Interviews : Destruction equate Bullet for my Valentine with the Backstreet Boys (an interview)

In about a week, German thrash legends Destruction will be hitting Australian stages in support of their eleventh studio album Day of Reckoning. With national support from Mortal Sin and 4ARM, it’s a tour that no thrash fan will want to miss. So with that in mind, Metal Obsession’s Patrick Emmett caught up for a bit of a chat with bassist Schmier.

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Metal Obsession: So you head to Australia in under a week, are you excited?

Schmier: Yeah, we’re leaving tomorrow to go to Asia for a few shows. We’re really excited, it took us around 9-10 years to come back so, it’s very special for us to be back, last time it got cancelled, so we’re really excited to come over.

Metal Obsession: What was the experience like last time you came to Australia?

Schmier: We had a great time, we got treated really well by the supporters, and the fans were great. There were small audiences but they were very dedicated fans who had waited for a long time to finally see Destruction. But yeah, we had a really good time, we had a lot of good parties and this time we’re definitely gunna add some extra days, and spend more time in Oz!

Metal Obsession: Is there anything in particular you want to do while you’re in Australia?

Schmier: We haven’t made many plans yet, but we’ll find out when we’re down there. I will meet up with my friends over there and then we’ll find out what we’re gunna do. We’ll definitely add some days in Melbourne, that’s for sure.

Metal Obsession: What bands influenced Destruction, and who were the first bands you played local gigs with?

Schmier: Our main influences were a lot of those British heavy metal bands back in the day like Jaguar, Angel Witch, Raven, y’know, all that stuff, and of course all the punk rock from the scene like Exploited. So they were our major influences from the beginning. Our very first shows were of course with Kreator, Sodom and Tankard.

Metal Obsession: What’s the funniest or most painful experience you’ve had while on tour or playing a show?

Schmier: I think the most painful experience is always when you travel and the show gets cancelled. No matter where it happens, it’s always bad. We’ve had so many of those moments where things are fucked up and busses are breaking down, and you cannot play the show because of those problems. It’s a hard job so, I think the worst thing that could ever happen to a musician is when you travel a long way and you cannot play the show.

And of course there are a lot of funny moments too. It’s a music business, there is so much stuff happening it’s unreal. That’s why it’s hard to say this and that was the craziest moment ever, we’ve had a lot of crazy moments.

Metal Obsession: What are your biggest song-writing influences?

Schmier: It’s a bit difficult to say I mean, I think from early days, it’s definitely bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest that taught us how to write songs, aswell as how heavy metal worked.

Metal Obsession: How much of a say do you have in the album covers? Do you draw the rough designs, or is it another band member who does it?

Schmier: The album covers are basically, like, when I’ve finished the lyrics I try to get an image into my head, then I talk to my buddies in the band, and then I work with a great artist that is from Hungary. He’s a heavy metal musician, and he’s a fantastic artist too, he understands the band really well. So we sit down with him and we discuss the cover, then he starts painting and we basically work it out, usually it takes about 4 or 5 weeks until we have something we really like.

It’s very good working together with this artist from Hungary, who is a big fan of the band, so we have 100% satisfaction in the end and we get what we’re looking for.

Metal Obsession: What is your favourite song to play live and why?

Schmier: Ah, it’s difficult to say because there are several favourites, but if I had to choose one it’d be Curse the Gods, because of the intro, the atmosphere and just the way the song starts, it’s so heavy and brutal. The song has opened most Destruction shows since we started, so it’s just a very special song for me and I still love to play it.

Metal Obsession: I noticed that song opened Wacken, which is the only full Destruction concert I’ve seen.

Schmier: What year was that?

Metal Obsession: 2007.

Schmier: Oh yeah, that was when we had all the former members on stage.

Metal Obsession: Yeah, it was how I was introduced to Destruction; I was watching Thrash till Death from that concert on YouTube and at first I was confused about the fact that there were 3 drummers playing, but then I found out they were just guest drummers. [Laughs]

Schmier: [Laughs]

Metal Obsession: What do you think of the newer generation of metal such as Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, Bullet for my Valentine etc, do you support them? How much of an ear do you keep out for the newer bands in metal?

Schmier: I like some stuff, and I’m interested in listening to some of the stuff because, I want to know where we’re leading at and how the scene is going. But as you say, a lot of those bands for me are too poppy; the melodies and the way the song-writing is done have nothing to do with heavy metal. Especially Bullet for my Valentine, that band has very much of a Backstreet Boys vibe in their music. If they take those melodies and put those heavy guitars away, their entire chorus’ could be written by the Backstreet Boys song-writer.

I think, it has nothing to do with heavy metal for me, because for me heavy metal was melodic too; in the 80’s there were a lot of melodic bands, just think bands like Maiden and Priest are highly melodic, but it’s not cheesy. That’s the main difference with a lot of modern bands, they have heavy guitars and everything, but some of the chorus’ are just so sweet, it makes me want to puke!

Metal Obsession: I can definitely agree with what you said about Bullet for my Valentine.

Schmier: Yeah, it’s a shame that somehow, people think that this is heavy metal, and it’s very funny that this band say about themselves that they’re the new Metallica. Ooh, that’s scary! [laughs]

Metal Obsession: There are a lot of new bands trying to bring thrash back, but what ones do you see waving the flag for the new wave of thrash metal?

Schmier: Oh there are a lot of young bands now, I remember when we came back in ’99 and there were no young bands playing thrash metal. I talked to the record labels at the time, and nobody signed any young thrash bands, so things have just changed a lot over the last 10 years. There are bands all over the world like Violator and Warbringer, and some of these bands will definitely find their own style and be the next generation of thrash bands like Kreator, Sodom, Destruction and Exodus.

