When a band is able to survive for more than a few years in the brutal music industry, they deserve some sort of recognition. When they last for more than two decades, they deserve not only solid respect, but a place in music’s history. Not some “hell yeah” high-fivin’ place – I’m thinking more along the lines of a stone monument of awesomeness place. Edguy, the heavy metal powerhouse founded in Germany way back in 1992, is a perfect example. Their edgy, experimental, and unique sound has allowed them to remain a viable beast in the metal scene, and has garnered them an international following that would make others jealous. Oh yeah, and then come the lyrics – social elements cloaked in alluring metaphorical layers. Layers that pull you in, let you stare at them, and then kick you in the teeth! If that doesn’t make you just a bit intrigued about Edguy, then I am not sure what will.
Thankfully, RockRevolt has some additional ammunition. We recently had the pleasure of getting to pick the brains of the Tobias Sammet. If you are already a fan, then it’s all treats for you! And if you are on the verge of becoming a fan, you will learn a lot about what makes Edguy tick, where they get their inspiration from, and how they feel about the atmosphere of music itself. With twenty plus years of power metal experience, Edguy won’t be disappearing anytime soon – so read on, get sucked in, and then wait for that sweet, sweet kick in the teeth!
Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions from me, Dr. Scarlet, from RockRevolt! I know that I speak for your fans when I say we are very excited to get the chance to speak with you. While your band is typically classified as heavy/power metal, where and how do you define it? How do you work to break the molds that sometimes exist in the music world?
You are very welcome! It’s really hard to define it ourselves. I mean, when I grew up it was not so much about the term, it was about the spirit. There were festivals like Monsters Of Rock, Metallica were playing there, Bon Jovi, Helloween, Anthrax, David Lee Roth, Magnum, Iron Maiden, Motley Crüe. It was all about energetic, anthemic, guitar-driven music. I know that it would be easier for the record label if we’d be a band you can easily pigeonhole, but I never wanted to make this our top priority. We started out playing Rock songs, then we were called Power Metal because we had those typical European Metal album productions, but I guess we always broke all the rules. If you call us Power Metal I am all fine with it, if you call us old-fashioned Hard Rock, I am all fine with it. If you come to a show and call us a stand-up comedy act, I am all fine. We’re beyond any style I think, beyond any label. We’re EDGUY! We not only got away with not being able to be labelled, we even got away with a shit band name, travelled the world with it, and found a decent amount of followers who don’t give a shit about how to call it. How much more can you prove that you’re totally convinced of your material, your skills, and the spirit of Heavy Metal?
How does the metal scene in Germany differ from that in the U.S. or other countries for that matter? Are there any cultural overtones that transcend one’s physical location, or do metal fans universally seem to speak the same language?
That’s hard to say, but I think in the USA, people appreciate Blues elements a lot more than in Germany or continental Europe. I love Blues, it’s the roots of our music, but the fact that bands like Aerosmith or Van Halen received – if at all – only few Gold awards in Germany pretty much describes it best. Blues is not in everyone’s blood over here, but at least I have never denied my bluesy roots. What I can say, whenever we play the States our fans are amazing and they’re absolutely crazy, because I think they don’t get too many European bands touring over there, at least it’s like in Europe, where you can see a so-called European Metal Band every week. It’s difficult for us to tour the States as we have to strip down and adjust to playing clubs as opposed to what we do in other parts of the world. But the secret is, no matter how small the club, perform the hell out of it and turn it into an arena show. What I also think is that America is great for true performers, people who really actually entertain and not just play. I still wonder how something like Grunge could actually been given birth to in the United States of Euphoria…
With the upcoming release of your new album, how do you feel you have evolved as a band? Did you ever imagine creating an album like “Space Police: Defenders of the Crown’?
I have been doing this huge tour with my all-star project AVANTASIA, playing three continents with a 12-piece band. When I came back in August 2013, it just felt great to get back in the studio and write something to the point. No sophisticated Trans Siberianesque Rock Opera with conceptual stuff and guest vocals; I just wanted to produce a high velocity Heavy Metal album with my band mates. I guess the starvation for that turned the album into the monster it has become. It is so fresh, so heavy, so anthemic, the playing and production are outstanding, I guess it was because we forced a very tight schedule upon us, so we didn’t have too much time to doubt, second guess or fix things that didn’t need to be retouched. I really love the album, it’s got so many beautiful details, so many smart elements, but down the line it comes over you like a tank. I love it and YES – I knew if we’d channel our skills we could come up with something. This band has been existing for more than 22 years, and we still haven’t reached our peak in a creative way.
EDGUY – Sabre & Torch (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)
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Where did you draw your inspiration from in creating “Space Police”?
Anything you listen to is inspiring. I neither lock myself away to compose, nor do I go out and seek inspiration. I guess whatever surrounds you inspires you, lyrically and musically. The music I listen to is Maiden, Priest, Dio, Leppard, Twisted Sister, Meat Loaf. I am quite an old-fashioned meat-and=potatoes guy. I also like weird stuff like Bowie or Zappa which you can hear in the song “Space Police.” I wanna write the songs I haven’t heard before and that I’d love to hear as a music listener. That’s the simple rule: It’s gotta touch me, and of course it is influenced by the style of the bands that I just mentioned. But I don’t wanna copy anything.
With so many great songs out there, how did you agree upon covering “Rock Me Amadeus”?
