My favourite record of 1998 was probably Three Second Kiss's second album Everyday Everyman. For me it contains elements of everything that is good in alternative rock come the end of this century. It easily slots in with the current trends but doesn't get bogged down sticking to any specific concepts. Moments of joy felt like Shellac's abrupt math, Fugazi's straightforward energy and passion and the perfect melody of Slint but it also sounds so fresh and original. On his first hearing my friend likened them to Bob Tilton.

Some of the questions are by Sergio (guitar player), some others by Massimo (a real few word, spoken or written, man) and the rest by Lorenzo (deeeerrrrummer)

What's your lineup?
We are an essential three piece. Massimo plays the bass and sings, better he tries to.., Sergio is the guitar player and Lorenzo beats the drums.

Where are you from?
The official band's base is BOLOGNA even if nobody of us was born there. I (Lorenzo) live at about 30 km from Bologna, Sergio is from Senigallia, a beautiful town nearby the Adriatic sea in the centre of Italy, and Massimo from Crotone, which is situated in the extreme south of Italy nearby the sea. We all met in Bologna cause of the university, which is famous for being a collector of all Italian (and often European) guys gravitating around arts.

Can we have a brief history of the band?
Three Second Kiss start on April 1993. We have released two works on CD, the first - about June 1996 - is "For Pain Relief", out for a small label (Lollypop rec.), which has got enthusiastic reviews in many Italian magazines and fanzines, and has been played also by John peel. The second, just released in May 1998, is "Everyday Everyman" recorded and engineered by Iain Burgess and produced by Wide records, the most important Italian independent label. "Everyday Everyman" is distributed in Europe via Southern records, London. Since our first days together we immediately started touring Italy. We have played about a 100 gigs and supported bands such as Surgery, Come, Uzeda, Blonde Redhead, Shellac and June of '44.

Who are your influences?
Probably 30 years of rock music !! It's so difficult for us to catch this side of our relations with music. Everyone in the band has his own influences. Actually we like so much the new American sounds, the true spirit and live attitude of bands that came out of touch and go, Dischord, Trance syndicate, Domino, skin graft...but you know, it's a limitation cause we have a full range background.

What have you released so far record wise?
1996 For Pain Relief CD Lollypop Rec
1997 "I cried you didn't listen" comp. Gamma pop rec.
1998 Everyday Everyman CD Wide Rec.

What is the music scene like in Italy?
very interesting in the last two or three years. In the 80's the scene was so provincial, just a dead copy of England or USA staff. Now the bands try to explore a personal approach to rock music, evolving a new free form of songwriting. We appreciate lots of things that are comin' up from Sicily and Catania in particular. It's great what the human and musical influence (should we say "guide"?) of a band like Uzeda, can do to the intentions and attitudes of young bands.

Who are your favourite Italian bands?
We love many bands you won't find on any international and Italian magazine, but that are quite good. here some of them: Uzeda (actually they're on every kind of mag. and named as the best alternative rock band in Italy ) Laundrette, Plank, jerica's, 100%, One dimensional man etc...

What has been your most memorable gig?
It's not pretentious, really... but we try to be memorable in every gig we play. It doesn't matter how many people are in the venue. We are a live band, and we respect our audience. Anyway, the tour with the June of '44 was great and so emotional, especially the day in Florence...so many people, that the club was exploding!

Which band has been the most fun to play a show with?
We've always played with bands we hold in high esteem. So we have to say that every show we had with Blonde Redhead or Uzeda or Shellac or June of 44 or anyone else, has been absolutely important for us and funny.

Would you describe yourselves as emo-core?
Well, like most bands, we don't like any label. Emo-core? We don't have that background of experience. We just intend to constantly balancing emotional and physical tension, fully exploring the intensity and the potentialities of each single instrument and emphasising the geometries and sound puzzles.

Why do you sing in English instead of Italian?
We play rock music and we consider English the perfect language for it, sharp and effective at the same time. It's also important to express yourself in a global language, not circumscribing your music to any frontier.

Have you been to America?
No never. But it'll be very soon (hope so)

You took your name from a Hayes Censorship Code ruling, how did you find out about it?
Massimo studies at the Cinema University in Bologna and by chance in a documentary film we've heard about it. This thing impressed us so much. We can't stand anything created just to limit creativity.

How did you find out your tracks had been played on John Peel? And how did you react?
Oh, it's been a nice surprise. John Peel has been so kind and sent us a fax. Then a friend of us gave us the tape of that BBC radio show.

What was it like working with Ian Burgess?
He is really a good sound engineer with many years of experience and if you remember the first big black records you should understand. You can say he is the father of the Steve Albini school. We recorded "Everyday Everyman" in a Sicily 70's studio, and although that wasn't his studio and equipment, he made a great work. We wanted to catch our live sound at his best and he did. We really enjoyed to spend four days with him, eating, drinking, laughing....a significant experience. This is what a recording session should always be, not only a work relationship.

Do you play many shows with Uzeda?
Everytime it's possible. We are close friends and their Management "coop Indigena" is also our management. They are unique, great musicians and loveable persons. They help us to grow up and give us the opportunity to play with overseas bands. we are a family and we are proud to be their friends.

Have you played any shows in England/Britain yet? (if not you should)
Not yet, but as for USA we wish we'll be up there soon.

Would you teach me some Italian swear words please? (fuck, shit etc)
Iain Burgess' favourite swear word (not so ugly after all) was ...BASTARDO. absolutely perfect for driving', shows, soccer matches; and so international that everybody from most parts of the planet can get it. Anyway come to Italy if you wish, you'll learn a lot.

What is the music press like in Italy?
very provincial, sometimes they copy what's on the American or UK magazines. But anyway there are few but intelligent journalists.

Where are you now?
We're in Bologna. Trying to transform the hot humid air into good vibrations for new songs.

What is the happiest event you have ever witnessed?
What a question! Musical event? Probably June of '44 show in Florence.

Favourite album of all time?
No, don't ask us to make a selection!....it's impossible to us...we like Gang of Four, Pere Ubu, Devo, Red Crayola, Bastro, Brainiac, Gastr del Sol, Fugazi, Slint, Shellac.....and many others, too many.

Who is your favourite Simpsons character?

Massimo: Santa's Little Helper, absolutely!
Lorenzo: Itchy and Scratchy (Italian version is: Grattachecca e Fichetto!!!!)

Have you got any future releases planned?
After a long period plenty of events, we're now planning rehearsal sessions, trying to set some new stuff for a third work (maybe in 1999), and maybe a split with other bands.

www.gammapop.com/threesecondkiss