25 Sep 06 Monday

SprottenRock Interview!!

SprottenRock are one of my favorite bands so I'm veeeeery happy that the band took the time to answer my questions!! Thanx guys!!!! :) Please check them out at the links below & BUY THEIR MUSIC!! It ROCKS!!! :D

Mikki: So, I finally found you on MySpace - quite a surprise!! What do you think of MySpace so far?

Abo: It's huge & fun! Lots of people visit our website because of MySpace. There are also people at our concerts that came to see us because they liked our music at MySpace. Crazy!

Markus: I like, that David Hasselhoff is our friend! A dream came true!

Abo: …

Mikki: First of all, I've clearly missed some news... what happened to Helmet?

Sam: Helmet went to India…looking for the sense of life supported by his guru…I forgot his name…last thing I heard about him is that he wanted to hook up with some sect called "Daughters of the Dustcomet"…We're very psyched about what he will bring us along.

Abo: …and other people say that our Keyboarder moved to a distanced city so we couldn't practise together very often. At first it worked out but then he moved again and we saw him just once a month. So we decided to say "Goodbye" to Helmet. We're still in contact and he's fine!

Mikki: Your new album is great!! It's very different from "Couchparty" though. Milder at times, sometimes almost angry. Some songs don't sound like SprottenRock at all. Can you explain that for me?

Markus: That's because we are SprottenRock! We all like almost the same music, but everybody has got some favourite bands, which inspires everyone in a different way. The new album also shows the ups and downs we had in the time when the album was recorded: The happiness about the first deal, then the deep fall when we recognized, that our "boss" was not the guy he pretended to be, a new start with our indie-label Coast Rock Records (formed by abo and Stefan from Dog Eared Pages) and the great feeling when we got the album. "Yeah, we did it ourselves!" The album is a mirror of our motions in this time. By the way, we don't want that everyone says "…ah…SprottenRock! The guys with the funny German songs, har har!" Sure, the most songs have funny lyrics, but there are also serious songs. At first we thought too, that's a strange mix.You find a slow ballad between some more aggressive songs on our CD, but that's okay. Life isn't funny everyday. Sometimes everything seems right and then everything collapses…shit happens… everywhere and on our CD, too. We like what we do and do what we like. I hope that explains the different styles on our CD! That's simply us!

Sam: Mh…how does SprottenRock sound? ...one reason may also be that we recorded in two different studios. At first we had to compromise with our former boss. We mustn't play our songs like we wanted to. That was very hard and frustrating. At the weekend we went to another studio and played more aggressive songs like "Das letzte Hemd" or "Letz Rock". We celebrated this freedom, tried different styles and were very psyched about the new stuff. At the moment we like the hard SprottenRock-way the most…which doesn't mean that we're just focused on PunkRockSongs.

Mikki: I'm also curious about the horror themed songs on the album? What is that all about?

Sam: That's a result of watching too many bad horror-movies (abo is an expert). You go gaga sometime.

Abo: Hey…we need a new guy on bass-guitar…sounds like Sam want's to quit… ;) I do like horror-movies, Comics, radio plays and stuff like that. I also like the old AliceCooper-Songs like "Former Lee Warmer", "Prince of Darkness", "I love the dead", "Steven" etc. Tim Burton's "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy" is also great. I like evil creatures that have also a weak aspect like in "Wenn ich mal allein bin" the guy that hates being alone. He really suffers from that and wants to hang around with some friends like everyone does. Even though he's a bit deformed and ugly, he leaves his cellar and tries to lead a normal life. Then his evil side gets the upper hand and he eats his friends…tadaaah…and alone again. The mad scientist in "Monsta" overestimates his own capabilities and hates everyone that points a finger at him. He want's to show everyone that he is a respectable scientist and would rather die for attention than admit that he is a bit weird. Behind the funny stories are often real tragedies.

Mikki: Are you working on a new album now or taking a break?

Sam: I think, we have enough new songs for a new album. We also recorded a few new songs.

Abo: Psst!

Markus: No one can imagine what happens in abo's brain! So we don't have to worry about the lyrics! The creative output of the band is huge! We don't want to wait until we have got enough songs for a new album, go into a studio and record all these songs! This time we do it vice versa! When we think three or four songs kick ass, we record them and put them aside. When we got enough tracks we chose the best ones and voila…there is the new album!

Mikki: Who drew your little blue fish & what has happened to him? On your MySpace background he's looking very... dangerous!! Has he been hanging out with your hamster??

