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Many thanx to Gary Wheeler for doing this e-mail interview with us! Stahlhammer is definately a band to keep your eyes & ears out for, they have some very good stuff to offer & apparently have more for us soon! :) Thanx to Greg, also, for setting this up for us :) -Mikki 10/04
DML: First, we have a few personal questions. What styles of music do you listen to yourself? What bands would we find in your CD player at home?
Gary Wheeler: Well we all don`t listen to any typical or specific style of music! Just good music!
DML: What hobbies do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Gary Wheeler: Spending money!
DML: Why did you choose to perform the coversongs "Out of the Dark" and "Merci, Cherie" on the new album "Stahlmania"? And what can you tell us about the dedication on 2 songs?
Gary Wheeler: Because we heard two new Stahlhammer songs within them! It was just the circumstance that Udo Jürgens and Falco performed this two songs before we did it!
DML: Sony Music is a very big distributor, so what countries has "Stahlmania" been released in? Is there a chance to get it over here in America?
Gary Wheeler: Our manager Holger Koch is currently working on a contract with an American label and distributor!
DML: Stahlhammer really has a wide variety of influences on every album and the sound is always changing, so what words would you use to describe the Stahlhammer sound?
Gary Wheeler: We can't describe our sound! Just listen to our music and describe it to yourself!
DML: Which songs do you think best represent the various styles that Stahlhammer has to offer?
Gary Wheeler: Well I think whatever comes from the heart is the best song! (listen to "Bis dass das Blut gefriert", "Rache", "Wakantanka", "Herz aus Stahl", "Wiener Blut", "Bis in alle Ewigkeit", Eisenherz", "Keine Tränen sehen", "Das unentdeckte Land", or "Dein Held sein"!)
DML: In addition to the different sounds, the band is also known for having new musicians on every album, there is always someone new in the band and someone else leaving. Why does this happen? Is there a lot of different ideas or other problems with the new members?
Gary Wheeler: No, we dont have any problems with past band members! Why we change the line up is only because we think that the one or another musician is the best player for the album!
DML: Stahlhammer did very well with Ferdinand Förster as producer of the first 3 albums, and then with Willi Schneider who produced "Eisenherz". So what reasons did you have for making "Stahlmania" with no producer?
Gary Wheeler: We were in the mood to do it by ourself!
DML: Some critics of your new album, "Stahlmania", have been very harsh in their reviews, for example saying that the songs are sterile and simply not exciting. What is your reaction to these reviews?
Gary Wheeler: If they say so then they didnt understand! Maybe they are too young or too simply in their thinking!
DML: What kind of concerts are you planning on your November tour? Will you tour in some smaller clubs again like you did with the successful song "Eisbär"?
Gary Wheeler: Oh my god, I hate "Eisbär"! No never again! I think we won't play again in techno clubs!
The tour will be in March 2005! and it will be a bigger tour! Our booker Tom Velby is planning a festival tour in summer 2005 also!
DML: What band would you like to do a concert with the most?
Gary Wheeler: Stahlhammer!
DML: Georgij brought a lot of influence to Stahlhammer when he joined the band for 2 albums, for example some Russian songs and the album cover of "Feind Hört Mit" which looks like it could be very Communist. Did this bring any controversy to Stahlhammer, and, if so, what did you do about the controversy?
Gary Wheeler: Well,.... äh,.. what!???
DML: Can you give us an idea about what plans Stahlhammer has for the future?
Gary Wheeler: Well we are planning a new CD of course! We will start recording this winter! It will be an album on which we only will perform Austrian and German folksongs (traditionals)! Release will be hopefully in March 2005!
DML: We want to thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview with us & look forward to hearing more from you in the future! Is there anything you'd like to add?
Gary Wheeler: Thanks for your questions and best regards.
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