If you were alive at the turn of the century you would have heard 28 Days. With songs like "What's The Deal?" and "Rip It Up", and "Sucker", 28 Days will be cemented in the Australian music culture as the voice of an Australian generation. I remember surfing with 'everybody rip it up, yo check this style' on repeat in my head and jumping on the trampoline and asking myself 'What's The Deal?' I get some time with Damian Gardiner, bassist for the band to talk about BMX, Jazz, not blowing their own horns, Guttermouth, and find out that they were just little punks like the rest of us.

With songs like ‘What’s The Deal?’, ‘Rip It Up’ and ‘Sucker’, how does it feel to be such a recognizable Australian band?

We’re pretty chuffed really, there’s not many bands that have got a few songs like that. Wherever we play ‘Rip It Up’ people know it even after ten years, kids still know it too. It’s pretty good to be a band with a really recognizable song; there are not many of them these days.

How do you think you achieved this?

You know when one’s going to be good, especially when you’re recording and you’re in the studio and dudes walk in and say ‘fuck, that song sounds pretty cool!’ You just kind of know. We never realized how big we were going to get though. It’s not luck because if you write shit you’re not going to get popular, we don’t like to blow our own horns either.

What do you think it’s like trying to get recognized in the Australian music scene? Do you think we have a strong music scene compared with the one you came up through?

It was when we were around with Bodyjar and The Living End and all that. These days it’s a lot harder I suppose because there’s not a lot of radio support for bands these days- it’s alright if you’re hip hop, you’d be fine. For bands it’s a hard time unfortunately and hopefully that will change but we just have to get more bands out there, hopefully Triple J will start playing bands again- they’re infatuated by hip hop. Can’t even listen to that rubbish anymore.

What’s been happening this year? All news from the 28 Days end pretty much stopped in February.

Nothing. We’ve just been recording our album and writing songs really; it’s been pretty low key. Next year will be a big year though.

How is the album going and what’s happening next year?

It’s going really good, we’ve recorded 14 songs already and are just in the process of finishing up some vocals and a few guitar bits here and there. Hopefully we’ll have it out around Easter next year and we’re going to do as many shows as we possibly can and just get out on the road a bit.

Where did you grow up and how did this influence your musical future?

I grew up in a place called Ringwood, which is in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. As a teenager we were all into BMX, mega into BMX, back then we used to listen to Blink 182 and skate punk stuff. We just went surfing a lot and all that typical punk rock kind of stuff.

What has been your greatest experience with 28 Days and how has the band changed your life?

Definitely having a number one record, not many bands can say that. Also, touring the world and touring with bands like Sick Of It All and Goldfinger. It’s been just endless experiences.

Were you in any bands before 28 Days?

Just a few, nothing really serious.

How do you think the new record will go? Will it fill that number one position?

We won’t get to number one because it’s impossible these days. We’re not too worried about all that stuff anymore; we’re just recording this because we had some songs that we wanted to record. Hopefully some people buy it, if not- who cares. Its just going to be fun to go out on the road and play some shows again, hopefully overseas.

Do you still go to shows regularly?

Yeah every now and then, not as much as I would like to- there’s not really that many shows on anymore. Whenever I can I do, I don’t go to any festivals like Soundwave or anything like that- the bands don’t get to play for long enough and the sound is always shit.

Do you have a defining reason why you stepped into music?

When I was younger I had a talent for playing guitar and writing tunes (laughs humbly). My dad was a jazz musician and so was my grandfather, so as soon as I could walk I got chucked a guitar.

What do they think of your music? Do they get into it?

Yeah, you know what it’s like (laughs); it’s probably what I think of music from the ‘40s or ‘50s. It’s…different.

So, you’re playing with Guttermouth in January in Victoria.

Yes, that will be huge! We played the Warped tour in the US a few years ago and we got along with those guys really well, so it’s going to be really awesome. Anyone in Victoria, make sure you get to the shows- they’re going to be crazy.

Thanks for your time Damo, nice chatting to you.

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The Guttermouth tour kicks off with 28 Days in Geelong at the National Hotel on Jan 18th, moving onto San Remo to play at The Westernport Hotel on the 19th and winding up at The Corner Hotel on Friday the 20th. Tickets available from oztix.com.au (The Nash, Geelong), moshtix.com.au (Westernport Hotel) and The Corner box office Monday 21st Nov.