Dead Curtis – interview with Udo

Dead Curtis – interview with Udo

http://www.myspace.com/deadcurtis

http://www.plasticfrogrecords.com/

http://www.myspace.com/plasticfrogrecords

Nattsol: Hello, Udo. So for a start, drop a few words about yourself, whatever you find necessary here.
Udo: Yes, I’m a musician; that’s my life; I like to write Songs in every Genre. I need Music in my life; without it I can’t live. It was my first love… and it will be the last…

Nattsol: When and how this first love has happened?
Udo: Very early in the early 70’s when my big brother brought me a lot of Singles from The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Santana, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple… and all this great stuff from the late 60’s; and I really loved these «psychedelic» Songs from all these Bands. I was very young but these Bands really fascinated me; still today!

Nattsol: So and then you got a wish of doing music yourself?
Udo: Yes, you are right; very dilettantish in the beginning; just singing Songs from The Beatles and recorded them to listen to my own voice. I thought and found out, that I can’t sing like Mr. Lennon and threw it all away. But then at the end of the 70’s, early 80’s Punk has started and there anybody could «Sing»! That was great and first of all I found my love again in these «Psychedelic» Tracks like The Birthday Party, The Fall and so on. My really creative work has started in the early 80’s with a Band called «Fluchtweg»; we made some Tapes and people thought that this is «Cult» and really liked them (but we sold them for the same price we had to pay for producing them; I guess that was the reason that people liked it)…

Nattsol: And is it possible to find these records now?
Udo: No it isn’t; these Tapes are not available anymore; (maybe someone keep them in the cellar).

Nattsol: That’s regret. But well, what happened next?
Udo: Yes, I can remember that one who bought these Tapes was Klaus; he liked them too. He was living almost 50 Miles from my home away. The Sound we recorded was very simple; maybe still a good songwriting; lyrics in German; maybe we sound like cheap «Einsturzende Neubauten». Klaus was still looking for someone he could make music with; he had a friend who played a little bit guitar and himself he played the Bass-Guitar. One day he asked me to come to him and to try to make an own real Punk Band.

Nattsol: So it was the beginning of the band «The Drunken Cops», right? Tell me more about it, please. How did you get the rest of the line-up, who have you chosen this name, what were the band’s first steps and so on.
Udo: Yes you are right; to find this Band Name was not that Problem; this time people didn’t like cops; they saved the Nazis on the streets and throwing their water to the Punks who fought the Nazis (I know…this hasn’t change…). But to imagine that these cops are drunken and will shoot directly was a horrible association; so what can be more worst than a «Drunken Cop».
It didn’t take a long time to find a drummer (I think Klaus has an advertise in some local magazine) and soon we were the «Fab Four» in Punk (no not really); first we played a Gig in a local Youth Center; people left it after some minutes because we were too loud! We had another Gig in a local Town Hall; the problem was that the complete audience was made of Heavy Metal Fans (and we played real dirty Punk…). Then we found another rehearsal room and then…our Music has changed; I guess that was my fault because I really liked the Punk but still I often listened to slow, melancholic Music; then I asked Klaus if he knew a Band which Plays Rock-Music that still is Melancholic; and than he introduced me Ian Curtis’ Joy Division.

Nattsol: We’ll turn to Ian Curtis a bit later, but now could you say more, what the music of «Drunken Cops» was, are there any records and in common what was the atmosphere about punk there in your country then?
Udo: Yes, I guess there was a Punk Scene in any Town at this time; we had a small Scene-Hit called «Aussichtslos» (you find it as a hidden track on our actual Album). Times were very political; politicians created Bombs, everybody was waiting for a new world war; young people fought the government; it happened a lot everyday and the Scene was alive. I guess in 2004 Klaus released a CD called «Aussichtslos» with some Songs from the rehearsal Room; some Punk Tracks in a really bad quality and still Songs like «The Will» or «Party Girl» which were the beginning of Dead Curtis.

