 |
| Mille Petrozza of Kreator |
When producer and Raven Metal personnel Yishai Sweartz told me I’d get the chance to interview Kreator frontman, and lets face it, Metal legend Mille Petrozza I didn’t even know how to react. I mean how does someone stomach that? I mean, how does that even begin? How do you start a conversation with a childhood idol? “Oh hi Mille, I have heard all of your CDs, saw you guys three times live and saw all your DVDs, your music got me through really tough shit, by the way my name is Ben, what’s up?” Obviously first comes the happiness, the honor and the verbal agreement, “it’d be an honor” I said whole-heartedly. But then, comes a daunting task. How do you interview such a man as Mille Petrozza? Longstanding Thrash hero that penned albums such as Pleasure to Kill, Violent Revolution, and Extreme Aggressions, an open minded and highly opinionated, individual with more than double the history and story of most common bands, daunting? Daunting doesn’t begin to cover it. But alas, this Friday (2/11/12), following the release of the wonderful “Phantom Antichrist”, and right before “the Kreator” returns to Israel, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with none other but personal hero, Mille Petrozza.
B- (Ben Astrachan, Metalist)
M.P- Mille Petrozza, Kreator
B- Hello Mille, how are you? Where are you on the globe?
M.P- Umm, I’m ok. We just played first show yesterday of the tour. Yeah, I’m in my hotel room, relaxing.
B- I know that right now, you’re touring with other heavyweights, Morbid Angel, Nile and Fueled by Fire, how’s that tour going?
M.P- It’s a nice line up, a great combination of bands. Every band stands for its own part of the history of Metal. Most, all of the bands on the bill, except for FBF, mean something in the scene. Some of them even have legendary status so it’s great.
B- Also, around 5 months back you released the new opus- Phantom Antichrist, how do you feel about it so far?
M.P- To me it’s, a great album. I like it a lot and I think my fans like it as well, which is the most important thing to us. We play the songs live and the reaction is just as good if not better. I know a lot of bands when they play live a lot of people wanna hear the old songs. For us it’s the same but they also wanna hear the new songs, which is a testament to their quality.
B- What do you feel makes it different from say, Hordes of Chaos? What new ground you feel you’ve treaded?
I think it’s an extension of what we’ve done in the past, especially in the last 10 years with Violent Revolution. It’s a very nice next step for us, we tried some new stuff, some more melodic stuff, some heavy stuff, some really fast stuff. Full on Kreator treatment. Anyone who picks it up, if its their first Kreator album, can get an idea of what we’re about. That’s how I would put it.
B- As a band which inspired generations of Thrashers, how do you keep innovating?
M.P- its important to not let it get to your head that your inspirations. It’s hard work man. I’m a musician and I think I take my craft very serious. What we do inspired many but we are inspired by many as well . We always keep track of what happens in the metal world, we love checking out new bands and being inspired by others. I really enjoy being a part of this whole world of music and I’m happy I’m still able to create something that matters. It means a lot to other people. As long as you can stay focused and do whatever you love , it helps. If you can focus on the music rather than on the ego or party factor. A lot of bands are shooting themselves in the knee that way. It’s mainly about the music in my opinion.
B- also, Kreator is on the verge of releasing a new video for Civilization Collapse, how do you feel about it? what is it about? I heard your using the archives of this Greek photographer, Lolos, can you tell me about him?
M.P- Yes, that guy is the photographer. He got into trouble for being in the wrong place, he was pissing people off for taking pictures during the riots . It perfectly fit the theme for civilization collapse. He was nice enough to let us use his archive, so its gonna be a combination of visuals and the music, and we tried to make it look like those two elements come together. We think it fits and maybe supports the meaning of the lyrics and the meaning of the song. I’m really, very very curios as to how it’s gonna look like, as I haven’t seen it yet.
B- hehe, so it’s almost like a baby, what’s it going to be like?
M.P- haha, yes. What’s it going to come out like? But I have faith in the director, its in his hands.
B. Do you think the Civilization Collapse is imminent? Do you think it’ll pass all through Europe?
M.P - That’s a tough one, In general, I mean to answer this question would take longer than the time frame that we have, so I’ll try to sum it up. In my opinion, capitalism is at its ends. We have to come up with a different concept, its just one of the things that happens in the future, its one of the things that has to happen. There’s nothing to stop it. I don’t have a solution or a clue know what’s next, I don’t think were on the verge of that something yet. I personally believe that, (pauses) I’m a big star trek fan. I believe in the future there’ll be no more money, that the human race has to find a new way of making that happen, the whole concept of funds. The world would be a better place if we could come up with a different concept. A different structure of how to deal with things, how to exchange culture, exchange goods. The capitalistic system has failed in my opinion.
