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Назад1983 French Interview with Accept- Picture Disc:April 6, 2005- I decided to transcribe this album as
best I could. Three days and about 8 hours worth of work later this
is the best that I was able to come up with. The biggest problem is that
nobody speaks English well on this album. Accept was just learning English,
and these two French interviewers didn't speak it any better. Secondly,
the sound quality of this record isn't very good. And third, there are
about 7 people or so in the room and they quite often interrupted each
other and people speaking at the same time, made it hard to figure out what
was said in some places. There were just two places I think where I may
not have the right name matched up, those are noted with a ** The only mistakes that I may have corrected, would have been because I
couldn't clearly hear, so I wrote what I thought was said. But I tried
to leave the mistakes in... like Peter's "I'm afraid to sing in Germany"
:-) Three Accept members answered questions: Wolf Hoffmann, Peter Baltes,
Herman Frank.
So it's the first time you've played
Paris?
Wolf: Yeah But it's not your first European tour? W: It's no European tour, it's only a single gig tonight. We are only doing that show tonight and going back to our home town during this night... uh, tomorrow, not this night. This for pleasure for French kids? W: Yeah. Cause we want to present our new show and new album Restless and Wild, cause it's... for reasons why we are playing tonight is because our new album is now released here a few days ago. I don't know exactly when, but its released, the new album Restless and Wild How do you feel playing Paris? W: It's a great town, and we are hoping it will be a good show tonight. A lot of people will come tonight I think and it will be crowded.... Peter: There will be a lot of people W: Yeah, I've heard. I've seen that we are... (interruptions) And you came to Paris to present your new guitarist. W: Yeah, that's another reason Good reason. I would like to know how do you feel after making such a flashy success in France, or in Europe too, for you've toured a lot during the last five or six years. But in France, for six months you've got a very flashy success. W: You must imagine that it's very hard for us to know how success is here in France. We are not getting that much information about our career here in France. So we've heard it tonight and we will see it tonight. You know that the concert is sold out? W: Yeah, we know it. So you're gonna be in front of 2,000 (possibly he is saying 10,000?) kids tonight. W: It will be great, and for us it is a surprise, a big surprise. We haven't... (mumbles). (I can't clearly make out the next segment. I think it's another interviewer saying that Fast As A Shark is charting there between #1 and 3???) Since you've began to make records... it dates back to 1975 I think, or '76.... W: We are making records now for about 4 years. It's our fourth album and we've released an album every year. We are doing now concentrate on making professional work in music that's only for two years now. Anyway, from your first album to your last one, the music has been very very much heavier and heavier. Is it that you feel more power or is it a new way to exploring heavy metal... now that you've produced your last two albums that have been very very successful. How do you feel when you listen to the first two which are radically different. W: For me it is strange, cause we have done in the former times so much things in a different way we wouldn't do now. I think it's a strange feeling. We have more security and compositions (maybe he meant composure?) now. We have found our own style. The first album was mixed up... all the stuff that we played for years before, was done the same professional way we have played for years before the first album. Then we made the first album, all the stuff mixed together on it, back on that first LP. Then the second LP album was a step in the wrong direction, we now think about that. It wasn't a success... in Germany. It was a step back I think. And then when the Breaker album, we found back our original idea, and fourth album is concentrating that direction. P: Breaker is a big success W: Yeah, it's a good album. I know that you've got many many problems with your first record company W: Yeah, much much problems, especially in contract problems. We've got a very bad contract for the first time. That, so we umm... Perhaps you were to young. W: Hmm? Perhaps you were too young W: Maybe. Yeah, very young. Blood young as we say in Germany. And now we're experienced with contracts, and have made big mistakes. But now we have good contracts, and now we know how to do it. What memory did you get from your first UK tour and supporting Judas Priest? W: What? What is your memory? What do you think of your first UK tour supporting Judas Priest in 1981. W: It was a strange feeling to play and we were at that time the first time in the UK and it was totally different from playing in Europe. We've played before a lot in the Netherlands and Germany and that's totally different from there. At first the audience venues are always with seats, as here tonight. The kids are not allowed to stand up in the UK when the support band is playing, and so everyone is sitting down and listening to our music, and it was a big surprise for us because.... You were German and the major group are British. They're very nationalists, don't you think so? W: No, I don't know. I think it's normal for a support band in England, that the people are more reserved and more