Feature of REMAIN FOCUS

Sometime in your life there can be a band who come from your town, city, or area, and everybody from your town love and take influence of them, but they do not have any fan or knowledge outside of that small group. That band for us have been REMAIN FOCUS.

REMAIN FOCUS come from BOCHUM, GERMANY. This is where my uncle Manfred live, and where I go many summers. This is where I begin to become a hardcore kid... In the late 1990 and early 2000, it seem like so many hardcore in germany have become just metal music. Like Maroon, Caliban... This music was fine and fun to see them live when I go see them live when they play a gig, but I want to see a band that represent that spirit that we loves. The ones like YOT and Bold. And also Uniform Choice. Then REMAIN FOCUS come out and they destroy everyone minds. They play the first of their show in 1998, and then they remain a band until 2001. REMAIN FOCUS line up consist of:

Jonas Youth - Vocal (1998 - 2001)

Günter - Guitar (1998 - 2001)

Schnickelfritz - Bass (1998 - 2000) (then he move to GUITAR 2)

PosiTimm - Bass (2000 - 2001)

Helmut - Drum (1998 - 2001)

Of the member, 3 member is still straight edge, which is rare to find! Jonas Youth remain straight edge, as well as PosiTimm, and also Schnickelfritz. Günter have lose the spirit of straight edge a few year after the band End in 2001. Helmut die in 2008, and in the 2009 one time reunion show they still play but with Herbert Edge from the band POINTING FINGER to fill in for the drums.

It make me so sad to announce it... But REMAIN FOCUS end their band in 2001.

They only have one record that come out here on CDs, it is name after the band itself, it is just name REMAIN FOCUS, but now CONE RECORDS plan to issue the record in vinyls for the first time. it is 10 song of just positive straight edge hc like YOT and Bold and Uniform Choice. The record have so much influence on so many band from here in Germany, but it never really grew out from here (in Germany, and some other place in europe as well that we show our friend).

But instead of tell you myself.. I ask many friend from HC bands what they want to tell of REMAIN FOCUS and the influence they leave behind. I let them tells you. Here, please read:

BERTRAM (ARMY OF KIDS)

"One of the most intense live show of hardcore I ever seen was the first REMAIN FOCUS show. They jumps on last minute when another band pull out of the TEN YARD FIGHT show in Bochum. It was so a big deal for REMAIN FOCUS first show to be with Ten Yard Fight, and in their home town too as well... When they begin to play, the room was so full of kids, and they go CRAZY. The spirit was known. Everyone could see the spirit coming out of the kids. REMAIN FOCUS had no demo or record at this time, so the kids could not even known the words, but I remember clearly they were so move by the spirit going deep inside them that they begin a sing along pile, even though they do not know the words! The kids was just screaming whatever come to their minds! It was crazy! Jonas hand the mic out to the singing pile and the kids climbing upon the singing pile just grabs the mic and scream "AHHHHH!!!!" I have never see anything like it before or after in my entire life, or even in my entire time in hardcore. I am glad Cone Records is to release the REMAIN FOCUS LP again for a new generation of kids to hear it and feel the spirit enter them.

FABIO (CONE RECORDS)

"REMAIN FOCUS create one of the most greatest real deal hardcore record ever to emerge from Germany. It have been packed with spirit to the brim. Every song create positive spirit and big sing along. I am lucky to see REMAIN FOCUS many time, and become friend with JONAS YOUTH who make the vocals for REMAIN FOCUS. Many do not knows of this, but the label cone records have actually been name after the REMAIN FOCUS song, "Cone Of Unity". I ask Jonas once in a show "Why does the Cone have to do with unity? A cone is simple, a triangle that have become 3D." and he respond me that to him, the cone represent unity within HC. At first when you first begin to look to it, it seems wide with difference. Everyone seem so different, youth crew, straight edge, skinhead, nyhc, crossover, newschool... It is many space between the bands and kids. But then as you begin to inspect closely, you see that they all are similar. they are close together, like the end of the cone. This stick with me through my whole life. That is why I name the label CONE RECORDS. That is why."

YANNICK (MONKEYFELLOW)

"I am more young to have seen the original show perform by REMAIN FOCUS, but one of my older friend show me it and I listen every day for years. I am lucky to go see them when they reunite, even though they play like shit then, to see the song and sing along to them still ignite the spirit deep within me and was amazing to drive there from Zurich to see him perform."

GERBER (ARMY OF KIDS)

"Army of Kids have covered REMAIN FOCUS"

MARCEL (MONKEYFELLOW)
"The reason I become straight edge is when I hear the song "Point of Focal" by REMAIN FOCUS. when I hear the lyric:
"Remain focus at all time!
Remain focus!
Do not lose it!
Remain focus!"
That is when I know I am to become straight edge. For life!"

POSI HANS (MONKEYFELLOW)

"When we commence Monkeyfellow, it have so much influence from REMAIN FOCUS. It is the perfect mix of sounds between YOT, BOLD, and UNIFORM CHOICE. JONAS YOUTH sound so much just like Ray of Today, except slower! He's voice match the musics and the spirit and the lyrics and also the guitar. They is my favorite europe hardcore band of all times."

Keep your eye peel for the record reissue on CONE RECORDS that is coming soon!

INTERVIEW OF MONKEYFELLOW

MONKEYFELLOW is one of the most good bands to create hardcore today. They have 7" coming out soon on CONE RECORDS. The 7" I have heard it, it is great! It has that true old school hxc spirit! I interview the singer YANNICK for my blog and fanzine. Please look at the interview now.

