The following interview was taken from a 2009 interview with Australia's Blood Red Eagle via the now-defunct Reich-n-Roll.net.
BRE: Yeah its been a while huh. We've played a few here and we've played in NZ and USA as well. We've had a few offers to go to Europe over the years but something has always come up so maybe in 2010 we'll get it together and head overseas. Hopefully.
RNR: Which has been your favorite so far?
BRE: Well playing for Volksfront in the USA has got to be number one but musically I'd say our tightest show was in NZ. I'd really like to do an invite only thing in USA with VF again in the future, that would probably be the pinnacle of the live circuit for me. I prefer a smaller show where everyone is in good spirits and enjoying themselves these days, you always have a better time.
BRE: It comes from the story of Ragnar Lodbrok, a viking cheiftan, who was murdered by a priest. His sons swore revenge and one of them got it in the form of a "blood red eagle", which is where you split the rib cage and spread the lungs out in the pattern of an eagle.
RNR: I picked up 'Divine Providence' back in December, and I've got to say, it rocks! Is it true that the cd was entirely self-produced and released?
BRE: Thanks! Yeah, I started to look at home recording a few years back in between things. Basically we wanted the freedom to record what we wanted when we wanted for free. So I read as much as I could online and asked anyone in the know as many questions as I could, and then taught myself progressively. We recorded that album, our 1st self recorded real BRE release, in my shed with the drums where the car would normally be and me in my workshop out the back between my beer fridge and bench grinder. There was alot of hours teaching myself, alot of trial and error and I actually 'lost' an entire 19 songs (that album plus more) once in a hard drive crash. But in the end, it came out good and now we have freedom to record ourselves and any other pro white bands that want a free recording so that feels pretty good.
RNR: From where or what vendors would you suggest buying BRE music?
BRE: Directly from Volksfront International in the USA, Barracuda Records in Italy, PC Records in Germany, Pure Impact in Belgium, Rampage in England, Rune & Sword in England, Heathen Noise Productions in Australia, Midgard in Sweden .... really most good labels are carrying it.
RNR: Certain countries in Europe are notorious for their so-called "hate speech" laws where individuals and even band members have been locked-up for simply speaking their minds. Does Australia have any such laws, and has the band experienced any such repression?
BRE: Not as extreme as Europe. We have racial vilification laws that arent as harshly enforced. It can also have a lot to do with how you word certain things. Obviously we are still pretty interesting to the authorities because of our success, but BRE, to the best of my knowledge, hasn't been made 'illegal' anywhere. It really blows that in Europe you can be policed for your thoughts and the mere discussion of what is considered "fact" by the powers that be can land you in hot water fast, but it also tells me that all systems fail and their fear of opposition must be extreme for a reason ....
BRE: We wont be doing any shows in 2009 at all. We've all got too much on our plates this year. We will however record our long awaited 1st album in a series of 3 based on lyrics from the Poetic and Prose Eddas. We started a new band on the side but I wouldnt say its a side project because we want it to be a real band and not just some toy on the side. It's called Honky Tonk Knife Fight and its like the polar opposite of BRE ... It's outspoken over the top offensive, but all done tongue in cheek / humorously. We did a 7" on Diehard Records a few months back that went pretty well and I would really like to do a mini album or something with that this year. I am really enjoying the contrast. The sound is like redneck, scumbag, RnR, Garage Punk, Cowpunk, whatever.... Yeah i guess you could say right now we're just keepin on keepin on.
RNR: Anything else you'd like to get out there in closing?
BRE: Best of luck with the new site, looks great so far. Anyone out there wanting to contact us can do so by emailing Blood_red_eagle@hotmail.com or to find out more about what we support check out www.Volksfrontinternational.com. Thanks for the interview, all the best ROA!
Blood Red Eagle's Divine Providence and other releases are available from Liferune Industries in the U.S. and Heathen Noise Productions in Australia.
