This week on DIY's podcast Before They Knew Better, we talk to Bobby Vaillant, one half of the seminal punk duo Bob Vaillan. They have just released their masterpiece third album “Humble as the Sun'' and are on the cover of the April 2024 magazine.
As always on the podcast, Bobby chose songs, photos, and objects to give us insight into his youth. He was 12 years old when he performed his first gig as an MC and sold demo CDs on the streets of Ipswich. , and falls in love with the music collection that forms his parents' (frankly amazing) taste.
“I remember when my mom saw The Streets album, there was a Mercury sticker on it,” he says, describing an early musical lightning moment. “I put it on and I thought, 'Oh my god.' What's going on? What is this?' He doesn't rap, he doesn't sing, he doesn't MC, but it's like he's doing all of those things at the same time. It's not garage music, it's not rap music, it's not dance music, but it has all these elements. I thought, “I don't know what this is, but I know it's great.'' . And I know I'm in love with this thing. ”
Before They Knew Better – available to listen now on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms – is a DIY podcast that delves into the early successes, struggles, and hardships of your favorite musicians. New episodes are released every Tuesday morning.
You can pick up the April issue of the print magazine (featuring Bob Villain on the cover) from our online shop and listen to Bobby's entire podcast episode below.