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On the
eve of the release of the bands ninth studio album 'Dominator', we catch
up with the man himself Udo Dirkschneider to find out more about the
album ...
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MM
- Firstly let me congratulate you on another superb album
'Dominator'.
Udo -
Thank You!
MM
- This album seems to be a melodic metal album, especially with
the guitars, was this your intention from the beginning, to try
something a bit different?
Udo -
Yes, I think I
can handle more melody in my voice now. I can handle a lot
more melody in my voice and I think there is more melody in the
twin guitar solos.
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MM - Your
vocals also are a little different, there are many different vocal
styles on this album than say on 'Mastercutor'.
Udo -
Yes, these songs are not what people expect but 'Whispers in the Dark' I
really like this song very much. For me personally this is good
because I can now sing in a deep voice. This is also good for me for the
future, it means I can do more with my voice.
MM - This is the bands ninth studio album, how do you think the band has
evolved since your debut album 'Animal House' in 1987?
Udo -
For the first four album 'Animal House', it was a completely different
line-up. It was the old Mach 1 as you would call it and the second
version of U.D.O, this line up we have now, we've been together for
twelve years. It feels like the old days, like in Accept.
The chemistry is right and we work together really well. What more
can I say. Everything looks very good for U.D.O. at the moment.
MM - The band released the EP 'Infected' prior to this album, what was
the idea behind that as the track 'Infected' actually appears on the new
album anyway, and why only print 2222 copies?
Udo -
(laughs) We are not very happy with this, because we are losing two
album tracks and two really good songs. It was the idea of the
record company. I think it was a promotional thing for the album.
MM - Yes it seemed a bit strange at the time, why not simply put those
two tracks on the album and make it twelve tracks instead of ten.
Udo -
Yes, I mean it's 2222 copies of songs that we will lose.
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MM
- Yes with having ' Infected' on the album as well it just seems
strange.
Udo - Yes.
Sometimes you know ... record companies ... what can I say!
MM
- The band you have now has been with you for some 12 years, is
it important to you to have a solid band behind you?
Udo -
Yes, I mean you can definitely feel this on the last four albums
and also a very important part of the band is Stefan Kaufman, He
was a very important part in Accept too. I mean song
writing as well as guitar playing. I think I have the most
important person with me. People say we are the
continuation of Accept.
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MM - Are
you and Stefan still the main writers for the band or do the others have
input?
Udo - Everybody
in the band is very important. Not everyone can compose a song,
but when we decide which songs we did for this album, take 'Bogeyman'
and 'Whispers In The Dark', 60% of these were written by the bass
player. When we decide which songs we want to do everybody
gets involved in the arrangements. There’s a real democratic
thing going on.
MM - Are you welcome to criticism if someone says that doesn’t work or
try this instead?
Udo -
Yeh, Yeh, I really don’t mind, because sometimes things work out for
the better.
MM - Have you played any of the new songs live yet?
Udo -
No. With all the summer festivals it's not really the place to
play new material. When people go to festivals they want to hear
certain songs, so we do a sort of 'best of' set with a lot of Accept
songs and older stuff.
MM - Are you one of those people that doesn’t read reviews of their
own material or do you take on board what people thing of your work
Udo -
What can I say, they have been fantastic!
MM - I think that the difference between 'Mastercutor' and this album is
what people are picking up on, the change of styles and the tempo
changes, while still remaining very much an U.D.O. album.
Udo -
Yes, I think this also
shows the whole range is on there.
MM - Yes, it shows you're not what we would call a 'one trick pony'.
Udo -
(laughs) Yes.
MM - You’ve been in this business for over 30 years, what has been the
best piece of advice someone has given you over the years?
Udo -
Believe in yourself, believe in what you do.
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MM
- Brian Johnson of AC/DC recently said he would retire after the
' Black Ice' tour, have you ever considered retirement?
Udo -
No! (laughs). We're very, very busy and we have plans well
into next year. So no, I don’t think so.
MM - So what is it that keeps you going?
Udo –
It’s very very simple, I'm having fun. That is the most
important thing in music, have fun with what you are doing.
Whether it's in the studio or on tour, as long as I’m having
fun with what I’m doing I’ll keep going.
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MM - Yes,
why stop when you’re enjoying it!
Udo -
Yes, look at Ronnie James Dio, he’s nearly seventy and he’s still
going, and his voice is still brilliant. So as long as I’m
healthy I'll still do this.
MM - The whole Metal scene in the UK has never recovered from the early
nineties but the German and Scandinavian scenes have flourished, why do
you think this is so?
Udo -
I don’t know. I think you have a lot of Brit Pop culture.
(laughs)
MM - Yes, but the metal scene is making a come back. We have a few
festivals devoted to metal, Bloodstock and Hard Rock Hell.
Udo -
Yes.
MM - But in mainland Europe there seems to be a festival every week.
You are playing Wacken Rocks South, then Summer Ends Festival and then
Wacken Rocks Seaside!
Udo –
Yes, then we do a festival in Hungary! (laughs)
MM – Yes, there are a lot of bands to play these festivals but
sometimes I think there are too many bands.
Udo –
Yes, I think this is the fault of the record companies. Yes, they
say sign a band for maybe one year and maybe one or two album and if
it's not working after a year then take the next step. When I look
at a magazine like Rockhard there are so many albums being released in
one month. We old guys (laughs) are very lucky we can tour the
world still, bands like Motorhead, Saxon, U.D.O., AC/DC and Iron Maiden,
we are lucky that we can still make a living doing what we do, but young
bands don’t have the opportunity now, the records labels dropped the
bomb a little with downloads and bands now have to sell merchandise to
make money.
MM - Due to time restrictions and the interviews before us over-running,
we had to cut short the interview so we wrapped things up with Udo and
wished him all the best with the new album. Hopefully we’ll see
the band in the UK at some time soon.
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