Interview


Handle: Rambones

How did you come up with your alias ?
Well, I associated with the character Rambo in the film Rambo II; because of my fighter instinct, and even more, the music, which is still one of my favourites.

Then one day when me and my friends were discussing our first real demo as a group; my friend Frany said: "You are nothing but skin and bones! Why don't you change your name to 'Rambones', it more original anyway". And so, even though I took this as an insult at that time; I couldn't really resist it, and today it's a part of my personality, because of my experiences with the C64.

City / Country:
Odense, Denmark

Born year:
12-Jan-1969

What was your first computer, and when did you get it?
My first computer was the C64, and I bought it in July '85. It was my first purchase of anything with money I'd earned by myself, and the best so far, now that I come to think of it.

I still use it from time to time; listening to music, composing and coding. My 'last' demo is yet to come :)

How did you get into the scene and what groups have you been a member of ?
I started swapping allready the first day I had the C64, and soon got many local contacts. Then, shortly after, I met a guy named Torben Sjorslev Nielsen (TSN). He introduced me to the 'amazing' coder named Karsten Pahuus Petersen (Kaze). They both taught me some stuff, especially TSN, who was a wizard with BASIC. Later, I spent entire days, weeks, just sitting next to Kaze, watching him code. One day Kaze decided to form a group, and he had allready come up with the name himself: The Supply Team.

I think he was inspired by 'The Softteam' :)

I was selling (schhh) some games to a friend of mine named Martin Birk Pedersen (Hagar), and one day he showed me a drawing of an airplane that he had made on paper. He then asked me if it would be possible to draw it on the computer, and I told him that only very experienced programmers would be able to do so. Nearly 1 year after this, he had drawn his airplane with Koala-Painter, and joined TST as our drawer; and I must say, even today, he was one of the very best at that time.

I was in TST throughout my whole career.

I think that because we all lived near to eachother, we were able to help eachother much more than groups who had members all over the world. We, as friends, had our ups and downs during the years 85-89, but I'm proud to say that at this time, we have been living together for nearly 4 years. I can't think of better friends to have, and I'm proud having been a member of TST.

What was the proudest moment in your career ?
For me, 2 things: when I released my demo 'Zound-Muzak #1', which was my first release of my own music. And when TST released 'No Limits'. Imagine that: I was a member of a group, able to release something as cool as that!? :)

For what specific reason(s) do you think that you are remembered ?
I know that I'm mostly remembered for the constant wars between TST, Danish Gold, Wizax, Zetrex 2005 and 2000 A.D. :) Remember F.A.S.T ?? hehe I think that releasing the greatest demo ever in 1987 (No Limits), and being voted the 'biggest lamer group' in 'The Charts '87', just about says it all :)

Like Wizz, I had a very BIG mouth. Each of our demos were letters; we made them to match eachothers ego, to see who was the stronger one. In the end, Wizz won, and I had to make an apology demo 'Apolloguys'. I just bet that he showed it to everybody at the Alvesta (Triad) party in 1987 ?! Too bad I wasn't there to defend myself! :)

I gained A LOT of new contacts, because of F.A.S.T., so it wasn't so bad actually :)

What would you like to be remembered for ?
Read my scrolls, hear my music :) I guess I'd like to be remembered for my artistic talents, as a writer and a musician. My skills at coding and graphics weren't that advanced. Oh yes, I was the greatest musicripper ever, and I still am :)

What made you stop the scene activity ? (and do you remember when?)
Yes, I bought an Amiga 500 in August '88, and that sort of stopped my C64 career; because I fell in love with 'Soundtracker'. But I haven't really stopped in the 'scene', in fact I'm working on a new career right now :) TST continued approx 1.5 years on Amiga, but as we all started with the more serious educations, it all stopped.

Thinking back on the good old days, is there anything you regret?
No, nothing. I just wish I had coded my own music-routine :)

What was your favorite
GAME(S)
Boulderdash, Rambo, Delta, Lightforce, Defender of The Crown, The Way of The Exploding Fist, International Karate 1+2, Pacman, and all Epyx's games (Summer Games, Winter Games etc.)

DEMO(S)
All TST demos, all Dutch USA Team demos, 1001 letter 1,2,3,4,5, and all demos from The Judges - especially 'Rhaa Lovely' 1+2, and Personal Lady from Scoop.

And, not to forget; all the Wize demos (Wizz & Kaze), socalled F.A.S.T. demos, against me! :) I always loved them!

PROGRAMMER(S) (OR PROGRAMMING TEAM(S))
Andrew Braybrook
Jeff Minter
Wize (Wizz & Kaze)

CRACKER(S) (OR CRACKING GROUP(S))
Mr. Z and Triad, because a Triad product always worked! .. at least when Mr. Z had been working on it :)

OVERALL GROUPS :
Hard to say, nobody was good at everything. But I liked the Dutch USA Team very much.

COMPOSER(S)
Zoids, Delta, Monty On The Run 1+2, Mikie, Wizball

BEST COMPOSED TRACK(S)
Rob Hubbard, Martin Galway, Ben Daglish, Fred Grey, David Whittaker, Charles Deenen, Jeroen Tel, Laxity, Chris Huelsbeck, Greg Holland, Choroid, Demon, The Mighty BOGG, Banana/TEK, and offcourse Tim Follin.

No matter how many I think of; Rob rules! :)

BEST GRAPHICS
This is hard. There were some extremely good font/logo experts, and some fullscreen pixel-masters. I think the best graphics were those titlepics in front of all the games.

Names like Dokk, Ste, and Stu pop to my mind, but I have to look at the pictures again to remember the names.

EVENT(S) (E.G. COPYPARTY)
The Dexion Party in 1987

MEMORY(S)
My most precious memories are those of myself, Wizz, Kaze, Hagar and TSN; sitting together at TSN's place, and writing the scrolltexts for 'It's The Best' and 'No Limits'. Every time I watch a very particular demo, at some point in the text, I can suddenly smell coffe. :) It's because TSN's mother brought us coffe at that precise moment in the text, and it simply stuck to my brain ever since.

We always wrote the scrolls, after having finished the rest of a demo. Sometimes, we spent several days writing texts. Arguing about who we should greet first and so on; was always a battle between me and TSN, simply because we both had so many contacts.

I also remember all the countless hours spent at Hagar's place, using his TV to adjust my choice of colors in my demos (because I had only B/W at home), and using his diskdrive for copying stuff (because mine was broken for 3 months). Nobody can fathom the amount of cigarettes, coffe and cola, consumed by us at that time; but it is stuck in my brain, as did it happen only yesterday. And I'm thankful for that. Boy, did we have fun! :)

DRINK ?
Pepsi Cola

What are you doing nowadays ?
The same as always :) composing music, playing games. I am currently unemployed.

What are you doing on your spare time?
Computer stuff, ripping SIDtunes for my growing collection :)

Is there anything you'd like to say to the public (read: admires)
Yes :) if you ever heard about computer-nerds, and think that they're a dying breed, rest assured: I am one, will always be, and I'm proud of it!!

What is the meaning of life?
I wish you wouldn't ask this question! :) It's gotta be to put children into this world, and help them on their way, as good as you can, for as long as you can. Maybe I'm taking an awful big risk with this, but I don't know for how long I have my current Email and all; so here's my address and a personal note to someone I knew many years ago: You may contact me for anything, as long as it's about music: 
Rambones/NMIOAON/Wize
Jan Diabelez Arnt Harries
Nyborgvej 79
5000 Odense C
Denmark

tel: +45 66120942
Rambones
A note to BANANA/TEK: If you see this, please contact me! :)