Markus: Abo has drawn the original little sweet blue fish (called Herbert)! But sometimes, when the full moon is rising, Herbert cannot stand all the pain inside! Than his eyes come out of his head, his teeth are changing, his bloodthirst is growing and growing…Herbert is trying to fight against it, but he has to face the truth: He is a werefish! …and no one knows what happens next.

Abo: The new version of Herbert as you can see on MySpace was created by Zuck-Produkt. She's a young artist from our hometown Kiel and makes crazy stuff. I really like her work.

Mikki: Speaking of your hamster, will we be hearing more of him?

Sam: Maybe he gets his own TV-Show...or he lectures at University.

Markus: He will never die…!

Mikki: Your cover of the Franz Beckenbauer song, "Gute Freunde kann niemand trennen" is soooooo great!! Could you tell me more about why you chose to cover this song?

Markus: Cover? I don't understand? Who the f… is Franz Beckenbauer???

Sam: The original from the Sixties was lame and had…maybe 19 BPM. We had to change that. This song also seemed to fit in because of the WM. Our little tribute to soccer-God Franz Beckenbauer!

Mikki: Also, did you watch the World Cup? What did you think of all that activity in your home country?

Sam: Sure, I tried to watch every game. It's a pitty that Turkey wasn't playing! I'm a big fan and enjoyed the WM very much. It was great to see all those people from different countries, hanging together, drinking beer, watching soccer and celebrate till the early morning…for example in Berlin at the fanmile.

Markus: We all enjoyed this time very much! The world-cup-fever got us! We watched the games on big-screens with hundreds of other people. The atmosphere is hard to describe. Everything seemed to be a bit easier, everyone seemed to be a bit happier! Great! Chrisch plays soccer in an club. Abo and Sam are now playing soccer in a little team in our hometown, too! Only Markus is lazy as before!

Mikki: Have you played in any countries other than Germany? If so, where? If not, where would you like to play most?

Sam: No! I'd like to play in Japan.

Abo: Japan!

Markus: The country or the location is not so important! The main thing is, that we are playing in front 50.000 people and I can play the drums on the highest point of the hall, hanging with the head down!

Mikki: In our previous interview with you at http://www.deutschmusikland.com/interviews/interview_sprottenrock.php I'd asked how you would describe your music & you said, "Ass-Kick-Rock with influences of ska and pop.". People have been arguing with me (baaad people!!) however, saying that you sound like a punk band to them and this IS the label you use on your MySpace page. Do you also consider yourselves to be a punk band and if not why do you use that label?

Sam: How is it with SprottenPunk?

Abo: We're not a PunkBand but that's where most of the people see us. Punk, Pop, Rock, a bit Off-Beat… when we first called our style "Deutschrock" most of the people at our concerts were a bit irritated. They hoped to see something like "Westernhagen", "Grönemeyer", "Nena" or "Wir sind Helden". Since we changed it to "Deutschrock mit Arschtritt" everythings okay. People need drawer to put things in or they wack out, I think.

Mikki: I have found 2 other bands so far from Kiel on MySpace & they are very good!! Does Kiel have a big music scene and does eating Sprotten have something to do with the great music coming from there?

Sam: Oh yes, Kiel has a very lively and big musicszene…for such a little city! Inside those little, famous…

Abo: …and very ulgy…

Sam: …fishes we call "Sprotten" are little worms. They are parasites that intrude the human brain and increase brain activity and –of course- creativity. The brain cells spawn which is also the reason for the big heads of the Kieler people. Because of the bad weight-allocation (Gewichtsverteilung?) most of the people here tumble a lot. Some of them crush their heads and bleed to death. Such Brainpower has a shade side, too… I'm afraid so!

Markus: We all suffer from that. By the way. has someone a pill against my headache?

Abo: …my package is empty, sorry

Sam: Markus, you bum. Buy your own stuff!

Markus: …the music scene in Kiel is more and more growing! So many good bands, many concerts…! KIEL ROCK CITY!

Mikki: Oh and my friend would like to know what the most embarrassing CD is that you own ;)

Sam: …something from MC Hammer… I forgot the title.

Markus: Hm…

Abo: Michael Jackson "History" and Tatu "200 km/h in the wrong lane (They are no lesbians – I read this! Now I don't like this album anymore…except "Not gonna get us!").

Mikki: Thank you very much for the interview!! Is there any news or any comments you'd like to add?

Sam: The sense of life is NOT 42 but...oh...pizza is ready!

Markus: Hm?

