"Putting the Suits Back in Their Place" – Bolt69 Talk Sticking It to the System Ahead of Nov 24 School Bar Gig

Though they may seem to have a few screws loose, the members of  Bolt69 actually have their heads on straighter than most of their contemporaries. At least that's according to Marat, frontman of the punk outfit from Tver, Russia. Sure, their sound is pulse-poundingly aggressive, and their name stems from a profane Russian saying. But, as Marat tells the Beijinger below ahead of the band's Nov 24 gig at School Bar, Bolt69 have gone toe-to-toe with skinheads, corrupt officials, and more in order to bring their message to the masses. Read on for more of their raucous story, and be sure to hear their rip-roaring take on punk for yourself here ahead of the School show.

How did you and your bandmates start Bolt69?
It all started with the ideas in our heads. They refused to stay down and kept looking for a way out. At that point, we didn’t really know what we wanted – but we knew exactly what we hated. We set out to find like-minded people – but found a band. We were united by our common desire to change the world, and music became the means with which we tried to do that.

What has the punk scene been like in Russia as you and your band formed and began to grow? What have been the downsides and unique benefits of coming from there? 
When the band was just formed, we felt like everything was messed up and punk rock was moving in the wrong direction. There was a lot of primitive trashy music for trashy people along the lines of “ayyyy let’s get wasted, lie in a puddle of our own vomit and waste our lives. Look, ma, I’m a rebel!” We knew that this is not what punk rock is about.

I suppose we had the same problems as any young band: lack of funds and places to rehearse. But at the same time, we also had chavs, and on top of that, we soon got boneheads and cops – essentially ideological chavs and chavs that landed power jobs, respectively.

I honestly cannot think of any benefits.
 
Why did you choose the name Bolt69?
There is an expression in Russia that goes something like: “For every complicated ass there is an intricate penis – or bolt.” We realize that it sounds creepy when you translate it so literally, but basically, it means that no matter who you are, there will always be someone who can put you in your place. We decided that we want to be the ones to put the suits who are full of themselves back in their place. The number 69 is just our county code, a reminder of our roots.

What were some of the biggest muses and inspirations for your album Мое сердце дышит (My Heart Breathes)?
LIke all our songs, the album is based on everything going on around us: arguments, the news, various life situations. The name “my heart breathes” is a challenge we’re throwing in the face of the rotten capitalist world that values money over feelings. Our songs are meant to break through the molds of stereotypical thinking, and inspire our listeners to start asking uncomfortable questions

What newer music have you been working on lately?
Personally, I took part in a recording with the Tarakany band for a track called “Neither Fish Nor Meat.” It’s a sort of manifesto uniting Russian musicians who don’t eat meat for ethical reasons.
 
Let's finish with a few road stories. What have been the best and worst shows you've ever played?
Well, our worst show was in Lipetsk. We just got on the stage when a fight broke out with a group of boneheads.

What constitutes a "bonehead" for you?
By boneheads I mean racists, white power skinheads. They attacked the club that night.

And how about the best show you've ever had?
One of the most memorable shows was when we got (veteran Scottish punk outfit) The Exploited to come to our small town. There were so many issues with putting the show together. The local government canceled the show four times in one week because the first video they found online was of the riot their fans started in Montreal in 2003 – and they were scared the same thing could happen here. But the funny thing is, the Montreal riots started specifically because the Exploited concert was canceled. At the end of the day, we managed to pull it off and perform on one stage with our childhood heroes.

Bolt69 will perform at School Bar on Nov 24, along with Discord and Struggle Session. Showtime is 9.30pm. Entry is RMB 60. For more information, click here.

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @MulKyle

Photos courtesy of the promoters