Hello YANNICK tell me the history of MONKEYFELLOW

MONKEYFELLOW was begin by me. I am Yannick. It was also begin by my friends Marcel, Posi Hans, and Werner. When we first begin the band it was called Simple Youth but when we try to send distro in US tapes he say that the name in america means a kid with disable so we change the name but we still have song name simple youth for the memory of the old name. When we change the name and record the 7" we also change the lineup and Fritz join on Guitar 2.

Before Fritz join, you had another guitar player, Fabio, what happen to him?

Fabio is a fucking shit! He is a bastard! He lose the spirit of straightXedge and he drink beer and smoke drugs and insult all that straightXedge mean to us. Some other member of the band are still his friend but i am not friend with him. He betray his conviction. The song "Still has the spirit" on our 7" is about how marcel posi hans werner and me still has the spirit but he does not still has the spirit.

is that the same fabio who play in Mega Strength?

No fabio from mega strength is still my friend he still have the spirit of the straight edge. this is a different fabio. 

Tell me please so we can know... how long have you become vegetarian?

4 years! Vegetarian for life!

how did you become vegetarian?

i stop eating hamburger and other meats

what is the influence? what bands makes you guys sound this way?

no for an answer, mainstrike, YOT, 7 seconds, vision, mouthpiece, mindset

Tell us of your new record? when it is coming out and on what label?

It is finish recording and should commence soon! We are excited to make a release of this CD and 7" on CONE RECORDS from Germany! 

What other 2018 band do you want to play a show with?

I really want to play with AIDS CRIMINAL, and MEGA STRENGTH. Lucky for me both are performing in the CONE RECORDS showcase along our side in a few month. It will be our first time in Germany to play. I hope it is fun because germany  hxc kids all have the spirit!

They have something yes

What do you mean

it was a joke trick I am just joking! We most certain have the spirit of hxc. Who do the artwork for the 7"?

Posi Hans did the artwork! there were no live picture of us to use so we just use a picture of mainstrike instead because this is our favorite band and our greatest influences.

What song do you want to cover the most?

I want to cover GORILLA BISCUITS but nobody else in the band had learn it in time for our last show so we cover MINDSET again instead. Maybe at the CONE RECORDS SHOWCASE we can cover Gorilla Biscuits...

What do the name MONKEYFELLOW means?

It is a joke among us. It is similar to gorilla biscuits, like a monkey and then a thing. First it was to be name MONKEYSNACK when we first change it from simple youth but we think that was too close to gorilla biscuits. Also MONKEYFELLOW is a joke upon the way our crew dance at shows in zurich! We go crazy like an ape!

Any last word or shout outs?

Yes!

Okay. Well, what are they? please tell us them

A shout out to cone records please! MONKEYFELLOW - ZURICH VEGETARIAN STRAIGHT EDGE POSITIVE HARDCORE, BEGIN!!!

INTERVIEW OF CONE RECORDS

Earlier in this last year I have made an interview on my buddy Fabio who run the record label CONE RECORDS. Great label who is new also and dedicated to hxc they have the spirit! He also play in a few hxc bands (Marcel from CONE records). I do not finish in time this interview to be in sick truth fanzine issue number one so I uploaded it upon blogspot to share to the world. So please... read on....

Greetings. Please introduce.

Hello I am called Fabio. I running premier hxc label CONE RECORDS with my friend Marcel. I also plays bass in Aids Criminal and sings for mega strength.

Tell me about CONE records the name is funny what does it means?

A cone is a triangle that is become 3D.

Okay but what does it means? Is the CONE representing something within hxc?

CONE RECORDS is represents all type of hard core. We have old school and new school. The CONE represents all the type of hc we has to offer here in Germany and also throughout Europe. /!: even the world...

What is the releases created by CONE RECORDS

In the beginning when it begin we begin CONE RECORDS to create record label to make a release for just my band and my friend bands. First release was the AIDS CRIMINAL - MY DISEASE 7". This 7" is by the band I plays bass for and Marcel is the singer. It sound like hard Cleve style like integrity but have the spirit of ringworm also and other Clevo. The second release for CONE RECORDS is going to be an LP for Monkeyfellow from Zurich. I made a friendship with Yannick from this band last summer when he travels here for hxc show and when he show me the recording for his new band Monkeyfellow I know of course I have to put it out.

You also sing for mega strength? Awesome old school style but also mean! Like Judge! It have the hxc spirit! When I saw mega strength I could not believe the intense power and spirit! So please... tell us... can we look forward to a mega strength record on CONE records?

No

What is your favorite bands of the year?

Burn, risk it, monkeyfellow, safe and sound

Safe and sound brought the crucial New Age sound to fluff fest!

Yes they have the spirit!

Tell us... please I beg of you to tell us something about your band AIDS CRIMINAL.

AIDS CRIMINAL is Fabio (that is me) on bass, posi Hans on drums, Marcel plays sing, and Dolph on guitar. Before we were Called AIDS CRIMINAL we were just called Bursting Out but then he said it is too close to outburst NYHC so we change the name to AIDS CRIMINAL for two shows and then change it for a brief moments to Electric Force but now back to AIDS CRIMINAL. The 7" title my disease is coming out on CONE records.

Do you have a word for the Youth?

Remain focused at all time...

Okay thank you any last words?

Thank you for creating this interview. Thanks to Marcel and Posi Hans! Keep the spirit going!