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Hot on the heels of the release of their debut album
'Times Of No Trust' we catch up with Clusterhead, an amazing melodic metal
quartet that are currently sending shivers of excitement down the spines
of many a hard rock/melodic metal fan.
MM -
Hi, would you like to start by
introducing the band members to us and telling us a little bit of
background on the band and how you all came together?
Band -
Hi, Well we all know each other for many years and we played in many
bands around Regensburg
(Bavaria). But all these bands never had the chemistry of
CLUSTERHEAD, after a few gigs and demo-tapes the bands we all played in
retired. That was really disappointing for all of us. Frank & Andi played
with another singer and drummer before the actual line-up appeared.
After 2 EP´s the old line-up of CLUSTERHEAD was falling apart so Frank & Andi
decided to search for new musicians. Frank & Rüdiger met again after years
without any contact, they played together years before in another metal
band and Frank asked him for a session in the rehearsal-room. Said and
done, session played and he was in. At the same time the band of Rene also
retired so Frank took the chance and Rene just said: "Let's do it". The
new line-up of CLUSTERHEAD was born.
MM -
With the recent release of your new album ‘Times Of No Trust’, how
are the band feeling right now?
Band
- The feeling inside the band is great. It's a lot of fun with
anything we're doing. Rehearsal, song writing, party, live-gigs are always
great times and all the things we do, we do as one band. We think that's
the best thing a band can hold together and we are looking forward to a
great future.
MM -
What feedback have you received from the fans and music media been
so far to this release?
Band
- We have received a lot of international feedback, real good reviews
and airplay on radio-stations around the world, especially the radio
station from NY (Breakthru-radio) and an “album of the month” from France.
It's a great feeling that our music is receiving such a support and we
thank everyone who helps us anyway. You're great !!!
MM - How would you describe your music to any
of our readers who are unfamiliar with your songs?
Band - Well, we would
describe it like “From Rock to Metal” like the classic bands of the 80s
played but with a very modern sound. We think there's something
for everyone on this album who loves rock-music. We got a lot of
great feedback from people who haven't heard Rock-Music so far.
MM -
What part of your life do you think your
music reflects most?
Band
-
We think everyone has gone trough dark and blue times in his life.
Maybe “MADE OF STONE” and “POISONED” are typical examples to reflect a
part of life where everyone has surely gone through. It tells how it feels
to be disappointed by a good friend or a girlfriend. The rest of the songs
are telling stories about the dark side of life. We think a song about a
“WHOLE WORLD” can be written by everyone. There are so many problems on
this planet which we want to cry out loud and music we think is a good
opportunity to do this.
MM -
Do you collaborate on any songs as a band,
or are the songs mostly prewritten and presented to the band to add in
their ideas and opinions?
Band
-
Most of the time there is a little part that's prewritten, like a
riff or a little hookline from where we start to work out a song but the real
song writing is always teamwork. We all put our ideas together because we think
it’s the best way to combine our different musical influences.
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MM -
When writing a new song do you usually
start with a lyric, a riff, what works creatively for you?
Band -
At first there was a riff…..
Most of the time Frank has a good riff-idea we discuss and then
Frank does a pre-recording (only guitar ), then we discuss the
pre-recorded idea and try out things like drum-parts or hooklines in the
rehearsal room and decide if it's worth to work it out finally. The
recording of bass and drums are done at home by Andy and Ruediger. When
the recording of drums, bass and guitar are done, we put the song together
and then we all together work out the lyrics and the hooklines etc.
MM -
Any chance we might see Clusterhead out on the road in support of
this new album in the not too distant future?
Band -
We'll play shows wherever people and fans want to see us. In the
second half of the year 2008 we will play several gigs in Germany. To play
abroad is a logistical and financial problem. But if it's possible in any
way to play outside from Germany we would take the chance to play anywhere
we are welcome.
MM -
What influenced you to make a band, and
more to the point, what influenced you to play the music you do?
Band -
Most of the influences inside the band are surely coming from the
Rock and Metal-Scene, the 80´s and 90´s with a very different band list
like Firehouse, Gotthard, Rush, Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest,
Metallica and many more but we never thought about what kind of sound the
band plays during the song writing-sessions. It's just “CLUSTERHEAD”.