Abo: In October our album "Gegenwind" hit's finally the stores. It took a long time but then you'll get our music everywhere – I hope. Greetings to everyone out there. Visit us here at MySpace…

Markus: …or at http://www.SprottenRock.de

Sam: Bye

Abo: Bye

Mark: …pill?

Sam: Shut up!

Check out SprottenRock at http://www.sprottenrock.de/

And here on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/sprottenrock &
http://groups.myspace.com/sprottenrock

Back to top

23 Aug 06 Wednesday

Metallspürhunde interview for MySpace!!

Metallspürhunde are a really great goth metal/ electronic type band from Zurich, Switzerland!! I want to thank Marion for taking the time to answer these questions (most from fans!!) & encourage everyone to please buy their new album, "Amokmensch" & their previous releases as well, it's great stuff!! :)

DML: Thank you, Marion, for taking the time to do this interview!! First of all, we'd like to congratulate you on your great new page at http://www.mshunde.ch/!! Who designed it for you? They did a great job!!

MSH: Thank you! It was designed by Dan Spartaru (encoilMARK Studios), a designer from Romania. We knew his work for some Romanian bands we are friends with and we absolutely wanted him to design our new page. We wanted to create a similar atmosphere like on our current album and I guess it has become quite disturbing. We also like the page very much!

DML: Your new album, "Amokmensch" is excellent!! How has it been received in Europe (& outside of Europe)? As good as Blut und Spiele?

MSH: Due to our label deal we got much more popularity with "Amokmensch" which makes it difficult to compare the two albums. But it has been received very well, the feedbacks and reviews were mostly very positive and we had some great articles in important magazines. It definitely was a great leap forward. Unfortunately we're still not very present outside of Europe, but we have still heard a lot of voices saying that they liked Amokmensch very much.

DML: While on the subject of the new album, someone asked what the sample in the beginning of "Obszöne Neue Welt" said?

MSH: The sample is in English and it says "Why I'm so fucking angry" (it was saying "That's why I'm so fucking angry", but it got cut for some reason). It symbolizes quite well the anger and cynicism of that song.

DML: And now we must ask about your awesome video!! Please tell us how it was made, who directed and produced it and the idea behind the song. Was it played on European television?

MSH: Watch out, long answer. Luckily we knew some people which we could fill with enthusiasm about the video, because we had hardly any budget to pay anyone's work for it. In the end we had a professional director and a camera man who both worked for TV before, and we also had two professional actors and many assistants. The make up artist was actually the only one we had to pay, but she was worth it. ;-)

The video is from the song "Obszöne Neue Welt" which accuses the greed for money. It's a cynical view on capitalism and on how money becomes more and more the only religion for many people. In the video we play ourselves, living in the underground (ok, reality looks a bit different;-)) and then this bad god of capitalism infects us. We then get into some kind of parallel world where we get paid and infiltrated by the capitalist. This finally destroys the friendship among the band members as Michel is the only one accusing and warning us but we won't listen.

We told our ideas to the director, Judith Lichtneckert, and she wrote the script and did an amazing job with everything. The video was shot in different locations during two days and it was quite exciting as it was our first video. It finally was played on Swiss Television and on VIVA Switzerland which is something like MTV.

DML: Someone wants to know if you will make a song with dog barks, as a sample within the music maybe?

MSH: Actually there IS already a song on Amokmensch. It's called "Metallspürhunde" and has a lot of animal voices in it. One of the drums is a dog bark, but you wouldn't hear it if you didn't know about it. There is also a lot of dog barking at the beginning of our live shows, its part of the intro and it sounds quite angry. So whenever the music stops and the audience hears dog barking they know we're about to come on the stage.

DML: I noticed alot of people on MySpace adding comments because they had seen you live, which is great!! Did you get alot of new listeners from recent live shows?

MSH: Well, we hope so! ;-) Wave Gotik Treffen (WGT) in Leipzig surely got us a lot of new listeners, but we also see the positive effect of our last show which was near Paris. It was our first show in France and the feedbacks were overwhelming! Live shows are definitely the most important way for us to reach new listeners, which is especially important when you play in countries where they haven't known you too well before.

DML: Another wants to know if you are able to live off your music now? If not, what jobs do you do to support yourselves?

MSH: Unfortunately not, we're actually far from that. All in all we're still losing money. We dont make a lot of money with live shows and people generally buy much less cds than they did in the past. Everyone of us has a normal job which makes it very difficult to find time and energy for the band. Michel works for Swiss Post, Patrick and Thomas are self-employed (Pat is a graphic designer and Thomas runs a recording studio). I am still studying and besides I work in a movie theatre.

