INTERVIEW: CHARLIE BIT MY FINGER (PRH 2.4)

Charlie Bit My Finger is a five-piece party pop punk band from Belgium. Playing since 2011. - their melodic riffs, great vocals and enormous fun on stage are contagious and that is what made their performance on PRH 2.4 one of the best, for me anyway! So I had a little chat with the guys, and let me tell you, it was more laughing than talking! They are so cool, funny and chatty, but I managed to put the recording in a sensible text, so here it is:

Hi! Can you guys interduce yourself?

CBMF: Hi, we are Charlie Bit My Finger and we are from Belgium!

What is the story behind the band name?

CBMF: Well, it was not the smartest choice, you know, because of the famous video, but it was a fun video so we thought "Why not?". There was a claim on the Charlie bit me concept and we do like a good marketing stunt, so at that point we were like: "let's make it funny!"

And did it pay of?

CBMY:  Yeah!!! Everyone knows the video...maybe not us, but the video, so...everyone finds it funny and we heard people say "oh, it's a funny name, I'm gonna see the show!" So, we think it pays of...

Why is it that you are not visible in media? And not just you, all of the Belgium alternative scene, and you have a strong scene, great punk bands...?

CBMF: That is a good question. We don't know... Belgium is a small country, maybe that is the reason. There is a platform in Belgium for music, all kind of music, but it is not known in the rest of the Europe... Maybe the solution would be to set it up with similar platform to help find bands from Belgium and Germany and France... it's and idea! Something to think about.

Let me get back to you: you had a release in 2022. Anything new on the way?

CBMF: Working on it! But not in a studio yet... It is a process! It takes time, with the family and everything. But we are working on it!

How many releases so far?

CBMF: Three albums and one EP. But a lot of compilations, how many I don't know... The first one was a little EP with three songs, but we count that as one, so four!!! (laughter)

Do you play a lot in Europe, or is it more home, in Belgium?

CBMF: Since the COVID not so much anymore. Only bigger shows. Before the COVID we played more small gigs, pubs, not so much the bigger shows. Now...it's not organized any more so...maybe people are afraid... We play more abroad than in Belgium actually. This summer we will play Slovenia, Netherlands...

This is your second time here? First time you played PRH was 2018. Would you say anything changed in those six years regarding Punk Rock Holiday?

CBMF: Well yeah...the sound is better now! If you are a band here on the festival, everyone is really friendly. They give you all you need, as in 2018. it was a bit of searching game for us. It is more professional now.

And do you come to PRH regardless if you are playing or do you come just when invited to play?

CBMF: No, no...some of us are coming since 2015 every year and we stay for the whole festival.

Who are you looking forward to see this year?

CBMF: Zebrahead! We look up to them. They are so energetic, so "full stage"! Their last album is so great! Also, we look up to Bouncing Souls I guess, because our "soft" songs lean to Bouncing Souls... than Rise Against I guess also - as the band we were looking forward to see...

Why do you interduce yourself as a "party pop punk band"?

CBMF: Because we "like to party party"! (laughing) It is self-explanatory! It is the most important thing for us as a band, as five friends who are playing for 13 years...the most important thing for us is to have fun on stage, to have a party, and not only on stage but off stage as well...

What are your plans?

CBMF: To party and drink a lot of melon balls. Playing main stage next year (laughing). We have goals, of course - we want to play more festivals, we wanna play main stages, we would love to play BrakRock festival... we want to play more and stay friends, write some new music. 

I think that is it guys. I know you have to rush to another interview, so let's pack this one up: it was fun talking to you. Your gig was so far one of my favourite. I really hope all of your dreams and plans come true... just remember me next year while playing main stage, ok?

CBMF: Ok! We are glad you liked it! Thank you!

Written by I.