Nattsol: So Dead Curtis was the evolution of Drunken Cops, or one band broke up and another one was started? Why this name for the band?
Udo: Yes it was an evolution; the Drunken Cops didn’t brake up; we played the same Line up with Dead Curtis; things changed; maybe our lives changed; there happened a lot in our private lives (women, death of my parents and so on); maybe we thought that we couldn’t make this anymore and anything should happen. Hm, the Name of the Band, I don’t know, we were searching for a new name that could fit our forthcoming kind of Music and thought about many names; one day someone said «Dead Curtis»; we thought «Wow! That’s hard» years later I found out that it sounds like the Punk of the «Dead Kennedys» with the Melancholic of «Ian Curtis»

Nattsol: So there’s no any conception in the name? Just I guess many people could find it as disrespect to Ian Curtis.
Udo: Yes, maybe you’re right; but that was never our intention; it was more a reminding of Ian Curtis and keeping his spirit alive.

Nattsol: I see. So how did the sound change? You say that some stuff like «Party Girl» was the stuff of «Drunken Cops» and also became the stuff of «Dead Curtis». So what were the changes in common and in examples?
Udo: I don’t really know; there happened a lot in our lives; we tried to write that were not so hard anymore and we liked it; I guess then we thought that they didn’t fit to the Drunken Cops.
But still I think these two years of really living out this Punk, was enough. It was time to evolve; I guess that the Music around us was evolving too; Sounds had changed, Punk was getting smoother; In Germany we had this «New German Wave» Time with dilettantish Musicians, German lyrics and a great success; I guess Music around the world has changed; I’m sure of that! And this you can’t deny.

Nattsol: So the band was (re)formed. What was «Dead Curtis» about?
Udo: First we really tried to live up the spirit of Ian Curtis but it didn’t work; we were bad; as bad as the Cops. «The Will» was the first Song we tried to create a sound that should remind of Joy Division but still should give us our own style, which maybe sounds a bit like Joy Division but is unmistakable «Dead Curtis». We would try to put all our feelings, depressions in the
Music where we could tell them everybody and give ourselves a little bit time to breath. Nowadays we have the same reason in making Music.

Nattsol: What was «Dead Curtis» on stage in the 80′s? What were the crowd and the crowd’s reaction?
Udo: So with Dead Curtis we were never on stage; we were in the beginning. We had some great Songs «The Will», «Lies», «Lost Words» and «Party Girl»; than one day our complete Equipment was nicked; just two of us were employed and nobody had the money to buy anything of Instruments or Amplifiers. That was the end of the Band; we had to break up; fortunately Klaus had these recordings from the rehearsal so we could reconstruct these Original Songs!

Nattsol: Yeah, that was quite weird note for me in your press kit, «In 1987 all our Equipment was stolen from the Rehearsal Room and so the Band split and we lost every contact for almost 20 years». How did it happen that you lost the contact and how have you found each other again?
Udo: So, we left in 1987; I remember that the first time we tried to keep the Contact by telephone or in writing letters; but then anyone of us made completely different things. Klaus got married very early, our Drummer too, I started a higher school; another fault of me was that I had to change my address and was out of sight anymore. But at this time, there wasn’t much contact with Klaus anymore. I made some more Music with a Solo-Project called «Dream Department» but not very successful. Sometimes Klaus played a Session with our Guitarist but most of the time, they hadn’t had any contact too. We all lived our own lives. Years passed by and the world changed completely. In 2005 Klaus decided to make his all time dream come true; he created his own Indie-Label «Plastic Frog Records»; he put some information about the Drunken Cops on his Site (still couldn’t forget these great times with the Band); In 2006 I was sitting drunk at my home computer and tried anything to search in Google; I found some great Sites about Punk, Wave and so on; I was really impressed about the Internet! So I was writing «Drunken Cops» in this search bar and got a result! I couldn’t believe what I saw; this kind of «Homage» to the Drunken Cops on Klaus’ Web-Site. First I wrote Klaus a Mail; he couldn’t believe that I wrote to him because he (and that’s not a joke) searched for me for years in the whole Land! That means a lot, doesn’t it?

Nattsol: Sure that does. So this crucial occurrence gave a new birth to the band?
Udo: Yes it did; directly we decided to rebirth the Band; first we tried to contact our drummer and guitarist; it was hard to find out where they lived but they were not interested in making a Band anymore; they had another lives. So we bought a Digital 8-Track Home-Recording Studio, some Instruments, Microphones and all that stuff and recorded a lot of Versions from «The Will». That was the start of a complete new beginning.