I’ve always been a huge Falco fan, but we have never dared to cover a song so far, ‘cause Falco has a very distinctive accent and way to sing, if you can call it singing. Anyway, this time we thought we’d give it a try cause it was a challenge. Our producer said he cannot imagine a band to do that cover version except from us. You got to know, especially in the German speaking countries in Europe it is quite impossible, ‘cause Falco’s accent is pretty much the most difficult part of it. If you screw it up, it becomes ridiculous. But we rehearsed and rehearsed and I tried to work on that, get the accent and the attitude of Falco into my system. A bit of it had been in there already, because as I said, I was a fan since I was 8 years old. But it was quite tough. In the end we all loved the version and we got great reviews from a journalist in Vienna, that’s the biggest compliment you can get, ‘cause Falco is their national hero. Anyway, the label didn’t like the song and thought it didn’t suit a Heavy Metal band. Suit a Heavy Metal band? What?! Doing whatever you love to do, no matter what others think, including your label – THAT’S Heavy Metal!
Your lyrics often allude to the dangers of modern times. How do you feel about our civilization as a whole? Do you have any concerns, worries, or fears? Where do you see civilization headed in the next decade or so?
I am not afraid. You know, as much as I speak about things I am concerned about I just wanna stress this: I never try to approach things as an admonisher. I wanna entertain and focus on positivity. I have no concerns or worries and mostly my lyrics are rather about personal stuff, spiritual stuff, or just entertaining. No matter how hard I criticize – for example music criticism or philistinism, for example in Space Police – I always try to tell those little stories with a smile from coast to coast and my tongue firmly planted in my cheek.
Do you feel that metal, as a musical genre, can be used to influence positive changes in the world? Do you often write songs with the hopes of creating and/or producing change?
I am not sure. At least I don’t think that the Berlin wall fell because it didn’t stand David Hasselhoff’s singing, ha ha! Seriously, a good lyric can definitely help to make your fans think, and if you change one person’s mind for the better, it may actually change a bit of the world. I think any positive impulse you give to the world makes it a little better. That’s why I dislike glorification of violence, even if it’s called art and as people say “harmless.” It only takes one looney who will take it seriously and the damage will be done. And one million people will stand around and say: ‘Well, he was mentally ill, no one sane would go out and hurt someone because of a movie or whatever.’ True, but one out of a million got a wrong impulse. It’s not that easy, I am not pro-censorship. I just think it is problematic. To cut a long story short: Every human being has a responsibility and can change things, in every single conversation. But I don’t believe in saving the world by singing about air pollution. Boring your audience to death is a crime, too.
While we are on the topic of change and since you have been a part of the musical scene since the 90’s, how has the scene itself changed, and if it has, do you think the changes have been for the better? For the worse?
I have seen it go up and down and up and down. It’s really funny, you get confused yourself. In ’99, you are the flavor of the week. In 2005, you’re old-fashioned. In 2013, you’re flavor of the week. It’s insane; you wouldn’t think it happens in the Metal world, too. But it does. The funny thing is it’s only the press; sales have been constant. Businesswise, I can say bands tour and tour more and more, ‘cause no one makes money from album sales anymore. It’s a shame, ‘cause how can you come up with a great production if no one sees the necessity to support the band and make sure it will go on producing and affording great albums? I have to say I am happy to have been born in ‘77 so I can be who I am in this day and age. More than ever, bands run their own businesses, we pull our own strings, we have our own management. I think 20 years ago that was not very common. A lot of parasites were draining the money that the band was meant to receive.
Playing live shows is such an important part of one’s musical career. How do you embrace life on the road?
On a good day, I thank God for being able to do it. When you wake up with fever and no voice you regret not having become a brick layer. Most of the time I enjoy it, but being a singer is the most difficult on the road. You have to make sure you don’t catch a silly virus or a cold or whatever. You have to shut up all day long and live a pretty dull life. Your only vice is a glass of red wine, maybe. I usually hang out in my hotel room until an hour before the show, sometimes I go shopping or sightseeing. It’s not very Rock N Roll, I know…
Whe
Definitely, there are songs like ‘King Of Fools,’ ‘Vain Glory Opera’ or I guess on the new album ‘Defenders Of The Crown’ that you have to play. They are really made for a live situation, although you don’t necessarily write them with that in the back of your mind. But of course, there is more than a handful of songs that we really have to play live, because the audience is dying to hear them. And then we obey, ‘cause they are the ones that make the show what it is, they came to see the band, they bought a ticket, so we give them what they wanna hear.
If you could create your ideal tour – with any bands dead or alive – who would your line-up include and why?
Queen, Van Halen, and Kiss. I would wanna headline that tour, but I guess that would be difficult, going on after David Lee Roth, Freddie Mercury, and Kiss. Why would I pick those bands? I have always believed in great songs performed by skilled musicians with personality. Now, if you then have in addition to a great show by great frontmen with entertaining quality, that’s the ultimate spirit of Rock Extravaganza.
Looking beyond the approaching release of your next album, where do you see Edguy going next? What do the power metal stars hold for you as a band and for your fans worldwide?
We’ll do a long, long tour. Bring an arena show to the venues around the globe, be it a club or a theater or an arena. I don’t wanna know what the future holds, I just wanna plough my way right into it and improvise from there on.
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By: Dr. Scarlet, RockRevolt Magazine Contributor
Photographs by: Alex Kuehr
