interview with TANKDRIVER
How was the band formed? I formed the band in 2008. We had lots of changes with the members but I keep things rolling.
Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? Chris Otto Boerner - Lead Guitar (a very experienced metal veteran with a unique tone and style) Mr. Crowley - Rhythm Guitar & Vocals (an outstanding singer) Dany Dyck - Drums (ticking like a clock) Devil Boy - Bass
What was the ambitions of the band when you started? Same as now: Money is not the reason. Success is not the reason. We simply have to do this, cause there are no other options than doing exactly this band. We don´t care about any modern topics. We are living backwards!
Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? Slow, heavy, dark, fat and groovy.
Where was your first gig? It has been at Skater´s Palace in Münster/Germany.
Who writes your songs?/ who writes the music who writes lyrics? Me. (Devil Boy)
What genre do you feel you are? Doom Rock
Why did you pick that particular style? There was no other option, cause this is, what we bleed for.
What are your songs about? About all the cruelty of modern society. Also individual topics. Sex. Drugs. Violence.
Do you write your own material or mainly covers? Only own material.
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? 2010 - EP (3 Songs) 2013 - Fading Face (1st album)
Do you have any clips on YouTube? Yeah: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jswvVcs53jk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSy3Sp_r6PE
Witch band is the best you´ve seen? Saint Vitus Monster Magnet Isis Witchcraft Graveyard Uncle Acid and so many more...
Is it always the same songs live? No. We always do a special set for each gig with different types of "jamming"-parts to keep it alive.
Have you had any bigger tours from start to now? No. We are all busy guys with family and jobs. It´s for fun not for the fuckin´money!
What are the plans for the rest of the year? In autumn we are going to start to plan the recordings of the next album.
Where do you usually play? Small clubs for interested people.
How do you get psyched up for a gig? Roling Joints for the aftershow party.
What are your goals with your music? No goals. We just do, what we have to do. And we will see what happens.
When did you decide to go all in for the music? Never. The music biz sucks!
Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? Both is possible. There are the roots and the branches of modern music. All modern musicians are influenced by original bands and so we have a sum at the end: The older bands dominate everything. But sometimes there are modern bands who refine that old sound, make it more sophisticated and then you can pick this detail for your own music. Everybody picks single sounds from old and modern bands and sticks it together to an "own" sound.
What are your sources of inspiration? Horror movies, everydays life, drugs, menace of society
What's the first step when making a new song? Playing guitar. Or first write the lyrics. But most of the time I start with the basic melodies for guitar.
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums? I really don´t care about that digital thing. Everybody can download our music for free (at bandcamp.com) and I don´t give a fuck. I don´t want peoples money. I want them to enjoy our songs. It´s not important for me. When we finish a record, we upload our music to the open source so everybody can download it for free. We also don´t sell our records in the beginning. The first 200 CD´s where only given away for free.
What would be your dreams for the band? I am too old and too experienced to have any dreams about a band. Just let it flow and wait. That´s it. It should be fun but no pressure. We always try to keep our music clean. We love to do music.
Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to? Well it´s obvious, isn´t it? We love Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Pentagram, Fu Manchu, Monster Magnet, Danzig.
When you are on stage, what do you fear most then? Nothing. We are teutonic dudes!!!
Have you been part of any other projects? No. TANKDRIVER is exactly, what everybody in the band loves to do. This band supplys every want.
Have you been in any other bands? Yeah. But I am too lazy to name them all. But we all played in a lot of different bands before TANKDRIVER.
What do you work with outside of the band and the music? I am a professional Bodypiercer.
What would you do if there was no music? First kill all fanatic religious assholes on this damn planet (lots of blood) and then kill myself.
How important are your fans? Very important, cause they are the ones we are doing music for and party afterwards with.
How often do you rehearse? 1 time a week.
Where do you rehearse? In our cosy rehearsal room next to 66 other rooms in a very big rehearsal center with so many good bands! It´s cool.
What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? Love. Hate. Despair. Drugs. Sex. Attitude.
Do you have any webpages? Yeah. You will surely find them.
Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? Stay cool!!! First rule! Last rule. Lesson #1.
Would you like to add anything else? No.
Describe your show, visually and musically Long hair, leather, denim, spikes & studs, psychedelic lights, candles, very old and original instruments and amps, drugs, muscles, nudity, sex, coolness,
How do you view the musicindurty of today? It sucks. They all are drowning in the digital world.
What advice would you like to give other bands? Never give up! Always keep on trying.
What are the biggest obstacles for a band? Looking like dog shit on stage.
What is best/worst with playing the clubs? No food. Or only meat. We are a vegetarian band.
Tell us about upcomming gigs and why we should be at them? You can get updated on our webspaces. Why you should be there? You can get joints for free, cause we always share with our audience.
How would you describe your sound in one sentence Fat.
What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band? Looking for a new singer.
Whats your Pre-show ritual? Getting naked, grabbing our balls and screaming at each other´s face as loud as we can.