Punk is back. Recently, several bands have emerged in Amsterdam that hark back to this music movement from the 1970s. It seems to have everything to do with the coronalockdown of recent years. One of the bands is The Covids. They have taken the epidemic as a nickname. “We want to dance, we want to have fun because that has been taken from us for so long,” says guitarist Paul Vink. In Culture Club a report about the Covids.
Punk revival with the Covids – NH Nieuws
We meet the Covids in their rehearsal room in the Amsterdam Pijp. Rehearsals are in full swing because there are plenty of concerts planned. They have performed very little in their two-year existence. The roof goes off at concerts. With punk comes pogo and stage dive. “We are always really nervous before we go on stage,” says singer Medhi. “I always have to poop at least three times,” laughs bassist Max. “A combination of weak gut and too much beer.”
The four got to know each other through the hospitality industry. Cafe-restaurant and club Pacific parc on the Westergasfabriek site in Amsterdam was their hangout. “It was just our family,” says Max. “Even if you didn’t have to work, you were there. For your friends, for the music. We became who we are now.” A few years ago, Pacific parc was taken over and restyled. “It’s now a yuppie tent,” Paul shouts. “I’m not going there anymore.”
That they chose punk was a logical choice. “We all love that music,” says drummer Sid Bierens. “Old punk from Dead Boys, the Dutch punk band Ivy Green and of course the Buzzcocks, of which Medhi is a big fan.”
The Covids play punk music but think it is important that there is still some melody in the music. “Like the Buzzcocks, hard as hell and fast but with melody in the vocals, we’re not hardcore.” With drummer Sid, punk even seems to be in his genes. “My mother sang in a punk band. They also performed as support act for the Ramones in Paradiso. It was terrifying,” she laughs.
happy revolution
In the 70s, punk was rebellious, revolutionary, kicking everything. The Covids see it a little differently. “That was also something from then. You don’t want to copy. It’s no use yelling ‘fuck it, I don’t have a home’. We know that.” Singer Mehdi adds: “Young people are overwhelmed with problems. You need an escape in this time with all those problems. Then it’s just good to have fun and do something fun. Call it the happy revolution.”
Culture Club at NH Nieuws
In the new Culture Club programme, NH Nieuws visits culture makers from our province to ask them about their motivations. All episodes of Culture Club can be viewed on this special page.