So here's the first in a new series of installments that will be called World Report. I've been looking to hear about good music from other countries--stuff that's still in the underground. And I got this e-mail from a guy named Dragan who lives in Serbia (part of the former Yugoslavia, for those of you who never keep up with those kinds of things). Here's his interview with the band Muzika Polukelih.

1.Tell me something about your beginings?
-MP (Muzika Poludelih) started to play in 1997. Before that, we played in other bands like: Milan Panich, Why, and MBUP. We’ve played hardcore-punk since we started, and we will play it and be in it until the end.

2.How many releases do you have?
-We have two reelases. The first was released in 1997, and its called Definicija Bolesti (Definition of Sickness),and its a nice mix of HC-punk and oi! overtones. The second album was released in November of 2002 and its called My Unity. Both albums have been released in Serbia, and the first one is also released in Holland. We’ve been on many compilations, and you can check us on some split CDs.

3.You have been on the scene pretty long. You’ve played many shows. Tell us something about your gigs, because you are one of the bands who play a lot of gigs and out of Serbia.
-Yes, we’ve played a lot of shows, and we are very happy about that. Of course, we think that we will play a lot more gigs in Serbia and Europe. We are happy because we have a lot of crowds at our gigs, and people really like our music. You know, the crowd is a mix of the HC heads, punks, skinheads, metalheads, and other headbangers, and its something great. That is our goal: to gather all people from the underground. In Serbia we almost did that, so we have to continue to do it in the rest of Europe.

4.I know a lot of people, from different cities, who go to every one of your gigs, is it the same thing when you play in the other parts of Europe?
-It is very close to being like that, but you can spot some differences in every country. People in Serbia stick together, because the situation in the country is very bad, and we help them as much as we can because they are friends of ours. I am very proud to say we have them in huge numbers--in the rest of the Europe also.

5.You just finished your Serbian tour with the Dutch band The Shining. Tell me something about that. I heard it was fucking abnormal?
-Yes man, it was amazing. We played a lot of towns in Serbia, and the atmosphere was great. The people from Amsterdam were delighted and very surprised, because they’ve never seen a crowd like that. People were going crazy, and there was a lot of fun, which is of a very specific style in Serbia. There's gonna be a split video from this tour, so people will have a chance to see it. The whole tour was organized by New Age Family Organisation, the Serbian label. After this, we'll have a tour with the Slovakian band Abhorrence, and all the details you can check on our website. (see link at top of page)

6.Why do you call yourself Family?
-Because we are really one big family, hardcore family, brothers and sisters, and it doesn’t matter who you are, the only important thing is are you a man or not. That is the only difference we make. I can’t tell you the real number, but you can assume if i tell you that in every city we have 200-300 friends who come on our gigs. We are really proud about that, because we have sincere friends who make our family stronger.

7.Tell me something about your influences?
-I will be very direct: Exploited, Agnostic Front, The Business, Sick Of It All, Last Resort...,so you can be sure where and for what we stand. But, there's a lot more music we like and listen to, and it doesn’t have to be underground. I can tell at least 100 bands.

8.Members of the band are?
-Members are: Djakon/vox, Misha Strife/bass,vox, Milosh/Guitar,vox, Bane/drums and a 70 year old guy Rasha Popov who does spoken word and who is our guru. We are all 29 years old, and besides this, we are working.

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(**If you want to see the best underground bands from the scene in your country profiled here, then send me an e-mail with band information, site links, and music links and I'll check them out.--Christine)