DML: Also, what is your process when composing music? Who does what & how does it all come together?

MSH: Michel does most of the composing, and after that Thomas does the "fine tuning" and brings in his ideas. Also Patrick who's doing the guitar parts. There are also complete compositions by both Thomas and Patrick. I write the lyrics and besides that I always carp at the compositions which sometimes leads to good ideas. Or to exhausting arguments. ;-)

DML: Are you working on a new album now?

MSH: Yes, we're writing new songs but there isn't any release date yet. The release is planned for next year, so watch this space.

DML: I was told to let you know that you have fans in England & they want to see you very much!! Is that a possibilty? (Though US fans should come first of course, haha!! ;))

MSH: Please say hi to them and tell them we'd love to come to England. Actually we had an inquiry this spring, but they weren't able to pay our transport. So if anyone is willing to pay it, we'll be there in no time. ;-) Same with the US, we'd love to come and our label is actually working on that. So keep your fingers crossed!

DML: What are your plans for the future?

MSH: We will work hard on the new album and of course we want to play as many shows as possible. In the next months we will play in Switzerland and Germany and even in Spain (for the first time). I guess we will be quite busy.

DML: I thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview!!! Turned out a bit longer than I had imagined... But great bands have fans & these were almost all fan questions!! :) Is there anything you'd like to add?

MSH: This was an interesting interview, thank you. Also we'd like to thank everyone for their support, we appreciate every little comment or note and we know you're out there. We really hope to play shows near you one day because we'd love to meet you all!

Find Metallspürhunde here on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/metallspuerhunde

Back to top

18 Aug 06 Friday

Terrorgruppe interview, w00t!!!:

Thank you Archi!! Terrorgruppe rules!! :)

DML: First of all thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview!! You guys are true legends in the music scene!!

Alot has happened since our last interview with Johnny Bottrop at http://www.deutschmusikland.com/interviews/interview_terrorgruppe.php in 2002 and I'd like to ask about a few of things he said then. First of all it was mentioned that you guys wanted to put out a live video with lots of clips, interviews and guest stars. Is something like that still in the planning?

TG: There will be a documentary-movie about the band on DVD, yes, we are working on it since 1998, hehe, and it seems to be almost finished, we are planing to release it in 2007.

DML: Johnny had mentioned an album with all English songs coming out but you're only releasing that album now, "Rust in Pieces". What took so long?

TG: Our producer Andi Jung got sick, so we had to wait, we wanted to finish it only with him, cause he believed in this project heavily and he was the main engine behind it.

DML: I recall reading an announcement that Terrorgruppe was going to stop doing live shows completely and just concentrate on studio albums. I see that you have some tour dates up right now so what changed your mind?

TG: They are fake, we won't tour anymore with Terrorgruppe. We had our good times and want people remember them well.

DML: Since you recorded a song about Angela Merkel I'm curious about what you think of her becoming the new chancellor.

TG: I'm a bit scared 'bout our new administration, but the song "angela" has nothing to do with her politicaly agenda. Its a song which starts in a very standart 60`s rock/pop way with the sentence "see that girl...." but then we continue singing about a monster not a hot looking chick.

DML: When, oh when, will you open up a Paypal account so people outside of Europe can order from your shop more easily???

TG: You are right,I totally agree with you, but MC MOTHERFUCKER is not the one to blame, people in the band who run this business are way to oldschool to be flexible in that way, ha ha ha....

DML: What are some of your favorite bands currently playing the German scene?

TG: The Creetins, Trend, Bitume, The Movement just a few of many, many more

DML: Who do you think are the worst?

TG: I really hate OOOOMPH!!

DML: What have been some of your most exciting moments while playing with Terrorgruppe?

TG: Definetly our one and only show at the paradise lounge in SF/Cal, we were singin`in german and it totally worked, it was a raging show. Almost all shows we played in non german speaking countries and worked out well, are still backed up on top right under my cortex.

DML: Did Archi really live in Bavaria for 15 years? If so does he yodel and/or secretly wear Lederhosen? Pics please!!

TG: I grew up in Augsburg/Bavaria for almost 20 years and yes there are kiddie photos of me with lederhosen, but no, I'm not local patriotic so I hate lederhosen nowadays, won't wear them anymore and bavaria is one of the most beautiful but also most boring and conservative places in the entire world.

DML: We really NEED to see you guys play in the US!! Dates please, thank you!!

TG: So the only way to manage this will be, to send you a couple of DVD's over there, cause TG is definetly history.

DML: Besides that, what are your goals for the future?

