Wattie Buchan

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Wattie Buchan
Background information
Birth nameWalter David Buchan[1]
Born (1957-07-24) 24 July 1957 (age 66)
Edinburgh, Scotland
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1979–present
Member ofThe Exploited

Walter David "Wattie" Buchan (born 24 July 1957) is a Scottish punk rock musician, best known as the lead vocalist for the Exploited.

Early life

Buchan was born in Edinburgh on 24 July 1957. He served in the British Army as a soldier prior to joining the Exploited.[2][3] He became interested in punk rock in the 1970s after hearing music by bands such as Sex Pistols.[2]

Career

Buchan performing in 2015

The Exploited are a Scottish

second wave of UK punk, formed in 1978. Originally playing styles such as street punk and oi!, the band played styles such as crossover thrash later on. Formed in Edinburgh by Wattie's younger brother Terry, they signed to Secret Records in March 1981[3] and released their debut EP Army Life. The album Punks Not Dead followed in the same year.[3]
Despite many lineup changes, the band continued into the 2000s, and has developed a worldwide following.

Personal life

Buchan is married to Gena Buchan.[4]

Health

In February 2014, Buchan suffered a heart attack on stage in Lisbon, Portugal. The Exploited had been touring with Hatebreed and Napalm Death.[5] He was admitted to S. José Hospital in Lisbon after the show and later moved to S. Marta Hospital to recover and undergo heart surgery. The Exploited cancelled the remaining of the Tour Of Chaos 2014 due to Buchan's condition.[6] On 29 June 2014, the Exploited's Facebook page provided an update on Buchan's condition, saying that after a successful heart operation, the band was practising new material.[7]

In an interview with Rock Hard Magazine in May 2016, he said that he had suffered from depression, which was affecting his ability to write new lyrics.[8]

Views and beliefs

Buchan openly hates politics.

anarchist.[10] Buchan has condemned several politicians, including George W. Bush, Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair. Buchan said about Thatcher: "She was a bit of a cunt, but at least she was honest".[2] The Exploited's song "Maggie" is about Thatcher. In the song "Maggie"'s lyrics, Buchan calls Thatcher a "cunt".[11] Buchan has said that Blair "is a total fucking, lying fanny wank."[2] Buchan has criticized George W. Bush for the Iraq war that began in 2003. Buchan said: "It's unbelievable, these people have got so much power, and they start all these wars. Everybody sees that, but nobody does anything to stop that."[9]

Buchan is pro-Palestine and has condemned Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. In an interview with I Probably Hate Your Band, Buchan expressed his pro-Palestinian views, saying: "even with Israel and Palestine, the Palestinian people are like prisoners and the world does nothing about it because America's behind them, backing them because they want bases for their airplanes in that area."

ISIS, America gave them their fucking weapons in the first place. America and Britain gave them all weapons because it suits them, and when it doesn't suit them they're fucking terrorists. It's fucking shit, man.[12]

Feuds and criticism towards other musicians

Buchan is known for criticizing other musicians and starting feuds with other musicians. The Exploited's Punks Not Dead album's title is a reaction to

Amnesia Rockfest, Buchan, during an interview, criticized the other bands at the music festival, saying: "Well, here at Rockfest, you got a lot of bands that define themselves as punk bands but they're shit. They are so pop-oriented that they don't even stand for any values; they do not deserve the status of being defined as punk bands."[15]

Buchan has been known for openly disliking former

Real McKenzies: "I don't feel any special political bond with them – my brother, the drummer of the band, is a lot more conscious of Scottish politics. However, I've played with them a few times; they're total alcoholics. Good people: their gigs are always excitin'."[15]

Feud with Conflict

After the appearance by the Exploited on Top of the Pops to perform "Dead Cities" in 1981, the hardcore punk band Conflict criticized the decision to appear on the programme with the song "Exploitation". This began a long-standing feud between the Exploited and Conflict, which divided the punk community and caused occasional clashes between the bands' fans (known as The Barmy Army for the Exploited and the Conflict Crew).[16]

Feud with Green Day

At an awards ceremony for a music magazine, Buchan was presenting an award that was won by Green Day, a band that Buchan hates. Buchan had to present the award to Green Day. Buchan alleged that during the after-party Green Day member Billie Joe Armstrong confronted him and said "when you die, I'm going to be standing over your grave, laughing at ya." Buchan said he then responded to Armstrong, saying to Armstrong: "I've got something you'll never have, mate. You could have a big record company and loads of money but I've got something you'll never have, and that's respect from the punks. You can not buy that, you have to earn it."[12][15] The two then had to be separated by onlookers.[12][15]

Discography

References

  1. ^ "Artist: Wattie Buchan". Second Hand Songs. 15 February 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Froehlich, Craig (18 September 2003). "'Exploited' Wattie's Not Dead". Red. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b c The Exploited +++ Real Punk Rock Since 1980. The-Exploited.net. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Exploited Singer Wattie Buchan Has Heart Attack On Stage". Ultimate Classic Rock. 17 February 2014.
  5. ^ Lawrie, Alexander (17 February 2014). "Scots punk band The Exploited cancel European tour after frontman has heart attack on stage". Dailyrecord. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Resurrection Fest - Tour of Chaos 2014 | Bliss & Hellfire". 3 March 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  7. ^ "The Exploited - had our first band practice since watties..." Facebook.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b "The Exploited - "Jello Biafra and Henry Rollins are liars"". YouTube. 18 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d Alexiev, Nikolay. "The Exploited". Stroeja.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Amnesia Rockfest Interview With Wattie Buchan of The Exploited". Nadia Blostein.
  11. River Front Times
    . Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Interview: Wattie Buchan (The Exploited)". I Probably Hate Your Band. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  13. ^ "The Exploited - Punk's Not Dead". Punknews.org. 3 October 2008.
  14. ^ a b "The Exploited: Henry Rollins, Jello Biafra and Green Day Are "All Like Two Faced C*nts"". Music Feeds. 23 July 2012.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Blostein, Nadia (1 July 2015). "Amnesia Rockfest Interview With Wattie Buchan of The Exploited". Montreal Rampage. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  16. ^ a b "The Exploited / Documentary part I". YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2020.

External links

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