MUDKISS FANZINE

Disturbia is a brand of t-shirt and accessories based in the UK, it started back in 2003 and it’s grown to be popular and a fave for many, including Slash of course, and - Mr. Axl Rose himself too!

“Disturbia's Spring/Summer 2010 range was released at the beginning of February, and has been the best received yet, achieving record sales and further outlets across Europe. Designed by the cream of the crop of streetwear artists, the line features everything from stoned Baphomets, to man-eating burgers, all topped with a nice helping of gore. Disturbia continues to trawl the depths of depravity and human dysfunction in the name of t-shirt design“

Frank Major is the megacool owner of the label as well as a designer in the Disturbia team, we chatted with him a bit to find out what’s cooking, good looking in his alternative graphic world of superduperluperwuper tee shirt rocking boogey monsters and other awesome shit. C’mon children read below.

RACHEL: Hi Frank, what was the idea behind the making of the tee shirts? 

FRANK: Hello! I want to make t-shirts I want to wear, that convey a message of dissidence and bewilderment with the modern world.

RACHEL: Do you draw/design the tees yourself?

FRANK: When I first set up Disturbia I did all the design work myself, but since we work with some of the best freelance artists in the game. People like the brilliant Godmachine and Drew Millward and many more besides.

RACHEL: I assume you are a big fan of rock music, which are your favourite bands, and what music do you listen to the most? What’s the last gig you went to that made you go nuts?

FRANK: I love guitar based music, and I was heavily into the grunge scene growing up as a teenager. My favourite bands are Pearl Jam, QOTSA, early Weezer et cetera. The last great gig I went to was Them Crooked Vulture at Edinburgh last December. They were mind-blowing. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are also one of my fav live bands.

RACHEL: Would you like to make tees for merchandising for bands that you like, or if any of them would ask you to, would you be into it? (Aside from the tees you did for the Prodigy)

FRANK: I would as long as I was into the band and there was a synergy with the style of Disturbia and that of the band.

RACHEL: Would you like Lady Gaga to wear in public any of your tees? Would that make you feel embarrassed or you wouldn’t mind and be happy on how very famous your tees would become from then on?

FRANK: Not really. Just because a famous person wears your tees doesn't mean that sales will go through the roof - but it helps! We've made a huge success out of Disturbia with next to no celebrity endorsements, and I'm proud to say that.

RACHEL: Slash, is like the most famous customer to be seen wearing your tees in public, TV appearances, etc. he is known for being very eclectic when collaborating musically with all kinds of people. So why do you think he chose your tee shirts over many other clothing lines he must probably be receiving from other companies, did he ever tell you? Have you talked to him since he became a steady customer?

FRANK: I haven't. He sent me a nice personal email saying how much he loved our stuff and that was it. He's a very busy man! Funnily enough, only last week I was sent a picture of Slashs nemesis Axl Rose wearing Disturbia too! I have no idea how that came about.

RACHEL: What kinda statement do you wanna make with your tee shirts? I have seen they have changed (the designs) a bit, seems in the beginning they were more provocative political slogans and now they are more art oriented with gorgeous drawings very complicated and full of colors.

FRANK: That is right! When Disturbia first started I guess I was more angst-ridden, and had angry-young-man syndrome. But I've always loved seething slogans and subversive wordplay. Now I try to couple that with a more illustrated message. In the fashion/design industry you have to evolve and I'm happy that Disturbia has, and continues to. It is the most important process in staying fresh and interesting, whilst retaining that original message of giving the finger to the system!

RACHEL: It seems that people write reviews of tee shirts just as they would write a review of a book or record. Have you had any reviews written on any of your tees, and if you did, how did it feel like, was it funny or outrageous at all?

FRANK: Our shirts get reviewed all the time by all manner of different stlye/culture/t-shirt blogs. Generally we'd had very favourable reviews. This is one of my favourite quotes... "Highly creative, highly satanic in certain circumstances, highly amusing, intensely trawling the depths of depravity and human dysfunction in the name of t-shirt design." Sums us up pretty well I think!

RACHEL: Hey, tell me all about your philosophy behind your growing empire of tee shirts, future plans of industry domination, of bringing peace to the world or turning it into a tee shirt ridden chaos, explain your whole evil plan to us!!

FRANK: Our philosophy is to disturb the suburbs one t-shirt at a time! Our future plans basically involve expanding the range into more garment types, more accessories and art prints, whilst expanding our account base. We're pretty well established in Europe with over 150 stores selling Disturbia, and growing. We've been lucky enough to be chosen to exhibit at Bread and Butter in Berlin in July, and as this is the biggest European street-wear trade show, we can't wait to take Disturbia there!

RACHEL: As a last question what design are you working on now, we want an exclusive!

FRANK: Oooh- I'm very excited about this because as we speak our new collection in under way. Let's just say it's going to blow minds in a number of different ways.

RACHEL: And now go ahead and let the world know something you always wanted to say out loud!

FRANK: The End is Nigh- run to the hills!!

RACHEL: Ok Frank, thanks a lot for your time, I love your ‘Fear and Loathing’ wife beater tee! Hope to see more and more of your tees around, and also the accessories, thanks and may the road continue rising up for you!

Frank -Thanks Rachel, it was a pleasure!

www.disturbiaclothing.co.uk
www.facebook.com/DisturbiaClothing 
www.myspace.com/disturbia

Interview by Rachel 16/05/10
Photo of Frank supplied by Frank - other images from Disturbia Flick pages.