By Kirby Unrest

Name/band duties?
There's me (Martin) on guitar, my brother Dre on vocals, Pat on second guitar and Art & Danny Banura on drums and bass.

So what are the origins of Donnybrook!, who else is in the band, when did you start, and what have you been up to lately?
The original band started a couple of years ago in March by myself, my brother, Pat, our original bassist and drummer Phil the Pain & Nick with a second singer we had at the time Bo Thomson. I think it's an unspoken rule of hardcore bands that you have to go through several member changes before you find your solid line-up, and that's exactly what we did. Now that we've finally achieved that solid line-up we've been out on the road touring as much as possible and we just finished up recording our debut full length. Basically at this point in all of our lives, this band is all of our main focus.

I know the band recently experienced a big change with Bo (vocals) leaving the band. To end all rumors, what exactly were his reasons for exiting DB, do you have any plans to get another second vocalist, or will things continue with you and Dre sharing the vox responsibilities?
His reason for leaving is obviously because he's a total loser, boozebag and a dork...but everyone knows that. Ha! Actually he just felt that with our upcoming tour schedule mixing with his current living situation it just wasn't gonna work. He decided to stay behind and work a "normal" job and make some real money. We just didn't feel right replacing him, so we decided to keep the band as a 5 piece. He now has another band that he sings for and our original drummer Nick plays bass for called Snake Eyes. We still have much love for him and he's a good friend of all of ours...but we're better off without a corny white dude in the band.

You had a good year in 2004 putting out two records with 1917, an EP and a split with Piece By Piece. What have you got planned for '05 record wise, what made you sign with Hand Of Hope/Eulogy and will any of the older tracks (i.e. "Down For Tha Core") be re-recorded for your latest?
This year in June we're releasing a 12 song album with Hand of Hope records called "Lions In This Game". Street date's set for about the 14th. We re-recorded Fist Over Fist from the "There Goes The Neighborhood" split with Piece By Piece, Techno-logic-kill from the "There's No Love For The Insincere" EP and Purify D.F.T.C. from our demo. There's also 7 new songs on the record and one cover song by NYHC's District 9. We chose to go with Hand of Hope on this one is just because it was time for change. They contacted us about doing a record and were just really psyched about doing it and everything they could offer us was just what we needed at the time. Everything we've been able to do so far is definitely still thanks to Riley and 1917 records. He still helps us out in any way possible because we were all good friends before the band and label.

You guys definitely have an old school sound, rooted in the classic NYHC with a vintage California edge but modern qualities as well. Was that the style you were going for?
I wouldn't say that we were actually going for any particular style in general. When you listen to a large variety of hardcore music like I do, all those all those different influences show up even unwillingly in the music that you write. We just stick to making hardcore music as we know it and as we like it.

Donnybrook! lyrics are far from timid. You take on internet shit talkers, Fashioncore, straight edge, and much more, yet it's in a very intelligent and thoughtful way, filled with great points. I mean I'm straight edge, but I fully agree with your comments in "Fist Over Fist" because edge kids who think non-edge kids don't belong are completely missing the point of the edge to begin with. Was that targeted towards any particular individual/band? In "No Love Here" you name check several well-known bands including PTW/Avenged Sevenfold/etc and call them out. Do you really believe these bands are destructive forces within the scene, without any worth or weight? I mean PTW played for many years in the scene, and were definitely underground for a long time. Good kids as well. I mean they are huge now, but so are a lot of formerly small time hardcore bands. What makes the difference to you between acts like PTW/Atreyu and Killswitch Engage and Throwdown? Finally, on the topic of messageboards/MySpace technology in the scene, it really seems to have replaced a lot of the hard work, and human interaction, the heart and soul of the scene. You touched on it in "Techno-Logic-Kill." What do you think? Do you agree with my sentiments?
With Fist Over Fist the song wasn't inspired by any certain individuals in particular. It was brought about by the whole "fuck you, I'm edge" craze that was going that was made popular by Embrace Today. People were taking the whole thing waaaaaay over board. I was noticing that it was giving people this false sense of superiority that definitely wasn't deserved and it was pretty annoying. I have nothing at all against the straight edge lifestyle, I just can't have anyone in any way ever think that just because they live their life in that way that they belong here in hardcore and I don't or that they're in any way better than me. I hope no one takes offense to the "fuck you, I'm not" comment in the song. Especially someone who expects a non-straight edge person to not get offended by the "fuck you, I'm edge" comment. They're both based on the same principles. Both parties are just being upfront with who they are and their beliefs and aren't gonna let anyone devalue that. The internet is a gift that is greatly abused in hardcore. I use the internet a lot...and I do mean A LOT. I also do my best to not abuse it and let it run my life. It’s such a useful tool that can so easily go wrong for example in the form of anonymous message board posting. People tend to get the idea that just because they're in the safety of their own home that they're allowed to say things they wouldn't normally say face to face. They think that just because there's no human interaction that nothing they say is real or has any effect. That definitely isn't true. Everyone knows this and they've heard it all before. People should just take the time to stop and think "...would I say these words to this person’s face that I'm talking about?" before they say something on the internet. That's basically what techno-logic-kill covers. I love the internet though...even myspace. Check me out: www.myspace.com/feelingmean In "There's No Love Here" I'm just calling things how I see them. There are bands out there that started in hardcore that are now in no way, shape or form doing anything good for the scene. That's just reality; And that isn't measured by how much money they make either. You can do your thing and make your cash and still contribute positively. That song is directed towards those who have decided to not do that.