concentrated on the top of the bill band. Oh, yeah, I see W: But it was a successful for us too. And perhaps there was a lack of promotion for Accept. W: Yeah, yeah. It was... many things went wrong there that time, and we hadn't gotten the time to do the promotion. Because of that (thinking of English words) How do you say it? We should do a new tour with better promotion. And I would like to finish with your problems, by the departure of your last guitarist. Before he came to the group, what was wrong, what happened? W: That was a personal problem. He was would last since the first time. Over the years there was...over the years he was one of who always, as we say in Germany, the fifth wheel on the car. And he was the one who wasn't working anymore. He had no ideas musically. So we decided one day "now is enough". We said to him "ok, we are..." Finished W: Yeah, it's finished. It was shortly after the Europe Judas Priest tour. Especially on that tour because we were touring that time, and the first time over eight weeks I think. And on that tour you can see very good how everyone is working and (??) I believe that in your last album Restless and Wild you did all the guitar work? W: I did it yes. We had a guest guitarist from our hometown but he always... only would last to do... to have a better band feeling. Because it's strange for me to play some tracks over another, so it's better for us... we are standing in a room together with five people and playing together and if there's a mistake and they're bad mistakes... I've done it a second time, this player for us. And now you're gonna explain how you find your last guitarist? Herman: I've found Accept was looking for a guitarist and I came phone number from (? Wolf ?), and I phoned them and asked them... I would like to make a (?) H: Something. And they said, "Ok, yes, come on, let's go". And I go to Solignen and we play a little in the hometown. I came from (?). And we play and we play together, we work together, we lived together. (Laughter) H: We stayed... we have to sleep in this room and it was a good feeling. W: We feel that it was right. We had a lot of guitarists in our rehearsal room, we brought 'em in. You have to look on two points, or more points I think. First it's a musical... technical guitar playing. That must fit my technique of playing guitar. And the second part of course is personality. We aren't such a band like some big American guys who are only working together and then leave the room like from management. We are more grown together over the years and so we need a person who is replacing the old one. So you (? fill very quickly ?) with him then? Or did it occur the first live gigs or did it happen when you joined them? (they speak German to each other) H: I think it was a great feeling, and I think it was (? great choice/good show ?) It's a much faster success to join a top group. H: Yeah, quickly. You already played with another group before? H: I played a lot in American clubs. In Germany there are soldiers/troops (they decide on word). Yeah, the Americans. And I played in a band in the club. I was (mumbles) W: Playing every night. Earning money with music. And you were playing hard rock and heavy rock? H: We've played different kinds of music, but many many hard rock and a little bit of heavy metal. And as he said you were very technical. W: I come to show to see him that time. H: One night in a club Wolf and Stefan came in and looked me. I was playing on stage... (????) (laughter) What are the range of influences of Accept? Influences in musically speaking. What is your major influences? As a guitarist, or as a group, another group, all groups, or maybe another kind of music. H: We'll see on the next record, on the new LP. I think it will change a little bit. (Interruptions) W: It's no special favorite group we are copying or liking the best. We are personally hearing and listening to every kind of music, let's say what's good. And personally I'm listening to Queen and Rod Stewart on the air and on the radio, and all that stuff. You have to do it I think. If you want to find your own style we have to look... to hear on every music. If it's Michael Jackson, or? Jimi Hendrix? W: yeah, everything Many many guitarists... W: That's not... um... I think Jimi Hendrix is a bit old I think... my music... I've never heard it that much Yeah, but he's influenced many many guitarists, in every style.... making music. W: I think everyone is in every style, but we are a component. If you are a component of the whole scene, the whole musical scene, everyone's influencing everyone. You can't say that you aren't influenced by everyone. How do you get along with other major German groups, Scorpions or (?)? Do you fit well with them? W: You must know that in Germany the rock scene isn't very big, and there are only some bands in Germany. And in heavy metal direction, it's only the Scorpions. (? Other bands ?) are existing but they aren't playing much (mumbles something... they have no influence?). We know the Scorpions.... (he and Peter mumble and come up with the word "friends") Do you think it's more easy to come out for a hard rock group to come out from Germany or England? W: To come out? Yeah W: In the UK , the whole scene is easier for a band I think. It's harder to come up because there are much more bands like in Germany, but if you are coming up, there are much more people around you. Much more agencies and management, and that's very important for us, for a band to come up. In Germany, it's the other way around. There are not much bands, so it's easy for you to get known, because you are