B- The title track from, at least how I interpreted it, is about the blood shed in the Middle East and religion in politics, but what would you say are the strongest lyrical topics and themes in this album?
M.P- I think it’s basically, the lyrics that I write are mostly a reflection of what I think about when I watch or read the news, or go on the internet do some research. I think people tend to think Kreator is a political band, but I don’t think so. I think we are just writing about things in the world that are not right. In my book, the government is supposed to take care of its people. Yet the governments take advantage of their people rather than help this the injustice of the world, the problems that people on the streets have matter a lot more to us than people would think. That’s a big force of inspiration, source of our lyrics and try to read between the lines rather than accepting whats fed to you by the mass media. Phantom Antichrist’s lyrics talk a lot about- just be critical, be aware, that not everything you read on the news and the internet is true. There are many sides of the coin and many different ways of seeing things. Basically, as on any album of Kreator, use your own mind and own brain, take your life in your own hands.
B- take your life in your own hands, kill yourself hahaha
M.P- some people should hehehe
B- I also know you recently had a costume guitar made by Jackson?
M.P- I was working with Jackson for ages and always had, always bought Jackson guitars, and they were like endorsing me since 2005, and I was like “ you gotta give me a model”. Every time another artist got one I was like “where’s mine?” then it finally happened. My concept was to bring a model for people who are starting, who can’t afford a very expensive guitar, people who in my opinion can buy one of their first guitars yet can play it all their lives. Has all the fatures to play a live show as well. If you wanna play Metal it’s a guitar to get. Not just because its my signature model, but I play it live. I don’t play one of the American costum shops live, the model that you get when buy this one. Of course I got a few costumes at home…
B- what inspires you to write a riff or ylrics?
M.P- Anything from literature to movie to art, to conversation to whatever. There’s no filter, I use everything for lyrics, everything for music. All sorts of music also, not only Metal, I listen to all kinds of music, I take inspirations from all sources. Its hard to define how creativity is actually coming into play, it’s a long process where you have to get into the right mode and start writing. You have to come up with something cool. The only filter is if I like it, when we demo, I take it into my car and live with it for a little bit, let it play in the background. And if I get into it, then it would work. If I like it than other people can like it as well and if not just throw it away.
B- Speaking of lyrical topics, I know you’re very outspoken both in your antifascist beliefs and your animal rights beliefs. How have you encountered fascism? What brought it and made you so passionate about it’s hatred?
M.P- Just, I donno man. It’s common sense to me, I don’t wanna make it a big issue or a big deal. Any thinking individual should be anti racism/fascism to me. Two things that I hate are organized religion and fascism, and or racism. But its beyond my understanding of living life as a human being, I know some people have personal issues and that’s why they believe in that stuff. They should see a psychiatrist in my opinion, but then again tis a global thing, it’s a global phenomenon. It’s a part of being human, which to me in the year 2012 shouldn’t exist. But that’s being too optimistic; I’m too realistic so I know that it’s not going to happen. .
B- and what about Veganism? How did that come about? how long have you been a Vegan?
M.P- 4 years or so, though I was a vegetarian for a long time before that. It’s a personal choice, I just feel better. You know, to me it’s - I I have to stay healthy on the road. Being vegan helps a lot. Animal cruelty also has a lot to do with it, in 2012 these things should not happen. It’s just my personal belief, not everyone has to agree with it. On the other hand, anyone who wants to get into it, feel free to ask. Otherwise do whatever your happy with. I chose just for me, it’s a personal choice and makes me feel energetic for my touring, my life in general and to focus and keep sane. It’s a part of my overall life style. There’s a lot of info in the Internet.
B- I appreciate the fact you don’t push it on people, a lot of other bands tend to do that
M.P- no no no, it should be your own choice. You should do whatever you feel like and whatever your happy with.
B- But now, lets go a bit to the origins of Kreator. I know you guys formed in Essen which was in West Germany, what were the early days of the band like ?
