Dura-Delinquent: Hans Takes A Licking But Keeps On Ticking!

Originally published in Teenage Kicks #1 (1997)

Interviews by: Michael Cronin, Devorah Ostrov & Michelle Castro

Story: Michael Cronin

Dura-Delinquent (L-R): Philipp, Hans, Nicolas & Jason
Photo: Devorah Ostrov - San Francisco, 1997

Dura-Delinquent kick ass. As a result of their raucous live shows, they also get their asses kicked on occasion. Almost always, they generate an extreme reaction from the audience, especially in San Francisco. 

Singer Hans Murnau has a penchant for diving off stage and hanging onto some unsuspecting guy in the crowd. Almost always he is punched, kicked, shoved, or hit with a glass. Maybe because his pants are usually unzipped at the time. At a recent Bottom of the Hill show Hans got cut dangerously close to his right eye. He climbed back up on stage, wiped the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand, and muttered, "Jesus died for you. I bled for you. I should at least be a fucking saint!"

Hans & Philipp
Photo: Devorah Ostrov - San Francisco, 1997

We made a valiant attempt to interview all four members (big mistake!) of the band after one soundcheck. Hans and Nicolas arrived early. Hans is quiet and reserved. It's Nicolas who greets us and sorts out problems at the door. Time went by: 90 minutes to be exact. The others missed the soundcheck. Jason arrives. He seems amused that someone actually wants to interview him. Finally, Philipp struts in on wobbly high heels, scarf trailing from his throat. What an entrance! 

We turn on the tape recorder. Hans is suddenly very vocal! The resulting interview was more like a photo op with quips, the boys trampling over most of our questions. Answers range from merely evasive to contradictions and outright lies. Mention the Stooges and a discussion of the 3 Stooges ensues. Can we take Philipp's raving about the merits of later-day Alice Cooper over his classic early albums seriously? Or Hans' preference for late '70s Ron Wood-period Stones over their classic work? The only thing we're told we can take seriously is Peter Pan.

Philipp: "That's the one thing we don't fuck around about — Peter Pan. Make sure to throw some Peter Pan into this motherfucker!"

Philipp
Photo: Devorah Ostrov - San Francisco, 1997

We subsequently bugged them individually to fill in the gaps. Somehow, through "divine forces," they all ended up in Monterey — Hans and Nicolas (guitar) are originally from outside D.C.; Jason Moore (drums) is from Oklahoma; and Philipp Stick (guitar) is from "the Mother Country." 

Nicolas and Philipp met at school. They knew Jason from a local record store. All of them being avid record collectors and "music fanatics," they decided to put a band together.

Nicolas: "We got together to play a show that was happening. We wrote a bunch of songs in like a week, that were sort of raw and just what we were inspired by at the time. Then we evolved into something more — our own style basically."

They've been kicking around the Northern California scene for about two years now. Their chaotic live shows are not to be missed. At a Purple Onion show, back in January, cups and ashtrays flew, instantly and constantly. 

Philipp dropped his pants and tossed them into the crowd — unable to find them later! He also demonstrated a knack for playing and humping the stage simultaneously. Hans did his best young Iggy/Lux impression — mic in mouth, dick in hand, he scaled the amps, jumped into the crowd and overturned tables. Nicolas and Jason kept a rock steady beat throughout the amped up antics. The messy aftermath was proof that this was easily one of the hottest, punkest, most fun shows of the year.

Hans
Photos: Devorah Ostrov - San Francisco, 1997

Hans: "People always throw shit at us in San Francisco. Especially at the Purple Onion. If I had a nickel for every ashtray thrown at me... The reaction thing is great, but I'd get bored if every time we played, I got a glass thrown at me. I mean, I'd get hurt, too. But it's only in San Francisco."

They've also done a brief U.S. tour, half with Chrome Cranks, half on their own; and last December they caused a commotion in Europe, playing two weeks' worth of shows in Germany, Holland and the U.K.

Hans: "Those were the best shows. I had the most fun. Not England — Europe. Just like, the crowds. A big crowd here is a small crowd there. The big night there, it was amazing! And they were totally receptive."

Nicolas
Photo: Devorah Ostrov - San Francisco, 1997

Nicolas: "We almost got banned from London!"

Phillip: "What are you talking about? It was the whole U.K.!"

Somehow a Christmas tree ended up in a backstage toilet, causing extensive damage.

Nicolas: "They didn't give us enough beer that night, so we broke a toilet."

Hans: "Just let that be a warning to all you other clubs. Don't fuck with us, man!"

Dura-Delinquent have released a self-titled LP/CD and a couple of singles — "Sick on You" and "Take Me to My King." Their fuzzy, decidedly lo-fi garage sound lies somewhere between the Cramps and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. The catchiest LP track, "I Could Kick Your Habit," spotlights Jason's hopped- up Adam & the Ants/Bow Wow Wow-style drumming. Nicolas and Philipp strangle the two-guitar no bass sound for all it's worth on "All Lushed Up" (a "Sick on You" B-side). Han's sleazy, slurry vocals are consistent throughout. They also appear on the U.K. compilation 7" Gone, Got, Wretched. And a European-only single, "Kidnaped," was released as well.

Hans: "It's a different version, but we didn't mean it to be."

Philipp: "Shitty versions, badly mastered."

The band is not really happy with any of their recordings.

Philipp: "They're too clean. We're a lot dirtier than that!"

"Sick on You"
b/w "Head Ove High-Heels" & "All Lushed Up"

Nicolas: We've changed since the record. That was a year ago. I'm more proud of what we're doing now. Our next recording efforts are going to represent what we really are and what we're like live better. I think that's most important, being a good live band. We just want to write good music. That's what we're shooting for."

Their most recent demos are in fact among their best. "Lay it on Me" and "Her Caviar" solidify their early sound, while "The Hollywood Diet" and "My Baby Caught the Train" are longer, more jammy Stones-style blues. Nicolas' and Philipp's guitars are less at war here and more complimentary to each other. 

They hope to have some of the new songs out soon.

Before we wrapped, the band made a bid for our first cover. Regrettably, we informed them that it had already been promised to D Generation's guitarist, Howie Pyro. 

Philipp: "Howie Pyro?! You should have us on the cover!

Nicolas: "We're going to have a contract from now on. If you want us in your magazine, you have to put us on the cover!"

Philipp: "Howie Pyro came to see us in New York and bought our single. At least he knows what good rock 'n' roll is about!"

Clap if you believe!