Nattsol: And what the band has done since that?
Udo: Yes, unfortunately Klaus is living in a complete different town but anymore 50 Miles away from me. So we haven’t got the chance to rehearse every weekend; maybe two times a month we found the time to play some Songs or to create complete new Stuff. Sometimes there are private problems too, Klaus was ill for some months and so it took a lot of time to create new Songs. 3 years to finish this Album that contains some songs from 1986/1987 and a lot of new stuff we were inspired too. For us, it was a long long time and I guess that it will take the same time to produce some more. But for us, it was the finish of a 20 year old Band-Story; that was all that counts for us. Not to make a lot of money with this production; just to make this 20 year old dream come true.

Nattsol: So the story is finished now?
Udo: Never! We are still working on new Songs and would like to make an EP: maybe it will take some time to make this come true but… we waited 20 years… so, what’s another year?

Nattsol: Nice to hear this. So let’s turn to your album, «An Alternative Place». First, what place it’s the alternative to? What’s the conception of the album?
Udo: I guess it’s a really strange mix of old styles that will remind you of Joy Division and some wave tracks that probably sound like early Cure; but there are much more things to discover!
First you really can hear which Songs we recorded in 2006/2007 and which ones were recorded in 2008/2009; that doesn’t fit a great production but still that was never our intent to make a mainstream production. It should be honest and it is! So for us, this time we made Music in our small Studio, where we could tell anyone about everything, where we could set anything free, was our personal alternative place; and today it is too. For us it was a place, where you feel, like you would come home; a place where you can be yourself and that gives you strength to carry on; (and everytime we are working there, time is running and soon I have to get home; sometimes I stay for one night to have more time for it). I think everyone should have this kind of place; it can be anything you like; to gives you guts to carry on in this cold world.

Nattsol: I see. What are the new songs on the album?
Udo: A lot; «Never forget» (sounds like an English Version of «Aussichtslos») «Just you and me», «Dark night of June», «Tonight», «Deep in frost» (is made of old Lyrics from Klaus) «Yesterday’s over», «You kill me» «Face the truth» «Sunset at the sea».

Nattsol: Thanks. So you how about going on stage with Dead Curtis now?
Udo: We really would like to get on Stage with Dead Curtis; but either we make a complete Acoustic-Set or have to find some more musicians who like our stuff and would like to play with us on Stage. Till that it will be a long way but we know much about that…

Nattsol: Ok, so a bit of visual. Tell me please about the place where you did the promo photo session and about your videos.
Udo: Hm, it’s a place near Klaus’ home where me made the pictures; there’s a cemetery and a monument for fallen soldiers of the 1st World War; the Videos are home made too; very simple; but in «Lies» you can see original pictures from 1986; Klaus still had these Video Recordings.
I think it’s a great Video because you feel this oldschool Punk Spirit of the 80’s.

Nattsol: Well, you plan an EP and probably, some live shows, right? What else would you like to have with «Dead Curtis»?
Udo: So, we are not the youngest anymore… in this case you don’t make much more plans…
I’m really happy that some people like our stuff; that’s more I ever asked for; for me it would be great if I can sing what people can’t say; I would like to find the words sometimes no one can say.

Nattsol: How does your ordinary life reflect on your music? And the contrary.
Udo: Anytime! Most of the written Songs depend on my ordinary life; most of it has happened the way it sounds like; for me it’s hard to write Songs about things that haven’t happened in my life. The contrary is that I can handle it with the Lyrics I wrote about; for me it’s like to bring it to an end, if I write about it.

Nattsol: And in this ordinary life, do you find some other extraordinary things except music?
Udo: No; I haven’t; I’m married and have an 11 year old daughter; so this takes a lot of strength.
To make Music is all I ever wanted; and now this dream came true; for the second time; I guess something like that doesn’t happen often in life.

Nattsol: So are you happy now?
Udo: Yes, in this case I am; in other cases maybe not; but Evolution told us to SURVIVE, not to be HAPPY!

Nattsol: Ok. So the interview seems about to be finished, but may be you want to say something I haven’t asked you about?
Udo: I have to thank you! It was a great evening with a lot of fun! Still hope that you like some of our stuff too! Would be great to be in your Fanzine; please tell me when the new issue is released!