M.P- “Early,” I guess. Looking back at these things it’s hard, to remember its been a while. Been very chaotic, very young, we were teenagers when we started. People tend to ask me about the early days, it was more chaotic, more disorganized, less professional. That’s what a lot of people like you know, when you start out, the energy you create- trying new things, trying out just being a band, sometimes it gets the best results and best music, by bands who just start. When you look back at the Kreator catalogue, the first 5 albums are very important for others. Looking back now, I I can’t imagine how we did 5 albums in 5 years now a days. I guess it’s a part of the history of Kreator. Its great.
B- what was the scene like at the time? Was Kreator central to it?
M.P- I remember Tape trading as there was no internet, there was no such thing as a global network of people. The scene had to be organized, you had to make an effort, actually send something to a pen pal, to send a new demo tape, to receive something from undergrounds bands in the U.S, or from Brazil. We were a part of that scene. We were so happy when we got a record deal, so we could stop sending our music from the post office every time
B- I can just imagine young Kreator packing and licking stamps
M.P- (laughs) All the bands were doing it though
B- what was it like to play East Berlin, to be the first proper Metal Band to play there?
M.P- Umm, that was to us- looking back- was a historical experience. At the time it didn’t feel like it, it was something special. But it’s been a huge concert, many people of the eastern part of Germany got to see their metal show ever. There was a certain excitement in the air, historical excitements The only reason they couldn’t see a show from the west is because of their political systems . It was the music that got people together at the time.
B- I can only imagine, a crowd that has never seen a Metal gig ever. You know how they say a starved crowd is the best crowd
M.P - The crowd there showed there was definitely some truth to that. If you get to see a concert every week it gets boring, more of the same kind of. Not only the east Berlin show, any place you go to for the first time when people don’t get to see that many bands. You can also have that in other places, where there are many bands. It’s about delivering it.. We try to make the crowd enjoy the show, and there’s like an energy exchange, and everyone gets to leave the hall happy
MB- Also, here comes question that’s more overused than cocaine in Lindsy Lohan’s apartment, what happened around the time of Renewal and Cause For Conflict?
M.P - I think it was just times, the band was kind of burnt out. We shouldn’t have released records at all at the time I think. Record companies tried to get records from us. I like those albums, don’t get me wrong, but I think we needed a break, we were fighting because we wanted to have a break for 2 years between Coma to Renewal. Before that we had to release 5 albums in 5 years, it was obvious we ran out of ideas and we wanted to come up with something new and fresh, I think you have some great songs but they could be better. It was just what we wanted to do at the time, its how we felt at the time. When you hear a Kreator record it’s a reflection of the times it came out.
B- a certain reflection of how you felt…
M.P - A certain feel, we got tired of always being labeled the most brutal band in the world, but then we wanted to be that again. Its what were strongest at, its what were best at, it was necessary for us to get away from extreme metal for a while, to come back even stronger. Its how I see it if I listen to the albums from Violent Revolution onwards, those are the best ones in my opinion. In the end of the day it made sense.
B- So, lets delve a bit into the particular gig here! Yishai has been posting pictures from your gigs here along the ages on Facebook, what do you remember about your shows here in Israel? Any good stories?
M.P- All the shows we played in Israel were great, we even did a mini tour the first time we came, we played. Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv. I think that’s very rare that bands do that, we also shot a video for Renewal in the desert, so we have great memories, and we love coming there, its always very intense and brutal audience, its good.
B- In addition, I know you did guest work on his album with Nail Within, how do you feel about that? What brought it on? Must’ve been very different than working with Kreator
M.P- Yishai asked me to do it, we did it with Tompa from ATG, it was one of those obscure little things that I didn’t know how it’d come out. It’s definitely one of my guest appearances. Many of those I’ve done in the past, some of those are ok, but that one sticks to me
B- what’s in the nearby future for Kreator?
M.P- First off we will do a lot of touring, and that’s basically it, second I donno we’ll see. We don’t plan ahead for too long, we’re scheduling a lot of festivals for next year, we’ll be busy.
B- so! I know this was a rigorous interview, very all encompassing and long, I thank you very much for being patient and being a sport . Any last words to the Israelli crowds before the show?
M.P- We’re looking forwards, were definitely are. Be there, and we’ll have like a night of intense Thrash and extreme Metal.
B- Will the ambulances be waiting outside?
M.P- Yeah, hopefully
No comments:
Post a Comment