Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Kidd.
Christian, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my first punk band in 1976. I’d been inspired by listening to all kinds of underground records, but seeing The Ramones both at Liberty Hall and Max’s On the Border with the Runaways, The Dead Boys with Nora Jones at Steamboat Springs, and eventually, the one Texas performance of the Sex Pistols at Randy’s Rodeo in San Antonio were the most significant catalysts that fueled my desire to perform punk rock. I knew that I didn’t want to sound like any of them, but I loved the energy and fierceness of the music and hoped to make my own mark in the genre.
When punk rock in general first started to grow here in Houston, there was a lot of freedom about what you could do. Some bands were very experimental with their music, how they dressed, and what kind of stage show they’d build for their audience. There were not a lot of “rules” about how you had to sound or look yet. We were building it as we went along. It was a very cool time. And our budding punk community was pretty close-knit. We’d share PA systems, audition for one another’s bands, see the shows of our friends; luckily, these aspects still live in Houston’s punk circle today. We’re all pretty supportive of one another. It’s one of the things that makes punk in this city so great.
Though the music I wrote stayed the same, each iteration of my punk rock dream had different names: Guyana Boys Choir, Zyklon B, Christian Oppression, and finally The Hates. In the beginning, the songs were very short, very aggressive, and though people didn’t realize it at the time, some of them are very tongue in cheek. While punk is known to be angry and political, I’ve always felt that there’s room for a little dark humor too. For example, “So What?” is easily one of the fiercest songs I’ve ever written, but it’s really about picking up a girl for a date and what her mother might think of a guy like me showing up at the door. Fun stuff, right?
The Hates have toured to California and back, all over Texas, and I’ve even taken my music to Wales. It was there I got to have an unexpected classic musical moment: a school choir singing the beginning of one of my songs, “Game as Ned”. Almost all of the music was self-released on my Faceless Records. A couple of notable exceptions are the “Contamination Disc” released in the 90’s by German company Juicy People, and Italian label Rave-Up did a compilation of the first 3 EPs and then “Panacea” within the last couple of years. It’s flattering that the music lives on, all over the world.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to have some amazing musicians in my band; one was classically trained, some knew nothing about music at all when they started, a couple came from different genres of music, but each one left their mark on The Hates. One thing’s for sure; when I first dreamed of going on stage with my guitar and a bloody yell, I never expected to be still doing it over 40 years later.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s not always been easy sailing. For one thing, punk rock is not everyone’s cup of tea. There have been some lean years when we hardly played any shows at all because of changing music trends and tastes. Also, these days a lot of people think that punk rock has to sound like The Ramones, or the Dead Kennedys, or Green Day; if you don’t sound like someone they already like, it’s harder to get some people’s attention. But I’m proud of my music, and I’m okay with maybe losing out on a gig or two as long as I keep doing what I’m doing.
Also, not having ever been signed to a major label was a challenge; it would have been cool to have a wider distribution of my music and maybe toured more extensively. But in this digital age, I find a lot of excitement in being able to post my music online. I don’t make any real money by doing it that way, but I get to hear from new fans all over the world.
Please tell us about your music.
The Hates are an old school punk rock band, aggressive and loud, shaking our collective fists at social injustices and fat cat politicians while making a joke or two. We don’t look or sound like anyone else, and though we’ve had many musicians over the years, the band has played shows and released EPs and albums without major label support for over 40 years. We’re proud that Houston is our home, and it always will be.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
From my earliest memories, my mother always encouraged my love of music. It started with an Elvis Presley record, went on to The Beatles, and she even gave me my first guitar. When I got into punk, she was still supportive of me, also congratulating me when she saw The Hates on the marquee of Paradise Island on her way to her second job in the evening. She even copied an article in the Houston Post about me getting in trouble with my supervisor for the City of Houston for wearing my mohawk at work, giving those copies to anyone who would take them.
In my search for likeminded people, I have been fortunate to have had a partnership with Dale Brooks and Ted Barwell, who filmed early Hates performances at a time when music videos were not even really a thing yet. Dale, in particular, was a huge champion for The Hates, producing a few releases, airing videos on the local access channel, and encouraging me to take my music abroad. We even got an award at the Houston Film Festival with the video for “Houston”.
Paul Minot, the bassist in the second Hates lineup, eventually went on to build his home studio in Austin and invited us to record there. Those sessions became “New World Oi!”, “Texas Insanity,” and “Greatest Hates.”
Last, and certainly not least, my wife, Alexis. Almost from the beginning, she’s helped me in so many ways; from hauling equipment, shooting photos, taking care of the guys in the band and me, designing flyers, helping with social media, and so much more. She is my biggest cheerleader, my biggest critic, and can roadie like a boss in heels in a skirt.
Contact Info:
- Email: the.hates@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Hates-129285387114356/
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