1. when did you guys start ,whats the current line up?

Björn: Audio Kollaps was found in autumn of 1998 in Hannover / Germany by the three remaining members of "Recharge", after the singer and bass player (who had joined Recharge on our last album "Menschen, Hass, Vernichtung") had left the band. At that time, we wanted to continue playing brutal music, but we didn´t want to continue playing the old Recharge songs, so we decided to form a completely new band. We convinced our former guitar player Andreas K. to play bass guitar and got a new singer called Kai. So the present line-up is Kai - vocals, Jens - guit., Andreas K. - bass, Björn - drums and vocals.

2. do you guys have any new releases out, some that you recommend for our readers?

Björn: In January 2000 we recorded 4 songs in a 24 track studio in Hannover: 3 songs for a Split 7" EP with Wolfbrigade (former "Wolfpack" from Sweden) which was released by the German Epistrophy label in December 2000 (and maybe as a CD version on a Brasilian label), and one song (a cover version of the Rattus song "Miks Haluat Tapella" with German lyrics) for a Finnish Rattus Tribute Compilation CD which was released by Fight Records in September 2000. In March 2001 we are going to record our first album in Sweden at the Soundlab Studios / Örebrö with Mieszko Talarczyk from Krigshot / Nasum. A few months ago we shot a DIY videoclip for our song "5 vor 12" which we are going to put on our website: www.audiokollaps.de

3. what are some of your biggest influences? are the bands that influenced recharges style of music any different from what influences audio kollapses music style?

Jens: No, but we learned the better use of our instruments.

Björn: Since three members of Audio Kollaps played in Recharge before, there are certainly some musical and lyrical influences from our past activities that still influence our current ideas. However our music has gone a bit faster and is more diverse: We have ultra speed brutal parts as well as slower moshier parts in our songs.

Andreas K: I can only speak for myself. For my whole life I tried not to be influenced by anything. I´m trying hard to keep a clear personal view on everything.

Kai: I think the influences are very different for each one of us, because every member of the band has a different view about crust, grind, death metal or punk. Personally I prefer the old 80´s punk which I think is not very present in our current musical style. I don´t like comparisons to other bands, if so, I would say our influences are a bit in the direction of Napalm Death or Brutal Truth.

4. have you ever toured the u.s.a? do you plan on touring the u.s any time soon?

Björn: No we never toured the USA . We did a tour in Japan some years ago with Recharge, and it was a very fascinating experience. Maybe someone is willing to send us a decent offer for a US tour, and I hope that the distances aren´t too long and that half of the gigs don´t get cancelled.

Andreas K: Send Tickets, also for transcontinental flights inside the u.s. Special conditions, but that´s what we need.

Kai: I´m a bit sceptical about the USA: On the one hand, as I have heard from a lot of people, there are many nice and creative people involved in the scene, but on the other hand I´ve also heard that a lot of people just style their hairs for gigs, they look totally normal for the rest of the day and are total rednecks in their hearts. Besides, the US is far away from being my favourite country.

5. what are some of your favorite pass times do any of you play in any other bands, have fan zines ,play sports etc.?

Jens: Making Music, listening to music, sometimes making radio shows ("Sunday Night Grind").

Björn: I used to organize punk gigs in Hannover and write for various zines. At the moment I´m writing for the German Plastic Bomb fanzine, I´m doing a weekly punk radio show called "Stay Punk" at an uncommercial radio station where I´m normally working for, I´m also doing a DJ job at a punk pub in Hannover once a week and I´m doing a second band project called "Vendetta"; with my girlfriend on vocals, Andreas K. from Audio Kollaps and two skinhead friends; we´re playing sort of streetpunk music, if anyone wants more information about this band, go to: www.geocities.com/vendettapunk. And last but not least: I like drinking, pogoing and partying.

Andreas K: I´m without a job and I have no money, so I can´t participate in public life. But I like to draw, read etc. Sports is the domain of you u.s. guys to be prepared for the next armed operation.

Kai: We´ve just started to run a new self-organized punk venue in Hannover with a few people and this fills up the rest of my leisure time completely: Gigs, parties, etc.

6. any last words you would like to say to our readers,fans,punks all over the world?

Andreas K: To all outposts: Stand strong and fight all assholes.

Björn: Keep your hairs spiked up and punkrock forever!!!

Kai: People should look upon the whole punk rock thing with (I know it´s a shitty word) a bit of pride. But don´t let yourself get down, just do what you like to do. And if anyone tries to bar you from this (like nazis, cops or the bourgeois...): no withdrawal, beat them up, form a gang and kick them away. And don´t let yourself getting talked down by some screwballs who had left the scene 15 years ago and are back now. Cheers!