Some other gossip that has plagued you revolves around the incidents in Reno at the Throwdown show in March 04 and the Terror show w/The Promise and Born From Pain at Whisky A Go Go last year. Anything you'd like to clear up and/or say on either or both matters?
You have some great questions. In Reno we did for our friends in Throwdown what anyone would do for their friends in the same situation if they have any heart. Things were on the verge of getting ugly for Throwdown because they were outnumbered by a group of people who were out to start some shit for all the wrong and childish reasons. A bunch of punk kids looking to make a name for themselves, a name that chumps like that definitely don't deserve, were out to hurt our friends. We're the kind of people that are ready and willing to do whatever necessary to help out a friend in a situation like that and long story short that's exactly what happened. Sometimes shit happens...even when you're in a band. The Whiskey can just go fuck themselves. Hardcore doesn't belong in bullshit clubs like that and I encourage any bands that care about their scene not to play there. Their staff stole roughly $2,000 from a dressing room out of a bag that belonged to The Promise. Along with that the security was manhandling and throwing people out unnecessarily. Eventually it became too much to handle so we took action. That's the way it works in hardcore and that's how I feel it should be. I'm ready and willing to do whatever necessary to look out for my brothers and my people.

Are you still working for 1917 Records?
I help them out with ANYTHING they ever need. Since I'm on the road so much I'm always out there promoting and searching for new bands. I don't get a paycheck from them or anything, but Riley helps me out with anything I need in return.

I know there are some Donnybrook side projects including Like It Or Not, which also features members of More To Pride. Any other groups kids should know about and where can they find info about these bands?
Like It Or Not (L.I.O.N.) is my new band that I'm doing vocals for. You can check us out on myspace @ www.myspace.com/likeitornot. We just finished up a 5 song demo that you can download. I'd say its for fans of hardcore in the vein of Think I Care. While you're on myspace you can also look up our bass player and drummers other band Blood Stands Still.

So, I asked Guns Up! this question as well; is the “!” actually part of your name? Why?
In our case, it’s definitely a part of the name. Pretty much we just like it and decided to go with it. Any for anyone out there who's got it twisted its "Donnybrook!" as ONE WORD! Not "Donny Brook", "Donny Brooke" or even "Donnie Brooke" like some have put it. Donnybrook! If you don't know now you know.

Is there ever going to be a Hurricanrana reunion? Come on, you know you want to.
Oh lord. Although it would definitely be a treat with clubs getting shut down and people being hurt, I don't see it happening. You will be the first to know if this ever happens, and I expect an entire AMP spread on the event.

Short answer fun:
Worse board: B9 or Trustkill? I fully back the b9er. A better "worse board" question would have been Lambgoat or Trustkill. Then I would answer Lambgoat without a doubt.
Dumb and Dumber or Super Troopers? Dumb And Dumber mos def.
Old School or Office Space? Tough one but I'm going with Office Space.
Infest, Unbroken or Chokehold? INFEST always has been and always will be my all time favorite band.
Tacos or burritos? Burritos. Especially when they're Super Burritos.
Rockstar, Redbull or Monster? The answer is they all taste like shit. I'm not a big energy drink fan, but if I had to choose I'd say Redbull because it seems to be the OG drink of the trend.
50cent or Ja Rule? They both pretty much suck. I'll go with 50 though because he's got Young Buck in his camp.
Agnostic Front or Sick Of It All? I'm going with AF.
Warped Tour or Ozzfest? Warped Tour. This is only because there's more of a chance of some fine dames there because basically I definitely wouldn't go to either.
Adidas or Asics? Neither. Nike.
WWF, WCW, ECW? E-C-Dub. I'm a huge fan. I have some of the best matches on tape and I actually went to Living Dangerously at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in L.A. one year with m