only one of ten bands. But there are no people around in Germany. Now in Europe as far as heavy metal and hard rock is concerned, I noticed that hard rock has been helped more and more in Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden, but not in France. It's quite impossible in France, cause many many groups try to get out of the Netherlands or in England. So I would like to know if it's the same kind of problem in Germany? W: Yeah, it's the same kind of problem I think for us. Especially for us we have the big problem that everyone is asking us... is saying there are the Scorpions, then Accept and that's it. So everyone is comparing us with the Scorpions. But it's not comparable.. W: You're right (loud interruptions) W: That's the whole meaning of course. But there are a lot of people thinking that way And how is the audience in Germany? W: It's different. Former times... let's say... other way around... the new German wave was very bad for the whole heavy metal scene in Germany. The promoters of the show didn't want to make a concert with a heavy metal band at that time, cause everyone was listening to the new German wave and the band with no equipment, no nothing. And they are standing on stage playing and the audience was... (interviewer interrupts). But now it's getting better by the time. I've been told that there are many punk rockers in Germany, that destroy everything. W: Oh, no, no **H: I think it's the same as in France W: That's not a problem for us. Another problem is when you are on stage, you look rather military look. You know what I mean? W: Yeah, that's our singer. That's the style of our singer. (mumbles) But it's not meant to be a military... it's only for fun you know. It's only because... To provoke? W: Yeah. Only for... P: For reaction. W: For reaction. The people are keeping in their mind that's singer of Accept because of... P: Just a look. (Side 2) I would like to know why did you put the "hi-dee-di-do" on the album? Wolf: That's an odd question Yeah, I know that's an odd question, but many many people are gonna have to ask it. W: It's only a problem here in France. Everyone is asking us why we are doing the "hi-dee-di-do" it should be a Nazi song or something like that. But we didn't know that. Nobody in Germany is knowing that. It's not known as Nazi song. It's an old folk song, and meant to be a total contrast to the following heavy metal song. We took it because it's got no lyrics in it. Yeah but (????...) this "hi-dee-di-do" was created to Nazism. W: Yeah, we've heard it now, but we didn't know that. Nobody in Germany does know it and not in England and America. We've never heard that, especially... only here in France. We couldn't know that, and it's not meant to be a military or Nazi song. Only a folk song that should be a (???). I know that. But would have an English band recorded this "hi-dee-di-do", it would have been more funny, but would it be a German group, it's very very puzzling. You know? W: I understand. But it's not meant to be, it's only a (? joke ?). I guess that many many people have asked you this question before. W: Yeah, but only in France. Are you gonna sing it tonight? W: Yeah. It will come from tape. It should be a funny audio, nothing more. It's a German folk song. P: (mumbles something... "It's very brutal"?) W: We took a disc player, and screwed a diamond (makes grind noise) (??) and recorded that. Do you foresee a tour in France, Paris (mumbles a couple cities). W: (mumbles) ...but I don't know what dates it will be. (Wolf and Peter mumble) Peter: ...European tour... (they both say they don't know any dates yet) Tomorrow you come back to Germany? W: We are driving back home, and to work on the new album. We will record this in June and July. And now we are working on the new material. Have you got the name for it? W: No The same way as (? the last album ?)? W: Let's not say the same way. We will more concentrate on making the music like songs like Princess of the Dawn, Neon Nights, Fast As A Shark... fast songs we like most on the last album. Fast As A Shark, Restless and Wild, Princess of the Dawn, Neon Nights. P: ...less speed W: Middle speed and good speed. We like the contrast. Some songs are laid back. And you have a song like Fast as a Shark. It was surprising in your last album there was not any slow one. As in the three first ones there were always one or two that were very cool or very (??). W: That was not... no idea.. in that.. if we had a good idea for making a slow song... We can't say, "now we must do a slow song" and then we do it. We are totally free. If we got the idea for making a good song in a slow way, we are doing it. If not then not. Is it true that you wrote Son Of A Bitch because you were angry against your record label? W: Yeah that's true. It's certainly true. We did that because we have so much aggressions against all those people who fucked us up. A time before I've told you about our problems with contracts. At that time we got free from our old contract, and we had the idea to pack all our aggressions in that song. We hope that the people are.. know that they are meant for that song. Haven't you changed the words according to the different countries? W: Yeah, we should, we had to do it... because the English version and the American version wouldn't have got airplay and wouldn't have been released. We changed it. We didn't say "kiss my ass," we said "kiss my arm". So everyone knows what we are meaning. I bought the LP last year in Italy and I got (??) Son of a Bitch... but I couldn't hear Son of a Bitch... and I got it in French production. And where "son of a bitch