We Asked The VirginMarys If Punk Is Dead

The Virginmarys are a three-piece British punk trio that took their biblically-inspired name from a strip club in California.

“Before we were The Virginmarys, me and Ally were in a different band who signed a deal with a small label in California,” Danny Dolan explained. “We were basically living in the middle of nowhere, and there was one bar called The Londoner, where we spent most of our time when we weren’t recording. One night, I overheard a group of guys talking about heading off to a strip club in San Fernando named The Virginmarys. I don’t know why, but that memory always stuck with me. Anyway, that band split up and when we started a new band, I thought it’d be a pretty crazy thing to call a band The Virginmarys after that incident.”

The boys have a new album, Divides, coming out May 6th, so now’s the perfect moment to ask the “Motherless Land” singers to answer a somewhat holy trinity of questions. Each band member answered three questions on the state of punk, the second coming of Brits to America, and “harrowing” — a word that Danny says reminds him of the dentist — songwriting experiences. Read their responses below.

Danny Dolan




1. Tell us why punk isn’t dead on THIS VERY DAY TODAY.

Punk isn’t dead today because this morning my cat Nico was hissing and swiping my feet, but rather than giving her a fresh pack of cat food, I tried to mix some new dry ones in with what was left in her bowl from yesterday in hopes she wouldn’t notice. And now, she’s just literally thrown up on the carpet in front of me. The punk metaphor here says that just because the top layer of something looks okay doesn’t mean the insides aren’t made up of safe biscuits. Like current pop music. [Laughing] I quite like this one.

2. Do you think it’s time for another wave of British invasion upon America? Do you guys like America? What’s the greatest thing about America?

I dunno, I guess so. When was the last one? 90s? Coldplay? If it was Coldplay I’d say definitely time for an invasion. Personally, I do really like America. One of the biggest misconceptions of America is that Americans think they’re better than everyone else. In the time I’ve spent in the U.S. visiting over 40 states, I’ve only ever met really welcoming humble people. When I tell people that back home in the UK, they can’t believe it. The greatest thing about America is… the movies!

3. What’s the least punk thing about you guys?

I would say our sense of style isn’t stereotypically punk. We’re more Joy Division-punk, I’d say. That and we all have cats. Oh no, wait, I’m not sure if Ally does or not now.

Matt Rose

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svu5T8xW2EA

1. Tell us why punk isn’t dead on THIS VERY DAY TODAY.

This very day I was in town and there was a group of guys for UKIP trying to gain supporters for their party. There was this older couple who marched straight up and started giving it to the guy behind the table, telling him how wrong the party is and what they stand for. Even banging on the table! Proper punk.

2. Do you think it’s time for another wave of British invasion upon America? Do you guys like America? What’s the greatest thing about America?

Yeah, why not! Seems like a while since that’s happened, and it’d be cool to be at the forefront of that. I do like America and would say that, after our last tour, my favorite thing is probably the landscape – like the mountains and the coast and the redwoods. It’s a part of America that, for me at least, you don’t really think of when you think of America.

3. What’s the least punk thing about you guys?

Me, personally? Quite a few things.

Ally Dickaty




1. Tell us why punk isn’t dead on THIS VERY DAY TODAY.

Just today there has been the first-ever junior doctors strike in the UK, walking out on their jobs and forming picket lines to scream to the world to save the NHS. But every day there’s new graffiti to be seen, from beautiful imagery to just the scrawl of an anti-establishment message.

2. What’s the least punk thing about you guys?

My nose ring. It’s so cliché.

3. What’s been your most harrowing experience writing a song together? 

It has to be when we’re going over and over and over and over and over a song idea, trying to perfect something, but almost moving further away from what made it great. It starts to feel like you’re losing your mind.

The Virginmarys are cute and cool, follow them on Twitter here

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