Jozan Interview

Hello comrade, please introduce yourself in a few words.
Greetings! Some friends call me Józan, coming from Hungary, I joined the skinhead scene in 1989. I’m 36, having a beautiful family and I run a label as a full-time job.

You own Loyalty records. Can you tell us a brief history of the label? How did you get started it, how many cd’s you have released, etc…? Do you think that I-net downloading is killing the scene?

I started the label in 2004, I think, when I got permission from my good old friend, Ken McLellan to release Brutal Attack: Greatest Hits volume 2. 1000 copies were pressed, some CD-distros still have it in stock, most of them are sold out. Then I had the chance to work with great bands like: English Rose, Vendetta, Archívum, Voice of Justice…I must say thanks to all of them, but especially to Ken for giving me the chance for the start. I released 8 CD-s and a book so far and still extremely proud of every product. Yes, I think that downloads are killing the scene. It’s a fact. You need money to record new materials, musicians need instruments, etc. I respect every single person who buying CD-s and supporting future projects with this act. I see no problem, if you download sold-out albums or illegal stuffs. But downloading brand new materials, what you could also buy on CD is a big problem today. Thanks to all collectors or single CD-buyers, you are keeping the scene alive! I can’t stand people moaning on the net forums “Oh, I have no new music, what I can download, it’s a shame!”. My message: “There is no new music, because of you! Because you don’t buy a CD to get some money back to release a new one! Shame on you!”

Just few weeks ago you have published a book about Ian Stuart entitled “The outcasts of Rock and Roll “. I think it’s the first time such a book appears outside Great Britain. Please, tell us more about the contents of the book?
It was my duty to release a book about Ian Stuart in Hungarian. A few generations have grown up listening to Skrewdriver in Hungary, but having very little information about the most-respected band of all times. The book is for the Hungarian fans of Skrewdriver, contains many infos, touching almost every connection between Skrewdriver and Hungary, so it’s not just a translated Ian Stuart biography. It contains stories from Ian’s birth till he left us unfortunately, also many photos, album covers and so on.

As far as I know you never met ISD live, but you have planned a gig with Skrewdriver in Hungary. How can a man who never met Ian live write a book about him? Did you use any other books dedicated to ISD as a source for you writings?
Well, I had no chance to meet him unfortunately, but I spoke to him on phone two times in 1993, when we started to organize a Skrewdriver concert in Hungary. The last call was a few days before his accident, so I did not believe the news about his death for at least 6 months. I thought it is a bad joke or rumor. I’m still a big fan of Ian and I’ll always be, I collected a lot of information’s, books, magazines, pictures during the years and I decided to write a book to give all my memories and collections of Ian Stuart to the readers. It’s not about money someone thinks maybe, it’s about the deep respect I feel for Ian Stuart. Yes, I used many facts from other books about Ian Stuart (Nazi Rock Star, Diamond in the Dust, Ian Stuart Memories, etc), but I added other things and my feelings too. Luckily most guys love this book, some of them call it “Skrewdriver-Bible”, so it can not be too bad.

You are one of the veterans of the local scene. What is the difference between the times in the early 90’s and nowadays?

There is big difference, I think. The early 90’s were about violence on the streets, comradeship, respect and unity. Of course there were idiots in the 90’s too, but luckily most of them are gone. Nowadays, no violence on the streets (just a few), badmouthing each other, youngsters show little respect, they just want have a good time at gigs, getting drunk and shouting rebel songs, then go home in safety. When we were that young, we really wanted to do something and we respected the older skinheads extremely. We need more respect, more sport-events, more-demonstrations, not just gigs in every two weeks.

Tell us more about the trial against the top Hungarian WP bands which started after a gig back in February 1999?

The first raids were in 1998, the first trials too. I think the NS scene was the strongest between 1996-1999 and ZOG could not stand us watching, as we grow up very big. They decided to silence top bands of the era (Archívum, Valhalla, Nemzeti Front, years later Archívum, A.C.A.B., Hunnia ). The members were on probation for 4-5 years and during the sentence they were banned to visit any NS-events (gigs, demonstrations, sport-camps, etc). Those hard years are gone, but we still have to be careful, what we do or what we say in public, because Big Brother is always watching you!

What do you think of the new wave of “NS hardcore” music, which becomes more and more popular in nationalist circles?
I used to like NS Hardcore or Hatecore, when Blue Eyed Devils and H8Machine appeared in the 90’s. They were fresh and original in that time. It is still a good way to reach people, who like this kind of music, but today it is more like a fashion thing, the lyrics are not so extreme anymore, so I think today’s Hatecore is not about hate. There is no big difference between most “NS Hardcore” bands and “non-political Hardcore” bands lyrically. Times are changing, right, you can not sing anymore, what you could sing in the 90’s, right, but for me it is like “NS Hardcore” bands turning into PC with their lyrics. Maybe I’m “too old for hardcore”, haha. I really hope that more and more youngsters will join us listening to “NS Hardcore”. We will see.

I think in Hungary you have plenty of good bands, but almost none of them are singing in English. Is this a problem in your eyes to reach the listeners abroad? What happened to excellent RAC band “Arrow cross”?

Well, I think that nationalist bands should sing in their native language to spread the message for their own nation, but of course there is a need for exceptions too. Arrow Cross was formed with the idea to reach the listeners abroad, because 99% of Hungarian bands sing in Hungarian only. All members of Arrow Cross played in other Hungarian bands, the singer speak good English, so they decided to form a project, singing in English. Nowdays Arrow Cross is inactive, because the singer wanted to concentrate to his original band. Maybe they will come back with a new singer one day. Unfortunately there are not too many good singers in Hungary, who speak good English. Time will tell.

In last years Budapest became a popular destination for European nationalist because of the “Day of Honour” march, “Sons of Europe” Festival as well as regular ISD and Joe Rowan Memorials. Are there too many gigs in Hungary…did people get tired of them?
I think regular gigs are important parts of our scene, they are always special for one reason or another. Yes, sometimes there are too many gigs in Hungary (sometimes 3 in a weekend) and people have no money to visit them all or they can not be in 3 different places same time. Haha. As I said before, the movement should not be about gigs only, we need simple meetings to discuss and solve problems, street demonstrations, sport-camps, charity-actions, etc.

Please recommend us a nice place to visit in Budapest, any proper Hungarian beer and typical meal?
Heroes Square and Buda castle came into my mind first, but there are also many nice Museums and beautiful old buildings around the city. Beer? Sorry, I can’t help you. I never liked the taste of beer. J I think Hungarian Goulash-soup and “Pörkölt” (what most people think of goulash) are world famous.

Thanks for the interview. Last words are yours.
Thanks for your interest and your inspiring questions. I wish you all the best with your web-magazine, hopefully it will bring some young blood to our scene. Keep the white flames burning! Kitartás!