INTERVIEW WITH TANKARD by Asit Magazine http://www.asit.8m.net

Thrash metal and Beer warriors from Germany... Hi Gerre! How's your life been going? - Great, we just played in Denmark and Sweden last weekend for the very first time, it was amazing!!!!! So we are really looking forward!!! - You left Century Records, then began to work with AFM. What profit did AFM make for you? Are you glad working with them? - They are a small label and they only bring out one album per month. So they can do a bit more promotion and advertising. We are really satisfied with the new label. - When will you release your new album? Any date you can give us? And what about the songs? - We go to Andy Classen again in November to record a new album. It will be out in February 2004 I guess!! 2 songs are written till yet... We hope to keep the standard of b-day... - "B-Day" is the best album you released in my opinion. What about reactions for this album? What do you think about that? - Thank you!!! The reactions were quite good and we are really satisfied with the album, especially the sound is much better than Kings Of Beer. - Around the middle of 90s, Tankard didn't appear much for a while... What was the reason of this silence? - We brought out records, but the people were not really into thrash, so they were not really interested in tankard. But we always played live in little clubs and never gave up!!!! - Do the members of the band have any professions except music? Or you just make music? - No, all the members have regular jobs. I'm a social worker for example. So music is our big hobby, nobody i able to live from it. - People took interest in Tankard at Rock Station Music Festival in Ankara. How was the concert for you? Did you enjoy any Turkish bands performed at the festival? Have you gotten any demos or albums Of Turkish bands? Shortly what do you think about the Turkish Metal Scene? - The festival were really great for us, the reaction of the people were really enthusiastic, amazing!!!!! We hope to come back as soon as possible!! We saw a bit of the other bands, but I really can't remember their names, but it was good stuff. I have the sampler of the Rock Station Festival and the bands Magick and Solitude gave me their CD's, really good stuff!!!!!!! - Bands like Destruction, Testament, Tankard, Artillery made excellent Thrash albums on the eve of the new millenium. Well, can we say that it's the resurrection of Thrash Metal? - Hopefully!!!! So if there is a thrash revival, we are still there since 21 years!!!! Hope we are able to be a part of it!!!!!! - I'd like to know your ideas about the new trends like hardcore and nu-metal... - Oh I'm very tolerant, everybody can do what they want, personally I'm more into that shit out of the eighties like anvil, overkill, etc... - What would you say to the ones who take you as wiseacre because of your lyrics and your image? - First of all tankard is a fun band, fun is the most important thing for us, that's all. If somebody don't like that, ok, no problem! We will keep on going like this anyway!!! - Germany's been in the position of the soundest fortress of Thrash Metal for years... What can be the reason for that? - Oh, I don't really know, metal is very popular in Germany, so maybe that is the reason why, but honestly I don't really know!!!! Let me ask a bit funny questions... Well, how many bottles of beer can you drink at once? :) after a half I'm totally drunk... hahaha - In which countries have you given concerts till now? And what was your most amusing and maddest concert? - We played a lot of shows in Europe and visited once Japan, that was a great journey. The Greece and Turkish fans are the most craziest, really cool!!!! (YES!!.. Thanks buddy/Selim) One of the best concert was the thrashing east festival in 1990 when we played in east Germany the first time after the wall came down. - Can you tell us one of the amazing events that you lived up on your concerts? - A couple of months ago a metal fan asked her girlfriend to get his wife live on stage. She said yes, and then they were kissing for half an hour during we played poison and other shit, very funny... - Have you really looked for the guy on the cover of "Kings Of Beer"? :) The cover of "B-Day" was also similar to it. What about the next album? :) - The guy of Kings Of Beer is a good friend of mine, honestly!!!!!! The next cover will be paint again by Sebastian Kr¸ger... You will see the alien and the mad dog again... But the cover is not ready till yet, so I can't tell you too much!!! - Do you think do we have the possibility for seeing you again in T¸rkiye? - Of course!!! We really would love to come back to have a big party again!!!!! - I wonder your ideas about the fucking war between the USA and Iraq... - We are no political band, but some things must be said!!!!!! - You're a quite experienced musician, so what's your advice for the young musicians? - Never give up, try to be your own chief!!!! - Well, I think questions are over! :) Anything else you want to add? - We really enjoyed the rock station festival and your hospitality!!! So hi to everybody!!!!! -Thanx for the interview Gerre!. - You are welcome!!! Thank you for your support!!!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Intie by: Selim Varislil - selimvarisli@hotmail.com