Golliwog

Band members:
Sasa (Vocals, Guitar)
Matej (Bass, Vocals)
Vid (Guitar)
Emir (Drums)

Start listening:
Golliwog MySpace profile


Info:
Original Golliwog was a children's character created by Florence Kate Upton in the late 19th century. They were popular throughout the first half of the twentieth century, and notorious throughout the second. Golliwog began as innocent children's hero and cuddly toy, but times have changed and he is now persona non grata, a subject of raging controversy and a symbol of reviled racist stereotyping. The sad thing is that unlike so many modern children's characters, Golliwog is non-violent, positive and cheery.

The original concept of the Golliwog was not intended to humiliate anyone, but some people seem determined to see Golliwog as something he never was. This poor ragdoll was never a problem – the problem is infinite human stupidity and conscientious ignorance! And that's also the message behind the controversial name of this female-fronted four-piece band, that stands for equality and liberty for all.

Golliwog from Slovenia has been around since 1998, and they've been known by their unique style of fast melodic hard core with recognizable and heavy guitar sound, energetic vocals, positive message, and straight-in-your-face attitude. They've shared the stage with biggest names of the genre, such as: SNFU, Anti-Flag, Sick Of It All, Street Dogs, Dead To Me, Venerea, Shai Hulud, Red Lights Flash, Rentokill, Hladno Pivo, Kud Idijoti, Fakof Bolan...

After the infamous D.I.Y. release (with one of the greatest pun-titles of all time) Gandhi Fans Against Gun Defence and constantly playing shows in Slovenia and abroad, they entered the Studio Metelkova and recorded their instant classic album More Than Meets D.I.Y. This album received amazing reviews by most fanzines and webzines, and soon after the release the band signed a record deal with In-N-Out Records from Japan (Pulley, Strung Out, RX Bandits, New Found Glory, Nerf Herder, Fenix TX, Halifax, Allister, Home Grown...). The CD was released in December 2006, with additional bonus track and slightly changed booklet. In the same year they were also invited to be part of international punk rock compilation Energy To Start The Day, released by No Filler Records from Florida.

The group's follow-up to 2006's More Than Meets D.I.Y., was entitled Plague Allegiance. This time the band took it one step further and along with music album, they issued a short book with the same title (Plague Allegiance). The idea is to spread the message as wide as possible and to illuminate the issues about the government corruption, secret societies, New World Order, and to show the hard facts about the biggest conspiracy of our time to a wider audience. Some text for the book was written and approved by well known freedom fighters, conspiracy researchers, and authors such as David Icke, Michael Tsarion, Jordan Maxwell and others.

Plague Allegiance was also very well received by music critics and fans and it opened up a new audience for the band. The fan base grew bigger not only in Europe, but also in Japan, South America, Canada, Russia... and consecutively, the number of played Golliwog songs on internet pages grew rapidly (Last.fm over 100.000 plays, Myspace.com over 120.000 plays). The information about the quality of the album spread fast and wide, and during the first three weeks Golliwog held 7th position of best sellers on the Interpunk Local selling charts (the biggest international alternative music shop online), and all that without any mainstream media support whatsoever.

Plague Allegiance is band's first concept album and it builds up through the entire tracklist, song by song. The whole picture is a political satire of the reality that we're living in, but we can't see further than the end of our nose. It's about prison without the bars that we all share, and it's about disloyalty and betrayal. We can't see the true nature of the reality because we're dumbed down intentionally, by design. Every song is like a puzzle piece in this whole tapestry and it has a strong message. This album serviced the core fans and introduced some new music to those fans, but it also recruited a bigger and broader audience, because the songwriting has matured so much.

Because Golliwog are well aware of the importance of the music in everyday lives of youth today, they are trying to positively influence and direct todays youth through their lyrics. They're trying their best to help the kids with their everyday problems, by offering positive solutions and sharing life experiences, and by letting them know they are not alone and that others feel the same as they do. Golliwog will always strive for human freedom, animal liberation, universal peace, kindness, truth, honesty, revolution of consciousness, but the most important thing is unconditional love. Because real love is unconditional. As it means, without conditions attached to it. It is only our limited minds, a part of our ego, that want us to own / be with / be part of / control another person. Unconditional love means that you will love them regardless of what they do, or how good they are at it. You must love them, for being them. And that's the most important thing in our lives. Let your heart defeat your ego.

Golliwog are definitely one of the best alternative live acts in Slovenia at the moment, and one of the most active Slovenian bands on the scene, so don't miss the show when they hit your town. With their furious stage performance and sincere positive energy they'll get under your skin for sure.

Discography:
- Demo
- Shake ratlle and rock 2000
- Gandhi fan against gun defense 2001
- More than meets DIY 2006
- Plague Allegiance