Questions:
Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy
‘Grave Jibes Fanzine’


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	Dead Curtis – interview with Udo Dead Curtis – interview with Udo http://www.myspace.com/deadcurtis http://www.plasticfrogrecords.com/ http://www.myspace.com/plasticfrogrecords Nattsol: Hello, Udo. So for a start, drop a few words about yourself, whatever you find necessary here. Udo: Yes, I’m a musician; that’s my life; I like to write Songs in every Genre. I need Music in my life; without it I can’t live. It was my first love… and it will be the last… Nattsol: When and how this first love has happened? Udo: Very early in the early 70’s when my big brother brought me a lot of Singles from The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Santana, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple… and all this great stuff from the late 60’s; and I really loved these «psychedelic» Songs from all these Bands. I was very young but these Bands really fascinated me; still today! Nattsol: So and then you got a wish of doing music yourself? Udo: Yes, you are right; very dilettantish in the beginning; just singing Songs from The Beatles and recorded them to listen to my own voice. I thought and found out, that I can’t sing like Mr. Lennon and threw it all away. But then at the end of the 70’s, early 80’s Punk has started and there anybody could «Sing»! That was great and first of all I found my love again in these «Psychedelic» Tracks like The Birthday Party, The Fall and so on. My really creative work has started in the early 80’s with a Band called «Fluchtweg»; we made some Tapes and people thought that this is «Cult» and really liked them (but we sold them for the same price we had to pay for producing them; I guess that was the reason that people liked it)… Nattsol: And is it possible to find these records now? Udo: No it isn’t; these Tapes are not available anymore; (maybe someone keep them in the cellar). Nattsol: That’s regret. But well, what happened next? Udo: Yes, I can remember that one who bought these Tapes was Klaus; he liked them too. He was living almost 50 Miles from my home away. The Sound we recorded was very simple; maybe still a good songwriting; lyrics in German; maybe we sound like cheap «Einsturzende Neubauten». Klaus was still looking for someone he could make music with; he had a friend who played a little bit guitar and himself he played the Bass-Guitar. One day he asked me to come to him and to try to make an own real Punk Band. Nattsol: So it was the beginning of the band «The Drunken Cops», right? Tell me more about it, please. How did you get the rest of the line-up, who have you chosen this name, what were the band’s first steps and so on. Udo: Yes you are right; to find this Band Name was not that Problem; this time people didn’t like cops; they saved the Nazis on the streets and throwing their water to the Punks who fought the Nazis (I know…this hasn’t change…). But to imagine that these cops are drunken and will shoot directly was a horrible association; so what can be more worst than a «Drunken Cop». It didn’t take a long time to find a drummer (I think Klaus has an advertise in some local magazine) and soon we were the «Fab Four» in Punk (no not really); first we played a Gig in a local Youth Center; people left it after some minutes because we were too loud! We had another Gig in a local Town Hall; the problem was that the complete audience was made of Heavy Metal Fans (and we played real dirty Punk…). Then we found another rehearsal room and then…our Music has changed; I guess that was my fault because I really liked the Punk but still I often listened to slow, melancholic Music; then I asked Klaus if he knew a Band which Plays Rock-Music that still is Melancholic; and than he introduced me Ian Curtis’ Joy Division. Nattsol: We’ll turn to Ian Curtis a bit later, but now could you say more, what the music of «Drunken Cops» was, are there any records and in common what was the atmosphere about punk there in your country then? Udo: Yes, I guess there was a Punk Scene in any Town at this time; we had a small Scene-Hit called «Aussichtslos» (you find it as a hidden track on our actual Album). Times were very political; politicians created Bombs, everybody was waiting for a new world war; young people fought the government; it happened a lot everyday and the Scene was alive. I guess in 2004 Klaus released a CD called «Aussichtslos» with some Songs from the rehearsal Room; some Punk Tracks in a really bad quality and still Songs like «The Will» or «Party Girl» which were the beginning of Dead Curtis. Nattsol: So Dead Curtis was the evolution of Drunken Cops, or one band broke up and another one was started? Why this name for the band? Udo: Yes it was an evolution; the Drunken Cops didn’t brake up; we played the same Line up with Dead Curtis; things changed; maybe our lives changed; there happened a lot in our private lives (women, death of my parents and so on); maybe we thought that we couldn’t make this anymore and anything should happen. Hm, the Name of the Band, I don’t know, we were searching for a new name that could fit our forthcoming kind of Music and thought about many names; one day someone said «Dead Curtis»; we thought «Wow! That’s hard» years later I found out that it sounds like the Punk of the «Dead Kennedys» with the Melancholic of «Ian Curtis» Nattsol: So there’s no any conception in the name? Just I guess many people could find it as disrespect to Ian Curtis. Udo: Yes, maybe you’re right; but that was never our intention; it was more a reminding of Ian Curtis and keeping his spirit alive. Nattsol: I see. So how did the sound change? You say that some stuff like «Party Girl» was the stuff of «Drunken Cops» and also became the stuff of «Dead Curtis». So what were the changes in common and in examples? Udo: I don’t really know; there happened a lot in our lives; we tried to write that were not so hard anymore and we liked it; I guess then we thought that they didn’t fit to the Drunken Cops. But still I think these two years of really living out this Punk, was enough. It was time to evolve; I guess that the Music around us was evolving too; Sounds had changed, Punk was getting smoother; In Germany we had this «New German Wave» Time with dilettantish Musicians, German lyrics and a great success; I guess Music around the world has changed; I’m sure of that! And this you can’t deny. Nattsol: So the band was (re)formed. What was «Dead Curtis» about? Udo: First we really tried to live up the spirit of Ian Curtis but it didn’t work; we were bad; as bad as the Cops. «The Will» was the first Song we tried to create a sound that should remind of Joy Division but still should give us our own style, which maybe sounds a bit like Joy Division but is unmistakable «Dead Curtis». We would try to put all our feelings, depressions in the Music where we could tell them everybody and give ourselves a little bit time to breath. Nowadays we have the same reason in making Music. Nattsol: What was «Dead Curtis» on stage in the 80′s? What were the crowd and the crowd’s reaction? Udo: So with Dead Curtis we were never on stage; we were in the beginning. We had some great Songs «The Will», «Lies», «Lost Words» and «Party Girl»; than one day our complete Equipment was nicked; just two of us were employed and nobody had the money to buy anything of Instruments or Amplifiers. That was the end of the Band; we had to break up; fortunately Klaus had these recordings from the rehearsal so we could reconstruct these Original Songs! Nattsol: Yeah, that was quite weird note for me in your press kit, «In 1987 all our Equipment was stolen from the Rehearsal Room and so the Band split and we lost every contact for almost 20 years». How did it happen that you lost the contact and how have you found each other again? Udo: So, we left in 1987; I remember that the first time we tried to keep the Contact by telephone or in writing letters; but then anyone of us made completely different things. Klaus got married very early, our Drummer too, I started a higher school; another fault of me was that I had to change my address and was out of sight anymore. But at this time, there wasn’t much contact with Klaus anymore. I made some more Music with a Solo-Project called «Dream Department» but not very successful. Sometimes Klaus played a Session with our Guitarist but most of the time, they hadn’t had any contact too. We all lived our own lives. Years passed by and the world changed completely. In 2005 Klaus decided to make his all time dream come true; he created his own Indie-Label «Plastic Frog Records»; he put some information about the Drunken Cops on his Site (still couldn’t forget these great times with the Band); In 2006 I was sitting drunk at my home computer and tried anything to search in Google; I found some great Sites about Punk, Wave and so on; I was really impressed about the Internet! So I was writing «Drunken Cops» in this search bar and got a result! I couldn’t believe what I saw; this kind of «Homage» to the Drunken Cops on Klaus’ Web-Site. First I wrote Klaus a Mail; he couldn’t believe that I wrote to him because he (and that’s not a joke) searched for me for years in the whole Land! That means a lot, doesn’t it? Nattsol: Sure that does. So this crucial occurrence gave a new birth to the band? Udo: Yes it did; directly we decided to rebirth the Band; first we tried to contact our drummer and guitarist; it was hard to find out where they lived but they were not interested in making a Band anymore; they had another lives. So we bought a Digital 8-Track Home-Recording Studio, some Instruments, Microphones and all that stuff and recorded a lot of Versions from «The Will». That was the start of a complete new beginning. Nattsol: And what the band has done since that? Udo: Yes, unfortunately Klaus is living in a complete different town but anymore 50 Miles away from me. So we haven’t got the chance to rehearse every weekend; maybe two times a month we found the time to play some Songs or to create complete new Stuff. Sometimes there are private problems too, Klaus was ill for some months and so it took a lot of time to create new Songs. 