As I can tell from KYR, we played a lot of shows and drove hundreds of kilometres and when we arrived there were about 10 people in the club or the show was bad, the sound was really shitty and you didn't get enough money for the fuel at the end of the show. This shit really fucks you up. But you have to go on! You have to get respect and and a name with your band and that can't happen without playing shows. And it doesnt matter if there are 10 poeple or 400, if there are the right people, you will have a great show.
How long have Know Your Rules been going for now?We exist since early 2007. After a few lineup changes in the beginning, the line up was complete in spring of 2007 and we continued to write songs and looked for shows. A few month later we had enough stuff and we played our first show in November 2007.
When and why came the decision to start the band?
We have played in different bands before, but that wasn't quite the music we really wanted to make. And because we were pretty much the only people in our area that listened to hardcore we got together pretty quickly. After a few jam-sesions together we saw that it worked out well and decided to get things on.
Could you explain the meaning behind the name Know Your Rules?
It stands for what it says. Know Your Rules! I think that the meaning is, be shure about your rules and the things that you want to achieve in your life. And never give it up for someone or something, you have to always remember your rules and the things that are important for you in your live. Always keep struggling and hold on to your values and rules. That signifies and is Know Your Rules!
How would you describe your bands style? It’s a beatdown music for sure but what bands have influenced your sound?
Oh my god. There are lot of bands that influenced us! I think every band member has got his own special bands wich influenced them. But i would say that our style is influenced by bands like Shattered Realm, On a warpath, Kickback, Death Before Dishonor, Nasty, OLD Sworn Enemy, OLD Hatebreed, Embraced By Hatred and a lot of Old School stuff like 25 Ta Life, Anger Miami Fl., Madball and some Metal stuff and a little bit Rap!
What are you hoping to accomplish with The Loyalty?We wanted to release a Demo to show the people what we are all about and what we sound like.
What was the reason to release it DIY?
We are a young band, Loyalty was our first record ever. So we had no music out before Loyalty and it's not easy to get a good label when you have no demos to make an impression. That's why we released it DIY, it was the best and easiest way for our first Demo CD. And now the people know us and our music. But we are searching for a label. So if you have a label, check us out, get in touch with us and offer us a good deal.
What's the general response been like to this release?
The response to Loyalty is very good. There are a lot of our very first songs on this Demo and we get a lot of positive feedback. We are satisfied with the response. When we where recording it we never thought of it being sold in Europe, America and Japan through distros. That was a major success for us.
Care to give us some insight into the lyrical content of the album?
The lyrics are about many things. Most about personal wars, to hold on to your friends and family, never give up and other stuff like this. But if you wanna know more, buy our record and listen to it! So you can make your own content of our lyrics.
You guys have played a lot of shows. How important do you feel it is for a hardcore band to get on the stage and perform?
I think it's defenetly the most important thing to play shows. You have to play shows as often as it you can, especialy in the early days of your band. Cause it's good chance to get connection to some important people for you and your band. Sometimes it's hard in the beginnig for a band. As I can tell from KYR, we played a lot of shows and drove hundreds of kilometres and when we arrived there were about 10 people in the club or the show was bad, the sound was really shitty and you didn't get enough money for the fuel at the end of the show. This shit really fucks you up. But you have to go on! You have to get respect and and a name with your band and that can't happen without playing shows. And it doesnt matter if there are 10 poeple or 400, if there are the right people, you will have a great show. And last but not least I think it should be the best thing ever to play shows for you and your band. Cause if it's not, you're in the wrong buisness!
What is the craziest thing that ever happened at one of your shows?
We've expierienced quite a lot of strange shit. From accidents on the way to a show over venues without backline and everything else to crazy old people in the pit. You'll never be bored with us...hahaha
German hardcore scene is very strong nowadays and with some many bands around it’s probably hard for the young bands to get noticed. How supportive is the hardcore scene in Germany to upcoming bands like yours?It's true there are a lot of bands around in Germany. Every Myspace-victim can meet up with his Internetfriends and make a "brutal-faggot-smashing-cunt-slapping-beatdown-hardcore-band" and be the Kings of Kindergarden. There are hundreds of bands in germany but only a handfull of good ones. But I think if you are good and dedicated to what you do, you will get noticed, cause people will notice that you're serious about what you're doing.
What's the relation between hardcore and hip hop scene in Germany?
I don't think that the Hip-Hop scene in Germany is supportive to the Hardcorescene, because most of the Hip-Hop-Guys don't even know about Hardcore. On the other way around many Hardcore-Guys know about Hip-Hop and listen to it. So I'd much rather say that HC is supportive to Hip Hop.
Why do you think beatdown hardcore got so much popular in Germany?
I don't know and I don't care! But yeah beatdown is hyped in germany in the last years. And that fucks me up...haha Maybe it is cause a lot of very good beatdown hardcore bands worldwide are from germany. But I think that all the beatdown trend kids/bands are about to die out. I don't wanna say that all the new beatdown bands are fake or not real, but I don't like people or bands who do it because it is trend. And when the hype is over, they are gone and angry with oneselves because now they listen to electro or whatever but they got their 25mm plugs, their piercings and tattoos cause they where so true back then, when they were hardcore.
What was the worse hardcore fashion you’ve ever witnessed at the show?I don't know. I guess I just hate all those fashion-victims that wanna look like clones and who do things because they apply to be "cool" or "scene" or whatever. Just do your own thing and don't imitate others but be yourself.
What can we expect from Know Your Rules in the near future?
We are writing new stuff. We are developing in songwriting and lyrically. Our Bassplayer just left the Band so there are some Line-Up-Changes to come. As mentioned above we are looking for a label. Of course we want to play as much shows as possible. So drop us a line if you've got something for us. We'll play everywhere for fuel-money and beer. Maybe there'll be a split or some kind of output from us in 2009. So keep your eyes and ears open...
Know Your Rules at Myspace
