Beijing band Gum Breed is nearing the 20th year of their career. They have certainly been through many stages in the Chinese punk scene, and have always kept the stage going with maximum audience engagement and participation. Their anthems “Kiss Me I'm Punk” and “Civilization Crime” are standards in the Chinese punk rock world. But as vocalist Dee Gumbred explains, Gum Breed are part of the global punk community, and throughout their long career, they have made their mark by bringing their punk to fans around the world. On their recent European tour, Gum Breed reconnected with fans and bands across six countries. I spoke to Dee about the tour.
Dee, thanks for talking to me. Where are you now?
Thank you for the interview. I'm back from my European tour in 2024. All is well.
The European tour was 3 weeks, 5 festivals, 6 countries, 11 club shows, 17 dates and 100% DIY! How hard was it to organise this tour and how much planning did it require?
I started planning this tour around October/November 2023. Around that time I got chicken pox (I never had it as a kid) and took about 15 days off work as a sick leave. It gave me time to think and I started to connect with the European punk scene. It took a few months, but things kept changing even during the tour (Zurich didn't work out after all and the Düsseldorf show was changed to Münster).
How important do you think it is to tour internationally to get your name out there?
From the beginning, we have considered ourselves part of the global punk community. And of course, punk rock is an international culture. Touring overseas has given us the feeling that “punk is not dead” and “punk rock is important.” It has also shaped the band's thinking.
What is your favourite country that you have played in so far?
Finland was great. It was the first country we played abroad. We were blown away by the beautiful scenery and the punk culture. After several tours in Europe and Asia, Germany is my favorite so far and I think it's the easiest country to play in. Things are more predictable and the scene is big enough.
Is there anything you do in each city you visit, like trying the local food or beer?
If I have enough time, I always do a little sightseeing, but most of the time I don't. But of course, the local food and beer are a must try.
What are the differences between performing in China and performing in other countries (fans, sound, stage, etc.)?
At shows in China, the backline is always fully kitted out, so you just bring your instrument, plug it in and play. But the venues here are now more commercial. You have a whole crew working for you, but you have to pay rent in advance, and you have to find your own food and hotel.
For European shows, I have to organize the backline myself, but they always organize dinner, breakfast and accommodation. Since we do a lot of DIY shows and festivals in Europe, the sound is usually good and powerful and the sound staff are more experienced and are people who grew up on punk rock.
In China, newer and more expensive equipment is often used, but the sound staff usually work in the pop music industry, so the sound is not as punky as in Europe and sound checks take a lot longer.
A commonality between China and Europe is that shows are logistically predictable and follow a timetable, whereas in Southeast Asia this may not be the case.
Southeast Asia has the largest punk scene and punk population in the world, but sometimes there are surprises and plans can change at any time. To be honest, we never had a sound check during our tour last year. But we had a great time. The culture is different and a punk rock party is not just about the sound.
Asai-san, you've just joined Gum Breed as the bassist, how is it going so far?
She's so amazing. A born punk rock bass musician. I would love to go on future journeys with her.
Who was your favorite band to play with?
My favorite band is Frittenbude from Germany. We used to play at festivals together. They were not the typical punk rock bands we usually play with, they were a really cool band that played hip hop, techno and dance music.
The most important thing for Gum Breed is not only to play a great concert but also to enjoy ourselves. We had a great tour and an experience we will never forget.
https://gumbleed.bandcamp.com/