3 years to finish this Album that contains some songs from 1986/1987 and a lot of new stuff we were inspired too. For us, it was a long long time and I guess that it will take the same time to produce some more. But for us, it was the finish of a 20 year old Band-Story; that was all that counts for us. Not to make a lot of money with this production; just to make this 20 year old dream come true. Nattsol: So the story is finished now? Udo: Never! We are still working on new Songs and would like to make an EP: maybe it will take some time to make this come true but… we waited 20 years… so, what’s another year? Nattsol: Nice to hear this. So let’s turn to your album, «An Alternative Place». First, what place it’s the alternative to? What’s the conception of the album? Udo: I guess it’s a really strange mix of old styles that will remind you of Joy Division and some wave tracks that probably sound like early Cure; but there are much more things to discover! First you really can hear which Songs we recorded in 2006/2007 and which ones were recorded in 2008/2009; that doesn’t fit a great production but still that was never our intent to make a mainstream production. It should be honest and it is! So for us, this time we made Music in our small Studio, where we could tell anyone about everything, where we could set anything free, was our personal alternative place; and today it is too. For us it was a place, where you feel, like you would come home; a place where you can be yourself and that gives you strength to carry on; (and everytime we are working there, time is running and soon I have to get home; sometimes I stay for one night to have more time for it). I think everyone should have this kind of place; it can be anything you like; to gives you guts to carry on in this cold world. Nattsol: I see. What are the new songs on the album? Udo: A lot; «Never forget» (sounds like an English Version of «Aussichtslos») «Just you and me», «Dark night of June», «Tonight», «Deep in frost» (is made of old Lyrics from Klaus) «Yesterday’s over», «You kill me» «Face the truth» «Sunset at the sea». Nattsol: Thanks. So you how about going on stage with Dead Curtis now? Udo: We really would like to get on Stage with Dead Curtis; but either we make a complete Acoustic-Set or have to find some more musicians who like our stuff and would like to play with us on Stage. Till that it will be a long way but we know much about that… Nattsol: Ok, so a bit of visual. Tell me please about the place where you did the promo photo session and about your videos. Udo: Hm, it’s a place near Klaus’ home where me made the pictures; there’s a cemetery and a monument for fallen soldiers of the 1st World War; the Videos are home made too; very simple; but in «Lies» you can see original pictures from 1986; Klaus still had these Video Recordings. I think it’s a great Video because you feel this oldschool Punk Spirit of the 80’s. Nattsol: Well, you plan an EP and probably, some live shows, right? What else would you like to have with «Dead Curtis»? Udo: So, we are not the youngest anymore… in this case you don’t make much more plans… I’m really happy that some people like our stuff; that’s more I ever asked for; for me it would be great if I can sing what people can’t say; I would like to find the words sometimes no one can say. Nattsol: How does your ordinary life reflect on your music? And the contrary. Udo: Anytime! Most of the written Songs depend on my ordinary life; most of it has happened the way it sounds like; for me it’s hard to write Songs about things that haven’t happened in my life. The contrary is that I can handle it with the Lyrics I wrote about; for me it’s like to bring it to an end, if I write about it. Nattsol: And in this ordinary life, do you find some other extraordinary things except music? Udo: No; I haven’t; I’m married and have an 11 year old daughter; so this takes a lot of strength. To make Music is all I ever wanted; and now this dream came true; for the second time; I guess something like that doesn’t happen often in life. Nattsol: So are you happy now? Udo: Yes, in this case I am; in other cases maybe not; but Evolution told us to SURVIVE, not to be HAPPY! Nattsol: Ok. So the interview seems about to be finished, but may be you want to say something I haven’t asked you about? Udo: I have to thank you! It was a great evening with a lot of fun! Still hope that you like some of our stuff too! Would be great to be in your Fanzine; please tell me when the new issue is released! Questions: Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy ‘Grave Jibes Fanzine’

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