We asked Dutch kings of keefrock De Keefmen a few questions and all three of them duly obliged. Here is a legend so you know who's answering what:

P = PETER: Bass & Vocals

H = HENRI: Vocals & Guitar

D = DENNIS : Drums

A new start for De Keefmen! What happened to the Miracle Men?

P – The Miracle Men called it quits two years ago, when our lead guitar player Vinner decided to quit the band, said he lost the fun that once started this group. We also had a nonlucrative deal with a label that I shall not mention again, but it starts with a ‘M’ and ends on ‘isty Lane’.

H – Quitting the Miracle Men was all about the money. Live shows paid us crap. So we came up with this brilliant move to stop for now and get back together for a reunion in about 20-30 years (when we look old and sound like shit). That will be the right time to strike up lots of money with playing all these (then appreciated) classics and live like Kings in Spain. In the meantime we’ll work on our legendary status with De Keefmen.

D – I guess they ran out of tricks…

Your sound became a bit darker at least to my ears. Was that a conscious decision, or it just happened?

P – When the three of us decided to continue, we thought we should strike back hard and so the sound became more in your face and aggressive. I wouldn't call it dark which makes me think of doom or gothic, which we are not.

H – We are as dark as black can be.

D – I guess it just happened… but I must admit that black is one of my favorite colours.

How did you choose your name and what does it mean?

P – After a brainstorm session in our local pub, Gerben Kuriosa came up with the brilliant name. It's from a crazy book by Jan Arends.

H – If you look up the word ‘Keefman’ in a Dutch dictionary this is what it says literally ‘spelonkbewoner -troglodiet -iemand die in een hol woont’. The word was added recently to the ‘Dikke van Dale’.

D – It’s the opposite of Keefwomen.

You already have a 7" and a 10" out and you are planning a full LP. Would you like to talk about it?

P – Yeah, we are more productive than ever, but try to only keep the really good songs, at least what we think is good.

H – It's indeed quite unbelievable, we never practice, we got no talent and we're as lazy as can be and still we got 16 new songs recorded for a complete new album.

D – Actually I don’t want to talk about it, because is kind of secret… But after having a 7” and 10” we thought it would be cool to release a 17” record (sort of a Fibonacci thing), but we haven’t found a printing press to print a record like that, nor a record player to play it on, so we’re till working on that....

Are you still using the same way of recording and the same instruments?

P – Basically, yes, we still play on our old instruments and tube amplifiers; they just sound the best for us. They distort nicely, they sound warm and they look great too. For recording we bring my own portable Tapeworm Studio to the rehearsal room. It is all analog. This way we can work very fast, cheap and efficiently.

H – The Tapeworm Studio is the best there is!

D – Yes! Actually the crap people threw at us during our first Miracle Men shows is still on my drum kit, and also Henri’s blood from one of his less fortunate balancing acts.

What about gigs? Have you planned any tours?

H – Our drummer is in America for a year so there's nothing-serious coming up and we aren't planning anything.

P – When our second album will be released we want to go back on tour!

D – I’ll work anytime, anywhere… even on the Jewish holidays.

Being around for a while, do you think that the garage scene has been affected by downloading, MySpace etc?

P – The whole music scene has been affected by downloading, but I have nothing against it and actually think it's a good thing. I still buy a lot records and through the Internet the doors are open to the whole world. Same goes for MySpace.

H – It's a very positive change! Everyone who can record himself taking a crap can get instantly famous. Who would have thought that ten years ago!?

D – Fuck copyright! As far as I’m concerned the so-called music business has been ripping people off for I don’t know how long. I think small record labels, which make their records for a smaller of audience, will still sell their records and never will be able to make a ton of money in the first place. The Internet is a great way of discovering bands you otherwise never would have heard of. And even though I download their music, I’ll buy the records anyway…

Anything else you'd like to add?

P – Come and visit us in Meppel and we'll have a drink and spin some good old Nederbeat records!

H – For the latest news (not that much actually) check out myspace.com/dekeefmen.

D – I would like to thank my dad, for spraying his semen into my mothers womb, otherwise I would never have been here.