TG: Slash Vicious and Johnny Bottrop are playing in a great band called The Bottrops, I'm working on new songs and put together a new band next year.

DML: Thanx alot for the interview!! Is there anything you'd like to add?

TG: Yes, just have a good time and support great intense music!!! cheerio, arch

Check out Terrorgruppe on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/terrorgruppe

Back to top

01 Aug 06 Tuesday

MySpace exclusive interview with Kind im Magen?:

Kind im Magen? have some new stuff going on & we wanted to hear about this so this is an exclusive MySpace interview! Many thanx to Benny Von Schaumschlag for taking the time to do this!!

DML: Your new site looks really cool!! That's a crazy url, how did you come up with that??

Benny Von Schaumschlag from KIM?: Thank you. We are very satisfied with the layout, too! Our label relaunched http://www.kim.kickyourass.org to bring out the new character of the songs. We just wanted our homepage to look like our songs sound. I think they managed it.

DML: I hear you have a new guitarist, Patrick "Rocky Bee" Kliewer!! Well, it's too bad that Gnagg Flow had to leave you guys but academics are important!! Please tell us more about your new guitarist!!

BVS: Rocky is amazing. He just put a new feeling into our concerts which makes us feel more alive again. We were traveling around for so long just playing and playing and it`s good to have a person with new jokes and statements on board.
I realize that it is not a show. It is our live!!!

DML: I was under the impression that you were in the process of recording new songs. This does make me wonder though... how does this switchover affect the recordings? Or did Gnagg Flow finish all he needed to before leaving?

BVS: It doesn`t matter at all. Trip and I are the main part of the band and we do all the recordings together.

DML: I'm also curious, do you have a timeline on when your new music might be released?

BVS: Everyone is waiting impatiently for new KIM? Stuff and we are, too! That`s why we just put out the new song "Der Letzte Robin Hood" on our homepage during the recording sessions. We just wanted to let everybody know that we are alive. We are writing new songs and recording them in these weeks. The album will be released this year.

DML: Also, how do you think the new songs differ compared to old ones? Just wondering how the evolution will be..

BVS: It`s simply more KIM? It took a while till we found our own style, our own passion and strikes for the songs. The lyrics will be more exact and they just bring it to the point that everyone understands what we want to say. We have some ballads, some good punkrock titles and mid tempo songs on it. The best stuff we did so far.

DML: A question about "Die Kinder vom Bahnhof Soho"... I saw the demo version on your site, the "DKVBS 2005" & bought it & it's excellent!! But I didn't see the regular version & would like to get that someday... If you're sold out of this will you make more or are us newcomers just too late for that?

BVS: I`m sorry. It`s sold out. That`s why we made DKVBS 2005. But some of the demo songs will be on our debut album, more professional and better. The older tunes are rarities.

DML: I know you're interested in getting your music sold in the US, how is that going?

BVS: We are working on that! Perhaps we can get finetunes for that. But it`s difficult because we have only a few english songs. The rest is in German and I don`t know if people understand that over there.

DML: On your MySpace page you posted a bulletin w/ a song by Rise Against. What prompted that? (I found it very sad & stopped eating meat after seeing it, btw!!)

BVS: Rise Against is one of our favourite bands. There are some statements in their songs we would definetely sing about in KIM? lyrics, too!! On our My Space Page you find their new video clip from the new album "The Sufferer & The Witness"! Go and buy it!!!!

DML: As this is an exclusive MySpace interview, what are your views on MySpace? Has it been good for you?

BVS: At first I was really skeptical about My Space. To me it was just a new platform that runs out in a few weeks. But now a days My space turned into an interesting place with a lot of music loving people and great bands. It`s important to get to know more people. But all in all we should realize that there is still a real world outside where we can talk to people!

DML: Just out of curiosity, what do you guys do when not playing music?

BVS: Well, we are looking for some girls, have a party, watch sex films and drink beer like every rocker should do it :)). Seriously: Music is our life, KIM? is our passion! There are not many days without both of it. So if we have a free day everyone is on his own and leaves for the sea or just stays at home and watches TV.

DML: Oh & when are you going to play in Arizona???!! ;)

BVS: Next year I hope.... :) We would really love to go to the USA!!!

DML: Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these & do you have anything else you'd like to add??

BVS: Ok after you bought the Rise Against CD, try to buy our shit and then go to get a girl! Kiss her and try to save the world like we do. And don`t forget to visit a KIM? Concert!! It might change your whole life :)!!

Find Kind im Magen? here on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/sexyrockrevue

Back to top