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| 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
