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 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. |
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.
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