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The kings of beer have recorded their anniversary album last year!
And I should say it's something killer that every BeerThrash maniac should check out right before his death!
I asked Gerre (vocalist) about all the news & happenings in the band!
Hello Gerre! You've recently released your 10th album called "Kings of Beer". What is the response to it been like? Tell me about that and anything else that's happening in the band at the moment.
- The response was quite good to the new album and we are satisfied with the result. But we were not able to play live the last couple of month, because I had really problems with my voice and much pain, that was really bad for the whole promotion. But I started to sing again two weeks ago and it's getting better. We hope to play live as soon as possible.
How do you feel about this album? Is there anything you would change about it?
- Yeah, we would change the cover, because the guy on the front cover is not fat enough, only 200 kg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You had a few line-up changes from 1994. Give us a short characterisation about the current members of TANKARD and tell us what's up with Andy, Axel and Arnulf. Have you any news from them? Do you still meet each other?
- Our new guitar player Andy plays also with the Frankfurt metal band called LIGHTMARE and he is a little bit confused, but a nice guy. Our drummer Olaf is a really antisocial punk fan and don't talk too much (but he drinks a lot!!!!!). What's about Arnulf and Axel we don't really know, we don't have any contact to them, our old guitar player Andy lives in Berlin and still write songs and lyrics for us, we have a good contact.
In my opinion your actual release "Kings of Beer" has the same kind of atmosphere as it was on the "Two-Faced" album. I mean songstructure- and sound-wise. What do you think about this?
- Do you really think so???????? It's hard for me to criticize our own stuff, that's your turn, the only thing I can say is, that this time all the songs were written by the three other members together, so this was a new kind of working out songs. In former times one member brought a complete song to our practice room.
You achieved a perfect production on "Kings of Beer"! What was it like working with Harris Johns? Do you have a producer or studio in mind for the next record?
- We always worked together with Harris Johns and that is quite easy, because he knows all our bad and good sides. We didn't plan till yet for the next album, so we will see.
"The Tankard" was your last album for Noise Records. How did you come into contact with Century Media Records? Are you pleased with how they handed things so far? How many releases you signed with them for?
- Yes we moved from Noise, because the contract was over and we wanted to check out a new label and we chose between different offerings, so we signed with Century Media and we are quite satisfied. But as far as I know the contract is already over, so we will see what happens......
Can you share us some details about the lyrical conception of "Kings of Beer"?
- The lyrics are about sex, violence and beer as always......hahaha. I think we did a good mixture of fun and serious lyrics. Shall I send them to you??????????????
Whose idea was to re-record "Incredible Loudness" song from your '84 demo? It's killer! Are you going to re-record other old materials in the future?
- This idea we had a long time before and maybe you know there is a re-recording of the "Death by Whips" (also 1984) song on the "Disco Destroyer" album. Maybe we bring out the whole two demos on an album one-day for the real TANKARD maniacs, that they can hear how bad we sounded at these times...
Shall we expect a new video clip full of beer-madness?
- No, I don't think so, it's too expensive and if they show it only one or two times on TV it doesn't make any sense for good promotion.
Your side-project, namely TANKWART, have two albums out yet? Any plans to continue with third? What you think about Tom Angelripper's side-project ONKEL TOM that works in the same direction?
- No, there are no plans at the moment for a new TANKWART album, we prefer to play our own songs at the moment. Tom is a funny guy, I like that stuff.... Cheers!
What music you prefer to listen to frequently? What's in your stereo these days?
- I like to prefer the old stuff from the eighties I was grown up with bands like OVERKILL, ANVIL, EXCITER, EXODUS, VENOM............ But I also listen to new bands like OFFSPRING, PAPA ROACH,........
I'm sure that you already got acquainted with the latest albums of DESTRUCTION, SODOM and KREATOR. What do you think about them? Will you going to play some ass kicking shows together?
- That would be great to play together with all these bands. I love the latest KREATOR album although it is a total different style, the new DESTRUCTION is a real killer.....
What do you feel when you play live?
- We really prefer to play live instead of doing recordings in the studio, you can let out all your feelings and we always have a lot fun and much beer and......
What literature you prefer to read? Name us some of your favourite books.
- Penthouse, Hustler and Playboy of course!!!!!!!!!
Well, how about wrapping this up with some words regarding the next TANKARD release? When can we expect it? Last beery words are yours.
- We don't really know till yet, but we will release something next year, maybe a mini-album or something like that......... Drink with class and say hi to all bangers in your country!!!!! Hope to meet you one day and have a beer together.............
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