Robert Refuse: The man, the myth, the Polska

This tour wouldn’t have happened without the help of numerous people. We’re profiling these many individuals during the course of the tour.

Tour Profile: Robert Refuse and Refuse Records

Name: Robert Matousiak aka Robert Refuse

Hometown: Warszawa, Poland

Age: 35 years

Height: “Fuck, I don’t know”

Weight “Since I moved to Berlin, more…”

How long have you been doing Refuse Records?

As a distro since 1993 and as a record label since 1996. I’ve been booking shows around Europe since 1994.

Years straight edge: 19 years

Favorite European HC Records: Nations on Fire or Manliftingbanner

Boxers or Briefs: “Yes” (after clarification “the second.”)

Top Five US Punk and HC Records:

Minor Threat

Dead Kennedys: In God We Trust

Youth of Today: We’re Not in This Alone

Trial: Our These our Lives

Insted

Favorite Cleveland Band: “Committed” if you know what we mean, Gordon Solie Motherfuckers.

How did you get into Punk Rock?

“My sister brought some punk rockers with some tapes over, and I was into it immediately. I checked into everything related to punk and hardcore…”

First show: 1989 ten or twelve local Polish bands including Post Regiment who was big in Poland. Tragedia, whom Portland’s Tragedy derived their name.

Last show: Right Idea in Gothenburg Sweden July 22, 2010

Favorite food: Vegan Ice Cream (Homeboy has dropped like ~50 Euros on ice cream in Sweden alone)