It’s remarkably interesting and actually contains more information than I’d expected. Some highlights are the description of line-up changes and the evolution in sound; the existence of a live tape (which Lasse says he won’t share); the recording process for the EP (including a reference to Felix Havoc’s fantasy); Lasse’s positioning of the Shitlickers in the history of Swedish punk. I could go on. It’s an awesome read, and, of course, it leaves me craving more information.
I have not edited the text in any way, except for the deletion of an emoticon.
Finally, Lasse, if you’re reading, I’ll give you a copy of the original record, which you need, if you’ll dub the live tape for me.