kiss my ass" is sung... W: It's called "born to be whipped" Born to be whipped, that's right. Have you always been obliged to make compromises for your music? Change words, change... W: (? Four time more ?) But we are producing ourselves. We are not working with a producer for the last album and we don't want to that with the next album. So we are more free with our own ideas. We can do what we want. Who (??) the words? W: What? The lyrics. Udo and Stefan (he pronounces it 'Steven') is the best English speaker. Udo has got some ideas and Stefan has translated. P: I'm afraid to sing in German, in Germany. W: No, never. P: Always English W: From the start. P: And if you try, think it would be a good thing... W: No, it wouldn't... it doesn't fit. You can listen to whatever you want... heavy metal needs English we think. P: French is not very good I think. W: French is not very good very much. In the evolution of the music, I noted that the words have evoluted in a harder direction. When you wrote I'm A Rebel, I felt a little social conscience. But now it's more of... it's kind of a... Breaker.... W: Of course. It's a development. we are getting more aggressive in the lyrics. Music and lyrics. But aggression is not meant in a bad way with us. We only want to have our fun with the people... (thinking of English words)... people shall feel with us. They shall be satisfied then... they shall be as tired as we are when we go off the stage. Can you imagine to write a new love song for instance? W: A love song? Yeah W: We could imagine. Why not? We haven't done that for... You've done before love songs W: ... only the slow songs. Most of our lyrics are about other problems. In the second slow one on the Breaker album was a love song W: The Breaker album... (mumbles).... Feel Like Breaking Up Again was a total contrast to what we did before. You're not gonna do it again? W: maybe What's your next project now? Then you come back to Germany, you make out your album, and then? W: In May we are going to Sweden and then Germany and do five or six days, gigs there. And then we are going back to work on the new material. In June we are playing Germany too, once again. Then we are going to the studio for about six years... six weeks... (laughing). Do you take part in the festival in Belgium next month? W: (?? no ??).... (mumbling). (? Selling everywhere .. playing the record ?) We've got our contract and it's a bad promotion. The promoter he has fucked up us.... and we said "no we don't". From the beginning we said we don't want to play there and we will not play. But he is always writing our names on the (?) list. He's not allowed to do that. But he's... P: Just to make money W: Yeah, just to make money. **P: That's what you call Son of a Bitch W: We think there will be some problems and some trouble. I think most of the bands that were stated on the poster or in the advertisement will not play there or some. Too much would not play there. Let's see what the people will say then. I've been told that you were always.... all of you are free to make any kind of solo work outside the group. W: Yeah we are free to do it P: I think it doesn't disturb the other group W: Yeah, of course, of course. But we aren't that far that we would do that I think. P: Can play with other groups if you continue (everyone interrupts each other) We're very puzzled about your singer, because many many people have been told that Udo were now singing with Raven exclusively, and we were wondering about your new singer. P: Yes we were surprised to see that W: He's doing his own (interruptions)... what he wants to do, and we said "why not?" He is doing his own work besides Accept work. Now he's our singer... at the moment he's our singer. That's true, that's the end of it. You don't want to change your singer? W: He's a good one. he said some weeks ago he said to us he wants... maybe he wants to leave in the future. Until now he has not leaved and there are no plans to... P: split. ...He fits us. Are you happy to feel rock star? (laughing) W: Good question! It's another nut question. W: Happy to be lucky to be a rock star Do you feel rock star? Cause you know 2,000 kids are gonna see you tonight. W: yeah, but I'm not feeling like a rock star. We feel like a big party. Being a (??) tonight... embarrassed (or "in Paris") P: on stage. I think that the most successful concerts that happened last year in Paris were (???) W: yeah? Oh yeah W: Where did they play? They played in the east of Paris (????) W: And how much people where there? Oh, there were about 5,000 (Interruptions) P: ... great (? groupie ?) place. W: Yeah, in Germany too, everywhere now. The new album's there P: ... sold out W: yeah, sold out everywhere. America and (???) (mumbling) The most programmed song off (??) was Son Of A Bitch, on the free radio station W: Yeah? Yes W: I think we should end now... (? answer any last questions?) I will ask you what do you think of the rock business? W: It's a hard business... to come out and earn money is the hardest. It takes a long long time As you told me a lot of times you've been screwed up by the producers and record companies that made money off you. W: I don't understand your question (everyone talking) W: (? not in common ?) There are some people we don't like.... (mumbles) Could you say something in French for me, for my radio W: What should I say? I'm gonna write it down for you W: Yeah, ok. We can try it. (He teaches Wolf a sentence... "I'm Wolf Hoffmann, guitarist for Accept......????????" After 2-3 tries he says it. Laughter and clapping)
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