I think it goes without saying that Leatherface is going to be one of the biggest highlights at The Fest 7. I had a chance recently to catch up with band members Dickie Hammond and Graeme Philliskirk to talk about the show and the possibility of new material from the band in the not-too-distant future.

You are finally playing The Fest. I don’t know about your feelings on the matter but it feels like a union that should have happened long ago. Regardless, we are all stoked. How did The Fest’s Tony Weinbender approach you about playing Fest 7?
Dickie Hammond: He approached us in Austin, TX. It sounded like a good idea so we agreed to play.
Graeme Philliskirk: Yeah, we had played at the Chaos In Texas Fest earlier this year and Tony spoke to Timmy Hefner [promoter] there. Timmy told Tony to deal with me to sort it. We had a beer, talked, e-mails were swapped, we all said “yes” and we booked the show. It does feel like a union that should have happened long ago and I think that was why we knew we had to come over.

Was it ever discussed before?
Dickie Hammond: Not while I’ve been back in the band in the past three years. Has it?
Graeme Philliskirk: Actually, it had been mentioned before as we knew a lot about the Fest. It has a great reputation. It’s like a family and you have to experience it and become a part of it. However, it was never discussed as a band. It was more e-mails flying about and then we would go off and do other things so it was never confirmed and carried out.

Read more after the jump.

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When I was trying to figure out which band to feature first in our Fest 7 segment, Leatherface was the obvious choice. I am insanely excited to these punk rock legends in the flesh down in Gainesville. I recently asked the band to talk about a record that meant something to them when they were growing up and guitarist Dickie Hammond sent me a story involving the Stiff Little Fingers’ classic Inflammable Material. We’ll have some more from the Leatherface crew in the next few weeks so be on the lookout for that.

Band: Stiff Little Fingers
Record: Inflammable Material
By Dickie Hammond

It was November 1978. I had just moved with my family from Morpeth, Northumberland, England to Ryhope, which is a village outside Sunderland. The school I went to was Ryhope Comprehensive [and] it had the worst record in the North East. I was twelve and my only saving grace was the Sunderland Football Club, who I supported from the age of six. They had a school disco at dinner time and punk was the music being played. That’s when I first heard “Alternative Ulster.” It was the greatest intro and song I’d ever heard.

I had a paper round and saved up two weeks money, £5 at the time, and went to HMV and there it was. “Suspect Device,” “Wasted Life,” “Barbed Wire Love,” “Alternative Ulster,” “State Of Emergency,” and “Breakout” were the first ones that stood out. I wore the grooves out on it. It still sounds as fresh today as it did thirty years ago. Pure fuckin class!

An initial lineup for The Fest 7 has been announced. All I gotta say is that ….freaking….LEATHERFACE is playing! Yeah! Along with them, The Bouncing Souls, Atom & His Package, Strike Anywhere, Dillinger Four, Coalesce, Paint It Black, amongst many others, will be playing this year. Be on the lookout for the official announcement from No Idea.

 
Frankie Stubbs of the the mysterious-and-insanely-amazing (just couldn’t think of a better way to describe them) Leatherface has posted a cover of the Dillinger Four staple “Doublewhiskeycokenoice” on his Myspace.  Check out the link and click on “D4 Boat” and sing along.  Thanks to the ‘Org for the tip.