The Bayonettes are a punk rock band from Parkdale who keep it real with their DIY ethics, handmade merch and a strong belief that women and men should rock together. Ryan Mills did email interviews with each of the members and edited them together to look something like this:

WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU ALL PLAY IN THE BAND?
Bennett: Drums. Zoe: Vocals. Mark: Guitar. Mary Ann: Bass.

HOW DOES LIVING IN PARKDALE HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON YOUR MUSIC OR YOUR LIVES? B: It encourages my punk rock bad habits or at least doesn't question them. Z: Living in a good community is really important to me. When I first moved to Toronto from the Yukon, I was shocked at how cold people were to each other. It took me a long time to get used to this. Parkdale has a really great community feel and I love living here. If Parkdale didn't exist I would have probably vacated Toronto a long time ago. M: The neighbours don't complain when I'm writing songs at 4am. M-A: I love living in Parkdale. There's an awesome mix of people of different economic status, colour, and age. It keeps me sane to see this. Anywhere else in Toronto is too pretentious for me.

IF THE BAYONETTES COULD BE INSTANTLY TRANSPORTED TO ANY PLACE AND TIME, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY A SHOW AND WHEN? WITH WHO? B: I don't know how The Bayonettes would fit in, but I would like to be at a show in England in 1982 with Crass, Conflict, Dirt, Rudimentary Peni and Discharge. Z: There are a lot of bands from the past that I would have loved to play with, like the Slits, The Avengers, The Bags, The B-Girls, The Curse, The Dishrags etc. M-A: Unless your name is Marty McFly, I don't believe in time continuums.

WITH TWO WOMEN IN THE BAND AND PLAYING FESTIVALS LIKE LADYFEST, DO YOU SEE THE BAYONETTES AS AN INFLUENCE FOR OTHER WOMEN TO START THEIR OWN BANDS? Z: I would love to see more female involvement in the music scene. It's really depressing when you go out to see live bands and it's a freakin sausage party. I get totally pumped when I see lots of ladies at shows... dancing up front, playing in the bands, organizing the show, etc. It melts my heart. M: We want to see more girls playing in bands, going to shows, dancing up front, singing along, having fun. Punk simply doesn't work as a boys club.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE "ALL GIRL BAND" OF ALL TIME? B&Z: Girlschool!!! One of the most overlooked bands. Loved in England. Ignored in North America. M: I think singling out "all girl bands" sort of discredits the huge contributions individual women playing with male musicians have made throughout the history of rock`n'roll. I would like to mention the fabulous Riff Randells from Vancouver, BC. M-A: The Shirelles. Find me an ensemble who can perform "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" better than these fine ladies and I'll reconsider.

GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL OUT FOR BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHAT WOULD BE ON YOUR MOST RIDICULOUS SET OF "TERMS"? YOU CAN ASK FOR ANYTHING. B: "Punk belongs to the punks, not the business men. They need us, we don't need them. Punk will never be dead. As long as some of us refuse to be led," from Take Heed by Flux of Pink Indians, 1982. M: We don't plan on using Wavelength as a stepping stone towards a deal with Rough Trade or a move to Germany, if that's what you're thinking. M-A: I'll sell out on anyone's terms as long as my OSAP is paid off.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE FUTURE OF THE BAYONETTES? M: February 21st we're playing the Silver Dollar with the Lost Sounds from Memphis. We're recording two singles: "Dead End Kids" for Deranged Records and "American Song" for Art of the Underground Records. They should both be out sometime in mid-2005. M-A: More love, positivity and a punk rock pet zine.

BY RYAN MILLS