Santeria
From Germany
How many members are in the band?
We got seven members – Paradiser: Vocals – Kongo Joe: Bass – Sebubbles: Keys – Don Bepone: Guitar – Fabe: Drums – Al CapHorn: Saxophone – Don Carlos: Trumpet.
How long is the band together, and how did it all come about?
We´ve been playing for about six years and we started out as a punkrock band and the years, we evolved into a ska®gae band. But you can still hear the influences of punkrock in our music.
Where did the name for the band come from?
The founders of the our band were big fans of “Sublime” and their song “Santeria”. When we gout our horn section we added the “Porn Horns” into the band name.
What have the band release to date?
First, an EP called “Babylon by 2CV”, which was released in 2005. On March 2 we will release our debut-album “Rocksteady Telegraph”.
Have any members played in other ska bands?
Some of our members made their experiences in other music-based reggae- and rock Bands.
What big names in the ska world have you had the pleasure to have played alongside of?
e.g. Panteon Rococo, Skalariak, The Toasters
Have you toured much outside of your own country?
We´ve been around germany, Austria and Switzerland and we´re planning to tour around Italy in 2007, too.
What type of feedback do you enjoy coming from an audience while on stage?
Mostly, we enjoy young girls throwing theirs bra´s on stage J
If you can remember, what was your biggest and best gig to date?
Our biggest gig was on a big festival in Vienna (Austria) called “Donauinselfest”; in front of about 2500 people.
What ska bands or artists of yesteryear, if any, may have influenced your sound?
e.g.The Slackers, The Specials, Jugde Dread, The Ethiopians, Sublime, The Aggrolites, The Allstonians
What's next for the band, recording wise?
Well, we are going to release our first album “Rocksteady Telegraph” and after the release we will do some promotion and hopefully, we are going to play a lot of shows. We will also publish our new website around the middle of february.
If you were to advise someone to buy a ska album, apart from your own material, what album would you direct them to?
Fabe: The Allstonians (USA) – The Allston Beat
Paradiser: Madness – One step beyond
Apart from your own band, which other ska outfit from your own area or country would you rave on about?
We got many great ska & reggae & mestizo-bands around germany like Les Babacools and Jamaram, Dr. Ring Ding. Germany got a big and nice scene.
Promotion for your band, do you enjoy the attention from fanzine's and other publications and web-sites alike, do you think it helps your band?
The Internet is a good opportunity to get in contact with the fans all over the world – e.g platforms like mySpace made things easier for today.
What's the current ska scene like in your area at present (if any) ?
We have a nice ska-scene in Munich and also a lot of shows from other bands touring through our city. Some other munich ska-bands are: Bluekilla, Benuts, Steamy Dumplings.
For fans around the world, that would like to keep up to date about your band, where would you direct them to?
Check our website www.pornhorns.de or www.santeria-online.com for information and sounds. Our website will be updated complety in the middle of february.
Lets imagine you could take a trip back in time and you had the chance to join a band or back an artist of an earlier era’s of ska and reggae music, who would it be?
Paradiser: Desmond Dekker
Fabe : Jugde Dread or Laurel Aitken
Is song writing within the band a joint venture?
Most songs base on an idea of one of the members and are developed in the rehearsals.
What does ska music mean to you?
It´s funny and of course a way to promote and show your views of the daily life and the world.
Where would yea like to see your band 5 years from now?
We would enjoy to play some shows in Ireland J - a wonderful country, nice people and the beer….
Before we finish up, who personally, music-wise has influenced you musically?
Fabe: The Police, brazilian music, the 80ies
Paradiser: The Cure, Madness, The Ramones, EAV
Is there any message that you'd like to pass onto readers of Ska Patrol Skazine?
Waste your life, enjoy your time, go for a ride and keep on rockin´ steady!
Many thanks for your time for this interview, do you have any last words?
Yeah, we say “Prost” and “Waidmannsheil” – keep your heads up high!