Metal Obsession: From what I’ve read, the 80’s was a big decade for thrash and glam, and because of that I’m sure Destruction got a fair bit of recognition. When you left in ’89 to form Headhunter, what was it like trying to get a band big while the grunge-craze was happening, was it harder to gain popularity?

Schmier: The 80’s were of course amazing, there was always something new and creative, and the scene was floating really fast. But the 90’s were very disappointing because all those people that were listening to metal, all of a sudden they wanted to leave the scene. Also, here in Germany, techno is getting really big aswell.

The 90’s were a very bad time for metal, I was working as a DJ for many years in a rock club, and it was very difficult to survive at the time, the pub also closed down in ’94 and then the 90’s were just as bad. Headhunter was very important to still be a musician and still record albums, it wasn’t really about all the sales and all the popularity, it was more about just still being able to do it.

Y’know if I had of gave up music at the time, cut my hair and just do a normal job I wouldn’t be here today I guess. Those years were tough, but it kept me in the scene and it kept me believing in my music, that’s why Headhunter was very important to me.

Metal Obsession: I recently read an article in Australia’s biggest newspaper The Herald Sun, showing a study that “TEENAGERS listening to head-banging heavy metal music are at risk of depression and suicide”.

Schmier: Fuck! [Laughs]

Metal Obsession: Personally, I think its bullshit, but I wanted to know what your opinion on it is?

Schmier: Yeah, that’s definitely a bunch of lies, y’know. Because if you were to go through all of the levels of society and see what people are listening to then check the suicide rates, I don’t fuckin’ believe that heavy metal kids have a higher suicide rate than kids that fuckin’, take a lot of ecstasy at those fuckin’ techno parties. That’s fuckin’, total bullshit.

But y’know it’s a normal thing, I’ve been fighting that shit here for many years; I’m from the country side so I had to go through all of that. People gave me a hard time since day one, and telling lies about the music. Just in the last year it’s been getting a little bit better but, I guess you just have to live with it. Those opinions about heavy metal, you just can’t change people in society, there are a few narrow minded so, it’s never gunna change.

I’m actually looking for a new flat at the moment, and you would not believe how difficult it is for somebody that’s a musician with long hair and tattoos finding a good apartment. People don’t think that heavy metal fans are normal people too, but they are and they just want to have a good time. Something is for sure, that heavy metal festivals are the most peaceful events, ever. You could put 50,000 heavy metal fans for a party aswell as 50,000 rappers, the rappers would kill each other and the metal fans would get drunk and have a good time.

Metal Obsession: Next year will be the 30 year anniversary of Destruction. Do you have anything special planned for that?

Schmier: We will see, it’s just no real rush y’know. Basically the first release of the band was in ’83, so 2013 would be the official 30 years of Destruction. I would really like to do a tour with Kreator and Sodom, as the 3 big German thrash bands all touring together, that would be the best 30 year anniversary.

Metal Obsession: After 30 long years of thrashing, what keeps the band motivated to continue, and how long do you think you’ll continue for?

Schmier: I think it’s because live shows are really fun, so as long as I enjoy it, I will do it y’know, it’s my life. It’s not like I can give up music easily, music is my life and Destruction is my life, and the motivation is really high, all the time. Nothing has changed yet, for me the last 30 years have been rushing by really fast, there’s been so many moments and so many fans around the world. I think without the music, I dunno what would happen, for me it’s a great way to deal with fucked up reality.

Metal Obsession: This is my last question. What advice would you give to people wanting to start a band, whether they’re a thrash band or not, is there any tips you think they should know?

Schmier: I think the most important thing is that you have to believe in yourself, and just be sceptical about assholes and people that are trying to change your opinion. The world has a lot of liars out there and you have to always believe in your music and never listen to those assholes. Do the stuff you feel like doing, you invest a lot of work and lose a lot of friends and girlfriends, it’s kind of difficult, but in the end it’s one of the most creative and best jobs in the world, being a musician.

Metal Obsession: It’s been an honour doing my first interview with you. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Schmier: Yeah, I can say that it’s almost 10 years since we were last in Australia and I know a lot of people have been waiting for this for a long time. I can promise you guys that, it’ll be a killer setlist of almost 30 years of Destruction, so there’ll be a lot of old songs and new anthems. It’ll be a great mix, and we’re definitely gunna kick your ass! You’re gunna go home with a neck injury.

Metal Obsession: Here’s one more question I just thought of, will you ever be coming back to Australia in the future? Unfortunately I will be missing this tour due to being underage.

Schmier: Yeah, I was disappointed when I saw that all the shows are 18+. Usually, we try to tell the promoters to do all ages shows, but it’s not always possible I guess. Hopefully next time when we come back we can do all ages show for the young kids, because basically a lot of young thrashers are under 18 and stuff. I’ll have to talk to a promoter about it while we’re in Australia, then hopefully next time we can change this. We can come back soon, it’s not up to the band, it’s up to the promoters, if the shows are gunna be successful then we’ll surely come back in the next year.

Metal Obsession: Well hopefully by the next time you’re back in Australia, I’ll be 18. [Laughs]

Schmier: Let’s hope so!

Metal Obsession: Alright, thanks for that, have a good one!

Schmier: Thankyou man, see you next time, bye!

Q’s: Patrick Emmett
A’s: Marcel Schirmer
Band: Destruction
Date: 24/10/2011
Origin: Germany
http://www.destruction.de