MM -
Have you had a chance to think about how you will approach your
follow up album or is it too early to say?
Band
-
Well, we think it's surely too early to talk about the 2nd
Album but at the moment we are working out new song ideas. We think the
new material could be a little bit more aggressive than the songs on
“TIMES OF NO TRUST”.
MM -
What is the biggest challenge you have
faced along your musical way? Band -
The biggest challenge was to bring a line-up together, which will
play Rock-Music as friends and not as business-partners. We think a big
problem is always the money, who starts the monkey business inside the
band, and so many great bands quit during fights about money. The love for
money is mostly the root of all evil.
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MM -
What do you feel ‘Times Of No Trust’ says
about where you are as artists and also what does it say about the music
world of today?
Band -
Well, we're just a band playing the music we're living for. There are so many different styles in music. From Reggae to Folk,
from Hip-Hop to Techno etc. All these kinds of music have the right to
exist. But the real big ones with international success (AC/DC, KISS,
JUDAS PRIEST) come
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in our judgement from the rock scene. A typical example
is STATUS QUO ( since 1962 on the road ), they've always had their own
style and have never tried something trendy or modern, they are just
STATUS QUO, and that's what the fans wanna hear. That's rock n' roll. We
think the phrase “Rock n' Roll will never die” is absolutely true.
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MM -
We have seen a lot of changes in the music
world, but looking forward what changes would you like to see over the
years to come?
Band -
We hope for the future that heavy metal gets more acceptance from
the media because it's such a great music. Everyone who has visited a
heavy-metal concert
knows what kind of power and energy comes down from the stage. It's just
magic.
MM -
With all of the new technologies available
the music world stands to have a great future with streaming audio and
video but also faces a serious problem with file sharing. What are your
feelings about this double-sided sword called the internet?
Band -
It's surely boon and bane at the same time. But look at “myspace”.
On sites like these everyone has the chance to present his music and
talents, it's a great invention. File-Sharing is a real problem, that's
right. But we think these things can never be stopped completely, it's of course a pity that albums
can be downloaded in a few minutes where bands have worked about a year to
write a record and rehearsal it to bring it on stage, but we're sure that
the real fans buy the CD because a real fan wants to own the ORIGINAL.
MM -
Along the road of life there are many people who influence us, who
do you give credit as being your inspiration both musically
and personally?
Rüdiger:
Personally: My parents and my brother, Nadine (my love, she always leads me in
the right direction) all of my family and my real friends, I thank you
all. And a very special thanxx to Andi Kürschner (for the great times).
Musically: Peter Criss (Kiss) and of course musically and personally my good
friend Edgar Patrik (Bonfire) for all his tips and information about the
music-business. He was the reason why I started with drumming in 1994!!!
Frank: Personally: Robert Balanowski, Ärmel Meiers,Thomas Stadlbauer
Musically:
Randy Rhoads, Zakk Wylde, Jake E. Lee, Joe Satriani
Andi: Personally: My Parents, my grandma (thanxx for all you´ve done)
Musically: Jason Newstead, Nikki Sixx
Rene: Personally: Mirjam (I know you´re always on my side), Fam.
Winkelmeier (my Parents-in-law), Jussi, Andi Kürschner
Musically: Gotthard, Edguy
MM - What would you say your motto in life
would be?
Band - The best way to live your life is to be always yourself, don´t play
roles, it´s not worth it. Try to live your dream and never give up in what you
believe. Never turn your back on your REAL friends, cause they are the ones
who really care and REAL friends a damn hard to find.
We think that's a good basic principle for living.
MM - Okay, to wrap things up, did I forget
something you like to share and what is the latest news update from the
band?
Band - We would thank everyone who supports us in any way. We got such
great people around us, who stand by us when things have to be done. We
thank you so much for your support. God bless you. And big greetings to
all our metalbrothers- and sisters out there, keep on rockin´. See ya on
stage !!!
MM - We'd like to thank
Clusterhead for taking the time out to chat with us today and look forward
to catching them out on the road some time. If you haven't
already checked out their new album 'Times Of No Trust' then we
suggest you do because it's a corker. |
