Interviews: Bad Valentines

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Rock band Bad Valentines from Finland. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, did you plan it or come out just like that?

Pekko Mantzin: I was just fooling around with a bunch of different ideas in my head. Bad Valentines sounded wild, cool, and also humorous. Life ́s complicated so gotta find a way to have some fun too.

HON: I liked the name right away. It fits us great.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Kupe: I grew up with this kind of music, so it's pretty natural for me.

Pekko Mantzin: Spotify apparently says we play Indie Rock which sounds good to me but I ́d say our stuff is a combination of punk rock, pop punk, glam rock, rock ́n ́roll and 1960 ́s pop. We did not really choose or plan the genres really. Our music just went that way.

HON: The best about our music is that it is a mixture of all these genres Pekko just mentioned. We are all influenced by many genres, so we bring it all together somehow, which is quite cool!

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Pekko Mantzin: Yes we did for sure. All of us apart from the vocalist Hon, have been around for quite awhile in Helsinki rock scene so our paths had crossed many many times before Bad Valentines.

HON: Jep. I was the new one. I didn ́t know the guys at all before and when I got to know them and play with them I started to regret not having met them before. All four of them are great musicians and awesome souls. I am glad I found those guys.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Pekko Mantzin: I have five: Ramones, The Beach Boys, Hanoi Rocks, The Clash, and The Beatles.

Kupe: There’s a lot of them... Aerosmith, Hanoi Rocks & Ramones for example. 

HON: Tough one! I can ́t decide on one. But the bands, to whom I have listened the longest and who follow me everywhere are Sublime, Mad Caddies, Rancid, and NOFX. 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Pekko Mantzin: Melodies just appear from somewhere. Sometimes riffs also. Lyrics are always true stories of what ́s happening right now or what ́s been going on in the past. Life itself is inspiring, both good and bad. And this world, too. 

HON: Yeah, Pekko summed it up quite well. Writing songs is a great and powerful way to cope with things that happen to you or in the world.

6. Where was your last gig?

Pekko Mantzin: We played in Lepakkomies which is a famous rock club, here in Helsinki. Our mates, Desperate Measures from London came to play in Finland so it was a fab idea to organize this kinda party where everyone was welcome. 

HON: Oh boy! That was such an awesome night and lineup this evening!

7. Where would you like to perform?

HON: It would be nice to play some gigs in Germany, my home country to be able to play in front of family and friends there.

Pekko Mantzin: Almost anywhere if there are people who wanna dig and hear us playing our rock ́n ́roll. I don't dream of stadiums whatsoever. Cool rock clubs are the best ones.

Kupe: I have always been interested in going abroad. UK and Europe would be very likely. Not necessarily anything big, music clubs would be ok.

8. Whom would you like to perform with?

Pekko Mantzin: Social Distortion.

HON: Oh yeah! A duo with Mike Ness! Social Distortion would be massive to play with!

Kupe: The Interrupters

9. Whom not?

Pekko Mantzin: I wouldn't play with right-wing natzi fuckers.

HON: Nothing to add to that. Pekko says it all.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

HON: Before every gig, I get very nervous half an hour before. But then, when I get on stage with my fellas, everything is just gone.

Pekko Mantzin: Not stage fright but I surely have felt very nervous. The best advice is to breathe calmly and deeply, pray or meditate, and tell yourself you are the king or the queen or both of the night.

Kupe: Very rarely. Everything goes well if I'm well rested and I haven't already had a long day. For beginners, I can advise you not to drink too much alcohol. Drink spring water, especially if you are singing at a gig.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Pekko Mantzin: Ramones, The Beach Boys, Hanoi Rocks, The Clash and The Beatles. Oh yeah and of course Cheap Trick and Green Day.

Kupe: Aerosmith definitely.

HON: Pretty much the same as my favorite bands. So, Sublime, Mad Caddies, NOFX and Rancid. Lagwagon, Millencollin, and No Use For A Name are also great German bands, such as Tequila and the Sunrise Gang.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Pekko Mantzin: It happened in Leipzig in Germany when the girl I was talking to after the gig asked me if I wanted to have sex? For a fleeting moment, I felt very disconcerting but before I said anything she handed me a pack of cigarettes called Sex.

Kupe: Well, a German lady once asked if I could give her a "head" ..meaning my hat. At the same time, an awkward and funny silent moment, before I understood. And I have been asked what I will do with my first million. This is kind of a funny question because very few manage to make money from music. 

HON: Jep. We Germans are weird :)

13. What do you think of your fans?

Pekko Mantzin: For me they are mates.

HON: To me this whole band life is quite new, cause Valentines is my first band ever. So, I feel like I wanna hug everyone who actually pays entrance to come to see us live. On stage, it feels like I can ́t thank people enough that they came to support us. So, yeah, they are our mates indeed!

Kupe: I respect each of them, I also try to always find time to answer questions if someone has one, even if I'm busy.

14. What do you think of our site?

Pekko Mantzin: It is cool indeed and so cool to see the bands from all over the world! Respect!

HON: I had no idea there are so many different Metal subgenres, so I learned quite a lot when I went to do some research on your site! I found some pretty awesome Hardcore Punk bands when I went to check some bands you guys present there. Your site is a great platform for musicians. Awesome, that we have the honor too now to be mentioned there. Big hearts for that!!

Kupe: It's cool, I've read a couple of interviews. Thanks for having us!

15. Something to add?

Pekko Mantzin: Hell yeah! I know for sure that you rockers who read Breathing The Core don't know anything about us so if you are into punky melodic rock ́n ́roll sounds at all, have a listen and find out more about what we ́re about and if you decide that this Bad Valentines band is quite alright, give us a follow on Youtube, Spotify, Instagram and Facebook. Some pretty raw and cool and hot full live concerts will be released on our YouTube sometime soon. Our antiwar debut single ́Mariia ́ was released in June and it can be found on major streaming platforms. It is the first tune from our forthcoming EP ́Memory Tattoos ́. Also sometime soon we will put out our next rocker ́Last Days In The Sun ́. Respect to Breathing The Core and to you who have taken the time to read this nice chat!